c/broke-but-hobbying

11

the_miles•3d ago

Is it better to learn a cheap hobby the "right" way first or just wing it?

I was talking to my buddy Dave last week while we were trying to fix up an old bike with zip ties and duct tape. He said I should watch a tutorial first, but I argued that figuring stuff out on your own is half the fun and saves you from spending money on tools you might not need. Now I'm second guessing myself because his way might mean less mistakes and less wasted materials. What do you all think, do you jump in blind or plan ahead when you're broke?

2

patricia905•3d ago

Walked through my local thrift store yesterday and found a weird treasure

I went to the Goodwill on Elm Street yesterday, just killing time with zero dollars in my pocket. I stumbled on a box of old board games for 50 cents each, half of them missing pieces. This one game called "Mystery Mansion" was completely sealed, never opened, and I snagged it for a quarter. I got it home and opened it up, turns out it has all the pieces AND a handwritten note inside from 1987. The note talked about a family game night that never happened. Now I'm wondering, has anyone else found something oddly personal in a thrift store game?

13

sagea88•4d ago

Stopped buying $25 sketchbooks and started using copy paper from work instead

I used to think I needed a nice spiral bound sketchbook to do decent drawings. Then my last $25 one filled up in two weeks and I couldn't afford another. Grabbed a ream of used copy paper from the office recycling bin and now I draw twice as much without worrying about wasting pages. The paper isn't as thick so markers bleed a little, but for pencil and pen work it's basically the same. Has anyone else figured out a free alternative to expensive art supplies that actually works better?

4

price.jake•4d ago

My $15 thrift store banjo finally snapped a string and I have no idea how to restring it

Picked up this old banjo from Goodwill last month, it was missing the fifth string but I figured hey, cheap fix. Finally ordered the right gauge strings online, took 3 days to arrive, and when I tried to tune the second string it just snapped. Like immediately. Now I'm sitting here with a pile of broken string and no clue if I even threaded it through the peg right. Anyone else ever mess up a cheap instrument repair?

11

hart.ryan•5d ago

Found a free sketching group at the library last Tuesday

I walked into my local library in Portland to grab a book and saw a flyer for a weekly drawing group that just uses scrap paper and pencils they provide. It's completely free and I've been going for 3 weeks now, met some cool folks. Anybody know other libraries doing stuff like this?

31

felix_coleman87•5d ago

Vent: Spent $40 on a "starter" jewelery making kit and got junk pliers instead

I bought a cheap set online because I wanted to make wire-wrapped pendants without dropping big cash. The pliers broke on my third twist and the wire was too stiff to shape. Has anyone found a decent budget brand for basic tools that doesn't fall apart?

15

wesleypatel•6d ago

Almost lost a finger trying to fix a cheap radio with a butter knife

I was in my garage last Tuesday, prying open this old $5 thrift store radio with a butter knife and it slipped, slicing right into my palm and hitting something that bled for an hour. Ended up just taping the cut and tossing the radio since my free hand couldn't hold it steady, anyone else have a cheap tool or hack backfire on them like this?

20

butler.brian•6d ago

Showerthought: Maybe cheap guitar strings are actually the move for learning

I been playing guitar for about 8 months now, and I always thought you had to buy the $12 pack of Elixirs or D'Addarios to sound any good. But last week I ran out of cash and grabbed a $3 set of no-name strings from a discount bin at a pawn shop in Akron. They sound fine. They feel a little rougher on my fingers, but honestly that might help me build calluses faster. I'm starting to think I wasted $60 on premium strings that I didn't need. Here's the debate: Is it better to use cheap gear that forces you to learn proper technique, or does bad gear just kill your motivation? Has anyone else found a 'mistake' like this where spending less actually helped you improve?

28

parkerkim•21d ago

PSA: Hit 50 library books checked out this year without spending a dime

Tbh I never thought I'd actually keep track, but after noticing my stack was getting ridiculous, I started counting. I hit 50 library books this week on the Libby app and they were all free. I read during my lunch break at work and while waiting for the bus. Has anyone else hit a random number like this with a free hobby?

6

marymorgan•23d ago

Bought a $15 bread starter kit and it turned into 6 months of free sourdough

The kit was just flour, a jar, and instructions, but after feeding the starter for a week I've been baking loaves for less than $0.50 each and haven't bought store bread since.

