Investing for daily income might sound like a challenge, but it’s achievable with the right knowledge.
In this guide, you’ll explore several options to help you generate regular earnings through investments. From dividend-paying stocks to cryptocurrency staking, each method comes with its own risk level and income potential.
Whether you’re seeking steady interest or more dynamic, high-risk returns, choosing investments that align with your financial goals and risk tolerance is essential.
Let’s dive into some of the best ways to earn daily through investments.
Ways to make money daily through investments
Explore several investment options to help you achieve daily earnings or frequent returns. Each method varies in risk and income potential, so assessing which options align with your financial goals and risk tolerance is crucial.
Dividend stocks and ETFs
Stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that pay dividends distribute a portion of a company’s profits to investors. These are typically large, stable businesses.
For instance, dividend stocks like Apple (AAPL) and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) and dividend ETFs like the SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 High Dividend ETF (SPYD) have a positive track record of consistent quarterly payouts.
While dividends are usually paid quarterly, some companies offer monthly payments, providing a steady revenue stream for investors. Additionally, these investments can appreciate through stock price growth, contributing to consistent income.
The stock prices of these investments can fluctuate daily, which impacts your overall income. If stock prices drop, your dividend yield — the percentage of income you receive from dividends relative to the stock’s price — can appear higher, but the overall value of your investment may decrease. Conversely, if stock prices rise, your yield may decrease, but your investment becomes more valuable, contributing to potential daily income through price appreciation.
Risk: Moderate. The value of dividend stocks and ETFs can fluctuate daily based on the market’s performance, which can increase or decrease your dividend yield.
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High-yield savings/cash accounts
Some high-yield savings accounts (HYSAs) accrue interest daily, even though payouts typically happen monthly. Savings accounts that compound interest daily allow interest to build each day and increase your total return over time. This compounding effect can significantly boost your savings, especially if you continue making regular deposits.
Although the returns are lower than riskier investments, HYSAs offer a safe way to grow your money because they’re insured by the Federal Insurance Deposit Corporation (FDIC), meaning your deposits are protected up to $250,000, even if your bank fails.
Risk: Low. High-yield savings accounts are typically FDIC-insured, and unlike stocks or some fixed-income securities, the value of your deposits won’t fluctuate based on market conditions. This lack of fluctuation makes HYSAs a stable, low-risk option for gradually growing your funds with peace of mind.
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Cryptocurrency staking
Crypto staking is a way to earn rewards by holding onto certain digital tokens.(1) When you stake, you lock your crypto for a set period, and the blockchain uses your deposit to verify and secure transactions.
In return, you earn rewards, often paid in the same cryptocurrency. Some exchanges, like Coinbase, offer daily payouts for staking in certain tokens.(2) For example, Polkadot (DOT) offers a daily payout rate, while other tokens, like Cardano (ADA) and Solana (SOL), offer payouts every five days.
Staking can provide income in the form of crypto rewards, but its reward payouts can fluctuate due to the number of participants staking and other market conditions.(3) Additionally, staking comes with potential security vulnerabilities and penalties for malicious activity.(4)
Risk: High. Cryptocurrency prices are volatile, and staking involves additional technical risks. Always research the staking requirements and rules for each project.
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Selling covered calls
Selling covered calls is an options trading strategy where you own shares of a stock and sell a call option that gives the buyer the right to purchase your shares at a specific price — the strike price — by a set date.(5)
In exchange for selling the option, you receive a premium, which can generate income.
The downside is that if the stock price rises significantly above the strike price, the buyer can exercise their right to buy your shares at the agreed price, even if the current market value is higher. Additionally, if the stock price falls, the value of your shares could decrease, which might offset the premium you received.
Risk: Moderate to high. The strategy depends on stock price stability and your ability to manage options contracts.
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Fixed-income investments
Fixed-income investments pay investors a set amount of interest or dividends at regular periodic intervals, often for a specified period. Examples include bonds, certificates of deposit (CDs), money market accounts and Treasury Bills.
