30 Ways to Make Money Without a Job
Have you ever wondered how to make money without a job? Haven’t we all?
While there’s no such thing as free money, earning income without a regular nine-to-five job is more than possible.
Whether you’re looking to leave your traditional job, trying to earn a few extra bucks outside of school, or seeking to make money without a college degree – there are plenty of ways to earn money online or offline.
Check out our suggestions below, and you might turn some of them into a full-time income.
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How to Make Money Without a Degree
Although a college degree can help kickstart your professional career, it might not matter as much if you’re looking at how to earn money without a job.
Below is a list of several suggestions that have the potential to bring a good amount of money into your pocket. Try them out yourself and start earning today – there’s no need for a degree.
Start a Print-on-Demand Business
Not having a job doesn’t mean you can’t have your own business.
Print on demand is an online business model that lets you produce and sell printed apparel and other products without keeping stock or any upfront investments.
You can design custom t-shirts, hoodies, socks, mugs, bags, etc., and sell them to a global audience. Platforms like Printify do all the work for you.
All you need to do is pick a product, customize it, and publish it on an online marketplace or your stand-alone online store. When someone makes a purchase, the print-on-demand service provider produces the item and ships it directly to your customer.
While you need to pay for the production and shipping, the markup you’ve added to your store is your take-home pay.
Try it out today. Sign up with Printify and make money selling custom apparel and accessories.
Make Crafts and Sell Them on Etsy
If you’re good at making crafts, why not sell your beautiful creations to others?
The global arts and crafts market has been rising for years, and Etsy is the most popular marketplace for everything crafty. The platform’s annual gross merchandise sales reached almost $13.5 billion in 2021.
All you need to do is create an account, list your unique products, add well-thought-out descriptions, and you’re good to go. The more sales you make, and the better reviews you get, the higher your store will rank in search results.
By the way, Etsy is also a great starting point for anyone who wants to try print on demand. Check out our comprehensive guide on making money on Etsy.
Try Out Pet Sitting
Have you ever tried to pet sit for your family or friends? If you have and you enjoyed it, you can also earn cash for doing it.
Taking care of others’ pets for cash is almost like free money for people who love animals. Use sites like Rover and Wag! to get a pet-sitting gig. Create an account and offer your services or look at job postings where people search for someone to watch after their beloved furry friends.
People are willing to pay a lot of money for someone trustworthy to pet sit while they are busy traveling or working. Rack up good reviews to get more opportunities – pet sitting can become a great income stream without having a regular job.
Babysitting
If you’re good with kids (including others’ kids) and are willing to make a difference in a child’s life, you might want to try babysitting. It generally pays well, and you’re not obliged to make any long-term commitments.
Online platforms like Sittercity let you create an account to describe yourself and your experience and indicate your availability. Potential customers can then reach out to you and ask for your services.
You might want to start slow if you’ve never worked with kids. Also, keep in mind that you can get better-paid gigs if you offer something extra like tutoring, working overnight or on the weekends, and babysitting during parties.
Become a Podcaster
It’s starting to feel like everyone has their own podcast these days. And with good reason – it’s a great way to earn some money on the side.
But you have to put in the work before getting paid. Start by researching the existing podcast universe and see what niche you could settle in. It’s better to be really specific with your topic.
Once you’ve recorded your first episode, you can list it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Podchaser, Stitcher, and many other podcast apps.
As you grow your audience, monetize your content with affiliate marketing, sponsorships, and ads. You can also offer an online course or sell merch and other physical products.
For more information, read our article on making money with podcasts.
Invest in Stocks
If you have money that’s sitting in your bank account and doesn’t have a specific purpose, you might want to try investing it. The stock market has the potential to provide good returns in the long run, and it can help with growing the value of your savings.
You can invest with the help of a broker or a robo-advisor, or do it yourself if you’re confident about your knowledge of the financial market. If you decide to go solo, plenty of online investment platforms will make your life easier – you can try TD Ameritrade, Robinhood, and Acorns, to name a few.
Try to pick companies that have the potential to grow in value (easier said than done) or invest in index funds for a safer approach. Whatever you do, make sure you’ve done your research and you’re making well-informed decisions.
Do Freelance Writing
Have you ever thought about becoming a freelance writer? If you’re good at creative writing and coming up with original ideas, this might be the perfect way to make money without a job.
