What could be better then earning money for doing a hobby that you enjoy? Not much, thats what! There are many types of hobbies that can lead to a steady income.

Here is a list of my personal top 10 favorite hobbies that make money:

1. Hiking Guides


If you enjoy hiking on trails in the woods, in the mountains or elsewhere, you can offer your services as a guide. Experience in hiking and being familiar with all that the trails may offer a first time sight-seer is a wealth of knowledge that many people would gladly pay for. Your hours can be filled with enjoying the outdoors while earning a paycheck and sharing your knowledge with beginners. A hiking guide is a great job to have if you enjoy being outdoors as a hobby.



Individuals that enjoy fishing as a hobby and who own their own boat can often times make money by hiring their services out to tourists that are unfamiliar with the waters of the area. Being the captain of your own boat while allowing vacationers to enjoy fishing can be a great hobby that turns into a money maker. If you live close to a large body of water such as a large lake or near the ocean, advertising your services as a fishing guide will almost assuredly allow you to earn money doing what you find most enjoyable.
Collectors of comic books can enjoy their hobby while making money trading with other collectors.


Baseball card collecting has been a hobby since the late 1800′s. The first cards were almost always used with some sort of advertisement such as for cigarettes or candy. Buying and selling baseball cards will allow the collector to earn money while working on their own collection at the same time.

Stamp Collecting is a fun hobby that can net you a decent profit if you know what to look for and are willing to invest the time needed for out of print stamps to appreciate value.


Sewing as a hobby can be turned into a way of earning extra money. With more and more women having to work at jobs outside the home, they rarely have time to do their own sewing. If you own a sewing machine and have experience using the machine to alter and mend items, you may be able to earn money by offering your services. Crocheting and knitting as a hobby can also fit into this category. Knitted baby items have always been popular to give as a gift for a new mother and baby. Most customers understand that it takes time to knit or crochet baby items so they will be happy to pay for your time and the quality item you produce.

7. Pet Care

For those that enjoy spending time with animals as a hobby, becoming a dog sitter will allow you to spend time with animals while earning money. Dog sitters are responsible for taking care of pets while the owners are on vacation, ill or for a variety of other reasons. You have the choice of sitting for the animal in the owners home, as a combination house sitter/dog sitter, or in the comfort of your own home. Walking dogs is also a great idea.

8. Painting

If you have an artistic talent that you enjoy as a hobby you can make appointments to do personal sketches or paintings. Everyone loves to have their portrait made, so this hobby allows you to make money at your own pace and on your own schedule. Using a small room in your house as a studio is all you will need to get going in this type of business. Most customers are willing to pay well for a good quality sketch, water color or oil painting. If you are talented you can make extra money from this type of hobby.


Woodworking is a hobby that many enjoy and is also a hobby that you can make money while doing. Small wooden statues and personalized plaques are always popular with consumers. If you make a variety of your woodworking crafts you can take them to a local flea market and set up a stand to sell the items. If you do wood burning you can take specialized orders while you are there, or make them in front of the customer. Hand made furniture is also a very popular item that you can enjoy making as a hobby.

10. Truck Driving

If you enjoy driving and seeing the country by way of the road, you may be able to make money by driving a small moving van. Many times people that are having to move long distances would rather have their belongings in a small truck that is driven by a person they know and are familiar with.

These are some of the most popular hobbies that make money. If none of these interest you there are several other good ideas over to your right. There are many other ways to earn money with your personal interests. Just think about what you are good at and how you might be able to turn that into a little extra cash in your pocket! Dont expect to be a millionaire overnight, but with a little work and fun you might find yourself with a little extra pocket cash, and who knows, maybe your own business!

Scientific Name: Pentas Lanceolata

Family: Rubiaceae


Common names: Egyptian Star Cluster, Star flower


Flowering Season: Throughout the year

Colour: Pink, White, Magenta, Red, Lavender, Salmon, Purple


Pentas Lanceolata, native to Northeastern Africa and Egypt are a favourite of home gardeners and landscapers. This tropical plant comes in different varieties; larger specimens are erect shrubs with woody stems while smaller plants are low mounds, considered herbaceous .

This perennial with dark lush green, lance-shaped 3 to 5 inch long hairy deep veined leaves and star shaped small flowers in round clusters may grow upright to about 3 feet height depending on its variety. Flowers can be seen in white, lavender, purple, red and pink in single and double shades. In warm weather, the plant grows fast and stays in bloom constantly.

In cold weather, it can be treated as an annual and replanted every spring. It is an ideal container plant and can also be used as beds, borders or grown indoors in a sunny room.

