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Hobbies that make money: How to turn your hobby into a career
Over the last year or so, many of us have had more time to work on our hobbies and side projects. For others, it may have been the time where you’ve found a new pastime or activity you enjoy. But what about turning your hobby into a career? We take a look at how to make money from your hobby.
As well as providing some tips for making a business from your side project, we’ve also looked at how to find a hobby and some things to consider before you pursue it as a career.
What is a hobby?
First things first, let’s look at what we mean by the term hobby. Essentially, a hobby is an activity that you regularly do for enjoyment, relaxation or fun. Usually, a hobby is something that you do in your spare or leisure time. However, as we’ll see, it’s also possible to turn that hobby into something more structured.
This broad definition means that there are many different activities that count as hobbies. Whether it’s a popular creative pastime with lots of fellow enthusiasts and resources or a more niche way of spending your time, most people have hobbies.
How to find a hobby
If you’re looking for new ways of filling your time, there are plenty of options to choose from. As the world slowly starts to return to normal, there will be more options than ever before when it comes to trying something new.
Some considerations when looking for a hobby include: Are you looking for something more creative or active? Are you seeking escapism or tangible gains? Is there something you used to enjoy doing but haven’t had the time to keep up? Do you want your new hobby to be similar to existing ones?
Hobbies that make money
Of course, the thought of having a side hustle that makes some extra cash is an appealing prospect for many. So what are some hobbies that make money? In reality, there’s no straightforward answer – it often depends on your skill, dedication, and the market conditions.
That being said, there are certainly some trends that seem popular at the moment. We’ve picked out a few examples of hobbies that make money below:
Creative: Hobbies such as writing, design, crafts, music, photography, and other creative pursuits can lead to all kinds of side projects that make money. As a freelancer, you could easily start a blog that shows your creative skills and pitch for project work.
Tech-based: If you’re interested in coding and programming, games design, web and software development, video editing, or other tech-based skills, you might find it easy to pick up projects that pay for your expertise.
Food and drink: For those who enjoy baking, cooking, gardening, home brewing, and other culinary pursuits, you might find opportunities to sell your wares either locally or online.
Of course, these are just a few ideas to get your imagination running. In reality, if you have a unique enough idea and the passion to complete work to a high standard, you’ll often find people who are willing to pay for your craft.
That being said, picking up some casual income from a hobby is entirely different from making a business or career from it.
Hobby vs business
It’s important to make the distinction between a hobby and a business. There are several reasons for this. Perhaps first and foremost is that, depending on where in the world you are, if you’re making money from your hobby, you might need to think about the tax implications of this.
In the UK, for example, you have to declare the money you make from a hobby to Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC). However, there are some exceptions to this, mainly that you can earn £1,000 tax-free from your hobbies.
Another consideration is what you’re pursuing your interest for. Do you want to rely on the income you make, or are you purely in it for the enjoyment? A hobby is something that you can pick up and put down according to your schedule, while a business is something that takes time and dedication.
When does a hobby become a business?
For some people, the transition from hobby to business is a gradual and often unconscious one. What starts as entertainment can gradually end up as a side-hustle as time goes by. For others, there is a more definite transition. But from a legal standpoint, when does a hobby become a business?
In the UK, there are some ‘badges of trade’ set out by HMRC that determine whether or not your hobby is a business. Essentially, if you’re making money from it, you’ll need to declare it for tax purposes if that amount is over £1,000. Similarly, if you’re making regular transactions, repairing or modifying people’s assets, or borrowing money to fund transactions, then it’s considered that you’re ‘trading’.
Alternatively, you could go through the process of setting yourself up as a sole trader or limited company before you start selling your products or services. This can mark the start of your hobby becoming a business.
… to be continued.
—Futurelearn.com
One of the issues we have been grappling with as a nation is corruption, and it has had such a devastating effect on our national development. I have been convinced that until morality becomes the foundation upon which our governance system is built, we can never go forward as a nation.
