Do you want to make money doing nothing? I bet you do.
But is there such a thing as free money? Moreover, can you get free cash for doing nothing?
It turns out that you can:
All you need to do is learn how to make money online and offline without doing anything.
Today, I’ll show you many ways to earn without doing much or doing the bare minimum. Relax, you’ll witness much more than how to get paid to do weird things!
Are you ready to see the jobs that pay you to do nothing?
This post may contain affiliate links – read my affiliate disclosure.
How To Get Paid To Do Nothing
Fun And Easy Ways To Make Money Doing Nothing
1) Earn For Cooking Dinners
Let’s begin with the easiest one, shall we?
Everyone needs to eat – I won’t justify this statement with any scientific facts!
Chances are, many of you enjoy cooking. Even if you don’t, you probably have to do it to feed your loved ones.
How do you feel about having dinner with strangers? If you’re confident in your culinary skills, you’ll be comfortable showing them to people outside your immediate family.
Is this the first time you read about a money-money idea to allow you to get paid to eat? Sharing a meal with others is a good way to earn a little extra money, and EatWith can make that happen for you.
See Also: 40 Jobs For Stay-At-Home Moms
2) Get Paid To Test Food
Until we are still on the yummy note, I want to dwell on it further:
Am I the first to tell you that earning cash for testing food is a thing now?
Hopefully, I’m not. Otherwise, you’re missing out on the most delicious way to make easy money.
Many research companies hire food testers to test their products. Of course, trying the food is not enough – you must also provide feedback on the experience.
Some testing sessions might last for an hour or even two.
UK residents need to register to become food testers at Tastingfood.co.uk. Those who live in another country should research and find a food testing company close to their area of residence.
3) Join Focus Groups
What do you say about participating in focus groups? You must be a bit of a talker to make this extra income idea work for you.
A focus group is one of the best ways to get paid to chat. Don’t hesitate to share an honest opinion about a product or service that is on your mind.
Maybe what’s stopping you is the idea that focus groups will require you to leave your home. Sometimes, they don’t – you can take advantage of video conference calls.
4) Participate In Market Research
Not all survey sites operate as legitimate platforms to help you earn online – Gold Opinions is the perfect example of a survey website to avoid.
That’s not the situation you’ll face with Respondent. And that’s because Respondent is not a survey site.
No, Respondent is a company you can join to earn a lot of money by participating in research studies. Prepare to make $140 per hour as soon as you sign up for Respondent.
More often than not, you can jump on a research study that will pay you up to $300. Learn more about Respondent and everything this company has to offer to its participants when you have a second.
5) Become A Test Subject
First and foremost, you don’t have to worry:
Being a test subject won’t negatively affect your health or well-being.
At least, this is not going to happen with the money-making idea I have in mind:
I’m talking about the opportunity to work as a test subject for a skincare or cosmetic brand. Some of the largest companies in the industry have programs that will allow you to earn as a tester – here is how it works:
A company will send you an item, you’ll test it, provide feedback, and receive a paycheck. You can do that for L’Oreal, but feel free to look for other companies in your spare time.
6) Get Paid To Surf The Web
Believe it or not, some online platforms will let you earn simply for surfing the web.
Swagbucks is one of the most popular sites you can join to make money that doesn’t come from your full-time job. This website will pay you to install an add-on to track your browsing activity and history.
Once you sign up with Swagbucks, you can start earning points. When you have enough of them, you can redeem them for gift cards that you can use in your favorite online stores.
Nowadays, surfing the web is one of the easiest ways to get free money – I suggest reading my in-depth Swagbucks review to learn more about the opportunity.
7) Receive Referral Credit
Don’t hate me, but I won’t list every single platform or website that will let you earn by referring friends:
There are so many of those!
Depending on your location, some of the best-referring sites might work for you, and some may not. Typically, such websites prefer to welcome members from the USA, UK, Canada, and Australia.
So, put a little effort and some upfront work into research to see if sites that will pay you to refer people to their programs work in your location.
8) Use Cashback Sites
Say what you will, but using cashback sites is one of the best ways to make money doing nothing.
