What is a hobby that you spent thousands of dollars to get into? —Is it still fulfilling? —And do you have any regrets about the purchase(s)?
What is a hobby that you spent thousands of dollars to get into? —Is it still fulfilling? —And do you have any regrets about the purchase(s)?
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I’m sure this is the most obvious one but , gaming.
(Between desk , chair , monitors , pc etc) I must have spent like 3k
I have 0 regrets, it’s something I still enjoy sure I don’t play as much as I used too but there’s still plenty of days where I sit down and just enjoy getting lost in a video game. If I sat down and did the math then over then over the years I’ve spent less than a dollar per hour played.
More than the cost I’ve made a solid group of friends , fun memories , and days where I’m genuinely excited about getting home so I can play.
Life sucks so if you can find something to look forward too no matter how small then I consider that fulfilling
Snowboarding is super expensive but seeing the most beautiful views in the world is definitely worth it. It’s such an amazing experience that if you can afford it, is worth it
Pottery. I would have bought and tested a bunch of different clays instead of going all in on one clay just because the description seemed to be what I needed. It’s been three years and I still have a stack of 450lbs of clay that doesn’t work with my glazes
Fishing and Musical instruments. Mainly my drum set. Yes, they are both absolutely fulfilling and no i do not regret it
Motorcycles. I regret not a single dollar. Still the most enjoyment I get out of any activity on the planet.
Prepping! I am ready for anything Trump can F**K up!
Car enthusiasts. 😩
I spend at least $60 a month on dance classes. Add on to that each month usually involves me going to a dance or two with $10-15 entry fee. Let’s call that $90/month. Three or four times a year I drop about $800 bucks to go to a dance event in another city. This includes hotel cost and the tickets for said event. That adds up (low balling) to be around $4300 a year.
Is it worth it?! Yes!!! It’s a great hobby where I met most of my friends!!
I have two expensive hobbies:
Vinyl records (turntables, speakers, amps, records etc…)
Ice hockey (travel expenses, licence, equipment)
But both are wayyyy worth it for me. Fulfilling the soul and body, making friends.
I didn’t spend thousands but definitely several hundred. It was a cricut machine and tons and tons of paper. Pens and cutters and all the tools.
Scuba diving, between purchasing my own equipment and average one major trip per year outside the United States for a week of live aboard diving off a boat been worth every penny seeing parts of the planet that most people will never see
Photography. Gear, computer, travel. Repeat. Absolutely no regrets. So many amazing memories from all around the world.
Shooting and scuba
Yes, still loving both
Saltwater reef aquarium. Very fulfilling, but it is expensive.
I would say: all of them. I am into woodworking, the tools are so expensive, thousands of euros are in my little workshop. And then I like other crafts too like knitting and crocheting – you cannot imagine the amount of yarn I bought. 2 years ago I started sewing and have now two high end sewing machines at home and lots of fabric. Newest tool I bought for spinning: a spinning wheel (actually two of them, a manual wheel and an e-spinner). All of it worth it in my opinion. I love everything I do and can do with my tools.
Horses.
My husband calls them a black hole in the pasture that I throw money into.
Mountain biking.
Thousands of dollars to get into it, but you get to meet a ton of great people, have awesome adventures, see amazing views, and get a lot of great exercise.
Mountain biking and mineral collecting. No regrets. Both hobbies have taken me to incredible places, introduced me to new friends, and have improved my fitness and health. I got so into mineral collecting that I bought a mine.
Vinyl records and stereo equipment. Now I just look at it all and think of all the money I wasted and what I could have done with it.
Horses. I don’t regret it but my attitude has changed.
I’m not sure what the total cost of all my ski gear is – certainly many thousands of dollars. Zero regrets, I look forward to winter every single year.
Beanie babies…100% regret
Watch collecting is a slippery slope. It can start with a $100 digital watch, progress to $1000 Swiss automatic watch and then inevitably you have to have the luxury: Omega, Cartier & Rolex which creep into the 5 figure range.
Some also get into the holy trinity: AP, Patek & Vacheron Constantin which cost the price of a good new car lol.
Sailing. I could have bought a second house with the money I spent on it but it’s worth every cent.
Warhammer and PC gaming.
So far no regrets and it’s still fulfilling. Only thing I wish is that there are more people playing Warhammer in my area.
Freemasonry, yeah, and nah
Does thousands collectively on different hobbies that I every couple of months count?
