25 Methods to Earn Money While Doing Nothing: Concepts for Making Income While You Sleep

      Side Hustle Nation is committed to enhancing your personal profitability. To achieve this, we frequently collaborate with companies that have similar goals. If you register or make a purchase through a link from our partners, we may receive compensation without any additional cost to you. Learn more. Advertiser Disclosure: Side Hustle Nation may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened. This partnership may influence how and where links are displayed on this site. Not all financial companies or available financial offers are included on this site. The information on this page is current as of the posting date; however, some of the mentioned offers may have expired. Is it really possible to get paid for doing nothing? The idea of relaxing on the couch or enjoying a day at the beach while money comes in is certainly enticing, but is it feasible? The good news is that it can be, but earning passive income typically requires an initial investment of time or money. For instance, there are many days when I'm not working but still receiving payments due to investments I made months or years ago. Nonetheless, here are some ideas to begin earning money with relatively minimal effort, and some that could evolve into time-leveraged income streams in the future.

      1. Connect Your Phone and TV

      Nielsen Pulse pays you $3 per month for each device you connect, and $18 per month if you connect your TV! That's over $20 monthly and $250 yearly just for completing a few simple steps. (They utilize your anonymized usage data for market research.)

      2. Pose for Art Classes

      If you excel at staying still, a side hustle as an art model might suit you. According to Indeed, art models earn an average of $25 per hour.

      3. Test Mattresses

      The quintessential side hustle must be getting paid to sleep, right? Occasionally, I come across ads looking for paid mattress testers — with compensation sometimes reaching $3,000. These roles often involve writing detailed product evaluations, so there is some work after you've enjoyed some rest, but it could be worth considering.

      4. Participate in Sleep Studies / Clinical Trials

      Another option is to look for clinical trials or sleep studies. Day1Labs offers a free service to find clinical trials nearby, some of which pay $1,000 or more.

      5. Wait in Line

      Robert Samuel created SameOleLineDudes.com in New York City during the launch of the iPhone 5s. Recognizing the high demand for the new device, he posted an ad on Craigslist offering to wait in line for someone seeking the phone. According to EliteDaily, he once earned $14k in a single day waiting for iPhones, and now oversees a team of 20-30 to assist him. The standard rate is $45 for the first 2 hours, then $10 for every additional half-hour. Robert noted that most of his clients are tourists who prefer exploring the city to waiting in line. Could you establish a similar service in your area?

      6. Observe People Signing Documents

      "Work" is often subjective, but in terms of labor, becoming a mobile notary loan signing agent typically requires minimal effort. After obtaining your notary commission, you guide new borrowers through their mortgage documents, usually earning $75-150 per appointment. This makes for a great side hustle since many signings occur during evenings and weekends. Several Side Hustle Nation members report earnings ranging from $1,000-$8,000 monthly for "watching people sign papers." Interested in an example? You can view the interview with Doug Hoyer below…

      7. Stop Overpaying for Insurance

      Saving money is akin to getting paid to do nothing since it involves a small one-time effort and allows you to benefit for months or years. If you haven't compared car insurance rates in a couple of years, you're likely overpaying. Why? Your car's value has probably decreased, so insurance costs should be lower! Use Insurify to compare quotes from various providers and save an average of $489 annually!

      8. Invest in Commercial Real Estate

      With as little as $10, you can acquire a share of commercial real estate through Fundrise. I’ve been investing with Fundrise since 2015 and have continued to contribute as a way to invest in real estate without managing "tenants and toilets" myself. Disclosure: I receive compensation when you sign up using my referral link. These are my own opinions. They distribute your investment across a portfolio of different properties and provide quarterly dividends.

      Best for Passive Income

      Fundrise

      4.0

      Fundrise is one of the largest and top crowdfunded real estate investment platforms, managing $7 billion. They make high-quality institutional investments accessible to everyone, starting at just $10.

      Pros: Start with just $10, quarterly cash flow, instant diversification, strong historical performance, lower volatility

      Cons: Liquidity issues, less