I Tried These Passive Incomes So You Don’t Have To

The idea of having a passive income stream has always enticed me. Everyone loves the idea of having a slow, steady stream of money that is always coming in without having to do any work. Doesn’t that sound like a dream for all of us?! 

This year, I decided to try out a few of the most popular methods for earning passive income that people often use. I wanted to share everything I found and tell you which things were worth it and which were a total waste of time. Hopefully, my experiences will help you start your own side hustle and bring in some extra cash.

Renting Your Property Out

Let me start with a strong income source that I’ve found to be really worthwhile, though calling it “passive” might be a bit of an exaggeration. I decided to rent out part of my house on Airbnb. I live in a nice neighborhood with lots to do and plenty of tourist attractions, so my rental quickly became a reliable way to earn extra money each month. 

It’s relatively straightforward to do, as you set up a listing, add some great photos, and offer a clean, comfortable space for guests. The income felt good once everything was set up, especially since platforms like Airbnb handle payments and provide tools to help you manage bookings.

That said, it’s not without its challenges. Cleaning and prepping between guests can be time-consuming, and I had to learn how to handle occasional issues, such as guests who didn’t follow the house rules. Pricing was also tricky at first. I wanted to attract bookings without undervaluing my space. Overall, renting out one room has been worthwhile; however, this source of passive income won’t be effective if you don’t have the right kind of property in an attractive area. It is also not fully passive, but a relatively easy one.

Making Digital Products

Now, this one was really enjoyable for me, and once it was all set up, it became a passive income stream. I took the knowledge I already had, using stuff I’ve learned from my job and hobbies, and turned it into digital products that people could download and use. The best part is that once I created them, they continued to earn money with minimal extra work. 

I think that making digital products is something anyone can do. You could make a guide, an online course, a time-saving template, or even write an entire book! These products can be sold on platforms like Gumroad, Etsy, or even Amazon, reaching thousands of people a day. It really is a great idea! 

But now, the downside. It wasn’t all smooth sailing. The upfront effort was considerable when it came to brainstorming ideas, designing the content, and determining how to market it effectively. It took some trial and error to figure out what people actually wanted to buy. Some of the first few products I made sold zero copies, so it was a waste of effort. However, a few of my digital books have actually sold and continue to generate a small income from time to time. I won’t get rich, but it’s a fun project worth trying.

Building a Blog

I had always heard that it was easy to build a blog and make almost instant money. But let me tell you that building a blog to earn passive income sounds great in theory, but it’s not as “passive” as it seems.

I started a blog thinking that I would write a few posts, throw in a few ads, and some affiliate links, and then sit back to watch the money roll in. The reality? Creating quality content, keeping it updated, and attracting readers requires a significant amount of time and effort. You must continually market it, stay active on social media, and optimize for SEO to maintain a steady flow of traffic. Oh, and did you know that SEO rules are constantly changing? People literally have degrees in content writing and search engine optimization.

It is not something just anyone can do. While having a blog may eventually generate income, managing a blog is more of an active job than a way to earn passive income. Therefore, if you are seeking passive income, it is advisable to look elsewhere.

Licensing and Selling Photography and Artwork

I love taking photographs, and I think that some of my photos are pretty good. Licensing and selling some of my photos seemed like a nice, easy way to make some extra money. 

I upload my best shots and designs to platforms like Shutterstock and Adobe Stock, and every time someone downloads them, I earn a small commission. Depending on the popularity of my work, I have been earning extra cash every month. It definitely takes time to build a portfolio that stands out, and the competition is tough. There are many standard, similar shots out there that make it challenging to get yours to stand out and attract clicks and downloads. The commissions are tiny, so you really need a lot of downloads to see significant income. That being said, it is a relatively passive income. Once you upload your photos, you can sit back and wait for the cash! 

Passive income might sound like the ultimate dream. Making money while you sleep would be amazing! However, the truth is that it definitely takes effort to set up and manage almost every type of “passive” income stream that I’ve tried. That being said, once you get the ball rolling on a few things, there is real money to make. I’ve found that trying different methods and sticking with what works best for me has been the key to success. You will need to put in some effort, but over time, the effort will decrease, and the money will increase.