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Part of the core gameplay of The Sims 4 is developing relevant skills for Sims, which might be there for their hobbies or just for career purposes. With a ton of skills to choose from, there's a lot of creative freedom when it comes to creating the kind of narrative the player wants. That being said, some skills are more of a general necessity, or just generally very beneficial.

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Players who are looking to make some serious money or improve the life of their household in general should look to these few skills that any Sim of any background will universally benefit from. Whether it's to avoid burning the house down when making grilled cheese or just to get rich fast, they're all highly convenient and just a bit above any of the other skills.

10 Programming

The computer is an item that's usually pretty accessible to most households. Either it's easy to afford or Sims can simply walk into any library in the world and use one for free. That's why any of the computer skills should never be neglected when wanting to make money.

Programming is one of the great options computers offer. Not only can Sims create their own applications and games in order to profit off of them, they can also use the computer to hack into a bunch of servers and make some money the illegal way.

9 Baking

Included in the Get To Work expansion, Sims can turn their kitchen into an amateur bakery by creating a whole variety of cool recipes. Even better, if they have enough money to invest in a cupcake factory, they can create an even wider variety of goodies.

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Baking is fun just for all the goodies it provides (and the families it feeds), but most of all, the baked goods from the cupcake factory can be sold for a bit of money to a local bakery. Rich Sims can even invest in a retail store and sell their baked goods there.

8 Guitar

Sims 4: Female sim inspired while playing guitar

Any musical instrument is a wonderful option to learn for a Sim, but the guitar is a classic and probably the cheapest one to get out of all the options. Having at least one instrument mastered allows the player to write songs and earn royalties for them regularly.

Moreover, a Sim can also start a session for some cash outside just about anywhere in the world and earn a few tips. It's the best way to survive for a struggling musician, and also a great way to get some fame for those who have Get Famous as well and want to be on the road for success.

7 Video Gaming

Sims 4 Playing Game

Video games might seem like the past time of nerds, but in the world of Sims it can make for some great opportunities. It's an easy skill to gain from playing on any computers, which are accessible for free at any of the libraries found in the world.

A high gaming skill allows Sims to participate in tournaments and earn some serious cash, as well as livestream their gaming experience which in the long run can get pretty profitable. Finally, Sims can become esports stars as well!

6 Fishing

Fishing might sound like a boring skill, but collecting all the possible fish at least once and then selling them for good money is surprisingly rewarding. Plus, it's nice to be able to fish successfully at those spots that are too difficult early on in the game.

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Fishing is also great for Sims who enjoy cooking, as adding in fresh ingredients will make the cooked food even greater quality. Above all, however, it's a solid way to make money without having to sit at an office.

5 Writing

Writing is perhaps the best skill to have for Sims who desperately want to be able to work from home. All that's needed is a computer, and that's it, Sims can start writing their brand new novel or jokes or whatever it is that's their new life calling.

As time goes on, Sims can write more difficult novels and make a ton of money by selling the books to publishers. Then, they'll earn royalties as days go by, and this rack up to hundreds upon hundreds of simoleons per day if a Sim is particularly prolific.

4 Handiness

Handiness is often overlooked, and for no good reason. Any household will greatly benefit from one Sim who knows their way around machines and other appliances. When things break it makes a huge difference to have someone talented with a wrench or a screwdriver to fix things up.

Moreover, Handiness is applied in a ton of careers, and is also the requirement for entering one of the secret locations found in the game, in Oasis Springs. So, always make sure at least one person in the house is a skilled handyman.

3 Gardening

Sims who are passionate about the outside, cooking and having a nice garden, will benefit greatly from the Gardening skill. It's the ideal way to make a house look gorgeous from the outside while also making some cash on the side without having to work a regular career.

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Great gardeners will be able to produce higher quality plants, which can sell for a ton of money. Moreover, they can be used to cook food, which will increase the quality of the food. Any big household will benefit from a gardener Sim.

2 Painting

A sim painting in a small home studio

Painting is one of those skills that's also pretty easy to access and requires no extra purchases from the player. The museums located around the worlds will actually feature an easel that can be interacted with, allowing the player to paint as long as they buy their own canvas.

Painting is probably the best way to also get a ton of money in the game, which is what makes it great and so versatile. Masterpieces can go for several thousands of simoleons per each. Moreover, paintings with a certain mood can provide buffs to Sims who are in their vicinity.

1 Cooking

Finally, the skill that every single Sim needs to have regardless of their background and career is cooking. It's pretty much a necessity, unless they plan on living the rest of their lives with just microwave food and snacks, which isn't recommended.

A high level in this skill also ensures the Sim doesn't set the house on fire every single time they decide they want a grilled cheese. Moreover, riskier recipes like pufferfish won't actually come out deadly with a Poor quality rating, and accidentally kill the Sim in question.

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