45 Hobbies For Stay at Home Moms (That Won’t Blow the Budget)

Sure, life as a stay-at-home mom can be rewarding. And while I wouldn’t trade these days with my kids for anything, let’s be real. When you’re cooking and cleaning on repeat – day in and day out – it can get pretty monotonous. 

That’s why it’s so important to carve out time for yourself and discover (or rediscover) the things that bring you joy.

Hobbies aren’t just a way to pass the time. They’re an outlet for creativity. A chance to learn something new. A way to recharge so you can show up as your best self for your family.

The good news? You don’t have to spend a fortune to find a hobby you love. From activities that tap into your artistic side to ones that help you stay active, there are so many budget-friendly options that can fit into a busy mom’s schedule.

Without further delay, let’s get to that list of hobbies for stay-at-home moms – that won’t blow the budget.

Language Learning

Let’s start off with a challenge. Head over to your app store and download the free DuoLingo app. Choose a language at random (unless there’s one you’ve been dying to learn) and get started right away. 

This is what I did almost a year ago, and I randomly chose Scottish Gaelic – which actually worked out well. (Huge Outlander fan here!)

You can set reminders on your phone so you don’t forget your daily lessons. I try to complete at least one lesson daily, which takes just a few minutes. I rarely miss a day, and I’ve learned quite a bit this way!

Quick note: You can also take music lessons on DuoLingo now, in case that interests you.

Camping

Do you love spending time outdoors? Planning camping trips could be the perfect way to involve the whole family. Sure, there might be some upfront costs (if you don’t already have camping equipment). But once you have everything, the expenses should be minimal.

You could even start out with a “backyard trial run” to make sure you’re not missing anything (and to see how it goes with the kids!).

Stargazing

You don’t even need to own a telescope to get started with stargazing! Simply download any free stargazing app onto your phone, then point it toward the night sky. There are quite a few free apps that will help you identify planets and constellations.

And if you find that you really enjoy this new hobby? Consider trying your hand at astrophotography, or photographing celestial objects. You’ll need to invest in some good quality equipment, though, so this is something to consider later on.

Bird Watching

Bird watching could be as simple as filling up some feeders in your backyard. Then spend some time identifying the various birds that visit. (By the way, you’ll have a great view with an inexpensive window bird feeder.)

You can check out bird identification books from your local library for free. Or perhaps you’d like to start your own collection with books such as these. Either way, birding is a budget-friendly hobby that you can easily start at home.

Running

Jogging is a healthy hobby that you can start up immediately, as long as you have good quality shoes and comfortable clothes. 

Hiking

Hiking takes a little more planning, but the whole family can get involved in this one. If you haven’t done much hiking before, start out with some easy local trails. Then if you enjoy it, you can always explore more difficult ones later on.

Biking

Got a bicycle? Hop on and take it for a spin! Try to find some bike trails nearby that you can hit up regularly, either solo or with the family.

Yoga

Oftentimes, local communities will host yoga classes, so this could be a great way to meet people. But if that isn’t an option for you, try practicing yoga at home. You’ll find a variety of free yoga videos on YouTube.

Roller Skating

I loved rollerblading as a kid! As an adult, I’m not convinced that I won’t gravely hurt myself. However, if you dare…put on a pair or rollerblades or skates and give it a try.

Pickleball

Full disclosure: I’ve never played pickleball and, honestly, I’m still not sure exactly what it is. But it’s become pretty popular lately, so it must be fun! If you can fit it into your schedule, consider signing up for community pickleball classes.

Watercolor Painting

It doesn’t cost much to get started with watercolor painting. Just some paints, brushes, and watercolor paper – like those in this set, in fact. Plus, cleanup is a breeze!

And you’ll find plenty of free tutorials for watercolor beginners online (I love YouTube for this sort of thing!). 

Colored Pencil Art

Every once in a while, I’ll sit down to color with my girls, usually with colored pencils. It’s been a lot of fun playing around with layering and blending colors! The great thing is that you only need colored pencils and a coloring book (or sketch book) to get started. 

Truthfully, Crayola pencils have worked pretty well for me. Although you can upgrade to some nicer quality pencils whenever you’re ready. And if you need help with colored pencil techniques, you’ll find tutorials on YouTube.

Here’s a pear I drew and colored following a YouTube tutorial:

Continuous Line Contour Drawing

I find the idea of continuous line contour drawing intriguing, and maybe one of these days I’ll give it a try. Watch this video to see what it is, then grab a pen or pencil and a pad of paper and get started!

