How To Make Money Without A Job – 26 Proven Ways

Presented byTom Blake Hours Fresh Since

Unemployed but need to make money now? Fortunately, there are ways to make money without a job to get the cash you need. From online side hustles to the gig economy, there are plenty of ways to make money without working.

At WebMonkey, we've tested hundreds of side hustle ideas over the years. And these are some of our favorite that can pay you quickly while unemployed.

How To Make Money Without A Job

1. Take Part In Paid Surveys

While getting paid to take surveys won’t replace a regular job, it can help you earn extra money to pay bills or buy groceries. 

Our Editor-In-Chief Tom has been making money with survey sites ever since his college days. And here are some of the best cash survey sites you can use for free:

These sites generally pay $3 to $5 per hour. But they're an easy way to make money without working that anyone can get started with.

👉 Earn free cash with Branded Surveys!

2. Make Money In The Gig Economy

The gig economy is full of opportunities to make money while unemployed. From food delivery gigs to getting paid to shop for other people, you have so many options to consider.

Some of the highest paying gig apps include:

The gig economy is flexible too. This makes it great for people with busy schedules, parents, or anyone looking to hustle part-time.

👉 Start earning with DoorDash!

3. Sell Stuff You Own

We all have items we no longer need laying around our house. And this is an easy opportunity to make quick money without a job.

Electronics, toys, jewelry, furniture, clothing, tools, and collectibles are excellent categories to begin selling. And you can find local cash buyers on marketplaces like Craigslist, Facebook, or OfferUp.

There are online marketplaces where you can sell too, like eBay or Poshmark. And you can always host your own garage sale or try a local pawn shop if online selling isn't for you.

Whether it’s clothing, toys, memorabilia, furniture, tools or another niche, here are some places to sell things online.

4. Open A High-Yield Savings Account

Banks often have lucrative sign up bonuses that pay you free money just for opening an account and moving money around. Plus, you can earn passive income by putting your savings into a high-yield savings account.

Take Current as an example. This fee-free digital banking solution pays you 4% APY on up to $6,000. It also has a $50 sign up bonus for new members if you set up qualifying direct deposits.

You can find similar bonuses with checking accounts and investment brokerages. If you have some savings, this is a super easy way to make money without a job while also putting your money to work.

👉 Get started with Current!

5. Freelance Online

Freelancing is an excellent way to earn money online for free and without traditional employment. And the team at WebMonkey have made money this way for years.

Some of the most in-demand freelancing jobs and skills include:

Asking your network or getting on LinkedIn is one way you can find freelance gigs. Alternatively, try out remote job websites like FlexJobs or marketplaces like Fiverr to find your first clients.

6. Use Cash Back Apps

Cash back reward apps are a dime-a-dozen these days. But they can help you save money each month and pay you without having a job.

These apps work by paying you with cash or gift cards for your shopping. And they're a great way to reduce living costs while you search for work. Some of our favorite apps include:

Upside App

Even an extra $50 a month goes a long way in boosting your income without a job. And all of these apps are free!

👉 Start saving with Upside!

7. Play Games To Earn Money

Are you a fan of PC or mobile gaming? Then this is the no-job hustle for you.

There's actually tons of apps that pay you when you play games. So, you can turn your next gaming session into gift cards or cash with the following companies:

These sites and apps won't make you rich. But they're a fun option for making money without a job that also payout quickly.

👉 Start earning with Freecash!

8. Start A Blog

Love to write and have social media savvy? Starting a blog can be a great way to earn money in your spare time.

While it can take a period of time to earn money blogging, once you build an audience, make money through affiliate marketing, display advertising, selling courses or coaching programs, and more.

Tom our Editor-In-Chief actually started blogging full-time out of school. And at his peak, his business was making $20,000 a month or more. Not bad for a business you can start for free!

9. Launch An Ecommerce Business

Launching an ecommerce business isn't a fast way to get money without a job. However, this is a business model with immense income potential.

People start Shopify stores, sell on Amazon FBA, or launch Etsy shops all the time. And with the right product and niche, you can gradually create an online business that pays the bills.

Again, an ecommerce side hustle probably won't make money overnight. But don't be afraid to build your own brand and online business on the side.

10. Pet Sit

Love animals and want to earn cash while getting your four-legged friend fix? You can pet sit and walk dogs to make money without working.

At WebMonkey, we recommend using gig apps like Rover and Wag to find clients. You can also create a profile on Care.com or Fetch! Pet Care to find gigs.

Dog walking gigs often pay $12 to $22 per hour or more in major cities. So this is one of the higher-paying side hustles that's also quite fun.

11. Become A Mystery Shopper

Mystery shoppers get paid to review store cleanliness, product availability, customer service, and overall shopping experiences. And you can often get free products, gift cards, or cash for sharing your opinions.

This is a fairly easy way to earn money without a job that's great if you live in a city. And you can use apps like Shopkick, Field Agent, and GigWalk to find opportunities.

12. Do Odd Jobs For Cash

Want to make money ASAP? Performing odd jobs can help you make money by helping others in your community. 

Look for opportunities asking for help on Facebook Marketplace, Taskrabbit, and Craigslist to get started. Some of the most common cash gigs you'll see people asking for help with include:

  • House or business cleaning
  • Lawn mowing and landscaping
  • Cleaning gutters
  • Snow removal
  • Raking leaves 
  • Window washing
  • Painting
  • Baby sitting
  • Errand running
  • Moving heavy items
  • Assembling furniture
  • Tech help and installation

A lot of these gigs can pay $25 to $75 per hour depending on what's involved. Plus, you can arrange to get paid in cash, which is even better!

13. Search For Unclaimed Money

Did you know that 1 in 7 people apparently have “missing money” that's owed to them?

