Lazy Side Hustles: Easy Ways to Make Money with Little Effort

Share this post

Disclosure: Some links in this post are my referral links or go to my own product, GoBeaug Links. If you join through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

The best lazy side hustles are the ones where you do the work once and then mostly let it run: renting out stuff or space you already have, selling things you don't use, cashback apps, automatic round-up saving, and a blog with an email autoresponder that keeps working after you set it up. None of them are truly zero effort. "Lazy" really means the hard part comes first, and then it gets easier.

Quick answer: If you want money with little effort, start with what you already own: sell your clutter and rent out things you don't use. Turn on cashback and round-up apps for money you were spending anyway. If you want something that grows, build a blog and an email follow-up that keep working after the setup. Expect to work at the start either way.

Key takeaways

• There's no such thing as money for nothing. Every "lazy" idea needs setup work first.
• The easiest wins come from things you already have: stuff, space and regular spending.
• A blog plus an email autoresponder is the closest thing to "set it and keep it working," but it's slow at first.
• If somebody promises money with zero effort, they're usually the one making money off you.

What does "lazy side hustle" really mean?

Let's be honest up front. I'm Sammy. I spent nearly 30 years in logistics and UPS management, and I've been in affiliate marketing since 2012. I still do gig delivery while I build my online business. So I'm not sitting on a beach while money rolls in.

Here's what I've seen. Most low-effort side hustles follow the same pattern:

• Setup takes real work. Listing, writing, organizing or building comes first.
• Upkeep is lighter. Once it's running, it needs less of your time.
• Results are slow and not promised. Some things catch on. Many don't.

If you go in knowing that, you're already ahead of most people.

What are the easiest lazy side hustles to start?

Here are six ideas that lean toward low effort once they're set up. I've put the quickest ones first.

1. Sell things you already own

Walk through your garage, closet and basement. Facebook Marketplace and eBay make it simple to turn stuff you don't use into cash. You already own it, so there's nothing to buy.

• Good for: quick money with almost no setup.
• Watch out for: it runs out when your stuff runs out. And meeting buyers takes a little time, so meet in a safe public place.

2. Rent out stuff or space you already have

An empty garage, a parking spot, tools, a pressure washer or camping gear can sometimes be rented to neighbors or through rental apps and websites. You're getting paid for things that would just sit there.

• Good for: people who have extra space or gear collecting dust.
• Watch out for: check your lease, local rules and insurance first. Some things get returned dirty or broken, so set clear rules.

3. Cashback and rewards apps

Some apps and cards give you a small amount back on things you were already buying, like groceries or gas. You set them up once and they mostly run on their own.

• Good for: squeezing a little extra out of normal spending.
• Watch out for: this won't change your life. Never buy something just to earn points. That's spending, not earning.

4. Automatic round-up saving and investing

Some apps round up your purchases to the next dollar and put the spare change into savings or an investment account. Once it's on, you don't have to think about it. I wrote about one of these in how Acorns automates small saving.

• Good for: people who never seem to have money left over.
• Watch out for: this is saving, not income. Read the fees, and remember that investments can go down as well as up.

5. A blog that keeps getting found

This is the one I focus on. You write helpful posts that answer questions people type into Google. A good post can keep getting found for months after you write it, without you doing anything more to it.

• Good for: people who want something that grows and that they own.
• Watch out for: it's slow. Think months, not days. Most people quit before it pays. AI tools can help you write faster, and I show how in my 7-minute daily AI blogging routine.

6. An email autoresponder that follows up for you

An autoresponder is a tool that sends emails for you. Someone signs up on your page, and your follow-up emails go out one at a time, on their own, while you're working, driving or sleeping. You write the emails once.

• Good for: pairing with a blog or videos so visitors don't just leave and forget you.
• Watch out for: a sign-up page with no visitors does nothing. You still have to send people to it.

How do you pick the right lazy side hustle?

Ask yourself three simple questions:

• What do I already have? Stuff, space, a hobby or something you know well can all be a starting point.
• Do I need money this month or later? Selling and renting pay sooner. A blog and email list pay later, if at all.
• How much upkeep can I live with? Rentals need some back-and-forth. Apps need almost none. A blog needs a little time each day.

My suggestion: do one quick one now, like selling clutter, and spend 15 to 30 minutes a day building one thing that keeps working, like a blog. When I worked at Burger King for 20 years alongside UPS, what kept me going was a set daily routine. Same idea here. Small, steady and on a schedule.

Which "lazy" money ideas should you avoid?

The word "lazy" pulls in a lot of scams. Walk away if you see:

• Promises of money "on autopilot" with no work.
• An expensive course you must buy before they'll tell you what you'll actually do.
• A plan that's mostly about recruiting other people.
• Anyone who wants your bank login or gift cards.

If you're new, read 5 side hustle mistakes to avoid as a beginner. I made most of them myself.

How I'm setting up my own "work once" system

For over ten years I built my business around one company. When it shut down, my whole contact list went with it. That's why today I care about two things: having my own blog, and keeping my own email list.

What I use for this

I use Automated Toolbox for my lead capture pages and as my autoresponder. Someone signs up on a capture page, they land in a contact group, and my email series goes out on its own, one email at a time. I set it up once and it keeps following up for me. I explain more in why I build my email list with Automated Toolbox. It's not magic. If no one visits the page, nothing happens.

Where my posts live

For the blog part, I built GoBeaug Links for everyday people, not tech people. It gives you your own link-in-bio page and your own blog. You can have Claude or ChatGPT help write a post and paste it in once. It's $40 a year at the founding member price through January 1, 2027, and $120 a year starting January 2, 2027. No monthly fees and no auto-renewal. Take a look at GoBeaug Links here.

Same honest truth as everything else here: it takes setup, and you'll still need to add posts and share them. I haven't hit my own income goal yet. I'm building this the same way I'm telling you to.

Frequently asked questions

What is the laziest way to make extra money?

Selling things you already own is the easiest to start, since there's nothing to buy and nothing to learn. Cashback and round-up apps take even less effort, but they give back small amounts and round-ups are saving, not income.

Are lazy side hustles really passive income?

Not at the start. Every one of them needs setup work. Some, like a blog or an email autoresponder, can keep working after that setup, but there's no guarantee they'll earn anything.

Can I rent out my stuff for extra money?

Often, yes. People rent out garages, parking spots, tools and gear to neighbors or through rental apps. Check your lease, local rules and insurance before you start, and set clear rules for returns.

What is an email autoresponder?

It's a tool that sends follow-up emails for you. When someone signs up on your page, the emails you wrote go out on their own, one at a time. You write them once and the tool handles the sending.

How long does a blog take to make money?

Usually months, not days, and many blogs never make money. It depends on your topic, how often you post and how long you stick with it. Posting steadily is what gives it a chance.

About the author

Sammy Beaugard (GoBeaug) spent nearly 30 years in logistics and UPS management and has been in affiliate marketing since 2012. He lives in Omaha, still does gig delivery while building his online business, and shares what he's learning in plain language for everyday people. Go get paid.

Disclosure: I created GoBeaug Links and earn from memberships and referrals. Prices and pay plans can change; check the current details before you join. There's no guarantee of income, success or results. Results depend on your own effort, and many people earn nothing. Read the full disclaimer.