Top 10 Ideas How To Make Money At 18 Without A Job

Are you an 18 year old (or older) looking for legitimate ways how to make money without a job? Then this is for you.

When you’re young, fresh out of school, and have no real work experience, it can be challenging to find a job. We’ve been there.

But don’t fret; there are many ways to make money at 18 without having a 9-5 job.

That being said, we want you to get the most of the time you spend reading this article. Hence, we will only share the 10 best ways for you to make money. 

So, no online surveys and similar low income opportunities. Fair enough?

And the best part? The income opportunities we will share below have the potential to support not just your needs but even realize your wants. Some of them can even become a passive income source!

Let’s explore your best options.

1. Find a Suitable Side Hustle

One of the best ways to make money everyday while you don’t have a job is to find a side hustle that suits your skills and interests.

The great thing about side hustles is that they’re income opportunities with minimal risk and investment on your part. Something you can dip your toe into and see how things work out.

For starters, some of the best side hustles for young men and women includes:

• Make money reviewing phone calls
• Make money chatting online
• Get paid to go on dates
• Make money reading emails
• Get paid writing stories

Most of these side hustles require no monetary investment  and no work experience as well. Some of them you can also do completely online with a computer and stable Internet connection.

For a step-by-step guide on how to start a side hustle from home, click here.

2. Start an Affiliate Marketing Business

We understand that most people frown when they see the word “business” because the first thing that comes to their mind is that they will need a hefty amount to get started.

Well, what if we tell you that you can start an online business WITHOUT the need to:

• Invest a ton of money up front.
• Create or sell products.
• Manage inventory.
• Handle shipping and customer service.

This is what makes affiliate marketing business one of the most beginner-friendly ways to make money at 18 without a job.

With affiliate marketing, you can start with little to no money as long as you have the drive and passion to put in the time and hard work to grow your affiliate business.

And the best part about an affiliate marketing business?  You can do this at the comfort of your own home!

Thinking this is just another pie in the sky? Here’s how it works.

How does affiliate marketing work?

The process of how to make money with affiliate marketing can be summarized into 8 simple steps.

1. You sign up for a merchant’s affiliate programs, ie Amazon Associate, ClickBank, etc.
2. Once your application is approved, the merchant provides you with a unique affiliate link that you can use to promote products.
3. You create content (such as a blog post or ads) that target a specific group of audience or niche, and include your affiliate link in the content.
4. A potential customer sees your content on the Internet (maybe through an advertisement, a YouTube video, or a search) and clicks it.
5. The customer lands on your content, likes what he/she saw, and clicks on your affiliate link.
6. After clicking on your affiliate link, the customer is taken to the merchant’s site and makes a purchase.
7. The merchant receives the order, processes the order and sends out the product to the customer.
8. The affiliate (YOU) gets paid a commission for the sale

That’s it!

Now take note how you didn’t make any product, you didn’t do any hard selling, you didn’t handle shipping, and yet, YOU MADE MONEY.

That’s affiliate marketing in a nutshell. 

But since we know you want to learn more, click here for a more in-depth tutorial about affiliate marketing.

3. Stream Video Games on Twitch

Are you a gamer? Are you good with online video games such as CS: GO, PUBG, Dota 2, League of Legends, or Grand Theft Auto Online?

Then, you can make money just staying at home and playing your favorite game.

And while that sounds too good to be true, many gamers are making full-time income (even more) in front of their computers as a Twitch streamer.

Twitch is an American video live streaming service that focuses on video game live streaming and esports competitions broadcasts, in addition to music broadcasts, creative content, and “in real life” streams.

According to a blog post by Influencer Marketing Hub, successful Twitch streamers can make anywhere between $3,000 to $5,000 per month from their subscribers, with the top broadcasters earning substantially more.

Furthermore, StreamScheme added that the top 100 on the platform make a minimum of $32,850 USD per month! (Wow!)

How to make money on Twitch?

Most Twitch streamers earn money on the platform via subscriptions, donations, sponsorship, and  ads.

So if you’ve been wondering how to make money with GTA, create an account with Twitch and begin live streaming. 

This is a great way to turn your passion for games into an income source and make money without a job as a teenager.

4. Make Money as an Amazon Associate

This make money online (MMO) opportunity is another great way to generate an income without leaving the comfort of your home.

How to make money as an Amazon Associate?

The Amazon Affiliate program allows ordinary people to become their “associates” and make money by independently promoting and reviewing Amazon products.

This business model is called affiliate marketing.

With the affiliate marketing business, you won’t need to own any products, hold inventory, manage sales, or provide customer support. BUT, you make money per sale as commission.

How to get started?

To become an Amazon Associate, you must have a working computer and a stable Internet connection.

