Have you ever leaped from your bed wishing that you could get paid for existing? Are you surprised that you can be paid just for sharing your opinions or performing simple tasks? Well fortunately, Canada has a lot of room for expansion and innovation and so do its citizens. As a Canadian citizen, you don’t always have to solely keep depending upon your 9-to-5 work instead there are plenty of things you can do in order to generate streams of income. Not only you can combine your online work and side jobs but you can also passively earn money while enjoying.
In order to fully grasp how Canadians can earn money by simply existing let’s get into the specifics.
1. Online Surveys and Market Research
Have you ever asked yourself why companies keep asking for your opinion like it’s gold? They are telling you to provide your opinion and are ready to benefit for it! And if you are looking for an easy way to earn some money (dough, in some minds) this is the most convenient way to get started. Market surveys assist brands in improving the products and services that they offer. In order to obtain genuine feedback, they collaborate with survey sites that advertise among users who do surveys or are included in research.
How It Works:
- Sign up for trusted survey platforms like Swagbucks, Survey Junkie, or Canadian-specific options like Pinecone Research.
- Fill out surveys, watch ads, or even test new products.
- Earn points that can be converted into cash or gift cards.
Potential Earnings:
Surveys are, of course, not a lucrative business and you are unlikely to earn it, but they allow you to make anywhere around $50-$200 a month in your spare time. The best part? While binge watching your favorite Netflix series, you can do it at the same time.
Pro Tips:
- Sign up for multiple platforms to maximize surveys.
- Install apps that notify you of high-paying surveys.
- Be consistent—small efforts add up over time!
2. Cashback and Rewards Apps
Are you someone who shops a lot? You might want to try out cashback and rewards apps because they will reward you for your transactions even when it’s something as simple as buying groceries. If you are already buying something and there is an app for it, what’s stopping you from downloading it?
Popular Apps for Canadians:
- Rakuten Canada (formerly Ebates): Offers cashback on purchases from over 750 stores.
- Checkout 51 and Caddle: Gives you cashback on groceries, household products, or submitting receipts.
- PC Optimum Points: Shop at Loblaw banner stores and redeem points for savings on groceries and products.
How It Works:
- Download the app and link it to your accounts or payment methods.
- Shop as usual and start earning cashback or rewards.
- Withdraw accumulated earnings via PayPal, gift cards, or direct deposits.
Earnings:
While these apps will never substitute for a steady paycheck, they do seem to give anywhere between $20-$100 every month. Over the course of a year, that number does begin to amp up significantly.
3. Freelancing and Selling Your Skills
For people who provide services such as a writing tutor or have basic administrative skills, there are sites such as Fiverr and Freelancer which allow for those services to be bid out. Most importantly, you get monetarily in control of how and when you desire to work.
Steps to Start:
- Identify your skills. Think of anything you’d do well, from designing a logo to proofreading documents.
- Create a profile on freelancer platforms.
- Market your services and apply for jobs.
Examples of Freelance Side Hustles:
- Writing blogs or social media posts
- Designing business logos or flyers
- Translating French to English or vice versa
- Performing data entry or virtual assistant tasks
Potential Earnings:
Freelancers typically earn $20–$50/hour for beginner tasks, scaling up as you gain experience. Some highly-skilled freelancers earn a full-time income while only working part-time hours.
Pro Tip:
Pick one niche to start instead of offering every service under the sun. This makes it easier to build expertise and charge higher rates.
4. Selling Photos or Art Online
Have you ever enjoyed taking pictures or are you more of a paint person? Either way, there are a lot of people looking for your creative work. If you are someone who is looking to get paid to be creative then there are platforms like Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, or Redbubble that you can use.
Sell Photography:
Upload high-quality photos to stock photo websites, where users pay a fee to use your work.
Sell Art:
Create and sell prints, stickers, or other items featuring your designs on print-on-demand platforms like Redbubble or Etsy.
Potential Earnings:
Stock photo contributors earn between $0.25–$5 per download depending on licensing fees. If your photos or art gain traction, you could bring in hundreds (or even thousands) each month!
Pro Tips:
- Focus on content niches that are in demand, like travel, lifestyle, or business themes.
- Use quality tools to polish your work before uploading.
5. Testing Products and Apps
Getting paid to test products or try out apps sounds too good to be true, right? But it’s real! Companies need feedback on their products before releasing them to the general public.
Platforms to Try:
- MySoapBox for product testing opportunities
- UserTesting, where people pay you to review websites/apps
- Toluna, which lets you test products and share your feedback
Steps to Get Started:
- Create accounts on these platforms and complete your profile.
- Sign up to receive notifications for new tasks.
- Get rewarded with gift cards, points, or cash.
Potential Earnings:
You can earn up to $10 per test, depending on the scope and time required. Testing 5–10 products/apps each month could lead to $50–$100 in extra income.
6. Start a Blog or YouTube Channel
Are you passionate about something? Whether it’s cooking, fitness, personal finance, or DIY crafts, blogging and creating YouTube videos can help you earn money online. It takes time to grow an audience, but the long-term potential is significant.
Monetization Opportunities:
- Ad revenue using Google Adsense
- Sponsored content or brand collaborations
- Affiliate marketing (earning commissions when someone buys through your links)
Potential Earnings:
After building a loyal audience, you could earn $500–$5,000+ per month through sponsorships and ad revenue. Consistency is key.
Example:
A Canadian blogger sharing budget-friendly recipes might earn from affiliate links for kitchen tools or ad clicks on their website.
7. Rent Out Stuff You’re Not Using
Did you know that you can make money by renting unused items? Canadians often spend hundreds of dollars on items they rarely use, like tools, camping equipment, or even storage spaces. Instead of letting them sit idle, put them to work!
Helpful Platforms:
- Ruckify (peer-to-peer rental marketplace in Canada)
- Rent out your driveway through Spacer or Neighbor
- Loan your clothing via The Volte
Potential Earnings:
- Tools and other equipment can bring in $50–$200/month.
- Parking spaces in busy urban areas could generate $100–$300/month.
8. Passive Income Ideas
Passive income may sound like a pipe dream, but Canadians have great opportunities to build passive streams. With upfront effort, you can enjoy regular payouts afterward.
Examples of Passive Income:
- Investing in dividend-paying stocks or REITs.
- Creating and selling online courses on platforms like Teachable.
- Publishing an eBook on Amazon.
Earnings:
These methods vary widely depending on your investment. For instance, dividend stocks may pay out $500/year for a $10,000 investment, while online courses could generate an endless income stream if they sell well.
Pro Tip:
Keep your income stream diversified. Having multiple small-scale ventures adds up.
9. Gaming and Streaming
Gaming isn’t just a hobby anymore—it’s a legitimate way to get paid to have fun! Platforms like Twitch and YouTube Gaming allow streamers to monetize their content through ads, donations, and sponsorships.
Even casual gamers can earn money by playing to earn on services like Mistplay, which pays you in points for playing mobile games.
Earnings:
Beginners may earn $50–$500 monthly, while successful streamers can rake in thousands with a loyal fan base.
Wrapping Up
Now is an ideal moment for Canadians to look for alternative methods to make money online and increase their financial independence. Testing products, passive income earning, freelancing, or taking surveys – the options are numerous.
Mixing different activities can be quite useful, hence the trick is consistency, alongside performing the tasks fitting your daily schedule and needs. It all comes down to small amounts of work each day which gradually builds up your income and making an existence where you are paid money just to be there a reality. Remain patient, start with small things, and eventually reap the benefits of your effort.