Not everyone takes advantage of them. Just think about it:
How hard could it possibly be to sign up for a cashback site, let it track your purchases while you shop through its portal, and earn for your activity?
TopCashBack is my favorite cashback site. It’s free to join, and I have no doubts that you’ll enjoy it almost as much as I do!
Overall, using cashback apps is one of the best options for people who want to get paid to shop – plenty of companies will give you free PayPal money for the online shopping you do anyway!
9) Get Refunds When Prices Drop
Buying something to realize that its price is lower later is one of the worst feelings in the world. Will anyone argue with me on that?
Fortunately, certain apps will help you avoid such an unpleasant experience.
Two of the most popular apps for getting refunds are Capital One Shopping and Earny. Joining them will earn you up to $300 a year (cashback money) into your bank account with minimal effort.
While both will keep some of your earnings as a processing fee, they are still worth considering.
10) Lower Your Bills With Billshark
Downloading an app that acts as a bill negotiator is one of the most clever ways to make money doing nothing.
Billshark will do its best to lower your bills automatically – the application does most of the heavy lifting for you.
Users must provide some basic information when they sign up to use Billlshark. Once you do that, the app will comb through every bill you’re paying and try to get you a lower rate.
It won’t succeed every single time, so manage your expectations.
There is a one-time fee to use Billshark (around 40% of the amount of money it will save you). Be that as it may, having the app is worth the extra effort that goes into downloading it!
11) Use Passive Income Apps
Chances are, many of you will have a hard time believing that some mobile applications will pay you a little extra cash for simply downloading them.
Don’t you love the current time when using a passive income app is possible?
I can think of nearly 100 apps that will pay you for doing little to nothing. But how do they work?
Companies need data on new customers – their apps allow you to earn money (without much work or spending a lot of time).
For instance, some apps will pay you for small tasks, such as shopping online or running in the background while collecting your data.
12) Complete Small Tasks In Your Free Time
Why do I believe completing small tasks belongs to the category of ways to make money doing nothing? Here is why:
Doing short tasks while being busy with something else requires very little effort and no special skills. More importantly, you can benefit from such a money-making idea in a number of ways.
Many short-task sites offer PayPal cash, gift cards, and other perks in exchange for your attention. PrizeRebel is the first place to look into when you’re ready to begin (read my full PrizeRebel review for more info).
13) Watch Videos To Make Free Money Fast
Nowadays, opportunities exist to earn while watching videos from the comfort of your own home. If I have to guess, this is not an extra income idea you read about for the first time:
Making money while watching videos can be an effortless way to improve your financial situation. Even more, keeping your eyes on the screen is the perfect answer to the question of how to make money doing nothing as a kid:
Can you think of another possibility to earn more that is more suitable for children and teens? I suggest visiting Swagbucks to give Swagbucks TV a go at binge-watching!
See Also: How To Make Money Watching Netflix
14) Make Money Playing Video Games
Playing video games is another earning idea that my younger audience will appreciate.
Do you often lose track of time while playing your favorite video game? Then why not use that hobby to make some money?
Earning extra cash while doing what you love is a win-win situation, especially considering there is more than one way to monetize your game-playing skills:
- You can get paid directly for playing Mistplay
- Work as a game tester
- Become a professional gamer
- Start a game-playing YouTube channel
Devote some time to research and decide which option is the best fit.
See Also: Best Apps That Pay You To Play Games
15) Stream Video Games
I have more to say on the topic of video games, so bear with me for a while longer:
How do you feel about streaming video games? Does this sound like an ambitious project you’ll particularly enjoy?
Twitch is one of the most popular platforms to broadcast your games. Before you start, you need to have a couple of things ready – a headset, a webcam, a gaming device – you get the picture.
16) Make Money Doing Nothing But Listening To Music
From video games to music – such a transition looks like the natural thing to do to me.
Slice The Pie is an online platform you can use to make money listening to music.
Create a free account, choose a song, and start listening.
Aside from playing songs, you’ll have to write short reviews on the tracks to earn.
None of that will take up tons of your time. Plus, getting paid to listen to music is a great way to earn for something you’re doing anyway!
