If you think investing is just for people in a higher tax bracket than you, think again.
Many low-cost investment options offer regular returns, helping you make more money without doing more work.
Maybe you’re starting small with an emergency fund. Maybe you’re exploring stocks, bonds, and real estate. Either way, the key to achieving long-term financial health is building a sustainable strategy for growing your wealth.
One of the best places to start is by learning how to invest and make money daily. We’ve put together a guide to help you out.
10 Smart investments to make money daily
Ready to put your money to work? Here’s what to invest in to make money every day.
1. Open a high-yield savings account
The annual percentage yield (APY) for the average savings account is just 0.45%, which means the interest you earn won’t get you far. But high-yield savings accounts (HYSA) offer significantly higher rates — sometimes as high as 5%.
What does that translate to in dollars? Well, if you invest $10,000 in a traditional savings account, your 0.45% APY will earn you roughly $45 in interest over the course of one year. But if you put that same $10,000 into a HYSA with a 5% APY, you’ll walk away with more than $500 in interest.
Your funds will grow a little each day, with accounts paying out the return at regular intervals. For many accounts, you’ll receive your interest at the end of the month.
2. Invest in Certificates of Deposit (CDs)
HYSAs aren’t the only low-risk investment option. Certificates of Deposit (CDs) are another smart choice for the risk-averse. A CD is like a savings account, but with a catch: You agree to lock in your money for a set period (anywhere from a few months to a few years). In return, you get a guaranteed interest rate that’s often higher than a regular savings account.
If the CDs you’re considering don’t offer more than a HYSA, the few extra dollars of interest might not be worth keeping your money tied up. But some CD rates go as high as 9.50% APY. With a rate like that, you could almost double what you’d earn with a HYSA. If you can commit to letting the money sit until the term is up, a CD is an easy money-making investment that lets you build wealth with minimal effort.
3. Buy bonds
Bonds offer a stable way to earn regular returns by lending your money to the government or corporations, which pay you back with interest over time. Bonds are generally low-risk, making them ideal if you want a steady income without the highs and lows of the stock market. Say you invest $10,000 in a bond with a 3% return — you’d collect $300 in interest by the end of the year.
4. Purchase stocks
Investing in stocks means buying a share of ownership in a company. Stocks offer high growth potential, but there’s a downside — they’re often unpredictable.
Not sure how to make money in stocks? Opening an investment account is a smart place to start, and there are some beginner-friendly strategies to try:
- Buy and hold. When you buy and hold, you invest in companies you believe will grow over time and hold onto your stocks through market ups and downs.
- Explore new industries. Diversifying into emerging sectors like green energy or tech can help you tap into new, fresh growth opportunities.
- Stay educated. Stocks are all about smart predictions, so keep tabs on market trends and news that may impact the value of your shares.
5. Earn dividends
When you buy stocks, you become a partial owner of the company. Go a step further by purchasing stocks from companies that share a portion of their profits with shareholders through dividend payments. When you buy dividend-paying stocks, you don’t just have the chance to benefit from an increase in the stock’s value over time — you can also earn income from regular dividends, even if the stock price doesn’t change.
6. Invest in exchange-traded funds (ETFs)
An exchange-traded fund (ETF) is a collection of stocks or bonds bundled together to create a diversified portfolio. You can buy and sell these funds daily, just like individual stocks. And since your money is distributed across multiple companies or sectors, investing in an ETF can lower the risk of loss.
7. Invest in real estate
If you’re willing and able to take on the risk and responsibility of property ownership, real estate is one of the most effective ways to generate daily passive income. Owning a rental property can yield regular earnings while offering long-term value growth, but it’s not for everyone. If buying property feels like too big of a leap (or out of your budget), real estate investment trusts (REITs) are a good alternative (that we explore in the next tip).
8. Buy shares of real estate investment trusts (REITs)
An REIT allows you to invest in real estate assets without the commitment of owning a physical property. Think of it like an ETF for real estate. REIT companies handle all the property ownership and management, and investors like you reap the rewards, earning profits as dividends. And while many REITs don’t offer much (if any) more than a good HYSA, a super high-dividend REIT could yield as much as 18.6%.
9. Try micro-investing apps
Acorns, Stash, and other micro-investing apps make it easy to invest without even feeling the money leaving your account. Instead of requiring a big deposit, the apps connect to your checking account, rounding up your purchases to invest the spare change. The earnings won’t be huge overnight, of course, but micro-investing can build your wealth slowly over time — and these apps are an especially great option if your investment journey is just starting.
10. Start peer-to-peer lending
Peer-to-peer (P2P) lending platforms connect investors with borrowers, meaning you can earn interest from providing loans just like banks do. The lending platform handles things like the credit check, loan disbursement, and repayment. You offer up the funds that get loaned out and earn interest in return — an average of 6.99%, so a few percentage points above the typical HYSA. Just make sure you vet the P2P platforms you’re considering. The P2P industry is still young, so you want to make sure your investment is in good hands.
Smart ways to invest and make money
Once you’ve managed short-term borrowing needs, the next step is building financial stability and eventually, wealth. Investing doesn’t have to be complex or risky. The key is to start small, stay consistent, and choose tools that balance your goals and comfort with risk. Here are a few accessible ways to begin.
Invest in dividend ETFs
Dividend exchange-traded Funds (ETFs) can be a practical entry point for anyone who wants to make money investing with moderate risk. These funds pool shares of companies that regularly pay dividends, providing steady income alongside potential capital growth.
You can buy dividend ETFs through most online brokerages, and they don’t require large upfront investments. Reinvesting dividends can compound your returns over time, which is one of the most reliable investing strategies to earn money sustainably.
