Hobbies are great, unless they're sucking up disposable income that you just can't afford. Too many people are dismayed by the cost of full-price supplies but aren't sure what to do instead.

Happily, you have more options than you think. The online possibilities are essentially endless. Between discount craft stores, online marketplaces, neighborhood apps, and smart couponing, you can absolutely get your materials for less.

Let’s take a look.

Discount Craft Stores

Discount craft stores should be first on your list for cheap hobby supplies.

Michaels

With everything ranging from fake flowers to picture frames to traditional mixed media galore, Michaels is an excellent option. Affordable and with tons of coupons on offer, it's a good place to check first.

JOANN Fabrics

Though geared mostly toward fabric, JOANN has other hobby supplies as well, including gardening and paper arts. Like Michaels, you'll find tons of coupons there.

Blick

Dedicated to the fine arts, Blick can often be expensive. However, if you shop online and watch their clearance sales, you can get amazing deals.

Save-On-Crafts

Not only do they have a huge array of craft and decor supplies, Save-On-Crafts offers price-match guarantees, return windows that never expire, and a 100-percent guarantee on delivery time.

Online Marketplaces

Next up: online marketplaces are a fantastic source of affordable hobby supplies.

eBay

If you want rock-bottom prices for high-quality materials, then you can't beat eBay. It takes some sorting through, but with so many individuals offloading old supplies, you can get them for pennies on the dollar.

Etsy and Shopify

Although both of these online marketplaces cater to finished goods, many people don't know that you can find hobby supplies on each as well. With prices that can be significantly better than retail, this is a good place to look for everything from seeds to scrap wood.

Amazon Handmade

As the name implies, Amazon Handmade offers the quaint charm of Etsy with the pricing of Amazon. Among the finished gifts, you'll find plenty of supplies.

Online Arms of Brick-and-Mortar Locations

For those who are housebound or simply don't want the bother of an outside errand, it's helpful to check out the online arms of your normal brick-and-mortar locations.

Goodwill and Other Thrift Shops

Believe it or not, Goodwill — and many other thrift stores — sell plenty of goods online. You can search for drawing materials, carpentry hardware, tools, and everything else from the comfort of your own couch.

Scrap Recycling Outlets

Many large cities have recycling outlets where you can buy scrap hobby supplies. While sorting through them in person can be a fun experience, they often sell the nicer goods — think sable brushes or high-quality leather — in their online shops.

Home Improvement Stores

Well we typically associate home improvement stores with physical trips, you can shop at most of them online quite easily. For instance, shops like Lowe's and Home Depot both have online arms with fantastic clearance sections.

Neighborhood Apps

Yep, you can use online outlets to get good deals right in your own backyard.

Craigslist

Everyone is familiar with Craigslist, but too few people take the time to cull through the spam and find the diamonds in the rough. This is where you will get candlemaking supplies for 10 percent of what the original owner paid or nice lumber for wholesale prices.

NextDoor

Next door is like Craigslist for your own neighborhood. You can transact fully online for hobby supplies, then make a quick trip to the next block over to pick them up.

OfferUp

Unlike the two above apps, OfferUp is a local marketplace tailored specifically towards buying and selling preloved possessions. While often confined to furniture and bigger items, there's plenty of hobby goodness on there as well.

Coupon Codes

Last but not least, let's dish about coupons.

Microsoft Edge

Make this your mantra: Use Microsoft Edge! This browser has an extension that immediately runs through all the available coupons online and auto-populates them on your checkout page. You don't have to use it all the time, but you should definitely use it anytime you're shopping online.

CouponCabin

A totally free app, CouponCabin helps you both find discounts and get cash back on your online purchases. All you have to do to use it is sign up.

Email Newsletters

If you have a store or seller of which you're particularly fond, it absolutely pays to sign up for their email newsletter. While it might be annoying to get one more thing in your inbox, this is how you will get the best discounts and insider deals.

Spend Your Money Wisely

The truth about crafts is, they absolutely don't need to cost much. If you know where to look, set up alerts, and coupon like a pro, then you can get craft supplies for cheap. Enjoy your hobbies for less!