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By
Laura Hanrahan,
Samantha Lawyer,
Woman's Day
If your full-time job just isn't fulfilling, or you need a little extra income to to reach a goal or pay for a vacation, turning to a hobby that makes money can be a great idea for your bottom line. Think about the things you do that make you happy: Is it reading a book (fiction, non-fiction, fantasy — all of the above!)? Doing a little shopping? Cooking? Crafting? We are living in a time when the Internet makes is easy to reach tons of clients if you want to spin a hobby into a money-maker. There are web sites to help you sell your wares, showcase your skills and connect you with people who will use your services — from dog sitting to tutoring. Take a spin through these 12 hobbies-turned-side-hustles. Because as the saying goes: If you do what you love, you’ll never have to work a day in your life.
Knitting
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If you spend your commutes knitting or can't watch TV without having needles in hand, you're well on your way to making some extra cash. You can sell your knit creations, whether it be hats, scarves, baby clothes, or what have you, either to friends and family or online to the general public by setting up an Etsy shop.
Computer Coding
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If writing out new code and trying to see what you can get your computer to do is your idea of a good time, you can easily freelance out your in-demand skills to various companies. And you can make quite a bit of money from it too. According to Zip Recruiter, freelance software developers make an average of $54 per hour.
Sewing
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Sitting down in front of a sewing machine to make alterations or create entirely new pieces of clothing can be a soothing past time, but it's also one you can make some quick cash from. Offer up your services on the side as a tailor, or sell any clothes you make online.
Stock Investing
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Some people love buying, selling, and keeping track of stocks. And if you're good at it (or happen to get very lucky) you can make quite a bit of money from it — depending on how much you have to invest, of course.
Painting
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If you're the creative type who enjoys painting, you can sell your creations online or list your painting services to hire for commissioned artwork on sites like Fiver.
Reading
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Avid readers can profit from their love of books by getting paid to review them. Several sites including the U.S. Review of Books, Kirkus, and Women’s Review of Books will pay for short reviews of approximately 300 words, and as an added bonus, you’ll receive the books you review for free.
Shopping
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Making money from shopping may seem counterintuitive, but with cash-back portals such as Ebates and Swagbucks, it’s possible to add money to your wallet for buying items you would have anyway. Simply shop through their links and choose from thousands of stores you’re likely already shopping at to earn a few extra bucks.
Pet Sitting
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If getting paid to play with puppies sounds too good to be true, think again. Sites such as Wag and Rover connect you to pet owners in your area while allowing you to set your own schedule and even specify the types of dogs you’d like to sit for. You could earn up to $1,000 per month and meet some furry friends in the process, making this an ideal choice for animal lovers.
Gardening
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A green thumb not only lends itself to a relaxing hobby, but can also easily be turned into a side hustle by selling the fruits of your labor online. Plants, herbs and seeds can be sold through sites such as Craigslist or your local Facebook group (safety experts recommend you meet your buyer in a neutral, public place).
Flipping Furniture
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Whether you have an interest in antiquing or modern interior design, flipping furniture online can turn a significant profit. Charish, 1stdibs and Craigslist are just some of the popular platforms available for buying and selling used furniture online.
DIY Crafts
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With Etsy, Facebook Marketplace, Amazon Handmade and many more sites for selling craft goods, your homemade projects can be viewed by anyone on the Web. Items such as knit scarves, hand-crafted jewelry, or wooden engravings can all become part of your custom shop, so your personal creations can find a new home.
Tutoring
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Teaching can both be a fulfilling hobby and professional career, and the Internet has expanded opportunities to get connected to students all over the world. Chegg Tutors and TutorMe are just a couple examples of sites designed to help you find clients that you can help from the comfort of your own home.
Photography
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If like many photographers, you dream of selling your original work, it helps to create a website featuring your pictures. You could also sell stock photos or do freelance photography work, such as retouching photos, for smaller scale earnings.
Writing
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There are many freelance writing gigs available at any given time, so writers should have no trouble finding an opportunity to fit their particular interests. In addition to writing for other publications, it’s also possible to make money by blogging and editing.
Graphic Design
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Whether you’re already a professional graphic designer or are just developing a budding interest, there are plenty of graphic design jobs available online to suit your specific level of expertise. These jobs are often posted on general boards such as Indeed, as well as design-specific sites including Krop and Smashing Jobs.
Music
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One way to get paid to release music online is through Patreon, which charges subscribers a set fee every month in order to gain access to your content. So long as you keep releasing music, many fans are willing to pay to listen.
Cooking
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For talented cooks who love to entertain, BonAppetour will allow you to turn this hobby into a business. Post your favorite meal to cook as your menu and set a price, and you’ll be featured as a host in your city so other foodies can pay to dine with you.
Fitness
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It’s no secret that fitness is extremely popular these days and that the digital era has revolutionized the way that people work out. If exercise is a passion of yours, starting a fitness blog or uploading workout videos to YouTube could lead to sponsorships if you can find a large enough audience.
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