While fixed-income investments are less risky, market changes can still impact them. Rising interest rates can reduce the value of older bonds, and inflation can shrink the purchasing power of your returns.
Despite these risks, their stability makes them a popular choice for conservative investors.
Risk: Low to moderate. Fixed-income investments can be affected by market conditions, inflation or interest rates.
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*Yield is an annualized 26-week T-bill rate (as of 11/1/24) when held to maturity. Rate is gross of fees, see fee schedule. T-bills are purchased in increments of $100 par value at a discount; any remaining balance after purchase is held in cash. For other important disclosures, see risks.
Real estate investment trusts (REITs)
A real estate investment trust (REIT) is a company that owns, operates or finances income-generating real estate, like apartment buildings, shopping centers or office spaces.(6)
When you invest in a REIT, you’re buying shares in that company, which gives you a slice of the income generated by the properties they manage. One of the big benefits of REITs is that they must pay out at least 90% of their taxable income to shareholders, meaning you can receive consistent dividends monthly, quarterly or yearly, depending on the REIT.(7)
While dividends are typically paid quarterly, the value of the real estate and REIT share prices can fluctuate daily, offering the potential for daily gains in asset appreciation. However, changes in real estate markets or interest rates could impact the income REITs generate.
Risk: Moderate. Real estate investments are subject to market fluctuations and economic conditions.
5 steps to start investing
Now that you have a rough idea of the best ways to invest your money for consistent income, here’s how to start.
Identify your goals, time frame and risk tolerance. Decide how much risk you are willing to take, how long you plan to keep your investments and what you want to achieve financially. These factors will help guide your choice of assets, from conservative bonds to riskier stocks or cryptocurrencies.
Decide if you need help. Beginners or those with limited time may benefit from using robo-advisors or consulting financial experts. More experienced investors may prefer to manage their own portfolios, but this requires a commitment to research and ongoing management.
Choose your account type. Depending on your goals — such as saving for retirement or general investing — choose from individual retirement accounts (IRAs) or taxable brokerage accounts. Each type offers different advantages and investment options.
Open your investment account. Open an account with an online broker for more control over your investments or use a robo-advisor for automated management based on your risk tolerance.
Invest. After opening and funding your account, start investing by selecting assets that match your strategy and risk profile. Regular contributions and periodic reviews will help align your investments with your goals.
Bottom line
Investing for daily income requires a strategic approach and a clear understanding of the various opportunities available. Some investments, like dividend stocks or REITs, provide frequent payouts, while others offer the potential for daily earnings through price appreciation or interest accrual.
Diversifying your investments across different asset classes and payout schedules can enhance your ability to generate daily income. You can balance higher-risk options, such as cryptocurrency staking or selling covered calls, with more stable choices like fixed-income investments or high-yield savings accounts to generate consistent income.
Depending on your brokerage account, combining these different investments can diversify your portfolio and potentially create multiple income streams.
Frequently asked questions
How much do I need to invest to make $1,000 per month?
The amount you need to invest to make $1,000 per month depends on the type of investment and the rate of return. For example, a portfolio worth $300,000 earning 4% in dividends could result in a monthly income of $1,000.
How long does it take to double your money?
To estimate how long it will take to double your money, many investors use the Rule of 72. Simply divide 72 by your annual rate of return to get the approximate number of years needed to double your investment.(8)
For example, if your investment earns 10% interest per year, it will take 7.2 years to double in value — calculated by dividing 72 by 10.
Gabriel Vito is a freelance personal finance writer for Finder. With over four years of experience, he has crafted helpful guides and articles covering various personal finance topics, including credit cards, investing and banking. Gabriel's work has been featured on Yahoo Finance, NASDAQ, GoBankingRates, and more. He has a Bachelor's Degree in English and is passionate about helping others navigate their financial journey. See full bio
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