Ways to make “easy money” that are realistic and can help you start earning cash without significant investment.
1. Online Surveys and Market Research
Effort: Low
Income Potential: Low to moderate
Taking online surveys is one of the easiest ways to make money. Companies are eager to gather customer feedback to improve their products and services, and they pay for opinions through market research. Platforms like Swagbucks, Survey Junkie, and Vindale Research allow you to complete surveys in your free time and earn easy money. While survey payouts are generally small, doing multiple surveys daily can add up, especially if you’re consistent.
2. Cashback and Rewards Apps
Effort: Low
Income Potential: Low
Cashback apps like Rakuten, Honey, and Ibotta make it easy to earn money on purchases you’d be making anyway. Simply sign up, activate the app before you shop, and receive a percentage back on qualifying purchases. If you’re already spending on groceries, clothing, or electronics, using these apps is a hassle-free way to earn easy money without any added effort.
3. Selling Unwanted Items
Effort: Moderate
Income Potential: Moderate to high
Selling items you no longer need is a quick way to make easy money and declutter your space at the same time. Start with items like clothes, electronics, or collectibles you have around the house and list them on platforms like eBay, Poshmark, Mercari, or Facebook Marketplace. You can easily turn your clutter into cash, and if you enjoy the process, you could start flipping items for a profit, sourcing them from thrift stores or clearance sales to resell at a higher price.
4. Freelancing Small Tasks and Gigs
Effort: Varies
Income Potential: Moderate to high
If you have any marketable skills, freelancing can be an excellent way to make easy money. Websites like Fiverr and Upwork make it simple to connect with clients who need specific tasks completed. Whether you’re skilled in graphic design, social media management, or even writing short content, freelancing platforms allow you to set up a profile and start accepting jobs almost immediately. You get to work from home and on your schedule, making it ideal if you need flexible ways to make extra cash.
5. Participating in Focus Groups
Effort: Low
Income Potential: Moderate to high
Focus groups are another way to make easy money by sharing your thoughts on products or services. Companies and researchers conduct focus groups to better understand consumer preferences. Sites like Respondent.io and User Interviews connect participants with relevant studies and pay them for their time. Many focus groups are conducted online, and you could earn anywhere from $20 to $200 per session, depending on the topic and length of the study.
6. Starting a Print-on-Demand Business
Effort: Moderate
Income Potential: Moderate to high
Print-on-demand (POD) services make it possible to sell custom-designed products without worrying about inventory or shipping. Platforms like Printful, Teespring, and Redbubble allow you to upload designs that can be printed on T-shirts, mugs, and more. Every time someone makes a purchase, the platform handles production and shipping, and you get paid a percentage of the sale. If you’re creative or have a good sense of design, this is a relatively easy way to make passive income with minimal initial investment.
7. Affiliate Marketing
Effort: Moderate
Income Potential: Moderate to high
Affiliate marketing allows you to earn commissions by promoting other people’s products or services. You can sign up for affiliate programs through Amazon Associates, ShareASale, or other networks. By sharing links on a blog, social media, or even in online communities, you can make easy money whenever someone makes a purchase through your link. It’s even better if you build an audience around a specific niche, as you can then promote products that match your followers’ interests.
8. Creating an Online Course or E-Book
Effort: High (initially)
Income Potential: High
If you’re knowledgeable in a specific area, creating an online course or e-book can be an incredible way to make easy money over time. Platforms like Udemy, Teachable, and Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing make it possible to create, publish, and sell educational content online. Once created, you earn passive income whenever someone buys your course or e-book. The initial effort may be high, but with a well-crafted product, you can generate consistent income.
9. Pet Sitting and Dog Walking
Effort: Low to moderate
Income Potential: Moderate
For animal lovers, pet sitting or dog walking can be an easy way to earn money. Platforms like Rover and Wag! allow you to connect with pet owners looking for reliable sitters and walkers. With a few clients, you can easily earn money by spending time with pets, and the flexible nature of these gigs means you can work around other commitments.
10. Delivering Groceries and Food
Effort: Moderate
Income Potential: Moderate to high
If you have a car or a bike, signing up for food delivery services like DoorDash, UberEats, or Instacart can be a straightforward way to make easy money. You get paid for each delivery, with potential tips from customers, and you have the freedom to work when it suits you. Delivery apps often have bonuses and incentives for completing multiple deliveries in a certain timeframe, increasing your earning potential.
11. Testing Websites and Apps
Effort: Low
Income Potential: Moderate
Many companies want to know how user-friendly their websites and apps are, and they’ll pay you to test them. Websites like UserTesting, TryMyUI, and TestingTime allow you to earn money by testing websites and providing feedback. Sessions typically take around 10-30 minutes and pay between $10 and $60. It’s a simple way to make extra cash by just sharing your opinions.
12. Renting Out Your Space or Car
Effort: Low
Income Potential: High
If you have a spare room or a vehicle you don’t use daily, you can make easy money by renting them out. Platforms like Airbnb allow you to list rooms, apartments, or even entire homes for short-term rentals. Alternatively, you can rent out your car through platforms like Turo or Getaround. This option requires some initial setup, but it can generate substantial passive income if you’re in a high-demand area.
13. Virtual Assistant Services
Effort: Moderate
Income Potential: Moderate
As a virtual assistant, you can help businesses and entrepreneurs manage tasks like email correspondence, scheduling, social media, and more. Many small business owners need reliable, part-time help, which you can offer remotely. It’s a flexible way to make easy money, especially if you’re organized and detail-oriented. Websites like Belay and Upwork have listings for virtual assistant positions where you can find potential clients.
14. Content Creation on Social Media
Effort: High (initially)
Income Potential: High
While becoming a social media influencer isn’t instant, creating content on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube can eventually lead to easy money through ad revenue, sponsorships, or product sales. By building a niche audience, you can attract brands interested in promoting their products through your channel. Although building an audience takes time, consistent posting and engagement can turn this into a lucrative income source.
15. Rent Out Your Stuff
Effort: Low
Income Potential: Moderate
If you have tools, sporting equipment, or camera gear, you can make easy money by renting them out. Platforms like Fat Llama and Loanables let you list items for others to rent. This is a great way to make money off items you already own and aren’t using every day.
Final Thoughts
While there’s no single solution for “easy money,” all these methods have the potential to provide income with minimal financial investment. Choosing the right option for you depends on your skills, interests, and the amount of time you’re willing to dedicate. Whether you’re looking to make a few extra dollars on the side or start something that could grow into a full-time income, these strategies offer accessible ways to bring in cash and potentially scale over time.