I made out like a bandit for a little while (even managing to break into the $$$$ profit zone for a year (just)). To begin with it seemed like next to no effort to scout out wholesalers/record labels, order up a big box of merch and then eBay it for a healthy profit. But then I started to realise that I spent more time sending out parcels than I did listening to music and going to gigs.

I guess that’s when music stopped being such an interest of mine – I haven’t worn a band t-shirt in years (sniff )

Sometimes if you make too much money at something, a hobby starts to feel like a job.

I used to go out for long bike rides all around the east bay at least once a week. I went on a 2600 mile bike ride from SF to Mexico City.

So, I figured why not get paid for what I enjoy?

I spent almost 2 years as a bike messenger, and now I almost never ride for fun anymore.

I’m sure it makes a big difference if its 40 hours a week vs. now and then, but just to be on the safe side, I never seriously pursued a career as a porn star

One thing that women (or guys too I suppose) can do is beauty treatments. I love hair, and I recently cut my very thick, tightly curly hair from hip length to a few inches past my shoulders. I was spending so much money on products! Now it’s much more affordable, and frees up lots of time.

Anyway, if you can style hair you can make a nice income on the side. If you can braid, install false hair or even just style it for big occasions, you can make nice cash with your hobby. If you aren’t using chemicals then you don’t need a beautician’s license, at least in my state.

You could also do things like hair threading, which take 5 minutes per customer, and women will gladly pay $10 for, plus a tip. If you do these kind of beauty treatments during the evenings when most women are off from work, you can make a nice profit that can go directly into your ERE principal, while you still work your day job. This under the table money can’t be beat.

Enhancing beauty is fun (for me anyway) and it’s a great way to socialize while you make some cash.

I’ve been doing some research and it sounds fascinating. Granted, there is some outlay (£££/$$$) to begin with, but most of the sources I’ve read suggest that it could turn a profit in the second year.

Even if it didn’t, it’s a very scalable hobby and the basic skills (not the time) don’t seem to be much different from 1 hive to 50 hives.

Add to the mix the fact that bees are very important for the ecosystem (green hobby), farmers will like you for your airforce of pollen-dropping bees (free land to put extra hives on?), honey is a very healthy foodstuff that can last for centuries if stored correctly and lots of people like it – great for treating sweet-toothed friends, building social capital and possibly bartering?

Profitable hobbies are like income-producing assets and sources of passive income: everybody recommends them, but few manage to come up with interesting examples.

Under the idea of mechanics, in certain climates lawn mower repair can be a very needed skill. Also similar engines are used in go-carts and other contraptions.

Refurbishing antiques combines several of the disciplines mentioned, and certainly seems to be something that people can make some side money on.

I have a friend who makes side money by ‘fabricating’, as he calls it. I don’t know if that’s the real name for such a hobby. Basically he can make things out of plastic, wood, metal, fiberglass, etc… that closely resemble things you are familiar with. Generally he makes things that look like movie props. You’d be surprised how much someone will pay for a high quality Storm-Trooper costume (hundreds to thousands), or a toy gun that is similar in style to Han Solo’s blaster, or lamps or furnishings that look like particular scene from a movie. There are some legalities to be mindful of, apparently.

I don’t know if providing expert opinion or testimony really counts as a hobby, but it seems to be as much of a hobby as tutoring, and is something one can do on an as needed basis in early retirement.

I DJ on the side playing “Music” and make a very lucrative paycheck doing so. Granted the upfront investment is large but what brick-and-mortar type business isn’t?