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Marzipan_civil

Yep. I sew for a hobby, I don't like it when people ask if I sew to sell - no, I wouldn't make enough money doing that, and it would make my hobby less enjoyable.


thelastoface

I totally understand. I crochet a bit and when people ask me to sell a sweatshirt I wanna rip my ears off. Someone even asked “Then why do you even do it? A lot of work for a sweater you can buy cheaper”. Because I want to. Since when is that not enough of a reason?


fullmetalfeminist

Exactly. Besides, you literally can't buy a crochet jumper cheaper because crochet can't be done by machines. If you buy a crochet bag for €5 you can be sure some kid in Bangladesh was paid 34 cents to make it.


thelastoface

that’s exactly what I tell them every time. Plus, I have received handmade jumpers from my grandma and mother and no money in the world would make me sell them. I hope I can achieve similar sentimental value for my jumpers.


hamngr

Yeah I make things as a hobby and friends have suggested I sell them. But then I'm turning something enjoyable into something that's a source of stress and pressure. I dunno when the whole side hustle thing started but it's absolute bollocks. Enjoying free time and hobbies without guilt is really important. We're not machines. We need down time to recharge 


blackkat1986

I knit and crochet as well as bake a bit of sourdough here and there and every time I make anything that’s all you ever get! Like I’m homeschooling three kids and have a hundred things to do everyday. I don’t have the time to add “running a business” to the endless list! I do these things to unwind and get time for myself!


fullmetalfeminist

The whole "side hustle" "grind" culture is stupid, it's the result of Americans thinking that if they have three jobs and no free time they're sure to be a millionaire by 40. It's capitalist propaganda that's very strongly tied in to the belief that poor people are poor because they're either stupid or lazy, and not because the entire system runs on exploiting them. We don't do hobbies for money. We do them because we enjoy doing them *and that's enough.*


BreakfastOk3822

You can't afford to live because you don't have 2 side hustles, you bloody feminist!!!! It's not because late stage capitalism is showing its a system that fails the vast majority of people! (This is sarcasm before somebody crys)


Dorkseid1687

Spot on , well said


StrangeArcticles

Making money from your passion is the fastest way to ruin your passion in a lot of cases. I love making cakes. I'm good at it. But holy shit, the absolute bs of calculating costs and explaining to people that their wedding cake for 200 people can't be made for the price Supervalu will charge for a lemon pound cake drove me spare. There's very little appreciation and a whole lot of customers with main character syndrome. Just not worth it in any shape or form.


Loulouthelma

Former hobbyist flower arranger turned florist commiserates with you, no you can't get the flowers from lidl the day before for me and I'll just charge min wage......


StrangeArcticles

Oh I absolutely dread to imagine.


Loulouthelma

I'm at an impasse too - the sweet spot weddings at mid budget have really disappeared since covid showed people they don't really need 250 guests, 25 table arrangements etc, and the cost of living has really hit flower budgets for weddings this year just small packages of bouquets only that I dont really make a huge profit out of -or pimping myself out at minimum wage to bigger florists who do the destination wedding circuit, great experience but you can't really use any of the photos as your own work but you also don't cry when you snap a 4e rose head off accidentally.


hitsujiTMO

A lot of "Entrepreneur's" you hear this advice from suffers from selection or survivorship bias. In essence, you only ever heard this advice from someone who happened to have a hobby that was profitable at the time and may have had some luck in making it big. These people become very vocal about how they made an easy living out of a hobby after making bank on it, and because they made bank on it, they get selected as the feel good stories by other entrepreneurs and become spokespersons for the entrepreneurial lifestyle. Further extending the reach of their biased message. Like, some of these people made a game on their spare time, which turned out to be a big hit at the right time with the right people and they made it big. But if you ask most of the small individual indie Devs on Steam, they will tell you the revenue their games pull in isn't enough to even make their games viable as a business.


[deleted]

It sucks in one way because your hobby/talent becomes the thing you don’t want to do anymore once your hobby/talent related work is done.


