Most people work to get a paycheck but don’t necessarily love what they do. But what if you could do something you love and make money?
Sounds like a no-brainer, right? Who wouldn’t want to follow through on that?
While it might be hard to believe, many hobbies can regularly earn you a little extra cash. With some patience and the right mindset, turning your favourite pastime into a money-making side gig is possible.
The Most Profitable Hobbies
Doing something you love while making money is the ultimate dream. If you’re looking for ways to pad your income, check out these lucrative hobbies.
1. Blogging
How much money can you make? Newbies shouldn’t expect to make much – anything over $100 is a success when you’re first starting. However, established bloggers can easily generate $2,500 – $10,000 monthly.
If you’re good at writing, digital marketing and have something you’re passionate about and willing to share, blogging is a great outlet. Starting a website doesn’t even have to cost anything – there are many platforms available for free to create a website and start blogging.
As someone who has started a revenue-generating blog that started out as a hobby, I can say that it is definitely not a get-rich-quick scheme. It takes a lot of time, patience, and hard work to make it a success.
Bloggers earn money from advertisements, brand sponsorships, product sales, and affiliate marketing. It can take time to grow your blog into something that’s lucrative, but patience is key. Keep posting and adding followers, and watch your success grow.
2. Photography
How much money can you make? A quality photographer can make a few hundred dollars per session.
Do you have a keen eye and love taking pictures? Why not get paid for your talents? Online platforms are always looking for great new content. Sites like Shutterstock and iStockphoto allow you to set up an account and sell your pieces to potential clients.
In addition, you can find work with real people. Family portraits, newborn photo shoots, or weddings – someone is always looking to have their special moments documented.
It’s easy to start your photography business as a side hustle, but over time and through word-of-mouth referrals, you might even consider turning that side hustle into a career.
3. Freelance Writing
How much money can you make? The pay range is vast and depends upon a variety of factors, but the average pay is $30.39 an hour.
Freelance writing is a great side gig that can pull in quite a lot of cash, it just depends on how much work you want to do. There are various avenues to take – whether you write for your own private clients, find work through bidding sites like Upwork or Freelancer, or pitch your ideas to magazines and other publications.
You can turn freelance writing into a career, many people have, but if you’re just looking to keep it as a side hobby, it’s quite a lucrative endeavour.
Freelance writing is how I started my career as a digital nomad and remote worker, and it’s been the best decision of my life!
4. Graphic Design
How much money can you make? The pay range depends on the project, but most graphic designers can charge anywhere from $25/hr and up.
Can you design logos or business cards? If so, your work is in demand. There are always people looking for help with different design projects, so this hobby could bring in a nice chunk of change.
You can put together a portfolio of your work and showcase it either on your own website or throughout your profile on crowdfunding websites like 99Designs. These sites allow you to choose what kind of industries to work in and let you pick and choose how much work to do.
5. Social Media Influencers
How much money can you make? To make it big on platforms like Instagram you need at least 5,000 followers and over 300 sponsored posts to make $100,000. The majority of people won’t make that kind of cash but can still pull in enough to make it worthwhile.
Social media influencers build a following on platforms like YouTube, Instagram, or Tik Tok. Normally, they have some sort of expertise or knowledge in a particular subject. It can be anything from home decor to fashion.
Their posts can encourage their followers to buy products they sponsor or start new trends based on their content.
Frugal Hobbies That Make Money
While the best kind of hobbies are ones that you enjoy doing, it’s even better if your hobby doesn’t cost a lot. If you’re looking to make some extra cash, it’s best not to eat into your profits. Check out these thrifty hobbies that can increase your income without upping your overhead.
6. Take Online Surveys
How much money can you make? Don’t expect to get rich. Each online survey pays only 40 cents to $2 per survey.
While you might not get rich with this online hobby, you can still pad your pocket with some extra change. The best part is the initial cost is inexpensive. As long as you have a computer, tablet, or phone, you can answer surveys anywhere.
Watching TV at night? Take a few surveys. Picking the kids up from practice? Do a few more. The flexibility of online surveys is one of its best aspects. The extra income is the icing on top.
7. Play Video Games
How much money can you make? While the most well-known gamers make a few thousand a month, that’s not usual. Pulling in $100 or more is solid work for a beginner.
If you love playing video games, why not make money while you do it? Here’s how to get started. The first is live streaming. Twitch or YouTube are the best platforms for it, but to make money, you’ll need to build an audience, something that isn’t easy to do.
If live-streaming isn’t your jam, maybe try developing a player guide for popular games. You can either upload videos with step-by-step instructions on YouTube or create a website or blog with the instructions.
