Top 5 Hobbies you can Turn into a Side Hustle
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Whether it’s relaxing with a good book or jumping out of a plane, having a hobby is a great way to relieve tension, increase endorphins and practise self-care. Carving time out for yourself is an important way to bolster your mental health and keep your brain and body active.
The luckiest people can turn their hobbies into an opportunity or ‘side hustles’ to earn a bit of additional money during their spare time. Generating an income from something you love can be a gateway to a new career, and some potentially profitable ideas include:
Hobbies you can Turn into a Side Hustle
Making and Crafting
Some people are good with their hands and enjoy making things whenever they have a little downtime. The market for handmade, personalised and specialise items is huge and there are plenty of opportunities for people to make money from making things, including:
- Quilting,
- Cross-stitch
- Knitting
- Crocheting
- Painting
- Sculpture
- Portraits
- Jewellery
- Ornaments
- Candles
From making a selection of items to taking commissions directly from clients, there are plenty of ways to turn your crafting hobby into a business. There are several online spaces aimed at crafters with market-places for selling their creations, so you can research the market and find a niche that you can make profitable.
Handmade and personalised items are a popular choice and there’s plenty of inspiration online for anyone who wants to make a little extra income from something they love doing. Many makers use social media to promote their work, creating visual portfolios and showcasing their talents to generate word of mouth sales.
Turning your hobbies into a side hustle
Online gaming
Despite what your parents might have told you, you can make money from playing computer games. There are a number of ways to generate an income with gaming, whether you are into MMORPGs or bingo.
One of the quickest ways to generate money is through playing games where you can win money such as Texas Holdem and other casino games. You can choose games that allow you to leverage your skills, turning them into cash in your spare time and having fun while you do it.
Many players win big by taking advantage of the special offers, discounts and other incentives that sites offer to customers. The most popular gaming websites offer a variety of different games and some have chat features that allow you to engage with a community and get tips and ideas to help you increase your chances of winning.
For gamers who prefer adventure or role play platforms, there are entire video channels dedicated to gamers making walkthroughs, showing off the latest updates, testing new mods and interacting with their fan base. Even in games where there are no prizes or financial stakes, players that can build a following can earn from merchandise, channel advertising, live appearances, and sponsorship.
Music
If you have musical talent, then you might be able to use your skills to earn some extra money on the side. Depending on your style, you might be able to get live gigs playing at events such as weddings, birthdays or even corporate events. Many of these take place in the evenings and at weekends, so it’s an ideal way to fit around a regular day job if need be.
If you have a studio or somewhere that you can set up a camera, you can offer online music lessons. Many teachers work with music schools or other educational settings and there are online lessons available through official musical bodies such as the Royal College of Music, but you can also find private students by advertising online.
You can also start your own channel to connect directly with fans and, if you build up a big enough fan base, you can earn money from advertising. Many musicians are endorsed by music shops or manufacturers of specific accessories.
Many musicians also generate income through platforms such as Patron and Kickstarter where fans can pledge their support to gain access to tickets and early releases.
Acting
If you are keen on the performing arts and enjoy nothing more than taking to the stage, then you can advertise yourself as a supporting artist, or extra. Whether you have the right face for a historical crowd scene or you’re the right size for an authentic costume, you can make your acting experience work for you by signing up to an extra agency.
From adverts to feature films, there are plenty of opportunities to find work on the stage or screen. There are agencies that specialise in finding extras in specific areas or with particular experience and others that find work for actors with specific skills such as horse riding or juggling.
If you are used to working with scripts and delivering lines clearly, you could also earn money from voiceover work. There are plenty of opportunities, such as voicing training videos, reading audiobooks and appearing in adverts.
Sports
If you are a sports fan and have an interest in inspiring others or encouraging the next generation of athletes, then you could make money from your sporting hobby. There is a choice of sporting franchises that you can buy into if you have the required skills, and you get the benefits of familiar branding, resources and support.
If you want to create your own offering, there are plenty of opportunities, depending on what kind of sport you are into. You can offer personal training or group classes to adults, mentor children who are at the beginning of their sporting careers, or team up with other local sports coaches to offer a range of fitness support.
Whatever you enjoy doing, finding a way to make money from it can be hugely rewarding. When you make money doing the thing you love, it doesn’t only justify spending more time on your hobby, it might even turn your passion into a profitable business that allows you to spend even more time on the things you enjoy.