Jasmine Birtles
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10 Ways to Make Money Doing Nothing
Marc Crosby
24th May 2024
Updated 24th May 2024
Making money doing nothing…imagine that!
To be able to sit back, relax, put in no effort and still see the money coming in might sound like a fantasy, but there really are ways you can make money doing nothing.
Alright, we’re not promising you can earn a full-time income while you lay back on the sofa and watch TV all day, but there are ways to earn a bit of extra cash which require very little of you.
Read on for our 10 ways to make money doing nothing…
- Bed testing – get paid to sleep on the job!
- Get paid to queue
- Get paid to download an app
- Make money testing food
- Make money listening to music
- Make money house sitting
- Make money by not wasting money
- Make money waiting for deliveries
- Make money being a friend – seriously!
- Get cashback for shopping online
1. Bed Testing
Can you imagine getting paid to sleep?
That really would be getting paid to do nothing.
And, unbelievably, some lucky so and so’s get to do just that!
Bed testers get to test out a whole range of beds, from budget to super luxury, and then report back on the night’s sleep they’ve had.
Unsurprisingly, it’s a pretty difficult job to get because of the competition for such a position, but there’s no harm in keeping your hopes up.
If you’re looking for a bed testing job and are willing to brave the competition, keep your eyes on big companies which, for whatever reason, will have/need a lot of beds. It might be a hotel chain or a superstore like John Lewis, or look out for bed making companies themselves, particularly those who supply to hotels.
It’s not impossible to become a bed tester, so why not give it a go?
Could you imagine? Well, we can always dream (although, unlike some, we won’t be getting paid for it!)
2. Get Paid to Queue
Have you ever been told you don’t get paid to stand around and do nothing? Well, here’s a job that actually pays you to do just that.
You can get paid to stand in queues (otherwise known as ‘line sitting’).
You’ve seen the long queues as people wait in line to be the first to get their hands on the latest Apple product, even staying the night during relentless rain.
Chances are there’s some damp soul in those queues who would rather pay someone else to be sat there.
There are also people with work or family commitments who are eager to get the latest iPhone or the newly released concert tickets but are unable to, or those who are too ill or have disabilities that make queuing for long periods impossible. These people too may be willing to pay you for queuing for them.
Whilst popular in the US, not many people are aware of ‘line sitting’ in the UK so you may have to introduce the concept whilst you’re drumming up business.
You’d be able to set your own price, either at a fixed rate or an agreed amount per hour/half hour.
For example, you could charge a fixed rate of £100, or agree on £12 an hour.
The amount you make will depend on how much people are willing to pay and how often you get the work.
Advertise your services on Fiverr, Gumtree and on any social media platform you use.
3. Get Paid to Download an App
How would you like to get a £5 Amazon voucher just for downloading an app onto your tablet or mobile?
All you have to do is keep the app active on an Android device for a week.
This is what MobileXpression offers.
It really is money for nothing. Most sites like this offer vouchers rather than hard cash, but it’s often for a universal online store like Amazon which means you can easily spend them.
If you like to earn for downloading apps you should also check out Nielsen Online Panel. You won’t get paid for downloading it, but you will be automatically entered into a monthly prize draw to win £250 – so there’s potential to make a LOT of money doing nothing.
4. Make Money Testing Food
If you’re a foodie and think you’ve got a refined sense of taste, this one could be for you. Research companies employ food testers so that they can get views on their food products.
After tasting the food you’ll be asked for your feedback – this might be as part of a focus group or you might simply just have to give it a score in a questionnaire.
You’ll get a palette cleanser in between each food sample, such as a cracker and water, so you’re ready to go for the next taste.
Tasting sessions last around an hour or two, but if you’re taking part in a focus group it may take longer.
It’s a great way to supplement your income, with the potential to earn between £5-£55 depending on whether you’re just completing a questionnaire or if you’re taking part in a focus group.
Click here to find out more about getting paid to test food.
5. Make Money Listening to Music
Another great way to make money doing nothing is to listen to music.
Ok, you have to review the music as well, but still, it’s a fun little money maker!
Slicethepie.com gives you the chance to earn money writing reviews of music produced by aspiring musicians who are trying to get their tunes out there.
It’s not a way to earn big money by any means; you’ll only be earning a few pennies per review. But if you like listening to music and giving feedback then a little bit of money is better than no money at all, right?
