Article How to do what you love on a budget

We all know that making sure we have long-term savings and a healthy mindset when it comes to our financial future is important. But it’s also equally important to make sure we keep on doing the things that bring us joy and give us purpose.

Whether you’re looking for an adrenaline-fueled fitness class or a cosy self-care night – here you’ll find top tips on ways that could help you cut costs to fund your hobbies so you can still do what you love, but on a budget.

It’s important to do things that make you happy

We identify joy and purpose as one of the 10 building blocks that make up good financial wellbeing.¹ This is because having time and money to spend on the things you love can do wonders for your happiness. However, if you’re struggling to afford to do the things you enjoy, especially as we face the uncertainties of the cost-of-living crisis, it can be difficult to know how to find a balance between saving and spending. If you’re finding it difficult or would like to lower your spending, why not try out a few budgeting methods which could help you finance your hobbies.

You can read more about joy and purpose in our Financial wellbeing index.

Hobbies on a budget

Already have a passion? Or maybe you’re trying to find something new and enriching to do in your spare time? We’ve looked at some popular hobbies and made suggestions on how you could cut costs to do the things you enjoy.

Sports

Whether you’re a fan of yoga, pilates, Zumba or HIIT, chances are you might be able to find some online or remote classes. Often these can be entirely free or at the very least, usually cheaper than a gym membership. Websites such as YouTube and health services such as the NHS have a range of online video classes, from strength and resistance to aerobic exercises for you to try out.

Or, if you prefer the social aspect of fitness classes, next time you’re at your local sports or fitness centre, have a look to see if they offer a discount when bulk-buying sessions. Running clubs have also taken off in recent years. As well as getting a sweat on, this is a great place to socialise with friends or meet new ones. Make sure to also check in with any employer health-based benefits you might be entitled to, such as a discounted gym membership or cycle-to-work schemes. Many fitness companies award existing and potential new customers discounted offers, such as one month of free membership with friend referrals and recommendations.  

If you walking is something you enjoy, find out if there’s any community walks or hikes that are happening near you. Like run clubs, you can usually find these groups on social media, flyers around your local area, and by simply asking around. Otherwise, there are groups such as Ramblers, which have clubs that meet all over the UK. Walking is a great free activity to do with your friends or family, and whether you’re a novice or a pro, you could even double up by attempting some photography.

Eating out

There’s nothing better than letting someone else do the cooking for you – but you don’t need to spend a fortune to enjoy a meal. Instead, be on the lookout for discounts or schemes you can take advantage of, such as those offering two-for-one meals or similar. Sign up to your favourite restaurants email newsletters and follow them on social media to keep up to date with any offers they have on. Also, websites such as Groupon and Wowcher share a variety of dining experiences on offer, searchable by region.

If you do prefer something a bit higher end, some fine dining restaurants offer value lunchtime tasting or pre-theatre menus. Limited menus are likely to be cheaper than going out in the evening – or dining from the a la carte menu.

Travel

Want to jet off without high costs? It’s all about the planning. Generally, if you book far enough in advance, you could save more.

When you’re looking to travel abroad, always look out for the best deals. Consider travelling to a cheaper, less popular travel destination. Travelling with a carry-on can also save you the cost of bringing luggage. Many airline companies like Ryanair also have seasonal flight sales – keep an eye and you might bag yourself a cheap set of flights for a European city break.

Make sure to do your research when it comes to your spending money. For example, check what fees your bank charges when you use your credit or debit card to make sure you won’t be hit with an unexpected extra cost. There are plenty of travel card providers, so make sure you find a provider that supports the currency of the country you’re visiting. And, whilst you’re abroad, plan ahead and find local apps to help you find cheaper transport and great deals on food and drink.

House swapping or house-sitting sites such as TrustedHousesitters is also an option to find a cheap holiday (or you could even house-swap with a friend).  

Shopping

It’s important to be mindful of your shopping habits to avoid overspending. If you were looking to by some new things for your wardrobe, you could start by setting a clothing budget and only spend it if you have money left at the end of the month. Or consider putting money in a clothing pot and save for a more significant purchase when you find something you love. If you love clothes shopping, and are looking to cut back, try thinking about the cost per wear to make sure it’s a considered and great-value purchase.

If you’re an online shopper, you could try making use of apps like Honey or VoucherCodes.  Browser extensions like these can scan the internet for any promo codes potentially saving you money on items you’ll already be buying. Pre-owned resale websites are also a great way to save you some cash. With many people forgetting to return their new clothes that they just bought online, often you can find new items still with their labels on for a fraction of their retail price. But if it’s in store retail therapy you like, why not make a day of it by switching out the full price stores and scour around for some discounted deals at an outlet store or charity shop.

Our article 9 money saving food tips to help you live sustainably also gives insights on how changing the way you buy food can help you save more money, whilst having a sustainable impact on the planet.

Gardening and DIY

Whether you enjoy pruning flowers, growing home grown vegetables, or building your own furniture, successful gardening and DIY projects often come down to the equipment you have, and so doing it on a budget can rely on sale shopping or searching online marketplaces for bargains. 

We’ve mentioned before that upcycling is not only a fun hobby, but a great way of bringing old furniture back to life. Whether your kitchen cupboards need a refresh, or your wardrobe looks a bit tired – upcycling can make you feel like you’ve bought a whole piece of furniture, but for a fraction of the cost. 

If you’re looking for a DIY project, you could turn old wood pallets into a decking area or garden furniture, requiring only a bit of time and effort rather than a larger sum of cash. You can often find free pallets on pre-owned websites such as Facebook Marketplace. When you’re looking for tools, make sure to shop around. We found a litre of garden furniture paint for £13.70, sandpaper for £2.83 and paintbrushes for £3.67. If you’ve already got a drill to hand, it could cost you a little just over than £20 to create your very own piece of bespoke garden furniture. 

If you’re passionate about gardening, consider regrowing plants from leftover vegetables and cuttings. This way, you could have the garden of your dreams without the upfront cost of buying plants or seeds – and benefit from not wasting your vegetable scraps. 

Self-care

We can all do with a bit of self-care from time to time – but sometimes treating yourself can come with a large price tag. Luckily, there are many ways you can treat yourself on a budget. You can often find discounts for spa days or beauty treatments online, such as on voucher sites like Groupon and many salons have loyalty schemes. If you’re a regular somewhere, see if you can benefit from this. Or consider doing it yourself at home. With some tranquil music and a home-made face mask you could bring the spa to you.

Bring the joy

We may be facing the uncertainties of the cost of living crisis, but that doesn’t mean you should stop doing the things you love in life. A little bit of research and forward planning could be all it takes to cut the cost of doing the things you love and bring more joy to your days.