1. Kombucha making
If you’re an avid kombucha consumer or even mildly enjoy the drink, making your own kombucha can be an exciting and financially savvy hobby. Once you have your starter kit and supplies, brewing (after you get through the trial and error process) can become a breeze and a creative way to experiment with flavors and types. Plus, anyone you live with will be grateful for the drink bonus.
2. Designing Notion templates
Notion is a godsend for A-personality types and organizers alike. If you aren’t already on it, we highly recommend doing so. Not only is the platform an all-in-one space to maintain your work, personal life, hobbies and anything you can think of that needs management, but it’s incredibly user-friendly once you’ve watched a tutorial or two. Either way, creating Notion templates for other Notion users can be a rewarding hobby if you have any interest in web design, and you may find yourself making an extra moolah bonus if you catch our drift.
3. Chess
For the intellectual or the “The Queen’s Gambit” fanatic, chess is an excellent hobby if you have any draw towards strategy and game theory. And no, you don’t have to worry about constantly finding someone to play with; there are plenty of online resources if you want to advance your skills without relying on another chess player in the house. This hobby will work your brain, all the while forming an impressive skill you can show off at your next dinner party.
4. Creating clay earrings and other jewelry
Throwing it back to the height of lockdown craftiness with this hobby. I mean, clay earring accounts dominated TikTok between 2020 and 2021, and though their hype has calmed down a bit, they are still pretty dang cute and even more fun to make! All you need is some clay, some shape cutouts from Etsy if you’re feeling fancy, a simple DIY earring starter kit and an oven. You can get inspiration from Pinterest or TikTok or come up with your own. If you follow instructions, this is a hard craft to mess up, and you’ll have something to show for it in your jewelry box!
5. Reading tarot
The occult and new age spirituality may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but who said we’re serving everyone? This is a very niche skill to have and one that your friends and loved ones will thank you for. After all, you’re getting advice from whichever entity you call upon. Even if you are not spiritual whatsoever, you don’t need to be! Tarot originally started as a game for 15th-century Italian noblemen. So, in any case, you can think of it as a glorified card game that may look into the future or aspects of the present you aren’t seeing clearly.
6. Furniture flipping and retrofitting
For the lovers of Architectural Digest, we see you, we hear you and this one is meant for you. This hobby can be as cheap or expensive as you make it, but you’ll find it extremely rewarding to complete project after project. You can completely remodel entire rooms in your home with this hobby, adding a unique flair or if you want to take it a step further, sell the pieces that you make and get a nice buck for them. This hobby is the perfect meeting of creativity and practicality.
7. Sewing
Okay, once upon a time, sewing was something only our grandmothers loved and knew how to do, but in 2023, everyone on social media is doing it. While it’s not as niche as it used to be, it is one of the best hobbies/life skills you can possess. Seriously. Most importantly, this hobby will make your life infinitely easier. See a clothing article you like but don’t want to pay the hefty price? Remake it yourself for half the cost. Can’t find your size in something you like? Make it yourself! Want to alter clothing pieces you already own? Simply pull out your sewing machine. Clothing and fashion have a much bigger presence in our lives than accounted for, and sewing brings attention to that and proves to be a beneficial tool for the everyday.
8. Beer brewing
If you have a passion for traditional beer for IPAs (we see you, millennial hipsters), then this is the perfect gig for you. This might be an expensive hobby up front (if you get the really nice stuff), but trust, it will pay off over time. You’ll be able to experiment with flavors, make your own unique beers and what’s more? You’ll have the raddest backyard parties on the block with your fresh, homemade beer to serve.
9. Pottery
Pshhh, I definitely didn't add this one to the list because of the movie "Ghost." But let's just say that scene, you know the one with Patrick Swayze, is convincing enough to get started. Other than the beautiful ceramics you'll be able to boast at home, pottery is a fantastic artistic hobby for people (and by people, I mean me) who missed the drawing/painter gene. Taking courses or finding a studio to work in is another added bonus if you want to make new friends to participate in your hobby with or include your other friends in the fun.
10. Bocce ball
Don't knock it until you try it, unless by knocking you mean the opposing team's ball out. Yes, bocce is the game that brings all the grandparents to the yard (court?), but it's only because they know where the fun is! Bocce ball is a fantastic option if you also want a social and routine hobby. Joining a league means meeting more people, making friends, having a little potluck at the courts once a week and having a grand ol' time. Don't be intimidated by a skewed age demographic; it is super inclusive and all-ages friendly.
11. Woodworking
Delete that insanely cute table from West Elm from your online shopping cart immediately. You can make it yourself and 10 times better, seriously. Yeah, yeah, it may be more convenient to pay an arm and a leg to have it shipped and brought to your home. And if you would rather just pay extra upfront for ease of getting new furniture, that is totally your prerogative. However, if you have even the slightest inclination towards DIY home improvement and building, I highly recommend you check out woodworking. There are some pretty cool projects you can piece together, and what’s more? You can have any piece of furniture your heart desires with this ability. Well, not just any piece ever, but you get the point.
12. Candle making
If you love candles as much as I do, you know it’s an art of finding the perfect one for every room in the house. And while I, for one, am not ready to give up mindlessly strolling through Bath and Body Works and randomly splurging on 100 dollars worth of candles and wall plug-ins, there is something to be said about making your own candles. This hobby will not charge you up the wazoo and is also a great way to experiment with another sense in your hobby, scent. You can make something of an Etsy business out of it (we love turning hobbies into alternate incomes around here) or just make candles for the simple pleasure and love of candles. Plus, they’d make a pretty awesome gift to loved ones.