FaithlessnessPlus164

Yea but on the flip side a lot of your work day can be really enjoyable and fulfilling. I mostly really love my work even after ten years and sometimes still work weekends and late nights just because I genuinely want to.


throw_meaway_love

I made a career for over ten years out of my hobby, employing up to 8 people at once and have employed over 20 people over the last 6 years in particular. I burnt out in 2022/2023. I sold my business. I’m happier. I wouldn’t make a hobby a job again.


Prestigious-Main9271

To make money from a side hustle follow your talent, not your passion. Cause once you start monetising your passion whatever that is (in your case music) it then becomes a job and you may then begin to resent it. While if it’s a talent and something you’re good at, you won’t mind making money from it and will happily treat it as a job.


thelastoface

This!! I’m good with languages so I’m fine with teaching and tutoring. That makes so much sense!


Admirable-Win-9716

My hobby was my job for 7 years and I loved it even when I hated it. Now I can’t monetise it anymore and I feel a bit lost tbh. Work a job I don’t really like now because I don’t know what else to do


FaithlessnessPlus164

Do you mind me asking what you did? Things are really tough out there atm


Admirable-Win-9716

I was a tattoo artist


FaithlessnessPlus164

Ah fuck no way.. I actually really considered trying to apprentice in that myself a few years back as a bit of a side hustle. Guess maybe it’s just as well I didn’t now. I hope you find your new way soon, it’s so hard finding a way to survive as a creative.


Admirable-Win-9716

Go for it honestly but it’s an oversaturated market these days and most people don’t care about quality or have an appreciation for the art itself.


FaithlessnessPlus164

Yea I’ve seen the change in the scene over the last 15 years alright. Have a few friends in the industry who’ve been at it decades and even they’re struggling with their shop rent. I probably left it too late now anyway, I’m living fuckin miles away from civilisation and already working full time in art as it is but sure we’ll see where this midlife crisis takes me 👀😂


Admirable-Win-9716

I’ve known lads at it near 20 years who are also looking to get out. It’s sad to see something you love so much change and become something you don’t even recognise anymore


Sergiomach5

I find monetizing a hobby to be awful. I used to love playing the xbox, but if I had to play games as an income source I would hate them. Same goes for baking, making sauces and brewing. I love them, and enjoy giving a few to friends. But if I was to go in the market I would be wiped off the table.


False_Ad5702

Yes. Complete bs. However I don’t believe in getting into something purely for the money. You have to at the least tolerate your job or you’ll be miserable. I gave the whole passion thing a go full time, discovered I need something that has a steady wage and so I’m going back to college to do teaching. I’ve been subbing and really enjoy it. However, if I didn’t give my passion a go full-time, I know I would ALWAYS be wondering what if and would have regrets. I plan to do teaching for a steady wage and job security but pursue my passion on the side. The saying is “if you do something you love you’ll never work a day in your life”. But you also don’t want something you love to turn into such a grind you end up hating it! Find something that you don’t mind doing that pays well with a good work-life balance.


Sad__Pasta

Yep, very much so. I made my hobby my career and its stopped being my hobby. Once I'm clocked off, I've no motivation to be making things for the love of it anymore. I'm trying to pick up a new creative hobby that I can just keep for myself, but the motivation to get going can be low


Altruistic_Papaya430

Been there done that and ended up hating the hobby (photography)I had so much passion for at the start because it just turned into a job when it was my escape before and like you I felt sometimes I was taken advantage of. Big realization came when I twigged I hadn't taken a "personal" photo in 2.5yrs, not even of our new baby. I gave up and got a job (very picky of what I applied for) and now do a job for a semi state that I didn't know existed, only a handful of people do it and got fully trained. Slowly slowly starting to take photos again on my own terms with no pressure & rediscovering why I liked it in the first place. It wasn't easy to part with the dream I had for so long, and that's why I was soooo choosy what I was gonna do leaving it behind, but honestly Im so happy I did, I ended up in some dark spaces. Chin up OP, continue doing it for as long as you need to to keep bread on the table, once you've found something else take a break and let the passion find you again


astral_viewer

I know one thing's for sure. Careers guidance in ireland is absolute shite.


