Hobbies You Can Actually Make Money On

Coin collecting is a hobby that dates back centuries, perhaps as far back as the first century AD. Collectors can seek out coins based on their country, time period, certain types of coins or sets, or any way they see fit. Thanks to the internet, the new generation of collectors can now buy and sell coins by communicating directly with one another. The rarest and most desired coins can be worth $6 million to $10 million, but most U.S. coins that are collected for their rarity are worth anywhere from $5 to tens of thousands. Collectors can wait for their coins to appreciate in value to sell them for a large profit.

Drones may seem like expensive flying toys, but drone pilots can use their drones to make a bit of extra income. Drones that are equipped with cameras can provide useful images and videos for real estate companies, allowing them to show off the top view and surrounding areas of the property. Stock photography outlets can also use drone footage to provide vantages and aerial views of cityscapes and nature that were previously impossible to get. Drone pilots have reported getting around $200 for a single project.

With the internet becoming the primary method of communication for most people, handwriting is becoming a lost art. While many take calligraphy classes and practice on their own as a hobby, those who are able to write in an aesthetically pleasing manner are in demand. Online artistic outlets like Etsy are replete with dozens of artists selling custom calligraphy. These calligraphers create custom greeting cards, wedding invitations, inspirational quotes, and more. Such hand-written items can sell for as little as a few dollars each to over $50 for larger prints and wedding invitation sets.

Graffiti blossomed into an art form in 1970s New York City. Though often done illegally, graffiti is now considered a legitimate art form, and some of the more skilled graffiti artists can fetch a high price tag for their work. Graffiti artists can now charge over $1,000 for a wall-covering mural either on the outside of their business or on a print for someone to hang on their wall at home.

Going to the movies can be an expensive hobby, but those who sign up to be a theater checker, can actually get paid to go to the theater. Checkers can get paid to review the trailers being shown, counting the people in the theater, collecting demographics of moviegoers, or the audio and video quality of the film. Checkers get between $10 to $20 per hour. Best of all, they get to stay for the entire movie.