How to Avoid Wasting £833.50 on A New Hobby in 2026

Written by

Cara Bradley

5 min read

Updated: 13/01/2026

New year, new hobby?
The dawn of a brand-new year can kickstart us into broadening our horizons when it comes to how we spend our spare time – and our money.

With many people quitting new hobbies just four months after starting, a report by Gumtree suggests that a combined total of £3.88bn per year is wasted on abandoned activities. This equates to a staggering £833.50 per person.

In our guide, we explore how to save money on hobbies and avoid falling into the trap of wasted expense.

Most popular activities in the UK in 2025

In 2025, the most popular activities for UK adults were:

1. Listening to music
2. Using the internet
3. Reading
4. Travelling
5. Going to restaurants and cafes
6. Watching films on television
7. Spending time with family
8. Walking
9. Spending time with friends
10. Watching films at home

How much money do people spend on their hobbies in the UK?

The cost of hobbies in the UK varies. Some hobbies, such as casual walking, are generally low-cost to take part in, give or take the potential for petrol fares to your destination, and perhaps indulging in a takeaway cuppa enroute! Other hobbies, such as horse riding and travelling, inevitably cost more.

In a 2025 study carried out by AliExpress, it was revealed that 43% of surveyed UK adults wish to spend money on items linked to their hobbies, with the sale of certain products, such as sporting goods and beauty items, almost doubling year-on-year. However much individuals spend on their hobbies, it’s clear that UK adults are prioritising the expenditure.

What is the cheapest hobby to have?

The good news is that there are plenty of low-cost and free hobbies. We’ve listed 20 examples below.

1. Journalling and creative writing
2. Listening to music
3. Meditating
4. Walking
5. Running
6. At-home workouts
7. Spending time with pets
8. Volunteering, for example, at an animal shelter
9. Entering free online competitions
10. Gardening
11. Cooking/ baking
12. Bird watching
13. Drawing/painting
14. Rock painting
15. Beachcombing
16. Reading
17. Doing puzzles
18. Playing cards and board games
19. Taking part in free learning courses, for example, through the Open University
20. Joining a free, local sports team, such as five-aside football

How to save money on hobbies

Saving money on hobbies is a complex topic because there are so many pointers to consider. As discussed, some hobbies are already free or low-cost, while others have the potential to eat into a significant proportion of your income.
It all depends on what your hobby is and how willing you are to make cuts and compromises.
Below, we’ve included some basic tips to save money on hobbies.

• Shop second-hand
  Surprisingly, just 32% of UK adults had considered buying equipment relating to their new hobby second-hand.
  Whether it’s reading, running, or riding, given the high new hobby abandonment rate, there’s a good chance that you could find what you’re looking for at a discounted rate, second-hand. Remember that second-hand doesn’t always mean compromised quality: items could be sold by someone left with near-new gear after trying out a hobby and deciding that it’s not for them.
  One item you should never buy second-hand, though, is a helmet; your safety is not worth the savings.


• Make use of free trials
  Whether you’re a film fanatic seeking a new streaming service to explore, or a budding gym-goer musing memberships, check to see whether you could be offered a free or lower-cost trial as a new customer. This will allow you to try the hobby out before you make a serious monetary commitment.
  If it’s not for you, remember to cancel your membership before the promotional trial comes to an end, or you will be charged standard fees. It’s also important to check whether there are any cancellation charges.


• Join local and online community groups of like-minded people
  Feel yourself falling out of love with your new hobby? Learning a new skill is never easy, but a community of fellow fans might be able to offer you some tips to switch it up before you throw in the towel. For example, if you’ve started running but are finding it tricky to maintain enthusiasm, buddying up with someone local could boost your motivation.


• See whether borrowing equipment is an option
  If you’re unsure whether a hobby is the right fit for you, see whether borrowing gear like a bike or golf clubs for the first couple of weeks is a possibility. This could either be from friends and family, or through an official organisation. If you’re paying to borrow items, remember to work out whether the cost is less than what you’d pay to buy new.


• Join a library
  Bookworm? Avid fan of reading? You’re probably already well acquainted with the benefits of libraries, but just in case they’re not something you’ve ever considered…
  Libraries are free to join and grant you access to thousands of books available for borrowing, which could save you the cost of buying brand-new books.
  You can find your local library here.


• Know your budget
  With so much of our income often going towards essential costs such as housing, bills, and food, it’s important to have hobbies and spend your disposable income on something you enjoy. However, with this in mind, it’s also crucial to be aware of what you’re spending. While arguably essential to our mental wellbeing and overall life satisfaction, hobbies are unfortunately not considered a necessary outgoing. If spending money on hobbies is leaving you in a position where you’re struggling to cover the cost of your essentials, you should take a step back.
  Working out a monthly budget could help you keep track of your spending, while closely assessing your monthly expenditure could enable you to see where you could make cuts.


• Get creative and consider new traditions
  For example, if your hobby of meeting up with friends usually results in a meal or night out on the town, you could reduce costs significantly by altering how you spend your time together. A low-cost swap for a ‘mates’ date’ at a restaurant could be hosting a movie night with snacks instead. You don’t have to do this every time, of course – but even swapping every other meal out with a low-cost, stay-at-home option could save you money over time.

Examples of savvy swaps

Below, we’ve included a handful of examples of savvy, money-saving swaps for various hobbies. Have a think about the costs associated with your own hobbies and see if there are any swaps and savings to be had.

What to do if you’re worried about money

You can access free, confidential, and impartial money and debt advice through charities and organisations such as StepChange, MoneyHelper, Citizens Advice, and National Debtline.