If so, I don’t regret it. Thousands over the course of 5 years isn’t that bad considering the joy and distractions from society’s problems that learning a new hobby has brought me
Fuck. Uh mountain biking, rock climbing, mountaineering, AT skiing, pack rafting, auto racing, overlanding….
Do not regret any of the money spent. I am perfectly willing to shell out good money for amazing experiences and opportunities.
A nice stereo and records. I don’t regret it, it brings me great joy. I can enjoy it alone or with others.
Snowmobiling to get backcountry snowboard runs…no regrets!
Sim racing!! I was never a big car guy and even got my driving license late around my mid twenties. It all started with me trying a pc setup that had vr and a cheap racing wheel. From there I started spending thousands of hours/dollars on the hobby and it made me a wayyy less anxious driver and a new appreciation for the automobile industry. These day I play less but I still get a crazy feeling shifting up and the end of a turn or overtaking an opponent on the last turn of a 30 minutes race!! (I also learned how to drive stick thanks to my racing rig!)
I have 3, ranked in order of the most money spent on them lol:
Gardening close to $10k over 2 properties
Scootering $3500+
Embroidery $1000ish
I still do all of them regularly, I don’t really have any serious regrets. I wish that maybe I’d have bought a scooter from a bigger brand to get some features like phone unlock, but when I bought it, very few big brands had a 10in+ tired, dual motored, chunky suspensioned, trail rated scooter.
Guitar. You can never own enough guitars, amps, pedals and other accessories. But it’s a really fun and rewarding hobby. It’s a great way to relax and it’s fun to play in a band even if the band will never make any money.
Sewing – I have 2 sewing machines, a serger, a fabric shape cutter, really good fabric scissors, cutting matt and tons of other materials and equipment. Yes it’s fulfilling. I make quilts for myself and others that are personalized. I made bears for my great nieces and nephews, blouses wall hangings, curtains and other things that were made of fabrics that I picked out. I made bags that are the way I want them to look. I would never be able to buy what I have made.
Mountain biking. No regrets
Weaving! Worth every penny
Fishing is an endless rabbit hole of gear! But getting out into nature and spending time on the water gives a great sense of peace too
Mountain biking!
Cars. I’ve done multiple restorations. I’ve been building sleepers since I was a teenager. Late 70s Malibus, 80s crown Vic’s, Subaru outbacks. There was a Merkur XR4Ti in there. I’ve spent who knows how much money, at least 100,000 grand. I probably could have done a lot with that money. But I don’t regret it. Those late nights in the garage. Turning wrenches, welding, sanding, pouring over electrical diagrams. It forged the man I am for better or worse. Worth it or not, I turned ordinary, worn out things and built them into something uniquely mine. Something tangible what you can touch and drive was created. And that does have value, even if it’s impossible to assign a number to it.
Being a musician. I’ve spent thousands of dollars between new instruments, private lessons, plug-ins and programs, and it has been worth every penny to see my creative visions executed.
Plus, I have met tons of amazing friends across the world through online collaborations.
The only thing I wish is that I could do this full time as a career (while still keeping my terms on everything)… but unfortunately music doesn’t pay well enough consistently to be worthwhile for me as a career.
My carbon fiber mountain bike is the best life investment I’ve ever made. It’s the best pure form of exercise I’ve ever done. As I’m now almost 70, i’m transitioning to kayaking.
I’m not sure if I have reached thousands but check out the sbcgamimg Reddit. And yes, it is fulfilling
Lego. It’s the only thing I spend a lot of money on regularly, but I’m always building (or demolishing) something. So it is money well spend. Per hour of joy not that much.
I also play the bassoon. They are EXPENSIVE. The price of a small car. But also enjoy that so money well spend. And you only spend it once, upkeep isn’t breaking the bank.
Playing guitar. Five years later I still suck. It’s been a choppy experience. And I have a laughable amount of equipment for someone who can’t really play.
And I’m not even a dentist.
Auto Racing definitely fulfilling and no regrets at all.
I stumbled into collecting Czech posters (all date from the existence of Czechoslovakia.) They are fascinating historically, they have wonderful graphic design from multiple periods, and they are rather underpriced compared to classic travel posters or French advertising posters, for example. I have found a lot of great Czech poster bargains. But the framing is big bucks, particularly for oversized pieces. I bought a magnificent, large poster circa 1929 that can sell for $1500-$2000 for only $289. Wow, what a find, I thought. The custom framing quote was $2400!
