My Hobby is Making Money (Tip #30)

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One Pair of Pants

I was answering an email the other day, and happened to think about my initial impressions of Wealthy Affiliate. It's been a few years now, so I can't remember exactly where I found it or how I decided on WA versus the other so-called 'programs' out there, but eventually signed up. At that time it was $39 per month (I think) and the price was going up.

Anyway, that's not the point of the story.

Now, many of you don't know me very well, but I'm am pretty cheap. I mean, I like to spend money on experiences - stuff like sailing, traveling - doing stuff. But when it comes to the simple amenities of life, I go bare bones, just because I don't really care that much.

I drink cheap coffee, I eat cheap food, I don't snack or order appetizers, I own one pair of pants, and I have worn the same pair of shoes for the last 3 years.

I know, I'm painting an awesome picture of myself.

The Expensive Education I Forgot

But remember, I spend money on experiences. And one of those experiences for a long time was learning to play the guitar.

I shelled out thousands of dollars for videos, guides, music lessons, equipment, and concerts over the course of a few years. Not to mention 3-4 hours PER DAY. (weekends included)

Another thing I spent tons of money on was learning Czech. I lived in the Czech Republic for 4 years, and for English speakers abroad, it's not always easy to find locals to speak broken versions of their own language to you when they speak perfectly good English. Anyway, same story as the guitar: thousand of dollars on lessons, books, etc.

Don't worry, I'll be getting to the association with WA soon.

Eventually I stopped playing guitar. And eventually I moved out of the Czech Republic. I soon forgot those skills that I had toiled away at for years, and it seemed that I had wasted money on something that was no longer important to me.

I certainly didn't want to invest any more money in "skills" or "experiences" that I would just forget some time down the road.

The One Thing That Is ALWAYS Interesting

So I thought real hard about what was important to me, and what I could learn that would not fade. What could I do that I would never lose interest in? What could I start learning now that would still interest me in 5, 10, 20 years down the road?

Money.

Money never gets old. From the time you can figure out that candy costs money until the time when you are thinking of much of it you want to leave your grand kids, money is important.

And it's not one of those things that the more you have the less you want. Generally, the more you have the more you want!

It was the perfect plan.

I could "learn" how to make money. This would be my ultimate hobby. Some people play the piano. Some write journals. Some like art, or music, politics, or whatever. There are a million hobbies.

But my new hobby was money.

I had learned several skills starting from 'zero' at that point, and I knew the routine. It takes about 6 months to get the skill set language down and any rudimentary skills learned. 6 months later, you can have a few accomplishments under your belt. Starting in year two you will likely have bigger plans but still be wary, and by year 3 you will be confident in your skills and be able to hold your own in an advanced level exchange with your peers.

That's just how things had previously gone.

The idea was that if I could invest a year, two years, even three years into learning how to make money, I could probably be pretty good at it eventually. And being good at producing income is pretty awesome I think.

Well, three years later, money is still my hobby. I'm not wealthy, not by a long shot, but I have an online business, I own a rental property, and I've invested in the stock market.

And I still enjoy making money...imagine that!


What do you think of choosing 'making money' as your hobby?

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Recent Comments

75

One pair of pants - that reminds me of the Jack Reacher character!
You certainly have discipline . . . well done, and I hope you achieve even more.

Does Jack Reacher only have one pair? I saw the movie but that's all I know of the character.

Interesting character - he travels light and buys a new set of clothes, from a second hand store, when he needs a change of clothes!

Not a bad idea!

well done!!

One pair of trousers? Now that made me laugh. Not many women would ever say that - LOL. As for the shoes I once had to wear a special pair for a year - never again!

Loved the post and it was great to learn about your experiences.

And yes it's a hobby you can continue for a life time.

Thanks for sharing.

Yeah, one pair is pretty extreme. I might upgrade this year and get a 2nd one for 'going out' :)

A full time Hobby, what a concept. I think that might just be fodder for a website or two.

Awesome! I actually think a lot of successful 'rich' people think of money as a game and not a means of living, which is why they're able to take larger risks and profit more from them.

