Is it possible to get paid to do nothing? It might sound like a dream, but yes, there are indeed ways to earn money with minimal or even no effort at all. In today’s economy, with rising living costs and increasing financial responsibilities, who wouldn’t want to make some extra cash while hardly lifting a finger? This guide will take you through 18 ways to make money doing nothing, offering a mix of passive income streams, simple side gigs, and minimal-effort strategies.
How to Make Money Doing Nothing
Whether you’re a student looking to pay off student loans, a full-time worker trying to save for a rainy day, or simply someone who loves the idea of generating income without putting in too much effort, there are plenty of options available. Thanks to advances in technology, the gig economy, and passive income apps, you can easily look up companies and platforms offering extra money in exchange for your free time.
Let’s take a look at some of the best ways to make money doing nothing.
1. Dividend Stocks
One of the most popular ways to make money doing nothing is by investing in dividend-paying stocks. A share of stock in a company that pays dividends offers investors a portion of the company’s profits. Depending on how much profit the company generates and the number of shares you own, you receive passive income for simply owning that stock.
Investing in dividend stocks can be a stable source of extra income, with no effort required beyond the initial purchase of the shares. This income can grow over time if you reinvest your dividends or if the company increases its payouts. M1 Finance is a great option for getting started with dividend investing as it allows for fractional shares and has no fees.
Key Tip: Dividend stocks aren’t risk-free. Be sure to diversify your investments and choose well-established companies to minimize risks.
2. Renting Out Extra Space
Do you have extra space in your home, like a spare bedroom, garage, or parking spot? Renting it out is a great way to make extra money with minimal involvement.
- Parking Spaces: In high-demand areas like city centers, people are willing to pay hundreds of dollars monthly for a parking space.
- Extra Storage Space: You can rent out storage space to those who need a place to keep their belongings. Platforms like Neighbor.com and Fat Llama can help you list and manage your extra storage space.
- Spare Rooms: Consider listing a spare room on platforms like Airbnb or Booking.com to generate consistent rental income.
With minimal upfront investment, you could turn your extra space into a passive income source.
3. Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing is another popular way to make money while doing almost nothing. By joining affiliate marketing programs and promoting products or services via an affiliate link, you can earn a commission for every purchase made through your link.
This strategy is especially effective if you have a blog, website, or social media presence. Content creators who produce helpful content can embed affiliate links to relevant products. For example, creating product review videos or writing about products on your blog can provide a consistent stream of extra income.
The key here is building content that aligns well with the products you’re promoting, resulting in authentic recommendations.
Pro Tip: Amazon’s Affiliate Program and the Amazon Influencer ProgramOne are excellent ways to get started with affiliate marketing, especially if you already have a significant following online.
4. Renting Out Your Car
If you own a car but don’t use it frequently, you could be missing out on a great way to earn extra cash. Plenty of companies offer platforms where you can rent out your car when it’s not in use, generating quick cash. Services like Turo and Getaround make it easy for car owners to list their vehicles for rent. With careful planning, you can earn hundreds of dollars per month in extra income.
5. Stock Photos
Are you into photography? Selling stock photos is one of the easiest ways to generate passive income. You can upload your photos to stock photo sites like Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, or Getty Images and earn royalties whenever your images are downloaded.
This passive income stream requires an initial investment of time to build a portfolio, but once your images are up, they can generate extra income for years.
Key Tip: Focus on popular themes like travel, lifestyle, or business, as they tend to have a higher demand on stock photo sites.
6. Credit Card Rewards and Cash Back
If you use a rewards credit card or cash back sites, you can easily make extra money on purchases you would make anyway. With the right credit card spending strategy, you can accumulate credit card rewards and convert them into gift cards or cash prizes.
Popular credit cards offer rewards for shopping at specific retailers, and cash back sites like Rakuten allow you to earn money just by making purchases through their platform.
Key Tip: Combine rewards programs for maximum earnings, such as using debit card linked apps or pairing them with passive income apps like Drop.
7. Renting Out Art as a Passive Income Source
If you’re an artist or own creative designs, you can generate extra money by renting out your art to business owners, community centers, or even individuals looking for decor. Platforms like TurningArt connect artists with clients who want to rent their artwork.
This approach provides rental income without selling your art, allowing you to retain ownership while earning passive income. Additionally, if you’re a graphic designer, selling digital products like downloadable files can bring in a consistent flow of passive income.
8. Amazon Mechanical Turk
Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) offers a way to earn extra money by completing simple tasks, such as transcribing data or categorizing information. These tasks often take only a few minutes to complete, and the earnings can add up over time.
