30 Old-School Hobbies Worth Picking Up

Try your hand at calligraphy. It takes a lot of practice, but the ability to create beautiful pieces of art and address mail like a boss is well worth it. Just be careful, your friends may constantly ask you to write out invitations for them!

Knitting is an easy skill to learn and incredibly functional! You can whip together cozy blankets and socks while you continue to binge-watch whatever show you're currently addicted to. Plus, you can always knit people something as a gift!

You may be surprised to find that journaling can be both therapeutic and meaningful. Spending an hour freewriting your feelings, thoughts, and hopes can leave you feeling centered and relaxed. Plus, it could become a personal family heirloom for your children.

Like knitting, sewing is a functional hobby. All it takes is learning a few simple stitches to be able to mend clothes and make simple crafts, such as pillows. After mastering the basics, you can learn to cut patterns and create custom clothing. Who knows, maybe you’ll be inspired to become a designer!

Candles make a house feel and smell like a home, but purchasing them can be costly. It’s a little old school to make your own candles, we know, but it’s a fun project to do on the weekend. As an added bonus, you can make them any color or scent you want!

We won’t lie about canning: It’s a demanding hobby that requires serious work. The important thing is that it leaves you with oodles of tasty food that will store safely for a long time. Homemade jams and jellies make excellent gifts as well, so you can always use them as budget-friendly Christmas gifts.

If you weren't lucky enough to have a parent or grandparent with a knack for woodworking, then you might not understand why it can be such a fun hobby. The process of building a cabinet, shed, or anything else with just some wood and nails is both physically and mentally satisfying. You’ll also have a keepsake you can be proud of and hand down through the family.

If you want a lucrative old school hobby, then this is it. You’ll need to devote a lot of time to researching and hunting coins down, of course. It will be worth it in the end when you have a small fortune in antique coins, though.

Disc golf is a flying disc sport (kinda like frisbee) where you throw a disc at a target. The rules are similar to golf, and it’s even played on courses with nine to 18 holes. It’s easy, gets you outside, and only requires a golf disc, which is slightly smaller than the average frisbee. 

Leatherworking is pretty versatile. Most start out making coin pouches, but after a little practice, you can make wallets, jackets, and belts. The tools are easy to purchase online, and all you really need after that is leather!

Coffee roasting is as expensive as you want to make it. Some people roast in a skillet while others spend a couple hundred on a machine. The good news is that no matter which way you roast your coffee, you’ll save money. Depending on the beans, you could save something like $400 per year.

We personally think pocket watches and regular watches should come back. If you have the eye for it, horology (or watchmaking) is a great hobby. It takes time and patience, so it’s one of the more relaxing hobbies on the list. Watches also make unique presents during Christmas and birthdays.

Now is the time for gardening. There are more options than ever whether you love gardening indoors or outdoors. For beginners, you can buy baby plants, or you could go all out and purchase seeds. Since most plants propagate (create new plant babies) via clippings, it’s also an incredibly cheap hobby if you know where to look. 

Writing is super relaxing, which is great after a long day at work. Don’t know what to write? No problem! Simply look up a prompt. There are prompts for every genre (horror, romance, sci-fi, etc.), so you’ll always have something new to jot down.

All photography really takes is a camera. Since many smartphones come with good cameras, you can use that one. However, many professionals will suggest you purchase a cheap one as it’ll probably be higher quality than a smartphone. Then, start messing around with settings and take great pictures to show friends and family. 

Ever wondered where you come from? Thanks to the Internet, it’s pretty easy to trace back your ancestry. If you want to get really in-depth, you can even visit libraries for physical copies of documents related to your family tree. 

There’s a surprising amount of antique furniture on the market, but the only downside is that it’s in bad shape. Actually, wait. That’s a good thing! Restoring antique furniture is a rewarding hobby that could yield money in the long run. It’s a lot of elbow grease, but a great way to decorate your home or make extra cash. 

Multi-taskers sometimes have a difficult time hiking because their mind isn’t always active. Doing two things at once, like hiking and foraging, is a great hobby. Foraging takes a lot of learning to find out what is toxic and what can be used. Not to mention, it’ll take you off the beaten path to find some pretty amazing spots.

Tai chi is based in martial arts but involves slow movements and deep breaths, kinda like yoga. Several studies have found benefits in this type of exercise. A study in the Journal of Clinical Psychology showed that tai chi reduced stress. Another one published on NCBI found it can help you sleep better.

Practicing archery is more than shooting an arrow at a target. Since it’s a solo-activity (although it can be a group activity), you can go at your own pace, which can help you relax. Archery also increases strength in your arms and hand-eye coordination.

Thrifting has fallen out of style, but it should come back with force. Shopping at a thrift store, flea market, or garage sale could result in amazing finds at a fraction of the price. You never know what you may find!

Fishing is relaxing and helps you save money by putting food on the table. All you need is a fishing rod and some water. Take some time out of the week to sit by the lake and stare at the water (and occasionally reel in a fish). 

Most people buy their jewelry, but they don’t have to. Everything seems mass-produced, so making your own jewelry can be fun and lucrative. People are clamoring for unique, one-of-a-kind pieces, so you could make jewelry and sell it on sites like Etsy.

Sure, you could buy your IPAs at the store, or you could brew your own. It’s actually pretty easy to brew drinks, no matter what type you like. You also have the ability to customize it to your preference.

You’re never too old to learn a new instrument. If you’re strapped for cash, a cheap guitar or harmonica could be the choice for you. If you have a few hundred to drop on an instrument, a woodwind or violin works. Once you learn how to read the music, the sky’s the limit!

You may have seen a historical reenactment or two, but have you ever thought about being in them? Historical reenactments aren’t always professional actors. Sometimes, they’re just people who love history and want a way to be a part of it all.

“Dancing” is pretty vague since there are a million different types—waltz, tango, swing, salsa, line, ballet, breakdancing, etc. Even the slower dancing styles are great exercise and gets you around people who enjoy doing the same thing. 

Can you ever have too much soap? No, you can’t. Soap making gives you the ability to customize your cleaners to what your skin needs, whether it’s oils or exfoliants. Soaps also make great presents during the holidays. 

Anyone that’s gotten into scrapbooking knows that it can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. Scrapbooking, when using actual scraps, can be pretty cheap. It’s almost like a game to find something that would work great in your book without spending an arm and leg at Hobby Lobby.

It’s time to paint some happy little trees! Painting is another relaxing hobby, and there are dozens of different techniques to try. Even those that aren’t artistically inclined can paint using acrylic pour, which is putting paint in a cup and pouring it on a canvas.