10 Ways to Earn Money Without a Job

Not cut out for the 9-to-5 grind? There are plenty of ways you can earn extra income without working a traditional job. From online side hustles to real-world gigs, here’s how to make money without a job in Canada.

1. Use get-paid-to (GPT) apps

How much you can make: Approximately $0.50 to $5 per hour, up to $35

How it works: Sign up for GPT apps like Branded Surveys and Swagbucks, and you can get paid to complete surveys, play games on your phone and sign up for special offers. It won’t make you rich, but it’s a legit way to get more cash in your pocket.

• Tips to succeed

  • Shop around. Sign up for multiple apps so you can shop around for the most lucrative offers and rewards.
  • Check the terms and conditions. Many in-game rewards come with time limits, so check the fine print to make sure you know exactly what you need to do to get rewarded.
  • Invite friends. Many GPT apps run referral programs, so you can earn rewards simply by inviting your friends to sign up too.

2. Switch bank accounts

How much you can make: $150 to $700

How it works: Banks and credit unions across Canada offer cash welcome bonuses as an incentive to attract new customers. You can earn several hundred dollars simply by signing up for a new bank account, but in some cases, you may need to perform specific transactions in order to qualify for the bonus.

• Tips to succeed

  • Check the terms and conditions. Read the fine print to check if you have to jump through any hoops to earn a bonus. For example, you may need to keep your new account open for a minimum time period in order to qualify.
  • Start now. Check out our guide to the best bank account sign-up offers to start comparing deals.

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3. Earn cash rewards

How much you can make: $20 - $250+

How it works: Financial comparison sites like ours (Finder Canada) and moneyGenius offer cash rewards when you take certain financial actions. For example, you could get rewarded for signing up for a credit card or switching bank accounts. These rewards can be stacked on top of the welcome bonuses that banks offer.

• Tips to succeed

  • Check the terms and conditions. Check the offer conditions closely to make sure you know exactly what you need to do to get rewarded.
  • Review current offers. Head to the Finder Rewards page to check out the latest offers.

4. Cashback shopping

How much you can make: Typically 1% to 10% cashback

How it works: Cashback sites like Rakuten and Great Canadian Rebates pay cashback whenever you make a purchase from their network of retail partners. Simply click through to the retailer’s website from the cashback site, app or browser extension, then finish your shopping as normal to be rewarded with cashback.

• Tips to succeed

  • Stack it up. Pay for your purchases with a credit card that pays cashback to double your rewards.
  • Sign up for multiple sites. Sign up on multiple sites so you can shop around for the best cashback deals.
  • Use a browser extension. If your favourite cashback site has a browser extension, install it to get automatic alerts of cashback opportunities.

5. Sign up for a gig app

How much you can make: $10 – $100.

How it works: Gig apps and websites like TaskRabbit and UrbanTasker offer a flexible work solution when you need some extra cash. Create an account and advertise your services, and you can get work doing odd jobs like assembling furniture, moving heavy items, mounting shelves or TVs and other basic household maintenance.

• Tips to succeed

  • Choose in-demand services. Review task listings in your area to find out which services and skills are most sought-after.
  • Be reliable. Show up when you say you will, be polite and do a thorough job. This will earn you more five-star reviews, which will in turn help you get more work.

6. Flip second-hand goods

How much you can make: Varies depending on what you’re flipping.

How it works: Use Facebook Marketplace, Kijiji and thrift stores to find items you can buy at a low price and then sell at a profit. From vintage clothing to surfboards, furniture to musical instruments, power tools to sneakers, there are plenty of popular items that offer money-making potential for savvy flippers.

• Tips to succeed

  • Choose your niche. Look for items to flip in a category that you’re not only knowledgeable about, but where there is the potential to make a tidy profit.
  • Network. Building relationships with other buyers and sellers in your chosen niche can help you get access to items before they’re listed for sale.
  • Create quality listings. Focus on creating detailed listings with high-quality photos for every item you want to sell. This will help your products stand out in a crowded market.

7. User testing

How much you can make: $3 to $5 per 5-minute test or $30 to $100+ for more complicated tests

How it works: User testing offers a flexible way to make money without a job. When you sign up with user testing platforms like UserTesting and TryMata, you can get paid to test out apps and websites in real-world situations. Provide detailed feedback on the strengths and weaknesses of your user experience, and in return, you’ll make real money.

• Tips to succeed

  • Use multiple sites. Sign up on multiple user testing platforms so you can hunt around for the highest-paying jobs.
  • Choose live conversation tests. Testing jobs that involve live interviews, where you provide feedback as you go, often pay the most.
  • Go into detail. Instead of simply saying that you do or don’t like something about a website or app experience, provide a detailed explanation of why you feel that way.

8. House sit

How much you can make: $20 – $60 per hour

How it works: You can get paid to stay in someone else’s house while they’re away. You’ll need to look after the homeowner’s pets as well as perform basic maintenance like collecting mail, watering plants, and keeping the place neat and tidy. Get started by creating a profile on platforms like House Sitters Canada and TrustedHousesitters.

