22 Ways to Make Money Without a Job in 2024
This article will show you 22 ways to make money without a job. While having a career is important, sometimes you need a way to find an alternative source of income.
If you're in education, working on your personal growth, or trying to get some other project off the ground, freeing up your time and schedule can make a huge difference.
If you need to learn how to make money without working, keep on reading so you can get some inspiration.
Do you want to start trading Forex? Open an account on eToro!
Review Apps and Websites For Cash
If you use a web browser or apps a lot, you can get paid for it. Yes, that's right. Companies like UserTesting pay people to test and research new programs or services from the comfort of their homes.
It's really as simple as signing up and connecting with companies who need users to try out their new products and provide feedback. Of course, qualifying for each test depends on the demographics the companies are looking for.
The money you earn for each test depends on the type of test and how long it takes. Expect to make something between $3 to $60 for each job. Payment averages out at about $10 for a 20-minute video.
Places like UserTesting pay through PayPal about seven days after the video is completed.
Copy Trading
copy trading
Copy trading is a way to invest in the financial or currency markets without having the required knowledge or expertise. It works because you can copy the trades of other investors who have a track record of success.
Copy trading is definitely one of the best ways to make money without a job. It doesn't take long, and you can automate the process with some trading apps.
The hardest thing about copy trading is finding the right trader to copy. There are often thousands to choose from, and finding the right trader is not just about their results. You also need a trader who invests in stocks or commodities that will work for your bankroll.
eToro is the best place for copy trading in the USA. According to numerous reviews from Traders Union, RoboForex is the best option for non-US users.
How much money you can make from copy trading depends on your initial investment. But you can expect to earn about 5% to 20% return on your starting capital each year.
Freelance Writing
You might think that if you want to be paid to write, you'll need a lot of experience and even an English degree. But that couldn't be further from the truth. There are hundreds of thousands of websites out there that require content. So, there are plenty of opportunities.
Some of the benefits of writing freelance are working it around your schedule. Additionally, you can make a lot of money. However, not all websites pay well.
Message boards like Upwork are great places to get clients. However, several other writing websites also take writers. You'll need to do a test to try your proficiency, but the bar won't be too high for a native speaker.
Freelance writers average around $60,000 per year but don't expect to pull in that salary straight away without a bit of work. While you're learning on the job, you can easily make around $20,000 to $30,000 per year.
Stock Investing
Stock investing is one of the better ways to make money without a job. There are a few different approaches that you can take with stock investing.
Firstly, you can take a long-term approach by investing and sitting on your stocks. The S&P 500 returned almost 25% in 2023. While this was a spectacular year, typical returns are around 8%.
Active trading is another option for anyone wondering how to make money without a job. This method works by taking short-term positions on stocks or currency and making money from daily increases. Average day trader's returns are about 10%.
If you want to day trade, a platform like Interactive Brokers is a good idea. They are a credible, trustworthy platform that offers excellent trading tools, lots of different asset classes, and excellent trade execution.
stock investing
However, it's hard work, and it takes a lot of practice, experience, and hard work to make constant returns of 10% or more.
If you're inexperienced, ETFs or an Index (like the S&P 500) is the way to go. It's a great hands-off option that is quick to invest in and doesn't require much work.
Take Part in Survey Sites
Paid survey sites can be an excellent way to make money from home. While it's unlikely that you'll ever get rich, they can provide a small amount of steady income for work that is really easy to do.
Sites like Survey Junkie pay users to answer questions on various topics. Of course, these surveys are looking for the opinion of specific demographics, so you won't always qualify for payment.
While paid surveys are one of the easiest ways to make money without a job, average earnings per are around $2.
Bitcoin Mining
While mining Bitcoin (or other cryptos) has become more competitive and resource-intensive, it's still a nice source of income. Essentially, it involves setting up a computer to solve complicated mathematical problems.
The main issue with this passive source of income is that it's expensive to set up. You'll need specialist equipment, like super-quick processors, and access to a lot of electricity.
Check out websites to get an idea of which cryptocurrencies are most profitable to mine, and if you don't have huge money to invest in rigs, consider joining a mining pool.
Sell or Rent Your Belongings
If you're trying to generate some extra income, one of the first places you should look is inside your own home. Everyone has clutter and unneeded items that you can convert to cash on eBay, Craigslist, or Facebook Marketplace.
You can convert books, clothes, furniture, toys, electronics, and so on into cash. For some people, this can mean hundreds or thousands of dollars.
Additionally, if you own items like a holiday home, a boat, or even a parking space, you can rent this out to generate a little extra income.