Freelance writing lets you work on your own schedule from anywhere in the world. And you can also earn a good amount of money, depending on the volume of work you put in. In 2022, freelance writers in the US can expect to earn an average salary of $65,676.
Sign up on Fiverr or Upwork and describe the content you’re ready to produce. It can be anything from blog posts, press releases, emails, newsletters, etc. You might also consider creating your own website to offer your services.
Drive for Lyft or Uber
How about driving others around for money?
If you have a car and are okay with giving strangers a ride, driving for Uber or Lyft can get extra cash in your pocket.
All you need to do is create a free account with the app you prefer, get your car inspected, and go through a background check. Once you’re all set, you can start giving rides to others for money.
If you work during the busiest hours, the trip price usually goes up, and you can make some good bonuses. Also, don’t forget about tips – being friendly and open-minded with your passengers can earn you more money.
Earn Money With Dropshipping
Dropshipping is a risk-free order fulfillment method that doesn’t require online businesses to keep stock of the products they sell. That means you can run a business without seeing or touching your product in real life.
Online business owners can benefit from dropshipping with low or no upfront costs, minimum overhead expenses, a wide selection of products, and location flexibility.
The most important thing when starting is finding the right niche. With so many products available online, do thorough market research to find out what has the best potential to sell. Once you’re ready to start, pick a dropshipping tool and get your business going.
Try print on demand to give a more personal touch to your products. Start today with Printify.
Become a Beta Tester
Getting paid for playing games and using apps? Sounds like an opportunity that’s too good to pass on, right?
A beta tester’s job is to test apps and video games before their final release and make sure there aren’t any glitches or bugs that might’ve slipped unnoticed.
Beta testing is done in real-life conditions, and you have to note your observations about the user interface, gameplay bugs or usability errors, and any other unexpected behavior.
Beta testers get paid $17 per hour on average. Use platforms like UserTesting to get started.
Speaking of video games, let’s find out how to get money without a job if you’re a teenager.
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How to Make Money as a Teenager Without a Job
Anyone has the chance to earn some extra cash. If you’re still in school, you don’t necessarily need a regular nine-to-five job to make money.
Although school takes up most of the time for teenagers, there are several ways to earn money without work interfering with one’s studies.
Here are ten ways to make money as a teenager without a job.
Start a YouTube Channel
Do you feel confident about public speaking or appearing on camera? Are you good at researching various topics or have extensive knowledge about an exciting subject? If so, you might want to try creating YouTube videos.
Starting a YouTube channel is free, and the site brings in almost 2.6 billion active users every month. With such a large audience comes the potential for high income.
On average, a YouTuber makes between $3 to $5 per 1,000 video views. This can add up fast as you generate more video views over time.
Give it a go and earn passive income with your published videos.
Make Money on Twitch
If you like to play games in your free time, why not earn money while at it?
Twitch is the go-to platform for video game enthusiasts, with more than 140 million monthly active users and 9.2 million active streamers.
Use Twitch to stream the gameplay footage from your PC or console. As you start growing a follower base, you can earn money through donations, brand partnerships, and by selling your custom merchandise.
If you become a Twitch Affiliate, you can offer monthly subscriptions and earn extra cash from people buying games directly from your channel.
Transcribe Audio/Video
Transcribing audio and video into text might be the perfect way to earn extra money as a student. Give it a go if you can type fast and accurately, have good grammar and spelling, and can keep your concentration for longer periods of time.
A site like Rev can serve as a good starting point. It brings in customers needing transcription services and pays transcribers per audio hour or a set amount of words.
There are plenty of online platforms that let you transcribe audio and video into text. Find the one that fits your needs and work from home without any strings attached.
Start a Blog
While blogging might be considered old-school by some Gen Zers, it’s still one of the most popular ways to make money without a job.
Wix, WordPress, and Squarespace are some of the most popular blogging platforms. They offer a ton of customization possibilities and have various pricing fees – you should be able to find one that fits your budget.
Your own blog can cover any topic you want. Whatever you decide to write about, make sure to provide value to your readers and be consistent with producing content.
Once your blog starts getting traction, you can earn money from ads, affiliate marketing, subscriptions, etc.
Grow Your Social Media Audience
We already spend more time than we probably should on our phones, so why not make money off your social media account?
Social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok provide the perfect opportunity to earn cash without having a traditional job. So, where should you start?