• Tips to succeed

  • Ask questions. Make sure to ask the homeowner plenty of questions about your duties. This not only shows that you’re responsible and have good attention to detail, but also ensures that you have a clear idea of what the homeowner expects from you.
  • Gather your paperwork. Gather references from past clients and undergo a police check to help your profile stand out to homeowners.
  • Focus on pet experience. Many housesitting jobs involve pet care, so remember to include information about your pet care experience (including photos) in your profile.

9. Rent out your stuff

How much you can make: Varies depending on what you have to rent out and the level of demand for your items.

How it works: If you’ve got valuable tools and gadgets that you only need to use occasionally, make extra money by renting those items to other people on sites like Lend-it.ca and Hygglo (formerly Fat Llama). Popular rental items include everything from event furniture and musical instruments to power tools, projectors and Bluetooth speakers. Borrowers usually have to pay a security deposit to the rental platform to help protect you against the risk of theft or damage.

• Tips to succeed

  • Focus on in-demand items. Check which items are the most sought-after in your area so you know which listings to prioritize.
  • Research prices. Find out how much other people are charging for their items in your area so that you can set competitive prices.
  • Offer bundles. Bundle similar items together to help your listings stand out. For example, maybe someone is planning a baby shower, and they need baby-related decor as well as event furniture, or maybe they need multiple power tools for a home DIY project.

10. Sell gift cards

How much you can make: From $10 to hundreds of dollars.

How it works: Sites like CardSwap.ca let you sell your unused gift cards for cash. So if you’ve got an unused gift card burning a hole in your wallet, it’s quick and easy to turn it into money you can spend wherever you want.

• Tips to succeed

  • Compare prices. Shop around on different platforms to find the best deal for any card(s) you want to sell.
  • Watch out for scams. Research any platform thoroughly to make sure it’s legit before trying to sell any cards.
  • Provide accurate info. Be sure to provide accurate and detailed information about each card, including its outstanding balance and expiry date.

What is the best way to make money without a job?

That depends. Are you looking for the easiest way to make money without a job, or the way with the highest earning potential?

If you want a simple way to make money without working, signing up for special offers from Finder or switching bank accounts to earn a welcome cash bonus are top options.

But if you want to make maximum money without working a regular job, doing odd jobs through a gig app or housesitting are both lucrative choices.

And if you just want to earn some extra pocket money in your spare time, it’s hard to go past the convenience of a GPT app.

What to watch out for

• Tax obligations. While these side hustles might not be your main source of income, you’ll still need to pay tax on the money you earn. Make sure you remember to declare all extra income when you file your taxes.
• Inconsistent income. Making money without a job makes it difficult to earn a consistent income. Your pay will fluctuate with many of the methods listed above, and most options don’t provide enough money to replace a regular income.
• No employer benefits. You won’t get access to any of the benefits provided by regular employment, such as retirement contributions or health insurance.
• Scams. From ads for work-from-home “jobs” that sound too good to be true, to fraudulent cashback sites and sketchy Facebook Marketplace sellers, be vigilant to protect yourself against scams. If something doesn’t seem quite right about any side hustle, look for opportunities elsewhere.

Bottom line

You don’t necessarily need a regular paycheque to get paid in Canada. There are lots of legit ways to make money without a job. Some are simple side hustles and hacks, while others provide the potential for ongoing income. Compare your money-making options and give your bank account a boost today.

Frequently asked questions

• How can I make money without a job as a kid?

  There are lots of ways you can make money as a kid in Canada without taking on a traditional part-time job. You could become a dog walker, do yard work, help elderly neighbours with errands, work as a babysitter, deliver flyers and more. Learn more in our guide to how to make money as a kid.

• What is the fastest way to make money without a job?

  There are a few options if you’re searching for the fastest way to make money without employment. Selling unwanted items to a pawn shop is a quick and convenient way to get your hands on some cash. But if you’re looking for fast money as well as an ongoing source of income, doing tasks through a gig app like TaskRabbit offers the potential for fast payouts. Other options include doing yard work for neighbours or signing up for a GPT app to earn small amounts of money playing games and completing surveys.

• How can I make money from home?

  There are lots of ways to make money from home without paying money in Canada. Some of them don’t require any special skills or experience, like completing surveys on a paid survey site, playing games through a GPT app, taking advantage of bank account sign-up offers, and even shopping through cashback sites. Other options are more like a regular job, such as working as a freelancer, as a virtual assistant, affiliate marketing or starting a dropshipping business.

• I’m unemployed and looking for work. Is there financial support available?

  Yes. If you lost your job through no fault of your own, you could be eligible for Employment Insurance (EI) benefits. You can apply for EI as soon as you stop working, so check the Government of Canada website to see if you qualify.

Written by

Tim Falk

Writer

Tim Falk is a freelance writer for Finder. Over the course of his 20-year writing career, he has reported on a wide range of personal finance topics. Whether you're investing in stocks and ETFs, comparing savings accounts or choosing a credit card, Tim wants to make it easier for you to understand. When he’s not staring at his computer, you can usually find him exploring the great outdoors. See full bio

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Tim has written 542 Finder guides across topics including:

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