People share online some of the easiest ways to make money — and they’re even better than you think

It’s a question almost everyone has Googled at some point: what’s the easiest way to make money? Not “get rich quick.” Not build a startup. Just… easy. Low friction. Low barrier. Low stress.

When one Reddit user asked, “What are some of the easiest ways you’ve found to make money?” the responses rolled in fast — and they revealed something interesting. For some people, “easy” means passive. For others, it means practical. And for a few, it means bending the rules just enough to make things interesting.

The story

The post itself was almost disarmingly simple: “What are some of the easiest ways you’ve found to make money?” No long explanation. No personal struggle attached. Just a straightforward prompt dropped into a finance-focused corner of the internet, but the simplicity was the point.

The OP wasn’t asking how to build generational wealth or launch a six-figure business. They were asking about ease, about what feels low-effort, low-barrier, or surprisingly straightforward once you figure it out. It’s the kind of question that reveals how people think about money more than how much money they actually have.

So how are people making extra cash these days? After all, we know the top 5 careers of millionaires aren’t even what we expect they’d be. Let’s see how other people are doing with side gigs.

The responses

One of the strongest themes in the replies was regret, specifically about retirement matches. “I didn’t do this for years and I still feel dumb about it.” That comment hit because it’s common. Employer matches are often framed as boring paperwork, but they’re one of the few guaranteed returns you’ll ever get. It’s not a “gig” you can try, but it’s something you can start doing to earn extra money on what you already make.

On the other hand, some people found opportunity in what others ignored. “If you got a truck or trailer, definitely hunt for stuff that people throw out… half the time the stuff is just dirty.”

Another user who worked at an apartment complex said people regularly tossed perfectly good furniture when moving. Someone with a trailer would pay him $20 for a call whenever couches appeared by the dumpster and “made some good money that summer.” It’s not glamorous, but it’s doable. There’s a pattern here that easy money comes from inefficiency. People throw things away. Other people pick them up.

For people with a truck or trailer, hauling services were described as steady earners. Offering dump runs, scrap metal hauling, firewood delivery, or appliance removal doesn’t require a storefront, just transportation and time.

Then there’s the entrepreneurial leap. “Started to dog sit as a side hustle in 2021, I made more money than my first job.” That same user went on to become a certified dog trainer and is now opening a training center and daycare. His small side gig turned into his main business. “Easy” sometimes just means low barrier to entry, not low effort.

And then came the blunt realism. “If you have money, it’s really easy to make money.” Another added that investing in the S&P 500 “spits out 7% on average.” These comments shift the conversation entirely. For people with capital, growth can feel automatic. For those without it, the climb is much steeper.

Service-based side hustles were another recurring theme. Basic car maintenance done at a customer’s home, handyman services, interior painting, dog sitting, dog training, and house sitting were all described as accessible ways to earn. These ideas only require competence and sometimes a small upfront investment in tools or insurance.

What “easy money” really means

If you strip away the jokes, most answers fall into four categories: leverage what you already have, use skills you already know, reduce expenses instead of increasing income, or put your money to work.

Maxing out a 401(k) match helps you not leave compensation on the table. Credit card rewards and bank bonuses follow the same logic: small percentages compound. Flipping furniture or doing dump runs works because it solves a problem for someone else. You can even offer to help your local community understand what’s taking up space in their garage or elsewhere in the home and how you can help them get rid of it. Convenience is valuable. So is speed.

Side services such as handyman work and driveway repairs capitalize on local demand. They don’t require massive startup capital, just reliability and basic skills. And investing? That’s leverage. Once you have money, it can generate more money with less active effort.

The pattern is clear: the “easiest” money is often overlooked because it can be boring and requires consistency that not everyone is willing to maintain.