Learn everything there is to know about Slice The Pie.
17) Get Paid To Read Emails
Quite frankly, reading emails might seem boring for most of you. Where is the fun in it?
Well, not every way to make money doing nothing will be entertaining. Still, getting paid to read emails is worth mentioning in this article:
It’s a job that pays you to do nothing or do the bare minimum.
InboxDollars is the obvious choice for a platform to earn by reading emails. Consider joining Fusion Cash as well – you’ll grab $5 as a sign-up bonus.
18) Make Money As A Travel Planner
What does a travel planner do? If you catch yourself wondering that, you’re not the only one:
Careful planning of traveling is one of the newer side hustles you can start today. Not too many individuals are doing it at the moment.
But that’s good news for you – you won’t have to face tons of competition while you work to build a client base.
Chances are, travel planning sounds like a suitable full-time income source for you. Then, I suggest reading everything you can find on the topic before you make a single move.
19) Earn From Your Travel Bookings
At first glance, travel bookings may seem like the previous entry on my list of ways to make money doing nothing. However, it isn’t:
Here, you have to let the Dosh App assist you. So, download Dosh, book your travel through it, and earn extra money.
No matter how you look at it, the app makes planning your vacation way more fun, considering you’ll also get cash, which is the main reason to use it!
See Also: How To Get Paid To Travel
20) Sell Your Old Books
Do you think that no one reads books anymore? Hopefully, you don’t because you’ll be wrong:
The market for old books is enormous these days.
Use BookScouter to scan your books, find prices, and sell them.
Yes, it is as easy to make money from selling your old books as it sounds!
21) Sell Items You Don’t Need
Above all, the most popular way to make money doing nothing is selling stuff you already own but don’t need anymore.
There are things in every home that shouldn’t be there any longer. As a rule of thumb, if you haven’t used something for years, you’ll never use it again.
Think about all your possessions, and you’ll agree it’s time for some of them to go.
Amazon, eBay, and Shpock are the top online marketplaces where you can upload photos of different items and list them for sale.
Related Read:
- 50 Things You Can Sell Today
- 23 Places To Sell Used Furniture
- Where Should I Sell My Pokemon Cards?
- Top-Selling Crafts
- Best Websites Like Craigslist For Selling Items Online
22) Get Rid Of Your Clutter
Speaking of clearing your living space, let’s discuss completely decluttering your house.
Here, you’ll have to do a bit more than lift a finger for a while:
How much effort is required to clear your junk and transform it into cash? You’ll be the one to answer that question.
Why are you still keeping old CDs, phones, or electronics?
23) Clear Your Wardrobe
While clearing your wardrobe can easily belong to one of the previous two entries, I’m giving it a separate paragraph.
I’m sure the ladies reading understand my decision:
Parting ways with clothes might feel like a difficult thing to do. Still, at some point, you’ll have to get to it.
Not only will your wardrobe breathe again once all the unnecessary clothing pieces are gone, but you’ll earn cash for the effort.
Feel free to visit the best online platforms for selling clothes.
24) Sell Photos Online
Are you one of those people for whom snapping stunning photos comes naturally? I bet your friends and loved ones are grateful for your talent when they’re the subjects of your images.
All that is sweet and great, but it doesn’t pay your bills. How come you’re not looking into the highest-paying jobs for photographers yet?
You have no idea how much money you’re missing:
Many photography jobs will pay you $100 per hour for your services. Plus, some online platforms will allow you to upload photos for sale.
Related: How To Make Money Selling Feet Pics
25) Make Money Doing Nothing Through Social Media
These days, most people spend tons of time on Social Media – it’s just the way we live.
Is Social Media something you can’t escape for longer than a few hours? Then you probably already have a large following on one or more Social Media platforms.
So, how do you feel about earning a decent amount of money while collaborating with top brands?
Hopefully, you feel great about it, and signing up as a creator on SocialSpark is the first step.
See Also: Step-By-Step Guide To Becoming A Social Media Manager
26) Work As An Online Friend
Speaking of Social Media, people often form real friendships while meeting on Facebook or Twitter.
