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31 EASY Ways to Make Money Doing Nothing (2024 Guide)

Don't Work Another Day is reader-supported. We may receive compensation from the products and services mentioned in this story, but the opinions are the author's own.
  By Forrest McCall | Last Updated:  January 2, 2023

If you’re looking to make money doing nothing, passive income is the name of the game. 

By starting and growing passive income streams, you can start making money doing nothing to reach your financial goals. And it’s easier than you might think!

By following some of the examples below, you can start making money and growing your income in no time. 

In this post, I’ll explore what it means to make money doing nothing, the best ways to get paid doing nothing, and much more. Let’s get started!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:
  • Some of the best ways to get paid to do nothing include referring friends to apps like Swagbucks and InboxDollars, signing up for welcome bonuses with Acorns, and using passive income apps.
  • Don't expect to make a fortune doing nothing, unless you have a ton of cash or time to invest.
  • Passive side hustles can be easy ways to earn money on the side.

What Does it Mean to Make Money Doing Nothing?

So, what does making money doing nothing really mean? 

The answer is somewhat up to your way of thought. For some people, this might mean making money while you sleep while for others it might mean making money without having to work a full-time job.

To make money doing nothing, you’re going to have to grow passive income streams.

A passive income stream can be thought of as a way to make money without trading your time for cash. 

For example, the proceeds you would gain from selling a book could be considered passive income. Because the book has been written, it does not take any work to keep making money. 

The truth is, you’re going to have to do some work to make money doing nothing – but our goal is to limit it as much as possible. 

Tips to Get Paid to Do Nothing

How to Make Money Doing Nothing At All

Refer Friends to Apps

One of my favorite ways to make money doing nothing is by using referral and refer-a-friend offers.

Many companies and apps will offer a bonus for referring new users to their service.

For example, many credit cards will offer a $100 bonus for each friend that is approved for a new credit card by using your link. That’s an easy way to make $100!

Some of the best referral offers include:

With InboxDollars you can make money in your free time taking surveys, watching videos, and more. Plus, when you register with the link below – you'll get a free $5! So why not give it a try??
Register Now!
Disclosure: This link is an affiliate link, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Register for Websites with Signup Bonuses

There’s nothing better than free money and there are plenty of websites that offer a cash reward just for registering. By using passive income apps, you can make money on autopilot so you don't have to work for it!

Websites like Swagbucks, InboxDollars, and the MyPoints all offer a signup bonus so you can make money fast doing nothing at all.

It’s best to register for multiple websites to maximize your earnings.

Here are some of the top sites I recommend:

Looking to make some extra cash in your free time? Sign up with Swagbucks to get $5 instantly and make money playing games, taking surveys, and more!
Sign Up Now!
Disclosure: This link is an affiliate link, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Service Arbitrage

If you're looking for some extra income without having to spend the time working, let me introduce you to service arbitrage.

It's pretty simple to understand an you can make thousands each month if you know how to do it.

So what is service arbitrage?

In simplest terms, you'll contract out work that you're supposed to do for a lower cost and profit the difference.

For example, let's take freelance writing. Say you have a contract in place where you are paid $.15 per word. What if you could find a writer who only charges $.05 per word? That means there's a $.10 profit for you without having to do any work!

Service Arbitrage

While service arbitrage requires you to land work and you'll need to find a reliable freelancer to do the work, it can be an awesome way to make extra cash doing nothing. 

Open a New Bank Account

If you're searching for free cash, opening a new bank account through Axos Bank can be an excellent choice.

You can score $100 or more of free cash when opening a new account. They offer a variety of benefits, like a free debit card with cash back rewards, fee-free checking and savings accounts, and more.

With Axos Bank you can earn $150 completely free when you create a new account and add a qualifying direct deposit. Sign up below to get started!
Register Now!
Disclosure: This link is an affiliate link, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Invest in Real Estate to Make Money Doing Nothing

If you want to earn passive income and make money doing nothing, investing in real estate is a great option.

And while you might think you need a massive amount of money to get started, that couldn't be further from the truth.

By using a platform like LEX Markets, you can get up to $500 to invest in real estate completely free when you make your first deposit.

LEX Markets Offerings

So, how much can you make?

On top of your free welcome bonus, it's possible to earn anywhere from 10% to over 15% annually on your money. While this might not sound like a lot, it will compound over time and can provide you with a large sum of money if you're patient.

