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Hobbies Costly
By Daphne | May 14, 2008
Since the cost of almost everything is increasing especially the cost of necessities …are your non-necessity favorite pastime materials taking a hit as well?
In short, have you stopped crocheting, beading, woodworking, gardening because you have to spend more on gas and can’t afford your supplies?
Since discretionary spending is lower the extra money that you would count on to buy materials to make things has decreased also.
If you liked to create items of higher end materials you may see that your local merchant is suffering. After 9/11 many people picked up needlecraft hobbies. Some people enjoyed smoking cigars or making gourmet food - making a gourmet meal is cheaper than a making a standard meal but with the costs increasing people have a difficult time affording their supplies.
What if your hobby relied on gas - flying a small plane or boating or RVing? Using less fuel is also an option but you don’t want to run out of gas in the middle of nowhere. Let’s say every summer you take a road trip a few hundred miles away and go to a lake or cabin just for some relaxation. Gas prices have interfered with that we know but for people who would sew, crochet or knit for a hobby as well as for charity higher prices may mean a slump in items that are donated to recipients.
In ages past, hobbies and collecting were done mostly by those with extra income and time. People may have the same amount of time now but not the same amount of income so they will let their pastimes go by the wayside. It is unfortunate but if you are like most hobbyists who can store up materials for future projects you are in good shape. Scrapbookers, needleworkers and those who like to turn trash into treasures, there is still hope. Look through your stash of materials and see what you can use. Get together with a couple of other people who have the same hobby and see if you can have a materials swap. This way you are getting new things and not spending any money.
Even more expensive hobbies such as woodworking, scuba diving and photography are possible. Cut down but not completely cut out a hobby. This can also apply to hobbies that rely on gas, instead of four or five trips a summer, decrease the number of trips or the distance of the trip if possible.
Need materials and a swap with other crafters is not feasible? Try using less expensive materials. Remember when you first started - you didn’t use the best materials. Seek out less expensive materials or use coupons. A hobby is something that should bring you enjoyment not stress because you can’t afford to do what you love.
If all else fails, find a new hobby that requires no money for supplies - like reading, walking or birding.
Topics: May 2008 |
May 15th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
I just wanted to say that I enjoyed your article. It is true, every word. All of my hobbies have suffered from the cost of living increase. I do scrapbooking, but because I live so far out of town it isn’t worth it for me to drive in if I run out of something. I end up having to wait a few days until something else from town is needed. The price of gas has really caused a problem with my Photography. I not only do it as a hobby, but also as a part-time job. Driving to and from the places I need to go has gotten too expensive! I’m almost at the point where I might have to raise my prices a bit to cover the increase in fuel prices. I really don’t want to make my friends, family, and other customer suffer even more. The funniest thing about your article is that you mentioned everything that I’ve talked about so far, but here’s the kicker. The biggest problem for my husband and I is RVing. We just bought an RV 2 years ago from our local dealer Big Sky RV. We saved for a long time, and took our time choosing one. But now with the price of fuel, it’s getting harder and harder to talk ourselves into taking a trip. It almost makes us feel guilty. I wish something could be done to fix the price of fuel!!
May 15th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
Thanks for the comments, Ivanna! It is sad that people can’t even afford to spend some time doing what they enjoy because gas prices have curbed their discretionary income.
It used to be easy to run out to the store and get something to finish a project. Now, I just wait until I really need to go to that store or am making another errand near there - why waste gas?
It’s harder when you are dealing directly with your customers and have to raise prices, especially if you know them personally.
Fuel efficient vehicles of all sizes, because not everyone is served by a small vehicle would be the best solution, but it is one we will have to wait for!