So many people want to live their lives without the pressure and confinement of a 9-to-5 job.
Freedom, flexibility, and location independence are just some of the reasons people seek alternative income sources.
I quit my 9-5 desk job in 2019 and have been working and travelling the world while working remotely, and I couldn’t be happier today!
Figuring out how to make money without working a traditional job can be tricky, though. However, by using your skills, knowledge, and creativity, you can create additional income streams that will help you live your life the way you want.
In this article, I’ll explore some ways you can earn money on your terms, free of a 9-to-5.
How to Make Money Without Doing Anything
Here is a quick list of ways to earn without doing much:
- High-Yield Savings: Transfer your money into a high-yield savings account.
- Dividend Stocks: Invest in dividend-paying stocks to earn a portion of the company’s profits.
- Rent Out Property: If you own property, consider renting it out on platforms like Airbnb.
- Peer-to-Peer Lending: Use online platforms like goPeer to earn interest by lending to others.
- Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs): Invest in REITs to make money from real estate without owning properties.
- Affiliate Marketing: Use your social media to promote other companies’ products for a commission.
- Car Rental: Rent your car when not in use through platforms like Turo.
- Stock Photos: If you’re into photography, license your photos on stock photo websites for royalties.
- Mutual Funds or ETFs: Invest your money into these funds for potentially steady returns.
- Intellectual Property: Earn royalties from your patented work or other forms of IP like music or acting.
Top 21 Ways to Make Money Without a Job
If you’re wondering how to make money without working a 9-5 job, look no further! I’ll go more in-depth here on some of the items listed above, and add some new ones as well:
1. Rent Out Your Car
- Monthly Income: $250-$1,000
Renting out your car for money is one of the best ways to make money without a 9-to-5. With resources like Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace, you can start earning cash with your old vehicle within minutes if you’re willing to make deliveries.
If you trust others with your vehicle, you can check out sites like Turo to manage the rental process and get paid while others borrow your car. If you’re not sure where to start or how much to charge, think about how much you would want per day and what kind of car may be most in demand in your area.
2. Sell Your Clothes
- Monthly Income: $50-$250
There are many ways that you can sell your old clothes and make money. If you want to make some quick cash by getting rid of your clothing, consider one of these four options:
- Poshmark – Poshmark has millions of shoppers searching for and buying new or gently worn brand-name clothing, shoes, and accessories. Simply set up an account for free and start selling. You can even find discounted items from retail partners.
- eBay – eBay is a great place to sell your clothing if you’re looking to make a little extra cash fast. Simply create a seller’s account and list the items you want to sell, including condition, price, location, shipping type, etc.
- ThredUp – ThredUp is another online resale store where you can post those old jeans and shirts in exchange for money back on your purchase and discounts when shopping with them again. Signing up is easy as well as they have no membership fees – you simply fill out their form and start selling.
3. Become a Freelance Writer
- Monthly Income: $1,000-$5,000
Being a freelance writer can be an excellent way to make money without a 9-to-5. With the world becoming increasingly digital, there is more demand for writers than ever before.
You can start freelancing by pitching stories to publications and sites like Vogue and Forbes, who are always looking for talented contributors. Or you can create your blog and start building up your reputation as an expert in your field.
As you build up a following, you’ll find that your opportunities will develop and grow from there.
4. Start a Blog
- Monthly Income: $100-$1,000+
A blog can be a great way to make money without needing a 9-to-5, and it doesn’t even require any previous experience. Good blogs are helpful because they’re unique; you can tell your story, share your expertise, and serve as an online resource for others who may not know where to turn.
You’ll need to put in some work upfront (writing blog posts, marketing, etc.), but if your content is consistent and valuable, you’ll find that both fans and advertisers come naturally.
Read my article on How To Make Money Blogging
5. Become a Virtual Assistant
- Monthly Income: $500-$2,500
Becoming a virtual assistant is a flexible job that doesn’t require a 9-to-5. It does, however, require some skills and a willingness to work remotely.
