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.
Coding
Coding is a great skill to learn these days. It’s rapidly becoming mandatory for more and more jobs, and it can be beneficial to just about everyone – no matter what career they’re in. From advancing your technical skills to helping you with creative pursuits, there is something for everybody when it comes to coding. Now, I know it can be intimidating at first – but don’t let it scare you. Everyone can learn how to code well, it’s just a matter of getting those fundamentals down. Fortunately, there are tons of great places to learn how to code online these days.
“Speaking” To The Computer
At the end of the day, coding is just “speaking” to the computer – in a sense. You’re basically just giving the computer instructions you want it to follow. Then, once it executes the code, it performs whatever those instructions are. That means coding is probably less complicated than you think. It’s all about breaking it down into the tiniest, simplest components and building that set of instructions from the ground up. Sometimes people pretend like coding is hard, but if you look at it like you’re just making instructions for the computer, that makes it much easier to get into.
Hackathons And Getting Technical
At this point, hopefully you’re getting a good idea of what coding actually is. Positions for developers are constantly opening, and the demand doesn’t seem to be in any danger of slowing down. In addition to ample job prospects, you can also create your own tools or even automate something you do on a regular basis!
Due to the size and demand of the field, it is easy to find tutorials and guides online to help get you started. Whether you want to do intense back-end coding or learn the basics to program minor things, just remember to keep it simple – it isn’t as hard as it sounds.
Consider attending a Hackathon at some point. Hackathons are an event where people usually collaborate over a short period (like a day or two) and try to build a functioning product at the end. Attending those types of events can teach you a lot!
Getting Creative With Video Games
With coding, it pays to get creative. Not everything you do has to be a top notch product, but start thinking about all the awesome things you could do on your own. For example, you can start working on a video game! A lot of people get into coding just for this, which I get. After all, you’re the best person suited for making a game that you enjoy and is fine-tuned for your tastes. So, if nothing else, you could create a video game that you can have loads of fun with – all for free.
It’s Great For Your Mind
We can all appreciate the value of staying sharp as you get older, and keeping your mind active through hobbies like coding is one great way to do that. It’s not the only hobby that can do that by any means, but it can certainly serve the purpose well. As a programmer, you’ll encounter complex problems and have to figure out creative ways to handle them. By tackling all these different problems in new and creative ways, it can help keep you sharp throughout the years.
The Challenge Is Its Own Reward
Of course, the way you handle those challenges isn’t the only reward. In some ways, the challenge can be a reward in and of itself. A lot of us love dealing with obstacles and working to overcome them, so coding can offer an endless supply of challenges that you’ll have to learn to overcome.
It’s Even Free (Or Close To)
Coding, at least the practice of it, is completely free. Sure, there are paid programs and tools, but you don’t need them to get into the hobby at all. The only thing you truly need is a computer, electricity, and probably an internet connection. Those things aren’t free, but you almost certainly already have them at your disposal – so you can use them for your hobby!
Get Started On Your Own Personal Project!
Coding seems nerdy to the uninitiated, but it’s a wonderful hobby for everyone. It’s best to think of it simply – remember, coding is just how you give the computer instructions to do exactly what you want. That’s it. There is a lot that comes with it that you have to learn, but it can also be loads of fun. Want to create your own apps and tools? Do it! Do you love video games? Then make your own! Even if you have a knack for robotics, that’s a huge thing you can dive into as well. There are tons of different projects you can take on that can offer hours of fun with a rewarding end result.
Conclusion
Hopefully this helped encourage you to try out coding more. If you decide to take up coding as a hobby, I hope you enjoy the process! It’s best to keep it simple when you’re first starting out. Try to ease into it with some basic programs and tests. Once you’ve developed some of the basic programs, you can work your way up and test out more complex ideas. Eventually, with hard work and determination, you can begin creating amazing projects of your own to enjoy.
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