I couldn't fin a thread on this topic. Does anyone 'work' at their hobby for extra income? I am thinking about crocheted afghans or sweaters or baby sets. Another option could be bird house building and/or painting. Anybody have any other ideas, or something that works for you?
Hobby Income
- Thread starter GrammieD
- Start date
caninelover
Full time employment: Posting here.
Yes and no. I like photography and have toyed around with the idea of taking and selling photos on one of those stock image websites, but it doesn't seem to pay a lot, so for now...its just a hobby.
Some make money at blogging, so that would be another idea if you like to write.
If you have a skill like painting or crocheting you could also look into teaching a class through your local park & rec district.
I guess that's all I can think of.
Some make money at blogging, so that would be another idea if you like to write.
If you have a skill like painting or crocheting you could also look into teaching a class through your local park & rec district.
I guess that's all I can think of.
freebird5825
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
My main hobby and exercise outlet is gardening. I do not sell my harvest, however the output does offset some of my own food bills. 
There are lots of small size craft fairs around my area, and the one thing I have heard artisans complain about is the high fees they pay to have a selling booth. Don't forget to add that expense into your "business plan".
My suggestion would be to advertise that you do custom knitting w*rk for people as well as having generic items for general sales.
You could get a very nice price for an afghan with the baby's name woven into it. Just an idea...
As far as painting goes, I think people would just love a painting or line drawing of their house. You would have to do this with a pre-arrangement, but do a few of some prominent houses in your area, advertise and off you go.
We have a 14"x14" oil painting of dh2b's childhood home that his parents had commissioned for themselves years ago.
I can tell by the size of the trees that it was done within the last 10 years. It is now his most treasured possession since they passed. It is displayed prominently in our living room.
There are lots of small size craft fairs around my area, and the one thing I have heard artisans complain about is the high fees they pay to have a selling booth. Don't forget to add that expense into your "business plan".
My suggestion would be to advertise that you do custom knitting w*rk for people as well as having generic items for general sales.
You could get a very nice price for an afghan with the baby's name woven into it. Just an idea...
As far as painting goes, I think people would just love a painting or line drawing of their house. You would have to do this with a pre-arrangement, but do a few of some prominent houses in your area, advertise and off you go.
We have a 14"x14" oil painting of dh2b's childhood home that his parents had commissioned for themselves years ago.
I can tell by the size of the trees that it was done within the last 10 years. It is now his most treasured possession since they passed. It is displayed prominently in our living room.
Thanks caninelover. (I love canines too). I do like to write, so writing a blog is a possibility. I don't know what I should blog about though. I don't want to get involved in politics or controversy. That leaves out a number of hot blogging topics.
As far as teaching crochet, I'm not that great at crocheting, although I have taught elementary school students how to crochet. I was thinking that people that want to get a special, one of a kind baby set (sweater, hat, and bootees), might buy, or even order a custom made set. Baby afghans would probably sell well too.
Right now I am brainstorming possibilities and am open to more ideas and suggestions.
As far as teaching crochet, I'm not that great at crocheting, although I have taught elementary school students how to crochet. I was thinking that people that want to get a special, one of a kind baby set (sweater, hat, and bootees), might buy, or even order a custom made set. Baby afghans would probably sell well too.
Right now I am brainstorming possibilities and am open to more ideas and suggestions.
Thank you freebird5825. I hadn't thought about paintings or drawings of houses. As a matter of fact, I would love to have a drawing done of my childhood house in Idaho. Maybe I could be my first customer. LOL
I have a small container garden. Nothing fancy but right now I am being overgrown with squash, tomatoes, cucumbers, and tomatoes (did I mention tomatoes?) I can't grow enough to supply anyone else though.
Keep the good ideas coming people. We do have a local Saturday Market during the summer.
I have a small container garden. Nothing fancy but right now I am being overgrown with squash, tomatoes, cucumbers, and tomatoes (did I mention tomatoes?) I can't grow enough to supply anyone else though.
Keep the good ideas coming people. We do have a local Saturday Market during the summer.
caninelover
Full time employment: Posting here.
It may help you get some ideas to go on sites like eBay & Craigslist and see the kinds of stuff people are making/selling there. It would also give you an idea of prices.
As for blogging, it doesn't have to be political...you can blog about crocheting, for example. Just pick a project, take some photos along the way and add a write-up on what and how you're making it...voila! A blog is born...
As for blogging, it doesn't have to be political...you can blog about crocheting, for example. Just pick a project, take some photos along the way and add a write-up on what and how you're making it...voila! A blog is born...