Use robo-advisors for automated investing
If you’re unsure where to start, robo-advisors can automate the investing process. These platforms build and manage diversified portfolios based on your goals and risk tolerance, making it simple to invest your money, even if you’re new to the markets.
They automatically rebalance investments and reinvest dividends, which can help you grow your savings without constant monitoring. Robo-advisors tend to be a simple, low-effort way for beginners to learn how to invest and make money daily through consistent, data-driven strategies.
Invest in a side business or digital assets
Beyond traditional markets, you can make money on the side by investing in yourself through side hustles, digital products, or income-generating assets like online courses, templates, or niche websites.
These options require more effort but offer creative ways to invest money and make money. By building something that creates value over time, you can turn your skills and ideas into sustainable income streams.
Tips for investing your money smartly
We’ve already hinted at this, but it’s crucial to understand that investing isn’t enough: If you don’t want to lose money, you have to do it right. These helpful tips will show you how to make money investing instead of wishing you’d accepted the interest from a standard savings account.
Do your research
Look into several different options to see how they align with your financial goals. Knowing how much money you have to work with, what your risk tolerance is, and how much you want to gain in returns is essential to creating a sustainable plan.
For example, if you’re saving for retirement, you might be comfortable with a higher level of risk. That means there’s a greater chance your investment value will fall, but your potential returns are higher over several years. But if you’re hoping to buy a new car within the year, reliable, low-risk investments are a better option so you don’t lose any precious dollars.
Seek professional advice
A financial advisor can help guide your decisions, especially if you’re new to investing or have more ambitious financial goals. A professional’s insights can play a key role in helping to maximize returns and navigate potential pitfalls.
Diversify your investments
Spreading your money across different types of assets (some in HYSAs, some in REITs, etc.) can help mitigate risk and increase the potential for consistent returns.
Experiment with different strategies
Test out various investment ideas to see which ones yield the highest returns. You’re more likely to achieve a balanced portfolio if you try for a blend of high-yield, low-risk, and long-term investments.
Understand risk vs. reward
Every investment carries some level of risk, and understanding that trade-off is essential before you start. Generally, the higher the potential return, the greater the chance of volatility or loss.
Conservative investors may prefer dividend ETFs or savings tools that offer steady, lower returns. Those comfortable with more uncertainty might explore equities or digital assets for higher potential growth.
Reinvest your returns
One of the simplest ways to make money investing is through compounding. When you reinvest your earnings, the gains compound and have potential to generate additional returns.
If your ETF or portfolio pays dividends, opt for automatic reinvestment. Reinvesting teaches discipline and focuses your strategy on growth rather than short-term spending, which aligns with a long-term mindset of investing money to build wealth.
Start small and grow gradually
You don’t need large sums to start investing. Begin with small, regular contributions, even $5 or $10 a week, and increase gradually as your confidence and income grow. Many apps and robo-advisors now allow fractional investing, which makes it easier to invest and make money daily through consistent, automated deposits.
Discover the power of saving with EarnIn
Building a solid financial future starts with combining smart investments with good saving and spending habits. And as your wealth grows, you’ll worry less and less when unexpected expenses come your way.
Still not sure how to make money every day? Savings is one of the options with the lowest barriers to entry. If you’re just getting started, a tool like EarnIn’s Tip Yourself1 is a helpful companion, making it easy to set aside a little money (from $1 to $100) with every paycheck. You can transfer out money from your EarnIn Tip Jar any time you please, which makes building up your savings easier than ever.
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FAQs about how to invest money and earn
What is the best investment for daily income?
There’s no single “best” investment for daily income, but dividend ETFs, high-yield savings accounts, and money market funds all have the potential to provide regular returns. Some investors also earn daily through peer-to-peer lending or side-income businesses that generate consistent profits.
How to turn $100 into $1,000 investing?
The key to grow money investing is time and compounding, not luck. Start by investing your $100 in diversified, low-cost assets like ETFs or index funds and add to it regularly. Reinvest any dividends or gains, and allow growth to build steadily. Avoid risky “get-rich-quick” schemes that promise unrealistic returns.
Can you really make money every day by investing?
In theory, you can earn returns daily through dividends, interest, or incremental price changes, but investing should focus on steady, long-term growth, not daily profits. Consistency and patience make a bigger difference than constant trading.
What is the safest way to invest and earn daily?
Safer investment options include dividend ETFs, robo-advisors, and high-yield savings tools. They can provide a modest, reliable income with low risk. Combining these with regular saving, for example, through tools like EarnIn that help you manage cash flow, can create a stable foundation for investing and earning sustainably.
Please note, the material collected in this post is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be relied upon as or construed as advice regarding any specific circumstances. Nor is it an endorsement of any organization or services.
This Blog was sponsored by EarnIn. While the author received compensation, the information shared is grounded in independent research and intended to provide helpful and accurate guidance to readers.
EarnIn is a financial technology company, not a bank. The Cash Out product is provided exclusively by EarnIn. Certain bank products are provided by Evolve Bank & Trust and/or Lead Bank, Members FDIC. The FDIC insures deposits to protect your money in the event of a bank failure. More details about deposit insurance here. Additional services in the app are offered in partnership with trusted third parties.
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Tip Yourself Account funds and Tip Jars are held with Evolve Bank & Trust, Member FDIC and FDIC insured up to $250,000. Tip Yourself is a 0% Annual Percentage Yield and $0 monthly fee service deposit account. For more information/details visit Evolve Bank & Trust Customer Account Terms.The FDIC provides deposit insurance to protect your money in the event of a bank failure. More details about deposit insurance here.
