Having a Hobby and Making Money?
Thousands Of Hobbies But Can They Pay?
Many people dream they can have a job they love so much that it never feels like a job.
"They actually pay me to play" should be everyone's motto.
We tend to think of careers and professions. So we dedicate a large part of our lives to developing these careers. Somewhere down the line, if you are lucky, it is time to retire.
A lot of the time retirement isn't what it is built up to be.
I have a few examples of friends who really get annoyed with the husband floating around the house looking for something to do and basically getting in the way with unhelpful suggestions.
A golfing future or a fishing future looks rosy in the beginning, but the novelty soon wears out.
Everybody says "You should get a hobby". And they are right, you should as it can give you a sense of satisfaction. It can fill your life with more meaning and the sense of being productive.
In fact I suggest that we should all have a hobby, whether we are to retire shortly or not.
The problem is deciding which hobby. If you have a passion for something, even chocolate - making chocolates must be a hobby - then things are easier.
But if you spend your life working, and so many of us do, it is time to look around, perhaps resurrect the child within.
So you have to chose something. This will mean amongst other things, a learning process both from the hobby development point of view and finding out if you actually like it. It will also means paying for it.
But what happens if you find a hobby you really like and you make money from it?
- - As a minimum, you cover the costs - as well as finding something you enjoy.
- - Complement your income.
- - Save some money for a rainy day.
- - Make enough to live by.
- - Make a business out of it.
Make a list of Potential Hobbies.
I love fishing, reading, writing (though I get frustrated at times), playing darts. I have dabbled with making model airplanes, collecting stamps and all sorts of things. Making recycled paper, a little bit of carpentry, cooking, hiking, camping, riding a bike, trekking, travel, teaching, having a vegetable garden, breeding dogs, keeping an aquarium and others I forget.
In fact I know enough about many things to be dangerous, but not enough to be an expert.
(The one thing that stands out is "focus" or lack of it).
List of Hobbies and How To Make Them Pay.
If you have read this far why not list your hobbies and ideas on how to make them pay. You can offer any sort of advise or where to find information supplies, training, shops, websites or blogs. The sky is the limit.
Maybe you will also get an idea or two you can turn into a business, virtual or not.
My Short List. (Some of these can be combined - photography and bird watching).
- Fly tying
- Jewelry (I actually hate this, but any list should have it).
- Carpentry.
- Pewter.
- Photography.
- Bonsais
- Woodwork
- Model Airplanes
- Second hand books.
- Comics
- Outdoor sports.
- Metal works.
- Pottery
- Knitting
- Travel journalism
- Recycling paper.
That's just to wet your appetite. To make money from these you could provide how to instructions, offer services, internet market them, sell you products or sell supplies.
The next step is up to you and remember if you have ideas on the "how to make money" side of thing, please go ahead.
PS. Once the list grows from the comments. I'll put on its own hub.
