12 Ways to Make Money in Your Free Time (Almost-Passive Income Ideas)

If you’ve already maxed out the money that you can save while still enjoying life, you may consider looking for ways to make money in your free time.

You’re already earning money from your job or you can’t work full-time but you do have some time to make money.

Making money almost always requires your time or your money (capital).

Sometimes both.

Active income comes from exchanging your time while passive income is generated by exchanging your capital. 

But, there are things that you can do that involve less time and still earn income.

Some activities require a lot of work up front but then you can coast.

Others require consistent work but don’t involve a ton of time.

We’re not talking about surveys either.

We’re talking about creating something the produces enough value for someone else that they want to pay you for it. 

Here is the list of almost-passive income ideas:

• Sell Photos
• Write a Book
• Create a Website
• Create a Course
• Make YouTube Videos
• Rent out a room or your house
• Make music
• Create designs
• Build an App
• Create clothing
• Rent out your car
• Start a Podcast

A lot of these ways to make money involve YOU creating something.

Technology has provided platform for you to create and sell your creation or service, but it still involves you producing something of value. 

You may be able to sit back and watch the money come in after you’ve created it but, it still involves you taking some time to create something. 

Sell Photos

Do you enjoy taking photos?

You may be able to sell the photos that you take, turning your hobby into money.

There are plenty of websites where you can upload your photos for purchase.

You could also create your own brand, selling your photos through your own website or offering your services to other people.

Our wedding photographers were just part-time when they worked with us. 

But, after building up their catalogue they were able to become full-time wedding photographers. 

This all happened in less than a year.

If you’re able to provide quality and value, you will be successful. 

Write a Book

If you enjoy writing, this may a perfect way for you to make some extra money.

While it will involve a lot of work to write the book, once written you only have to worry about promotion.

Companies like Apple and Amazon have created a technological platform for you to self-publish your book.

But, writing a book isn’t just about the writing. 

You’ll need to create a plan of how you’ll promote the book so people know about it and buy it. 

Create a Website or Build a Blog

How I made a bajillion dollars in my first month blogging.

Ever seen something like that?

It’s definitely out there and it is possible.

But, it’s more just click bait to get you to go to their website and buy their course on how to make money blogging.

One of the easier ways to make money is by creating a website that teaches how to make money blogging. 

A lot of the websites out there doing this are just some form of a pyramid scheme.

When you create a website or blog, you still have to provide people value.

That means either talking about something you know or learning something new and then writing about it.

So, think about what you know and who might have the same question you once had, how do I learn about this?

Maybe it’s reviews of the best ikea furniture.

Or, maybe its a guide on having your first child.

You can take the experiences and knowledge that you have and help answer other people’s questions.

It does take a lot of work!

We know from experience.

But, you can make money through affiliate marketing, ad revenue or even selling your own products related to your content. 

But, success doesn’t happen over night for most people.

Create a Course

Again, what knowledge can you share with other people? 

Maybe you can take your knowledge and turn it into a course. 

There are a lot of different ways that you can take your knowledge and turn it into a medium for people to learn. 

Udemy is one website where you can create and advertise your course. 

Make YouTube Videos

YouTube is another platform where you can share your knowledge.

If your videos are watched, you will begin to receive ad revenue.

You can even create videos that are funny or provide entertainment to people.

It’s all about creating something that other people enjoy.

That enjoyment is valuable. 

Rent Out a Room or Your House

Do you have a spare bedroom or find yourself traveling a lot?

You might be able to rent out your home or a bedroom.

Popular sites like AirBnB, VRBO, and HomeAway connect people looking to rent a room or home with people who have those rooms or homes.

This might not even involve much set up to start renting out your space.

But, it will probably involve cleaning after guests come so there is some work involved.

You may also end up installing technology that makes it easier like a keypad door entry.

What’s great is that you’re essentially using some of your extra space or time away from your home to make some money. 

Make Music

Do you enjoy playing instruments or singing?

Perhaps you could create your own music and license it or sell it.

Think of all the media that we encounter that has music in the background.

Why can’t that music be your music?

Or, maybe you want to become a musician on the side selling or streaming your album through platforms like iTunes, Apple Music, and Spotify.

Even a one-hit wonder could solve your financial problems for the rest of your life. 

Create Designs

This one is a little broad because there are so many things that you could design.

Maybe you could create art that you can license out to people.

Or, maybe you created a worksheet for you wedding and you think you could sell a template of it online. 

Etsy is a great website where you can sell all kinds of designs. 

And, there are so many design possibilities. 

Build an App

Similar to building a website, you can also create an app and generate ad revenue.

Or, you could even create a subscription where people receive a service through your app.

Think about all of the apps that you have on your phone and the ways that they make money.

You may be able to do the same, creating an application that provides value to people. 

Create Clothing

Have you ever want to be a fashion designer?

Well, creating your own clothing may be a way for you to earn extra money.

Once again, technology has made it easier to create a product like clothing and sell it online. 

Technology has also made it easier to connect with people so that you can make your product. 

There are websites out there where you just put a design on a t-shirt and it’s automatically made when someone buys it.

Rent Out Your Car

Do you have a nice car but you’re not always using it?

Why not rent it out?

Apps like Turo allow you to rent out your car similar to AirBnB does for homes and rooms. 

We’ve seen a few stories of people buying new cars and then renting them out to pay off the car. 

If you’re not always using your car, this could be a great way to make additional money from it. 

Start a Podcast

Another platform for you to share your knowledge or create entertainment.

Podcasts have become enormously popular over the last 5 years.

You can earn money through podcasts through advertising or even creating a subscription to your podcast. 

Final Thoughts

With the power of the internet and the ability to connect to the world, there are so many possibilities at your finger–tips to make extra money. 

But, you still have to create something of value and that requires time.

A lot of these income ideas are categorized as passive income but that isn’t the case.

Check out our post, What is Passive Income if you want to learn about real forms of passive income. 

With some of these ways to make money, you may get to a place in the future where everything is so automated that it feels like passive income.

But, that doesn’t take into account all of the work you’ll do to create your successful side-hustle.