**Want to earn $1K in passive income per month? These 10 methods may be easier than you think**

I saw a question being spammed in the discussion area: Is passive income really passive? The answer is, it's not passive in the early stages, but it feels great later on.

Financial advisor Erika Kullberg summarized a practical plan with the core logic being: **You don't necessarily need a large principal, but you must start as early as possible**.

**The three most direct tricks:**

1. **Invest in Dividend Stocks/REITs** — Stable cash flow with no daily management required. Open accounts with platforms like Vanguard or Fidelity to invest regularly and reinvest dividends; time will help you achieve the magic of compound interest. If you don't want your funds locked in REIT stocks, options like Iron Mountain (IRM) and Blackstone Mortgage Trust (BXMT) are available.

2. **Sell Digital Products** — E-books, online courses, printable templates, produced once and sold countless times. Amazon KDP, Udemy, and Etsy are entry-level platforms. Suitable for those with professional skills but without large capital.

3. **Peer-to-Peer Lending/Crowdfunding** — P2P loans have an annualized return of 5-9%, with some reaching over 10%. Assuming you invest 140,000 with an annualized return of 9%, earning $1K per month can be easily achieved. Of course, you can also start with a small amount and reinvest as you go.

**Other Ideas:** Affiliate marketing, personal blogs, YouTube channels, renting parking spaces, leasing storage space, email newsletters... basically, it's all a game of trading time for money.

**The most heart-wrenching point:** Taxes. Passive income is also subject to tax, and the specific rules depend on the type and amount of income. However, deductions such as depreciation of rental properties can help offset some taxable income.

**Bottom Line Thinking** — Not everyone has $140K in startup capital, but YouTube channels and online courses can be started completely free. What you're really lacking is not money, but patience. $1K a month may sound distant, but it is the first domino in achieving financial freedom.