Finding new sources of income is a great idea, especially in these uncertain times. Fortunately, making some money on the side is fairly easy. First off, you have to decide how much time and effort you plan to invest. There are quite a few side hustles you could get into, from completely passive income streams to extra freelancing gigs. Should you focus on passive income or freelancing? What would work better for you? Let’s look a bit deeper into both options.
Freelance Jobs vs. Passive Income Streams
Freelance jobs (online or offline) offer an active way to earn money, requiring regular time and effort investments. On the other hand, passive income doesn’t require you to do anything except initial setup and occasional upkeep. Both options offer legit ways to boost your budget and you can take them up even if you have a regular full-time job.
Now, obviously, full-time employment is not a great choice for everyone. Some people simply need more flexibility and the option to treat themselves with a day (or a week!) off if they don’t feel like working. That’s where alternatives come in. But what’s the best option for you? Let’s talk a bit more about both and see what they’re all about.
What Are Freelance Jobs
Freelancing (self-employment or contract work) can be pretty lucrative. With so many platforms that focus on this type of work, you can find a new side gig fairly quickly and turn one or more of your skills into money. Here are some of the most popular online freelance jobs:
- Coding and development (software, websites, mobile apps)
- Marketing and social media management
- Transcription, writing, translation
- Design (branding, UI, illustration, animation)
- Online teaching and tutoring
All of these (and many more) freelance job opportunities are active types of work. They’re a great way to earn money for people who need flexibility in terms of working hours and location.
However, they’re not a source of passive income. In other words, nobody is going to pay you unless you do the required work. Still, freelancing is a viable option for students, unemployed individuals, stay-at-home moms, and those looking to spend their free time on something that pays off.
While freelancing sounds fantastic, there are a few disadvantages to keep in mind. All freelancers run into ups and downs. Time management and organization can also be challenging, especially if you work with multiple clients simultaneously. Add the distractions of everyday life into the mix if you’re working from home, and it might not be as awesome as it may seem at first glance.
What Is Passive Income
Unlike freelancing, passive income allows you to make money without putting in any work. While it may not be as lucrative as a good freelancing job, it does offer a way to make money while spending more time with your loved ones and hobbies or without compromising your regular 9-to-5 job. Here are a few popular passive income ideas:
- Investing (in real estate, stocks, bonds, CDs, crypto, etc.)
- Renting out a property (spare rooms, your car, parking space)
- Creating and selling ebooks, courses, tutorials
- Affiliate marketing
- Money-making apps
It’s important to note that most passive income sources still require an initial investment. If you want to rent a property, you’ll have to buy it first. The same goes for stocks – you can’t earn money on the stock market without buying some stocks first. If you plan to sell your books and courses, you must write them. But what if you’re looking for something that doesn’t require any upfront investments?
Why Not Start With Pawns.app?
Every journey starts with a single step, and Pawns.app might be the ideal way to dip your toes in passive income before making bigger moves. If you just want to make some money on the side to help the household budget, you’re in the right place.
Pawns.app doesn’t have any startup fees. All it takes is a minute or two to create an account and start sharing your internet with us. As you run the app on your phone or desktop, we’ll use some of your bandwidth and pay you for it! It’s completely safe, so there are no risks involved! You can also take advantage of our affiliate program to boost your earnings even further!