Arrived Homes 5 · Real Estate · $100 Min.
Invest in individual rental properties with just $100 with Arrived. With $83 million of real estate owned, Arrived is one of the best real estate platforms you can use to build wealth.
Risk Level
Low
Avg. Return
9%
 
Start Investing Now!
 

Invest in Small Businesses

Mainvest Grid View

Another way to invest money to make passive income is through small businesses.

While traditionally you would be required to start a business if you wanted the benefits of becoming an entrepreneur, thanks to platforms like Mainvest you can easily invest in small businesses across the country with as little as $100.

This means you don't have to invest a ton of money and spend long nights building a business, but you can still see some of the upside. 

And because small businesses tend to have higher growth rates than larger more established businesses, you could see some serious returns on your investment. Mainvest has target returns between 10% and 25% annually, which is much stronger than many other investments like the stock market or real estate.

But you'll also want to consider the risk of these investments. Small businesses can go out of business if they don't operate efficiently and make the right decisions, so be careful and make sure you do your due diligence when investing. 

Create your free account below to get started!

Rent Out Your Extra Space

Neighbor App

If you want to earn passive income, renting out your storage space with a platform like Neighbor.com is a great option.

With this platform, you cane easily rent out garage space, closet space, or even a parking space for cash.

So, how much can you make? 

It will depend on the type of space you have and your area, but it's possible to earn a couple hundred dollars each month in extra money!

Use the link below to rent your space and start earning passive income!

Rent My Space!

Pet Sit to Make Passive Income

Pet sitting is an excellent way to earn passive income, especially if you love animals.

If you're a pet owner, you know how expensive it can be to keep your furry friends fed and healthy.

But what if I told you that you could actually make money by pet sitting?

That's right, through companies like Rover you can sign up to be a pet sitter and earn money in your spare time.

And the best part is that you can actually make quite a bit of money doing this.

Rover Weekly Income

According to ZipRecruiter, the average dog sitter on their platform earns $474 per week.

And while that might not sound like a lot, it's actually a pretty decent return on investment considering you're only spending a few hours a week taking care of someone else's pet.

Start Pet Sitting!

Make Money with an Interest Checking Account

Did you know that you can make money doing nothing just by signing up for a free checking account? Yep, you heard right! By opening a SoFi checking account, you can make money from the interest it pays on your balance. And no, I didn’t mistype “checking account” instead of savings account.

While the interest you earn might seem minimal, it will compound over time and grow into a much larger amount.

Start earning interest on your checking account with SoFi Money. With no fees and access to thousands of ATMs, SoFi Money is my favorite checking account. Register below to get started!
Register Now!
Disclosure: This link is an affiliate link, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Open a High Yield Savings Account

One of the easiest ways to earn money doing nothing is by letting it grow in a high yield savings account. While this isn't the most lucrative way to make passive income, it is one of the safest options.

By opening a high yield savings account you can earn as much as 5 times the national average as a traditional savings account. 

I highly recommend using Tellus. You'll earn interest that's paid daily so you can watch your money grow. You can check out my Tellus review for more info!

Tellus App 5 · Savings · $125 Min.
Earn daily returns on your savings with Tellus. You can earn over 5% interest on your balance when you create a new account today! With no fees, Tellus is the perfect place to park your money.
Risk Level
Low
Avg. Return
4.85%+
 
Grow Your Money Daily!
 

Make Money House Sitting

One of my favorite ways to get paid to do nothing is house sitting. In the most basic terms, this involves staying at a home while the owners are away to keep the property safe and secure. 

Many homeowners will hire a house sitter when leaving on vacation or a long time away. 

The best part about it is that you’ll only have one job, occupy the home.

Sometimes homeowners may ask you to care for animals but this isn't always the case and you can expect a pay increase if they do. 

Here are a few tips to help you find house sitting work:

  • Register on multiple house sitting websites
  • Create a website for your services 
  • Create and interact on social media channels like Facebook and the NextDoor app
  • Ask previous customers for reviews of your services

Make Money Using Cashback Apps

By using cashback apps when shopping, you can make money doing nothing out of the ordinary. 

Every time you shop, using these apps will add cashback to your wallet. For example, with Ibotta, you can earn free money when shopping in-store or online through hundreds of retailers like Walmart, Lowes, Target, and more. 

While your earnings may not seem like a significant amount at first glance, they can add up over time. And it’s completely free money for doing nothing!

