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 May 28, 2024

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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.

Get paid up to $225 a month while watching viral videos

Instead of sitting around watching viral videos on YouTube, you could be getting paid actual cash taking surveys for InboxDollars instead.

It's simple. You sign up here and confirm your email. Then you watch videos and take surveys. Then you earn cash (yes, actual cash … not "points"). Log in during your spare time and see how you can earn up to an extra $225 every month.

BONUS: Free $5 when you sign up, confirm your email and phone.

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.

Capital One Shopping is free to use and won't show you ads. Add it today and stop overpaying!¹

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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.

Earn cash back on everyday purchases with this rare account

Want to earn cash back on your everyday purchases without using a credit card? With the Discover®️ Cashback Debit Checking account (member FDIC), you can earn 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month!²

With no credit check to apply and no monthly fees to worry about, you can earn nearly passive income on purchases you’re making anyway — up to an extra $360 a year!

This rare checking account has other great perks too, like access to your paycheck up to 2 days early with Early Pay, no minimum deposit or monthly balance requirements, over 60K fee-free ATMs, and the ability to add cash to your account at Walmart stores nationwide.

Don’t leave money on the table — it only takes minutes to apply and it won’t impact your credit score.

Apply for a Discover Cashback Checking account today

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.

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