It’s not to say that it’s possible to get rich by playing your violin at weddings, or by weaving baskets from pine needles, but earning money from a hobby is a nice way to get paid for doing something you would do anyhow. Hobbies should always be something you thoroughly enjoy, bringing a quiet retreat to your hectic lifestyle. And, if this enjoyable pastime brings in a little income, you profit in more ways than one.

 

Here are some ground-rules for making money from hobbies:

 

Focus on something you love;

Pursue something you’re passionate about. Choose a hobby that you enjoy, and find a way to make money from it. Don’t choose a hobby simply because it might make money and then dive into it with that aim in mind. You should be doing this hobby because you love it; any side-income should be secondary.

 

For instance, a person into sports could talk to his old school principal or club captain and start a few coaching classes for a few groups of kids. If you like to write, try writing a few articles for a magazine or news paper. Design and stitch outfits for a few friends and relatives. By this, you not only earn a few bucks, you will actually love what you’re doing on the long run. Keep it fun. Don’t let it become a chore.

 

 

Be creative;

If you’re interested in making money from a hobby but don’t know where to start, think outside the box. What skills do you have that others don’t? Define the term “hobby” broadly. Find something that you can do that most others cannot, something for which other people might be willing to pay.

 

For instance, a person who likes to travel could subsidize his journeys by writing about the places he visited, and by taking photographs. Who knows, you might be sponsored with an all expense paid vacation just to give your employer a good article on a particular place. And the bucks that come with it – well – let’s just say it’s BIG. Besides, he’s doing something he’d do anyhow, and it doesn’t cost him a dime.

 

 

Don’t force it;

Your hobby will not make you rich. In most cases, it won’t even pay you enough to allow you to quit your day job. It’s quite possible, however, to earn enough money to make the hobby self-sustaining, to keep yourself in new tools and equipment.

 

Often when you try to take your hobby to the next level, the joy goes out of it. Suddenly the extra income just isn’t worth it. There’s a balance to be achieved, and if you can find it, you can have a fun while earning extra income.

 

Don’t underestimate your ability;

It’s easy to discount your abilities. When you truly love something, your prolonged experience can give you skills and knowledge that you don’t appreciate.

 

For example, a person who has a love for early 20th-century American pop culture; his brain will be filled with facts and stories about once-famous recording artists. But this isn’t common knowledge — it’s specialized.

 

The same concept holds true for you and your hobby. Know a lot about Napoleonic warfare? Start a blog about Admiral Nelson. Spend time tinkering with bicycles? Open a small-scale bike repair service. Not everybody knows what you know. Don’t sell yourself short.

 

Market yourself;

This can be difficult. In order to actually earn income, you need customers. But just as most people have a tendency to underestimate their abilities, they also tend be uncomfortable with self-promotion.

 

There’s no shame in mentioning your money-making hobby to friends, family, and neighbors. You needn’t be pushy. Just mention it at natural points in the conversation. If you’ve decided to do some painting for cash, mention this when your aunt states she wants to buy a new painting for the living room.

 

Marketing can be subtle, but it’s an absolute necessity if you hope to earn money from your hobby. People need to know you’re available before they can hire you.

 

 

Hone your skill;

Practice, practice, practice. The more time and energy you’re willing to devote to your hobby, the better you will become. The better you become, the more likely that you’ll be able to earn money from it.

 

Photography is a terrific example. If you’re willing to make a hundred images a day, you can improve your skills quickly, especially if you teach yourself about composition. You may never become a professional photographer this way, but you can develop your skill to the point where you can sell images to stock photo agencies, or enter (and win) photography contests.

 

Some people are born with natural talent. Most of us have to work at it.