But right now, you can become online friends with individuals outside of your own Social Media network:
Being an online pal is a work-at-home job that pays weekly. This great side hustle will not make you uncomfortable – the conversations happen only online.
Believe it or not, working as an online friend pays very well – the best part is you can earn up to $120 per hour.
Related Read:
27) Earn As A Mystery Shopper
If you don’t mind me asking – how often do you go shopping?
Assuming going out to shop happens more than every other day, becoming a mystery shopper will be the perfect fit for you.
It doesn’t take a genius to figure out what a mystery shopper does, so I don’t feel the need to explain the nature of this job.
BestMark is one of the companies offering mystery shoppers legit ways to earn while having a good time. A well-paid mystery shopping job provides a simple way to benefit from the gig economy and work toward achieving your financial goals.
28) Get Paid To Wait In Line
Let’s stay on the subject of outside activities for a moment while discussing ways to make money doing nothing by waiting in a queue. After all, staying in one spot without doing anything is a good idea to stumble upon when researching different areas of potential income sources.
Time is the most precious asset anyone can have. That’s why many people prefer not to waste their time waiting in a queue.
They’ll pay you to do that instead of them.
Line sitting is especially popular in the USA. Feel free to advertise your services in that department by creating a Gig on Fiverr.
29) Get Paid To Lose Weight
Finally, getting paid for losing weight is an activity that won’t work if you stay in one place. Don’t worry, though:
There is no need to do more than what you’re doing already.
Download any of the best mobile apps that will pay you for walking.
Having such an app on your phone will allow you to earn for the movement you do every day anyway!
See Also: 45 Ways To Get Paid To Workout
30) Become A Roadie
Are you wondering what a Roadie is?
Roadie is an app that pays you to deliver stuff when you’re already going somewhere.
May I clarify – you don’t have to get up and complete the delivery at any time someone places an order. Instead, Roadie will pay you to deliver while going to your desired destination.
How cool is that as a legitimate way to earn?
Related: Earn Money As A Dasher
31) Advertise On Your Car
Another way to make money passively with your vehicle is to advertise on it.
Quite frankly, there is nothing new about this concept:
Many car owners earn a decent amount of cash without much effort.
Depending on where you live, look for companies that will let you wrap your vehicle in advertisements. I doubt that you won’t be able to find at least one!
32) Rent Out Your Car
Chances are, some of you don’t drive your cars every single day.
Can you afford to stay without a car for some time? Great, then visit Turo and rent out your car so someone else can pay you for driving it.
Creating passive income streams through rental income is one of the most strategic ways to improve your financial situation.
33) Rent Out Your Parking Space
I understand if you’re unwilling to part ways with your beloved car, even for a few days. But what about your parking space?
Letting someone else use it will earn you around $10 a day. Ten bucks are not a lot of money, but you’ll earn them for doing nothing!
34) Rent Out Your Extra Room
The topic of renting out stuff to make money doing nothing is not over yet. Now, let’s discuss letting out a property:
That’s one of the most popular passive income ideas nowadays.
Do you own a house you barely use? Or perhaps you have a spare room that may accommodate a guest?
Airbnb will take care of all that:
Listing your extra space for rent on the platform is the best way to boost your income.
35) Find House-Sitting Gigs
A different opportunity to earn through housing is to get paid for sitting. Yes, there is a way to make money doing work that doesn’t feel like working!
People who own many properties sleep more peacefully if they know that their houses have some protection from burglars.
In some cases, house sitting can be a great deal when combined with pet sitting. Hopefully, you won’t mind that.
House-sitting will earn you around $10 a day – not bad for a day’s work that is anything but working!
36) Become A Bed Tester
Let’s leave the idea of sitting in a house for now and concentrate on a specific item every bedroom has – the bed.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but is there a better way to make money doing nothing than sleeping? I don’t think so, and people who work as professional sleepers will back me up.
As a bed tester, you’ll earn money for testing beds and sharing your experience afterward. Unfortunately, securing a bed testing gig is not that easy.
Research large companies that operate in industries where hundreds of beds are necessary, like hotels.
