Develop skill sets or follow hobbies that could eventually help you increase additional income outside of your main salary.

Hobbies such as crafting, writing, photography, etc. can absolutely bring in a significant source of income if you have good skills and invest the time and effort. In addition to salary and business interest, each person has the ability to increase income in many different ways. In particular, turning your hobbies and strengths into a money-making tool is one of the good ways to improve your quality of life. 

If you have good writing ability, start a website or blog and if you love creating impressive crafts, a small shop is an ideal suggestion. This side business can take a long time to build, but, with persistence and perseverance, you can turn your hobby into an income generator.

Writing

The ability and interest in writing bring young people many values, including the opportunity to develop their own careers and a stable income. Currently, the writing profession is quite diverse, spanning many fields, not limited to writers, poets, and story writers. You can create content for websites, blogs, social media, press collaborators, etc.

People who are interested in exploiting in-depth content in a certain field, and interested in composing have their beginnings by building a blog of their own. When there is stable traffic, the website brings in profits from links, ads, and sponsors. More simply, you can “sell” your article product as a service. Many websites and social networking groups to share information and find freelancers are active. Articles are paid according to quality and volume. WordPress, Wix, Squarespace, and fiverr.com, can be suggestions for those of you who want to seriously start writing. 

Design 

Similar to writing, illustration, and graphic design are “money-earning” hobbies that young people can consider if they are interested in this field. Some companies, and projects, need short-term creative staff, you can take the job based on your free time, and create images anywhere you feel comfortable.

Based on this hobby, you can have your own business by printing your work on t-shirts, shoes, bags, etc. Now, this creative market is quite competitive with more and more young talents. You need to capture customer trends or build a unique, impressive brand. You can easily put your designs into products of shirts, pants, and masks and sell them on some convenient websites such as Print on demand, wall art, merch by Amazon, Teespring, and Redbubble. Meanwhile, creativemarket.com, Canva, and Placeit are places where young people share and sell their ideas. 

Cooking 

Being good at cooking and presenting food beautifully is one of the signs that you can turn this hobby into a source of income. You can start creating blogs, YouTube channels, or Instagram accounts to share your cooking experiences and new recipes. Many people have succeeded and earned income from advertising and sponsorship. However, you need to create content and present it in a different form to make your own mark in the culinary community.

According to a Google survey, 54% of people aged 25-34 use smartphones in the kitchen. They search for delicious recipes on the Internet and practice in their kitchens. In addition, the development of e-commerce and food delivery platforms also creates opportunities for young people to sell dishes and ingredients, and earn extra income in their free time. 

Photography 

Photography is not only a hobby but can also bring you income if you know how to exploit your subject and strengths. Selling photos online, taking product photos, and participating in photo contests are some of the ways to make money with photography. If you have a knack for taking photos of a certain genre such as landscape, or portrait, you should try posting good-quality photos on copyrighted websites like Getty Images, and Shutterstock. When companies, brands, and websites use this copyrighted image for advertising and commercial purposes, you will receive a corresponding amount. Beautiful, tasteful photos are also the basis for increasing followers on Instagram, creating your own brand and making money from links and sponsorships. It’s up to you to choose an impressive niche or “lifestyle” that you want to capture in your photos. 

DIY/ Handicrafts

Making handmade items is a potential area in the list of money-making hobbies that you can refer to.  If you like to be creative and meticulous, you can make paintings from unique materials, make candles, jewelry, etc. to sell on the market.  Handmade items are often appreciated for their uniqueness and high quality.

Not only becoming a “hot” trend for young people but handmade goods are also sought by tourists when coming to a new country. However, making a product by hand takes a lot of effort and time.  Deciding to do business in handmade goods with a larger number of products, you need to invest more.

In short, it is not impossible to turn a hobby into making money.  However, that reality will “successfully” or become a “stalemate” depending on your knowledge and preparation.  An hour a day is an effective way to get started that will lead you to results and opportunities to increase your income beyond your expectations.  From today, practice shifting your mindset from loving something to thinking more realistically, setting goals, and keeping a high level of discipline.