While MTurk doesn’t offer high payouts, it is a reliable way to make some quick cash for very minimal effort.
9. Sleep Studies
Believe it or not, you can get paid to do nothing but sleep! Sleep studies aim to better understand sleep patterns and behaviors, and participants are often compensated generously. Some studies can pay over $100 a night, making this a great way to make money with almost no effort.
10. Ice and Water Vending
Investing in ice and water vending machines can be a very hands-off way to earn passive income. These machines can generate income with little maintenance, as they create their own inventory with a simple water hookup. Platforms like Everest Ice and Water offer vending machines that require very little intervention, and the upfront investment can pay off if you find a good location.
11. Create a Cute Cat Videos Community
Starting a cute cat videos account can be a fun way to make extra income. Platforms like YouTube and TikTok allow you to monetize videos through advertising income. Creating cute cat videos or pet content can attract pet owners and build an audience that’s eager for lighthearted, engaging content.
Building a community of pet lovers and uploading consistent content can generate income through ads, affiliate marketing, and brand partnerships.
12. Netflix Tagger
Netflix occasionally hires taggers to categorize content, add metadata, and assign genres to shows and movies. As a Netflix Tagger, you get paid for watching and tagging shows appropriately. The work may not be consistent, but it is an easy and fun way to make money while watching your favorite series.
13. Testing Mattresses
Testing mattresses for companies is one of the purest forms of making money with minimal effort. Simply sleep on the product and provide feedback. Companies like Casper and other mattress manufacturers may pay you up to $3,000 to evaluate their mattresses and provide your opinion.
14. Listening to Music and Reviewing It
Platforms like Slice The Pie and HitPredictor will pay you to review new music. It’s not the highest-paying gig, but if you enjoy listening to music in your downtime, it’s a way to make some extra money with no additional extra effort required.
15. Become a Virtual Assistant
Becoming a virtual assistant is another easy way to make money from the comfort of your home. Virtual assistants perform a variety of administrative tasks, such as responding to emails, managing social media accounts, and setting appointments.
There are many platforms where you can find virtual assistant gigs, and the work can often be completed during flexible hours. Plus, the demand for virtual assistants continues to grow, which means there are always opportunities available for generating extra income.
16. Amazon Influencer Program
If you have a social media following, consider joining the Amazon Influencer ProgramOne. This program allows you to create a storefront and recommend products that you like or have used. Whenever someone buys a product through your link, you get a commission.
This is an easy way to earn money without having to invest any money upfront. It’s all about leveraging your existing influence.
17. Selling Digital Products on Online Marketplaces
Creating and selling digital products like e-books, templates, or graphics on online marketplaces is a great way to generate passive income. Once your product is created, you can sell it repeatedly without additional work.
Popular platforms include Etsy, Creative Market, and even Gumroad. You can sell things like downloadable files, art models, and even a model of journals you’ve created.
18. Completing Surveys and Online Polls
Completing online surveys is a classic and straightforward way to make extra cash. Websites like Survey Junkie, Swagbucks, and MyPoints will pay you to complete surveys, watch videos, and even play games. These surveys often require just a few minutes of your time and can generate extra income throughout the month.
The earnings aren’t huge, but they do add up. It’s the perfect way to make money while lounging at home or during a commute.
Conclusion
Making money while doing nothing is not just a fantasy; it’s a reality for those who are willing to invest a little time into setting up passive income streams and taking advantage of easy, low-effort income opportunities. Whether it’s affiliate marketing, renting out extra space, or investing in dividend stocks, these options allow you to generate extra money without having to actively work for it.
From earning through gift cards, cash back, and affiliate links to rental income and online marketplaces, the possibilities are endless. The key is finding something that works for you and fits within your lifestyle—because, after all, the ultimate goal is to make money without having to do much of anything at all.
ALSO READ: 34 Legit Ways to Make Money From Home
FAQs
Yes, there are several ways to make money doing very little or even nothing at all. Passive income streams such as dividend stocks, renting out extra space, or participating in affiliate marketing can generate income with minimal effort.
Yes, affiliate marketing can be an effective source of passive income if you create valuable content that resonates with your audience an
You can make around $20-$100 a month depending on how many surveys you complete. Some survey sites may even offer opportunities for higher payouts, but generally, the earnings are more suitable for pocket money.
Options like affiliate marketing, selling stock photos, or renting out unused space often require little to no upfront investment and can generate extra income with minimal effort.