Furthermore, and this is important, you will need to have an active online platform where you can promote products. It can be a website, a personal blog, a mobile app, or a YouTube channel.

Then, you need to visit the Amazon Associates home page and sign up for an affiliate account. Here are some steps to help you out:

1. Click the “Sign Up” at the bottom of the page.
2. Enter your personal information.
3. Enter your website address or online platform.
4. Enter your preferred affiliate store ID.
5. Explain how you drive traffic to your site.
6. Choose your payment method.
7. Create Amazon Affiliate links.
8. Promote Amazon products using your unique affiliate links.

What’s the best way to make money as an Amazon affiliate?

The most common way people are making money as an Amazon affiliate is by creating a blog focused around a particular niche such as barbecuing, traveling, gardening, parenting, or eco-friendly living.

Choosing a niche is one of the most crucial steps with affiliate marketing as you will need to do thorough research and have a deep understanding about your target market if you want any chance to succeed.

For example, if you have a passion for travel (and you do travel a lot), you can create a travel blog and write blog posts about your travel experience and travel tips.

One of the posts you can create can be about the “most important travel items. “

Then, you can list a number of your most essential travel items such as a camera, backpacks, or portable batteries and recommend your favorite brands for each.

When people click on the products you recommend on  your blog post and buy anything through your affiliate link, you would earn a commission.

Aside from promoting affiliate products on your blog, you can also use your social media accounts to promote affiliate products.

You can do affiliate marketing on Pinterest, Facebook, Tiktok, and Twitter.

5. Make Money as a Blogger

As of the data from 2021, there are more than 570 million blogs on the internet, and there are an estimated 31.7 million bloggers in the United States alone.

Why so many? Because there is money on blogging.

So if you like writing about your passion, hobbies, or about a specific topic you’re interested in, becoming a blogger can be a great option for you. 

And guess what? You can make money with blogging even as a complete beginner!

What are the best ways to monetize your blog?

There are many ways to monetize your blog and make money from it. The most common ways to earn money with a blog includes:

• Joining Ads network
• Promoting affiliate products
• Selling your own crafts and merch
• Publishing sponsored posts
• Selling online courses
• Provide coaching services

How much can you earn with a blog?

Your income as a blogger will depend on various things such as the niche you are in, your blog authority, the traffic you get, and the affiliate products you promote.

Based on our experience, you can easily earn anywhere between $500 to $2,000 per month blogging in your first year. Your income can then significantly increase in the following years.

And according to Glassdoor, bloggers in the USA earn an average of $81, 602 per year.

Of course, this is considering you are doing all the right things about blogging, including writing quality content, proper SEO, outreach, and more.

How to start a blog?

First and foremost, you need to choose and pick the right niche for your blog.

Decide what your blog will be about and research if there is a potential market in that niche. After all, you want to make money with your blog, right?

As for the next steps, we prepared a step-by-step tutorial on how to create a blog for you.

Is starting a blog a good way to make money?

While starting a blog won’t bring you income immediately, it can become a source of passive full-time income in the future.

Furthermore, you get to be your own boss and you are free to manage your time. 

For instance, you can work on your blog on spare time or at night while you’re making extra money with the other opportunities on this list, totally up to you.

Starting a blog is also simple and inexpensive thanks to blogging services like WordPress.

But like other ways to make money, blogging can be a lot of work in the beginning. 

You will also need to learn blogging skills like SEO, proper content writing, outreaching, and how to find and connect with your target audience.

6. Make Money Online with a YouTube Channel

Another great way to make money without a job is to start making YouTube videos.

And just like blogging, you can make money with videos about anything you love!

Some of the most popular YouTube videos include:

• Tutorials (e.g makeup tutorials)
• DIY Crafts & Life Hacks
• Gaming Videos
• Entertainment (e.g dance or mukbang videos)
• Travel & Lifestyle Videos
• Fashion & Clothing
• Cooking & Baking
• Exercise & Training
• Make Money Online Videos
• Educational Videos

Some of the ideas above require you to face the camera, but not all.

Hence, this is a valid way to make money at home even for introverts and people who are camera shy.

How to make a YouTube Channel?

Go to YouTube and create an account. Then, sign into YouTube on a computer or mobile device.

Next, click on your profile icon in the top right corner of the screen, and then click “Create a channel.”

You’ll have the option to create a personal channel or create a channel using a business or other name.

We recommend choosing the  “Use custom name” option for small businesses and brands.

Then, you’ll need to provide a name for your channel, customize it as you see fit, add a profile picture and you can start uploading videos.

How do YouTubers make money?