Our traditional practices, which have shaped our cultural beliefs, have always espoused values that have kept us along the straight and the narrow and have preserved our societies since ancient times.
These are values that frown on negative habits like stealing, cheating, greediness, selfishness, etc. Our grandparents have told us stories of societies where stealing was regarded as so shameful that offenders, when caught, have on a number of instances committed suicide.
In fact, my mother told me of a story where a man who was living in the same village as her mother (my grandmother), after having been caught stealing a neighbour’s cockerel, out of shame committed suicide on a mango tree. Those were the days that shameful acts were an abomination.
Tegare worship, a traditional spiritual worship during which the spirit possesses the Tegare Priest and begins to reveal secrets, was one of the means by which the society upheld African values in the days of my grandmother and the early childhood days of my mother.
Those were the days when the fear of being killed by Tegare prevented people from engaging in anti-social vices. These days, people sleeping with other people’s wives are not uncommon.
These wrongful behaviour was not countenanced at all by Tegare. One was likely going to lose his life on days that Tegare operates, and so unhealthy habits like coveting your neighbour’s wife was a taboo.
Stealing of other people’s farm produce, for instance, could mean certain death or incapacitation of the whole or part of the body in the full glare of everybody. People realised that there were consequences for wrongdoing, and this went a long way to motivate the society to adhere to right values.
Imagine a President being sworn into office and whoever administers the oath says, “Please say this after me: I, Mr. …., do solemnly swear by God, the spirits of my ancestors and the spirits ruling in Ghana, that should I engage in corrupt acts, may I and my family become crippled, may madness become entrenched in my family, may incurable sicknesses and diseases be my portion and that of my family, both immediate and extended.”
Can you imagine a situation where a few weeks afterwards the President goes to engage in corrupt acts and we hear of his sudden demise or incapacitation and confessing that he engaged in corrupt acts before passing or before the incapacitation—and the effect it will have on his successor? I believe we have to critically examine this option to curb corruption.
My grandmother gave me an eyewitness account of one such encounter where a woman died instantly after the Tegare Priest had revealed a wrong attitude she had displayed during the performance on one of the days scheduled for Tegare spirit manifestation.
According to her story, the Priest, after he had been possessed by the spirit, declared that for what the woman had done, he would not forgive her and that he would kill. Instantly, according to my grandmother, the lady fell down suddenly and she died—just like what happened to Ananias and his wife Sapphira in Acts Chapter 5.
NB: ‘CHANGE KOTOKA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO KOFI BAAKO
By Laud Kissi-Mensah
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Emotional distortions can indeed have a profound impact on an individual’s mental health and well-being. These distortions can lead to a range of negative consequences, including anxiety, depression, and impaired relationships.
Emotional surgery is a therapeutic approach that aims to address and heal emotional wounds, traumas, and blockages. This approach recognises that emotional pain can have a profound impact on an individual’s quality of life and seeks to provide a comprehensive and compassionate approach to healing.
How emotional surgery can help
Emotional surgery can help individuals:
Identify and challenge negative thought patterns: By becoming aware of emotional distortions, individuals can learn to challenge and reframe negative thoughts.
Develop greater emotional resilience: Emotional surgery can help individuals develop the skills and strategies needed to manage their emotions and respond to challenging situations.
Improve relationships: By addressing emotional wounds and promoting emotional well-being, individuals can develop more positive and healthy relationships with others.
The benefits of emotional surgery
The benefits of emotional surgery can include:
Improved mental health outcomes: Emotional surgery can help individuals reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Enhanced relationships: Emotional surgery can help individuals develop more positive and healthy relationships with others.
Increased self-awareness: Emotional surgery can help individuals develop a deeper understanding of themselves and their emotions.
A path towards healing
Emotional surgery offers a promising approach to addressing emotional distortions and promoting emotional well-being. By acknowledging the impact of emotional pain and seeking to provide a comprehensive and compassionate approach to healing, individuals can take the first step towards recovery and improved mental health.
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BY ROBERT EKOW GRIMMOND-THOMPSON