Rambler
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
- Joined
- Jul 15, 2007
- Messages
- 2,487
DW loves to quilt. I suggested to her about a year ago, when I got her a quilting machine, that she sell some of her projects. (This was not because we needed the money, but rather to keep the load of un-necessary quilts in our home and storage areas to a manageable level). She said "no, because then it would be work". A couple days ago, not remembering this conversation a year ago, she said "I'm getting really good at this. I should open a business and sell these." I just smiled, and said, "yes dear." I'm going to leave it at that for now but in my spare time, I'm going to see about selling on Ebay, look up craft shows and things that she is unlikely to do herself in preparation. When and if she decides to go thru with it, I'll be ready to run the business end of things, and she can do the production. I doubt we would ever make much money at it, but if we were making some earned income during RE, we could dump it into a Roth (that we wish we could but are not eligible to do now).
R
PS: Moe if you've got any good tips about where to start learning about eBay, I'd love to hear them.
R
PS: Moe if you've got any good tips about where to start learning about eBay, I'd love to hear them.
bbbamI
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
DH makes money by playing in a band. His gigs don't pay much, but he enjoys music...the money is just icing on the cake.
kumquat
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
I'm a car guy and I like fixing them. I do simple things like brakes and CV's for friends. Don't charge, but usually they force a case of beer or a bottle of something on me. That would allow me to post a very low number in this thread: http://www.early-retirement.org/for...-do-you-spend-a-month-46014-4.html#post850368
Thanks bbbamI, I'm not a musician, but my husband is, and he gives guitar lessons to supplement his SSI.
I never thought about checking out ebay or Craigs list for prices etc., but that is going on my to do list. I also never thought about blogging about any of my interests or hobbies, another great idea. Hey caninelover, we should blog about our dogs. LOL
Rambler, I think it’s wonderful that you are doing research for your DW. It’s such an awesome, loving thing to do.
Keep the ideas flowing. We are on roll!
[FONT="][/FONT]
I never thought about checking out ebay or Craigs list for prices etc., but that is going on my to do list. I also never thought about blogging about any of my interests or hobbies, another great idea. Hey caninelover, we should blog about our dogs. LOL
Rambler, I think it’s wonderful that you are doing research for your DW. It’s such an awesome, loving thing to do.
Keep the ideas flowing. We are on roll!
[FONT="][/FONT]
caninelover
Full time employment: Posting here.
Ha...Grammie, I wish I could...my beloved canine is (unfortunately) deceased I haven't yet pulled the trigger on letting another furry friend into my life. Someday though...
Kumquat...ha ha, I need to think about ways to barter for my booze now...
Kumquat...ha ha, I need to think about ways to barter for my booze now...
kumquat, I'm not into fixing cars although I know some women are. I know a couple of our friends who are mechanics that supplement Their income that way. They get paid with money though. I will suggest to them that they need to ask for beer too.
audreyh1
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
GrammieD - how much time do you want to have to sit around selling your stuff? Or actively marketing it? Or traveling to fairs or flea markets or whatever. That's the "work" involved when you try to earn cash from a hobby.
Of course those lucky enough to make things that other people find out about and beat a path to their door - they've got it made. Otherwise, it can be a lot of time and effort just doing the selling part, not to mention keeping the records for taxes.
Audrey
Of course those lucky enough to make things that other people find out about and beat a path to their door - they've got it made. Otherwise, it can be a lot of time and effort just doing the selling part, not to mention keeping the records for taxes.
Audrey
kumquat
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
No!, no! Don't ask. You get more by refusing any compensation. People hate paying mechanics but like giving gifts!
Sorry about your canine caninelover. We get so lost when we lose them. Once upon a time I had two dogs, a lab/rot mix and a poodle. I lost them both to the ravages of age about a year apart.
I now have an ornery bundle of dog fur who is trying to fill my house with his hair. He is a Pekingese and Chihuahua mix and absolutely adorable. Pushed in face with an incredible under-bite, buggy eyes, semi-short hair, floppy ears,rolled up tail and more personality than I can do justice to.
I now have an ornery bundle of dog fur who is trying to fill my house with his hair. He is a Pekingese and Chihuahua mix and absolutely adorable. Pushed in face with an incredible under-bite, buggy eyes, semi-short hair, floppy ears,rolled up tail and more personality than I can do justice to.
Okay, okay, kumquat. Don't worry, I have banished the idea from my brain.
You make a good point, Audrey. I live right next door to a country store that will allow me to display a couple of items there. Also there is the summer Saturday market. If I need to have my work in more places later on, I can always expand later.
