Hobbies to Make Money [2024] Best Money Making Hobby From Home - Crafts, Retirement, Fun Stuff • Touchdown Money

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The average American spends roughly 5¹ hours a day on leisure activities. It’s how we avoid going insane!

But what if you could turn some of that leisure time into profit?

Well – you can!

Whether you’re a sports fanatic, an artistic genius, or a retired person eager to master new skills, the internet can help you have fun and earn money – all at the same time!

Below, I’ll describe some of the best hobbies to make money. You can use this list as inspiration and turn “pastime” into “profit!”

Woman podcasting as a hobby to make extra money. — Podcasting is one way for your hobbies to make money.
Source: Unsplash²

Table of Contents

Hobbies to Make Money

Do you dream of using your hobbies to make money? It’s a common goal– and here’s the thing: It’s actually pretty easy!

Are you guaranteed to make millions? Of course not – but you really never know what could happen. And when you’re passionate about what you’re doing, the sky is the limit.

So here are some of the best ways to use your hobbies to make money.

1 – Podcasting

Thanks to podcasting, you can talk about your hobbies to make money – and that’s pretty darn cool.

If you’re super interested in an activity, there are probably other people who are interested in it, too. And if you can talk about that activity in a fun, interesting way, you should have no trouble attracting listeners.

Potential topics include:

Sports (playing or watching)
TV shows
Movies
Video games
Adventure sports
Outdoors activities
Books

Of course, no matter how much you know about your topic, you can’t just babble into a microphone for an hour. You’ll need to plan out your episodes and conduct some research ahead of time.

You also need your podcast to sound totally professional – which is actually pretty easy, thanks to the editing tools available today.

Check out my review of the best audio editing software.

As you build a following, there are a few ways your podcast can make money:

Affiliate marketing
Sponsorships/ads
Selling your own products or services

You can also combine podcasting with other online business ideas like a website, online store, YouTube channel, email newsletter, or blog. You never know – you could create your own media empire!

Need some help filming yourself for video? Check out this Beginner Level video recording and editing course on Skillshare, and you can double your effort by recording your podcasts and uploading them to YouTube!

2 – Blogging

Blogging is another way to capitalize on your hobby by sharing what you know. Not only can it be super profitable, but it’s also a lot of fun!

What makes for a good blog topic? There are only two criteria:

Are you interested in it?
Are other people interested in it?

You could write a successful blog about practically anything. Reviewing novels? Of course! Baking cakes? I know I’d read it! How to play pickleball? Now that’s a trendy one!

Seriously, the options are almost infinite.

But here’s what’s not negotiable: Your blog must look professional. Otherwise, people won’t take it seriously.

Luckily, creating a snazzy-looking blog isn’t as tricky as it sounds. No, you don’t have to be a professional coder or graphic design expert. Just choose a product from my list of the best web hosting services – and then get started.

Or if you don’t need hosting, you can go straight to building the site. Check out my review of the best website builders.

As you attract readers, you can find all sorts of ways to make money:

Affiliate marketing
Ads
Direct sales of goods or services
Paid “special” content

This is why blogging is one of my favorite low-cost business ideas with high profit.

3 – 3D Printing

If you like building things that have a tangible presence in the world, then 3D printing could be an exciting hobby – and a profitable business.

You can use a 3D printer to create all sorts of products, from something as simple as a coaster to something as complex as a topographical map.

Before you can start a 3D printing business, there are two pieces of technology you’ll need:

The 3D printer itself. They can go for as little as $100, and it should be a one-time investment.
3D printing software. You’ll use this to create and implement designs. Check out my review of the best 3D printing software. Some of these services are free, and most are beginner-friendly.

Once you’ve got your equipment, there are two ways to make money with it. You can create your own products and sell them online, or you can rent your 3D printer to other people who don’t have one.

Both business models have the potential to be super lucrative – and you can even combine them!

4 – Flipping Stuff

Shopping online, visiting yard sales, popping into antique stores – all that stuff can be a lot of fun! And if you resell your purchases for a profit, those activities can be super lucrative, too!

Buying items for a certain price and then selling them for more is called “flipping” – and it’s one of the best hobbies to make money.

All sorts of items are great for flipping, including:

Websites
Email newsletters
Furniture
Designer shoes and sneakers
Exercise equipment
Appliances

To maximize your flipping profits, you’ll have to strategize.

First of all, you need to find out where you can buy the items for the lowest possible price. One idea is to shop on Rakuten, an online cash-back platform with amazing deals. Another option is to look for sales at your favorite retailers.

Then, you need to discover the most profitable place to sell your items. I’d recommend online platforms like eBay, Craigslist, and Facebook Marketplace. There’s no better way to reach a massive pool of potential buyers.

Interested in flipping? Check out my detailed “What Flips” article to learn more!

5 – Writing

Blog posts. In-depth articles. How-to guides. Social media posts. All that content is everywhere online – and somebody has to write it.

