Cost of Recreation

All of us need some form of recreation. Since this blog is about money and finance, the natural question will be, “How much does your recreation or your hobbies costing you”? Being a frugal person from an early age, I’ve steered away from hobbies that cost too much. That’s just me. If your finances are in the red or have credit card debts to your eyeballs, then perhaps it is time to you reconsider your hobbies. Perhaps, it is a season for you to have less expensive recreation.

For example, I like cars. Have since I was a kid. I look at them, browse auto magazines occasionally, but you won’t see me customizing my car with expensive stereos, huge sports rims or getting a custom paint job etc. I leave my car as it is. What are about you? Some time ago, I went paragliding when I visited New Zealand. It was an expensive one time event. I toyed with the idea of getting a paraglider too. Not that I have many places to fly the thing. If I did, it is going to be a really expensive hobby. A cheap hobby that I now do is to blog, here. I can also express my thoughts, share ideas, all for a few bucks a month for hosting and a few more dollars for broadband.

In general, hobbies and recreating that requires specialized equipment is going to be expensive. Some extreme sports also cost extreme money. Here are some examples of hobbies and which category it will fall in. Off course, there will be difference in where you live as well as the level you want to pursue them.

Expensive Recreation

Motor racing, auto modding, 4wd, big biking, horse riding (exception if you own a farm), remote control air crafts, scuba diving, mountaineering, paint ball, boating, flying.

In Between

Bowling, tennis, golf, keeping exotic pets, photography.

Inexpensive Recreation

Gardening, swimming, jogging, running, blogging, skate boarding, cycling (except when you go for high tech bikes).

Generally things that requires fuel, engines, specialized equipment will tend to cost more than recreation that don’t.

Final note, if you observe young children, you’ll notice, it actually takes very little money or toys to keep them happy. A few simple blocks of wood, paper and color pencils can keep them occupied and bring joy to them and also to you. Some how, is the the adults, that WANT expensive “toys”. This is something that we learn and can unlearn. I call it simple pleasures. Simple, cheap or even free recreation that recharges us rather than bring us deeper into the red.

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