« Court case means big GST refund for investors | Main | Are you doing better or worse than other families? »

July 28, 2021

Can your hobbies make you some extra dough?

By Jason Buckland, Sympatico / MSN Finance

I often think my hobbies should warrant some financial return.

After all, what employer wouldn’t want a guy who nurtures his fantasy baseball team as if it were a Nano Baby and I were my little sister in 1998? Or what about meticulously organizing your DVD collection by title and theme so that literally no one will notice? What’s that worth on the old open market?

Um, maybe nothing, yet even if I have trouble making cash from what I like to do, ABC Action News doesn’t think you should, too.

The news program presents a few hobbies that may be able to net you some extra income as we continue to weather an economy that still promotes the every-penny-counts mindset.

A quick breakdown of their list:

Gardening: Market a neighbourhood weeding or lawn care service, or grow and sell plants/herbs/flowers to sell locally.

Crafts: Hock your hand-made goods at local stores or run an ad for an arts and crafts seminar that you’ll teach yourself. “There are a lot of people who would love to learn how to make items such as jewellery, soap, candles or quilts,” ABC says.

Photography: Nobody’s suggesting you’re Annie Leibovitz or anything, but there may be a way to grab some coin in a niche market that’s out there waiting for people like you. Contact local businesses, for example, to see if they might be interested in photos for their brochures or ads.

Woodworking: You’d be surprised how much you can earn, according to ABC, by selling things you might like to make on your own, like picnic tables, bookshelves or whatever. Take to the flea markets and craft shows with your goods, which may also include miniature ornaments or refinished furniture.

Food: Whip up some decorative cakes or cookies, or even consider going into catering. Mull over placing an ad offering to cook for a busy family or the elderly.

There has to be countless other ways to casually make a few bucks on the side, too, but even if you can’t see anybody paying for what you do, use the skills you have to save some cash on gift-giving at the very least. Saving money is making money, isn't it?

TrackBack

Comments

Post a comment

advertisement

Gordon PowersGordon Powers

A long-time fund company executive, Gordon Powers now heads up the Affinity Group, a financial services consulting firm. Gordon was a personal finance columnist for the Globe & Mail for many years, has taught retirement planning...

Jason BucklandJason Buckland

The modern-day MC Hammer of money, Jason can often be seen spending cash that isn’t his with the efficiency of a Wilt Chamberlain first date. After cutting his teeth as a reporter for the Toronto Sun, he joined the MSN Money team with...