14 Affordable Hobbies to Do at Home

Some people are born with the baker or chef gene, but for the rest of us, it takes a lot of trial and error. If you're interested in baking as a hobby to do at home — or looking to cook more to save money on takeout — now's your chance! There are tons of online classes you can take, or you can just dive head first into a cookbook and learn as you go.

The best part about journaling is that it can mean so many different things. From bullet journaling to writing prompts to journaling about your day to writing poems, your journal can be completely customized to fit your personality and style. (And definitely don't be shy about using all the colorful pens and cute journals out there.)

If you're a lover of candles, you know they can get expensive. As a unique hobby to do at home, try making your own homemade candles. There are lots of great tutorials online that break it down into easy steps, and the ingredients are pretty simple. Who knows? Maybe you'll be quite good at it and open a shop on Etsy.

Buying new furniture can come at a lofty cost, so instead of getting a new bookshelf or table, restore an old one! If you're looking for a piece you don't already own, try thrift shopping or garage-sale hunting. Sand it down, stain or paint it, and ta-da. You've got a brand new piece of furniture.

Not only is your writing game about to go up several notches, but your friends will be jealous of how amazing your homemade cards look come next holiday season. Calligraphy also complements other at-home hobbies, like painting. There are tons of great online classes and tutorials for calligraphy, and it's quite relaxing.

Always see tons of book recommendations on TikTok but never get around to reading any of them? Or maybe you're tired of hearing your friends talk about a book that's being adapted for TV and you haven't read it yet? Escape from the world around you by digging into a good book.

There are so many categories out there — romance, mystery, adventure, thriller — that you'll never run out of options. And bonus: reading strengthens your vocabulary and comprehension skills, too.

Staying calm and relaxed is important for your overall mental health. Try to mediate for a few minutes everyday to feel restored and replenished. Don't know where to start? You can download guiding mediation apps or try listening to a soothing playlist.

Embroidery is an hobby to do at home that'll tap into your creative side. You can either purchase kits with stitch outlines or you can make one completely from scratch. With so many designs and yarn colors, you'll be set for a long time.

Although most pictures are stored online these days, there's nothing stopping you from printing a few out and turning it into a scrapbook as an affordable hobby. Scrapbooks are great for vacation or school memories, weddings, births, etc. They also make a great sentimental gift.

If you're like me, knitting was always that activity your grandma tried teaching you when you were younger, but at that age all you cared about was playing outside. But there are so many great garments you can make like gloves, scarves, beanies, and even blankets. Plus, they make a great gift when holidays and birthdays roll around.

Did you enjoy learning a new language in school or while you traveled abroad? Brush up on your vocabulary and verb tenses or use learning a new language as a motivator for your next trip.

It's never too late to learn how to play an instrument, and with the help of online tutorial videos, it's never been easier to pick up this hobby. This could be your new party trick or even better, maybe you'll join a community band.

Gardening is a great hobby to do at home for green thumbs. Whether it's flowers, fruit trees, vegetable trees, or bushes, go get your hands dirty! You'll feel rewarded when you see buds blossoming.

For beginners, paint-by-number kits are a helpful activity to ease you into painting as an affordable hobby. Or if you're more advanced, try painting objects in your house, popular landmarks, or family members.

Emily Weaver is an entertainment and lifestyle contributor for PS. Her writing focuses on celebrity relationships, movie and book news, and product shopping guides. Her bylines include PEOPLE, Real Simple, Better Homes & Gardens, HelloGiggles, Scary Mommy, and more.