Working may be the primary way most people make money. But the more people learn about personal finance, the more they get curious about one very tempting alternative: passive income. The idea pops up in viral TikToks, YouTube videos, and Reddit threads promising secret hacks and makes us all wonder, how realistic is it, really, to create streams of passive income?
Unless you own additional property or hold a large amount of money in investments, chances are you won’t be able to replace your paycheck with passive income. But there are still some low-effort ways to help you make extra money each month without a side hustle or an extra part-time gig. And using it to cover the bills or groceries can make all the difference these days. Check out these six ways to help you make the extra cash you need.
1. Earn cash back on everyday purchases
Many credit cards, shopping apps, and browser extensions offer cash back when you spend on everyday purchases like groceries, gas, or online shopping. An average spender may earn around $5–$20 each month, or $100–$200 a year. Many cash back tools are free, and some allow you to “stack” the rewards for a bigger combined amount. But make sure to use the credit cards responsibly and only buy what you know you can pay off — and be aware that terms and conditions may vary by company.
2. Get paid through sign-up and referral bonuses
Banks, apps, subscription services, and other companies often offer rewards to new customers or existing users who refer people. Depending on the company, you may earn $10–$100 per referral or a sign-up bonus. Just remember that the latter is a one-time perk, and the former may be capped or come with additional instructions before the referral reward is forwarded to you, so always read the fine print.
3. Collect points from loyalty and rewards programs
Airlines, hotels, your local grocery stores, gas stations, and retailers often run free loyalty programs you can join, letting you collect points for discounts or free items. You may earn a few dollars for each shopping trip, free fuel, or travel discounts. Make sure to skip paid programs — unless you’re certain the math works out — and don’t forget to redeem your rewards.
4. Rent out unused belongings
If you went through all the stuff in your closets or the garage, the chances are you’d find a number of idle items you rarely, if ever, use. Don’t worry, we’re not telling you to part with them forever; just for multiple small periods of time. Tools, spare furniture, extra electronics, or even clothing can earn you at least $20–$50 when rented out locally or online. Bigger items will bring in more. Remember to factor in wear and tear, insurance, and platform fees when you set your price.
5. Use dividend or high-yield accounts
Savings accounts, reward checking, or dividend-paying stocks can earn you extra passive income, like 3%–5% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on a high-yield savings account or a few dollars monthly per $1,000 saved. But remember, rates vary, and investing carries risk. This is not financial advice. Using FDIC-insured accounts will keep your money much safer.
6. Shop with cash back browser extensions
Once installed, rebate browser extensions — like Honey, Rakuten, and Ibotta — automatically provide small refunds while you shop online. You might earn 1%–5% of your spend, credited back after a few weeks. Once set up, you don’t have to do any other work, making this a truly passive income tool; however, keep in mind that payouts may take time to process and transfer.
7. Sell unused gift cards or cash out points
Many people don’t know that they can turn unwanted gift cards or leftover loyalty balances into cash using gift card exchange sites or retail programs. Depending on demand, you can earn around 80%–90% of the card value. Just make sure to only use trusted platforms and beware of processing fees.
8. Install passive data-sharing apps
There are many apps out there that are willing to pay users for anonymous usage data. These include MobileXpression, Caden, and Nielsen Computer and Mobile Panel. Some let you earn money by sharing unused internet data in the background. Others may involve users sharing anonymized location and app usage data for market research and audience measurement. It can typically generate around $1–$5 a month, which isn’t a lot, but it's truly passive after the initial setup. Before you sign up, though, make sure to carefully read the privacy policy to understand what data is shared.
9. Try round-up savings and micro-investing apps
These apps round up your everyday purchases and automatically save or invest the money. It can start by generating a few dollars a week, but the longer you use them, the more the amount will compound and grow. Of course, investments carry risk, which can cause your amount to fluctuate, but microsaving apps are some of the most low-effort ways to generate extra income.
10. Use bill negotiation or subscription canceling tools
Saving money counts as making money because it frees up cash you already have to use as you’d like. Some services negotiate lower rates on recurring bills or cancel unused subscriptions for you, which can earn you, on average, $10–$30 per month, with some instances bringing in over $100 annually.
These are not the only ways you can earn some extra money for yourself every month. If you’ve already optimized all these tips and want even more ways to save and make more cash — either with some side hustles, additional at-home work, or even more apps and websites — we’ve got you covered.
