How to make money without working? 10 ways to earn without effort

Is it really possible to make money without working? The answer is it depends. First of all, you need to understand how much money you want to make without having to work or if you have an initial budget to invest. In this regard, in our article we will try to propose some methods for those who want to do as little as possible to work, have few skills and, above all, little money.

This premise should not be necessary, but, before listing the ways to make money without working, it is good to remember that these methods, except in rare cases, are not enough to have an over-the-top lifestyle. However, they can prove useful for having the bare minimum to live on or, why not, supplement a salary.

Monetize your social networks or using internet portals

The Internet turns out to be an important pool of different and varied opportunities. Depending on the time dedicated, what for many is a simple pastime can become a real job. Just think of the success achieved by many people through YouTube, Instagram or TikTok. Monetizing your content, going viral and getting people talking about you and your work is, in fact, a way to get money without ever really working.

Instagram and TikTok have become an important showcase that allows you to express yourself and be yourself, or whoever you want, allowing you to earn a lot of money thanks to sponsorships or advertising your works.

How can we not mention YouTube. Here we can upload content of all kinds, starting from advice on television programs, through video games, up to some exercises to do daily to stay in shape. The more consistent you are in publishing, the better the results will be.

Writing and taking photos

Still remaining in the field of online work, it may be interesting to know that it is possible to get money thanks to writing and photos. In both cases, a minimum of talent and commitment is needed. If done consistently, in fact, these activities can allow you to obtain a particularly significant income.

For example, you can start by writing product reviews for Amazon and thus obtain discounts or a small sum of money. But not only that, you can send your application to blogs or magazines to become editors, copywriters, writers or columnists. This is an excellent job especially for those who study and need a fixed monthly income.

The same goes for those who love taking photos and who can turn their passion into an interesting source of income. You should know, in fact, that there are platforms like Shutterstock and Depositphotos that are constantly looking for new photos to expand their portfolio of copyright-free images. With a percentage of earnings ranging from 60 to 90%, you can rely on these portals to "showcase" your photographs and earn significant amounts.

Participate in surveys

Another activity that allows you to make money without actually working is to participate in surveys. The company that carries out the survey takes a statistical sample from the responses obtained and those who have provided answers to the questions can receive a small cash reward.

There are many market research companies that are looking for subjects to test their products and express their opinion through surveys. The latter concern a wide variety of consumer goods.

Sell clothes and objects online

Excluding the odd jobs that allow you to earn more money, but that require more effort such as babysitting, delivery man or driver, one way to make money without working is to sell your objects or clothes.

There are so many things that we accumulate over time and that could be useful to someone else who really needs them or simply wants to create a collection. Just think of old toys, clothes that we no longer wear, old Disney video cassettes or memorabilia that have been passed down from grandparents.

Objects that we often leave in boxes in the garage or in the attic, which could turn out to be an important treasure. To earn money thanks to these objects you can go to second-hand shops or exchange goods thanks to Facebook groups. Among the most used methods is the use of ad hoc platforms, such as the eBay or Vinted site. The amount of earnings, obviously, varies based on the quantity and quality of the items sold.

Putting your house up for rent/sublet/sell

Another smart method to make money without working is to use empty spaces in your house to rent to others. If you have a house big enough to accommodate a person in the house, you can decide to rent a room to get extra income at the end of each month. Obviously you must be willing to share the spaces, but the earnings are undoubtedly greater than other methods.

The important thing is to act according to the rules. It is essential to remember that to put your house up for rent you must register the rental contract and pay the related taxes. Furthermore, based on the characteristics of your home and your personal needs, you can evaluate the possibility of opening a B&B, perhaps relying directly on already structured platforms such as Airbnb.

Offering private lessons or consultations

Making the most of your knowledge through teaching is probably one of the quickest ways to start earning. In fact, with the advent of specialized platforms, giving lessons has become accessible to anyone with skills to share.

To get started, it is essential to identify the subjects in which you excel and create a profile on dedicated platforms. These allow you to independently set your hourly rate and decide whether to offer lessons in person or online.

