Hobbies are great as long as it doesn’t involve something weird like… I don’t know… armed robbery. A typical hobby can give you something worthwhile to take up your time, make you happy, and sometimes keep you out of trouble (unless you’re a robber). But this is an area where too much can be a bad thing. Like I said, hobbies take up your time. They can also take up your money. All of this is okay. It’s important to have something in your life that provides a sense of fulfillment, and it’s okay to spend money on that. However, too many hobbies can be draining… to both your time and your wallet. It could lead to credit card debt if you overspend.
Our credit counseling advice is to find ways to budget for your hobbies.
For example…
- I like photography. I’ve purchased some high-end gear over the years, but I always find myself wishing I had more time and energy to use it more often. I also sell prints of my photos in a few local stores, and it takes a lot of time to properly package the photos for display and keep track of inventory.
- I also like staying in some sort of shape, and basketball is my sport of choice. I play in a league once a week, but sometimes shoot around with friends on other days.
- I’ve been wanting to take up the drums for years, and I was given a drum set this past holiday season. That negates the bulk of the expense for this hobby, but I just still haven’t had the time to play, and I’ll need to set up lessons.
See where I’m going with this? I am passionate about all of these things, but it’s tough to find the time and the money to keep up with them all. You could easily go over budget and wind up in debt. When hobbies become a burden or a chore, it might be time to let something go. At least, for a little while. So, for me, the drums are on the back burner. I’m committed to my basketball league right now, and this is a busy season for tourists who might buy my photos. So I need to stay on top of that.
Your situation may not match mine exactly, but the point is that hobbies are important. However, they can also sometimes distract you from other important things like family, relationships, health, or your career. Find a healthy balance of hobbies and your responsibilities so that no areas of your life go neglected.
If you’re struggling to pay off debt, ACCC can help. Schedule a free credit counseling session with us today.
