Relying on a single paycheck is the riskiest financial strategy there is. True financial security and freedom are built on multiple, diverse income sources. We often hear about the need for "seven streams of income," but the real goal is to diversify your money across three main categories:
Active Income: Money earned directly from your time (like your Day Job or a microservice).
Passive Income: Money earned from assets (like Rental Income or digital products) that require minimal ongoing time.
Portfolio Income: Money earned from investments (like Dividends or interest from a High-Yield Savings Account).
On this page, we explore 5+ streams of income across these categories—from primary wages and side hustles to the fully passive growth of investments—designed to help you build stability and accelerate your path to financial independence, both locally in the Cedar Rapids Metro area and online.
For most people—including me—your day job will be your main source of income. I worked at a large, publicly traded Big Tech firm that offers stock options, great benefits. Before this, I mostly worked for smaller companies with fewer than 100 employees, which taught me a lot about adaptability and value.
For many, a long-term goal might be self-employment. I have a dedicated page on self-employment here.
This is your most stable source of income. It provides the "fuel" for your investments and business ventures. However, when a primary job isn’t enough, a strategic second job can bridge the gap.
A second job shouldn’t just be about the hourly wage; it should be about lowering your cost of living. If a job provides a service or product you already pay for, its "real-world" value is much higher than the paycheck.
The "Free Meal" Strategy (Restaurants & Hotels): * Working at a restaurant often includes a "shift meal." If you work 3–4 shifts a week, you’ve effectively eliminated 20% of your food budget.
Many hotels provide employee cafeterias or free meals during shifts, along with deep travel discounts for you and your family.
Lifestyle Offsets (Gyms & Retail): * Gyms/Rec Centers: Front desk roles usually come with a free premium membership.
Coffee Shops: Often provide free drinks on shift and a free pound of coffee per week.
Outdoor Retail (e.g., REI): High-end gear discounts (often 50%+) can save you thousands if you already spend money on the outdoors.
The "Company Perk" Powerhouses:
UPS/Costco: These are famous for providing part-time workers with full health benefits or executive memberships that provide long-term savings.
Local Event Work (VenuWorks / Cedar Rapids Venues): * Perfect for flexible, "gig-style" employment. You pick up shifts for concerts or games when you have the time, getting paid to be in the building for events you’d otherwise buy tickets for.
The Math: When looking for a second job, ask: Can this job provide a gym membership I’m already paying for? Can it cover a portion of my grocery bill? That "lifestyle math" can turn a $15/hr job into a $25/hr value.
I owner-occupy a rental duplex, and it’s one of the smartest financial moves I’ve made. The goal of any property investment should be that it earns you money or significantly cuts your cost of living.
Iowa has traditionally been a low cost-of-living area, but even now, a two-bedroom rental in Cedar Rapids typically brings in at least $1,000/month. Whether it's a duplex, a fourplex, owning a property can open up financial flexibility and long-term wealth-building.
You'll need some credit and capital to get started, but tools like FHA loans and first-time homebuyer programs can help. HERE is a link to the page about buying a duplex.
This is any small, in-person service business you run yourself—think mowing lawns, tech help, or house cleaning. It's not passive, but it can be profitable with low overhead.
I’ve done web design, on-site tech support, and a variety of hands-on services since high school. It’s a great way to earn extra income and build a customer base over time.
YouTube, print-on-demand, drop shipping, and blogging are all things I’ve experimented with. So far, none have been a gold mine—but I’m in it for the long game.
These ventures require patience, learning, and testing. Even if you're not profitable right away, you're building digital assets that could pay off down the road.
I've been writing and blogging for years. While it hasn’t made me rich, it's something I enjoy and see long-term potential in. Plus, it connects well with other online business models.
Local Teaching & Skill Marketing
Teach a Class at a Local Continuing Education Program (e.g., Kirkwood Continuing Education).
Value Proposition: While not a huge income source, teaching a class in your area of expertise is an excellent, low-cost way to market your business, build professional credibility, and gain exposure for your skills locally.
Unlike services (which require your time), digital products can be sold 24/7 once they're built:
E-books or guides (PDFs, checklists, how-tos)
Online courses or mini-classes
Printable planners or templates
Niche toolkits (e.g., landlord startup kits, budgeting spreadsheets, tech support FAQs)
You already teach tech and side hustle topics—turning your knowledge into products could bring long-term passive sales.