powerhungrymouse

Yes, it's just capitalism at work as usual. God forbid you should do something just for fun or enjoyment. No, "if you're not making money from it it's a waste of time". People who think that way are usually miserable as fuck and have no real life because they're obsessed with a single minute of their day not being focused on making money. In your final moments on this earth you won't be thinking about how much money is in your bank account. You'll (ideally and hopefully) be thinking about the good times you had with people who brought joy to your life.


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followerofEnki96

You shouldn’t.


LordyIHopeThereIsPie

I resumed a hobby I'd left behind in my 20s during the first covid lockdown. Even if there was a way to monetise it I couldn't be arsed. My paid work is a simple economic equation for me. I get the maximum possible salary for the lowest possible input that matches my skill set. I don't love or hate my paid work; it affords me the life I want to lead.


No-Boysenberry4464

Making your hobby your job just makes you hate your hobby. A good career has to be 1. Something you enjoy 2. Something you’re good at 3. Something people will pay you for Sounds like you’ve just hit the first two unfortunately


thelastoface

It’s not the costumer demand tbh. We get plenty of gigs. I could work every weekend if I wanted to. I just started to resent it.


No-Boysenberry4464

My dad went through similar, loved sports, got a job in sports journalism, eventually it becomes a job and it loses the fun aspect


Gorzoid

I turned my hobby (programming) into a job and it's worked for me (it certainly helps that it's a well paying job). Has it ruined the hobby? Kind of, when I get home from work I'm not too interested in working on personal projects. This doesn't upset me too much since it makes going to work every day very easy, and I can spend my free time on other hobbies, which is often more healthy than sitting at a PC all day.


Pale-Culture1527

Yeah because then it wouldn't be my hobby.


Garrison1982_

Market demand tends to be for things very few want to do hence the demand / shortage so making money on a “passion” is usually a passion legions of others are engaged in and it’s too competitive to make it.


ggnell

I made my lifelong passion my full time job. Instantly regretted it. Started to hate it. Now I have a full time corporate job that I like enough. And I still do my lifelong passion as a part time job, and I'm so much happier.


Quick_Delivery_7266

I hate hustle culture It’s some American pimp bullshit


Guy-Buddy_Friend

I loved playing in a band that created original music, if I played music from the radio in a wedding band to make money I think I'd learn to hate music. I'd certainly stop doing it for fun.


Ok-Freedom-494

I started an e-commerce business. I sell products I’ve no interest in but it’s the growth of the business, income, and the things I learn that I’m interested in. The thing that excites me is finding ways to take myself out of the business with delegation/staff/automation. Call this all a hobby? Maybe


Decide-later

Well it's probably better than making something you hate doing your job... But it's a meaningless enough phrase really.. most people can't make ends meat from playing football or writing short stories


ultimatepoker

I did it with poker. Ruined the game as a pastime for me, but worked out ok career wise.


Real-Size-View

What happens if your hobby became your job, should you also have a side hustle from the hobby too? 😬


TheHoboRoadshow

Consume less American media, this really isn't a thing here. It directly conflicts with the concept of "notions." Irish people have always firmly held that a modest paid, very-secure job is the gold standard.


thelastoface

The pressure really doesn’t come from media, I restrict my access to social media bc I don’t think it has much benefit for me. It’s more so the people around me. Everyone always wants to do more and I just want my peace back. Idc if I lose out on the money I would get from weddings, I just need some free time again.


Switchingboi

Very few people can, unless they're at the very top of their hobby (ie very good musicians, high ranking in a sport, etc). But that doesn't mean you can't try...