Use Credit Card Rewards

Similar to cashback apps, using credit cards that offer rewards is an easy way to make money doing nothing. Just swipe your card and start earning.

Many cards will offer 1% or 2% on every dollar your spend using the card. Some cards will offer even more on select categories. For example, my Capital One Savor card offers 4% cashback on purchases from restaurants. That's free money just for making purchases you normally would.  

Invest in Stocks to Make Money Doing Nothing

Investing is a perfect way to make money doing nothing while simultaneously building wealth. While you might need see actual money that's sent to you like you would with a job or side hustle, your investment accounts will rise over time as they grow.

My favorite way to invest in stocks is by using an app like Acorns. You can easily round up your spare change so you can invest automatically without having to do any work. 

As a bonus, you'll get $10 completely free to invest, so why not give it a shot?

You’ll need to give your stocks time to grow if you want to make money, it won’t happen overnight (although it is possible!). After your investments increase in value, you can sell them for a profit or keep them so they grow even more. 

Acorns 5 · Stock Market · $10 Min.
Get $20 in free stocks when you open a new Acorns account. Join millions of happy customers building wealth today and get $20 completely free to invest!
Risk Level
Low
Avg. Return
7% - 15%
 
Claim $20 in Free Stocks!
 

Video Game Streaming

Do you love to play video games? Why not get paid for it!?

I consider this a great way to make money doing nothing because it's something you'd be doing anyways.

Some video game streamers make millions from their channels so this is definitely worth considering if you have a passion for video games.

Check out the video below for more info!

Participate in Clinical Studies

Before a new drug goes to the market, it must be tested to ensure it is safe for the population. 

Drug companies will pay participants to consume medication that are in the trial phase. This does come with some risk, however. But for many medications, the side effects will be detailed before the study begins. 

Pay for these trials ranges depending on the risk, type of study, and the duration of the trial but it is possible to earn a few hundred dollars per month. 

Create My Account!

Promote Affiliate Links

By utilizing affiliate marketing you can make money online without much work required. You’ll need to have an audience to promote your links to get started, but once your audience is in place, you can earn an unlimited income. 

So how do you get started with affiliate marketing?

First, you'll need to obtain or grow an audience of some sort. This could be social media followers, website visitors, or even an email list. Once you have an established audience, you'll need to join affiliate networks like Impact and apply to specific programs.

You'll want to find programs that match your audience. For example, if you've built an audience around camping or hiking, finding affiliate partners like Patagonia or other outdoor stores makes sense. 

Once you've been accepted into an affiliate program, you can start promoting your links through your channels. Be sure to check the rules and terms of the program so you don't violate their terms and get kicked out. 

One of the most common affiliate programs is Amazon Associates. This program allows you to promote products sold on Amazon to earn a small commission from your efforts. 

Rent Out a Room in Your Home

Renting a portion of your home can be a simple way to earn money doing nothing at all. If you have some spare space, list in on short-term rental sites like Airbnb to make money without doing any work. 

Depending on the region and size of your space, you could easily turn your spare room into a few hundred dollars each month. 

Rent a Parking Space

If you live in a heavily populated region, there’s likely a massive demand for parking space. If you’re lucky enough to have secured a spot, consider renting it out to make money doing nothing. 

Depending on where your spot is located, it’s possible to make a few hundred dollars each month without lifting a finger. 

You can use a platform like Neighbor.com to get started. 

Sell Gift Cards for Cash

Do you have gift cards sitting in your wallet without a purchase in site to use them on? Contemplate selling your used (and unused) gift cards for cash to make money fast. 

Websites like CardCash.com will pay you cash for your gift cards making it a simple way to make money doing nothing. 

With InboxDollars you can make money in your free time taking surveys, watching videos, and more. Plus, when you register with the link below – you'll get a free $5! So why not give it a try??
Register Now!
Disclosure: This link is an affiliate link, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Use Rocket Money to Cut Bills Instantly 

While this isn’t necessarily a way to make money doing nothing, it is a way to save money instantly. 

Rocket Money analyzes your bills and finds bills your might be overpaying on. It will then negotiate the bill for you, decreasing the amount you owe each month. 

Truebill (Now RocketMoney) helps you take back control of your finances and start budgeting with ease. Register below to get started!
Register Now!
Disclosure: This link is an affiliate link, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Sell Online Courses

Online courses are extremely profitable and a great way to make money online for many creators.