Virtual assistants handle things like social media management, content creation, or administrative work from home. You can make as much as you want as this position is open to negotiation.
How to Get Started: My friend Vanessa took this 90 Day VA course and landed a job within a few months. Check it out here.
6. Invest in Real Estate
- Monthly Income: $500-$2,000
There are many different ways that you can make money from real estate. Some investors want to put sweat equity in and choose to flip properties. Others choose to build a portfolio of rental units and enjoy the earnings collected from rents each month. Alternatively, you could invest in REITs.
Regardless of which method you choose, you need to start small and take risks when looking for properties.
One of the easiest ways to get started is by purchasing a 2-4 unit building to live in while renting out the other unit(s). It’s a great way to build equity and generate passive income.
7. Pet Sit
- Monthly Income: $100-$500
If you love animals, then pet sitting may be an excellent way for you to make money without working a 9-to-5. You can find clients by posting on Craigslist or social media sites like Facebook, where others are looking for people to take care of their pets while they’re away.
You can also list your services on apps like Rover. Pet sitting can also be done during nights and weekends, so you have time to enjoy your own life outside of work too!
8. Donate Blood Plasma
- Monthly Income: $50-$500
If you have a flexible schedule and know that you’re in good health, becoming a plasma donor can be a great way to make money without much effort. The typical donation of plasma is worth up to a couple hundred each time you donate – it’s an easy process with quick results.
Many plasma donation centers will pay you for your time and can be found in most states. You just have to be at least 18 years old, pass a health screening test, and meet the weight requirements of your particular donation center.
9. Lose Weight to Earn Money
- Monthly Income: $20-$100
Yes, you read that right: there are companies out there who will reward you for dropping pounds – and it’s not some mean-spirited joke. You can earn cash while you lose weight.
Programs like HealthyWage and DietBet have fitness challenges that reward people with cash for losing weight. You can sign up from home without having to leave your comfort zone or schedule a doctor’s appointment.
10. Sign Up for Bank Bonuses
- Monthly Income: $100-$600
Many banks have special programs where they will provide a bonus for new accounts or deposits. For example, you can sign up for a new bank account and get a sign-up bonus worth a few hundred dollars.
Typically you’ll be eligible for more significant bonuses the more cash you’re able to deposit. Some banks require a minimum amount of transactions, so be sure to read the fine print.
With more people moving away from brick-and-mortar banking, look into these options to make some easy cash.
11. Rent Out an Extra Room
- Monthly Income: $250-$1000
You can make money by renting out your extra space to people who need it, like an AirBnB host. This doesn’t require any special skills or education, but it does take work (cleaning, maintenance, etc.).
You’ll save money on your housing expenses because others are paying you for a portion of your home. What you save can go towards other investments or enjoy working less.
12. Make YouTube or TikTok Videos
- Monthly Income: $50-$1,000
Everyone has that one relative or friend who is constantly creating exciting videos and posting them online. If you’re the creative type and love entertainment, then you might want to consider making some of your own!
There are many different platforms where you can create free accounts and start uploading your content. YouTube is a great place for video content, while TikTok is perfect for short clips – you can even upload them to both sites. You’ll get paid based on how many views you’re able to get.
Be sure to read this related post on how to make money on YouTube!
13. Housesit
- Monthly Income: $500-$2,000
If you’re a responsible person who can tend to a home, housesitting can be a great way to save money on your housing expenses while also making some extra income.
You can find housesitting opportunities by joining online groups or checking out service websites like HouseSitter.com.
Sometimes you’ll need to meet the homeowners in person before they hire you, so this isn’t something that’s done usually all done online – but it is another opportunity to make some money without working outside of the house!
14. Get Cash From Class-Action Suits
- Monthly Income: $5-$100
Another way to make easy money is by participating in class-action suits. Most of the products are everyday household goods that you’ve likely purchased and used before. It’s relatively straightforward – you just sign up, and the court determines if you’re eligible.