Feel like a world-class player? Test your fate playing in a gaming tournament. These popular competitions have large prize pools for some of the most fan-favourite video games.
8. Gardening
How much money can you make? Selling extra produce can bring in weekly amounts of $100 or greater depending on your inventory.
If you have a green thumb and love getting your hands dirty, consider taking your gardening hobby to the next level. This hobby can generate extra income in several ways. First, you could sell any of your extra produce. Remember how much zucchini you get from one plant?
Next, if you have the time and patience to putter, consider selling the plants you grow, whether they’re veggie plants or flower assortments. If your own yard looks like a backyard oasis, that’s the best way to grab customer’s attention and get them to buy – they’ll want their yard to look just like yours!
If you have a large patch of land, consider planting pumpkins, apple trees, or strawberries. Everyone loves a pick your own site, and it’s an easy way to make extra money from season to season.
9. Pet Sitting
How much money can you make? Hourly rates can range from $10 – $50/hour
Most people will pay top dollar to have someone look after their furry friends. From pet sitting to daily dog walks, there are plenty of ways to make money if you’re a pet lover. You can advertise on your own or set up a profile on sites like Rover.com showcasing your services.
But don’t stop there. Pet owners will pay a lot of money to have their pet look its best. If you’ve got the time and are willing to learn, pet grooming is a lucrative business.
Doodle dogs are such a popular breed but require plenty of grooming, including regular cuts. Learning how to groom dogs, especially doodles, can quickly add to your bottom line.
10. Driving
How much money can you make? Average Uber drivers make around $9 – $10/hour. Door Dash drivers make $2 -$10 an order along with any extra tips.
Got a car and love driving around? You can make money in several different ways just by cruising. Ridesharing apps like Lyft and Uber are always looking for new drivers. It’s a great gig if you need flexible hours and like meeting new people.
If that doesn’t sound good to you, maybe a delivery job is up to your alley. Companies like Door Dash and Instacart need drivers to deliver take-out food and groceries. Just like ridesharing, the work is flexible, and you can relax and listen to your favourite podcast while earning extra cash.
Other Hobbies That Generate Cash
11. Fitness
How much money can you make? Exercise instructors make anywhere from $10 – $17/hr.
Do you love to exercise? Take your knowledge to the next level and help people out in the process. Offer your services as a personal trainer, nutrition coach, or group exercise instructor.
While you might need a certification depending on where you live, it’s still a win-win situation. You’ll get paid to do something you love while helping others get in shape and live a healthier life.
12. Crafting
How much money can you make? $20 and up, depending on your piece.
If you’re crafty and love making homemade items like jewelry or paintings, make some money from your talents. Websites like Etsy are a great place to sell your homemade items. The best part is you can add the cost for materials into the item’s selling price.
13. Referee or Teach Private Lessons
How much money can you make? Refs make anywhere from $20 – $50 for youth games and $50 and up for high school games.
Kids love playing sports, and there’s always a need for referees to help out. If you’re a sports enthusiast, this is a great way to earn extra money and get in some exercise. Check out local youth programs for soccer, basketball, and football. Most are always looking for more people willing to monitor the sidelines.
You can take it a step further and teach private lessons. Maybe you used to be a basketball star – why not pass your knowledge on to the next generation? Schedule private lessons based upon your schedule and get ready to reap the rewards.
14. Furniture Restoration
How much money can you make? Prices will depend on the size of the furniture, but they can usually sell for $100 – $250 per piece.
It’s easy to find old furniture at yard sales or thrift stores and if you’re good at refinishing, resell it for a profit. Try out your skills on a piece of furniture you already own. You can take the money you make from that sale to buy more pieces.
Selling your furniture is easier than ever with all the different platforms available. Facebook Marketplace, eBay, and Craigslist are just a few of the sites that can get your new designs noticed.
15. Baking
How much money can you make? Birthday cakes usually start around $25 and up. Wedding cakes are much more expensive – usually starting at $100 for small ones.
People that know their way around a kitchen are always in demand. If you love to bake, consider making wedding cakes, birthday cakes, or other goodies for parties and get-togethers.
You could pick and choose from the jobs you want, and the materials to get started aren’t very expensive – you probably already have a bunch of them in your kitchen.
Conclusion
There are plenty of ways to turn a hobby into a money-making side gig. But even if your hustle doesn’t make you a millionaire, the only thing that matters is that you love doing it.
If you’re looking for a few more ideas to stash away some extra cash, check out these unique ways to pad your wallet.
