Looking for some cheap hobbies to learn that you could potentially earn some extra cash from?
We all have talents. I will say that we all have undiscovered talents as well. Perhaps there’s something you would be great at that you haven’t tried yet.
This article is meant to give you fifty ideas of inexpensive hobbies that you could eventually turn into side hustles.
Hopefully the ideas posted below will inspire you to start something new. I will say that life is so much more enjoyable when we are earning a living doing something we love.
1. Wood Burning
If you think that wood burning isn’t all that popular, check out the thousands of wood burning options over on Etsy.
Hopefully I’m not the only one that thinks it’s super cool to (safely) burning things. If you are even the slightest bit interested, I suggest checking out this Burn Savvy article on Wood Burning For Beginners: 7 Step Guide.
If you want to jump right in, Amazon has kits available for around $40. There are certainly pricier options out there, but keep it cheap until you’re confident you want to pick this up as a new hobby with the potential to bring in some income.
2. Knitting
I love a huge knitted blanket.
The great thing about knitting is the fact that the possibilities are endless. Endless colors, sizes, and projects that are only limited by what you can imagine.
Checkout this YouTube video from Hobby Lobby on Knitting For Beginners.
I wrote a whole article on ways you can make money knitting.
3. Start A Blog
Did you know the average successful blog makes $40,000 per year? The things you could write about are endless.
Have you ever Googled a topic and found very little information? On the flip side, perhaps you’ve Googled a topic and found articles but you disagreed with what was written.
Perhaps there’s something you’re crazy passionate about and you love sharing your knowledge with others. Starting your own website is easier than ever.
You could write about your journey exploring cheap hobbies that earn you extra cash. You could write about crafting or a breed of animal that you know well – the topics are endless.
Start out by signing up with WordPress – This is the platform I use for all things website related.
4. Sewing
I enjoyed reading Crazy Little Projects’ article on Sewing For Beginners.
Sewing ideas are endless and so are fabric options. Think tote bags, hair accessories, baby items, the list goes on. If you want 73 ideas, check out Small Business Trends’ article on 73 Things To Sew And Sell.
The bad news is that the great sewing machines are expensive. The good news is that there are beginner options that I would suggest that are less than $40.
5. Painting
Painting doesn’t have consist of your typical sunset scenes and portraits.
There are so many different techniques you could try and come up with. Be sure to start out small with the tools and supplies you purchase. You could find that you want to go a different route once you get started.
Consider painting old furniture and turning it into something gorgeous and unique that you could sell.
6. Pottery
Unlike painting where you can start from zero experience and magically come up with an abstract masterpiece, pottery takes some learning.
The Little Pot Company has an article on Pottery For Beginners.
I really appreciated reading their first few lines, where they suggest finding some local classes before you purchase anything. Pottery could get quite expensive and this is fantastic advice to follow.
7. Nail Art
For inspiration and to see what kind of nail art I’m suggesting, check out some of Etsy’s Acrylic & press on nails.
Pricing on these varies greatly. If you’re talented at creating nail art, there are other options besides selling them online.
You could also create a tutorial on how you made your masterpieces. Designing nails is a remarkable process to watch and many artists have created their own YouTube channels.
8. Jewelry Making
As mentioned with pottery, I would suggest finding a local class or perhaps an online course that you could take to give this a try before purchasing too many items.
Hobby Lobby has multiple articles available on Jewelry Making. The great thing about starting this up as a hobby is the fact that shipping will be cheap as the items are light.
Like nail art, you could also start your own YouTube while you are creating your masterpieces.
Once you are ready to branch out on your own, Amazon has some full kits available for less than $40.
9. Candle Making
I took my kids to make candles once and they had such a great time. See if your area has any classes that are available.
I purchased a kit similar to this a few years ago and we enjoyed making our own candles at home (although we only used it once).
You’ll find candle booths with a variety of items at your local flea market or festival.
10. Writing
There are an endless amount of options with writing.
You could write your own eBook and sell it online. Step one would be writing something.
I’ve been working on creating an eBook using Canva and it’s very user friendly.
Once you’ve done that, check out Sellfy to help you get started selling.
Although we’ve only been talking about books, “writing” could be so much more than that. Think about selling your services to websites and write articles. Pick what you love and write to earn cash.
Check out my personal review on Sellfy here.
11. Calligraphy
When I think of Calligraphy, I think of weddings. However, calligraphy writing is a skill that is purchased for so many other reasons.
Check out Calligraphy.org for a variety of free classes. Unlike pottery where you can take a local class, the likelihood of you finding a local calligraphy class is slimmer. I would suggest buying a small calligraphy kit so that you can follow along with a website like Calligraphy.org and try it out.