30

zara_hunt•23d ago

Took me 8 hours to find free pattern drafting paper - just use freezer paper from the grocery store

I spent all afternoon driving to different art supply stores looking for cheap drafting paper for my sewing patterns, only to find out the $4 roll of freezer paper in my kitchen works perfectly and you can iron it right onto fabric. Has anyone else here been overcomplicating their hobby supplies?

20

parkerkim•27d ago

Rant: That $15 Foraging Guide PDF that was just AI slop

I got super into the idea of free food from the woods last month, so I dropped 15 bucks on a digital foraging guide from some random site. The cover looked legit with nice mushroom photos and everything. But once I opened it up, it was CLEARLY just auto-generated garbage. It told me to look for 'wild garlic' in December in New Jersey, which is literally impossible. Another section said to eat a certain berry raw that I KNOW is toxic unless cooked. I lost the 15 bucks but honestly I'm more mad I wasted a whole Saturday afternoon trying to follow its directions in a park near Newark. I could have just gone to the library for free and checked out a real Peterson guide. Has anyone else gotten tricked by one of these fake internet PDFs?

10

flores.tessa•29d ago

Overheard a stranger at the thrift store say something about mending that stuck with me

I was digging through the $1 basket at Goodwill last Saturday when I heard this older guy tell his friend, 'I don't buy anything with a zipper I can't fix myself.' That line hit me way harder than it should have. I think because I've thrown away three jackets in the past two years just because the zipper got stuck or broke. So I went home and watched a 10 minute YouTube video on replacing a zipper pull with a paperclip. Turns out you don't even need special tools half the time. Last night I fixed a pair of jeans that had a broken zipper tab using just a keyring I found in my junk drawer. It's not pretty but it works and I didn't spend a dime. Has anyone else had a weirdly good fix job using random household stuff?

19

the_claire•29d ago

Appreciation post: My 3-year-old library card is still my best hobby tool

Three years ago I was dead broke after moving to Austin for a job that fell through. I got a library card out of desperation, figuring I could at least read for free. Last month I realized I've checked out over 40 books, 15 movies, and even a ukulele from their 'library of things' program. Last week I picked up a watercolor kit from their art section and painted for 3 hours on a Sunday. For zero dollars, I've learned bread baking, basic guitar chords, and started drawing again. Has anyone else found unexpected free stuff at their library that changed your hobby game?

15

the_jennifer•1mo ago

Just learned my local library has a free seed bank

I was at the Westbrook Public Library last Tuesday picking up a hold and noticed this little cabinet near the checkout desk. Turns out they let you take up to 10 free seed packets per visit, and you can bring back seeds from your own plants if you want. No library card even needed for it. Has anyone else found random free hobby stuff hiding at their local library?

0

marymorgan•1mo ago

Some guy at the library told me my zine covers were too busy and he was totally right

I've been making little poetry zines for like 2 years now, just folding printer paper and stapling them. Had a stack at the free table and this older dude picked one up and said "there's too much going on, I don't know where to look." At first I was annoyed but then I looked at it again and he was spot on. I cut my collages down to one main image and left way more blank space and now they actually feel finished instead of cluttered. Has anyone else had a random stranger give feedback that actually improved their craft?

28

the_piper•1mo ago

Hit 200 books read on my phone this year without spending a dime

I set a goal in January to read more but had zero money for books. Turns out the Libby app and my library card let me borrow ebooks for free. I just hit 200 books last night and I'm a little shook. Who knew getting a library card online would save me like $1,500 this year? What's the wildest number you've reached on a free hobby?

6

skyler_white•1mo ago

Just realized my local library has a seed library for free gardening

I was at the downtown branch last Tuesday picking up a hold and saw this little wooden cabinet near the checkout desk. Turned out they have a seed library where you can take up to 10 seed packets per month for free, no questions asked. I grabbed some basil, tomato, and zinnia seeds and planted them in old yogurt cups on my windowsill. The basil sprouted in like 4 days and now I have free herbs for cooking... who knew libraries did stuff like this? Has anyone else found free seeds at their library or is mine just weird?