How Your Hobby Could Make You Some Cash

Many times people can spend so much money pursuing a hobby. I know I’ve been guilty of that in the past. (Please don’t look in my overflowing craft closet.) On the other hand, what if instead, you were able to make money by doing something you already enjoy doing?

Here are a few ideas on how to make some money on your favorite pastime.

If you’re a musician then you might have just the tools to help someone else and make some cash at the same time.  Teaching music lessons can rake in a great hourly rate.  Even if you’re only an amateur pianist or guitar player, you still know more than a complete beginner.  You could help adults and children take a step toward learning an instrument with little time commitment and no out of pocket costs for you.

Musicians could also make some money by playing at special events and coffee shops.  Use Craigslist to advertise your skills for free.  Post a video on your social media and let your friends know to share it.  You could play at weddings or help out with local events needing extra musical talent.

Photography hobbyists could make some big money with little time. Maybe you’ve taken a college course or read a book on photography. With some basic skills you could help people with family portraits or even capturing birthday party memories.

Your friends and family will love to model for you to get practice working with different people and different locations. This is a great way to build your portfolio.

Start an Instagram account for your new photo business. It’s an easy (and free) way to highlight your skills and spread the word about your services! Free advertising on Craigslist is a perfect way to branch out from just family and friends.

Make sure to keep your prices in line with your skills and be completely honest about your experience. People are willing to give beginners a chance as long as they know what to expect.

Check out these tips here when you’re ready to upgrade your camera equipment.

Amateur bakers are great friend material. But even more importantly than that, you can bring home some good dough when you bake for others.

Your hobby of cake and cookie decorating can get you gigs helping people that prefer homemade but don’t have the time or skills to do it themselves.

I know tons of people that always prefer homemade cakes and cookies for every child’s birthday party. They love customizing the decor to match the rest of the party. That can be expensive with professional bakeries. Amateur bakers can charge a reasonable price and then everyone gets what they want.

You could also take classes at many bakeries and hobby supply stores to hone your pastry decorating skills. It will pay off since you can charge more the better you get at each type of decorating.

Check the cottage industry laws in your state to make sure that you meet all the requirements to go forward. My state allows cakes, cupcakes, brownies, breads, and cookies to come from home kitchens with proper labeling.

I’d be happy to sample those products if you need a volunteer 🙂

You spend hours planning and preparing your garden. You tend it with loving care. It’s time that you consider sharing that love with others. After you’ve shared with your neighbors and donated to the local food pantry, consider making some cash on your gardening hobby.

Tables at farmers markets could be a good place to start. You’ll have an instant audience that’s looking for your products. Even though you’ll pay a few bucks for the table space, you’ll never find a better place to spread the fruits of your labor with those that will appreciate them the most.

Depending on the size of your garden you could possibly sell your food to a local restaurant that specializes in locally-sourced foods.  It’s a huge market in many areas across the country. Talk to the chef. See if you could supply what they need at a reasonable price.

One more opportunity for gardeners could be selling dried or canned fruits and vegetables. This opens the money-making window since you can sell the produce from the summer throughout the entire year.

Scrapbooking is a huge market, and many enjoy filling their craft rooms with piles of supplies. Put those tools and supplies to work by helping others who don’t have the time or the room to scrapbook.

People in our area pay good money to have someone compile their memories in a beautiful keepsake. I’ve seen advertisements on Craigslist and community boards for custom scrapbooks. If you start a Facebook page for your new business you could post samples and all your happy customers could sing your praises for all to see.

Have fun personalizing a book for a loved one or a friend to practice. You’ll enjoy the work and they’ll have something to cherish forever.

Your hobbies can bring you hours of enjoyment in addition to a few extra dollars on the side.  How do you make your pastimes work for you?