Passive Income Reality Check: What Actually Works to Hit $1K/Month?

Everyone talks about passive income like it’s easy money — spoiler alert: it’s not. But $1K/month is actually achievable if you pick the right path.

The Math That Actually Works:

Dividend stocks + REITs are the OG play. You need roughly $140K invested at 9% annual return to hit $1K/month. Sounds like a lot? Start smaller, reinvest dividends, compound over time. Real estate crowdfunding (Fundrise, Arrived) lets you skip the property management headache.

The No-Capital Option:

If you’re broke, go digital:

• E-books, online courses, printables on Amazon KDP, Udemy, Etsy
• Peer-to-peer lending (5-10% annual returns if you can pool capital)
• Affiliate marketing + blogging (takes 6-12 months to see real money)
• YouTube/TikTok + email newsletter (free to start, patience required)

The Catch Nobody Mentions:

Setup takes months. Scaling takes discipline. And yeah — you’ll owe taxes on whatever you make.

Real Talk: Pick ONE method, commit 3-6 months, then compound. Chasing five income streams at once? That’s active income in disguise.

What’s your move — stocks, digital products, or real estate?