Income from Your Hobby | Oh My Aching Debts

A Hobby Can Be Additional Source Of Income

Posted on April 15, 2008
Filed Under Income |

One of the areas of my life that I don’t talk about very often here is raising dogs. This has been a hobby of mine for many years. My parents bred dogs and we traveled all over the U.S. showing them so I guess I come by it naturally. I delivered a puppy to North Carolina this weekend and thought I would touch a little on the economics of dog breeding and making money from a hobby.

While breeding dogs is not a business for me, I treat it as one for several reasons. I earn an income from it and I prefer to be able to deduct my expenses from it. The income from the puppies insures that my dogs get the best of care and in normal times that income is put back into care, feeding, stud fees, veterinary bills and showing them.

Most years the expenses are equal to the income due to the care that I take to both improve the lives of my own dogs and the health testing that goes into making sure that the puppies will not be born with any genetic problems. Before my dogs are bred they visit a canine ophthalmologist and cardiologist as well as their regular vet annually. They also have x-rays of their joints to make sure they do not have joint problems.

Then there is the expense of actually having puppies. There is the occasional operation to actually have the puppies, the vaccinations, worming and care of the puppies after they are born and then advertising expense if they are not all spoken for before they are born. Because I have been breeding for so many years and my puppies are known for being beautiful and healthy, all the pups are often spoken for before they are born.

This year for the first time in my life, the income from the puppies will go to my emergency fund, catching up and paying ahead debts and making life a little more secure for both the dogs and I. There is a list of things that the dogs would like such as fencing in the yard for them so they could stay outside while I was at work but that will have to wait for better times. Last year they got an air conditioner for their room while I sweated the summer out with box fans.

Income from Any Hobby

My point is not the economics of breeding dogs but that you can turn any hobby into an alternate stream of income. With some hobbies you have to be a bit more creative than others but it is possible.

Sewing - Make something simple and sell at craft shows or on Etsy. I love these shopping bags and have considered making them to sell at the local craft cooperative.

Crafts - This is another project that is on my horizon. These magnets are simple and inexpensive to make and I plan on selling some in my shop.

Knitting and Crocheting - If you are doing this anyway, why not look for a project to sell.

Golf - This is one of the more difficult but perhaps lessons to kids or teens. Finding old clubs at thrift stores or yard sales, reconditioning them and selling them on eBay or Craigs list.

Reading - This is one of my favorites. If you read a lot, why not sell the used books on Amazon, eBay or Alibris. I did this for awhile and made a fair income from it. I expanded from my own books to purchasing some at yard sales or thrift stores.

Woodworking - You don’t have to be an expert at this to make small shelves or birdhouses to sell. Birdhouses are all the rage lately both to put outside and to use for decorating inside.

Whatever your hobby is if you think about it creatively, you can make an income from it. If you treat it as a business and track of your expenses and income, something that you love to do can turn into a snowflake to pay down debt, go into a vacation fund or be put aside for your emergency fund.

Is there any better way to make an income than by doing something you enjoy? What are your hobbies? Have you ever considered making an income from them?

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Comments

6 Responses to “A Hobby Can Be Additional Source Of Income”

Mrs. Micah (19 comments.) on April 15th, 2008 8:19 pm

Oh so cute! I had a friend who bred puppies…they also put a lot of effort into their babies and took a lot of pride in them. They didn’t make much, but it was a nice little income stream.

I’ve made some money from selling my sewing skills. Not much, but it’s a nice little side stream.
Rachel @ Master Your Card (6 comments.) on April 16th, 2008 7:43 am

It is a great idea to use your hobby to make money. When starting a new business a lot of people make the mistake of trying to do something that they know nothing about and this means that they have difficulty in suceeding. If you make money from your hobby then you will already have a good knowledge of the subject.
The Friday Gathering For 4/18/2008 on April 18th, 2008 5:26 am

[...] A Hobby Can Be Additional Source Of Income - Good Article on how to make money from your hobby. Be careful though, your hobby can easily become work which can take away all the enjoyment. [...]
Melissa (1 comments.) on April 18th, 2008 2:11 pm

I have been reviewing books for quite a few years, and while that itself doesn’t actually create income, I do receive the books I read for free from the publisher. It has definitely cut down on my expenses because it has nearly eliminated book buying for me. There are tons of sites online to review for that are usually clamoring for people to review books.
CindyS on April 18th, 2008 2:19 pm

Melissa, I will have to check it out. I am a voracious reader… usually 3-4 books a week.
gold maple leafs (1 comments.) on May 21st, 2008 9:34 pm

College students are hounded to sign up for credit cards from all angles– retailers, campus reps, even their email inboxes– and many kids make the mistake of gouging their credit score by overspending on cards or missing bill payments. Too many kids hurt their future plans of a buying car, a home, or starting a small business by damaging their credit, and a surprising number of students don’ t even know how credit works.