You can usually find free online searches for upcoming lawsuits by visiting ClassAction.org. The best part about these cases is it doesn’t take much time to sign up, and you could get a few dollars to a few thousand dollars depending on the suit.
15. Sell Your Unused Gift Cards
- Monthly Income: $10-$250
In many cases, you’ve probably been given a gift card as a birthday or holiday present. Studies show that nearly 80% of Americans have unused gift cards sitting around – worth more than $100 billion in total value! You can sell your old or unwanted store credit for cash or buy discounted cards to use yourself.
Sites like Raise let you buy and sell unused gift cards at a lower price because they know people will eventually forget about them and not use them.
16. Sell Your Art on Etsy
- Monthly Income: $50-$500
If you have any artistic abilities, Etsy is one of the best places to make money without the pressure of a 9-to-5. With over 30 million visitors every month and an ever-growing number of artists and artisans, Etsy is quickly becoming one of the most popular online destinations for handmade goods in the world.
17. Become an Online Tutor
- Monthly Income: $250-$2,000
These days, so many classes are being taught online that tutors who can teach one-on-one in person or online are almost always needed.
Whether you’re qualified to teach English or calculus, find your niche and start offering your services through Craigslist, Facebook groups, Tutor.com, etc. You can make as much money as you want, whenever you wish to tutor.
18. Buy & Sell Domain Names
- Monthly Income: $500-$1,000
Domain flipping is one of the best ways that people are making money online today. Learn more about domain names and the strategies others use when purchasing and selling them.
You can buy low search volume domains with high CPC (cost per click) and sell them higher. Also, you can find expired domains with good backlink profiles and flip them.
19. Sell Your Pictures Online
- Monthly Income: $10-$100
Sites like Shutterstock and Adobe Stock let you upload your pictures and other digital designs to sell as stock images. If you have a good eye for unique photos, starting an account on one of these sites could be a great way to make some extra cash from the comfort of your own home.
20. Create an Online Course
- Monthly Income: $250-$2,500
Do you have a particular talent or skill that you think others would benefit from learning? Then you can monetize it by creating an online course.
Udemy is one of the most popular sites where you can share your knowledge with others. You set the price and the length of time that each course should be available. If you think there’s a high demand for what you’re teaching, this could be one of the best options to make money without working full-time.
Getting started is easy. Just upload your course and get paid for each person that enrolls.
21. Start a Podcast
- Monthly Income: $250-$5,000
Podcasting can be a great way to earn extra money each month and build an audience. If you like the idea of teaching but don’t necessarily want to be in front of a camera, consider starting a podcast.
It takes some work to get started, but once you have the right tools and audience, you could end up making quite a bit of money on iTunes, Spotify, and Google Play.
How to Make Money Without Working FAQ
Here are the most frequently asked questions I receive about how to make money everyday without a job.
What Are the Best Ways to Make Money Without a Car?
If you don’t have access to a car, you’ll want to make sure you select something from the list above that doesn’t require you to leave your home. Consider freelancing, watching someone else’s pet, or becoming a virtual assistant.
How Can You Make $100 Without a Job?
There are many ways listed within this article that make $100 or more without a traditional 9-to-5 job requirement. The real question is, which one will you choose?
Is It Possible to Live Without Working?
Yes, if you’ve built up a sizable amount of monthly income, say from real estate, investments, or other passive forms of income, you don’t have to work another day unless you choose to.
Making Money on Your Terms Is Possible
If you’re looking for a way to make money without working, plenty of options are available. I’ve discussed a variety of passive income-generating jobs in this article, including real estate and jobs that don’t require your physical presence, like building an online course.
Consider the various ways you can earn $100 or more per month and choose which one sounds like it would work best for your situation – you might soon find yourself living off of what you love doing!
If you’re looking for fun ways to earn some extra cash, be sure to check out this article on hobbies that make money!