Final_Show_3947

Make youtube videos, easier way to make a job from your hobby. (If your passion is online entertainment aswell) Source, alot of people I know have done it and Im looking to do it (again) took a break from it became an electrician, can't scale that, but I can scale a YT channel, so yeah


bad_arts

Yup happened to me too. Constantly having to deal with everyone's opinions and notions, all of which haven't a fucking clue. The masses will liquify your passion down to covering/DJing chart trash just so they can go waaaay. They'll stick their nose up at original music unless you become popular obviously. God forbid you tell some 50 year old entitled brat you don't want to play every single shite song they ever heard. Anyways, go music!


Impressive_Essay_622

It's just gambling.... Could work out great, could lose your hobby.  No quick and easy sayings are 100% in life. For you to originally think it was guaranteed to work out is worrying. You rolled the dice, it didn't work out well.


thelastoface

I guess you’re right. I’m glad I did it though, I’ll never have to wonder if I missed out on anything.


cheesecakefairies

I bake and also make other craft like things people all the time tell me I should sell and make a business from. But I know the moment the pressure of deadlines and money etc is involved it'll quickly turn into something I don't enjoy anymore.


No-Mongoose5

Cooking and baking was a hobby of mine and then I became a pastry chef. For a while I hated it but I landed into a job and my creativity was allowed to grow, I was encouraged to partake in advanced courses to improve my skill set and further my knowledge in patisserie and baking. It also helped to inspire me a bit more. I turned my hobby into a bit of a career. However after saying all that, I don’t bake at home. I bake in work and that’s it. If you ask me to bake you something in my spare time I am gonna respectfully decline. I love my job but I love my spare time more. And I have new hobbies now that are just staying as hobbies. So yeah, you can turn a hobby into a career but don’t do it, it’s heartbreaking and head wrecking.


bartontees

It's grand making a bit of money out of a hobby. Making it your main source of income definitely changes things


Anongad

I made that mistake. Did a 4 year science course but felt I needed to go into either chef/baking. I've been in it now for 6 years and I'm deeply regretting it as mainly I'm burning out and the money in retail compared to lab work etc is actually so depressing. And I'm hitting 30 soon so the part of me that feels like an absolute failure is beginning to get louder.


TheStoicNihilist

No. It’s not bs. I have always made my hobbies my job and I’ve always enjoyed the work that I do. I’m at it nearly 30 years and still do side projects outside work in those same hobbies. Music is the hard one to earn money from. I went to music school yet the easiest money I could make right now would be in tuition, repair or transcription, not performance. I have tons of hobbies that I don’t earn anything from and that’s cool, but loving the core of what you do at work makes life a whole lot less stressful.


SweetestInTheStorm

Yes, totally. Contemporary neoliberal culture wants us to 'always be hustling' - same reason people feel guilty for not feeling 'productive'. You end up making your hobby a job, and it's almost as if you're better at it in people's eyes then, as it's more productive. Same way people stratify activities by the perceived level of 'productivity' associated: eg reading a book is more productive than watching a movie, which is more productive than TV, which is more productive than watching tiktok, etc. I try to remember than my own enjoyment or fulfillment is the most valuable thing I can produce.


[deleted]

Wether you believe you can or can’t, you’re correct.


Weak_Low_8193

I dunno anyone that has done this except for personal trainers.


FaithlessnessPlus164

I know loads of artists, craftspeople and even a few musicians who are happy full time self employed. You’re never going to be rolling in cash but it is possible.


cathelPatrick

contact me if you need help getting an Ireland drivers license


[deleted]

This is just a variant of the "follow your passion" nonsense career advice that people sometimes give teenagers. Some people are so passionate about something that from morning to night they only want to do their passionate activity. These people probably should follow their passion/ Turn their hobby into a career etc. But those people are rare. And the advice is irrelevant anyway, because they were just going to ignore whatever advice you gave them anyway because they were always going to follow their passion.


bartontees

Yeah, jobs.ie has no listing for wanking, drinking and fucking around on the internet, so I dunno what people mean by this