The groundhog has spoken, which means spring should be bounding around the corner any day now. Some regions may be a bit skeptical of the change thanks to some recent cold fronts, but these snowy days may give you some time to plan out a few hobbies you might want to pick up when the weather is a whole lot nicer. Sometimes, activities can run a bit pricey though, but don’t stress out over spending a small fortune on your spring outings, because there’s lots of cheap to free options. These ten hobbies will help keep you busy as you enjoy the beautiful weather that spring brings. Of course, some of them you can even enjoy when the weather isn’t exactly cooperative. All in all, you should be able to find a bit of fun without opening your wallet.

1. Garden
Spring is the best time to enjoy gardening, which is why it is one of the top hobbies you should try out during the spring months. If you don’t already have a garden, then you might want to do a little research to see which items will grow best in your climate. From there, you can easily buy a variety of seeds while paying next to nothing. Gardening will also help bring a little more value to your home, especially if you’re concentrating on floral plants. Of course, if you plant food then it will help cut down on your grocery bill. Both of these methods of gardening can even earn you a bit of extra money as you can easily sell excess food or flowers. Of course, if you don’t have a yard, you can still do some gardening. Tomato hangers are very affordable and will allow you to garden with little effort. You can even plant seeds in some of your recycling items, such as milk jugs, oatmeal containers and even your coffee cups. You can also buy a bag of fertilizer and plant sees directly into it. It’ll help keep weeds out of your items while making your green thumb shine.

2. Cycling
Nothing will make you enjoy the fresh air quite like taking out your bicycle for a joyride and getting in a little exercise. Whether you enjoy mountain biking or taking a leisurely ride, cycling is a lot of fun for the entire family and will help burn off the extra weight you put on during the cold months. One of the best things about the nice weather is you can use your bike for commuting. This will help cut down on the amount of gas you use each week, while brightening the day and allowing you to keep your goals of staying healthier throughout the year. If you already have a bike, then this hobby shouldn’t cost you a penny unless you have maintenance to work on. If you don’t already have a bike, then the best way to work out the problem efficiently is to check out garage sales or even thrift stores. Before you know it, your small purchase should bring more savings to your life.

3. Clean
Spring cleaning is pretty much a given during this season, but you don’t have to get all of your cleaning in at once. Cleaning can be a great stress reducer, especially if you plan to clean in different sections. Try to approach each area of the home in sections so that you can make sure you clean everything that needs it. By taking your time, you won’t
miss some of the spots that tend to never get cleaned. Plus, you may even find some items you don’t need or want anymore. This, in itself could bring some extra money into the home. If you make sure to clean up everything properly then you may find items like your refrigerator run better too, which will save you a boatload of money on power as well. Not to mention, it will also allow you to find any problems that may cost you a lot of money if you don’t fix them right away.

4. Geocaching
A lot of people have jumped on the geocaching bandwagon because it combines exercise with a little investigation work. This amazing hobby can be done in many different areas and will allow you to spice up a boring afternoon without forcing you to spend a thing. The best thing about geocaching is you can get the entire family in on the fun, which will make it a great bonding experience. You can look up geocaching locations online and even have the whole family race to see who finds the location first. The best thing about geocaching is every location will hold a different item, so it will always be a surprise when you find the location. Your family may even want to create a scrapbook with some of the photos you take of each location.

5. Hiking
If you love to spend some time near the great outdoors, then hiking may be the best bet for you. This hobby only requires you to have a decent pair of shoes, which means you won’t have to fork over a lot of money in order to enjoy it. Hiking trails can be found all over the place, but if your local area doesn’t have one then you can probably find all sorts of places to walk, such as parks or even wooded areas. This activity is perfect if you’re looking for a cheap way to get some exercise, but it can also work as a way to teach children about the great outdoors. If you’re having a hard time getting the family interested in the hobby, then you may want to create a few scavenger hunts for the kids. You can even bring along a camera to document all of the exciting things you see. This season is perfect for special sightings, especially since baby animals will be frequently out and about and new flowers will be blooming.

6. Flower Arranging
Growing your own flowers can be rewarding in more ways than one, but if you learn how to arrange them you may find your hobby go from fun to financially rewarding. Anyone who has ever ordered a flower arrangement probably knows that they don’t come at a cheap price. Thus, flower arranging might be a great way to avoid spending money on flowers altogether. You can check out lots of tutorials online that won’t cost you a penny. This will allow you to practice and learn all sorts of tips and techniques. Once your flowers begin to come in more frequently then you might consider sharing your flower arrangements with the community or opening up a small stand to sell them off. If you don’t grow flowers, then you may even want to consider making paper flowers and using your arrangement skills to make them look fabulous. People will still pay for excellent arrangements like this, but they also make the perfect center piece for a special occasion or everyday décor.

7. Painting
Many believe that the natural world is at its best during the spring months, so why not get a little creative and capture the magic happening around you. Painting is one of the best ways to do this and it will allow you to kick back and relax while getting in a bit of fresh air. The best thing about painting is it can be a great stress reliever, especially if you pair it with relaxing music. Although paints may sound like an expensive option, you can save a lot of money if you stick with water colors. These paints last a whole lot longer than most of types of paint and they don’t require a special paper. The best thing is, you can take water colors with you without having to worry about a huge mess.

8. Volunteer
If there is ever a time to get busy in your community, the spring could be the perfect time. The weather is, typically, nicer and won’t force you to deal with extreme cold or heat, which is sure to make you feel more comfortable in your surroundings. This will make the volunteer experience even more fun. One of the best ways to volunteer is to join groups like Habitat for Humanity, who help build homes for people in need. If construction isn’t your thing, then you can still find lots of things to do. For instance, there is always trash in the community that can be picked up. You can work with a highway cleanup group, or have the family work to clean up your local park. You may even see if there are any groups willing to plant trees to help promote cleaner air. It doesn’t always have to be about the big picture though. You can start in your community by gardening for the elderly or helping others by walking their dogs and any other necessary chores.

9. Join a Sport
There’s lots of great sports going on during the spring months. For kids, the local community should have low cost or free leagues that will allow your child to join a soccer or baseball team. Of course, there’s plenty of sports for adults to enjoy too. For instance, tennis is one of the biggest sports during the spring months and will allow you to work out some frustration while getting in your exercise. If you like things a bit slower paced, then golf might be the perfect sport to pick up during this season. You can easily rent clubs or find a set at a thrift store if you’re looking to save money. Apart from these sports, you should also be able to find a low cost sports league for adults or a popular activity, like yoga, that you would otherwise do indoors.

10. Rock Collection
Spring is the perfect time to get outside and enjoy the fresh air. One way to encourage this may be to start rock collecting. You can find rocks just about anywhere you go, which makes this hobby incredibly convenient. You may find it a lot of fun to try to figure out which types of rocks you find in your area. Of course, if you travel then rock collecting is a hobby that can transform your little adventure into a big one. Best of all, there’s lots of maps online that can lead you to places that will allow you to collect arrowheads or other items worthy of your collection. If you really like the hobby, then you may want to get a rock polisher to help make your rocks really stand out in your collection. You may find, this hobby gets your family out of the house more and encourages the children to explore the world around them. You never know, you may even end up lucky and find a rock worth a pretty penny.

Spring is a great time to become one with Mother Nature. There’s lots of great things to do during this season, but if you’re on a budget you may end up missing some of the best things out of fear of overspending. These ten hobby ideas will allow you to have the fun you deserve without having to sacrifice too much of your hard earned money. So you can fall back in love with spring and enjoy every moment of this lively season.