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Everybody needs a hobby. Even if they don’t know it yet!
A hobby is a refreshment from work and routine life. It helps us to relax and feel rejuvenated and is a great way to stay connected with our creative side.
It can be something as simple as cooking or gardening, playing an instrument or sport, or pursuing a creative endeavor like painting or writing.
There are no rules about what counts as a hobby, but the important thing is that it should be something we enjoy doing. Otherwise what would be the point!
Hobbies provide us with a sense of satisfaction and improve our mood, which is why it’s important to make time for them in our busy lives.
Hobbies can also bring in steady income! And the reality is that millions of people have turned their hobbies into a small business and are making money every day doing what they’re truly passionate about!
As the saying goes:
“Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life“
PIN THIS: I’ll keep updating this post with new hobbies so be sure to pin this and save it to your favorite Pinterest boards. That way you can always return to find out about all the new and exciting ways to start a hobby!
WHY PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE HOBBIES THAT MAKE MONEY
For a lot of people, the only time they get to relax and do something they enjoy is on weekends or vacation.
However, what if there was a way to monetize your hobby so that you could actually make a living doing something you love? Wouldn’t that be pretty awesome?
Here are a few reasons why you should take up hobbies that make money outside of work:
First, it can help to relieve stress. A hobby can give you an outlet to express yourself and release any built-up tension from work. Additionally, it can help boost your mood and improve your overall mental health.
Second, as mentioned above, it can provide a solid income stream. If you’re good at what you do, you could actually make a lot of money from your hobby! This could help to offset the costs of your hobby or provide some extra spending money.
Finally, it can help you meet new people and make new friends. When you’re passionate about something, it’s easy to find others who share your interest. This can lead to lasting relationships and a sense of community.
Picking up hobbies that make money might be the best thing you ever do!
If you don’t yet have any hobbies, I suggest going into this post with an open mind and getting in touch with your creative side.
We all have one! Sometimes we just need a little help in finding it.
So without further ado, here are the best profitable and fun hobbies that make money that’ll help you get started and earning cash in your spare time.
1. Make and Sell Handmade Goods
There are oodles and oodles of things to make and sell as a hobby. From candles to crotchet items to knitting to origami. If you love to get crafty and have fun doing it then this can be a great way to make some money doing what you enjoy.
Some trends that are popular right now that you could think about doing are:
- Origami, including paper jewelry!
- Quilling
- Resin items
- Textile dyeing
- Ceramic or clay plant pots
- Naturally scented products for the home
- Wall art
- Resin and polymer clay jewelry
- Handmade body scrubs
- Farmhouse style decor
- Graphic t-shirts
- Pet toys
Some of the best places to sell your handmade items are places like Etsy, StoreEnvy, CustomMade Marketplace, Goimagine, HandmadeArtists.
It can be relatively cheap to get started with making handmade items. And the best way is to start small, see what sells well, try selling at your local marketplace first and then go online. Once you find what works for you and what you enjoy doing you can focus on marketing and growing your business.
2. Sell Succulent Plants
Succulents are a popular pot plant in homes that have many different varieties. They’re easy to grow and keep alive when you know what to do. And it’s easy to take cuttings and grow new ones in lots of little pots.
This is high up in the list of hobbies that make money because it’s so easy to start and you can sell your succulents at markets, online, garage sales or through a facebook business page.
You really only need a pack of plant pots, some succulent plants and the correct type of dirt for succulents to get started. You can include a little instructions page on how to take care of a succulent, watering advice etc.
This particular hobby or side hustle can make you some good side money, and it’s very cheap to get started.
3. Take Artistic Photos
With technology and the likes of social media, everyone loves to share their pics with the world. But just because more and more people are doing it doesn’t take away from the fact that taking photos is a fun hobby.
You don’t even need to buy a fancy camera to do it! Smartphones these days have excellent cameras on them to take beautiful photos.
When you have your camera or phone ready, take the time to start exploring. You can begin with a walk around your local areas and look for interesting things to take photos of. Experimenting with different lighting, landscapes and subjects are fun things to learn.
Once you’ve snapped your camera a few times you can get a bit more creative with black and white photography and other filters.