Option Trading
Options trading is an excellent way to make a little extra money. It involves buying or selling stock options at a future rate. In short, for a small fee, you have the opportunity to buy, for example, gold at a specific point in the future. If the price of gold goes up during your contract, you'll be able to buy it at a low cost by exercising your option and therefore generating a profit.
One of the best places to do option trading is eOption. It's trusted, easy to use, and has very low commissions.
eOption platform
Start a Blog
If you have an area of expertise, starting a blog is still one of the best ways to make money without a job. Of course, it will take a lot of writing and commitment, but if it's successful, you'll be able to take home a good amount of money from advertising or sponsorship.
The key to winning over an audience is to stand out from the crowd. So offer something that other people can't, whether that is a unique perspective or really drilling down into a niche.
Even with a relatively small niche area blog, making $500 - $2000 per month is possible. The key is driving web traffic to your site, which requires digital marketing, search engine optimization, and great content.
But if you're knowledgeable and passionate about something, you can make it happen.
Become a Dog Walker or Pet Sitter
dog walker
If you love dogs and you've got some spare time, becoming a dog walker or pet sitter can be an excellent way to make money without a job. You can advertise on local message boards, Craigslist, or Facebook.
Walkers and sitters make around $10 - $20 per hour, more depending on your city.
Flip Items for a Profit
Do you know a lot about something? It could be cars, sneakers, furniture, antiques, etc. If you do, you can make some very good money by trawling listings, garage sales, or auctions and finding underpriced items.
From there, you can buy them and sell them closer to their true value. One great skill that will boost your profits is the ability to restore items. This can make your ROI soar.
If you have storage space and a truck or van that you can transport things with, then even better. There are tons of items that people give away for free for collection. Couches, furniture, beds, fridges, etc., can be acquired for nothing, cleaned up, and moved on for hundreds of dollars.
Enter Draws For Limited Edition Sneakers
limited edition sneakers
Limited edition sneakers by brands such as Nike can go for thousands on the resale market. But getting these highly coveted items is difficult. However, there are several methods that you can use.
First off, you can sign up for ballots on Nike's SNKRS app. The other option you can use is a bot software that helps you beat the crowd. Understandably, it's a pretty competitive market. But the profits are serious. With the right sneaker, a $150 investment can become $600 - $2000.
Rent Out a Room on Airbnb
If you own a home with a spare room, Airbnb is one of the top ways to make money without a job. Renting out the room can generate more than $100 a night, but it does take a little work.
First of all, you'll need to list a property. Secondly, you'll need to get your house and room into an acceptable shape. Finally, Airbnb takes a cut. But if you live in a busy neighborhood, you'll never be too short of people who want to stay.
Additionally, you can rent out your whole property if you have somewhere you can stay (friends, parents). That can bring in $250+ per night or more, depending on the location.
Rent Out Your Car
Platforms like Turo let you rent out your car to other users. It's a fairly simple process. You sign up, list your car on the marketplace, and set a price. From there, Turo connects you with interested parties who come and collect the keys.
Turo estimates that you can cover your monthly payments if you rent your car nine days per month. If you are wondering how to make money without a job, this could be a nice passive earner. Turo takes around 15% - 40% of the price, which leaves plenty left over.
Become a Virtual Assistant
Remote virtual assistants are a growing trend for busy business people. So, if you've got a computer and a flair for organizing, join services like Upwork or Fiverr and offer your help.
Absolute beginners can pull in around $10 - $25 per hour; experts can make far, far more.
Game on Twitch or Other Platforms
stream on twitch
Places like Twitch and YouTube are full of fans who want to watch people playing video games. You can go general or choose a niche and try to pick up an audience.
Of course, being good at video games isn't enough. You'll need to be a fun, charismatic person to really make this work. That said, Twitch streamers can make a lot of money. Big streamers can pull in $5k a month, while even streamers with 100 regular viewers can earn around $1000 - $1500 monthly.
Start a Podcast
Is there something you're deeply passionate or knowledgeable about? Well, maybe you can start a podcast. All you'll need is a half-decent microphone and some great content, and you could start bagging sponsorship deals and advertising money.
Growing a podcast isn't easy. You really need to have great content that people find helpful and valuable. But a podcast can generate a lot of money if you can get listeners. Estimates suggest something between $10 and $50,000 an episode is possible.
Monetize Your Hobby
If you have a hobby like music, photography, knitting, and so on, there are lots of ways you can use it to generate cash. For starters, you can sell or license music for shows and podcasts. Or, you can upload your photos for use in commercial products or blog pages.
It doesn't really matter what you do, as long as there is a market for it. Places like Etsy are great for people who make arts & crafts, clothes, jewelry, etc. These websites allow you to host your products and connect you with buyers worldwide for a small commission.