6. Make Money House Sitting
Imagine making money doing nothing whilst relaxing in a luxurious home. That’s what house sitting can offer.
House sitting is a growing phenomenon, many people who own more than one house are away for long periods of time for business trips.
Such people often prefer to have a trusted house sitter take care of the house than leave it at the risk of burglars or squatters.
Often it might involve pet sitting, so if you’re an animal lover then looking after an adorable pooch or feline won’t feel like work at all.
It’s not a way to earn lots of money; pay for long-term house sitting starts at £10 a day. That said, it’s a good way to save on some of your day-to-day living costs – just think of how much you could save on rent, utility bills, food etc. whilst you’re house sitting.
Click here to find out more about house sitting.
And if you want to make your own receipts, and are not doing it through a housesitting site, you can use a receipt template so it still requires little effort.
7. Make Money by Not Wasting Money
This one might sound like a cheat, but really, not wasting money is doing nothing – and you can save a lot of money by doing this.
To begin with you can try to negotiate a little more in everyday life. Over time the little savings you can make by being frugal/cheeky will really add up and, at the end of the day, why pay more than you need to?
We have a great article here on how to save money by haggling. There really are two prices in the world – one for those who negotiate, and one for those who don’t.
Equally, there are plenty of ways many of us waste money which we could easily cut down on. For example, do you really need to buy that cleaning product or do you have products in your home that will do exactly the same job?
Do you need to buy the most expensive brand, or will a discounted brand be just as nice?
Are you shopping around for things like your current account or your energy bill? Or are you just accepting the prices you’re given?
Find out more about making money by not wasting money here.
And don’t forget to sell on and recycle things you no-longer need. For example, did you know you can get money for your old phone?
Don’t throw it away, find out how much you can make by reselling and recycling here.
Not wasting money means you can save more – and that makes your cash word hard for you. Savings rates are looking good right now, so the more you can squirrel away the better.
8. Make Money Waiting for Deliveries
This really is how to make money by just hanging around!
It’s similar to house sitting, but it’s an easier and quicker way to earn money than staying in someone’s home for a long period of time.
We all dread those horrible time-windows given to us by delivery companies or the plumber when you need something fixed. Sometimes you really are expected to wait in the whole day!
Well, some people are willing to pay you to sit in their house and wait instead.
Pay can actually be quite good, you can earn between £8-£10 an hour, and you really are doing nothing but waiting! It’s ideal for people who can work remotely from a laptop or for students looking for some extra cash,
Look out for potential jobs – or advertise your sit-in business – on places like NextDoor, Facebook Marketplace and even Gumtree.
9. Make Money Being a Friend
Yep, you really can earn money being a friend.
Sometimes, people want to be shown around a new area, while others want someone to go to the movies with. Some want a workout buddy and some people even want a wingman!
To get started you should sign yourself up to Rent a Friend.
You don’t have to pay anything, only people looking for a friend have to pay to sign-up.
If someone likes your profile and wants you to be their friend, you can charge £5-£30 an hour for your time, so there is good money to be made.
It’s a really good way to make money doing nothing!
Click here to find out more about making money being a friend.
If you have a caring personality, you can also look for local befriending services. These pay you to visit people in their homes to provide company for a few hours a week, and you might help with a few basic chores like the washing up or making lunch. You could also be asked to run errands for people, like taking them to hospital appointments.
10. Get Cashback
Cashback sites are such an easy and straightforward way to make money. By joining a cashback site, you’ll get a bit of money back on everything you buy.
All you have to do is sign-up (absolutely free) and shop through the cashback site’s portal. It’s exactly the same as online shopping any other way, but they’ll be able to track where you make your purchase so both they and you can get paid for it.
Two of our favourite cashback sites are Top CashBack and Quidco, both of which are absolutely free to join. If you know a friend who already uses cashback sites, remember to ask them to refer you and you’ll often both get a bonus for your sign up!
You really are getting money just for shopping as normal – why wouldn’t you sign up?
Read more about cashback sites here.
Disclaimer: MoneyMagpie is not a licensed financial advisor and therefore information found here including opinions, commentary, suggestions or strategies are for informational, entertainment or educational purposes only. This should not be considered as financial advice. Anyone thinking of investing should conduct their own due diligence.
The rent a friend one really makes me feel sad. No one should have to pay people to be in their company.
Maybe some people only want a friend for a short while, knowing that they won’t be bothering them all the time afterwards.
Some very useful info and ideas.