51 New Things To Try In 2018 (That Anyone Can Afford) Gallery

A new year oftentimes means — at least theoretically — a "new you." The turn of a calendar page gives you 12 months to try new hobbies, travel to new places, experiment with new foods, or learn new skills. But many of these so-called "resolutions" can be cost prohibitive. Most people can't just pack their bags and travel to Europe, make a reservation at a world-class restaurant, or enroll in a college course.

However, if you're looking to improve yourself or just do something cool and interesting in 2018, know that it can be done on the cheap. You can live an entire year's worth of new experiences, learn new and exciting things, and pick up some quirky and interesting skills in under one year without totally breaking the bank. Becoming a world-class home cook, finding inner peace through yoga and meditation, and even fun travel is all within your reach. All it takes is a little time and (very) little money!

Yes, having a fully-stocked bar can be cost prohibitive, but getting a basic bartending kit can cost less than $25. From there, buy the basic ingredients for your favorite cocktails, read some recipes online, and you'll be shaking martinis and pouring incredible Manhattans like a pro in no time.

If you already have a passion or a hobby, delve even further into it by starting a blog. With WordPress or Blogger, you can start sharing your life with others quickly and easily. We recommend starting with a food blog, of course!

If you want to get away without breaking the bank and experience something new and fun, consider heading to the great outdoors and camping. If you want to keep costs low, rent a tent or borrow one from a friend. If you find that you love roasting s'mores and drinking beer by the campfire, then you can start investing in some beginning camping equipment.

Whether you're having a romantic date over for Valentine's Day or you're just hosting a spectacular dinner party, you want to have one dish that is truly going to wow your guests. Perhaps you spend 2018 perfecting a cheese soufflé or a perfect eggs Benedict. It's a more useful skill than you'd think to have a signature dish.

Can you simply not do DIY? Make this the year that you take up crocheting, learn how to compose a killer edible gift, or turn an old wine bottle into a stunning flower case. Not only can you save money on presents for your loved ones, but you'll also have a handy new skill!

Are you stuck listening to the same old music that you loved in 2005? It may be time for an update to your iTunes library. Subscribe to a streaming service like Spotify, Apple Music, or Pandora and listen to unexpected genres and each week's new releases. You never know who you may end up being a fan of!

Everyone loves fresh herbs, vegetables, fruits, and flowers. And you can have all of that at your fingertips if you pick up gardening. Research what grows best in your climate, buy a few packets of seeds, and start planting! Even if you live in a small city apartment, you can plant kitchen must-haves such as mint and parsley.

To say the U.S. is a little politically divided in 2018 would be... an understatement. With the midterm elections rapidly approaching, volunteer with a local campaign or political party that you're passionate about. It's a great way to meet similarly-minded people and to make a real impact.

You don't have to travel very far at all to have new and educational experiences. Every state has amazing zoos and world-class museums. Visit a new spot in your nearest city; you never know what you might see or learn.

No, we're not saying you should write a "Dear Diary" post every day, but keeping a journal about your day and your thoughts has some real mental health benefits. It helps you to be more mindful, boosts your memory, and can help to jumpstart your creativity. And all it takes is a little time and a notebook!

You don't have to travel abroad or enroll in a college course to learn how to speak a foreign language. You can do it for free and on your commute. Thanks to language apps like DuoLingo or Memrise, you can speak French or German or even Esperanto.

Sure, you could visit a one of the best ice cream parlors in the world, or you could learn to make this delicious treat yourself. Try picking up an ice cream machine and whipping up these 10 recipes, or go old school and make Thomas Jefferson's favorite vanilla ice cream.

Say goodbye to sandwiches and hello to healthy office lunches this year. Starting meal prep for the week is actually really easy; it just requires eight simple steps. Before you know it, you'll have breakfasts you can take on the go, make-ahead chilled soups for those steamy summer nights, and full dinners perfect for busy weeknights.

Everyone loves baking cookies, right? Take advantage of this by hosting a cookie swap. This is a party where you and your friends all bring a batch of baked deliciousness and trade. You can learn more about your friends' traditions, pick up new cookie recipes for your own personal Rolodex, and you get to eat tons of treats!

If foraging is a little too intense for you, don't worry! You can still pick your own produce in a safe, controlled environment. Local farms have "pick your own" options for everything from apples to peppers to berries to oranges. These fruits and veggies are way better than the stuff you get at the grocery store, and since these places have big minimums for how much you take home, you'll have to find new and interesting ways to eat the same ingredients.

The gym isn't for everyone and it can be costly, but picking up a new sport is fun and can be as inexpensive as buying a jersey. Try out soccer, bocce ball, softball, or ultimate Frisbee. You never know what sport you might fall in love with or who you might meet!

Your newspaper comes with a Sudoku and a crossword every single day; you should take advantage of those free puzzles in the new year. Doing puzzles — be they number-based, word-based, or even a classic jigsaw — helps to improve your memory, reduce stress, and can even help to delay dementia.

Redecorating  your home is a great goal to have for a new year, but getting all new furniture, artwork, and paint can be incredibly cost prohibitive. Instead of doing all that, simply rearrange the furniture and photographs in your home. You'll find your home looking brand new with zero added cost.

Want to exercise more but don't want to spring for the gym membership? Buy a pair of sneakers, head to the nearest park, and take up jogging! It won't help you lose weight, but it will help to alleviate anxiety, make you stronger, and even fight depression.

There's no better produce than fresh produce, in our opinion. Explore your local farmers market this year instead of browsing the grocery store's vegetable section. Not only can you cut down on your grocery bill, but you'll have higher quality fruits and veggies, too!

If classic literature isn't your thing, join a local book club in 2018 that's suited to your interests. There's everything out there, from true crime book clubs to feminist book clubs to YA book clubs (for adults). You can make new friends and keep your mind fresh in a book club.

Refresh your wardrobe without spending a fortune by picking up thrift shopping. Sure, you have to browse through racks and racks of less-than-stellar clothing, but if you find a few gems, it'll all be worth it.

Get out of your cooking rut and try out some of 2018's trendier food offerings. Try cooking with some of Pinterest's hottest ingredients such as plant-based proteins, gochujang, or ghee.

Be real, how many of you have actually seen Casablanca or The Godfather all the way through? Watching iconic films is a great way to be cultured, and you can do it with very little effort.

If blogging and journaling aren't enough writing for you in 2018, consider writing an entire book. During the month of November, aspiring novelists take part in NoNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) where they try to write a 50,000 word manuscript in 30 days. It's a challenge, but it could be oh-so-rewarding.