Need money now? EarnIn can help
While the ideas above can be slow-and-steady, sometimes you need cash right away. That’s where EarnIn can help. It’s not a way to make money but a helpful tool to get your earnings as you make them versus waiting to get paid. With Cash Out1, you can access up to $150/day, with a max of $750 between paydays from your earned wages — with no interest or mandatory fees, just optional tips.2 Or you can use Lightning Speed3, which lets you transfer your funds in minutes — even on weekends and holidays — for $3.99 per transaction.
Easy wins can add to financial freedom
Individually, these passive income tricks may not feel life-changing. But together, they can make a real difference. With over 60% of Americans living paycheck to paycheck, small wins like cash back, loyalty rewards, or lower bills can add up to create much-needed breathing room and alleviate some of that financial stress.
That’s why EarnIn is passionate about creating new and effective ways to ease everyday people’s financial lives, and, as a result, some of their stress. Millions of people use EarnIn to get more control over their money with tools like Balance Shield4 (instantly alerts and transfers from your own pay to help protect against overdraft fees), Credit Monitoring5 (tracks your credit score for free), and Cash Out1 (gives you early access to your paycheck of up to $150/day).
Explore EarnIn.com to see how people are building more flexibility into their everyday finances and get inspired. Because when your money moves more freely, so can you.
FAQs:
What is the easiest way to make money without a job?
Cash back or rewards on everyday purchases — it doesn’t require extra time or effort, just using tools you likely already have.
Can you really make passive income without investing?
Yes — simple moves like loyalty programs, referral bonuses, or using bill negotiation tools can put money back in your pocket without upfront investment.
How much can you realistically earn from cash back or rewards?
Most people earn about $5–$20 a month, which adds up to $100–$200 a year, depending on spending habits.
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. Banking services are provided by our bank partners on certain products other than Cash Out.
1
A pay period is the time between your paychecks, such as weekly, biweekly, or monthly. EarnIn determines your daily and pay period limits (“Daily Max” and “Pay Period Max”) based on your income and financial risk factors as outlined in the Cash Out Maxes section of our Cash Out User Agreement. EarnIn reserves the right to adjust the Daily Max and Pay Period Max at its discretion. Your actual Daily Max will be displayed in your EarnIn account before each Cash Out.EarnIn does not charge interest on Cash Outs or mandatory fees for standard transfers, which usually take 1–2 business days. For faster transfers, you can choose the Lightning Speed option and pay a fee to receive funds within 30 minutes. Lightning Speed may not be available at all times and/or to all customers; see the Lightning Speed Fee Table and Cash Out User Agreement for details and eligibility requirements. Tips are optional and do not affect the quality or availability of services.
2
Tips go to EarnIn and help us provide tools such as Credit Monitoring for free and keep Lightning Speed fees low. Your service quality and availability aren’t affected by whether you tip or not.3
Lightning Speed is an optional service that allows you to expedite the transfer of funds for a fee. Depending on the product, the fee may be charged by EarnIn or its banking partner. Lightning Speed may not be available to all customers. Actual transfer speeds depend on your bank. See the Lightning Speed Fee Table for details.4
Balance Shield provides free alerts when your bank account balance drops below the threshold you set in your EarnIn account. You can also enable automatic transfers ($100/day — subject to your available earnings — with a limit of $750/pay period), if your bank account balance falls below your set threshold. If your available earnings are insufficient to transfer the $100, the transfer will not be completed.You choose the speed of these automatic transfers. Standard speed is available at no cost and the transfer typically takes 1-2 business days. Lightning Speed is available for a fee [see Lightning Speed Fee Table] and the transfer typically takes less than 30 minutes. You will also have the option to set a tip for automatic transfers. Tips are optional and can be $0; however, if you choose to set a tip, it will be applied to each Balance Shield transfer. Whether you tip, how much, and how often you tip does not impact the quality and availability of services. You can cancel the alerts and/or transfers at any time in your EarnIn account settings. See the Cash Out User Agreement for more details. While Balance Shield can help you avoid overdrafts, it does not guarantee protection from third-party fees, and its effectiveness depends on your usage and bank activity.5
Your VantageScore 3.0 from Experian® indicates your credit risk level and is not used by all lenders, so don't be surprised if your lender uses a score that's different from your VantageScore 3.0. Learn more. 