12. Gardening
There’s a local app that my town uses to sell things. There’s one woman on the app that sells an endless supply of gorgeous plants.
If you’re interested in gardening, there are so many more possibilities besides making your house and yard gorgeous.
Consider selling at markets or online like my neighbor does. You could create a website or YouTube dedicated to teaching others or showcasing the plants you have.
You could also consider selling the vegetables or flowers individually.
Check out Growing In The Garden’s Gardening For Beginners to get started.
13. Baking
This doesn’t have to be elaborate Cake Boss like creations. Simple recipes made to perfection sell. Start out small in your kitchen, feeding your family members.
Explore new recipes and learn what you not only enjoy making, but what everyone else can’t wait for you to make again.
Start with Food & Wine’s 12 Recipes Every Beginner Baker Should Know and see if it’s something you enjoy.
14. Thrift Shopping
Check out this article from GMA on a woman who turned thrift shopping into some serious cash. If you love shopping, consider putting a twist on it and selling items you find online.
I was in Dallas a few weeks ago and saw a flea market that consisted of vintage items sellers were making a killing off of.
You could specialize in something like shoes or belts until you’re ready to take on more.
15. Balloon Animals
How fun! Do you have a creative, quirky side that loves bringing joy to children?
Balloon animals would definitely fall into our list of cheap hobbies worth giving a try. Could you bring to life creatures that even adults would want to take home with them?
You could work events on the weekends. I’ve seen balloon artists at restaurants making their way around tables with children and working off of tips alone.
16. Photography
Love taking pictures? You could get started with zero investment. I uploaded eight pictures onto Shutterstock and one was accepted and will earn me cash as people download my photo.
Don’t let my one out of eight discourage you. I’m a horrible picture taker. These pictures were also taken with my iPhone.
You could also use a service such as Sellfy to sell your images.
17. Makeup Artist
Do you sit in front of the mirror for hours trying out new makeup techniques? Perhaps you enjoy when your friends or family have events where you get to have fun doing their makeup.
Maybe you aren’t great at makeup at all but the idea of being great interests you.
The best thing is that you can pull out makeup that you already own and practice. There are so many makeup tutorials online.
18. Face Painting
I go to an event every year where there is a face painting artist. There’s a always a super long line.
The great news is that it’s super cheap to get a kit together. You can choose what types of artwork you enjoy creating. The event that I go to isn’t for children and the artist is not painting butterfly wings on my face. She is creating a beautiful, glittery masterpiece of lines.
Discover what you’re good at and what you enjoy.
19. Interior Design
Do you think you could take a house full of random furniture and create a visual masterpiece?
If so, decorating the inside of homes would be a great hobby you should check out.
I would suggest starting small with friends or family homes. If you want to take it seriously, check out arch20’s list of Top 10 Online Interior Design Courses For Beginners.
20. Exterior Design
I believe that we often shift towards interior design when we think of helping make homes beautiful.
But what about exterior design? Do you have an eye for turning the outside of homes beautiful? Turning this great hobby into a side hustle is a fun way to generate some extra income.
This is a demanded skill as well. I was actually searching for someone that could help m with this a couple of months ago.
To get started, check out Easy Render’s article on the Most Popular Exterior Design Tools You Should Try.
21. Photo Editing
I might be horrible at taking photos, but I like to think I’m pretty great at photo editing.
Start by checking out PC Magazine’s The Best Photo Editing Software for 2025.
Many of the listed options come with a free trial so you can make sure it’s a hobby you want to invest in before you spend your cash.
If you want to become a Photoshop expert, check out Fiverr Learn’s Adobe Photoshop Mastery Course.
22. Vacation Planning
This hobby has always floated on the top of my list of cheap hobbies I may want to try one day.
Do you already enjoy creating a vacation itinerary for your family? Perhaps there’s a destination that you would love to create itineraries for others.
I know that we spent a lot of time in Disney World for many years because of my children’s sports competitions.
You could focus on one destination for now and expand as you gain comfort. Check out Cosmopolitan’s 15 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Became A Travel Agent.
23. Customized Shoes
I’m fascinated with this. It’s a real thing. People could send you shoes or you purchase the shoes and create your own designs and sell.
Perhaps you could start with one customizable design that you offer and see where it goes from there.
Check out Etsy to get some inspiration from sellers currently making a pretty penny off of shoe customization.
24. Tie-Dying
The trick to making tie-dying successful is finding how you can put your creative spin on it.
Don’t feel limited to shirts – think socks, pet items like collars, blankets, hair accessories, scarves, the list goes on.
Find a technique and/or color creation that makes you stand out.