You aren’t really a serious collector until the art you buy is worth more than the frames you put it in. I’ve got a long way to go.
Road cycling. No regrets. The physical and mental benefits cannot be understated.
I also in recent years got back into snowboarding after an extended hiatus. It’s not super convenient where I live, so when I do get to go it’s like a mini adventure to a mountain paradise for a few days.
Knitting, Crocheting, and Quilting
I have three sewing machines, 7 or 8 scissors or cutting devices, rulers, mats, machine needles and rotary cutter blades, hand needles, thread, embroidery thread, knitting needles (multiple sizes and styles), crochet hooks, a hoard of quilt batting, elastic, well over 100 yards of fabric, well over 25 pounds of yarn/crocheting cotton . . . But here’s the thing. I didn’t buy it all at once and I started early (knitting and crocheting at 5 years old and machine sewing at 10 years of age, and I’m in my 60s now).
No regrets. Crafting is how I turn off my work brain and is a creative outlet for me. I have also used my crafting skills to donate objects – scarves for former foster kids in Ohio, chemo caps for folks with cancer locally, and now working on blankets for first responders to give to children in crisis – to charities across the US. And I have honestly lost count of the number of hand-crafted objects I’ve gifted to family and friends: small quilts for new babies, afghans for high school graduates, hand made teddy bears for my nieces, quilts when family get married, Christmas ornaments . . . the list goes on. And on.
Legos. I love building them. Some sets I regret but mostly like having the ones that I got
Making beaded jewelry. It is still something I enjoy tremendously.
Golf – I’ve spent a ton of money on clubs, balls, greens fees, lessons, and golf trips with friends just to go out and shoot 20 over par. The remedy is new clubs, balls, lessons, and more green fees
Chickens. After building a coop and a run then securing it against predators. Purchasing the feeders and waters then the feed and the chickens. Plus you can’t have just a couple you need several and before you know it you’re purchasing an incubator and hatching your own. Next thing you know is you have 100 plus.
Not many regrets only that they are mini heart breaks because you will lose them sooner than later.
For me it’s target shooting.
I’ve spent a lot of money, met a ton of great people, had so much fun at the range.
But it’s definitely not as fulfilling these days due solely to the fact that our liberal government keeps deciding to arbitrarily ban firearms I’ve purchased and have used legally essentially to appease a small anti gun group comprised of victims of a massacre from over 30 years ago (who will never be happy until everything is gone). I have over $15000 in firearms and ammo that I currently can’t use. And I know that the longer a liberal government stays in power that number is only going to increase.
I still don’t regret getting into the sport. But I just want to be left alone. I didn’t kill anyone, my firearms didn’t even exist when that massacre happened. I didn’t exist when that massacre happened. This is a prime example of exactly why victims of crime cannot and should not be allowed to sentence offenders (because nothing will ever be enough). And we’re all paying for something we didn’t do and aren’t responsible for because they’re hurting and want the most extreme outcome (no guns in Canada).
Home gym equipment.
Still fulfilled by my home gym. I love it!
HAM Radio for me. I enjoyed the technical side of it. I’ve worked in IT for all of my adult life now, and about 10 years ago, I diversified and got an EE degree.
I wanted to learn more about RF and analog electronics back then, so I decided to get into HAM Radio.
I was a rewarding hobby. I learned a lot and did a lot of things I found interesting. My only issue was the local radio club I joined. I ended up on the board and ended up having an issue with a couple of the members. No one else stepped up to them, so I ended up quitting the club.
This was about 3 years ago. I can’t really use the local repeaters anymore without one of the two people I had an issue with keying up over me.
The club was a lot of older people that didn’t have the energy to fight the few that were causing trouble. They pushed me to my limit and crossed a line. So now that hobby is dead to me honestly. I’ve lost interest in it due to the local community.
r/trackdays
Craft beer. I spent on average $250 a month for 10+ years. Some bottles cost as much as $50. Sold a bottle to someone for $500 once. No regrets and I still enjoy sipping on a quality brew on the patio on the weekend. I have nothing to show for all of that money except memories and a little bit of a gut.
Bowling. I used to bowl in my adolescent years well into my 20s, it can get very expensive. Balls can be a couple hundred bucks or more and you’ll need multiple, shoes costing about 150, bags, accessories, league dues, tournament entry fees, travel, it got to be too expensive to sustain, personally but I enjoyed the heck out of it
Comic books. No regrets.