If you want to take it further, you can sell your photos for money, other digitally or by framing them for a higher cost. Etsy is a great place to sell these types of artworks.
4. Sell Baking Kits
A lot of the time when it comes to baking and cooking, people want things simplified for them. Whether it’s cookies, pies or custom cupcakes, baking is one of the best hobbies that make money.
Decorated cookies are really popular, especially around the holidays where people are looking for seasonally themed ones. One example of a DIY baking kit with cookies can include a few baked cookies, piping bags with icing and some sprinkles to finish off.
You can sell these kits for around $25, depending on what you include and how detailed the kit is.
If you love baking then I highly recommend a hobby like this one.
5. Writing
Hobbies that make money doing something you love are the best kind. And if you love to write, there are numerous ways to monetize those skills and make some side cash.
One way is through blogging. You can write about topics you’re really passionate about and give out helpful tips and information to your readers. Once you’ve grown significantly, you can then monetize through advertising or writing sponsored posts.
If this doesn’t take your interest, there are other ways to monetize your skills, like freelance writing, getting paid to write articles and blog posts. You can even write your own book to sell.
There are also many writing gigs over on Fiverr that you can apply for. Some of the newer services that people need are Ad Copy, Book Editing, eLearning Content Development, Job Descriptions and Writing Advice.
Becoming a freelance writer can be a rewarding way to earn while also doing what you love.
6. Walking Cute Canines!
This could just be your favorite out of the list of hobbies that make money!
If you love dogs and are more than happy to walk them, play with them, feed them and even have them stay in your home for a vacation, then this is the hobby for you!
Rover is one of the most well-known dog sitting sites. You can get started by signing up and creating a profile to attract potential clients and gain positive testimonials.
With Rover, it’s possible to make money through: dog boarding, house-sitting, dog walking, drop-in visits and doggy daycare.
Overnight boarding would require more of your time, but it can pay the most money and is a great way to earn extra money just by looking after a furry friend!
You can sign up for whatever service you want to provide and also choose the dog sizes and breeds you would want to look after. You may not have the space for a larger dog so you might opt for a smaller breed.
Pet sitters and dog walkers need to be at least 18 years old and pass a background check to use the platform. Which is pretty standard with these types of services.
Some states require more certifications than others when it comes to pet sitting, something to keep in mind.
The best way to gain testimonials is from friends, family or dog owners who you’ve worked with in the past to help your profile stand out from the crowd.
You get to keep 80% of your earnings with Rover and it’s possible to earn up to $1,000 per month.
There are lots of people dog walking and dog sitting making a decent side income while helping dog owners out. So if you think this is something you’d love to do, consider becoming an independent contractor with Rover here.
7. Group Workouts
Why workout alone when you can do it with a group of likeminded people and have some fun?
There are many ways you can get out in your community and reach your fitness goals with others. There are cycling groups, outdoor park workouts, boxing, yoga, park runs and tons more. It’s up to you how you exercise and it may take some time to find what you like.
The good thing about these groups are they tend to have these classes outdoors rather than in a building. But not always. It’s just a matter of seeing what’s on offer and finding what you like and suits your schedule.
In terms of this being one of those hobbies that make money, if you have a passion for fitness then you might want to consider starting up your own fitness group as a small business.
You can start by joining these groups to see how they work, taking note of how the workout groups are fun. You could strike up a conversation with the person running it and ask them how they got started and any tips for you to get started too.
8. Blog in Your Spare Time
I became extremely unhappy in my old job, so much so that it was affecting my mental health. I had to get out!
So what did I do about it?
I started this blog about personal finance – my passion. It allowed me to escape my thoughts and focus on something different, and at the same time share my money tips with my audience.
It hasn’t been easy and I’m still learning so much along the way, but it makes me happy to be able to blog everyday and help out my readers with my tips and tricks around money. When life gets you down and you’re in a job you hate or just need to throw yourself into something different, then a blog could be the perfect hobby for you.
If you don’t know where to start or what to blog about, just start writing about whatever takes your strong interest. This could be cooking, baking, gardening, beauty, fashion, or finance, just to name a few.