You make a good point, Audrey. I live right next door to a country store that will allow me to display a couple of items there. Also there is the summer Saturday market. If I need to have my work in more places later on, I can always expand later.
crazy connie
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
- Joined
- Feb 1, 2006
- Messages
- 1,183
Sometimes it is easier to spend less than making more. If your garden reduces grocery charges by $20 a week, bread baking another $5 or $10, and all presents are made with love. Well that adds up to real money! With the moniker of Grammie, what comes to my mind is some child care. I may do that this school year with the swine flu children because most parents (employees) can not afford to tick off the boss with ill children absences.
caninelover
Full time employment: Posting here.
Sorry, this is getting off topic, but...yes, we do get lost when they pass. I still have her photos on my fireplace mantle, along with my other family. Your current pooch sounds adorable. I've been thinking about going to the local pound for a pooch when I'm ready...but its also a 10+ year commitment to a pooch so I'm waiting for the right time to take the plunge again. Not sure when it will be but whenever it feels right, I'll do it...
HEHEHE Yeah, I think I hijacked my own thread.
HI crazy connie. I agree with you 100%. To make more money we need to spend less money.
I have also thought about childcare but my husband's nerves are shot. He gets nervous around our own grandchildren. He also has asthma and would not do well around illness.
I love the ideas you are coming up with. Any more?
Meadbh
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
- Joined
- Jul 22, 2006
- Messages
- 11,401
Maybe you could do internet research for your local media outlet?
Learn how to do tax preparation (if you like finance) and do seasonal work?
Be a concierge: pick up people's drycleaning, etc....?
Grow and sell your own vegetables?
Learn how to do tax preparation (if you like finance) and do seasonal work?
Be a concierge: pick up people's drycleaning, etc....?
Grow and sell your own vegetables?
Check out elance.com for ideas. Find something you like and bid out your work.
Hire out as a blogger. Lots of small businesses start blogs but do not have the time or inclination to keep them going.
Consider "dog sitting" or dog walking for those on vacation in your communty. My sister-in-law does this. Pets stay in their own homes, and she goes over 2-3 times a day to feed, water and play with the pets. Will water plants while there too...
Hire out as a blogger. Lots of small businesses start blogs but do not have the time or inclination to keep them going.
Consider "dog sitting" or dog walking for those on vacation in your communty. My sister-in-law does this. Pets stay in their own homes, and she goes over 2-3 times a day to feed, water and play with the pets. Will water plants while there too...
My wife loves animals and after we ER'd to our 7 acre place in SW Oregon we set out to turn the place into what I thought would be a micro hobby farm. In my mind (I'm a city boy) this meant a few chickens pecking around the yard, perhaps a goat or two with their antics and me sitting out on the porch at the close of the day drinking a nice glass of wine while overseeing a bucolic countryside.
Well, as you can imagine this nice dream intersected with reality and a total lack of understanding of the powers of reproduction. A few chickens turned into a hundred, a few ducks turned into numerous mama ducks followed by trains of 15 or so baby ducks, a couple of goats turned into a herd of 50... And guess what - they eat! a lot!(There is also a lot that comes out the other end). Spending thousands on animal feed was certainly not part of the ER plan.
After several attempts, we came up with something that works for us. A small number of Kinder goats that my wife milks and whose milk becomes part of goat milk soap which I sell at a couple of growers markets.
This approach meets our needs on several levels. My wife is quite happy with her (smaller) menagerie, I really enjoy doing the growers markets and the wonderful response to my wife's goat milk soap is very satisfying emotionally. Plus the income from the sales as turned out to be quite a nice supplement to our original ER budget. And now, I occasionally do get to enjoy that glass of wine...
Moemg
Gone but not forgotten
I sell on ebay . I started with just excess things from my house and have expanded into selling clothes to young professional women .I enjoy it but in order to be successful you need to know your product and your customers . It's still a hobby but it has become a profitable one .
I've found that crafts and handmade items generally don't fetch very good prices on eBay or CraigsList. These just don't seem to be the right avenue for selling craft items. However, you might want to consider etsy (www.etsy.com). I have a small etsy shop and sell an occasional handmade item or excess craft supplies. Sales are fairly slow for me, but at least items will go for fair prices.
accountingsucks
Recycles dryer sheets
- Joined
- Jan 28, 2006
- Messages
- 346
I love poker and have started playing "live" at a casino as my city has 5 poker rooms. I average around $10 an hour so far but have only put in about 60 hours (in 1 year) so far which is about 2000 hands. I believe $20 an hour is very achievable and many make a "living" doing this. My goals is for it to provide me about $250 every month. I played online for a few years - mainly clearing bonuses when available at over 50 sites and made a little over $10,000 doing that. Online is a much tougher game and to make it worth ones while you should play 6+ tables at a time which is too tedious for me. Playing at an actual room one gets alot of interesting characters and the time flies by for me.
