10 Best Ways to Make Mailbox Money

There are many ways to earn mailbox money. For many, the goal of mailbox money is to create a viable income stream, allowing them to quit their day jobs for good.

What is Mailbox Money?

Mailbox money is a method where you receive cash in your mailbox with little to no effort. Today, technology makes it easier for people to earn money while they sleep. It is also a smart way to increase your income, as it requires minimal time and allows you to maintain your day job.

How to Get Money in Your Mailbox

Actual mailbox money is making money at any time of day without requiring constant attention. There’s no such thing as a 100 percent easy, effortless gig. If it were, everyone would already be doing it.

Creating passive income requires effort, but the bulk of the work is done upfront. Once that part is done, the idea is to sit back (with minimal maintenance) and let the checks roll in. Here’s a rundown of the best ways to make mailbox money.

1. Got an Extra Room? List it on Airbnb

One of the best aspects of the Internet is the burgeoning sharing economy that millions have adopted. Airbnb allows people worldwide to open their homes to travelers for a fraction of the cost of a hotel.

Making passive income by renting out a spare bedroom or your entire home is easy. Take some excellent photos of the space, provide a brief description, and post them. I listed my place on Airbnb because I was traveling over the holidays, and within two days, my apartment was almost fully booked for the dates I offered.

A nice aspect of opening your home to Airbnb is that you have complete control over the calendar, which means you can turn Airbnb “on and off.”

2. Create a Website or Blog

Creating a website or blog is a great way to build your brand. These days, websites are so easy to create (there are templates you can use) that anyone who says it’s too complicated is just making excuses.

If you’re good at something or know a lot about a particular topic, share it with an online community, grow your traffic and following, and monetize it.

Are you skilled at cooking with healthy spices that your Indian mother used to prepare for you when you were a child? A website with the best spice recipes would be a logical place to start.

3. Create an E-course

If you already have a website with traffic, an e-course could be a great way to earn mailbox money. You don’t necessarily need a website to create a course. However, you’d be at an advantage if you already have a site that generates traffic.

People who take this route usually have a skill they already utilize. Sometimes, they say the idea for the e-course sprouted from their community or friends and colleagues constantly asking the same questions.

Creating an e-course can be done in several ways. A significant consideration for how to convey your e-course depends on what you’re teaching. If the course is about restoring old motorcycles, video might be your best platform. If it’s about writing blogs or becoming a virtual assistant, a written e-course might be fine.

You can start your research on Teachable.com, a company designed to help you create and sell online courses. A basic plan starts at just $39 a month.

4. Promote Affiliate Products

In my opinion, affiliate marketing is one of the most effective ways to generate passive income. If you have a product or service and want to promote it to others, why not “share” the profits with an affiliate?

Affiliate marketing is a process where an online retailer pays a commission for sales generated through its referrals.

If you have a website and want to promote products and services that you think your audience will be interested in purchasing. It can be an easy way to make more mailbox money.

5. Invest Your Money

Investing in the stock market is one of the most popular ways to make mailbox money. Hopefully, you have an IRA or 401(k) that you contribute regularly to. If you don’t, this should be on your list of financial goals.

If your company doesn’t offer a 401(k), open an IRA with Vanguard. They have low fees compared to other investment companies. After you open the account, be sure to make the maximum contributions for the year.

6. Invest In Real Estate

In addition to your long-term investments, consider exploring other ways to invest in real estate through a company like Fundrise.

Fundrise allows you to invest in commercial real estate with as little as $10. You can choose from various investment options, from shorter to longer-term goals.

They offer a 90-day satisfaction period. If you’re unhappy for any reason, within 90 days, they will buy your investment back at the original amount.

7. Peer-to-Peer Lending

You’ve most likely heard of Prosper, a peer-to-peer lending platform offering low-risk portfolios. In short, Prosper is an online company that matches two types of people — those who want to borrow money and those who want to lend it.

Lenders can earn as much as 25%, although the average is usually between 3% and 8% for most investors. Keep in mind that any investment carries risks, and Prosper is no exception.

While your investment can certainly yield higher returns than a traditional savings account, it requires more research and effort on your part to fully understand the loans and make an informed decision that best suits your goals.

8. Sell Your Unwanted Stuff Online

If creating a website, affiliate marketing, or an e-course is too much of a commitment, there are easier ways to make money in your spare time.

The two major players in online selling are Amazon and eBay, but other platforms are geared towards specific items, such as Decluttr, which helps you get rid of your old CDs, DVDs, games, books, and cell phones.

It’s free to sign up, and they’ll send you a free shipping label for the first box of stuff you send to them. There’s also OfferUp, which displays your items to people in your local area. It’s good for selling larger items you don’t want to ship.

9. Put Your Car Up for Rent

If you have a fun car in the garage or don’t drive much, consider snapping some nice photos and renting it to make extra cash. This is just like Airbnb, but for your car.

I’ve heard of people purchasing multiple cars just to rent them on Hyrecar. They use the money they make from Hyrecar to pay off the car.

For customers, it’s a cheaper alternative to renting from traditional companies like Enterprise or Hertz. Like Airbnb, users must have a profile and be rated and reviewed by others.

10. Open a Savings Account

Opening a savings account is one of the safest ways to earn mailbox money.

Although savings accounts won’t make you rich, they will provide a stable return and are FDIC-insured up to $250,000.

You can get a higher interest rate with a bank like CIT Bank. It is an online bank that offers daily compounding interest to maximize your earning potential.

Summary

Sometimes, the hardest thing about a project is just getting started. Whether you rent a room or invest some extra money, set aside time on your calendar and be prepared to plan and do your research.

Creating time in your calendar to execute your tasks is the best way to get things done, allowing you to make mailbox money this year.

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