These are the 5 methods I’ve explored myself — the messy, the frustrating, and the unexpectedly doable.
You’ve probably typed "how to make passive income" into Google or YouTube at some point, right? And then boom — you’re hit with a wave of luxury cars, tropical beaches, and someone promising they made $10K overnight by doing practically nothing.
Yeah… that’s not the full story.
Here’s my version: the grounded, honest, been-there-done-that version. Hi there , I’m Carmen — a digital creator, Amazon Influencer, book author, and someone who’s tested a lot of passive income paths, with both wins and faceplants. This isn’t a get-rich-quick guide. These are realistic ideas, especially if you’re starting with a tiny (or zero) budget.
So, grab a cup of coffee or tea— let’s talk, heart-to-heart.
1. Create & Sell Digital Products (Planners, Journals, E-Guides)
If you’re creative or organized (or both!), digital products might be your sweet spot. Think planners, journals, coloring books, e-guides, templates, or even social media kits.
Let me be transparent: I haven’t sold a single digital file from my own website — not yet. Most of times I do pay a monthly subscription for Canva Pro, and my website? Not free either. I pay annually for hosting, my domain, and email service. So yes, digital products can become a solid passive income stream — but it’s definitely not instant, especially when you’re just starting out.
Where to sell: Your own website, Gumroad, Payhip, Ko-fi, Linktree — etc.
Payment methods: PayPal, Revolut, Stripe. Easy to set up.
Pro tip: If you’re just getting started and don’t have a website, try free tools and platforms first. Some creators deliver files straight from Google Drive after payment, and that works too.
Watch out for:
Thinking it’s instant money — it takes time, visibility, and the right niche.
Skipping legal stuff like refund/copyright policies — especially if you sell globally.
Over-designing — simple stuff often performs better!
Want to have a look at my digital files for inspiration or even to buy them? Check out my E-store.
2. Self-Publishing on Amazon KDP & Lulu: My Honest Experience
This one is close to my heart. I’ve published activity and coloring books for kids, relationship guides, and more — all using Amazon KDP and Lulu.
Yes, it’s free to upload your book. Yes, it can earn money for months (even years) afterward. But it takes real work upfront — writing, formatting, learning the platforms.
Tools I use: Canva Pro (helpful but optional), Amazon’s 6×9 template.
What sells best: Black & white paperbacks (color printing eats into profits fast).
From experience: It felt overwhelming at first, especially formatting, understanding how to calculate book cover size, choosing keywords, writing book descriptions, selecting categories, doing A+ content (especially on Amazon KDP). Lulu is easier — no A+ content needed, and printing/pricing differs.
Don’t make these mistakes:
Expecting Amazon or Lulu to magically send you buyers — you need to promote.
Choosing color interiors without knowing how expensive they are.
Thinking royalties are sky-high — they’re not.
Believing ad campaigns are cheap — they’re not.
Not accounting for taxes.
Ignoring platform-specific shipping costs — your local clients might not order.
Falling for “make money overnight” myths — it takes effort, consistency, and sometimes investment.
Raw conclusion? If you can afford paid ad campaigns, you might actually get some sales. But organically? Meh… only if luck is really on your side. Amazon is completely oversaturated with kids’ coloring books, so unless you seriously niche down and promote consistently, it's tough.
Self-publishing on Amazon KDP has exploded in popularity, especially on TikTok. These days, anyone with a bit of creativity and logic can make a book using Canva — it’s not that hard. But from my perspective as a Romanian author/publisher, I can’t exactly call it a success story.
What I’ve noticed is that U.S.-based creators tend to have more success — bigger audiences, better visibility, and cheaper local shipping. For someone like me (or my fellow Romanians), even ordering our own books from Amazon is pricey.
Will I keep creating and publishing kids’ activity books?
Well… seeing zero income so far — not really.
Okay, not zero — I did make a small sale back in November when my cousin Lisa from Australia bought four of my children’s books for her grandkids (shoutout to her!). But let’s be real: I only earned around $4 total in royalties. Not exactly the TikTok guru dream.
People don’t realize how little you actually earn per book — it’s not the fantasy numbers floating around online. Those so-called “passive income” TikToks? Most of them are just smoke and mirrors.
Was it fun? Yes.
Stressful? Definitely.
Productive? Heck no.
People often ask me, “Why do you keep publishing if you don’t make any money?”
And my answer? Because I’m not the kind of person who gives up easily. I’m a doer. A dreamer.
So yes, I tried. I gave it my best. I only wish I had better circumstances to show the world I could make it work. But no matter what, I’m still proud — proud of my artwork, my projects, and the courage it took to create something of my own. That’s why I hold the paperback versions of my books with pride.
