Hobbies that can make you some money

What to expect

Most people who earn from a hobby make a few hundred dollars a year, and that is before counting their time. If a hobby pays for its own materials and gear, it is already doing well. Set that as the first goal.

Teach it

Teaching is the most dependable route. Once you play or make something at a solid intermediate level, beginners will pay to learn from you. You don't need to be an expert. You need to be a few years ahead of them and patient.

• Guitar, piano and ukulele lessons for beginners, often children.
• Chess coaching for kids, through schools and after-school clubs.
• Knitting and crochet workshops at a local yarn shop or library.
• Language tutoring, online or in person, if you speak a second language well.

Sell what you make

• Candles, knitted and crocheted pieces, jewellery, pottery and small woodworking pieces sell at craft fairs and through online marketplaces.
• Count your hours before you set prices. At a fair hourly rate, most handmade goods barely cover their materials. The people who make it work either sell small items in volume or take custom orders at higher prices.
• Selling home baking is regulated. Most US states have cottage food laws that allow some home-baked goods with limits on what and where you sell, so check your state's rules first.
• 3D printing can pay through custom parts and hard-to-find replacement pieces.

Sell your time and skill

• Photography: portraits, family photos and small events.
• Video editing and graphic design for small businesses and people who post online.
• Makeup for weddings and photo shoots.
• DJing or singing at parties and weddings, and magic shows at children's birthdays.

Buy, grow and resell

• Thrifting, vintage clothing, old books and trading cards reward people who know what things are worth. The eye you built as a collector is where the margin comes from.
• Houseplants and succulents grown from cuttings, honey from your own hives, eggs from backyard chickens. Check local rules on selling food first.

Before you take money

• Keep at least one hobby you never charge for. Once someone pays, you owe them a deadline and a standard, and part of the fun goes.
• Start with friends and friends of friends before you open a shop.
• In the US, hobby income is taxable, and net self-employment earnings of $400 or more in a year also owe self-employment tax. Keep receipts from the first sale.