Fiverr Gigs
If you have a skill like graphic design, writing, or web design, Fiverr is a good place to make a little extra income. It's freelance work, so you can set your rates and connect with businesses around the world.
Transcription, translations, and data entry are other popular markets on Fiverr. Of course, there are lots of different jobs on this freelance marketplace, so you might not even need a marketable skill to generate money.
Invest in Real Estate
Real estate is a classic way to make money without a job. Buying a property and renting it out can cover the mortgage and leave a little something leftover. However, not everyone has the spare capital required for this sort of investment.
invest in real estate
But crowdfunding property services like Fundrise and Roofstock are making property investment available for everyone. For as little as $500, you can join together with other investors and generate quarterly dividends from properties you've purchased. These apps take care of all the maintenance, so you just sit back and profit.
Housesit
Housesitting is a great way to make money without a job. You'll never get rich doing it, but you'll make a few bucks and have a roof over your head for a few nights. For example, this can be a good way to travel and explore new cities and places.
Some of the tasks you might be asked to do are cleaning, watering plants, feeding pets, and so on. However, it could be a great deal if it means free digs in a new city and a little pocket money.
Help Around People's Homes
One of the best things about the internet is the way it connects people who offer services with those in need of services. That can be anything from skilled labor like plumbing all the way down to assembling Ikea furniture.
So if you are fairly handy, you can pick a few jobs in your area doing lots of different tasks for people. Cleaning out a room, mowing the lawn, and other jobs are all possible on sites like Airtasker or TaskRabbit.
What is the Best Way To Make Money Without a Job?
As you can see, there are many ways to make money with a job. However, it's difficult to say which is the best. Really, it comes down to your personal preferences and skill set.
If you love pets, then dog walking could be your dream gig. Likewise, if you have a bit of capital to spare, getting into the financial market could provide you with an excellent source of passive income.
So look through our list and find something that you're already interested in or good at. From there, making a little extra money from it will be easy to motivate yourself to do.
Summary
If you've ever wondered how to make money without working, then wonder no more. It's possible to find small tasks or ways to generate money so that you can free up time for your other commitments.
Some of these options, like paid surveys, probably won't cover your rent, while others, like stock investment or copy trading, can be incredibly lucrative.
Overall, you can monetize several aspects of human interest. All you'll need is an internet connection and a little hard work, and you can find several great ways to make money without a job.
FAQs
Can I really make money without a job?
Yes, there are so many avenues for people with or without skills.
What is a side hustle?
A side hustle is a job that people take in addition to their existing job to generate some extra income.
Can I make $2000 a month without working?
It's possible, but it will require either picking the right activity or committing a lot of time.
Can a stay-at-home mom make money without a job?
Yes, of course. While parenting is a full-time job of its own, there are times when the kids are at school or asleep where you can complete remote tasks. Or even better, make passive income.
Related Articles
Team that worked on the article
Dwight specializes in risk, corporate finance, alternatives, fintech, general business trends, and financial markets, and he has broad experience managing complex projects. Dwight is an author for the Traders Union website.
Dwight was a financial columnist for The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times during the Great Financial Crisis. He has served as Editor-in-Chief of Worth, a personal finance magazine for the wealthy, and as Editor of Risk, the premiere global publication about derivatives, risk management, and quantitative finance, based in London.
He has also served as Managing Editor at The Economist Group and ran the Americas operations of two British trade publications.
For the last 12 years, Dwight has worked as a freelance writer and editorial project manager, serving clients in the financial technology, banking, broker/dealer, consulting, asset management, and corporate sectors. This has given him considerable experience in idea generation and project management, working collaboratively to help clients meet their goals with little or no supervision.
Glory is a professional writer for the Traders Union website with over 5 years of experience in creating content in the areas of NFT, Crypto, Metaverse, Blockchain, or Web3 in general. Over the last couple of years, Glory has also traded on different cryptocurrency and NFT platforms including Binance, Coinbase, Opensea, and others.
“I understand a lot about this space, being familiar with CEX, DeFi, and DEX, as well as operating across the Ethereum, Binance, and Polygon networks. Also, I know the intricacies and subtleties of NFTs and crypto, thus I am able to bring to table the best content and help connect with the audience better.”
Mirjan Hipolito is a journalist and news editor at Traders Union. She is an expert crypto writer with five years of experience in the financial markets. Her specialties are daily market news, price predictions, and Initial Coin Offerings (ICO). Mirjan is a cryptocurrency and stock trader. This deep understanding of the finance sector allows her to create informative and engaging content that helps readers easily navigate the complexities of the crypto world.