Below, you’ll see me holding two of my self-help paperbacks:
" Eternal Soulmates – A Guide to Cultivate Profound Connections " (6×9, 125 pages)
" The Ultimate Amazon Influencer Guide – How to Succeed and Stand Out : Mastering the Art of Selling and Influencing on Amazon " (6×9, 90 pages, english version only )
3. Sell Handmade Products (Without Getting Burnt Out)
Okay, so this one’s not fully passive. But if you batch your creations, it can become semi-passive — meaning, less stress and more flow.
If you love crafting — soaps, candles, crochet, wedding invites, physical planners — you can absolutely build a mini brand around it.
Where to sell: Etsy (watch out for fees), your website, Instagram, Facebook Marketplace, etc.
Investment: Medium to high — depends on your niche, but batching helps.
Quick tip: Set up a basic system to track orders and materials. It’ll save your sanity.
Mistakes to avoid:
Undervaluing your time or product.
No tracking or planning of your inventory.
Not keeping in touch with clients for reviews and positive feedback.
Not having a secure policy for returns/refunds.
Not coordinating with delivery companies if you ship nationally/internationally.
Not promoting your handmade work across social media platforms.
Not checking for harmful materials (skin reactions, smells).
Not branding/registering your business legally.
Not declaring income or paying taxes.
Not suggesting safety precautions for kids!
Is it productive? YES — especially if you already have a community around you (workplace, network, social media). My younger sister, Mirela, makes natural soy candles seasonally. She invested and earned — proving that crafting can turn into a side hustle or branded business if you have the free time.
Inspired to Create? Here Are 8 Crafting Essentials
Soy Organic Wax – Everything You Need to Start creating amazing candles.
Colorful Yarn Bundle - for Crochet or Knitting - time to unleash your creativity.
Melt & Pour Soap Base – Unscented and Natural perfect for your projects.
Crafting Felt Sheets – 40 Colors Pack - Ready to explore a new hobby ?
DIY Jewelry Making Kit – Beads, Wires, Tools - Turn your fun passion into your business.
Hot Glue Gun with Extra Sticks – Quick little helper into your creative journey.
Eco-Friendly Packaging Boxes – Nice packing matters , especially for your future clients.
Blank Product Tags – Add Your Logo so people remember about your brand or add Price .
Mira HandCrafts 12 Acrylic Yarn Skeins – 1,312 Yards of Vibrant Thread for Knitting & Crochet Projects —Unleash your creativity with Mira HandCrafts' acrylic yarn kit! With 12 colorful 50g skeins (totaling 1,312 yards), this starter set is perfect for beginners and seasoned crafters alike. The yarn is soft, sturdy, and machine-washable—ideal for amigurumi, scarves, granny squares, plush toys, and DIY gifts. Comes with free eBooks filled with patterns to spark your next cozy masterpiece.
American Soy Organics Freedom Soy Wax Beads – 10 lbs Natural Paraffin-Free Candle Wax for DIY Candles & Melts - Create beautifully scented candles at home with these natural soy wax beads from American Soy Organics. Made from ethically sourced soybeans, these smooth, creamy beads are perfect for container candles, tealights, and wax melts. They melt easily, hold fragrance well, and are safe for beginners and pros alike. No paraffin. No beeswax. Just pure, eco-friendly wax for your next creative project.
Primal Elements Clear Glycerin Soap Base – 5 lb Vegan Melt & Pour for DIY Soap Making — Get crafty with the Primal Elements Clear Soap Base! This 5-pound, unscented, melt-and-pour glycerin base is perfect for DIY soap making. Simply melt, mix in your favorite fragrances and dyes, pour into molds, and voilà—custom soap bars at home. This base is 100% vegan, cruelty-free, paraben-free, and SLS-free. Great for beginners and seasoned soap crafters alike, it’s easy to cut and fun for family projects.
40-Pack 8x12 Inch Felt Sheets – Assorted Color Fabric Squares for DIY Crafts & Sewing — Get creative with this 40-pack of colorful 8x12 inch felt sheets—perfect for DIY sewing, patchwork, and crafting projects! Each 1mm thick sheet is made from durable polyester fiber that holds its shape, cuts cleanly without fraying, and is fade-resistant. With 40 assorted vibrant colors, you’ll have endless options for holiday decorations, kids' crafts, toy making, and more. Ideal for both beginners and advanced makers, this non-woven fabric is your go-to for embroidery, needle felting, and personalized handmade gifts.