See Also: Best Ways To Get Paid To Sleep
37) Invest In Real Estate
Now, it’s time to introduce you to an option that requires money – investing in real estate.
Heads up – there are ways to start investing in real estate without sacrificing your life savings:
Real estate apps allow you to begin investing with $10 instead of thousands. Don’t waste your time researching them:
FundRise will not let you down.
38) Flip Old Houses
Again, flipping old houses can’t happen unless you have money ready to invest.
House flipping is when you buy an undervalued property, hire people to fix it, and sell it for a profit.
Flipping old houses can be a lucrative side hustle or even your own business.
39) Peer-To-Peer Lending
To summarize, peer-to-peer lending is a business model that connects individuals who need a loan to others who can give it. You’re guessing right – your place is in the second category.
If you decide to do peer-to-peer lending, you should carefully read the information about your potential clients. Once the exchange happens, you’ll earn interest and the loan repayment.
By all means, peer-to-peer lending is one of the new ideas to consider if you want to earn cash fast.
40) Self-Publish A Book/eBook
Next on my list of ways to make money doing nothing is book publishing.
Becoming an author will require some initial work, though:
No matter your area of expertise, I’m sure you can think of a topic to write about in a book or an eBook. Tools like Sqribble make the editing process as easy as it can get.
Amazon is a great platform to list your book for sale.
41) Get A New Credit Card
Many banks attract new customers by offering sign-up bonuses for opening a new account. However, you’ll have to spend a certain amount in the first months. Typically, that option works whether you need a new credit or debit card.
42) High-Yield Savings Accounts
Do you want to get paid for nothing? Then, consider storing cash in a high-yield savings account.
Doing that will allow you to access your money each time you need to, while earning interest simultaneously.
43) Invest In Dividend Stocks
Different ways exist to benefit from dividend stocks – you have to choose the one that will allow you to profit for no additional cost.
You have a good chance to succeed with that – most online brokers will help you start investing without paying a commission. Be cautious, though:
While the stock market can be very profitable, finding the right stocks to invest in requires knowledge and expertise.
44) Click Ads For Money
Watching ads for cash is a well-known way to make money online. It has both benefits and disadvantages:
Anyone can click on advertisements to earn a few dollars. Unfortunately, doing that will not make you wealthy.
If you want to earn a lot of cash, you can start an affiliate marketing program or an online business. For instance, offering search engine optimization or graphic design services pays more than ad-watching!
45) Create An Online Course
Here is a money-making idea with high-income potential – online course creation.
Creating and selling online courses is an excellent way to build a passive income source. Content creators with expertise in a certain area shouldn’t think twice about it:
All you need is your knowledge and internet connection to get started!
46) Sell Digital Products
Can you guess what type of digital products sell well on platforms like Etsy? Printables, planners, calendars, wall art posters, and coloring pages are great things that can earn a decent income.
Anyone can create such products to make money from home – online platforms like Canva will help you through the process.
47) Monetize YouTube Videos
Starting and monetizing a YouTube channel doesn’t belong in the category of ways to make money doing nothing at first glance. You’ll change your mind once you look into one of the top search engines further:
YouTube creators make money in their sleep through ad placement, affiliate marketing, and sponsored content.
48) Take Online Surveys
Even the best survey sites won’t replace your full-time income, and that’s OK:
Downloading survey apps to earn extra cash by sharing your opinion is still worth it since you don’t have to invest much time.
49) Buy An Apartment Building
While this idea requires solid investment, it will allow you to save tons of money in the long run. Keep one of the flats for yourself, live rent-free, and rent out the rest.
50) Pose For Art Students
Can you stand still for hours? Not everyone can manage that:
Posing in art classes pays over $25 an hour.
Make Money Doing Nothing: My Closing
Well, this is for today – my list of ways to get paid for nothing has to end. Until I update it with more ideas, I would love to hear your opinion about it.
What’s your favorite way to earn without doing much or nothing at all?
Let me know in the comments section!
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I wasn’t sure there was a way to earn money without doing much. Now I know that there is!
There sure are, Nadia!