Indulging in your favorite hobby is a great way to spend your free time, but don’t overlook the option to get paid for what you love to do. Many people who start a home-based business or entrepreneurial venture turned a hobby or pastime into a paying gig. If you want to make some extra money on the side without taking on a second job, consider turning one of your favorite hobbies into a more lucrative activity.
Here are seven hobbies that could help you generate extra income.
1. Music. If you spend your free time playing the guitar, piano or any other musical instrument, you could either teach beginner’s classes for a modest fee or contact local music venues to play for an audience. Consider your skill level and abilities to monetize your passion for music. If you have advanced skills or have been playing for several years, you could set up your own YouTube channel and blog about your upcoming musical numbers to generate money from advertising or even donations from listeners and viewers.
2. Photography. Whether you own a professional camera or have camera phone picture-taking and editing skills, consider selling some of those photos to make some extra cash. Stock photo sites such as Shutterstock, iStock and even Flickr offer options to monetize. All you need to do is set up an account and submit samples of your work to be approved as a contributor. You can build up an image library in no time and earn some extra cash just for snapping those pictures.
3. Crafts. If you enjoy spending your free time making jewelry, painting or creating any type of artwork and craft projects, put them up for sale on marketplaces like Etsy. The site lets you set up your own store to sell everything from handmade earrings to home décor. Just take a few high-quality photos of your work of art, set your price and include shipping guidelines to start selling your items online.
4. Cooking. If you love trying new recipes and always receive accolades from friends and family members about your cooking skills, consider turning your passion for cooking or baking into a paid hobby. You could rent commercial kitchen space to run a meal service business on the side or sell baked items on your own website. You could specialize in a particular style of cooking, such as Paleo meals or gluten-free baked goods to capture a niche market.
5. Computer troubleshooting. Resolving computer issues may be second nature to you so don’t overlook the option of turning your technology problem-solving and troubleshooting skills into a side job. Many people in your community may be looking for someone to provide tech support, upgrade their system or perform basic repairs without having to take their computer to the store. You could offer your services on Craigslist or promote your offerings on Facebook so people can contact you for help.
6. Shopping. If you find yourself at the mall or grocery store more often than not, consider using that shopping time to make some extra money. You could either sign up with a mystery shopping company to complete surveys about in-store experiences for cash or provide personal shopping services to someone who doesn’t have the time or desire to shop for themselves. Up-and-coming grocery shopping services like Shipt hire shoppers to take care of grocery shopping duties for people in the community. It’s set up like ride share services, such as Uber and Lyft, where users create a grocery list and choose a delivery time. As a designated shopper, you would find out who needs a grocery pickup and fulfill the order.
7. Home or office organizing. If you have a knack for organizing and clearing out clutter, consider offering organizing services to neighbors, community members and friends at an hourly rate. Not everyone is keen on sorting out closets, cleaning the pantry or reorganizing their storage rooms or attic — and some people are simply too busy to tackle that project that’s been sitting on their to-do list awhile. You could even get certified as a professional organizer to offer your services at a premium rate
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7 Hobbies That Generate Extra Income originally appeared on usnews.com