One of the best things about blogging is that it’s very affordable to get started. I’m talking less than $100! You just need a domain name and hosting and once you have those, you can start setting up your blog with WordPress and writing about your passion!
9. Make and Sell Coin Banks
There are so many cool hobbies that make money in the DIY crafts area that you can do for fun while also earning money. Making and selling coin banks is very popular on Pinterest, so if you want to get crafty, consider this cheap hobby.
You can start with simple mason jars and use other recyclable materials like soup tins, cardboard boxes, papier-mache, wood, pringles containers and heaps more. You won’t be short on ideas on Pinterest, so check them out for some inspiration.
Once you’ve got a nice collection of different types of coin banks, you can create a simple website as your ‘shop’ or even create a DIY blog. You can then create Pinterest pins and use Pinterest to drive traffic to your website.
10. Share Your Opinion
Your opinions are very valuable to companies and they are willing to pay you for them!
Taking paid surveys online is one of the easiest and best ways you can earn spare cash in your free time.
Why? Because massive companies like McDonalds and Apple spend billions of dollars every year to hire market research companies to help them understand more about their customers. Things like knowing what is liked and what is not is very valuable to these companies. It helps them change what’s not working and give them new ideas.
So, with a huge budget for them to work with, market research companies are keen to pay you and reward you for your opinion and feedback on their clients’ products and services. You can be completely honest and let them know if you’re unhappy with their services!
One of the best things about taking surveys is that they are simple and easy to do and don’t take you very long to complete. They’re made so that you can get through them quickly so you can take lots of surveys throughout the days and weeks. Perfect for when you’re killing time or feeling bored.
While taking surveys isn’t going to make you rich, the fun part is building up points and rewards to use as PayPal cash or gift cards that you can spend on whatever you like. They’re handy for when you want to pay for something but maybe don’t want to pay full price, so you use your gift cards earned at places like Amazon, Target, Walmart and Starbucks.
Here are a couple of the most trusted and best survey sites to make money online today.
Swagbucks is a highly rated survey company and is one of the best sites to use to make some extra money! As well as earning cash by taking paid surveys, you can earn PayPal money by watching videos, searching the web, shopping online, reading emails and playing games.
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Survey Junkie is another highly rated online survey site with survey takers because they have one of the highest pay-outs for their surveys!
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11. Start a Daily Journal
Journaling was something new to me. At least, I hadn’t journaled since I was a kid! But as an adult I find it very therapeutic at the end of a busy day.
Writing in a journal allows you to dump all your thoughts and feelings onto paper. It especially helps before bed because it frees up space in your mind and keeps anxiety at bay, having gotten it all out before sleep.
There is no right or wrong way to journal, you just pick up a pen and start writing whatever you feel. You might like to write about what happened that day, what you’re thankful for and what goals you want to achieve. And you also may want to use it to vent feelings of frustration and sadness.
However you choose to use your journal is up to you! But if you need some help and want to follow prompts, you can use things like:
- What are three things you’re thankful for today?
- What went well today?
- What are your goals and plans for the future?
- What’s something that’s been niggling at you?
- If you could do one thing differently today, what would it be?
It may take some getting used to, but adding this into your daily routine can be really beneficial and rewarding.
12. Paint Your Worries Away
Painting is one of the most popular hobbies out there. It helps you find your creative side and concentrate in a relaxed setting.
You don’t need to spend much to paint, especially when you’re just getting started. All you really need is a blank canvas, paints of your choice and some brushes.
All you need to do is search for the supplies at your local art store, or even a dollar store. You can spend as little or as much as you want.
You might want to take a class to begin with, or just follow along with an online tutorial. Watercolor painting is one type, another is using oil paints and then there is acrylic. But they don’t stop there! You could start with one and then move onto another to see how you like to paint.
You can check out YouTube tutorials for some guidance on different painting techniques. Down the track, once you’ve completed a few artworks, you can thing about selling them.
A friend of mine started painting brightly colored artwork during Covid lockdowns and has continued with this hobby of hers. She started selling her artwork through facebook and is making around $200 per painting!
