It May Be a Hobby, But It Can Save You Money

Hobbies may keep us sane during difficult times, but have you considered how yours could also save you money? Take a second look at your skills and interests and see how they can boost your funds.

Cooking From Scratch: A Healthy, Money-Saving Hobby

Do you enjoy weekend cooking? Try extending it to the week; you’ll be amazed at how much more money remains in your pocket when you drop the carryout habit. ABC News reported in 2014 that cooking at home twice a week would save one couple $2,227 over fast food in a year. Cooking, it turns out, takes just a few more minutes than the time it takes to pick up dinner, even from a fast-food restaurant. Once you get in the habit of cooking from scratch, consider making these low-cost and healthy alternatives to carryout:

• Dried beans, which cost pennies a pound and can be used to make veggie burgers
• Potatoes to cut up and bake in oven for fries
• Bulk apples to make homemade applesauce
• Dried whole herbs, which last longer than ground ones; grind as needed in a food processor or old coffee grinder

Even the extra cost from using the oven or stove is far less than gasoline burned for the extra driving to pick up dinner. You can also cheat with the oven by using the warm-up time to start cooking your meal, according to Wise Bread, which also says that each time you open an oven to check on the progress inside, you lose 25 degrees. Use the oven light instead.

If Hunting’s Your Hobby, Shoot for Your Kitchen

It’s no accident that the number of hunting and fishing licenses purchased rose during the Great Recession as more people rediscovered inexpensive outdoor recreation (and they haven’t dropped to pre-recession levels, either). If money remains tight, consider hunting the food you like. Consider hunting turkey as an alternative to chicken, a relatively fatty bird. Turkey is low in fat and high in protein and includes iron, zinc, phosphorus, potassium and B vitamins, according to the University of Illinois Extension Urban Programs Resource Network, which notes there are “hundreds” of ways to cook turkey.

Turkey isn’t a very expensive bird to purchase frozen but like any meat, it tastes best when it’s fresh. And you can shoot turkey in every state but Alaska, according to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology (yes, there are wild turkeys in Hawaii). Each state has set seasons for turkey hunting and rules hunters must follow, such as a bag limit and hunting hours; check with the National Wild Turkey Federation for specific state information.

Turkey can be hunted with a simple shotgun or bow. Cabela’s offers excellent turkey hunting resources for first-timers and experienced hunters. Check out the video tips and and listen to turkey call experts, which kids are sure to enjoy.