So if you’re a wordsmith by nature, that massive demand for writing should have you rubbing your hands with glee. Yup, writing is one of the best hobbies to make money!

Being a good writer and being a profitable freelancer are two very different things. That’s why you’ll need to work on building your career.

Your first step should be to take a writing course. The right writing courses can teach you strategies to improve your writing, marketing, finding clients and more.

Basically, your job as a freelance writer is to do three things:

Improve your writing skills
Find new clients
Complete quality work

And here’s the good news: Those three activities all reinforce each other. Improved skills can lead to new clients, and completing quality work will help you improve your skills!

6 – Sell Baked Crafts Online

Question: What’s better than being into arts and crafts?

Answer: Being into crafty hobbies that make money – because that’s how you turn your skills into a job!

And creating baked crafts is one of the best craft hobbies that make money.

You can create all sorts of crafts with just some basic supplies and an oven.

Some of my favorite baked craft ideas include:

Clay imitation plants
Coasters
Ornamental animals
Earrings
Trays
Incense burners
Garden markers

But creating the crafts is only half the battle. You also need to figure out how you can sell them. And that’s where the internet comes in!

There are a few ways to sell crafts online. One option is to create a store on Shopify – a platform specially built for online retailers. This is probably the easiest route, since the platform is designed to be intuitive and user-friendly.

Another option is to create your own website from scratch. I know it sounds intimidating, but it’s actually pretty easy – especially if you choose the right website builder.

Check out my review of the best website builders on the market.

7 – Walk Dogs

Imagine: It’s a beautiful day, there’s an adorable golden retriever puppy at your side – and you’re getting paid for the experience!

Welcome to the world of dog walking!

Of course, it’s not always so easy. It rains. Dogs poop. People complain. But in general, dog walking is a pretty awesome gig.

The hardest part of dog walking is probably finding clients. Luckily, the internet can make it a whole lot easier.

I recommend advertising your services on Craigslist or Nextdoor, if you’re on it. You should share how often you’re available, the skills you have (do you specialize in puppies, or could you potentially help elderly pets?), and how much you charge per walk.

You can also take your online presence to the next level by creating a separate website for your dog-walking business.

Check out my review of the best website builders. Any of them can help you develop your site.

Person walking dog as a hobby to make extra money. — Dog walking is one of the best hobbies to make money.
Source: Unsplash³

Common Questions About Hobbies to Make Money

Hobbies That Make Money?

Here are some of the best hobbies to make money:

Money Making Hobbies?

Yes, you can make money with certain hobbies!

Here are some of the best money-making hobbies:

Hobbies That Can Make Money?

There are lots of hobbies that can make money. Some hobbies, like crafting and 3D printing, create actual products to sell. And you can monetize other hobbies by blogging or podcasting about them.

Hobbies That You Can Make Money From?

Lots of hobbies can be surprisingly profitable. With some hobbies, like 3D printing and crafting, you can create and sell products online. You can create a profitable blog or podcast for other hobbies, like sports and traveling.

Hobbies That Make You Money?

There are several hobbies that can make you money – but you’ll have to think carefully about how to monetize them. If you're crafting actual products, research the types of items that people typically buy. And if you’re creating a blog or podcast, try to choose an interesting niche.

Retirement Hobbies That Make Money

Crafting is one retirement hobby that can make you money. Try experimenting with different baked crafts, then see what you can sell online.

Freelance writing is another option. You could also try dog walking – which is fun, and keeps you in shape!

Home Hobbies That Make Money?

Writing is the classic home hobby that makes money. You can do it online from practically anywhere, and there’s no equipment necessary besides a computer.

Blogging and podcasting can also be profitable, and they’re easy to do from home.

Crafting Hobbies That Make Money?

There are lots of crafting hobbies that make money – but make sure you create products that people will actually buy. I’d try baked crafts like clay coasters and earrings.

You could also invest in a 3D printer. That’s how you can create more complex items – and create them faster!

Hobbies That Make Money From Home?

Writing, blogging, and podcasting are the best hobbies for making money from home. You’ll hardly need any equipment, and you can monetize your project online – with no commuting necessary!

Best Hobbies That Make Money?

Here are the best hobbies to make money – from home, or from anywhere:

Easy Hobbies That Make Money?

Dog walking is probably the easiest hobby to make money. The main challenge is finding clients – but you can do that on your local Craigslist or Nextdoor.

Podcasting and blogging are also pretty easy, but you’ll need to put some work into building your audience.

Side Hobbies That Make Money?

Crafting is a fun hobby that can also become a side hustle. The key is to identify the crafts that people will actually buy.

Flipping stuff is another great option. If you enjoy shopping and hunting for deals, you can earn money by reselling items for a profit.

Sources:

1 – https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2022/men-spent-5-6-hours-per-day-in-leisure-and-sports-activities-women-4-9-hours-in-2021.htm

2 – https://unsplash.com/photos/n30_i7mx62o
3 – https://unsplash.com/photos/VehdYPKnX8Y

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