While I wouldn't call this the easiest side hustle, it can be one of the most profitable.

You'll need to first spend time deciding what type of course you want to create. This could be anything from cooking, to investing, or even teaching others how to create websites.

Next, you'll need to create your course. There are several online platforms that make it simple, but my favorite is Teachable. 

Finally, you'll need to launch your course and promote it to others. 

The most difficult part is finding people to sell to. If you already have an audience, this is an easy option to promote your course to. Otherwise you'll need to create an audience or use paid advertising to generate sales. 

Check out the video below for a few tips when selling courses online!

Try Peer-to-Peer Lending

Have you heard of peer to peer lending?

It's exactly as it sounds – lending money to peers in exchange for interest payments. 

The amount you can earn will depend on the creditworthiness of the borrower, but it's possible to earn over 5% in many cases. Just be sure to keep risk in mind when deciding the lend money out. The last thing you want to happen is you lose all your money. 

Check out these peer to peer lending companies to get started. 

Sell Internet Access to Make Money Doing Nothing 

This is a unique way to make money doing nothing, assuming you have an internet connection. Offer access to your internet to neighbors or others for a small fee. Even if it's just $20 per month, this can help to cut your internet bill and increase your income. 

Get Paid to Walk

Did you know it’s possible to get paid to walk? With Sweatcoin, you can earn rewards for each step you take. 

While this isn’t a way to get rich from nothing, it can earn a few dollars each day. 

Make Money Watching TV

People spend enormous amounts of time watching television – so why not get paid to do it? 

The Neilson company will compensate you for watching television providing that you allow them to track your habits. This data is used to measure television ratings which are then used to analyze advertising rates. 

Another option is to watch movie trailers and other videos on websites like InboxDollars to make money. 

With InboxDollars you can make money in your free time taking surveys, watching videos, and more. Plus, when you register with the link below – you'll get a free $5! So why not give it a try??
Register Now!
Disclosure: This link is an affiliate link, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Sell Printables

Printables can be an easy way to make residual income. By spending some time creating a unique and compelling printable, you can sell it online forever offering you the ability to make a significant income.

Selling printables can be super easy. Start with an idea or topic. Then create the printable. If you do not have experience with this, consider hiring a freelancer to complete it for you. Once your printable has been made, you can sell on on Etsy or other online e-commerce sites. If you have your own website, you can also sell it directly to visitors to make money doing nothing. 

Make Money Selling Stock Photos

If you have a passion for photography, selling stock photos can be an excellent choice to make money doing nothing. 

You’ll need to invest in a quality camera and some photo editing software, but once you have these items, you can begin taking photos and selling them passively. 

Spend a few days taking photos and editing them before placing them on popular websites like ShutterStock. Depending on the number of photos and their quality, it's possible to make thousands of dollars each month selling stock photos.

Sell School Notes Online

If you’re currently attending school or you have just graduated, there’s likely a market for the notes you’ve taken throughout your time in class. 

Selling your school notes is a great way to get rid of something you no longer need and make some money at the same time. 

Setup a Vending Machine to Make Money Doing Nothing

Vending machines can be one of the best passive side hustles you can start as long as you have a little money to get started.

While you'll need to check the stock of your machines and make sure you have inventory of your products, that's about it. And there is plenty of software that can help you automate these processes to make your job even easier. 

The amount of money you can make with a vending machine business varies but it’s possible to earn around $150 to $200 per month with one machine. 

Sign Up for a New Credit Card

Many credit card issuers pay sign-up bonuses to new customers, allowing you to make money doing nothing. All you'll need to do is complete an application and meet the requirements and you can land a couple of hundred dollars for free.

For example, if you sign up for the Capital One Savor One card you can get $200 free!

Final Thoughts on How to Make Money Without Doing Anything

Making money doing nothing will require you to think strategically about methods to earn money without much work.

By using several of the methods listed, you can start earning money doing nothing and make strides towards your financial goals.

Between selling printables and registering for sites that offer free money, there’s sure to be an option for anyone.

Ready to get paid online? Check out these resources:

Forrest is a personal finance, entrepreneurship, and investing expert dedicated to helping others obtain life long wealth. He has a Bachelor's degree in business and has been featured in many popular publications including Forbes, Business Insider, Bankrate, CNET Money, and many others. To learn more about Forrest, visit the About Us Page for more info.
Download My FREE Income Ideas Cheat Sheet!
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