When the daily hustle gets too mundane, it's our hobbies that offer a comforting escape. But what if your leisure pursuit could also supplement your income?
Here are 13 hobbies that can potentially put more ringgits in your pocket.
1. Batik Painting
If you take a trip to Pasar Seni, you can see store after store offering batik painting classes.
So, embrace the traditional art and either teach batik painting classes or sell your creations at local markets and tourist spots.
2. Food Blogging
If there’s one thing Malaysians can collectively agree on is that our food is the best in South East Asia.
Therefore, with Malaysia's diverse culinary heritage, sharing recipes or reviews online can lead to sponsorships or ads.
3. Photography
This hobby is pretty common and it’s one of the most highly-demanded services when it comes to freelancing.
You can offer your services for wedding photography, street photography or even professional photoshoots. The options are endless!
Otherwise, you could also capture Malaysia's picturesque landscapes and vibrant street life, and then sell prints of them.
4. Cooking Classes
Cooking is a life skill that everyone needs to master so there will always be a market for it, especially if you’re thinking of teaching local cuisine cooking classes.
Consider offering lessons in making traditional dishes like nasi lemak or rendang.
I’ll be the first to sign up for it!
5. Jewellery Making
If you’ve always had a way with arts and crafts, you can look at making jewellery pieces!
To make it even more unique, you can craft handmade jewellery inspired by Malaysian culture and sell it online or at pop-up markets like Sunny Side Up or Kedai KL.
6. Reselling Vintage Items
Thrifting has become a really trendy option for shopping these days.
If you take a trip to Taman Paramount, you’ll see an entire row of stores that curate and cater to the growing thrifting market.
To do this, you can start by scouring local flea markets like the one in Kota Damansara for unique finds and reselling them online or in bigger thrifting stores like JBR Bundle.
7. Musical Performances
Take your shower singing session onto the streets! Put on a 1-2 hours basking session in Jalan Alor or even perform at local cafes and events.
You may not earn that much but at least you’ll be able to share your talent with the crowd.
8. Pet Sitting
Always had a soft spot for our furry friends? Consider pet sitting then!
You’ll not only get to have a fun time with cute fur babies but you also get to make some extra pocket money!
Perhaps you can offer services to busy professionals in your neighbourhood or even work with Petbacker.
9. Tutoring
A bit tedious as a hobby but it’s definitely worth considering as a side hustle, especially if you have a way with teaching.
Offer language lessons like Bahasa Malaysia, English, or any other language you're fluent in to expats or maths and science to students.
You can charge as much as RM150 or more even if it's an online class!
10. Digital Art
Have you got an eye for graphic design? Create illustrations for local brands or authors.
You can also take on commission jobs from your friends, family or even online!
11. Baking
One of the most common online businesses these days is baking. You can start from your home kitchen and if you do well, who knows, you may even open up a bakery!
To carve out your unique selling point, you can offer baked goods like traditional kuih or a local twist on modern pastries.
12. Home Stays or Cultural Experiences
I’m certain you’ve seen those Airbnb experiences that encompass visits to local tourist attractions and even arts and crafts classes. You can do the same!
If you’re big on meeting new people and have a love for sharing our local culture, you can offer tourists a genuine Malaysian living experience.
Get them to live with you, if you’re comfortable, and take them to your favourite makan spots to let them experience the true Malaysian life.
13. Freelance Writing
Have you always had a way with words? You can look into freelance writing as a side hustle!
Offer your services to online brands or even put up a job ad on Fiverr!
Should You Make Money Off Of Your Hobbies?
Monetizing your hobbies has always been a contentious topic. Some are for it while others prefer to keep it as a leisure activity to relax.
Whichever side of the fence you're on, there is no right or wrong.
However, if you're serious about making money off of your hobbies, remember that consistency, quality, and authenticity are key.
Dive into what you're passionate about, understand the local market's needs, and see how you can transform your hobbies into a venture that can not only bring you joy but also make you some extra money on the side.
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