Top 10 Potentially Lucrative Hobbies

Many of us have spare time on our hands. Ideally, we would like to use some of this spare time to do something that is fun and enjoyable, maybe a hobby. While playing video games, reading, playing golf or tennis are certainly fun, they don’t really do anything for your pocketbook. But what if you could have it both ways. What if you found a fun hobby you really enjoyed and could make some side money as well? I’m on board, and you should be too! Here are ten fun hobbies that could earn you some bucks.

10. Coin and Currency Collecting

I know this sounds like the most boring thing in the world. Who in their right mind would ever want to do something as boring as collect coins? Well if you knew how much some of these old coins and bills go for on eBay and other sites you might become more intrigued. As a banker of many years you would be shocked at the amount of old money that is just floating around out there. Mercury head dimes, wheat pennies, war nickels, and silver quarters and dollars just to name a few. The best part is you can find many of these at local banks and credit unions if you invest a little time and commitment to seeking them out. Trust me it’s very exciting when you stumble onto that first rare coin.

9. Learning a new language

A lot of people would probably say that learning a new language is a little more involved than just being a hobby. Well I respectfully disagree. Learning a new language is not only fun, but can be an invaluable skill in your current job, or a doorway into a new job. People who can speak multiple languages are in constant demand in the workforce. Start with language tapes, some can be got for free at your local library. Most of us drive a lot these days. Listen to them while you commute. You can also splurge if you truly become invested in it, and spring for Rosetta Stone or some other language software. Plus you will always know if someone is making fun of you in another language.

8. Treasure Hunting at Estate Sales

Okay to be fair, treasure hunting is probably stretching it a little in terms of what you will find at estate sales. But you can truly find some nice things at them. I wouldn’t waste my time with yard sales, which are usually just ways for people to get rid of their junk, but estate sales are usually nicer and are being held by family members ready to liquidate their deceased relatives stuff as quickly as possible and move on with their lives. The truth is you won’t ever find a missing Monet painting, or lost Da Vinci sketchbook at one of these, but there might be old collectibles, furniture, and paintings just waiting to be snapped up at bargain prices. I have attached a link for a good book if you want to start researching antiques.

7. Inventing

I’m the least handy capable person on the planet. A lot of you might be as well. But how often have you been faced with a problem and thought of an ingenious solution to it. Do you like to tinker around with gadgets or computer programs? Then maybe you have the makings of an inventor. I’m not saying you will be the next Thomas Edison or Elon Musk, but maybe you can come up with an idea that will solve some of life’s everyday problems and become a millionaire. Engineers, computer programmers, people in the medical field; I’m looking at you.

6. Book Collecting

Okay so this is similar to coin collecting I know. And also books are going the way of the dinosaurs. But that is all the more reason to get into this hobby. There are still a lot of book collectors out there in the world who will pay big money for first editions of old books. With books becoming less relevant it will become easier and easier to find these at book and rummage sales. Who knows, you might just find that first edition of War and Peace that a relative gave away to a library, not even realizing what it was.

5. Writing

Do you like reading? Well chances are you might be a good writer as well. I think most people just assume they can’t write till they give it a try, and then watch the words flow. Maybe you are a budding poet. Maybe short stories and articles are more your game? Maybe you’ve got the next great American novel locked away somewhere in that brain of yours. The written word itself might be dying, but there still lots of digital outlets that need material, and your just the next Mark twain to supply it to them.

4. Blogging/Vlogging

Do I really need to even add anything to this description? After all if you are reading this you are already on a blog. Bloggers make money by having ads on their pages. They also can get commissions through linking Amazon items. Vloggers can do the same on YouTube. They say everyone in the world has a voice and an opinion, with blogging and Vlogging that is literally true.

3. Cooking

Cooking a hobby? For the world that mostly eats their meals from fast food restaurants and microwavable plates, yes cooking is now a hobby. It also is a wonderful like skill to have. How does cooking make you money? Well in a way it doesn’t make you money, in so much as it helps you save the money you already earn. Think about it. People who can cook tend to stay in more and prepare their own meals, which in turns saves a lot of that cash you are currently spending at restaurants. It also opens you up to a huge culinary world you never knew existed.

2. Investing

For a lot of people investing is not a hobby, it is their job. Hedge fund managers, financial advisers, day traders, and Warren Buffett all make their daily bread by trading and investing. Back in the day if you did invest in a hobby it was very expensive because most trading platforms charged you a fee every time you made a trade, eating into your profit. But not anymore. Enter apps such as Robinhood. This financial app offers 100% free commission trading. Now someone with $1000 who wants to give investing a try can do it without paying hundreds in dollars in fees. Don’t get me wrong, investing is still risky, and I advise plenty of research before you start. I myself use Robinhood, but there are many other platforms out there now. I will include a link to my Robinhood ID. If you start an account we both get a free stock. http://freestock.robinhood.com/jefferc48

1. Foraging

If you are like me and you procrastinate about your lawn, and have let the weeds get bad I have good news for you. You’ve probably got a wild salad growing back there. Seriously. There are plants, berries, and mushrooms out growing in the wild just waiting for some lucky forager to come along and pick them. Foraging for wild edibles is not only a great way to get outdoors and get some exercise, but you are basically discovering free food, most of which is very healthy. Also for rare ingredients chefs from local restaurants will sometimes shell out big bucks for local ingredients. Just remember when it comes to foraging, and I cannot stress this enough, DO NOT EAT IT UNLESS YOU ARE 100% SURE OF WHAT IT IS. Foraging takes time and patience. Start with books, books with a lot of pictures. Also try to take classes and seminars with people who are already skilled in this. As someone who has done this it is an incredibly rewarding and satisfying hobby.