Brilliant artwork (some of it signed by the artist(s)) + nostalgia = joy
Photography. Yes, it is still fulfilling. No, I don’t have any regrets about the purchases.
It’s games without a doubt, but diving in was more expensive than I imagined, between courses and equipment I’ve already spent almost an organ
Playing music. I play harmonica, so you need at least 12 harps to cover all keys, plus some low harps, backups, altered tunings, all at roughly $40 each. Then amps, pedals, mics, stands, cases, various ancillary gear. Then getting out to jams and such, gotta buy a drink to support the jam, pay for gas, etc. It all adds up.
And no, no regrets at all. Changed my life.
Skateboarding>mtb>golf>motorcycles
No regerts
I started mountain biking in 1998. I’ve had 15 high end bikes since then. I have no how idea how much I’ve spent over the years. Yes, it’s still 100% full filling. It keeps me in shape and helps clear my mind.
Skiing was the first and still soul-fulfilling. I love being on the mountain by myself and listening to the winter sounds.
Revolutionary War reenacting is still exciting and expensive. History is so interesting and I love sharing that with visitors and fellow nerds.
Three expensive hobbies:
Astrophotography. It’s an interesting technical challenge on multiple levels. I’m still a beginner but I’m having a lot of satisfying fun with it. It doesn’t have to be expensive – people are getting impressive pics with their phones, and new smart scopes can go a long way for a beginner without huge investment in money, time and investment.
Retro computers. Some of them weren’t retro when I got them! They just became retro as i did as well. Current project is restoring an IMSAI 8080.
Keeping my 1978 VW bus looking good and running good. Again, it wasn’t an expensive hobby when I got into it. But increased scarcity + boomer nostalgia has taken it’s toll.
Kayaking and skiing.
Skiing is instant gratification. Drive up, go hard and then back home.
Kayaking is more like a slow burn. Easy to do quick paddles when the weather is nice but it’s the multi day adventures that are the most satisfying. It was a progression from hiking and opened up so many more places I could explore. Marine life can be spectacular and far more abundant than land bound life.
Few regrets on either, minor gear tweaks but mostly I’m being picky. Mostly bought used gear for either and with kayaking it is hard to find the perfect boat, but easy to sell one and buy another
I’m still obsessed with backpacking. Preferably longer than a week. Preferably at least partially off trail.
I got nicer gear slowly. My base weight for the Colorado trail was 23lbs and four years later it’s about 12lbs.
I think starting and seeing what you like with cheap, borrowed, and second hand gear is a good way to go.
I haven’t personally spent that much, but I have friends who have spent over 10K on bicycling.
Long distance target rifle shooting. The rabbit hole is deep, twisty and more like a small city… everything from ergonomics and biofeedback to the infinite detail of precision reloading, radar devices to measure speed and trajectory of projectiles, the infinite variety and options of building a bespoke precision rifle… small fortune, but also decades worth of enjoyment (and fairly decent competition results).
I’ve had many, many hobbies. Slot cars, drones, RC cars, aquariums, kayaking, fishing, biking, camping, woodworking, and many others I’ve just forgotten about over the years. I’ve spent small fortunes on these. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve settled on fishing and camping. I guess these could be considered activities as much as hobbies but I get into the tackle, techniques, gear, and all the other elements of these two things. It satisfies my need to be outside and desire for adventure. Between a boat and camper we are at thousands of dollars. I wouldn’t change any of it other than I wish I would have gotten more serious about fishing and being on the water sooner in life. So rewarding even if not fishing.
indie nail polish, and they’re so new and innovative i just want to keep buying them. yes very and I have no regrets in giving my money to small businesses
Pet ownership. Can’t live without them, frankly
Golf. I still suck but being on a nice course on x beautiful day can’t be beat. It’s also an activity my wife and I do together which is awesome.
Um the wife and I partaking in sex with others.
Each trip costs about £1000-2000 but we do get some very interesting trips to various parts of Europe
Guitars and music production. I have 9 guitars and thousands of dollars in software, vst plugins, virtual instruments, and have spent extreme amounts of time and energy on my craft, yet have not really released any of my music to the point of anything other than throwing it up on my soundcloud page.
Photography, cycling, PC gaming, and ice hockey have cost me more than I’d like to admit
Warhammer. Yes I still really enjoy it, even after having done it for over 30 years. I am waiting for paint to dry on something right now. I have regrets about selling or giving away a few things I wish id kept, but absolutely none about getting into the hobby
Rc Cars. I find it very fulfilling. I love to wrench on things but live in a small condo and can’t have a full-size hobby car.
