8 Ways to Make Money By Doing (Almost) Nothing Even In This Economy

Living paycheck to paycheck can feel like an endless loop. You manage to stretch your funds until Friday, but by the time Monday rolls around, you're scraping by again. Food, bills, rent, gas — they eat up every last cent, leaving little to no breathing room.

But it doesn’t have to stay this hard. With a few small, smart changes, you can start bringing in extra income — without clocking into another job or giving up your free time. It’s all about using low-effort strategies that work in the background.

Here’s what you can do to start earning more by doing (almost) nothing:

• Automate cashback and savings apps
  Use tools like Rakuten or Honey that reward you for purchases you were already going to make.
• Open a high-yield savings account
  Let your money grow faster just by parking it somewhere smarter.
• Rent out your stuff (or space)
  Platforms like Turo, Airbnb, or Fat Llama let you earn from things you already own.
• Cash in on sign-up bonuses
  Many banks and apps offer free money just for opening an account or meeting basic requirements.
• Get paid for your data or opinions
  Survey sites, browser extensions, or data-sharing apps pay you passively — no heavy lifting required.

These ideas won’t make you rich overnight, but they can relieve some of the pressure. A few minutes today could mean a little more financial freedom tomorrow — without the burnout.

Want to see all eight easy strategies? Let’s get into them one by one.