How to Turn Your Hobby into Side Income

Here’s a fact that might surprise you: more than 70% of workers dislike their job. Can you believe that? The vast majority of us spend the best part of our days, weeks, and entire lives doing something that we don’t actually enjoy. Crazy, right?

But what if I told you that that really doesn’t have to be the case – that you could be getting paid to do whatever it is that you love to do? Because you totally could.

Thanks to the gig economy, it’s much easier these days to find opportunities to get paid for your hobbies. There are a lot of employers out there that need a diverse range of skills, and you’d be surprised at how lucrative some of your hobbies could be.

That being said, not all hobbies make money. For example, your hobby might be relaxing and sunbathing, but jobs that pay you to sunbathe are probably hard to come by. With that in mind, let’s start by exploring which hobbies can make you money…

Hobbies that Make Money

There are tons of hobbies that make money out there, but here are some of my personal favorites…

1. Writing

Writing is big business these days. The rise of the internet and ‘content marketing’ means that every business that wants an online presence needs someone to write for them. If you enjoy writing, it’s pretty easy to find work as a freelance writer.

You could get paid to write articles, blogs, product pages, and lots more. The demand is super-high! All you need to do is create a portfolio, sign up for freelancer marketplaces like Upwork or Freelancer, and start applying for jobs!

2. Arts and Crafts

Are you the kind of person that’s good at making things? If so, you could monetize your hobby by making unique hand-made goods and selling them on online marketplaces like Etsy.

3. Video Editing/Videography/Filmmaking

Are you a film buff? Or someone that likes to make your own home videos? If so, you could probably find paid gig work as a video editor/film maker. Lots of companies are in need of video content and creators are in short supply.

You could also find work as a wedding videomaker, or even just start your own YouTube channel and upload and monetize your own video content!

4. Photography

Photography is one of the most lucrative hobbies out there. The possibilities to make a side income with photography are endless. You could be a wedding photographer, sell stock images, or create and monetize your own instagram account.

5. Camping/Hunting/Other Outdoor Activities

Do you love camping and exploring the great outdoors? I know I do. Well, you might not know it, but outdoor activities can actually be a pretty lucrative hobby too!

For example, you can make a pretty penny by hunting for shed antlers and selling them. These antlers are discarded by wild deer and, thanks to their relative rarity and the fact that they make great decorative items, they sell for a high price. All you need to do is read some shed hunting tips and start hunting for them to make a ton of money!

Start Making Money From Your Hobbies

There you have it, 5 hobbies that make money. Now that you know how to turn your hobby into a side income, you have no more excuses to stick with that dead-end job that you hate. Work hard and you could be doing what you love for a living by the end of the year!

Good luck!

Adam Richards

About Adam Richards

Adam Richards is a semi-retired business professional originally from Bangor, Maine. He spent the majority of his career in sales and marketing where he rose to the marketing lead of a Fortune 1000 company. He then moved on to helping people as a career counselor that specifically helped bring families to self-sufficiency through finding them rewarding careers. He has now returned to Bangor for his retirement and spends his free time writing. This blog will be about everything he learned throughout his career. He'll write on career, workplace, education and technology issues as well as on trends, changes, and advice for the Maine job market and its employers.