25. Flower Arranging
Think you have an eye for making things beautiful?
I have purchased my fair share of flower arrangements in the past. This is not a skill I currently possess, but I would like to.
I would suggest some YouTube videos and exploration on your own before spending a fortune on supplies and classes.
26. Working Out
If you’re already into maintaining a healthy lifestyle and going to the gym, you may consider taking your work out schedule to the next level.
Consider sharing your amazing routine with the world with YouTube videos or even your own blog.
Create a unique plan that centers around specific goals for working out.
Once you start a following, you could switch to paid subscriptions.
27. Makeup Creation
We touched on the hobby of makeup artist earlier on. Now let’s add makeup creation to the list of cheap hobbies worth a try. This suggestion is going a different route and involves you creating the actual makeup itself.
Thinking of giving it a shot? Check out How To Make Your Own Makeup by humblebee & me.
28. Soap Making
There are a couple of soap stores close to me that are always busy.
Does the idea of working with oils and creating masterpiece scents intrigue you? Consider making your own soap!
I would suggest starting with a kit to make sure you’re interesting in going out on your own and investing in your own supplies.
29. Social Media Managing
My daughter had a side job doing this when she was sixteen years old. She basically posted images for a local boutique’s social media account. She started polls and kept the audience engaged.
If you truly enjoy the work, start small so that you can build a resume to present to larger companies.
A search online says you need a bachelor’s degree. I can guarantee you that my sixteen year old was being paid and certainly does not have a bachelor’s degree.
Check out Reliablesoft’s article on How To Become A Social Media Manager (Complete Guide For Beginners) if you’re interested in learning more.
For a course, check out Fiverr Learn’s Social Media Content Strategy.
30. Website Developer
I had a personal need for this a few months ago. I love blogging and having my own website I can write articles on all day long. However, I am not a professional website developer and I struggled with creation.
I reached out to a few people on Fiverr.com, but they did not specialize in the theme I use for my particular website. In the end, I researched what I was trying to do and figured it out on my own. However, if there had been someone readily available when I needed them, I would have paid for the service.
Check out HubSpot’s article on The Beginner’s Guide To Website Development for more information.
Alternatively, check out Fiverr Learn for a course on Building a Professional Website with WordPress.
31. Pet Sitting or Dog Walking
Do you already know for certain that you have a love for animals?
Do you wish that you could spend more time with them?
Consider pet sitting or dog walking…or both. Once you have a few clients that will give you glowing reviews, consider adding your services to Rover.com.
Another option would be to seek weekend employment at a local animal shelter.
32. Dog Training
Perhaps you love animals, but you feel like your skills could shine in other areas. Dog training could be so much more than setting up one-on-one trainings.
Consider starting your own website and sharing your brilliant training ideas with the world.
You could get very specific and research/learn to train a specific breed of dog.
33. Event Planner
Love planning? Do your friends and family come to you when they are looking for ideas or planning help?
You could specialize in Weddings, Birthdays, Retirements, anything where people gather in large groups.
This is something you can do from the comfort of your home. Start with a few social media accounts, plan your friends and family events for free and have them share photos and videos of the magic you created.
34. Personal Shopping
Love shopping? Consider personal shopping for others.
Do you enjoy styling others and keeping up with the latest trends? Do you have a knack for giving guidance when it comes to style?
Check out Square’s article on How To Become A Personal Shopper.
35. Sell Sheets
I’ve just started this one myself!
Are you a Google Sheet / Excel Spreadsheet Mastermind? Consider creating your own sheets that you could sell online.
I utilize Sellfy. However, selling on Etsy appears to be the most common.
Start by conducting some searches on what is already out there, what is missing, and what you could improve on.
For me, I create the spreadsheets in Excel, add them quickly to my Sellfy store, and then promote mainly on Pinterest.
The best part about making and selling sheets is that it’s a one time hustle that can continue to pay afterwards without you putting in much effort.
36. Music
Learn a musical instrument! Once you do, there are so many paths available to you.
You could even start monetizing your journey from the beginning by documenting your steps to learn an instrument.
Blog about your struggles and cheer others on.
37. Closet Organizer
In a world where we keep accumulating items without disposing of the old ones we haven’t used for years, people need organizers.
There are no shortages of books with information on how to do this yourself. Additionally, there’s no shortage of people wanting to find someone to do this for them.
Practice again with your friends and family. Get some rave reviews by creating your own unique system.
38. T-Shirt Design
I think we all know someone that has a machine to do this. Usually it’s on the side for sports teams or school events.
Unfortunately, the machines do not fall into our original plan of finding cheap hobbies.