13. Find Your Green Thumb
These days, more and more people are focusing on growing their own produce in their backyard. If you have the means to be able to do this, then you could grow just about anything and enjoy fresh, organic produce from your garden!
In this list of hobbies that make money, this particular hobby would be good to start out as just that, a hobby. Then, once you’ve established your garden, you can then think about offering your fresh produce to your local greengrocer or farmer’s markets for a fee.
Another friend of mine focused on growing rare types of chilies to sell to local shops which I thought was a great idea. You could do something similar, focusing on one specific food group to sell to local businesses.
14. Cooking!
Cooking is the kind of hobby that brings joy to everyone’s lives, and is a very profitable hobby.
One way for cooking hobbies to make money is by starting a food blog. You could start by documenting new recipes you make every night or a few times a week. Monetizing food blogs are also an authentic way to earn from cooking, like recommending the best kitchen tools that you use and like.
RecipeTin Eats is one of my favorite websites to visit for new recipes and cooking inspiration. And the owner, Nagi Maehashi, has just released her first cookbook. Which is another way to earn through your website.
You may not want to head down the food blog path, so another way you could start a profitable hobby through cooking is by offering catering services or a meal plan subscription.
Food for thought 😉
15. Streaming
If you’re a big video gamer then you’re going to love this as a hobby!
Streaming is where you record yourself doing something live, keeping viewers intrigued.
And one popular way to make money as a streamer is through gaming. So if you’re really into playing video games, you can start streaming and building a following today.
When you stream as a gamer, it’s important to let your personality shine through and show your character. That way, it doesn’t matter so much how “good” you are at the game, you’ll be keeping your audience entertained with your personality.
So, you may be wondering how streamers get paid?
They basically get paid by donations and other paid subscriptions. Meta even has a feature where streamers can stream on their platform!
Another way streamers make money is by marketing products to their audience. These could include products like hats/caps, bags, t-shirts, keyboards and headsets for viewers to buy.
The streaming industry has grown so much over the past decade, so much so that some streamers have this as their full time job!
16. Learn a New Language
Learning a new language might seem daunting at first. But once you start with the basics and dedicate a bit of time for daily learning, it can be really fun!
Perhaps you want to learn the language of a country you’re visiting or have already visited. Or maybe you want to brush up on a language you learnt a long time ago.
Nowadays, there are many channels you can go through to learn a language. You can join a weekly class with a tutor, or you can watch YouTube videos. There are also many learning apps you can download for free, like Duolingo.
Learning a new language is great for cognitive function and it’s always fun to try something outside your comfort zone.
Don’t waste anymore time thinking about learning a new language, just get started!
17. Play an Instrument
You may be thinking things like “it’s too late for me to learn an instrument” or “it’s too hard to learn and play a new instrument”. But this isn’t true! It’s never too late to start.
Plus, researchers say that playing an instrument can help lower blood pressure and also reduce stress levels, lower anxiety and deter depression. Amazing right?
So what are some of the most popular instruments to learn? There’s piano and guitar, and then there are others like drums, clarinet, flute and violin.
You can pick up a second hand instrument to keep costs low and once you’ve got your new instrument, you can start the learning.
With technology these days, you no longer have to visit a tutor in person to learn an instrument. Of course you can do this if you prefer. But there are loads of online resources, apps and YouTube tutorials you can use to learn an instrument.
If you’ve never played an instrument before, I highly recommend giving it a go!
Once you’ve mastered an instrument, you could monetize your new skill by selling a beginner’s course on how to learn the instrument, using the lessons you’ve learned.
You might also like:
— 35 Best Things To Sell on Etsy To Make Money
— 10 Unique Side Hustles To Try in 2023
— 15 Unique Small Business Ideas To Work From Home in 2023
Final Words on Hobbies That Make Money
I hope this post has inspired you and given you some ideas to get started with a new hobby. There are many more hobbies that make money out there but these are some you can start that are fun and affordable.
You never know what a hobby can do to your life or what doors it will lead you to. So go and get started with your new hobby today!
Did you enjoy this post? Be sure to share it and follow me on Pinterest for more making money ideas! 🙂
