Affordable Supplies
Recreating can create joy and be affordable.
Below are sites where you can buy recreation supplies or participate in recreation and keep more of your money.
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Art
Supply spots:
- Fab Scrap is a reuse and recycling fabric site where you can find accessible and affordable fabric in good condition.
-Materials For The Arts (MFTA) is based in NYC. It accepts art supply donations and allows members to make appointments to shop. MFTA also hosts many free events and community educational programs.
- eBay often has art materials or supplies, like lots of old magazines that can be used for a photo collage.
- Facebook Marketplace typically has art supplies that you can buy for a good price from a seller in your area. Just be cautious of quality and remember you’ll have to coordinate with the seller.
Where to see affordable art:
-Check out if your local museums are pay-as-you-wish or if they have a day or time where entry is free!-Many small galleries offer free entry.
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Sports
Equipment spots:
- Play It Again Sports is a site that allows you to sell your used sports or fitness equipment/ gear if it’s in good condition, or trade for other equipment/gear.- Buy and Sell Community groups on NextDoor, Facebook, or OfferUp, keep it all about community. Check out this blog on GroupBoss on how to best navigate Facebook community buy or sell groups
- The Cleveland Clinic put together this article to give people tips and help them find affordable sports equipment.
Affordable spots to engage in sports:
- Public parks are free to use, so bring your workout to the park!
- At home YouTube workout videos can be a good option too
- Affordable gyms like Planet Fitness that start at $15/month, Retro Fitness and Blink Fitness are affordable options too! Also check out your local recreation centers.
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Gardening/ Nature
Tools/Supplies found here:
- Bigger stores such as Lowe’s tend to have good gardening supplies, though if you’re buying plants, watch out for bugs that may have infected the plants! It may be best to get your plants from a local nursery.
- Bigger dollar stores such as Dollar Tree, Family Dollar, and Dollar General can have decent gardening sections.
- You can also check to see if your library has a tool lending library like this one in Brooklyn
- If your community has a mutual-aid collective, check to see what resources they have. I know of one in Brooklyn that also has a tool library.
-Look up your local master garden extension office. They often have affordable plants and free expertise.
- Buy and Sell Community groups on NextDoor, Facebook, or OfferUp, keep it all about community. Check out this blog on GroupBoss on how to best navigate Facebook community buy or sell groups
Where to participate in gardening:
-Community gardens are great, and as a bonus, they connect you with other community members.
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Music
Supply spots:
- Buy and Sell Community groups on NextDoor, Facebook, or OfferUp, keep it all about community. Check out this blog on GroupBoss on how to best navigate Facebook community buy or sell groups
- Check out your local library to see if they have instruments you can rent- this is a great way to try out various instruments before landing on one, or to practice in general. Your library may also allow you to rent out sheet music.
- Musician’s Friend runs sales on instruments and also sells used instruments.
- West Music Company also sells affordable instruments, including good-quality Remo drums, and used instruments.
Where to see live music for free:
- Typically there are free concerts in parks during the summer. Check out your local events.
-Bars or restaurants often have live music evenings where you either pay what you wish or it’s free! Some places do charge a cover, so be sure to check before you go!