Yes, this sounds pretty logical to me, even if I am starting from a very low base.

Thanks for the inspiring post. Great stuff!

This is exciting, and it really proves that you, my friend, are a many splendored thing.!
Talent in every direction! May I recommend gold!

I wish I had the passion you do for making money, mine has always been what I'm doing, the job, the craft, etc. I've quit jobs that paid very well, because I wasn't treated right, and in the end because I just didn't like it. I love being retired, because I can find that thing that I love. Yours is making money, mine is making things, and buying things to sell at my space in the antique mall. The more I learn, the more I like it. I'm lucky to make enough to pay my space rent some months, but I love it, good people, connections, that's more my thing.

I think I've had a problem with WA only because I want what I want, and I want it to happen now, and that's not how this stuff works, so you really have to have a passion for it, which I don't. Besides that, I don't get it half the time. I thought I would feel like you at the beginning, but you can't force it, and that's what I've been doing, I'd rather be around people, and learn new things to make, learn line dancing and ballroom dancing, and take trips around this great country, while it's still great. I have a whole list of stuff, but mainly just get out of the house and do something.

WA is one of the things I tried, and I had some great ideas, but to implement them, and learn how to do that, wasn't somethig I was enjoying, and I guess I didn't want it bad enough, so I've been on a major break. My membership runs out in Feb, I think, so that will be it for me, and onto something else. I have enjoyed talking to people here, and think it's really something that I got a website up, sort of, but we all have to seek that thing that makes us want to jump up out of bed in the morning, yours is WA, mine is finding deals and reselling stuff for a profit, taking glass classes, learning to play the piano, and whatever. I inherited a bunch of money, and had a ball spending it, and paid off my car, etc., but now that it's almost gone, I'm glad, and happier without that much, just what I need plus some. Besides, I already had two careers, and now I just want to do fun stuff, whatever that might be.

Anyway, another great post, unforturnately, I probably won't be able to read many more. Good luck, you're doing great at somethig you love, AND making money, that's what everyone is looking for. I've worked hard my whole life, at jobs that I loved, so it's kind of nice now to not HAVE to do anything, and just enjoy life. See, this is a problem too, I want to say what I want to say, and can't do it in one or two lines. Oh well, you should get a break from all that soon enough. Good luck to you. Keep loving what you're doing and you'll go far.

I'm sorry to hear that you are going to let your WA subscription run out, but it seems like maybe the right choice for you. I don't know if you'll miss too many blogs though - I'll probably slow down on writing them after the new year. My original goal was to do one post every week, which I have (almost) done, and now I'm starting to run out of material! LOL

I don't know how you can think up all that you do, and have them all be so relavant, so you deserve a break. I have to say, I'll miss your blogs and talking to you the most, since I so get what you say, but I don't think writing is my thing anyway, I always go overboard, and write like I talk, too much. I'm going to be so busy through the end of the year with other things, but will still have January, so I'll plan on one last try then, and see if I want to keep it up or not, even if it's something I just do in my spare time, I keep going back and forth on this. I don't hate it, I just wish I got it more than I do, and it was easier finding answers when I run into problems. I wish WA had a mentor progrm, or coaching, or something for stuff like that, it would be worth paying extra for that. If they did, I'd want you to be my mentor. Unfortunately, they don't. I'm considering getting an Etsy site someday, maybe, once I get a good inventory of stuff to sell. Anyway, for now I'm letting it all go, and if I end up not coming back, just want to say, it's been great "talking" to you. You have your perspectives in order, travel, see the world, have fun, and someday the money will be there too. There's a book about that, "love what you do, and the money will follow", something like that. Anyway, you're on the right path. I hope to talk to you again before it's over for me, and again, good luck with all you do.

I agree with you about a 'mentoring program' Cindi, that would be the icing on the cake.
All the best in your new exciting ventures.

Sounds like a pretty awesome hobby to me. One thing's for certain--it will never get stale!

Exactly. Who doesn't like money?

I love this.

thanks!

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