Graphic Design

Love the idea of blending art and technology? Consider taking an online class on graphic design basics to test the waters. Who knows – maybe you’ll even discover your next career!

Whittling

Whittling is the art of carving wood with a blade. Imagine starting out with a block of wood and ending up with a cute critter. Getting started is as simple as watching an online tutorial and selecting your supplies.

Pottery

Granted, I haven’t done any pottery since High School art class…. But it seems like the perfect hobby for someone who wants to get their hands dirty. 

Check out your local community education for beginner pottery classes. (Or perhaps online tutorials, if that’s more up your alley.) Then grab some clay, a pottery wheel, and shaping tools – like those in this handy-dandy starter kit. 

Jewelry Making

When you make your own jewelry, you’ll always have the perfect accessories for any outfit! Of course, there are a lot of different types of jewelry to consider: 

• Polymer clay 
• Wire-wrapped
• Enameled
• Fabricated
• Hand stamped
• Beaded

And if you find that you really enjoy jewelry making, you could turn it into a business, perhaps even selling your creations on Etsy.

Resin Art

Resin art is super cool! You mix resin with ink or paint to create patterns – you can even make resin art jewelry. Breast milk resin art jewelry has been a popular trend lately, creating a fun keepsake for nursing mamas.  

Candle Making 

A few years back, I tried my hand at soy candle making with a kit like this one. Eventually, I lost interest, due to not being someone who actually burns candles, but I still have a few of the ones I’d made.

Soap Making

Soap making is a creative and practical hobby that lets you craft custom soaps. You can experiment with colors, scents, and herbs or essential oils. Not only is it a relaxing activity, but it can also turn into a thoughtful gift idea or a small business venture.

DIY Home Projects

DIY home projects are a great way to add a personal touch to your living space while saving money. From painting furniture to creating custom wall decor, the possibilities are endless. 

Raising Chickens

Okay, admittedly, this might not be the most budget-friendly hobby in the world. But once you have the proper setup, you could make some of that money back by selling eggs. 

Raising chickens is a rewarding hobby that teaches valuable lessons about sustainability. It’s a great way for moms to involve their kids in caring for animals and understanding where food comes from.

Beekeeping

Beekeeping is a hobby that supports the environment while offering a sweet reward. It’s perfect for stay-at-home moms who love nature and want to contribute to local pollination. With the right equipment and knowledge, it can be an educational activity for the whole family.

Gardening

We’re in the depths of winter here in Minnesota, and I’m already dreaming about fresh garden veggies! My husband and I have planted a garden for the past three summers, and we’ve learned so much about growing food already.

It’s a therapeutic hobby that allows you to grow your own flowers, vegetables, or herbs. And it’s a wonderful way to spend time outdoors, connect with nature, and even teach kids about plant life cycles. Whether you have a big backyard or just a few pots on a patio, gardening can fit any lifestyle.

One summer I grew a ton of tomato plants in fabric containers, in addition to our regular garden:

Growing Indoor Plants

Growing indoor plants is a relaxing hobby that brings greenery and fresh air into your home. Plus, it requires minimal space and can help create a calming environment. 

I love having low-maintenance indoor plants (and so do my cats, unfortunately!). Still, I currently have a spider plant that lives in a hanging basket – perfect to keep it out of the cats’ reach.

Herbology 

Herbology is the study and use of plants for their medicinal and culinary properties. It’s a great way to deepen your connection with nature while promoting health and wellness.

Food Canning

Food canning is particularly great for those with gardens. It’s the perfect way to preserve fruits, veggies, and homemade sauces. Plus, you get to stock your pantry with healthy foods, reduce waste, and enjoy seasonal produce all year round.

Sourdough Baking

Sourdough baking is a popular and rewarding hobby. It combines science and creativity to produce delicious, homemade bread (and other goodies!). In fact, I recently made my own sourdough starter, and it kind of feels like nurturing a tiny kitchen pet. 

Don’t want to start from scratch? No worries – you can buy established sourdough starters online.

Cake Decorating

Honestly, the extent of my cake decorating skills are limited to my own kids’ birthday cakes. Still, it’s a great way for stay-at-home moms to get started with cake decorating. And if you discover that you love it, you could hone your skills and start a home-based cake-decorating business.

