Man holding up American money
Chantel Brink
Chantel Brink
March 20, 2024 ·  5 min read

30 Ways People Make ‘Easy Money’ By Doing Almost Nothing

In the digital age, the allure of making easy money with minimal effort is ever-present. Whether it’s through leveraging technology or tapping into unconventional methods, people are constantly seeking avenues for passive income. From the comfort of your own home to ventures requiring little upkeep, here are 30 strategies that allow individuals to earn ‘easy money’ with relatively little exertion.

30 Ways People Make ‘Easy Money’ By Doing Almost Nothing:

Money flying out of laptop while woman using it at table in office
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These strategies illustrate the diverse opportunities available for individuals to earn passive income with minimal effort, allowing them to capitalize on their resources and interests while enjoying financial stability.

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Investing in Dividend Stocks

woman investment consultant analyzing company annual financial report balance sheet statement working with documents graphs. Stock market, office, tax, education concept. Hands with charts papers
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By purchasing dividend-paying stocks, investors can earn regular income without active involvement in the company’s operations.

Renting Out Property

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Owning real estate and renting it out can provide a steady stream of passive income, especially with the help of property management services.

Peer-to-Peer Lending

Lending Club logo and building - San Francisco, CA, USA - January 23, 2018
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Platforms like Prosper or Lending Club enable individuals to lend money to others in exchange for interest payments, requiring minimal effort to manage.

High-Yield Savings Accounts

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Parking funds in high-yield savings accounts or money market funds can generate passive income through interest accrual.

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Cashback Rewards

Cashback and Rewards - loyalty program and retail customer money refund service concept. Tablet PC lying on a wooden table with cashback discount card and rewarding marketing points on the screen

Utilizing cashback credit cards or apps allows consumers to earn money on purchases they would make anyway, requiring little extra effort.

Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate Marketing Advertising Commercial Concept

Promoting products or services through affiliate links on blogs or social media can generate passive income through commissions on sales.

Creating Online Courses

Young student watching lesson online and studying from home. Young woman taking notes while looking at computer screen following professor doing math on video call. Girl studying from home on pc.
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Developing and selling online courses on platforms like Udemy or Teachable allows individuals to earn passive income from course sales.

Print on Demand

Heat Transfer T Shirt Printing. Tshirt Merchandise
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Designing and selling custom merchandise through print-on-demand services like Printful or Redbubble can yield passive income from ongoing sales.

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YouTube Monetization

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Monetizing YouTube channels through ads, sponsorships, and affiliate marketing can generate passive income from video views and engagement.

Selling Stock Photos

Print, Photography, Art mock up, styled stock Photography
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Photographers can earn passive income by selling their work on stock photography websites like Shutterstock or Adobe Stock.

Automated Dropshipping

Smiling young woman taking note of orders from customers. Dropshipping business owner working in her office.
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Setting up an online store with dropshipping allows entrepreneurs to sell products without handling inventory, earning a profit margin on each sale.

Creating and Selling Ebooks

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Writing and self-publishing ebooks on platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing can yield passive income through ongoing sales.

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License Your Music

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Musicians can earn royalties by licensing their music for use in films, commercials, or other media, providing a source of passive income.

Peer-to-Peer Car Sharing

Car Sharing
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Renting out vehicles through platforms like Turo or Getaround enables car owners to earn passive income when their cars are not in use.

Investing in Index Funds

Stock market graphs monitoring
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Investing in low-cost index funds allows individuals to earn passive income through dividends and capital appreciation with minimal effort.

Creating a Mobile App

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Developing and monetizing a mobile app can generate passive income through app sales, subscriptions, or in-app purchases.

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Real Estate Crowdfunding

man using laptop to start invest in real estate crowdfunding platform
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Investing in real estate through crowdfunding platforms like Fundrise or RealtyMogul enables individuals to earn passive income from property investments.

Selling Digital Products

Online shopping / ecommerce and delivery service concept : Paper cartons with a shopping cart or trolley logo on a laptop keyboard, depicts customers order things from retailer sites via the internet.
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Selling digital products like templates, fonts, or presets on marketplaces such as Etsy or Creative Market can provide a source of passive income.

Royalties from Intellectual Property

Trademark license
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Authors, inventors, and creators can earn royalties from licensing their intellectual property, such as books, patents, or designs.

Creating a Membership Site

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Building a membership site with exclusive content or resources allows creators to earn passive income through recurring subscription fees.

Renting Out Storage Space

Modern empty dark storehouse with light at the end
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Renting out extra storage space in your home or garage through platforms like Neighbor or SpareFoot can generate passive income.

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Monetizing a Blog

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Monetizing a blog through advertising, sponsored content, and affiliate marketing allows bloggers to earn passive income from website traffic.

Creating a Niche Website

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Building a niche website with valuable content and monetizing it through affiliate marketing or advertising can generate passive income.

Investing in REITs

Smiling lawyer, realtor or financial advisor handshaking young couple thanking for advice, insurance broker or bank worker and millennial customers shake hands making deal, investment or taking loan
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Investing in Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) provides exposure to real estate assets and generates passive income through dividends.

Creating a Podcast

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Monetizing a podcast through sponsorships, advertising, and listener support allows creators to earn passive income from podcast episodes.

Renting Out Equipment

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Renting out equipment or tools that are not in constant use can provide a source of passive income for owners.

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Investing in Bonds

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Investing in bonds allows individuals to earn passive income through interest payments, providing a steady stream of income.

Creating and Licensing Software

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Developing and licensing software products or apps can yield passive income through ongoing sales or licensing fees.

Selling Digital Artwork

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Selling digital artwork or designs on platforms like Etsy or Society6 allows artists to earn passive income from digital downloads or print sales.

Creating a YouTube Channel

MANCHESTER - FEB 13: YouTube GB website home page on Feb 13, 2014 in Manchester, UK. YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees and owned by Google since late 2006.
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Building a YouTube channel around a specific niche and monetizing it through ads, sponsorships, and merchandise sales can generate passive income from video content.

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Sources

  1. “25 passive income ideas to help you make money in 2024” Bank Rate. James Royal, Ph.D. January 4, 2024.
  2. “30 Ways People Make Money By Doing Practically Nothing” Shareably. Maxim Sorokopud. May 13, 2019.