To save on the front end, consider starting with design and gain a partnership with someone else that could print the shirts. Yes, you would be missing out on a lot of the cash, but if you aren’t ready to make an investment into a machine, I would stick with this.
I do have a vinyl machine and I love it. When my kids were doing sports, I got my money’s worth out of it.
39. Bake Dog Treats
We have a dog treat bakery that stays busy down the street from my house.
Get started by baking for your own dog and seeing what they like. I would suggest checking out Woman’s Day article on 25 Best Homemade Dog Treats You Can DIY At Home.
40. Teach A Skill
What are you good at? Is it soccer or volleyball or perhaps it’s playing the guitar?
Most of us are interested in learning new skills. Try out teaching something you’re good at to a friend or family member. Do you enjoy helping someone else learn?
Perhaps there’s a sport you are no longer able to play, but you could teach it to others or start being a referee on the side.
41. Tutoring
Instead of a sport or music, perhaps there’s a subject that you love. Maybe you are already fluent in another language but you are never able to find someone to hold a conversation with.
Consider tutoring. Perhaps you can offer your services to people who are looking to learn a new language or the basics while they travel abroad.
Does your local library have a board where people offer services? Consider making a business card and posting your tutoring service!
42. Coach
Become a sports coach or a life coach.
Perhaps you love giving dating advice and the idea of being a romantic relationship coach intrigues you.
Depending on your skill level, if you take this online, the earnings possibilities are endless.
Check out Become’s article on How To Become A Life Coach.
43. Cooking Classes
Love to bake but you’re not down for selling your homemade goods?
Consider holding cooking classes. The classes certainly do not need to be in person. The classes do not even have to be live.
You could take videos, create a following, and create your own brand.
44. Drawing
Yes, you can make extra money from drawing. You could sell your work, create logos, or provide drawing lessons for example.
Be The Budget has an extensive list on how you could earn money by drawing in their article 15 Proven Ways To Make Money Drawing.
The great news is that this definitely falls into the cheap hobbies category.
45. Voice Acting
This has always intrigued me! Like almost everything on this list, voice acting can be done completely from home.
Check out current voice actors on Fiverr.com to get a feel for what type of voice acting you want to aim at. Then consider heading over to Fiverr Learn and taking their Voice Over for Real People: Complete Freelancing Guide course.
I would suggest investing in a nice microphone to get started. Luckily, these can be purchased for pretty cheap.
46. Videography
Videographers take a video, edit that video, and then produce a final product.
If filming is something you’re interested in, check out Skill Share Blog’s article on Videography For Beginners.
The great thing is that you can start out small with your phone and gradually purchase additional items as you improve.
47. Sell Printables
I always thought selling printables was brilliant.
You basically create something that you send to someone else and they print it themselves from home.
There’s no shipping charges or having to meet up with anyone – it’s all done online. You could create things like journals, coloring pages, planners, budgeting tools, anything that can be printed.
Twins Mommy has a great article titled How To Make Printables To Sell that is worth checking out.
Sellfy is a great tool for selling your printables.
48. Pinterest Virtual Assistant
So I have a website and I pin my articles to Pinterest. It sounds simple, right?
It’s not.
There’s a whole Pinterest world out there that I do not feel I have taken the time to perfect.
That said, being a Pinterest Virtual Assistant is a real thing. (I may need one.)
Basically you handle a business’ Pinterest account by creating pins, boards, etc…
Check out believe in a budget’s article Become a Pinterest VA with no experience.
49. Tour Guide
Do you know your city like the back of your hand? Love the place you live?
Consider becoming a local tour guide. You can set your own hours and share your love for your city with others.
50. Become A Character For Events
Love acting? Turn it into your cheap hobby that can earn you cash!
You don’t have to live in Florida or California to become a princess in your free time.
Every day there’s a child’s birthday party that is themed. Consider working on your voice acting and mimicking your favorite character movements. Costumes can get quite elaborate and expensive so I would stick to the simpler outfits at first.
This is a great option for college students.
Consider things that are out of the box. I remember when my daughter was into mermaids and we had a mermaid themed birthday party. It would have been super cool to have an actual mermaid make an entrance.
Final Thoughts On Cheap Hobbies
Don’t spend too much on a hobby that you aren’t sure is going to stick.
All of these cheap hobbies have a way to at least get started, research, and determine if you’re willing to make some sort of investment. You control the investment that you make and there are always shortcuts to everything.
Online classes are available for anything you can imagine and are a great way to get started with something new.
Don’t feel like you have to be fantastic at something before you start attempting to earn cash from it.
All are excellent for keeping someone busy and can earn also. Well shared 👌
An excellent and thoughtful ideas 👍👍👍
Thank you!