Have you ever heard that you need three hobbies? One to keep you in shape, one to stay creative and one to make money? Well, I’m looking for a new hobby, so I wanted to explore ideas of hobbies that make money. Of course, blogging is already one of my hobbies and it makes me a little money, but I always like to try new things.
In this article, we will explore ideas of hobbies that can make you money, so keep reading if you are looking for a new hobby and a little extra money. Whether you’re a creative soul, a fitness fanatic, or someone with a green thumb, there’s a good chance that you find a hobby that could be the key to not just personal fulfillment but also a little extra cash in your pocket. So, let’s explore 20 hobbies that not only bring you joy but also have the potential to put some extra zeros in your bank account.
I believe almost any hobby can be monetized if you are creative and really good at it. So the key is to choose a hobby that you think you may have some talent for and that you wouldn’t mind seeing it partially as a job. For example, I like oil painting but I don’t think I’m very good at it. I do it because I find it relaxing but no one would pay a dollar for one of my paintings.
Table of Contents
25 Hobbies That Make Money
1. Photography
If your camera is your constant companion, consider capitalizing on the demand for visual content. Stock photography platforms like Shutterstock and Adobe Stock allow photographers to sell their images to a global audience. There is demand for almost any kind of image, so you will have the flexibility to focus on themes you are actually interested in, no matter how niche.
Another way to make money with your photography skills is by offering your services for events, portraits, or even niche markets like pet photography. Although, this can feel more like an actual job. You could also work on uploading your pictures to Instagram or other social media and start building a following to connect with potential customers.
2. Graphic Design
Design is everywhere, from branding and marketing to web development and product packaging. If you possess an eye for aesthetics and a flair for creativity, your graphic design skills can be in high demand across various industries.
Start by building a portfolio that highlights your design capabilities. Platforms like 99designs and Dribbble offer opportunities for freelance graphic designers to connect with clients.
Additionally, you could start your own business selling fun graphic t-shirts or mugs. For example, there are many Etsy stores offering products with creative graphics or even just selling the graphics alone as SVG files. If you already have the talent for design, this could be a niche you could break into.
3. Blogging
If writing is your outlet, consider blogging as a hobby. Blogging is a great way to share your thoughts on a specific topic with an audience. Whether it’s travel, lifestyle, or a unique passion, identifying your blogging niche is crucial. Building an audience around your chosen theme creates opportunities for monetization through various channels.
I’m not gonna lie, you are not going to start making money blogging next week. However, if you are consistent, it can become a great source of passive income. Personally, it took me almost a year to start seeing some money with my first blog. But of course, it all depends on how much time you can spend on it.
Once you’ve cultivated a dedicated following, explore different monetization avenues. These may include sponsored content, affiliate marketing, selling digital products, or even offering premium subscription services. As your blog gains traction, these income streams can turn your hobby into a sustainable source of revenue.
4. DIY Crafting
If you are into crafting and are pretty good at it, you can try selling your handmade goods on Etsy. Etsy provides a vibrant marketplace for handmade goods, ranging from jewelry and home decor to personalized gifts. Setting up a shop on Etsy allows you to showcase your unique creations to a global audience.
Another way to monetize your talent could be by offering workshops or online classes teaching others your crafting skills
5. Baking and Cake Decorating
If your kitchen is your happy place, why not turn your baking skills into a lucrative business? Selling homemade treats, from cookies to custom-decorated cakes, can attract local customers looking for delicious and visually appealing desserts.
Start by creating a portfolio of your best creations, showcasing them on social media platforms and creating a simple website. Word of mouth can be a powerful marketing tool, so encourage satisfied customers to share their experiences. Consider participating in local events or collaborating with cafes to expand your reach and attract new clients.
6. Fitness Training
If you have a passion for fitness and a knack for motivating others, consider becoming a certified personal trainer. Acquiring the necessary qualifications not only enhances your credibility but also opens doors to a variety of fitness-related opportunities.
From one-on-one personal training sessions to leading group fitness classes, the fitness industry offers diverse avenues for individuals with expertise. Explore opportunities at local gyms, community centers, or even start your own fitness business. Embracing the online space can also allow you to reach clients beyond your local community.
7. Yoga Instruction
Do you practice yoga and are thinking about becoming an instructor? Whether group sessions in a local park or one-on-one private sessions, yoga instruction can become a fulfilling and financially rewarding venture.