The main advantage of online teaching is flexibility: you can organize your calendar according to your needs and save time and travel costs. As many teachers point out (especially since the pandemic experience): "With online tutoring I save time and gas costs".

In addition to school tutoring, you can consider online coaching in specific areas such as business, personal growth or well-being. The secret to success lies in the ability to fully understand the needs of customers, offering a targeted and motivating path.

Becoming a virtual assistant

The virtual assistant is a figure born in the United States in the 90s that has quickly established itself in Italy too. This profession responds to the needs of companies and professionals who want to reduce fixed personnel costs without giving up essential services.

As a virtual assistant, you can offer numerous services including:

• email and phone management;
• administration and accounting;
• social media and website management;
• travel and appointment organization;
• translation or customer support services.

The beauty of this profession is that you can do it entirely from home as a freelancer or withholding tax, managing multiple clients at the same time. However, it is not a way to "make easy money online", but requires commitment, dedication and professionalism. Therefore, it is not "effortless".

To find your first clients, you can create a personal website and promote your services on LinkedIn or sign up for platforms such as Fiverr, Upwork or Freelancer.

Sell Online Courses or Ebooks

The e-learning market is growing steadily and is expected to reach a value of $325 billion by 2025. During the pandemic, global consumption of online courses has increased significantly, and this trend looks set to continue.

To get started, you need to identify a topic in which you have specific expertise. Remember, you don’t have to be a genius or have traditional credentials; being an expert simply means having above-average knowledge. The most profitable topics are niche and targeted, rather than general and broad.

Platforms like Udemy or Timely offer global exposure for your courses. These are great if you want a ready-made infrastructure, but if you prefer more customization, you can consider a standalone Learning Management System (LMS).

Creating ebooks is also a real opportunity. In 2020, approximately 191 million ebooks were sold. Contrary to popular belief, there is no need to write very long texts: ebooks can be short and focused on specific topics.

To effectively promote your digital products:

• offer free content on social media to build a loyal audience;
• create a mini-lesson or a free chapter as a "taster";
• gather feedback and testimonials to build credibility;
• use email marketing to stay in touch with potential buyers.

In fact, once created and put on sale, an ebook or online course can produce profits almost autonomously, requiring only periodic marketing and updating activities.

Taking advantage of affiliate marketing

Affiliate marketing is a rapidly growing business model. This strategy consists of promoting products or services of other companies, earning a commission for each sale generated through your referral links.

Amazon, for example, offers earnings percentages from 3% to 12%, while with the Shopify affiliate program, affiliates earn up to 20% of the monthly cost of the plan chosen by the customer.

To be successful in this field, it is essential to:

• choose a specific niche in which to specialize;
• create valuable content that solves real problems;
• build public trust through honest reviews;
• be transparent about partnerships with companies.

Affiliate marketing is especially suitable for those who have a blog, website or YouTube channel. It does not require significant initial investment and can generate revenue while you sleep.

An effective approach is to create a website or blog that features content similar to that of the brand you have chosen to collaborate with. This conveys authenticity to the audience and increases the likelihood of conversion.

Additionally, you can use tools such as SEO, social media and email marketing to drive traffic to your affiliate links. Remember that the potential earnings are directly proportional to the volume of sales: the more sales you generate, the higher your profits will be.

Open an online store in dropshipping

Finally, we cannot fail to mention dropshipping, a business model that allows you to sell products online without physically owning them. When a customer makes a purchase, the order is forwarded to the supplier who takes care of storage, shipping and delivers directly to the customer.

What are the benefits of dropshipping?

• Low startup costs: You don’t have to buy inventory up front.
• No warehouse: You eliminate storage costs entirely.
• Operational flexibility: You can run your business from anywhere.

To get started, you’ll need to select a specific niche, find reliable suppliers, and set up your online store. Many platforms like Shopify offer direct integrations with dropshipping suppliers, making it easy to sync your products and orders.

However, keep in mind that you’ll have less control over product quality and delivery times. Additionally, profit margins can be lower than other traditional business models.

Original article published on Money.it Italy. Original title: Come fare soldi senza lavorare? 10 metodi per guadagnare senza fatica