Propagation and Care

Pentas Lanceolata are easily grown in medium wet and well-drained organically rich, fertile soils in part shade to full sun. Usually the propagation of Pentas is from stem cutting. It may also be grown from seed started indoors approximately 8-10 weeks before last frost date.

Water regularly during the growing season. Keep soil moist and fertilize every two weeks.Pentas are usually highly tolerant of heat, soil conditions and pests, and requires little maintenance. But it may be disturbed by aphids and spider mites.

Whiteflies can be particularly troublesome in indoor plants. This bushy plant blooms year round and yields better blooms in full sun.  Keep the plant bushy and shapely by pinching off the tips of stems and retaining its size to 12 to 18 inches tall.

Scientific Name: Nerium Oleander


Family: Apocynaceae


Common names: Oleander, Kaner

Flowering Season: April-September

Colour: Red, White, Pink, Light Yellow


Oleander is a large fast growing evergreen shrub, native to Asia and the Mediterranean region. This plant with glossy, 4 to 10 inch long narrow dark green leaves and funnel-shaped flower clusters, single or double can reach 3 to 20 feet tall.

There are different varieties with varying heights and flowers in some varieties are delightfully fragrant. This dense plant which flowers abcan be used as borders, hedges, backgrounds and tall screens. Dwarf varieties are suitable for container
gardens.

Propagation and Care

Oleander is an easy growing plant in most conditions, especially in dry warm climates. It grows well in average, medium wet soils in full sun to part shade. The shrub can be trained or pruned to a single or multi stemmed tree.

Propagation is through vegetative cuttings. This species commonly produces many side shoots which can be replanted in their own pots in a standard mix of well drained sand and peat. In the ground, the plant can be spaced 5-9feet apart depending on its variety.

When in growth water often and allow plants to remain moist. When not actively growing, water plants sparingly and allow to dry out between watering. Yellowing of new leaves indicates over watering. Fertilize regularly during the growing period.

Prune the tips of young plants to help stimulate the production of new branches and prune grown plants to control size and shape. Promptly deadhead spent blooms to prevent formation of non-ornamental seed pods. No serious insect or disease problems.

Aphids, mites, bacterial gall and scale may be a problem. Black deformed flowers, splitting branches etc are the symptoms. Infected parts of plant must be cut away and disinfected with a solution of equal mix of bleach and water. Remove and destroy any leaves damaged by leaf spot. Caterpillars may chew on the foliage.

Oleanders have a tendency to become leggy and should be pruned as needed to maintain a nice shape. By removing suckers at the base of the plant, and leaving just a few stems, oleander can be formed into very attractive small trees.

Note : All parts of this plant are poisonous if ingested. Plant saps can cause allergic skin reactions in some people so always use gloves while tending them. Smoke from burning plant material can also be quite toxic.

Scientific Name: Nelumbo nucifera.

Family: Nymphaeaceae

Common names: Chinese Arrowroot, Lotus Bean, Sacred Lotus

Best Season: March to May (planting)

Colour: White, Pink


Lotus, known as flower of purity is the National Flower of India. This water plant is very easy to grow. Flowers in pink and white, have a large number of petals and large circular thick leaves.

The leaves are sometimes, and the flowers always, raised above the water surface. This beautiful and fragrant flower blooms only for one day. Lotus is considered sacred by the Hindus and the Buddhists.

Planting

Lotus can be planted in tanks around 2 1/2 feet deep. Make a mixture of compost, cow dung and sand. Spread a layer of 3 inches thickness at the bottom of the tank.

Sunlight is a must for the lotus plant to flower. So tanks should be placed where there is plenty of sunlight. The best time to plant is from March to May.

Usually tubers or bulbs are used for planting, seeds can also be used to make new seedlings. Tuber should be planted at 2inches depth inside the sand compost mixture in the tank.

Fill the tank with water at a level of 6-8 inches above the tuber. As the plant grows you can fill the tank with more water. You can grow fish in the tank to control pests.

Scientific Name: Jasminum Officinale

Family: Oleaceae

Common names: Poets Jasmine, Common White Jasmine

Flowering Season: April to September

Colour: White


Jasmine or Jessamine, the sweet -scented white flowers belongs to the genus Jasminum. It is an evergreen semi-vining shrub native to tropical areas of southeast Asia, Africa and Australia. This seasonal plant contains about 150 species. Flowers are about 1 inch and plant height is about 6 or 8 feet or 10 to 15 feet if grown as a vine. The oval rich green leaves have five to nine leaflets, each up to 2½ inches long.

Grown all over the world for its fragrance, Jasmine flowers are used to flavour jasmine tea and other herbal or black teas. The flower oil extracted from the two species Jasminum Officinale and Grandiflorum is used in high-grade perfumes and cosmetics, such as creams, oils, soaps, and shampoos.

