From writing poems, singing songs, playing games, to cracking jokes with people, most of us have what we do for fun during our leisure time. In some cases, we even dedicate up to a few hours doing our hobbies. Considering the happiness and passion that often characterize hobbies, we find them fulfilling and fun. Although it is not common to see people making money off their hobbies, some individuals have income streams by selling what they love doing. Depending on how refined you are with your hobbies, dedication, and talent, you can make from a few hundred to thousands of dollars monthly. If you would love to use your hobby for making money or develop well-paying hobbies for yourself, below are some top picks to consider.
12 Hobbies That Make Money
Photography
If you notice that you have a thing for photography and can hold a camera, it’s about time to monetize it. All you need do is to become a freelance photographer, taking shooting gigs in local events. Also, you can scale your hustle by selling creative shots on Shutterstock. Alternatively, you can create an Instagram account and grow your followers. With time, you can monetize your photography page. Another recommendable option is to open a photography blog to talk about your pictures and grow your audience. If you want to make good money from photography, it is advisable to pick a trending niche, for instance, “fast cars.”

Coffee
Are you a coffee enthusiast and would like to earn passive income? If so, here is a business idea for you. With your experience and passion for brewing coffee, you can create a blog that discusses how you make your perfect cappuccino or how you know the perfect bean for your coffee. Alternatively, you can establish a small coffee shop and sell during your free time. With people consuming over 400 billion cups of coffee yearly, you can be confident of getting clients for your business.
Teaching
Perhaps, you love spending your time with kids or teaching others about a subject that you love; it’s about time to make money from it. Turn your passion for education into a revenue source by signing up with websites such as TutorMe, or Skooli. These online pages will help connect you with students around the globe that wants your service.
DIY crafts
Do-it-yourself is another profitable hobby. For those who love working with their hands, you can help brands test their products or sell them to friends and families. If you want something more physical and scalable, consider showing off your crafts on Etsy.
Gardening
It is the same gardening that you do freely at home with a smile on your face. Annually, millennials spend about $13 billion on plants. Thus, gardening is a lucrative niche that you can harness. In your free time, develop succulents and put them up for sales – you can do this as a one-time purchase or based on subscription. Additionally, you can sell products that help customers indulge in their gardening hobbies.
Music
Do you like to write songs or create sounds? If so, you have what it takes to sell music. Record your album and sell them on music websites such as SoundCloud. You can also develop beats and sell them to musicians on Airbits or BeatStars by giving them samples.
Writing
Arguably, writing is the most popular hobby for making money. If you have the gift to research and write valuable content, millions of people worldwide are seeking talented writers like you. All you need is to join renowned freelancing sites such as Upwork or Fiverr to get paid gigs. Before long, you’ll become a refined and top-paid writer.
Graphic Design And Illustration
Here is another popular hobby that is quite lucrative. If you have a knack for designing, drawing, or illustrating, you can become a freelance designer. Like writers, you can easily open an account on Fiverr, Upwork, Peopleperhour, and DesignCrowd to get access to an endless list of graphic design and illustration jobs.
Cooking
For those who are food lovers, you can explore the food niche and generate considerable passive income. Some are food bloggers who take great pictures and talk briefly about their food. So, if you also have adventurers’ palettes and would like to share with the world, you can consider blogging, opening an Instagram account, or YouTube channel. All these platforms will help drive traffic that you can convert to sales.
Beer
Whether you like to brew or sample beers, some people need your knowledge and would like to pay for it. The global homebrew market worth $12 million in 2018. Hence, if you can share your ideas, tips, and recommendations to the target audience via Instagram, YouTube, or blogging, it won’t be long before people start paying for your time and service. Additionally, you can sell homebrew kits and accessories like Brooklyn Brew Shop does.
Comedy
If you have a penchant for making people laugh and creating trending memes, you have a rewarding skill at hand. All you need is to create social media pages such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube to dish out your doses of comedy to your audience. As you continue to make people happy, more individuals will join your channels. With time, you can start advertising for brands using your funny memes and comedy skills.

Fitness enthusiasm
Being a fitness freak doesn’t have to be able to big muscles and a flat tummy alone; you can also turn your hard work into an income. Some fitness apps give you points in exchange for physical activity data. A good example is Sweatcoin. Points accrued from the app are convertible to PayPal cash or gift card. Also, if you have vast experience in working out, you can become an instructor on YouTube. All you need is to upload a video of your working out session in a gym or alone on a YouTube channel. You’ll not only be making extra money but also inspire people to have a healthy body.
The Bottom Line
With the rapid internet advancement, almost anything is possible when it comes to making money. Turning hobbies into paying gigs can even be a solution for those who are tired of applying for jobs. While you are still seeking high-paying office jobs, endeavor to monetize your God-given talents or crafted skills. The reward will help keep body and soul together and give you self-satisfaction from doing what you love. Get to work and make some bucks with your hobby!