Can you really make money lying down? The truth about breaking the passive income methods

Do you also have such fantasies: not working overtime every day, yet money keeps flowing into your pocket? Many people light up at the mention of “passive income,” but when they look at themselves, aside from a fixed monthly salary, other income streams are still blank. Don’t rush to give up; the problem isn’t that the dream is impossible, but that you haven’t found the right passive income method for yourself yet.

Why is passive income so attractive?

Passive income is different from the salary earned through hard work. It doesn’t disappear when you take a leave, nor does it depreciate with age. If one day your passive income can fully cover your daily expenses, congratulations—you’ve taken a step toward the “financial freedom” that most office workers dream of.

But here’s a reality check:

1. Passive income is not exclusive to the wealthy; small investors, employees, and students can do it too, key is choosing the right method
2. Most passive income streams are not 100% capital protected; long-term persistence is needed to see significant results
3. Passive income can never replace your main job; it’s just a “side hustle”

10 passive income methods, from simple to complex

1. Bank fixed deposits — An easy start

Looking for the lowest risk passive income? Fixed deposits are your best choice. Based on current 2-3 year fixed deposit rates of 1.625%, if you deposit 4 million, you can earn over 5,000 per month in interest. For students, starting to save a little each month is laying the groundwork for future “money making money.”

2. Selling idle items — Clear out your room and earn money

Organize your clothes, electronics, books, and sell them at flea markets or online secondhand platforms. This passive income method can recoup costs and free up space. Although the single transaction amount isn’t large, doing it regularly can add up over time.

3. Creating online tutorials — Record once, sell forever

If you’re skilled in Photoshop, Python, photography, or other skills, record online courses and sell them online. Compared to tutoring, this method saves a lot of time because the courses can be sold repeatedly.

4. Collecting limited edition figures — Turn hobbies into income

Anime fans, take note! Buy limited edition figures and resell them at double the price at auctions. The premise is to be able to “snatch” the items, be familiar with market trends, and only accept authentic limited editions. This passive income method has a higher entry barrier but offers good returns.

5. Renting out expensive equipment — Let infrequently used items work for you

Cameras, lenses, luxury bags, luxury cars—if you own these but don’t use them often, you can rent them out through professional rental shops. It’s more reliable than managing them yourself and can generate steady income.

6. Pet sitting — Walk pets and earn money

Many pet owners prefer paying familiar people to care for their pets rather than trusting strangers or pet shops. Posting ads in pet communities or through neighborhood referrals can earn fees comparable to pet shops, making it one of the easiest passive income methods.

7. Investing in financial products — Make your money work for you

Stocks, funds, bonds, gold—these financial tools have different risks and returns. If you don’t want to research stocks yourself, buy ETFs; for more stability, choose bonds. This passive income method requires some financial knowledge but offers much higher returns than fixed deposits.

8. Becoming a landlord — Long-term game for large assets

Buying property to rent out is a classic passive income method, but remember one principle: rent must cover monthly mortgage payments, with some surplus. If rent barely covers the loan, there’s no need to buy.

9. Setting up a “drop-shipping” online store — Zero inventory e-commerce

No need to stock goods; just notify suppliers to ship when customers order. You can open stores on platforms like Amazon, eBay, etc. This passive income method suits low-margin, high-volume products like home goods or office supplies.

10. Cloud mining — High-risk virtual assets

Participate in cryptocurrency mining through mining pools like F2Pool, Poolin, etc. These are well-known pools, but this passive income method carries the highest risk, so be prepared mentally.

Comparison table of passive income methods

3 major pitfalls of passive income methods

Pitfall 1: Not all passive income is capital protected

Financial products, collectibles, rental properties—all carry risks of loss. Tenants damaging furniture without a compensation clause, bonds, funds, stocks—there’s always a risk of losing the principal.

Pitfall 2: Cannot abandon active income

Passive income usually pays much less than your main salary. Until it can fully cover your daily expenses, it’s just a “bonus.” Students, employees, and small investors should prioritize active income, with passive income as a supplement.

Pitfall 3: Long-term persistence is required

Initial passive income amounts are small and can be discouraging. But think about it: if students earn 20,000 a year in passive income, after 4-5 years, they’ll have 100,000, enough to buy their desired electronics.

Choosing the right passive income method for you

Finally, I want to emphasize: the 10 methods above are just common options; they are not exhaustive. More importantly, there is no “best” method—only the “most suitable” one for you.

Students can start by selling idle items; employees can try fixed deposits and financial investments; small investors can consider becoming landlords or opening online stores. As long as the method is legal, stable, and not overly time-consuming, it’s a good choice.

Start taking action—your passive income method is waiting for you.