Hot Glue Gun Kit with 30 Sticks – 20W Mini High Temp Glue Gun for Crafts, DIY Projects & Quick Repairs — Get crafty and tackle quick fixes with this compact 20W Hot Glue Gun Kit. Designed with a fast preheating system (just 1–2 minutes!), it delivers consistent glue flow through an anti-drip precision nozzle for mess-free use. The ergonomic handle and foldable stand make it easy to handle, even for longer sessions. Ideal for school projects, home repairs, and creative DIYs—this set includes 30 mini glue sticks for bonding plastic, paper, wood, fabric, metal, and more. Simple, reliable, and beginner-friendly!
PAXCOO Jewelry Making Kit – Tools, Wires & Findings for DIY Beading, Crafting & Jewelry Repairs (845 Pcs)— Jumpstart your jewelry-making journey with this all-in-one PAXCOO Jewelry Making Kit! With 845 pieces, it includes essential tools like round nose, wire cutting, and chain nose pliers (pre-oiled to prevent rust), plus a variety of jump rings, clasps, eye pins, crimp beads, and earring hooks. You’ll also get beading wire in gold and silver, stretch cord, needles, tweezers, a caliper, thimble, thread scissors, and more—neatly packed in a zip pouch. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned crafter, this kit makes jewelry designing, beading, and repairs super smooth and creative..
PHAREGE 7x5x2 Inch Shipping Boxes (25-Pack) – Brown Tuck Top Mailer Boxes for Small Business & Gift Packaging — Pack with confidence using this 25-pack of PHAREGE kraft shipping boxes, sized 7x5x2 inches. Made from lightweight yet sturdy corrugated cardboard, these brown mailer boxes are perfect for small business packaging, gift wrapping, or shipping delicate items. The easy-fold design with a tab-lock tuck top ensures a secure closure in seconds—no tape needed! Great for customizing with stickers, labels, or ribbons to match your brand or occasion. Shipped flat for easy storage, these boxes are a must-have for creatives, crafters, and sellers alike.
Avery Strung Marking Tags with String – 1.75" x 1.09", White Gift & Product Tags (100-Pack) – Pre-Strung, Writable, and Organized — Stay neat and professional with Avery’s 100-pack of white strung marking tags. Each tag is made from medium-weight cardstock and features a pre-attached white string, making them perfect for labeling, pricing, gifting, or organizing items. Sized at 1.75 x 1.09 inches, these tags offer enough space to write clearly while keeping things compact. The smooth surface makes writing easy, and the reusable container keeps your tags tidy and ready whenever creativity (or inventory needs) strikes. Ideal for gift bags, handmade products, favors, or craft fair items.
4. Amazon Affiliate vs. Amazon Influencer: What Worked for Me (and What Didn’t)
Let’s get real. I’m an Amazon Influencer. Some days, I’ve wanted to throw in the towel. Other days, I’ve seen those little green commission dots and felt on top of the world.
Start-up cost: $0 — if you've already purchased Amazon products (shoes, bags, books, kitchen tools, makeup, jewelry, etc.). If not, you could invest $50–100 initially.
How I earn: Through my Amazon Storefront, shared via social media, Linktree, and Amazon search results sometimes.
Here’s the reality:
I’m based in Romania — and I’ve never made a sale through affiliate links on my blog or Pinterest. Not yet, at least. I can see the clicks in the earnings reports, but that’s where it ends.
My Amazon Storefront does generate sales (I can see what people buy), but affiliate links? I can’t really track what’s working.
Just so you know — if you enroll in both the Amazon Influencer Program and the Amazon Associates Affiliate Program, you’ll receive two different IDs (each with its own name and number) and two separate earnings reports.
Sometimes, people click my links, browse around, and then end up purchasing through someone else’s storefront — and they get the commission.
You only get paid if a purchase happens within the 24-hour cookie window, and honestly, that often doesn’t happen.
You need to actively promote through social media posts, short-form videos, product reviews, livestreams... Passive income still requires hustle.
And trust me — friends and family buying through your links? Yeah… that’s never happened for me. Many Amazon Influencers say the same thing. Some even wonder if Amazon tracks IPs through cookie links and filters purchases based on that. 🤷♀️ Weird? Yep. But possible.
Want to start an Amazon Influencer journey?
Grab my self-help book “ The Ultimate Amazon Influencer Guide ” — packed with strategy and real experiences. Also check out my blog post: How I Became an Amazon Influencer.
Mistakes to avoid:
Thinking it's easy because it's free — it’s not.
Breaking Amazon’s rules — they'll remove your content.
Neglecting regular posts/promotions.
Conclusion:
Since joining the Amazon Influencer Program in October 2024, I’ve a little over 150 USD in commissions (as of May 2025). It’s not a full-time income — far from it — but it’s something. And that something came from showing up, testing, learning, and doing my best with what I have.