Golf. I hate it, I love it
Model trains are a CRAZY expensive hobby. It’s even worse if you’re into O scale instead of the more common HO scale. I never actually fully got into it, because I’m not a millionaire.
I ended up getting into PCs instead, because they’re much cheaper.
Triathlon. I definitely do not regret becoming an Ironman.
Flying. I got my pilots license a couple years ago. Expensive as hell, but no regrets.
Burning Man. It doesn’t HAVE to be expensive, but the BLM and every LEO department keep seeing us as sources of money to hit up for more enforcement cash, so that’s done a number on ticket price over the last 25 years.
But mainly there’s just the cost and effort of getting increasingly elaborate setups and gear in and out of the desert. There’s a constant challenge to myself to make things more fun and awesome. And that’s not even taking into account involvement in the local and regional community.
Still worth it, though. It’s an absolute blast, and amortized out, the cost per unit awesome is still worth it after over a dozen trips to BRC, and I can’t wait to get there again. Not this year, tho – too many other things taking priority.
Skiing costs me like 30k – 40k a year and I wish I could spend more.
[white people have entered the chat]
Cycling for 40+ years. Road, Gravel, mtn. All fun, healthy, and aging friendly.
Lego. No one has to spend thousands of dollars. Bit once you decide to start making your own designs and collecting certain sets? It’s a hefty price. I comfort myself with the thought that it will be resell-able someday and in the meantime, yeah, no regrets! Should have invested in more shelves about six months ago, though.
For my mid life crisis I was going to purchase a motorcycle. I grew up riding trails and enjoyed it as a kid. Having 3 friends die on motorcycles I gave it some more thought and decided on a e- bike. It scratched that motorcycle itch and I enjoy every moment I’m out cruising the neighborhood. I put on 680 miles just last summer and I’m looking forward to more of the same as soon as the weather allows.
Legos and Crochet. I know I’ve spent lots of money on those as individual hobbies, but now I have more Star Wars stuff and more blankets than I can shake a stick at.
Quilting.. just started a year ago.. don’t regret a thing
Motorcycle track riding.
I love riding my motorcycle on the race track… especially at Barber Motorsports Park.
100% worth the investment
My pen pal hobby! I love it.
Meta comment here:
A lot of “expensive” hobbies don’t need to be expensive. They all have communities built up around them that have a buy/sell/trade component, and when people are leveling up, they’re looking to unload gear & equipment that’s still in good shape. Also, particularly for beginners, there’s often a culture around getting good, beginner gear in their hands for free or nearly so. I’ve been on both sides of that exchange, and it’s a great way to get your feet wet in something you’re curious about but not ready to invest in, and later on, a great way to make sure your basement doesn’t fill up completely.
So just hang round, be interested and interesting, and you’ll find yourself geared up. And at some point you’ll find yourself on the opposite side of that economy.
Perfumery. I’ve probably spent over 2k to purchase ingredients, equipment, etc. but it is entirely worth it for me.
I have cPTSD and scents are a major trigger for me. I figured if “bad” scents can cause an episode, what would happen if I spent time learning all of the “good” scents and making my home a comfortable space that way?
There are so so many more delicious scents in the world than there are “trigger” scents for me. It’s been such a great learning experience, objectively and subjectively. I love creating my own perfumes to help myself feel calm and safe.
It’s now grown beyond that to replicating designer perfumes, which is fun too. I also find myself literally stopping to smell the roses 🙂
I’m looking at getting into kayaking/kayak fishing. I’m a large man so trying to find the right yak is tough and/or expensive
Firearms- still fulfilling, all regrets as far as money goes.
Would’ve been cheaper to do cocaine.
I don’t know if it is an expensive hobby or not but I tend to spend a fair bit of money for equipment cause everything is expensive here.
Painting, it’s such a magical hobby you can create what you want but you want a large canvas? Well that will set you back $80. Nice paints? A tube for $15 and the list goes on and then next thing you know you have a couple of thousand dollars worth of paint and canvas that I’ll show to no one.
Bikes
Scuba The gear is not crazy expensive, but the travel can be. The camera equipment, on the other hand……
No Regrets!
Golf.
See my post history for my ridiculousness. But seriously, golf. Too late to have regrets.