Using apps to turn hobbies, talents into side hustles

In uncertain economic times, it’s never a bad idea to seek out ways to get some extra cash in your pockets. Fortunately, there are many ways you can utilize apps and digital marketplaces to turn your hobby into a potentially lucrative side hustle without spreading yourself too thin. Here are a few simple and easy ways to turn your passion projects into nifty new revenue streams:

Depop was launched in 2011 and has grown into a widely popular online fashion marketplace. Users of the app can buy and sell used clothing from all over the world, and there’s plenty of cash to be made if you have old clothes eating up space in your closet. 

Considering that Depop attracts a younger, edgier demographic, users can be quick to purchase anything that looks even remotely grunge or punk rock. Have a denim jacket that’s no longer your vibe? Tattered jeans you no longer fancy? Or maybe a band T-shirt that no longer fits? You can easily turn those into $15 or $20 apiece on Depop. Vintage clothes from the ’60s through the ’90s — no matter how dorky — are also hot commodities. 

Better yet, it’s also possible to make a decent chunk of dough by flipping cheap clothes from Goodwill or Volunteers of America. You can sometimes find valuable brands like Ralph Lauren, Nike or Tommy Hilfiger buried in the racks of thrift shops. Buy them up and then list them on Depop for an easy profit. If you’re creative, you can exponentially raise the value of old jackets, T-shirts and pants by customizing them with spunky DIY touches such as patches, studs, pins, buttons or screen-printed graphics. 

Etsy was founded in 2005, gained a lot of traction from 2010 to 2019 and then totally exploded in popularity during the coronavirus pandemic. What separates Etsy from other online marketplaces such as Amazon or eBay is that it focuses on goods handcrafted by its users. 

Etsy is not about selling old junk — save that for Craigslist or a garage sale. You’ll want to set up an Etsy shop if you have a special talent like painting, woodworking, quilting and pottery — or just about anything else you can possibly think of. With an Etsy shop, you’ll have a convenient place to sell and market your creations. 

The booming global popularity of Etsy gives you the potential to attract a much larger audience than you ever could at a local flea market or through your personal Facebook profile. Whatever it is you create, there’s more than likely an audience for it on Etsy. Even if you don’t strike gold and become the next Etsy sensation, you certainly have nothing to lose by putting some faith in your craft. 

OK, so maybe your skillset doesn’t involve creating tangible items that you can list for sale, but you’re experienced in a field such as photography, musical composition, creative writing or graphic design. What should you do for some extra cash? You should check out a gig economy app like Fiverr.

Fiverr was created in 2010, and allows you to create a profile that advertises whatever service you offer and then connects you with other users that need that service provided to them. You can customize your rates and negotiate prices with potential clients, so you’re in total control of what you’ll earn and won’t have to deal with being lowballed or getting flat out ripped off. 

Since its launch, Fiverr has attracted millions of users, which means there’s a huge pool of potential customers waiting to hire you for your next side gig. Like Etsy, there’s an audience for just about anything. You can find high school students who need essays written for them, web show producers that need soundtracks, or perhaps you’ll get hooked up with somebody that needs photographs of their puppy.  

As long as your rates are reasonable, it shouldn’t take you too long before you start collecting some sweet side hustle cash. 

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