Here are a few quick tips for growing your social media following:
- Be consistent with producing quality content
- Identify the time when users engage with your content the most
- Use tags and hashtags to reach more users and get new followers
- Engage with your audience and hold contests
As your account grows, you can try partnering with brands, doing affiliate marketing, and selling your merchandise to earn more money.
Monetize Your Hobbies
Are you into photography? Maybe you’re good at graphic design or video editing? Or perhaps you’re a fantastic amateur chef? Whatever your hobby, you can earn money off of it.
If you want to start slow, try offering your services to family, friends, neighbors, and other students from your school. Then, spread the word even further. For example, if you’re into taking photos, upload them to stock photo sites or online photography communities.
As you get more confident and improve your skills, create an account on sites like Fiverr and Upwork. They’re perfect for connecting customers with providers of various services.
Create social media accounts dedicated to your hobby and make the most of them – grow a solid follower base and monetize your creativity.
Participate in Contests
You can also put your hobbies and interests to use by entering various contests that offer cash rewards.
It can be a creative writing contest, a photography competition, or a music production challenge. Be on the lookout for announcements at your local community center and town, or search for competitions online. There’s always something going on.
In addition to the opportunity of winning a money prize, you can get more eyes on your work and content. This can potentially provide you with paid gigs in the future.
Become a Session Musician
Are you good at playing any musical instrument? If so, becoming a session musician can be a great way to earn some money without a job.
Bands and music ensembles hire session musicians (or backing musicians) to perform in the studio or during live performances. They’re not permanent members of the band and work mainly behind the scenes.
Look for opportunities online, e.g., try out Fiverr and similar sites. Create a YouTube channel or a TikTok account to share your musical skills and get noticed.
Run Errands
Everyone seems super busy these days, and many don’t even have enough time for simple errands. But people are willing to pay others to do everyday tasks for them.
Whether going grocery shopping, babysitting kids, walking dogs, or delivering food – you can make money for seemingly simple tasks in many ways.
There are numerous online platforms with potential opportunities, though many require you to be 18 or older to sign up. Don’t forget that you can always run errands for your family and neighbors. Plus, they might tip you really well.
Tutor Other Students
Be it maths, chemistry, or physics – if you’re good at a specific subject at school, tutor others for money.
It’s a great way to earn extra cash, and you don’t have to put in much effort. You can use the books and handouts from your school. The most important thing is to explain the subject at hand as clearly and concisely as possible.
Parents always want what’s best for their kids and are not shy about spending money. If you prove to be good at teaching your peers and word spreads fast, you’ll be making more money in no time.
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How to Make Money Fast Without a Job
Is it actually possible to make money fast?
While you won’t be able to become super rich in a matter of hours or days, there are plenty of ways to make a quick buck. And most of them are available from the comfort of your home.
Check out the list below and try some of our suggestions.
Sell Stuff You Don’t Need
Do you really need that barbeque grill you use once every two years? And how about that set of dinnerware collecting dust in the attic?
Selling things you don’t use is a great way to get extra money. People love going to garage sales and visiting thrift stores – you can be sure that there will be a demand for the items you don’t need anymore.
To increase the chances of selling your stuff, go online and list your items on sites like eBay, Craigslist, or Facebook Marketplace.
Rent Out Things
Another great way to earn money without a job is by renting your things. It can be a car that you don’t drive on the weekdays, a spare room you’ve got at your house, or some equipment that might be useful for others.
Not all people are private car owners, and certainly, not everyone owns property – here’s your chance to earn some extra money. You can use your earnings to pay off your car and mortgage or save money for a bigger purchase.
Use sites like Turo to rent your vehicle and platforms like Airbnb and Booking.com to rent out a property. Look for local options wherever you are in the world.
Take Online Surveys
Taking online surveys can be a relatively easy and quick way to make money.
There are several survey sites to choose from. For example, Swagbucks and Survey Junkie are a couple of popular choices. They’re always looking for new members, and you can take the surveys whenever you want.
You won’t become rich with online surveys, but it’s a great way to earn cash or get free gift cards without putting in a lot of effort. Do the surveys from your laptop at home or on your phone when on the go.
Make Money on TaskRabbit
TaskRabbit is an online app that matches freelance laborers (called Taskers) with paying gigs. The tasks can include anything from running errands, making deliveries, waiting in lines, assembling furniture, doing yard work, etc.
You must be 18 or older and have a checking account, credit card, and a smartphone to use the free app.