YouTubers make money online similar to bloggers. Some of the most popular ways you can make money with a YouTube channel include:

• Google AdSense – Google AdSense allows you to place ads on your videos and make money through views on video and clicks on the ads. However, you will need to have at least 1000 subscribers and 4000 minutes watch time on your videos first before you can start placing ads on your videos, with Google AdSense.
• Affiliate Marketing – Affiliate marketing is one of the most profitable ways to make money through your YouTube channel. There is an unlimited amount of products and services you can promote in your YT channel, as long as they belong in your niche. You can find affiliate products to promote on Amazon, Clickbank, ShareASale, Commission Junction etc.
• Sponsorships – Once your YouTube channel grows, various companies and businesses will approach you to promote their products in exchange for fees.

Other ways you can make money with a YouTube channel includes exclusive contents, selling your own merch, or selling digital products.

7. Get Paid as a Freelance Writer

Besides blogging, another great way to make money if you have a knack for writing is to become a freelance writer.

And the great thing about this gig is that whether you’re a seasoned writer or a newbie starting your writing career, you can find clients online that will pay for your services.

You can write for different websites, blogs, online magazines, social media pages and more.

How to make money as a freelance writer?

Visit freelance sites like Fiverr, FlexJobs, Upwork, PeoplePerHour, and TopTal and you will find endless content writing gigs that suit your style and interests.

Besides writing, you can also apply for other freelance job positions if you have the skills for them.

Some of the most in-demand freelance jobs include:

• Graphic Designer
• Video Editor
• Online Translator (perfect side hustle for bilinguals)
• English Teacher
• Online Tutor
• Bookkeeper
• Animator
• SEO Specialist
• Social Media Manager
• Website Developer
• Virtual Assistant
• Data Entry
• Customer Service Reps

To find more online freelance jobs, go to your browser and type “work as + your skill + online” and you will find plenty of potential clients. (eg work as writer online)

8. Help complete chores and odd jobs

Believe it or not, a lot of people in your neighborhood could use an extra helping hand to complete various simple tasks at home. They could be your friends or family members.

So during your free time, you could help them with various tasks. It could be for simple household chores like replacing light bulbs to grocery shopping, and they will gladly pay you for your services.

You can also offer to clean their attic, mow the lawn, water the flowers, clean pool, walk their dog, or babysit.

Providing manual services is a good idea to make money especially for college students since you can work on your own schedule.

However, providing manual services has some risks, especially for ladies.

So to be safe, only accept jobs from the people you actually know and only on day hours.

9. Rent your Stuffs

Here’s an interesting idea to make money at 18 without a job: rent your stuff to other people.

You can do so by making use of verified and trusted renting platforms that already exist online.

The great thing about this is that you can rent almost anything useful online, from clothes to your car.

Here are your options.

Make money by renting your car

You can earn a good amount of money from car rentals especially during summer and holidays via Turo, Alamo, Lyft, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, and National Car Rentals. 

But what if you don’t want strangers behind the wheel of your car?

Advertising firms like Wrapify, Carvertise, Vugo, and StickerRide use cars for advertisements where you can get paid anywhere between $400 and $1,000 per month.

Rent rooms or your house

If you have a spare room in your home that no one uses, or you have a vacation home that you only visits once or twice a year, you can register as a host for vacation rental sites like Airbnb, Tripping, HomeToGo, and Vrbo.

Once people book for your room or house, you can make money from short term rentals without doing anything

Rent your personal stuff

You can make money without a job by renting your personal items like clothes, camera, bike, power tools, or sporting gear via Decluttr,  Recycler, Oodle, LetGo, Craigslist, Loanables, Style Lend, and Fat Llama.

Alternatively, you can use your social media accounts or your own blog to advertise the stuff you want to rent out.

10. Start an Online Business

And finally, you can make money at 18 without working for anyone by starting your own online business.

Now, we are not talking about affiliate marketing here, but an actual business based on your passion, skills, and interests.

Yes, we know this may sound a little far-fetched, because having a successful business takes a lot of time.

But remember, all successful businesses and companies all have humble beginnings. 

They didn’t just appear one day, right?

So what if there is a simple way for you to start a profitable online business today? 

What if you will be provided with all the foundational training you need, an actual physical business plan to follow and ready for you to launch your online business successfully?

Would you step up to the challenge?

What if this opportunity will be the key for you never having to work again? Be set for life financially? Wouldn’t you want to at least learn more about such an opportunity?

If your answer to these questions is yes, click here.

The Bottom Line

Are you 18 already but you have no work? No worries!

There are many different ways for young people to make money without having a 9-5 job. 

You could start by looking for side hustles that fit your skills, or you can work as a freelancer online. 

But if you’re looking for a more sustainable income source, you can start an affiliate marketing business, start a blog, or start a YouTube channel.

You can also go big and start an online business with your name on it! 

There are many ways to make money without a job, so you should explore all of your options, be open-minded, and step up to the challenge.

You can make it!

Frequently Asked Questions on How To Make Money Without A Job