I love not spending money.
I also love hobbies, which can be a dangerous combination because a lot of hobbies are secretly just shopping with extra steps.
You start with the activity. Then you find the subreddit. Then you watch the YouTube videos. Then suddenly you are comparing gear you do not understand yet and convincing yourself that you need the expensive version because it will “last longer.”
I have done this more times than I would like to admit.
But I've also found myself gravitating toward hobbies that are cheap once you actually start doing them. Some have an upfront cost, but even those you can try out without spending a dime.
There is something freeing about finding fun that doesn't require a transaction every time.
Hiking
I didn't always love hiking as much as I do now.
Recently, though, it has become one of those things that stays in my head for months after I do it. There is just something about being outside, away from everything, moving slowly through nature, and not needing much else.
Hiking has different flavors too. There is day hiking, backpacking, thru hiking, trail running, and probably a bunch of other versions I haven't tried yet. I think the broader category is just getting outside and letting your brain quiet down for a while.
Backpacking is probably my favorite version, but it's also the easiest one to overcomplicate. The gear can get expensive fast. A good backpack, sleeping pad, shelter, shoes, layers, food setup, and all the little things add up.
And if you are backpacking, a lighter backpack really does help. Your back and legs will thank you. But you also do not need to have the perfect ultralight setup before you go outside. It is very easy to delay the actual experience because you are still optimizing the gear, which is a trap I try to avoid. I even had a camping trip with no stove or tent. I wouldn't recoomend it, but it's doable.
The best part of hiking is not buying the equipment. It is the feeling after. The tired legs, the view, the random conversations, the small memories that become way bigger in your mind later. I recommend it to everyone.
Reading
Reading is probably the cheapest hobby that can take up the most time(that's a good thing I promise).
There is something for everyone. You can read to escape. You can read to learn. You can read something that makes you feel understood, or something that challenges the way you see the world.
It's also one of the few hobbies where the free version is genuinely great.
Libraries are amazing. And now libraries are online too. Libby makes it easy to borrow books and audiobooks from your local library without even leaving your house. That still feels kind of insane to me.
I like that reading gives you the feeling of building something slowly. Your attention gets better. Your taste gets better. You start noticing ideas from one book show up in another part of your life.
It is not flashy. Nobody is really impressed that you sat down and read for an hour. But it feels good in a deeper way than most cheap dopamine habits do.
And unlike a lot of entertainment, it does not have to keep asking for money.
Running
I've also found a love for running.
Running is funny because technically you only need your two feet, but it is very easy to convince yourself that you need way more.
You can start thinking you need the perfect pair of shoes, a watch, a running vest, special socks, gels, apps, races, and whatever else. Some of that stuff is genuinely helpful, especially if you are training for something. I am not against gear.
But the core activity is still simple.
You go outside. You move. You come back feeling better than when you left.
That is a pretty good deal.
It is important to take it slow, especially at the beginning. Running can humble you fast if you try to force it. But once you get past the awkward first stage, it becomes weirdly addictive. The runner’s high is real. So is the satisfaction of seeing yourself get a little better over time.
It is also one of the easiest ways to meet people. Most places have some kind of local running community, and a lot of them are way more welcoming than people assume.
You do not need to be fast. You do not need to look like a runner. You can just show up.
There are also plenty of free run tracking apps if you want to see your progress. A watch is nice, but your phone is enough to start.
The bigger point
I do not think money should be the main barrier between someone and a happy life.
Of course money helps. I am not going to pretend it does not. Having more breathing room makes life easier.
But the more I find joy in things that do not require constant spending, the more freeing my life feels. Not because I am trying to never spend money. That sounds miserable. I still want to buy things I care about. I still want to travel. I still want to eat good food and do fun stuff with friends.
The difference is that I do not want every good feeling in my life to depend on buying something.
That is a big part of how I think about Chirpin too. The goal is not to make spending feel bad. The goal is to protect the money you actually care about, so you can spend with more confidence.
If coffee fits your plan, buy the coffee. If hiking gear is worth it because it gets you outside for years, maybe that is a great purchase. If a race fee gives you a goal that keeps you running for months, that might be money well spent.
But if you already know a purchase is going to become regret later, it is nice to have some friction before it happens.
That is the balance I am trying to find.
Spend on what makes life better. Protect the rest.
And in the meantime, I am going to keep looking for hobbies that make me happy without constantly asking me to swipe my card.