Five creative hobbies that can be turned into a business

We are living in an unpredictable world today, where many of us have lost jobs, and some of us who still have our jobs could have lost a little hope. In times like these, we’ve got to put on our thinking caps and figure out what will truly keep us happy, and help us earn money, in good times and bad. Jobs that pay us the big bucks definitely are attractive, but when we see life pass before our eyes and days turn into years in lockdown, don’t we just want to do something that makes us happy every day? Agreed, not all of us are talented and maybe some of us don’t even realise what we can do until someone else points it out, but we have to try. We all have a love for doing something or a hobby that we can turn into a lucrative means to earn a livelihood, with a little effort. Here are just a few hobbies that you could turn into a business and have fun doing it.

Cooking

The pandemic has seen home cooks really honing their culinary skills while also sharing delicacies with friends and families. What better than to share good food with the world! Food is life, and will always be in demand, in good times and bad. Discover your niche here, that’s what will set you apart from all the stuff that’s already in the market. If you live in Asia, bring to the table delicacies from a different, lesser-known country. Let your consumer get a unique taste and experience with your food, which will have them coming back for more.

Painting/Art

Art is for the ages. While you may say people aren’t investing in art during the pandemic, and purses are shut for luxury purchases, you can definitely find a unique way to get your art out and make money from it. Add art to everyday utility items - kitchenware, wall decor, table-top decor, apparel, accessories. Adapting is key here, and if people aren’t ready to spend big bucks on a piece of art or a painting right now, they’re definitely still buying the little things to keep their homes running and pretty. Paint a vase, sell it to the growing number of home-gardeners, who are, by the way also making money from growing fruit and vegetables at home!

Gardening

We all love to be in a beautiful garden; to take in all that Mother Nature has to offer. However, if you can create a garden that is not only beautiful, but one that could yield you produce which you could sell, you’re in a win-win situation. Put those green thumbs to good use, produce some organic fruit, vegetables, herbs or even flowers and earn some money! It's simple. Start a business in your backyard.

Writing

If you have a way with words and have ever thought of penning down your thoughts, now is the time to do it! ‘A penny for your thoughts’… heard the phrase? We all love a good read and believe me, I’ve read enough to say, no matter how old the topic, each writer puts a fresh spin on things. It's all about perspective. So grab that laptop, notebook or even a diary. Put down a theme, construct your thoughts, decide on a flow, and give it your best. Many of us are writers. We just don’t know it until we write, and yes, you could earn from this! If a book is not your jam, start a blog, start writing reviews, there are a gazillion ways to make money from writing.

Photography

Gone are the days when you needed to invest in heavy, expensive cameras and equipment to take good pictures. Our smartphones are more than equipped to get you a few master shots, which, by the way, you could sell. Click candid pictures, capture life, capture dismay, solitude, home cooking, children playing, all the good and bad stuff that we are experiencing while being locked in at home. Make a library of these pictures, touch them up a tad, to belong to a similar style; create your own style. Now the business of it all - upload these pictures to stock websites and earn from them. It's as easy as that!