15 Inexpensive Hobbies for Retirees
Are you retired and looking for new hobbies? Do you live on a fixed budget and find that some hobbies are simply unattainable for you? Don’t worry, there are plenty of inexpensive hobbies for retirees just like you.
Here are our top 5 inexpensive hobbies:
- Coloring – Coloring is not just for children anymore. Coloring books for adults are trending and are also inexpensive.
- Walking/Hiking – Walking and hiking technically cost nothing. The only investment you may have to make is in good footwear.
- Photography – With today’s smartphones, everyone has access to professional-looking photographs.
- Birdwatching – Birdwatching is absolutely free. You may want to purchase an inexpensive guidebook to help you search and identify the different types of birds.
- Free Online Games – Online games are super popular with people of all ages. Here at Sixty & Me, we have our very own games page where you will find hundreds of free games. Find the link further down in the article.
Continue reading to discover many more fun and inexpensive hobbies that you can start today.
What Are the Best Inexpensive Hobbies for Retirees on a Budget?
Hobbies don’t need to be expensive to be fun and entertaining. First, zone in on your interests and choose something from our list that fits your lifestyle and interests. It’s ok to start a hobby and not go forward with it because you realize that you don’t enjoy it as much as you thought you would. The thing about inexpensive hobbies is that you don’t feel guilty about quitting, and you can pick up another one easily.
Inexpensive Creative Hobbies
Drawing and Painting
Drawing and painting are the most common hobbies for retirees. You don’t need expensive equipment to start drawing or painting. All you need are some pencils, an inexpensive painting kit, and some paper or canvas.
Soucolor Art Supplies, 192-Pack Deluxe Art Set Drawing Painting Supplies Kit on Amazon
Check out free tutorials on YouTube to learn techniques to further your drawing and painting skills. Go at your own pace and don’t forget that there will be a learning curve to achieve artwork that you are proud of. It’s part of the process.
Coloring
We often think that coloring is for children. But not any more! Coloring books for adults are abundant now, and many have funny and original adult themes. You’ll find coloring as an adult retiree quite amusing and it will keep you occupied for hours.
Large Print Easy Color & Frame on Amazon
Amazon Basics Colored Pencils for Coloring and Drawing
Writing and Journaling
Creative writing or journaling is a great hobby to start when we are retired. We have a life well-lived and many stories to tell. All you need is a pen and some paper. You may want to purchase a journal that you will enjoy filling with all your thoughts.
Lined Spiral Journal Notebook on Amazon
Read more: How to Use Journaling as a Life Hack.
Knitting and Crocheting
While knitting and crocheting have long been “old lady” hobbies, that is no longer the case. Many of us have shied away from these crafts because of the old stigma attached to them.
Today, knitting and crocheting are super trendy with the younger generation, and we shouldn’t shy away from them because of our age.
Look for sales and promotions at your local craft store to purchase the necessary items to get you started.
Read more: Why Knitting Makes Me Feel Cool, Chic, Fun, and Active (It’s Not for Old Ladies Anymore!)
Photography
It used to be that we needed a professional-grade camera to get good-quality photographs. Today, everyone has a camera available right in their pocket (or purse).
Smartphones keep making cameras better, and now even professional photographers are using their smartphones.
There are plenty of courses you can take online to perfect your photography skills. A subscription to a website like Masterclass costs approximately $10/month to gain access to hundreds of classes.
Inexpensive Outdoor Hobbies
Walking and Hiking
Walking and hiking are absolutely free activities that you can adjust to your lifestyle and fitness level. You may choose to start strolling your neighborhood daily or research hiking trails in your area that match your skills.
The only thing you may want to consider investing in is a good pair of walking shoes or hiking boots.
Read more: 10 Best Hiking Boots for Women Over 50.
Birdwatching
Being out in nature is known to have positive effects on our health and emotional well-being. Going out in nature and connecting with wildlife is even better!
Birds are everywhere, on every continent, and in every shape and size. You don’t need to go very far to birdwatch. You can start by noting the birds in your own backyard and then expand your hobby by going on short day trips to see more species of birds.
It’s a good idea to invest in a birdwatching guidebook and some binoculars to get you started. The guide will tell you where to look and what to look for, and the binoculars will help you keep a safe distance from the birds that you are observing.