My most recent creation (a woodland-themed cake for my 6-year-old’s and 3-year-old’s birthday party):

Crochet or Knitting

I’ve never knitted, but I have enjoyed crocheting in the past. I’ll admit, I’ve only made ‘flat’ projects, like washcloths, scarves, and blankets. To get started, you’ll need some yarn and hooks (or a starter kit like this one).

Both are relaxing hobbies that allow you to make a number of fun items. You can knit or crochet in short bursts, perfect for squeezing in moments of creativity throughout the day. Plus, your finished projects can even be turned into thoughtful gifts.

Cross Stitch

With cross stitch, you can create detailed artwork, one stitch at a time. Just look for a pattern that suits your skill level, and dive right in!

Sewing

Learn how to sew, and you’ll face endless creative possibilities! Sewing is also a practical skill that can save you money, while providing the opportunity for creating a number of gifts or products to sell.

Piano Lessons

Interested in learning how to play the piano? It’s a great way to improve mental focus and emotional expression. If you have a piano or keyboard already, you can take lessons online at your convenience.

Don’t have a piano? No worries! You can get started by taking music lessons on DuoLingo.

Scrapbooking

I used to love scrapbooking, although I haven’t done it in quite awhile now. It’s a creative and nostalgic hobby that allows you to preserve memories in a pretty book. 

Card Making

Card making is a great way to combine creativity and practicality. You can try out different techniques: stamping, embossing, and embellishing, for example. And you’ll end up with heartfelt cards to share with family and friends!

Calligraphy

To get started with calligraphy, you only need an inexpensive calligraphy kit like this one. And once you’ve honed your skills, you can use them to create beautiful cards, invitations, and home decor.

Photography

Photography is the perfect hobby when it comes to capturing everyday moments and making them into beautiful memories. You can start out with a good quality smartphone camera, moving onto a professional camera later on. And perhaps you could eventually turn your hobby into a photography business.

Videography

Videography enables moms to capture videos of family moments, milestones, or creative projects. And with modern technology, you can create professional videos to share with loved ones – or even start a vlog.

Genealogy 

Genealogy is a fascinating hobby that involves researching and tracing your family history. You can dive into historical records, build family trees, and uncover stories about ancestors. 

Reading

I was an avid reader as a kid, but stopped reading for pleasure at some point as an adult. It’s a relaxing hobby, though, that gives you a chance to escape into a new world. 

Over the past few years, I’ve pushed myself to do more “fun” reading. I’m currently working my way through the Outlander novels. 

The best part is that, even if you can’t get to the library, you can often check out digital books through an app — check with your local library to see what app they use.

Journaling

Journaling is a great way to relieve stress, organize thoughts, and process emotions. And there are a lot of different journaling methods to try: 

• Gratitude journaling
• Bullet journaling
• Dream journaling
• Art journaling
• Junk journaling

Whether you’re jotting down daily experiences, setting goals, or practicing gratitude, it’s a great way to cultivate mindfulness.

Poetry

I used to really enjoy writing poetry as a kid. Whether writing free verse or structured forms, it can be a powerful outlet for self-reflection and storytelling.

Story Writing

Whether crafting short stories, novels, or children’s tales, it’s a great way to channel creativity and explore new ideas. 

This hobby can also be shared with your family, turning your stories into bedtime tales or cherished keepsakes. I wrote a lot of stories as a child, then I would read them to my family (I don’t do much story writing these days, although I think about it every so often!). 

Blogging

Clearly, blogging is another hobby of mine, even though it’s also a business venture. If it’s truly just a hobby for you, you can start out using free blog builders. But if you hope to make it a business someday, it’s best to buy a domain and pay for hosting (I currently use NameHero). 

Podcasting

Podcasting is an engaging hobby that allows you to connect with a broader audience. It’s a creative outlet that you can tailor to your schedule. And all you need is a microphone, a topic, and some editing tools.

Final Thoughts

Over the past six years as a stay-at-home mom, I’ve put all my “extra” energy into freelancing and blogging. But lately, I’ve been itching to explore some new hobbies. 

So far, I’ve added a spider plant to the family (and she’s thriving!). I’ve made a from-scratch sourdough starter – results to be determined. I’ve also enjoyed coloring with my kids and discovering colored pencil techniques. 

So, what are you waiting for? Don’t overthink it; choose something that sounds interesting. In fact, try a few different things. 

Then jump right in and have fun!

Read More:

How to Be a Productive Stay-at-Home Mom (Without the Overwhelm)

27 Stay-at-Home Mom Hacks That You Need to Know

Creating a Cleaning Schedule (That You Can Actually Follow)