Will I keep going? Most likely until the end of this year. After that? It depends. Being jobless and not earning enough to reinvest in regular product orders makes it tricky. I wish I had the funds to place monthly orders just to keep the content fresh and flowing.
Until then, I’ll work with what I’ve got — repurposing my videos, creating collages, redoing old content for products still available, and focusing more on my Amazon USA storefront (since that’s the only one generating sales so far). I even contacted support to double-check — there’s nothing wrong with my UK storefront. It just seems like my audience leans more toward the U.S. market.
And if things ever go well enough financially — or if I ever get the chance to receive PR packages — that would honestly be a dream. I’m still open, still hopeful, and still exploring every opportunity to grow this passive income stream. Who knows what’s possible with a little help, a bit of luck, and a lot of persistence?
Want to stalk my storefronts? Maybe you'll find a product worth buying — or get inspired.
5. Write & Sell an e-Book (Without Fancy Tools or Ads)
Got knowledge? A story? A skill? Package it into an e-Book. Whether it’s how-to content, a personal experience, or a niche topic — people buy well-written e-Books.
Where to sell:
Amazon KDP, Lulu, or any platform that accepts EPUB or PDF uploads.
Tools to use:
Microsoft Word, Kindle Previewer, Calibre (for formatting and conversion).
Format:
Save as EPUB for e-readers (like Kindle or tablets), or PDF if you’re selling it via your own website, Etsy, Gumroad, etc.
Hard lesson:
Avoid shady platforms like Feiyr — I learned the hard way. They charge you for everything (publishing, editing, even deleting your own work).
Mistakes to avoid:
Publishing without reading the platform’s rules
Overpricing before testing your offer
Skipping a refund or copyright policy
Not promoting it consistently
Forgetting to add a copyright disclaimer
Formatting your eBook poorly or inconsistently
Here’s what I’ve learned:
Passive income isn’t fully passive — especially in the beginning.
Some methods take 6 months to a year of showing up consistently before you see results. Algorithms, timing, and luck? They all matter.
That’s why I always recommend testing 2–3 side hustles at once. Then stick with what works for you.
Everyone’s journey is different. What flops for me might bloom for you. The key? Don’t quit too soon. Stay honest. Keep learning, tweaking, and testing.
Also, let’s get brutally honest:
Friends and family probably won’t support you — and your haters? They’re silently watching, waiting to laugh at your downfall.
For your mental health and emotional balance, avoid situations and people that don’t feel safe.
Be super careful with scammers. They’ll flood your inbox promising PR packages — but you pay the shipping and taxes, or worse, they’ll ask for your ID or bank info. Some won’t even pay you for promotion. Always dig deep before saying yes.
Same warning for shady “passive income” sites — if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Are these the only passive income ideas out there? Nope — there are tons. Just verify the source and see if real people had at least some success with them.
As for me, I’m still testing a few routes:
I’ve tried mobile apps/games that convert points to cash — fun for a bit, but suuuper slow.
I’ve done online surveys — same deal. Takes forever.
I’m currently earning small cents through Google AdSense (yup, my site finally runs ads!).
Are the ads safe? Yes. Do I earn much? Not really — thanks, low RPM in Romania. 😅I used to have a monetized YouTube channel, but I deleted it at 5k subs for mental health reasons. My new channel isn’t monetized yet — still working toward those 4,000 watch hours.
I’m eligible for TikTok LIVE, but I’ve never gone live. Still working up the courage. 😬
I haven’t tried TikTok affiliate yet — still a long way to go until I meet the requirements.
I can receive Stars on Facebook Reels, but I’ve never actually received any.
There are more options out there — some with potential, some total duds. The only way to know is to test. Protect your energy. And always read the fine print.
My best advice? Test what works for YOU. You don’t need to try everything — just a few things consistently. And always protect your time, energy, and data.
If you’re ready to start your Amazon Influencer journey — I'm here for you.
Final Thoughts: The Real Truth About Passive Income.
Passive income isn’t passive in the beginning. It takes time, effort, and often trial and error. I’ve cried, hustled, launched, failed, and got back up again — and honestly? I’d still choose this messy path over sitting around and doing nothing.
If you’re dreaming of financial freedom, I hope this post showed you that you’re not alone. You don’t need $10K or a huge audience to start — just the willingness to try, learn, and keep going.
Disclaimer:
Personal images are copyrighted — please don’t download or use them without permission. Unauthorized use will result in a DMCA takedown.
This post may contain affiliate links — if you purchase through my links, I may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you).
Product images from Amazon are used solely for promotional purposes, in accordance with the Amazon Associates and Influencer Program policies.
Connect with me:
Got questions or your own hustle story? Message me via the contact form on my Home page — I’d love to hear from you. Or stay in touch via social media: