Budgets Are Sexy (2026)

Saving money on budgets sexy does not need to be complicated. Here is a clear, no nonsense rundown of what works and how to make the most of it.

Key Takeaways

• One concept I have recently been exposed to is high cost versus low cost hobbies and interests.
• It’s a pretty straightforward concept: A low cost hobby would be reading, while a high cost hobby would be snowboarding.
• So I evaluated some of my interests and it’s not consistently pretty… nor justifiable if I am trying to grab my financial house in order.
• Worth noting: some of the results are surprising, though (poker is not only a low cost hobby of mine but a profitable one!).

Getting the Most From Budgets Sexy

[Guest Post by David Carlson of Dinks Finance] Now that I’m in my early 20s and will graduate college soon, I’ve had to come to terms with the reality of my debt, cost of living, and the true value of each dollar I earn. One concept I have recently been exposed to is high cost versus low cost hobbies and interests.

• It’s a pretty straightforward concept: A low cost hobby would be reading, while a high cost hobby would be snowboarding.
• So I evaluated some of my interests and it’s not consistently pretty… nor justifiable if I am trying to grab my financial house in order.
• Worth noting: some of the results are surprising, though (poker is not only a low cost hobby of mine but a profitable one!).

Tips That Make a Difference

Here they are: 1) Snowboarding - I started snowboarding regarding five years ago. When all was said and done it was regarding $700 to begin (including a season pass).

• While this was a highly high cost it was worth it at the time since I knew it was kind of a now or at no point aspect where I just had to grab out there and do it.
• More importantly, i’m glad I did it back then, but unless I am going to order a season pass and go 30-40 times it’s hard to justify spending $40 to go out for a few hours of fun.
• Result: High Cost 2) Golf - Golf is something that I have been casually engaged in for regarding seven years.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

I got some affordable clubs (only regarding $130 for a full set). It’s so difficult, though, not having a high income and trying to take part in golfing.

• Remember that how can you justify $20-$30 for a round of golf?.
• While I do see it as a solid “investment” since I can do it probably for the rest of my life, I grab frustrated not having the finances to go out to the driving range a few times a week to stay in top form.
• Even if you do have a significant income, there is no denying that golf is an pricey sport.

Is Budgets Sexy Worth It?

Result: High Cost 3) Reading - While I love collecting books, I too love grabbing books for free from the library. As a rule, i could grab three books, spend two months finishing them all and have spent $0 (not counting gas and opportunity cost) by going to the library instead of purchasing on the web.

• Reading is quite possibly one of the lowest cost activities you can take part in!.
• Especially if you like reading in demand books since they are almost consistently available at the library.
• Too, reading articles and blogs on the web is extremely low cost; almost all content is free!.

Where the Real Savings Hide

In short, result: Low Cost 4) Poker - I had to throw this one in here since this is the the majority of “out of the ordinary” hobby I have. I love playing poker.

• I have logged a ridiculous number of hours playing on the web poker and live casino play.
• Personally knowing people who have made over a million playing (see this article regarding a guy from my high school who made $250,000 in one tournament) gave me a little motivation to stick to it ; ) But this is actually a low cost activity for me, as I’ve made money (not much more than a few grand, but I enjoy it).
• Worth noting: if you haven’t played much ahead of I would be prepared for this to begin as a HIGH cost hobby.

A Closer Look at Budgets Sexy

Result: Low Cost (for me!) So as you can see, I have a mix of high cost and low cost activities. I am trying harder to focus on the low cost activities such as reading and poker, while minimizing the high cost activities until my spending plan can justify them.

• If that means staying in and watching TV or a $1 movie from Redbox, that’s okay with me.
• More importantly, one final note I wanted to build is that the cost of an activity too has to do with how much you engage in the activity.
• As I pointed out above, the variable cost of snowboarding drops significantly if I order a season pass and go 50 times.

What to Know About Budgets Sexy

Likewise, an activity such as board games can seem to be low cost until you spend $30 on that chess board you used once in five years. It all has to do with your interests, your time, and what builds sense to you financially.

• Remember that what low and high cost hobbies do you have?.
• Do you have any suggestions for low cost activities that readers might wish to look into? , , , , , - David works in finance and will be graduating in December 2010.
• He is currently in a serious relationship and lives in Minnesota.

How Budgets Sexy Really Works

He has been blogging for two years now on topics as diverse as music, politics, and of course personal finance. As a rule, you can follow him on twitter @DavidCarlson1. (Kick ass photo by Evil Erin) (Visited 273 times, 1 visits right now) Grab blog posts automatically emailed to you!

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I save money on budgets sexy?

Compare prices across a few retailers, look for active coupon codes, and time bigger buys around sales events. One concept I have recently been exposed to is high cost versus low cost hobbies and interests.

Is it worth shopping around for budgets sexy?

Usually yes. It’s a pretty straightforward concept: A low cost hobby would be reading, while a high cost hobby would be snowboarding.

Smart Ways to Save More on Budgets Sexy

• Stack a coupon code with an existing sale whenever the store allows it.
• Sign up for the retailer newsletter to catch first time and seasonal discounts.
• Compare the final price including shipping, not just the headline number.
• Check for student, military, or first order offers you may qualify for.
• Time non urgent purchases around major sale events for the deepest cuts.

Final Thoughts

Put these ideas to work and budgets sexy gets a lot less expensive. Bookmark this page, check back for fresh deals, and let the savings do the talking.

Originally published at budgetsaresexy.com.