Make Money Side Hustles

9 Unusual but Effective Ways to Earn Passive Income

Looking for ways to earn a little extra money? Don't overlook some unusual options for generating passive income.

By Larisa Redins

Edited by Chris Kissell

Updated March 27, 2024

There are many exciting ways to make extra cash through passive income. For example, you could start a side hustle, or invest in stocks, or real estate.

But there are also some weird and out-of-the-box options for earning passive income. Find out more about nine of the most overlooked methods for generating extra revenue with little effort.

Earn as much as $1K doing simple online tasks

Is there such a thing as easy money? If you know your way around the web, there certainly is.

That’s because data is currency these days, and many companies are willing to pay cash for it — up to $1,000.

Finding these companies can be time-consuming on your own. But a company called Freecash has compiled all sorts of quick cash tasks from about a dozen advertisers and market research companies thirsty for more data. Freecash has paid out over $13 million to users since 2019, and has over 50,000 five-star reviews on Trustpilot.

Start a vending machine business

Starting a vending machine business is a method for earning a passive income you likely have not considered. This can be a great way to boost your bank account with minimal effort.

You will need to purchase or lease the machines, stock them with products, and find locations for them. Once you set them up, sit back and collect the profits.

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Rent out your car

Renting out your car might be the perfect passive-income stream. Turo is a company that lets you rent out your car to strangers. So, if you have a spare vehicle or are not using your main vehicle for a few days, list it on Turo at a price you set.

If you're looking for an easy way to make some extra cash, then renting out your car is worth considering.

Advertise with your car

Convert your car into a mobile advertisement through companies such as Carvertise and Wrapify.

Carvertise pays you to use your car as an ad space for others to advertise their product. The company says you can earn up to $300 a month from this passive-income stream.

Wrapify is another company that pays you to wrap your car in an advertisement. This passive-income stream might create from around $200 to $450 a month.

Stop overpaying when you shop online

Shopping online has its perks. It's super convenient, but it can be time consuming to find the best deals. Instead of hunting for coupon codes (that don't always work!) and opening tons of browser tabs comparing prices, you can try Capital One Shopping.

Capital One Shopping makes saving money effortless. Just add the browser extension and when you check out, it'll scour the internet for coupon codes to help you save cash. And before you check out at 25+ major retailers, Capital One Shopping will notify you with a friendly pop-up if the item you're buying is available cheaper somewhere else.

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Sell stock photos

If you're good with a camera, sell your photos as stock images on a site like Shutterstock or Adobe Stock, where people buy images for their projects.

You can make some serious dough if your pictures are popular. Plus, it's a great way to get your work out there and build up your portfolio.

Participate in sleep studies

Taking part in a sleep study might be the ultimate form of "passive" income that can help you eliminate some money stress.

Of course, you may have to undergo a physical or psychological exam to ensure you're up for the task. And during the study, they may ask you to sleep in uncomfortable positions for an extended period.

But if you can handle all of that, you can make some good money simply for sleeping. Go to ClinicalTrials.gov and filter results based on your ZIP code, age, and other criteria for more info.

Real estate crowdfunding

Real estate crowdfunding allows you to invest in real estate without the hassle of being a landlord. With platforms like Fundrise, you can get started with as little as $10 without having to take on any of the work that typically goes along with owning real estate.

Add money to your account and let the platform do the rest, potentially earning quarterly dividends and appreciation on your investment if the properties go up in value.

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Rent out useful household items

Renting out useful household items that people may need but don't want to buy can be lucrative. Lawnmowers, power tools, mechanic tools, tents, and large coolers are all great items to rent. Start small and then scale up if there's interest in a particular area.

And the best part is that you can recoup the value of the item after a few rentals. Just beware of liability issues — it might make sense to get a small business insurance policy.

Sell designs

Are you looking to make some extra cash with your design skills? Try selling printed designs on items like T-shirts, hats, mugs, and more.

Businesses such as Zazzle and CafePress allow you to sell your creations. Start with your designs, see what the market is interested in and expand.

You can also set up your web storefront through a site such as Shopify to market your goodies.

Rent out an area for storage in your home

Do you have an extra room in your house that you don't use very often? The company Neighbor, which bills itself as the "Airbnb of storage," provides an easy way for you to rent unused space in and around your home to locals needing storage space.

This is a great way to earn some extra passive income that makes sense if you live in a populated area where space is scarce.

Resolve $10,000 or more of your debt

Credit card debt is suffocating. It constantly weighs on your mind and controls every choice you make. You can end up emotionally and even physically drained from it. And even though you make regular payments, it feels like you can never make any progress because of the interest.

National Debt Relief could help you resolve your credit card debt with an affordable plan that works for you. Just tell them your situation, then find out your debt relief options.

How to get National Debt Relief to help you resolve your debt: Sign up for a free debt assessment here. (Do not skip this step!) By signing up for a free assessment, National Debt Relief can assist you in settling your debt, but only if you schedule the assessment.

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Bottom line

There are many ways you can earn more money, and there is sure to be one that's a perfect fit for you.

Do your research before getting started and choose something you like. Making extra money should be an enjoyable experience, so find an option you're passionate about and go for it.

More from FinanceBuzz:

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Author Details

Larisa Redins

Larisa Redins, a writer for FinanceBuzz, is a highly experienced professional writer and editor. With experience writing on diverse topics, such as eco investments, real estate, cryptocurrency, side hustles, and budgeting, she loves to learn and share her knowledge with readers.