In my series of articles on frugal hobbies, I break down an individual hobby for people who want to have fun without breaking the bank. The overview will include the details of the hobby itself, how to go into it with a frugal mindset, and the best ways to make use of your money. Not all of the hobbies covered are cheap or easy to get into, but I find ways to help you save money while still being able to partake in your favorite pastimes.
Board Games
Board games are a great frugal hobby that I’ve mentioned before. It may seem expensive at first, but it’s not once you think about it. For $20-50 you can easily find a great board game for 2-6 people – or more. Now, think about how many times you can play that board game over and over. A good board game is one that should be replayable with friends and family, which provides a great bonding experience. There are exceptions to the replayability rule, but you’ll mostly want to purchase board games that you can keep coming back to.
When thinking about board games, if you can’t imagine replaying it, then it may not be a great board game for you. Many people just aren’t into it like that, which is fine – it may just not be a good cost-effective hobby for them.
Bond With Others
As I said, board games are a good way to bond with others. Not every hobby has that potential, and board games are particularly well-suited for it. So, beyond just a hobby or managing to keep costs down, it’s also great for families and friends. If you want a hobby you can share with someone, then this is one of the better – and easier – options available.
Sometimes It’s Expensive At First, But Replayability Is Key
Board games can definitely be pricey at first. $20-50 is a good typical range, but it can go up a good bit from there. I tend to look at it in terms of how many hours I can get out of it. If it’s a board game that can be played countless times, then that’s an easy decision. If it’s only good for a handful of plays, then it may not be ideal. Ultimately, you’ll have to figure out how to balance your interest in certain games with how much that makes sense given your budget.
If You Know A Type Of Game Doesn’t Interest You, Don’t Get It
Since board games are such a good bonding experience, I see people buy ones they’re not interested in all the time. It’s nice if you’re trying to keep someone else’s interests in mind, but don’t waste your money on something you’re just not into. There are more than enough diverse games on the market these days. You can definitely find something that both you and the other person (or people) will want to play together.
The Best Places To Shop For Board Games
Most of us know a lot of the standard brick and mortar retailers that sell board games. Target, Walmart, and Barnes & Noble are just a few. You may be able to get some of the more popular games there, but prices vary. Sometimes it will be at a good price, but sometimes it will be severely overpriced.
You can also check Amazon. Their prices are all over the place, but they occasionally have great deals. Other online retailers like Cardhaus and Cool Stuff also boast competitive rates.
Games To Help You Start
There are a lot of popular games available you can use to start out. I’ll go over some of the common favorites people have. These range from family games, to games you can play with your friends or significant other. Let’s dive in!
Sorry
Sorry is a quintessential board game that most people have heard of. It’s simple, easy to get into, and great for families. 2-4 people can play, and the games tend to be short. If you’re new to board games or want something simple, this is a good pick.
Scrabble
I’m sure most of you have heard of this popular word game. It’s another 2-4 player board game, and it’s fairly straightforward. It’s fun – and a good way to hone your vocabulary!
Chess
Chess is a timeless classic for two people. Many are put off by the learning curve, but after a few games you’ll be used to it. It’s also a board game that you can get really into and offers nigh limitless replayability. If you want to play with more people, there are even variants like bughouse (a version of chess for four players instead of two) that make for a great option!
Go
Go is like Chess in the sense that it’s a timeless classic of Asia. It’s one of the oldest games that is still played today! To be frank, that’s for a reason. It’s fun and offers endless replayability. I personally enjoy it more than Chess, but that’s just because it suits my playstyle a little more. Give it a try!
Checkers
If Chess and Go are too much for you at the moment, try Checkers. It’s another fun game in the same vein as Chess, but it’s much more simplified – and it’s quite cheap.
Axis & Allies
Axis & Allies is a great strategy game. Be wary though, as it’s not for the faint of heart. There is a steep learning curve, and games can last several hours. However, once you get into it you won’t want to stop! It’s great for some friendly competition, and 2-5 people can play.
Risk
This one is another strategy game, but it’s for 2-6 players. It’s a bit simple compared to something like Axis & Allies, but it can still offer tons of replayability and lighthearted competition. Game length can vary wildly too. Some games are short, and others can be just as long as Axis & Allies.
Clue
Clue, also known as Cluedo, is another popular board game for up to 6 players. The goal of the game is to figure out who murdered the game’s victim, where the crime took place, and what weapon was used. Games are also relatively short, and should last under an hour.
Codenames
This is for 4-8 players. Two teams compete and their spymaster gives them one-word clues along the way. This is a great party game! The one caveat is that it’s generally best with 6 or 8 players.
Dominion
Dominion is a bit of a different style than anything else I’ve mentioned so far. It’s a deck-building game, and it’s suited for 2-4 players. However, they are add-ons that let you play with up to 5 other people!
Catan
Catan is a board game where 2-4 players take on the role of settlers, each attempting to build while trading and acquiring resources. Some versions let you play with as many as 12 people! It’s a good board game, and it’s always increasing in popularity. It’s another one where the rules can seem complex at first, but you get used to it quickly.
Ticket to Ride
In Ticket to Ride, players collect and play matching train cards to claim railway routes connecting cities throughout North America. As you can guess, the longer the route, the better off you’ll be. 2-5 people can play, and games usually last less than an hour. It’s a great game for couples especially.
Betrayal At House On The Hill
Betrayal At House On The Hill is a horror game for 3-6 players. It starts off with everyone exploring a haunted house – filled with traps and mysteries. Eventually the haunt begins, at which point one player betrays the others and sides with whatever monsters may appear. The game is fun, and is like a B-rated horror flick. The only issue is that the range of monsters is limited, so there is a cap on the replayability aspect.
Carcassonne
Carcassonne is “a tile-placement game in which the players draw and place a tile with a piece of southern French landscape on it. The tile might feature a city, a road, a cloister, grassland or some combination thereof, and it must be placed adjacent to tiles that have already been played, in such a way that cities are connected to cities, roads to roads…When that area is complete, meeples are used to score points for its owner.”
It’s an interesting game, one with tons of replayability. It’s for 2-5 people, and games are usually quick too!
Monopoly
Another one we all know – it doesn’t even need an introduction. However, if you don’t own Monopoly or one of it’s variants, it’s still worth keeping in the collection for every now and then!
Branch Out Into Tabletop Roleplaying Games – Like D&D
After a point, if you get tired of board games and want to branch out, you could always try tabletop roleplaying games. There are a ton out there, but the classic example is Dungeons & Dragons. It may seem nerdy, but it can also be a great frugal hobby in and of itself – with endless replayability.
Conclusion
Hopefully this article helped you with your love of board games – and sticking to a budget. If I missed a great board game (which I certainly did), let us know in the comments. For more content like this, and a free budgeting template and financial goals worksheet, be sure to sign up for the Bitter to Richer newsletter!