Governments, banks, and other organizations don't always pay people what they're owed. And this is how missing funds from things like tax returns or missing paychecks accumulate over time.

Thankfully, you can use tools like BeenVerified and MissingMoney.com to run a missing money search in your name. If someone owes you money out there, this is an easy way to find a potential payday.

14. Rent Out Things You Own

Have items you own, but don’t want to sell? It could be time to rent them out for profit to people in your city.

The rise of the sharing economy means there's plenty of ways to do this. Airbnb, Turo, Getaround, SpotHero, Neighbor, and BabyQuip are just a few examples of marketplaces where you can find renters in your area.

15. Invest For Passive Income

Earning passive income is a proven way to diversify your income. And you don't need a job to get started or a ton of extra cash.

For example, you can invest in income-generating rental properties and vacation homes with companies like Arrived. It only takes $100 to begin investing too, and you earn dividends from the income properties generate.

Arrived is great because the minimum investment requirement is so low. And it makes money on autopilot without you needing to be a landlord!

You have plenty of other options too. For example, you could invest in dividend stocks or ETFs with an investing app like Stash.

👉 How To Invest For Daily Income.

16. Test Websites For Money

Did you know there's companies out there that pay you to test websites?

That's right: you can get paid for sharing your feedback while testing new websites and apps that are in development. Platforms like PlaytestCloud and UserTesting are some great sites to get started with.

17. Print On Demand

Got great personalized item ideas for hats, stickers, tumblers, t-shirts or other merchandise? Print on demand (POD) services can help you bring this idea to life without having to invest in inventory.

This is one side hustle Tom tried back in college. He sold meme mugs on his Etsy print on demand store, using Printify, our favorite print on demand company, to create and ship orders.

low maintenance businesses

There are tons of other POD services or marketplaces you can use too. Redbubble, Gelato, Printful, and Amazon Merch On Demand are just a few examples.

18. Watch Videos For Money

It might surprise you, but you can get paid to watch videos in your spare time. And this is perhaps the laziest way to make money without working there is.

Video reward platforms on various get-paid-to sites let you watch short video clips to earn. You can also look for more serious job opportunities. For example, you can now get paid to watch Netflix by becoming a Netflix tagger.

19. Make Money Tutoring

Are you multilingual or have a strong background in particular academic subjects? If so, you may be able to help students learn while you make money tutoring.

This side hustle is particularly great for college students and teachers looking to earn extra money. And you can get started with online tutoring websites like TutorMe, Tutor.com, BookNook, Chegg, and VIPKid.

Extra Reading – How To Get Paid To Do Homework.

20. Write & Sell eBooks

Selling eBooks is another option you can use to make money while unemployed.

Self-publishing platforms like Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) is one free and easy way to start. You can also market the books you write on your own website or on social media to try and get sales.

21. Start A YouTube Channel

Making money on YouTube won't happen overnight. But like blogging, YouTube is an immense income opportunity you can start without having a job.

This is what Tom did with his YouTube channel. He started it in 2020 with a budget camera and USB microphone. Now, it's passed 65,000 subscribers and makes $5,000 a month in advertising revenue alone.

People do this by starting podcasts as well. The entire point is that you don't need thousands of dollars or a career in media to get either hustle up and running.

22. Take Part In Market Research Focus Groups

Paid focus groups pay you for sharing your unique experiences and feedback. And this is a very high-paying opportunity, especially if you take part in clinical trials or in-person focus groups.

At WebMonkey, we suggest starting with User Interviews and Respondent. Both platforms are free to use and help you find high-paying focus group opportunities in your area and online.

23. Enter Competitions

Schools, businesses, magazines, radio shows, and cities host competitions all the time. And oftentimes, very few people enter these competitions, so your odds of winning can be pretty decent.

In some cases, you could make $1,000 in a day or two, just by throwing your name into a competition or completing some entry requirements.

24. Get Paid For Your Data

Big tech companies collect your data all the time. So, why not get paid for it?

Plenty of passive income apps let you get paid for your data. For example, you can use apps like Nielsen Panel to share data about the shows you watch and websites you visit to earn free cash.

Nielsen Computer and Mobile Panel review

Similarly, apps like Honeygain and Pawns let you sell bandwidth for money. So, try out these simple side hustles to make some side cash without a day job.

25. Flip Stuff For Money

Want to try your hand at flipping things for money?

People do this all the time. You can buy brand-name products you spot at garage sales, thrift stores, or flea markets. Then, resell them for a markup on Facebook Marketplace, eBay, or other selling apps.

26. Work On Your Budget

One last idea for making money without working is to work on your household's budget.

Saving money each month keeps more money in your wallet at the end of the day. So, take an afternoon or two and create a simple budget to track your spending. You can also look for areas of overspending or things like subscriptions to cancel.

Pro Tip: We suggest using the Rocket Money app to automatically create a budget and find expensive subscriptions you're better off canceling.

👉 The Top Free Apps Paying Real Money Instantly.

Final Thoughts

If you’re wondering how to make money without a job, the good news is that there are lots of options for every skill level. And it's never been easier to earn money online or with a side hustle if you put in a bit of effort.

Some of these ideas can even surpass the income from a regular job. So, pick one or two ideas and get to work!

Want even more ideas to earn without working? Checkout:

Note: Capital One Shopping compensates us when you sign up with the provided links.

Tom is a full-time blogger and freelance writer with a passion for side hustling, passive income, and making money online. His work has appeared on dozens of personal finance websites like Money Crashers, The College Investor, Forbes, and more.

Tom also founded the blog This Online World - a finance site dedicated to helping people make money online - in 2018. After 6 years, that site merged with WebMonkey, with the goal of helping even more people earn their first dollar of online income.

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