“I did some good things as a rookie.”

– Earl Campbell

Over the past week I’ve received numerous emails asking about simple online moneymakers. As such, today’s post will cover some of the easiest ways that I’ve seen people earn a little extra:

Selling ideas

There’s a vending machine in New York that sells ideas for fifty cents. The device’s novelty has gotten it featured on several major websites and even a few magazines. An enterprising young person could easily spend an afternoon composing lists of ideas for various businesses or life paths, and sell them on Fiverr. I suspect that there would be more than a few people willing to shell out five bucks for a dozen suggestions on what they should with their life.

Cookbooks

Apparently there’s big money in writing Kindle eBooks. With the ten trillion diets that come out every day, there’s an endless supply willing customers. As long as you find a unique angle, you’ll do well.

At the moment I’m actually helping my mom write a Kindle cookbook; and, through my Fiverr work, I’ve met a few cookbook moguls. Making a simple book of “100 Paleo recipes,” or “25 uses of lentils” takes very little input. If you really wanted to get creative, you could make something witty like the infamous Cook to Bang.

 Personal blogging

Yes, personal blogs are vain and frivolous. But there’s easy money in them. I know a couple kids who’ve made little, meaningless WordPress blogs that they publish on their personal Facebook. All the viewers come from their social circle and family, which means their writings are as inoffensive as they come. Their posts are usually only a paragraph or two, and often times they’ll merely throw up picture and call it a day. However, at the bottom of each post they always have an Amazon link and little message that goes along these lines: “If you buy something through the link you help support the blog for no additional cost.”

I don’t think anyone doing this is raking it in, but it’s still possible to make a little off virtually no work. These personal blogs are essentially their way of keeping in touch with extended family, while getting a couple bucks out of the deal. With the holiday season fast approaching, I could see personal blogging as an adequate introduction to “passive income.”

Those are my thoughts. If you have any additional suggestions, feel free to sound off in the comments section.

“The decline of literature indicates the decline of a nation.”

– Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

From the description:

“Fat, grey well over forty and with an outmoded taste in underwear. But this wasn’t going to stop Freda from enjoying the wild carnal pleasures of sex. A visit to a Sex Spa where a woman can demand a man does exactly what she wants shows Freda just how good sex in all its variations can be. And boy did Freda enjoy herself.

Contains graphic descriptions of oral sex, intercourse, anal penetration, use of sex toys, fisting, and mild bondage. Not for the easily offended.”

Excuse me while I spend the rest of the afternoon throwing up.

“Save your money everybody ain’t a baller.”

– Juicy J

Despite hitting a personal goal, I didn’t go out and celebrate. I realized that I’d probably end up doing something stupid while on my ego trip, and decided to stay in to read.

I never got around to opening the book.

Instead I sat online and looked at all kinds of luxury items that I suddenly found myself drawn towards. Piaget watches, Vuarnet sunglasses, the good stuff. I even briefly lamented the death of Silk Road, a place where I once saw a G6 jet available for purchase.

There have been times in the past when I’ve made more in an hour,* but the achievement alone was giving me delusions of grandeur. I sat around looking at expensive goods, mansions, and vintage Mercedes for several hours. Eventually I came to my senses. The whole situation seemed ridiculous. If, and it’s a big if, I could pull $700 a week from the Internet, I’d still never be able to afford everything I was fantasizing about. Celebrities can’t even keep that lifestyle up, just look at Nicolas Cage.

I closed my browser and went outside to look at the stars. If you’re ever feeling all powerful, go look at the night sky. After a few minutes you’ll be humbled.

With my materialistic desires quelled, I went back inside and fell asleep.

* At three points in my life I’ve earned over $100 a hour. Unfortunately they’ve all been one shot deals.

“This money didn’t come quick, I stacked it up gradually“

– Gucci Mane, Club Hoppin

I did it. It took me over six months of hard work but I did it. Last night I made $104.38 in one day off my various web ventures. Between Fiverr, blogging, eBooks, and a few other activities; I made over a hundred dollars in “passive income.”

All it took was six months of grind to do so.

During that time, I worked on my side business almost every night. While I wasn’t pulling all nighters or doing back breaking labor, my efforts were still time consuming.

Early on it was frustrating because I couldn’t make money. It took me all of January to earn $1.00 off Amazon Affiliates. In February I managed to make $9.00. When March rolled around I’d given up on becoming a professional blogger and started some other little web ventures. I was still reliant on Amazon Affiliates, but managed to make $17.00 a week. It was tough work and I was often disappointed to see Amazon getting hundreds while I only made a few bucks.

In March I wrote an eBook. In June another. In July a third. The ones I penned over summer were done under a false name. I’d data mine archaic websites, rewrite what valuable content they had, and make a booklet. I earned enough to buy myself a leather jacket, watch, jeans, and a vacation.

In September I started to consistently make money off my Fiverr gigs. Towards the end of the month I was doing really well for myself. Then my review business took a hit. I scrambled and restructured.

Now, in the first week of October, I finally broke the coveted $100 a day benchmark. Like Tim Ferriss claimed, it only took me four hours of actual work to do so.* Today I’m finishing up a little project I started over the weekend. I think you’ll like it…

* Not including the previous six months it took to get there.

“YOLO”

– Future Walmart cashier

This weekend I’m staying in to work on a new business venture. I’ll more than likely spend the entire time in front of my computer, typing away. My Friday night will be as exciting as most people’s Monday morning.

I’m not upset though. It’s my choice.

I have goals, if working for a full seven days is what’s needed to achieve them I’ll do it.

Some time ago I listening to a Bill Burr podcast. In it Burr discussed how he spent his 20’s. He drove a beater car and hustled every night, doing comedy shows and open mic nights for little or no pay. Burr talked about how most of his peers would spend their nights out partying while he was developing himself. Years later, he’d become rich and famous while they remained exactly where they’d began.

My goal is to not have a job by December 1st. I’ve got a little over a month to achieve it, that means grind. If I don’t have anything major planned, I’m not going to stray from my work.

As much fun as I have partying, it doesn’t lead me anywhere. Aside from some cool stories I’ll have nothing to show from it. Being “retired*” at 20 is far more enticing.

* i.e. self employed.