What if something you already love doing could help fund your travels?
Last week, I went to a networking lunch here in Chiang Mai, nearly turned around and went home when I realised I was the only woman in a room full of blokes, and ended up sitting next to a lovely Kiwi guy called Nathan.
Nathan makes a full-time living teaching people to play chess. He has a YouTube channel with around 9,500 subscribers, but his income comes primarily from coaching people who simply want to get better at playing their mates.
And that got me thinking about all the hobbies we have, the skills we’ve developed over the years, and the opportunities we now have to turn those interests into portable income.
In this episode, I’m sharing five ways to make money from almost any hobby, whether you love knitting, photography, hiking, books, painting, music or something completely different.
I’ll also share some brilliant real-world examples, including a guitar teacher earning around $1.5 million a year, a woman making jewellery from recycled skateboards, and how I’m turning my own love of travel into an e-commerce business.
You don’t need to be a world-class expert, have thousands of followers or invest a fortune to get started. You just need to find a way to help, entertain or create something for people who share your interests.
What You’ll Learn
Teach it: How to turn what you know into lessons, courses, guides or digital products.
Make it: How to create products inspired by your hobbies, including print-on-demand and digital downloads.
Sell around it: How to earn from the tools, supplies and products other hobby enthusiasts already buy.
Share it: How to build an audience around something you love and earn through subscriptions, advertising or sponsorships.
Gather people: How to bring people together through workshops, clubs, retreats and experiences.
Mix and match: Why you can start with one income stream and gradually add others.
Build your email list: Why collecting email subscribers from day one matters more than chasing followers.
Key Takeaway
You don’t have to be the best in the world at something to build a business around it.
As Nathan reminded me, most people learning chess aren’t trying to become grandmasters. They just want to beat their mates!
Sometimes being a few steps ahead of someone else is all you need to offer something valuable.
And if teaching isn’t your thing, you can make products, recommend equipment, share your enthusiasm or bring people together.
The important part is choosing one idea and giving it a go.
Time-Stamped Guide
00:00 Could your favourite hobby fund your travels?
01:56 Building my own travel business from Chiang Mai
02:56 The networking lunch and chess coach who inspired this episode
05:41 From skateboarding to jewellery: finding a business in what you love
06:49 Way 1: Teach it
08:34 Way 2: Make it
11:21 Way 3: Sell around it
13:57 Way 4: Share it
15:45 Way 5: Gather people
17:21 Combining different income streams around one hobby
18:38 The golden rule: Build your email list from day one
19:48 Final thoughts and your next steps
Download the Free Guide
5 Ways to Turn Any Hobby Into Income After 50
I’ve put together a free three-page companion guide so you don’t have to scribble down all the ideas while listening!
Inside, you’ll find the five income models, practical examples, 12 hobbies with suggested ways to monetise them, and three simple steps to get started.
Resources Mentioned
Nathan Rose Chess: The chess coach I met at a networking lunch in Chiang Mai, whose business inspired this episode.
Lauren Bateman Guitar: Guitar teacher and course creator who built a successful online business teaching adults to play guitar.
iPhone Photography School: Founded by Emil Pakarklis, offering courses to help people take better photographs with their phones.
Craftamo: Eco-friendly art supplies and collaborations with artists to create signature brush and paint sets.
A Good Yarn by Sandi Rosner: A knitting Substack offering patterns to paid subscribers.
This Big World Travel Challenge Cards: My travel-inspired product range, built around my love of travel and adventure.
Want a New Side Hustle Idea Every Friday?
Every Friday, I share a different side hustle you can run from anywhere in the world with a laptop and Wi-Fi, including practical steps, examples and ideas to help you get started.
Paid subscribers to The 50+ Digital Nomad also receive downloadable guides and additional resources to help turn those ideas into income.
Come and join us!
Join the Conversation
I’d love to know what hobby you could happily spend hours doing, even if nobody paid you a penny.
And after listening to this episode, can you see a way to turn it into income?
Share your hobby in the comments. I’d love to hear your ideas!