Start by creating a strong user profile. Create a snappy description of your services and provide any qualifications that might be helpful for potential clients. Once you get going, strive to provide the best service possible and get great reviews. The better your customer feedback, the more gigs will come your way.
Take Part in Market Research
Market research companies are always on the lookout for new people to provide valuable information. Your opinion can help organizations and companies improve their products and services, as well as enhance the general conditions of the world.
You can be part of focus groups and discuss products and services with others, do mystery shopping and assess your experience, or do product testing from the comfort of your home.
Do a quick online search, and you’ll be able to find multiple global and local market research agencies. All you need to do is provide some information about yourself, and you can start earning money right away.
Answer Questions on JustAnswer
If you’re an expert in any field, you might want to try making money with JustAnswer. It’s an online platform that lets people get instant and professional answers to any question they post.
You can earn anywhere between $5 to $90 for answering a question – more difficult questions requiring very specific expertise cost more to answer.
Apply on their website and provide all of the required information. The company will then check and verify your credentials. Once you’re all set, you can answer as many questions as you’d like whenever you have the time.
Get Paid for Watching Videos
Don’t you just hate when an ad suddenly pops up while you’re enjoying a video? But how would you feel about getting money for watching those ads?
Yes, this really is a thing – you can get paid for watching online videos. Sites like MyPoints and InboxDollars offer their users cash and gift cards for watching ads, previews, movies, and TV shows.
Watch the video content from home or do it on the go from your mobile device. Most sites also let you pick the content, so you don’t have to spend time watching completely random videos.
Offer Language Courses
If you’re good at a language that’s in demand, you can earn some good money by providing online or offline language courses.
Sites like Preply and italki let you tutor online and start earning money as soon as you get some students. You can charge however much you want for your services, but you might want to keep it on the lower end at first to draw in more clients and get some good feedback.
If you’re good at a specific language and live in a country with a high demand for it, you can also offer face-to-face tutoring. Language classes are more in demand than ever – it’s your chance to make money.
Buy and Sell Domain Names
Selling domain names can be a great way to earn money without a job, but you need to have a domain that others want to buy.
To purchase a domain, use popular sites like GoDaddy or Bluehost. You can buy a domain name for as low as $1, but getting one that others might crave in the future is tricky.
You can also join an online auction for domains. Those usually offer a wide range of domain names with the potential to sell for a hefty sum of money.
Research different industries and businesses and try to foresee which domain names could be in demand in the near future.
Proofread Texts for Money
If you’re a grammar enthusiast and are good at finding the right words, make money with proofreading.
List your services on sites like Upwork and Fiverr, and get paid after you finish editing a text. Try to get more eyes on your account by offering to proofread specific content, for example, academic writing, essays, books, marketing materials, resumes, etc.
All you need is a laptop, and you can proofread from anywhere. Get good online reviews and increase your price over time. Whether it’s companies looking for freelancers or individuals needing someone to edit their writing, there’s a high demand for good proofreaders.
Start Your Print-on-Demand Business With Printify
Starting a print-on-demand business is an excellent way to make money without a job. There are no upfront costs, you don’t need to keep stock, and a company like Printify takes care of the production and shipping for you.
Printify is a print-on-demand platform offering more than 750 products you can customize and sell worldwide. With over 100 fulfillment locations and more than 70 print providers all around the globe, you can offer premium-quality printed products from the comfort of your home.
Create your free Printify account and follow these steps to start making money:
- Start by picking an item from the product catalog. It can be anything from t-shirts, hoodies, mugs, posters, home decor, etc.
- Customize your product. The user-friendly Mockup Generator makes it easy to design your custom products with Printify.
- Order a sample of your product to ensure everything looks and feels just like you imagined.
- Publish your products online. Printify is integrated with all major eCommerce platforms and marketplaces, including Etsy, Shopify, and Wix.
- Spread the word about your store and products while Printify does all the heavy lifting.
Final Thoughts
If you came here with the goal of finding how to make money without a job, we hope you’ve identified at least a couple of options to try out.
It is now easier than ever to find paying gigs and side hustles online. Whether you want to quit your day job to become your own boss or are a student that’s looking to earn some money after school, it’s more than possible.
Pick one of our suggestions, thoroughly research the gig, and dive in. If you stay patient and consistent with your effort, the next big payday could be just around the corner.
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Written by
Jānis Bute
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