You know that dream where you work from your laptop, sipping coffee in your pajamas, and magically money shows up in your account? Yeah... turns out that dream is real—just with a dash more hustle and a few tech headaches than my highlight reel lets on!
I'm Tara Jacobsen, and I've been living the laptop lifestyle for years! As a creative, over-50 woman who’s not about to slow down, I’ve figured out how to make my experience, hobbies, and hustle work for me. From DIY YouTube videos to affiliate links that pay me while I sleep, here are the 9 totally doable (and sometimes weird) ways I make money online!
1. Selling Digital Products That Work While I Sleep
Digital products are my favorite type of income—mostly because they keep working even when I’m not. I sell all kinds of planners, printables, and digital goodies over on , and once they're set up, they just keep chugging along.
Sure, there’s work on the front end—creating, listing, designing—but after that? I wake up to PayPal notifications and do a little happy dance in my fuzzy slippers!
2. Making Money From Videos (Even the Awkward Ones!)
I run a monetized YouTube channel called Tara Jacobsen DIY, where I post crafty tutorials, organizing hacks, and art journaling fun. I have learned the joys of Faceless Marketing... no makeup needed! The thing about YouTube is consistency > perfection. Between ad revenue and the affiliate links I sneak into my descriptions, those videos actually pay me.
Bonus: videos I made years ago still rack up views and bring in money. Passive-ish income for the win!
3. Running a Blog That Actually Pays Me
Artsy Fartsy Life is my blogging baby. It brings in steady income through display ads (hello, RPMs!) and a hearty helping of affiliate marketing. I share what I love—products I use, crafts I make, things that help with caregiving—and readers trust me because it's all genuinely from my own messy, colorful life.
It’s not overnight money, but it’s real money that adds up month after month!
4. Affiliate Marketing—Recommending What I Already Love
Affiliate marketing sounds fancy, but it's basically just getting paid to recommend things you already use. I do this mostly on my blog and in my YouTube descriptions. I never promote anything I don’t personally love or use—because eww, right? Tools I use in my craft room, Amazon finds that actually work, art supplies that spark joy... all with tracked links that drop me a commission when someone buys.
It feels like winning the internet!
5. Creating and Selling Online Courses
Teaching what you know is one of the BEST ways to turn your experience into income. I’ve created online courses over on Thinkific that walk people through everything from marketing basics to creative business ideas. Hosting platforms like Thinkific or Zoom make it super easy, and once it’s up, that baby can bring in income again and again.
Plus, there’s something wildly satisfying about hearing someone say, “I learned so much from you!”
6. Getting ‘Buy Me a Coffee’ Donations From Sweet Supporters
This one melts my heart. People actually support my work with little donations via my PayPal link. Whether it's a thank-you for a free printable, appreciation for a YouTube tip, or just general good vibes, it’s always such a sweet surprise.
It reminds me that people value the real stuff I put out there—and sometimes even want to pay for it!
7. Monetizing My Email List Like a Boss
My email list isn’t just a way to keep in touch—it’s a revenue engine. I share new blog posts, product launches, affiliate deals, and exclusive goodies with my subscribers. And because they’re already into what I do (hey, besties!), they’re more likely to click, buy, or even reply with kind words.
If you’re not building your list yet, START TODAY. Seriously!
8. Occasionally Selling My Art Because It Feels Good
I don’t pressure myself to turn my art into a full-time biz, but every now and then, I list some original work on my Etsy shop and it sells. That’s such a soul-affirming moment—knowing someone wants to hang your weird, wonderful art on their wall? Priceless.
This stream isn’t a giant money-maker, but it fills my creative cup and sprinkles in some unexpected income!
9. Making Money Through Print-on-Demand Designs
Print-on-demand is SO fun. I design shirts, mugs, and other goodies, upload them to Merch on Demand, and Amazon handles the rest—printing, shipping, customer service. One of my top sellers is this hilarious gambling-themed t-shirt that makes me laugh and money.
POD lets me experiment creatively without holding inventory or licking envelopes. Win-win!
Living the laptop lifestyle doesn’t mean sipping mimosas in Bali (though, hey—I’m open to it). For me, it means building multiple streams of income that reflect who I am: a little messy, a lot creative, and 100% determined to make it work. From affiliate links to DIY videos, every little piece adds up to a business I LOVE running!
So if you're dreaming of making money from your laptop—YES, woman, it’s possible. Start where you are, use what you’ve got, and don’t be afraid to try a few things until something sticks!
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- 11 Ways to Build Confidence as a Creative Business Owner
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- How To Make $300 This Week Online (Without Starting a Business)