Recurring revenue is powerful. You could set up:
A paid newsletter or Substack
A private support group or digital community (e.g., on Discord, Slack, or Patreon)
A “Tech Help for Seniors” membership with monthly live Q&As or exclusive content
It doesn’t need to be huge. Even 10 people at $10/month = $100/month in recurring income.
These aren’t "income" directly, but they reduce your living costs significantly:
House hacking (which I am already doing!)
Renting out storage space (Spare rooms, basement, garage on Neighbor.com or privately)
Hosting exchange students or short-term renters
Leasing land for RV storage or events
Reducing expenses is just as powerful as increasing income.
If you’re building an audience or helping others make tech decisions, consider ethical affiliate marketing:
Tools you already recommend (Wix, Linux distros, backup software)
Referral links for banks, cash-back apps, or domain registrars
Amazon Associates for tech accessories you use or review
Just keep it honest and value-based—recommend only what you’d use yourself.
Apps like DoorDash, Uber, or Instacart can help you make money quickly and set your own hours. But keep in mind: you're at the mercy of the platform. No benefits, no protections, and lots of wear on your car.
I had a friend who drove DoorDash for years. He loved the freedom and flexibility, using his old, paid-off car to make decent money. Personally, I found it involved too much waiting and too much driving for my taste.
Let’s talk about passive ways to save money, reduce fees, and get more cash back into your pocket. 💰
There are different ways to invest for dividends. One example is a monthly dividend stock like Realty Income (NYSE:O), a REIT. I’ve held it since high school—it’s taxed as ordinary income, but it just keeps growing.
Another option is AT&T (NYSE:T) or various index funds that pay quarterly dividends. The idea here is: get paid to hold your investments.
I’ve got a whole page about:
High-Yield Savings Accounts (HYSA)
Cash-back credit cards
Return deposit containers are worth $0.05 each in Iowa, and you’re also helping clean the environment—a double win!
Can Shed: Locations all over Cedar Rapids & Eastern Iowa.
Marion Iron Company: Scrap metal buyer. Call 319-377-1527 to check prices.
I flip items I find for free or cheap. Sometimes they’re from curbsides near low-income housing, especially during evictions. I only grab what looks nice, small, or easy to sell.
I sold 4 folding chairs at Stuff Etc for $6.50 each!
You get 40% of the sale price at Stuff Etc if you just drop it off. No shipping. No hassle.
⚠️ As of May 7, 2024, Stuff Etc no longer accepts individual chairs.
🛒 Resources:
You might have forgotten money sitting with the state!
🔗 Great Iowa Treasure Hunt
They even have a booth at the Iowa State Fair.
Hit or miss—but worth it! I’ve earned $50–$150 for a few hours.
Local & Online Opportunities:
Other Focus Group Sites:
🧑⚖️ Poll Workers
I served as a precinct election official for the 2024 General Election and made over $300 for a 16-hour day.
💡 Typical pay is $225 per election day, depending on the county.
⚖️ Jury Duty
I've done criminal and civil cases. For county-level trials:
$30/day is standard pay
You get a meal if it's a criminal case but not civil
Your employer typically pays your regular wages too
Sports betting is legal and popular in Iowa
You can try hedging bets to reduce risk
HealthyWage: Bet on your weight loss goals
⚠️ Not risk-free. Don't bet what you can't afford to lose.
I've done a few gigs and got:
$20 and a free meal via Second to None
Other options:
Blood Donation
Now offers Amazon gift cards
You can donate up to 6 times/year for $20–$40 each
Plasma Donation
You can make $50+ per visit
📘 Also check out the book "Blood Money: The Story of Life, Death, and Profit Inside America's Blood Industry"
Books
Making a Living Without a Job, revised edition: Winning Ways for Creating Work That You Love Book By Barbara Winter
https://theinnerentrepreneur.com/7/barbara-winter-on-living-a-jobless-life/
How to Survive Without a Salary : Learning How to Live the Conserver Lifestyle Book By Charles Long
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Easy-Money
https://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/cash-back/
https://www.cardonomics.com/i/asksebby-business
https://www.gobankingrates.com/money/side-gigs/ways-make-money-without-9-to-5/
https://www.cnbc.com/2016/11/16/6-ways-to-make-money-without-much-effort.html
https://khak.com/easy-ways-to-make-extra-money/
https://www.clevergirlfinance.com/how-to-make-money-without-a-job/