Affordable Ways to Learn a Fun, New Skill or Hobby at Any Age
Picking up a new skill or hobby can be a fun way for people of any age to learn something new. Thanks to modern technology, it’s easier than ever to learn new skills. You can take painting lessons with friends or a loved one or learn to speak a new language through a smartphone app. You can even learn ukulele through online classes in the comfort of your own home.
Learning new hobbies and skills challenges the brain. As such, this can be a great way to keep your mind young, happy, and healthy. In fact, science has even shown that learning new things throughout your lifetime can help you slow the cognitive aging process in your brain, reducing your chances of developing Alzheimer's or dementia.
One thing that makes many people hesitant about learning a new hobby is the cost and time involved. Luckily, there are many budget-friendly, money-saving options available for people who are interested in learning something new without breaking the bank.
Playing an Instrument
Even with a small budget, you’d be surprised by how many options are available for learning something new. Some fun, money-saving options include online courses, learning to play an instrument, or making new friends on a sports team — to name a few!
If you’re a lover of music and have been longing to learn how to play a new instrument, there are ways to save money on lessons or equipment. In addition to online classes or YouTube tutorials, many companies will offer discounts or promo codes that are good toward instrument purchases, rentals, or lessons. Many communities also offer clubs, events, and meetups where you can learn to play an instrument in a social setting for a small fee.
Getting Involved in Sports
By taking up a sport, you’ll make new friends, learn a new skill, and get some exercise, all while having fun. Golf, tennis, walking, and swimming are just a few potential sports-related hobbies you might look into. The type of sport you enroll in just depends on your comfort level, the amount of physical activity you’re looking for, and whether you want to compete on a team or learn solo. If any of your sports-related hobbies require new sports equipment, you can easily keep costs down by using online promo codes or coupons from a store like Dick’s.
Boosting Your Knowledge
Want to learn a language? If you have a smartphone, you have the world at your fingertips.
If you love computers and networking, then a career in IT can turn your passion into a lucrative career. In high demand with companies big and small all over the globe, the demand for IT pros isn't going to be decreasing anytime soon. And whether it's your first career or your fifth, you can learn at your own pace through an online IT degree program from WGU, where the flexible study schedules mean you're in control.
Want to take a college course but can’t afford college tuition? Coursera’s online courses might be a great option for you.
These affordable courses are taught by real professors from many prestigious universities, including Stanford and Johns Hopkins.
Diving Into Arts and Crafts
Another fantastic hobby is arts and crafts. Even if you don’t consider yourself to be very artistic, remember that creativity comes in many different forms. You might find that you enjoy sewing or scrap booking, for instance, more than painting or drawing. When it comes to arts and crafts, stores including Hobby Lobby are found in most major cities and have excellent discounts on supplies. Even if you don’t have a Hobby Lobby in your town, you can still benefit from shopping online or, even better, taking their online DIY classes. Meanwhile, JOANN Fabric is another major supplier of arts and crafts supplies, which are often sold at discount prices. Like Hobby Lobby, JOANN even offers online classes as well as in-store training. If you’re interested in learning at home, you can even browse their website for project ideas and video tutorials to inspire your creativity and help guide you through your next project.
Free Options
When it comes to saving money, free is a hard price to beat! It’s very easy to pick up a new skill without spending a dime. A quick YouTube search provides countless videos on how to teach yourself a new skill or hobby, from gardening to home improvement to playing a musical instrument. Best of all, these videos can be watched at no cost to you and at your convenience.
If you have a bit more time to devote to learning, another free option to consider is HarvardX, a partnership between the esteemed Harvard University and edX. HarvardX provides free, online courses taught by Harvard University professors. With topics ranging from cooking to mathematics and even religion, there’s a little something for everyone.
There are many affordable options available these days for learning a new skill or hobby. Thanks to modern technology, you can learn anything from anywhere at any time. You have the convenience of learning in the privacy of your own home or you can choose to make new friends by taking a class in a social setting. Best of all, your budget and finances don’t have to be limiting factors in your quest to learn a new hobby.
Article written by Jennifer McGregor
Photo via Pexels
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