Saving money is tight these days is an understatement. No matter your income status, you are undoubtedly more budget conscious now than in years past. But, everyone still needs a getaway of sorts, a place to think, to clear their mind, and to give their brain a rest. Let’s look at the cost of picking up music as a hobby versus some of the more common hobbies where people invest both time and money.
Using a close family member as an example, I’ve seen, first hand, what it takes to outfit an avid fisherman. Once you’ve purchased a modest but reliable boat, poles, tackle, nets, clothing and other accessories, you can easily set yourself back for well over $20,000. Now, I understand you can by a $35 Zebco rod and cast out into the pond behind your house, but that’s not really indulging in the hobby. If you take a look at the recurring costs to fish, you can quickly tack on expenses, such as licenses, fuel, bait — and beer! Well, maybe beer fits in with most hobbies. Fishing supplies, transportation and lodging sales amount to $48 billion dollars annually in the U.S. alone.
Another huge hobby in America is golf. Golf is the only hobby that I have personally invested time and money in, other than music. Once again, you can start off with an affordable route but, like fishing, it can get expensive rather quickly. A green fee, or the price you pay to play a round of golf, averages around $40 and can quickly increase. A mid-level, name brand, of set of clubs and all the accessories might cost upward of $2,000. Not only will range fees and green fees add up quickly, taking lessons with a professional golfer can really hit your pocketbook. Most mid-tier golf pros teach lessons at their local club to help supplement their income with lessons averaging $30 per half-hour sessions. Lessons with a top-rated pro can reach as high as $200 an hour. Each year Americans spend $5 billion on golf equipment and apparel, and another $20 billion on green fees alone.
After reviewing what it takes to comfortably set yourself up to go fishing, or learn to play golf, it’s easy for me to provide reason that investing in, and playing music, can be less expensive. When spending the same dollar amount on an intermediate setup for fishing, or golf, an advanced musical instrument setup could be purchased at, or well below, those costs. Also, unlike the two hobbies mentioned above, in most situations there are no recurring costs associated with playing music. In fact, it’s easier to make a return on your musical instrument investments than with many of the items you purchase to fish or golf. There are plenty hobbyist or “weekend warrior” musicians playing out live and making money relatively quickly after picking up the hobby. Also, vintage music equipment can be an extremely lucrative investment. Gear from the 1950s and '60s are worth several times their original value. The same can’t be said for old golf clubs or bass boats. The musical instrument “resale” industry produces $7 billion in annual sales, far less than the other industries listed above.
Not only is music an affordable hobby; did you know that it also provides an opportunity for self-expression, relieves stress and promotes social skills? Take the leap, choose an instrument and dive in! We have a large selection and price range of instruments available for you to try out now! It's never to late to learn. Your mind and your wallet will be happy that you chose to play music!
Happy Playing!
Brandt
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