Frugal vs. Not-So-Frugal Hobbies

Dong wrote about a post about his hobbies and how much they cost. I thought I would take my hobbies a step further and divide them between frugal and not frugal hobbies.

Frugal Hobbies

Running--Running shoes are my only major expense because I have a ton of running clothes from my former life as a collegiate athlete. I spend $140-$200/year on shoes. I also run a few road races a year ($20-$30/race). I spent $50 last year on road races plus another $40 for a triathlon.

Knitting--This can be a very expensive hobby if you purchase bulky natural fiber yarns that are expensive and knit up quickly. If I'm doing a quick project, I frequently use acrylic yarn. However, I like to use natural fibers, so I stick with very thin yarn that takes a long time to finish a project.

Biking--Purchasing a bike and gear (I spent close to $1800) is expensive to purchase. Since I already own the bike, it's an extremely frugal hobby. Since I use my bike as a mode of transportation, I also save money on gas and parking fees.

Reading--I used to buy books and read them...this is problematic because I read at least a book a week. Now, I'm obsessed with the library. I get to read as much as I want with no cost to me!

Volunteering--Costs nothing, but time. I've been a hospital volunteer, participated in a youth mentoring program, and helped students prep for the GED. I'm currently trying to get the courage to donate blood.

Blogging--Cost: Free! I only use the free service available through blogger.

Not-So-Frugal Hobbies

Rock Climbing--Even though I own all of the gear (about $250), I still have to pay $15/visit to the rock gym. I try to go on ladies nights to keep the cost down.

Shopping--I love clothes, beauty products, and make-up. I could spend hours browsing, but browsing turns to buying. I've tried to stop shopping as a hobby. I now shop out of necessity, which is definitely not as fun.

Movies--I love to go to the theater ($9/ticket) and watch movies at home ($4/rental). I've tried to make this hobby more frugal by cutting back on going to the theater. I also use a frequent moviegoers punch card to get free food at the concessions stand. As for rental costs, I check movies out from the library (free). I have also stopped purchasing DVDs. I also have Blockbuster Access. For $20/month, I get unlimited movies through the mail and 5 in-store rentals (usually use all 5) per month. The in-store rentals allow my boyfriend to pick a few movies that we watch on the weekends.

Going Out--I used to go to a bar at least 2 nights per week. I would drop at least $25 per night (~$300/month) on alcohol, cover charges, taxis, and parking. While I had a lot of fun, I try to limit my nights out. Now, I go out about once a month and usually stick to a single beer.

Tennis--Last summer, I spent $150 on tennis lessons. Now, I'm much better, but I'm trying to make tennis a more frugal hobby. I decided to not take any more lessons this summer. Now, I just purchase a few wraps a season ($4) and tennis balls ($3 for three). Unfortunately, I have a lot of dead tennis balls around my apartment. Does any one have any tips about what to do with dead tennis balls?