National Geographic Backyard Guide to the Birds of North America, 2nd Edition on Amazon
Occer 12×25 Compact Binoculars on Amazon
Tai Chi or Yoga at Home
Tai Chi and yoga aren’t as intimidating as you may think. Many free YouTube channels specialize in these activities for seniors, and you can watch from the comfort of your own home. Start slow, go at your own pace, and listen to your body.
Read more: The Best Time of Day for Yoga: Aligning Practice with Your Body Clock.
Learning and Mind Hobbies
Reading
Reading is a favorite, inexpensive hobby of many retirees. If you don’t want to buy the books you plan on adding to your reading list, you can join a growing group of seniors who are using online libraries. Online library subscriptions (like the old library cards) are websites to your local library where you can download and read all the books you want from your computer or tablet.
Free Online Games
Online games are popular with every age group. All you need is your smartphone, tablet, or computer to get started.
Check out our Sixty & Me games page. We’re sure you are going to find plenty of games to have fun with.
Read more: Keep Your Brain Buzzing with these Free Brain Games for Seniors.
Learning a Language
The old saying still applies: We are never too old to learn something new. This applies even to learning a new language as a retiree. You may think it’s quite pointless to learn a new language in our 60s or 70s, but research shows that knowing more than one language at our age is healthy for our brain health.
Apps like Duolingo have an extensive free version that will help you start speaking a new language in no time.
Read more: 7 Language Apps for Women Over 60.
Genealogy Research
Have you always been fascinated by your ancestors and where they came from? If you were born in the USA or Canada, not of native heritage, chances are your roots stem from faraway lands.
Websites like Ancestry.com make it easy to get started with DNA testing and offer extensive research tools to find your history and possibly long-lost relatives in Europe or Asia.
Community and Social Hobbies
Volunteering
Volunteering as a retiree is free and very rewarding. You get to leave the house, meet like-minded people, and help a cause that you hold dear.
Look for volunteer opportunities in your local social media groups and start helping out where you can.
Read more: Is Volunteering for You After 60? These 10 Benefits May Be the Boost You Need.
Community Theater or Choir
Have you always enjoyed the theater? Maybe now is the time to get involved. Look at local listing organizations that organize plays or choirs to find a good fit for you.
Book Clubs
Reading the same book as a group of other retirees can be a fun social hobby. The group decides on a book and has a monthly meeting to discuss the book together. These can be local book clubs in your area or even online book clubs with virtual Zoom meetings.
Read more: 6 Book Club Picks.
Tip: Try to wait until Prime Days to purchase items for your hobbies on Amazon. That way, you get great deals and save money!
Read more: Hobbies for Women Over 50 – Amazing Ideas from the Sixty and Me Community.
Let’s Have a Conversation:
Do you have an inexpensive hobby you enjoy and want to share with the community? Which hobby on our list interests you the most? Will you start one of these hobbies? We would love to hear all about it in the comments below.
Tags Arts and Crafts
I have painted rocks (mandela type). I use acryllic paint purchased at the Dollarama type of stores. Painting is very relaxing. Puzzles are good (if you like that sort of challenge). They are pretty inexpensive. I have recently purchased some small, inexpensive embroidery kits (online) which are lots of fun for me, as I haven’t embroidered for decades. I then use the finished product as gifts. Singing in a community choir is fun for those who enjoy singing.
I not only sew, but I also make soap. Though both of these have specific equipment, neither one has to be terribly expensive. I’ve been sewing since I was a little girl and worked in the garment industry as a technical designer. I’ve been making soap for the last 25 years. Personally, I find it therapeutic.
Junk Journaling! All you need are old envelopes, scraps of paper, fabrics, ribbon, glue stick and maybe scissors. It’s a mini scrapbook/ memory book. There is no wrong way to do it and it is a joy to
make or gift!
You missed one very important hobby, sewing. I have been sewing since I was 12 and now am 74. For me, it is a great stress relief and activates the brain’s right side. I also have been drawing and sketching during that time as well.
Photography! Started with my phone, then invested in secondhand kit, amd took it from there. I joined Photocrowd amd took inspiration from other photographers of all levels. Have now won a couple of small competitions.