Also to do art as a hobby you don’t need shit else other than a pencil/pen and some paper. Hell, libraries pretty much give out scraps of paper for free and printer paper doesn’t cost that much, a pack of 500 sheets will cost about 5 - 8 bucks depending on where you live, and just about everyone has a pencil or a pen… If not, steal one from work, if that isn’t possible, you can literally pick up a 12 pack of pencils or pens for a buck from the dollar store.
You can look up coding classes for free on the internet, Duolingo is free for learning a new language, Mangolanguages is free if your library provides it, hell you can pick any hobby… Singing, dancing, game design, programming, design, music composition, etc. and I can guarantee you that there will be at least one tutorial available on youtube, and at least one free program for it.
Hell if you got any type of internet connection you can pick up a hobby. Even just researching something you’re interested in whether it be weaponry, dance, music, art, clothes, fashion design, animals, pets, etc. is absolutely free on the internet.
Hell you can even pick up a hobby like roleplaying or writing and all you need is a blog and google docs to write shit in and singing up for AO3 is free.
You don’t need 2,000 dollars and be rich to start a hobby. If you want to pick up something that requires something a bit more expensive like a guitar or musical instrument, 1. look for second-hand sales, 2. look on amazon. you can buy a cheap guitar for like, 40 - 80 bucks, 3. open up separate savings account to save up money, 4. Ask a friend/family member if they have one you can use/have or ask if they know someone who has one that you could use.
Not only is the third one fulfilling, but you can reach a goal and feel great! even if you only put 5 dollars in it a month it’s still something omg holy shit!!
Like very few hobbies are actually expensive to start. When you are starting a hobby, especially if you are just starting a hobby, you don’t have to go balls deep with the most expensive shit that you can find. If you want to do art, you don’t have to start with a 50 dollar brush, 300 dollar paints, and a 70 dollar canvas. If you want to learn music, you don’t have to buy a 2,000 dollar instrument right off the bat and 500 dollar editing program. If you want to learn how to sew you don’t have to get a 300 dollar sewing machine and fabric that is 50 bucks a yard.
being able to live and be happy on a budget is not some lie that Corporate Rich People ™ came up with to look down on and laugh at poor people for being unhappy. In fact, all too often, (and I grew up poor so this is experience) poor people make the excuse of “I don’t have time” or “I don’t have money” whenever the topic of self-betterment comes up. Learning how to budget? No time or money. Researching some cheap and tasty meals? No time, no money. Hobbies? No time, no money.
I swear people complain day in and day out about their lives being shitty and depressing and then take every damn opportunity to never even so much as consider fixing it because “I don’t have money! and I’m too depressed!” like damn. It isn’t some system that is keeping you miserable, it is yourself, especially when you take every opportunity to never improve or try to fix your life or even make it 2 percent better