As the importance of well-being continues to rise, the demand for wellness activities like yoga is on the upswing. Consider partnering with local wellness centers, spas, or even corporate offices to offer your services. Building a community around your yoga classes can lead to repeat clients and positive word-of-mouth referrals.
8. Cooking
If you enjoy trying and creating new recipes, you could look into turning your cooking skills into profit. Consider creating a blog or an Instagram account where you can share recipes. You don’t even have to be a good writer for this, just focus on explaining the recipe clearly and taking great pictures.
If you opt for a blog, you can start making money with ads and affiliate marketing once you start getting some traffic. If you prefer Instagram, you could partner with brands or use the platform to promote your own cooking classes or even a book!
9. Reading
Do you love discovering and reading new books? Then, consider starting a book review blog or a YouTube channel or TikTok account. You can share book recommendations or share your thoughts on books you’ve read, targeting specific genres or themes. You can include affiliate links to bookstores or online platforms, earning a commission for each sale.
You can also consider creating products catering to avid readers such as cute bookmarks, book discussion templates or even mugs with witty quotes from your favorite books (beware of copyright though!)
10. Gardening
If you are thinking of getting into gardening or you already take care of a few plants in your yard, here are a few ideas of how you can start making money with this hobby.
First, you can propagate your plants and then sell them at local farmers’ markets, online platforms, or through your own website. If your garden is big enough, you could also grow and sell fresh produce, herbs, or flowers.
Also, consider creating a platform where you can share gardening tips and projects and projects you are working on. This could be a blog or any social media platform you prefer. Eventually, with a big enough following you could start making money through affiliate marketing. And of course, selling an online course or ebook is always a great option to realize additional passive income.
11. Shopping
Really shopping? How can you make money when you are spending money? Well, you could look into flipping items and sell them for a profit. Go to your local thrift store, and if you have a good eye and know your brands and styles, you can find items that you could resell for a much higher price. I personally enjoy this process, especially for clothes. I started selling clothes from my own closet on Poshmark but later I started going to thrift stores to source more inventory. It can be fun if you enjoy the process of finding hidden treasures at the stores.
Another alternative is to start creating content around what you shop. If you really like finding the best deals or trying new brands, you can consider sharing that with an audience. Eventually, you can start making some money through affiliate links to at least fund your shopping habits.
12. Music
If you have musical talents, whether with an instrument or vocals, offering music lessons can be a rewarding endeavor. From piano and guitar to singing or even specialized instruments, there’s a wide audience looking to embark on their musical journey.
Advertise your music lessons through local community centers, schools, or online platforms. Create engaging promotional materials that highlight your expertise and teaching approach. Consider offering trial lessons to attract potential students and build a clientele over time.
13. Dogs
Dogs are not exactly a hobby, but if you are an animal lover, providing pet sitting or dog walking services can be a delightful way to earn extra income. Many pet owners seek reliable and caring individuals to look after their furry friends when they’re away.
Build a reputation by starting with friends’ and neighbors’ pets, then expand your services through word of mouth. Create a simple website or utilize pet-sitting platforms to showcase your services. Develop relationships with local veterinarians and pet stores for potential referrals.
Another idea, if you have a dog already, you could try turning your dog into an influencer. Seriously, have you seen all the cute dogs on Instagram and Tiktok? Their owners are for sure profiting with them. This is something I want to try myself this year. It’s time for my dog to start paying his own bills. I’ll report back on this.
14. Gaming
Platforms like Twitch allow you to monetize your gaming by live-streaming your gameplay. Viewers can subscribe, donate, or cheer using virtual currency. Another option is to create content for YouTube, such as game reviews, walkthroughs, and highlight reels and monetize through ad revenue and sponsorships.
You can also participate in or organize esports tournaments. Prize money from competitions and sponsorships can be a significant income source.
15. Painting or Drawing
Are you good enough at painting or drawing that you think you could start selling your art? Utilize platforms like Etsy, Saatchi Art, or ArtStation to showcase and sell your paintings. Optimize your listings with high-quality images and compelling descriptions.
You can also offer prints of your artwork and explore merchandise options like T-shirts, mugs, or phone cases featuring your designs.
You can also consider hosting in-person or online art workshops to share your techniques, tips, and personal artistic journey. Or you can develop and sell comprehensive online art courses. Platforms like Skillshare, Udemy, or Teachable can host your courses.
16. Calligraphy
If you are into calligraphy, you can try creating custom invitations and cute stationery items. People need invitations for different kinds of events including weddings and birthdays and stationary items can make great gifts. Etsy could be a good platform to share your work.
