Disclosure: This post has been compensated by Collective Bias, INC. and The Coca-Cola Company, all opinions are mine alone. #BecauseICan #IGottaHaveIt #CollectiveBias
One question that I get asked a lot from all of you is “How do I turn something I’m passionate about into a career”? Let me just tell you that it involves a lot of soul searching and even more caffeine! But believe me, I had the same question and still do. I am constantly analyzing what I’m good at and if there is the potential for a pay off. We are constantly told to chase our dreams but that’s hard to do without an income source. Whether you are looking at making a complete career change or want to start a side hustle, today I am teaming up with Diet Coke® to share five hobbies that have made me money or brought about valuable career opportunities.
My hope with sharing this is not to have you set out in search of a hobby that will make you money. A hobby should be something that you are genuinely interested in whether or not you ever make a dollar from it. If making a quick buck is your only intent when starting out, then there is a good possibility that when things get tough (and they will get tough), that you will quickly lose interest and move onto something else. So think about what you like to do for fun, what you are good at, or what brings you or others around you happiness and go from there. Then use those passions and interests as fuel for learning how to turn your hobby into a revenue source.
SHOPPING
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If you don’t consider shopping a hobby, think again! There is definitely money to be made here, especially if you have a knack for finding a good deal. Everyone wants the next best thing but doesn’t want to fork over an arm and a leg for it. The more you shop around, get a feel for what is available and at what different price points, the more educated you are on scoring a great deal. From that point, there are multiple outlets to making money.
If you have a knack for hitting up garage sales, estate sales or bargain spots then you might be able to make money reselling these items for more than what you bought them for. Outlets like Ebay, Craigslist, or local consignment stores are usually best for this. You could also become a personal shopper for somebody else who does not have the time or care to do so. These types of jobs are normally paid by the hour but can also be commission based. Lastly, if you want to earn money by sharing some of those great deals you find on the internet, you can sign up for an affiliate network. This means that every time someone uses your product link, you will earn a small commission. Bloggers use this as part of their income source!
WRITING
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I currently make my entire salary from blogging (a form of writing) if that tells you anything! This once upon hobby has now turned into a daily paycheck that pays my bills and so much more! If you have a knack for writing, connecting with like minded people, and documenting bits of your life then you might try dabbling in blogging. Whether you have a passion for fashion, fitness, cooking, traveling, parenting advice, or whatever it might be, try sharing your ideas on the internet and see what traction you get. Once you start to build an audience, money can be made through advertisements , sponsored posts, and commission based affiliate networks.
If you do not have an interest in the maintenance to start your own blog but feel like you have valuable information, stories, or advice that you could share, there are many opportunities for freelance writers. This is where you would sell your article to a site for either a flat rate or an agreed upon price per word count.
TRAVELING
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If you have a passion for traveling then you know that it is an expensive hobby. I’m not sitting here telling you that it is easy to travel for free but I am saying that thanks to the internet and growing economy, it is easier than ever to merge your love for travel with making money. Because of this, there are in fact ways to make travel cheaper and even profitable if you are willing to think outside of the box!
A few ways to earn money and travel are to become a travel writer or blogger, house or pet sit, work on a cruise ship, teach english, become a tour guide, or work remotely for any type of virtual job. An online business or job can be run from anywhere you can get a Wi-Fi connection.
SPORTS
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Maybe you grew up playing sports or maybe you’ve picked them up later in life, either way there is value in the love of the game. Not only are you working on interpersonal skills and expanding your network, but you are getting fit in the process! For those that are stuck in the hobby zone, you never know when your next job lead can come up in a conversation over a round of golf or maybe the drinks that follow afterword. So even if you never make a dollar from a tennis match, intramural softball game, or round of golf, connections are the most valuable form of job leads!
Now if you are the next Tom Brady or truly have a gift for sports, you might consider coaching or personal training. These types of jobs are normally paid by the hour, are flexible, and are usually a long term type of gig as most people need multiple sessions.
PHOTOGRAPHY
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Photos by: BanAvenue
Almost everyone these days has a camera, whether it’s on your phone or a DSLR. Technology has made it so easy for us to take great photos! While the market is saturated, pictures are truly something that everyone wants and needs which is a good thing for you if you have an eye for art and taking a great photo!
If you think you have a handle on capturing beautiful moments and have learned your way around a camera, try starting a social media page and growing a business. You might offer to take some pictures for family or friends to build up your portfolio and if you do a good job, before you know it people will want to pay you for your work!
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Now how do I do it all? Like I said, a lot of caffeine because sleep is hard to come by when you are turning your passions into careers! I was so excited to team up with Diet Coke to try out their new flavors that come in these sleek 12 ounce cans. They have the same, great flavor as the one and only Diet Coke has always had just with a facelift! New flavors include Feisty Cherry, Ginger Lime, Zesty Blood Orange and Twisted Mango. My personal favorite is the Feisty Cherry and they weren’t kidding when they said feisty. This one packs a punch that you won’t know what I’m really talking about until you try.
You can find these on-the-go singles or 8-packs at most grocery stores and convenience stores! I picked mine up at my local HEB. And because I wouldn’t be a good friend if I didn’t give you some sort of great deal, you can earn $1.25 when you purchase an 8-pack of Diet Cokes along with any brand of avocados. Both products must be purchased on the same receipt to receive credit for this rebate.
*Thank you Diet Coke® for sponsoring this post. As always all thoughts and opinions are my own.*
