Other options: relive your elementary school days and pick up a recorder (though chording instruments will probably produce more pleasant solo music), or find a cheap electronic keyboard.

You can probably find adequate tutorials online for free or a beginners' lesson guide for ten bucks, although hands-on lessons are of course best.

Also consider cooking. There are lots of good recipes online or in the cookbooks at your local library, and you'll actually save money doing it as raw ingredients are cheaper then prepared foods.