You can also look into creating and selling online calligraphy courses for beginners or enthusiasts looking to improve their skills.
17. Home Brewing
Are you interested in brewing your own beer? It can start as just something fun to do but once your brewing skills are refined, consider selling your craft beer locally or at farmers’ markets. You can also partner with local restaurants or pubs to feature your craft beer on their menu. What is more, you could explore brewing non-alcoholic beer which is growing in popularity.
18. DIY Home Improvement
Do you like working on different home improvement projects rather than hiring a professional for the job? Share your home improvement projects through tutorials on YouTube or a blog. You can monetize through ad revenue and sponsorships.
Consider organizing in-person or virtual DIY workshops. There are many people out there who are interested in DIYing home improvement projects to save money but that lack the knowledge to do so. You can teach participants various home improvement skills, from basic carpentry to painting techniques.
19. Fashion
Have been thinking about how you can turn your passion for fashion into a source of income, even without a formal degree or certification?
Start a blog or YouTube channel to showcase your personal style, fashion tips, and reviews. Remember there are a million blogs and influencers out there trying to break into the fashion niche, so you should think about how you can differentiate yourself from the others. Maybe you could focus on minimalist style or fashion ideas for women in the corporate world. Once you start building a following, you could look to partner with brands or make money through affiliate links.
20. Knitting or Crocheting
Similar to DIY crafting, you can sell your knitted or crocheted items on Etsy. Offer custom orders to cater to specific color preferences, sizes, or even take unique requests from customers.
Or you can even create and sell knitting patterns for your original designs instead of selling the finished product. This would be a great way to make passive income. Etsy lets you sell your designs as digital downloads.
You can also share your expertise by creating and selling online knitting or crocheting classes or creating an online community of crochet enthusiasts.
21. Podcasting
Do you like the idea of starting your own podcast? Are you camera shy but maybe you have a lot to say and still want your voice to be heard?
A podcast could be a great way to connect with people who share your interests and to express your thoughts about a particular topic. A lot of podcasts start as a passion project but as you get more listeners, you can monetize your podcast through sponsorships from relevant brands or companies. Or you can also set up a Patreon account or accept donations from listeners who want to support your podcast.
22. Traveling
Making money while traveling may seem like a dream but it can be possible. You can start by creating a travel blog or YouTube channel to document your travel experiences and share insights, tips, and recommendations. Earn money through ad revenue on your blog or YouTube channel as your audience grows. Or include affiliate links in your travel-related content, promoting products like travel gear, accommodation, or booking platforms.
If on top of travel, you are also into photography, you could sell your travel photos as prints, stock photos, or digital downloads. You can also share your knowledge and expertise by creating online courses related to travel. Topics could include budget travel, travel photography, or cultural immersion.
23. Puzzle Solving
If you love solving puzzles, consider creating your own puzzle books or individual puzzles and selling them on Amazon, Etsy or even your own website.
If you decide to create a puzzle book, you can get it published on Amazon using KDP and promote it on social media. As it gets traction, this can become a great source of passive income. You also have the option to sell your puzzles as digital downloads on Etsy. There is demand for anything from crosswords to sudoku puzzles.
24. Journaling
Journaling seems to be on the rise right now, but this is a trend that can actually be great for your personal development. If you are starting to get serious about journaling, you can look into ways to monetize this interest.
You could document your journaling journey by sharing your journaling experiences, techniques, and tips through a blog. Then, monetize through ad revenue or by placing affiliate links related to journaling products or services.
As you acquire more knowledge in the topic, consider developing your own online courses or journaling products such as printables templates, prompts or entire guided journals.
25. Playing Board Games
If you are a board game nerd looking to make money with this passion, consider starting a channel or blog where you can review board games, provide insights, strategies, and recommendations. Earn money through ad revenue on your YouTube channel or blog.
If you have a unique game idea, create and sell your own board game. You can use your social media platforms to promote it or bring to your local board games group to get people to know about it.
Final Thoughts
The world of hobbies not only offers personal enrichment but also presents a unique avenue for financial empowerment. Exploring hobbies that can generate income combines the best of both worlds – pursuing activities that bring joy while also contributing to your financial well-being. From turning artistic talents into sellable creations to transforming niche interests into profitable ventures, the realm of money-making hobbies is diverse and dynamic. Turning a hobby into a source of income can be a fulfilling and rewarding endeavor. Seize the opportunity to blend passion with profit, and you may find yourself not only enjoying your pastime but also reaping the benefits in your bank account.