Take your hobby to the next level

We all know how expensive hobbies can be, whether you’re a keen collector, adventurer or creative.

Many of our customers turn to us when they’re ready to invest in their hobbies or get their latest project off the ground. We’re sharing just some of their stories to spark inspiration.

Should you use finance to fund your hobbies?

It’s generally not recommended to use a loan to fund living costs or day-to-day expenses, which could include less expensive elements of your hobbies.

However, some hobbies can cost thousands of pounds and finding that kind of money upfront might be tricky. It’s almost always more cost-effective to save up for the things you want as you won’t need to worry about paying interest. But, if you want to reserve your savings for emergencies or you simply don’t want to wait to save up, borrowing the money you need could be a good option.

Looking for inspiration? Check out the hobbies, pastimes and passion projects we’ve helped make happen

1. Gearing up with a Novuna loan

Our bike loans help customers access the model they really have their eye on, so they can saddle up and hit the road on their dream wheels.

Krzysztof told us: “Thanks to Novuna, I was able to buy my dream road bike and can now fulfil my travel dreams by bike. Every day I rack up kilometres and explore, which improves my fitness and health.”

We also work with hundreds of bike retailers across the UK to offer finance to customers. This is ideal for bike enthusiasts who often know which retailers to rely on, but who might not be able to part with thousands of pounds upfront.

Plus, many of our retailers offer interest free finance, so it won’t cost a penny more to spread the cost.

Mark took up the interest free option on a discounted bike to really maximise his money. He explained: “The loan application online form was ever so easy to fill in. I was very surprised how easy everything was, no extra information was required and just like that I was accepted.”

2. A ride to Motocross success

Dave was keen to support his son’s interest in Motocross, but financing a bike isn’t cheap.

He explained: “I’d spent a lot of my spare money on track days and parts, and just didn’t have enough to buy him a new bike outright too. So I decided to take a loan out so he could continue his passion.”

Dave tells us his son has since taken part in his first race and is planning to race a full session next year on his new bike!

3. Tackling finance with ease

Angling is an enjoyable pastime for many, but the equipment costs can soon mount up by the time you’ve bought rods, reels and tackle.

David was hooked on his hobby but needed to top up his funds before buying the kit he needed.

He said: “My personal loan helped me purchase some fishing tackle. I really couldn't afford the one-off payment with so many other commitments, so to get a loan from you helped me carry on my hobby without having to wait several months.”

4. Scoring a hole in one with golf membership finance

We don’t just help to finance golf equipment. We also work with golf clubs across the country to offer membership finance, helping keen golfers to spread the cost of their annual fees.

This is an invaluable course of action for both existing members and also new players who might not otherwise be able to access membership to a golf club.

Keen golfer, Keith, told us his story. “I like to play golf several times a week, both for activity and to socialise with my golfing buddies. I live on my own due to my wife being in a care home so it gets me out and about.

When my local club offered annual membership fee finance being arranged with Novuna, I immediately took it up and will continually do so going forward.

It was easy and efficient to set up with Novuna. I am more than happy with them and would have no hesitation in recommending them.”

5. Powering tech purchases

Customers often choose our retail finance options when purchasing the latest tech. They’ll get their hands on state-of-the-art kit now and pay for it over a timeframe that suits them, making it a more manageable way to bag an upgraded model.

Colin, one of our customers, used Novuna Personal Finance to buy a Devialet Mania speaker. This top-of-the-range, high fidelity wireless speaker offers an experience like no other – an experience Colin was able to access due to finance.

He said: “The speaker is a beautiful piece of French design and audio brilliance that I can take anywhere. So, now with the sun shining bright, with book in hand, I can hear my favourite music in a quality yet to be bettered.”

6. Financing photography equipment in a couple of clicks

Gathering all the best bits of kit to complete your photography set up can take time… and it can be pricey, too.

Whether you’re an amateur behind the camera or establishing a pro set-up, finance can help you to get started.

One of our customers, Luke, was looking for reliable, high-quality photography equipment that wouldn’t break the bank. He decided spreading the cost of his kit would help him access the best equipment.

He told us: “When I needed a new lens and a camera stabiliser, I browsed online for the best price. I noticed the retailer I’d chosen also offered finance through Novuna. The paperless process has been easy, accessible and reliable from start to finish. The application was quick and simple and the app works like a dream!”

Luke also used our app to make extra payments, helping him to pay off his agreement a few months early so he could own the equipment outright sooner.

Read Luke’s story

What would you use a leisure loan or retail finance for?

You’ll be able to borrow from Novuna Personal Finance in two ways: taking out a personal loan or applying for finance via our network of retail partners.

About our low-cost leisure loans

With a Novuna personal loan, you can borrow from £1,000 right up to £35,000 and spread the cost between 2 and 7 years.

An unsecured loan can be straightforward to manage, as you’ll make fixed-rate equal monthly repayments until the loan’s settled. You’ll know exactly how much interest you’ll pay in total and, because that won’t change for the duration of your loan term, your monthly repayments will stay the same too. No surprises.

It’s quick and easy to apply and, if accepted, you’ll get the funds within two working days ready to spend on your next big project or purchase. Of course, there are some things you simply can’t use a loan for, though you should be able to use the money to invest in yourself and your hobbies.

Retail finance for hobbies

If you know exactly what you want to buy and where to buy it from, opting for finance at the online or in-store checkout could be a good option for you.

Retailers often offer a wide range of finance options, from interest bearing credit (which works in a similar way to a personal loan), interest free finance or buy now pay later. These will be available on specific products or services, giving you finance options that are tailormade to you and your hobbies.

Next time you’re browsing, look out for a retailer’s finance options to find out what’s on offer.

It’s also worth considering other options such as using a credit card to ensure you’re making the best choice for you.

Hear more real customer stories by checking out our case studies.