In Asia, flowers are stringed together to make garlands. The flowers of one of the double varieties are held sacred to Lord Vishnu and are used as votive offerings in Hindu religious ceremonies. Several types of jasmine are used as ornamental plants.

Propagation and Planting

Jasmine is propagated by cuttings of nearly ripe wood in summer. Cuttings are planted in 3-inch pots within 4 weeks, then to 6-inches when pot is becoming filled with roots. The potting soil should consist of 2 parts peat moss or cow dung to 2 parts loam to 1 part sand. Keep the soil moist but well drained for optimum growth. When growth slows in winter, hold back on watering. If planted on the ground, set them at least 8 feet apart to help them bush out.

Jasmine can be grown as a wine or a shrub. Frequent pruning is required to grow it as a shrub of desired size. Pruning also helps keep an abundance of flowers, since flowers are produced on new wood. When grown as a vine, its arching branches have to be supported on a mesh or trellis.

Jasmine can be produced on almost any soil type, with sufficient water supply and intermediate to warm temperatures. It grows in full sun to partial shade. Fertilize monthly with a balanced fertilizer. The common jasmine grows at the rate 12 to 24 inches a year.

Seeds don't need stratifying, and can be planted immediately. Full production begins after grafting in the second year. Flowers are picked in the early morning, since they are the most fragrant at daybreak. When in flower a single plant will strongly scent an entire room or patio on a still summer's eve.

Scientific Name: Ixora coccinea

Family: Rubiaceae

Common names: Flame of the Woods, Jungle Flame, Jungle Geranium

Flowering Season: Rainy season

Colour: Red, White, Pink, yellow


Ixora is a common flowering shrub said to be a native of Asia. There are about 400 species of Ixora and its flowers look delightful in gardens. They differ in leaf size, plant height, flower size and flower color. This plant which blooms throughout the year is easy to grow.

The flowers are found in a wide range of colours. Plants are of two types- large; with height around 1 meter and dwarf or miniature plants. Miniature ones have small leaves and are bushy. Ixora flowers last well when picked and put into a vase with water, making an attractive home arrangement.

Planting

Miniature types can be grown in pots and the large ones on the ground. Take a mixture of sand, cow dung with equal quantity and fill this mixture in a polythene bag. Plant 6 inch length stems in the mixture. Although it grows in any climate the best time to grow is in the rainy season.

The sap lings can be replanted into pots with 1feet radius filled with a mixture of 2 parts gravel, 1part soil and one part dried cow dung powder. Manure like 100g oilseed extracts (Neem) and 100g Bone meal can be used for 1 feet mixture. When you plant on the ground, dig 8 inch wide holes, put the above said mixture and plant the saplings.

Plants will grow and flower in shade, but most ixoras do best in full sun, acid soil and well drained moist organic mix. Water once every day. Keep adding 2tsp of a mixture of cow dung, bone meal and oilseed extract once every two months for best results. Always use acid forming fertilizers.

Scientific Name: Hydrangea macrophylla

Family: Hydrangeaceae

Common names: French hydrangea, Big leaf, Snowball and Japanese Hydrangea


Flowering Period: Summer

Colour: Blue, Dark Purple, white, Green, Pink


Hydrangea is a shrub with large, medium to dark green, luxuriant foliage with round ball shaped cluster of flowers. These shrubs are easy to grow and flowers well in areas with mild winters. A native of Japan and Korea, the shrub has many varieties and hybrids.

One of the remarkable characteristics is that the same plant can produce both pink and blue flowers depending on the ph factor or the aluminum content of the soil-blue in acidic soil and pink in alkaline soil. The blooms stay long as cut flowers.

Planting

The shrub can be propagated using cuttings which easily grows roots or through dividing from old established plants. It can also be propagated by layering. Remove one inch wide ring of outer bark from the middle section of a stem of a hydrangea plant.

Bend and insert this section of the stem in the soil. Let the upper tip of the stem 6-12 inches remain uncovered with soil. Roots will start growing from the part of the stem under the soil and the plant will be ready to be replanted within 6 months.

Hydrangea's can be replanted on the ground in a mass or even in a large container in a mixture of composted organic leaf matter and soil, 8-10 inches thick. The top of the root should be in level with the surface of the soil and should be watered thoroughly.

It grows well in rich moist but well drained soil. Partial shade to light sun gives the best results. The plants gets established 4-8 weeks after transplanting. After that several light application of a complete fertilizer is good during its growing months.

Prune the stems and flowers heads and as soon as they begin to fade for splendid foliage, but avoid pruning after August when the flower buds begin to form. Pruning in late summer can reduce flowering in the next season.