How to Make Your Stuff Pay for Itself (and Even Make Extra Cash)
How to Turn Your Stuff into Income-Generating Assets (Instead of Financial Drains)
Did you know that the things you buy don't have to just drain your bank account?
Most people have never really thought about it - you're just going through life trying to hang on, maybe find some joy, and buying the things you need, and occasionally some of the things you want.
But the things you buy are either assets, which can help generate money for you, or liabilities that drain your bank account. What if you could turn some of your existing liabilities into income-generating assets? This simple mindset shift could change the way you think about money forever!
If you would rather watch a video than read an article, check out the YouTube here:
The Rich vs. The Rest: How The Rich Think About Assets
Robert Kiyosaki, the author of Rich Dad Poor Dad, says the biggest difference between the rich and everyone else is how they understand cash flow.
Most people think of an asset as something valuable—like a house or car—that they could sell someday. But Kiyosaki argues that a real asset is something that puts money in your pocket every month. If it’s not generating income for you, it’s actually a liability.😲
That flipped everything I knew about money on its head. It made me start questioning:
👉 What in my life is costing me money when it could be making me money instead?
How We Turned Our Land Loan Into Passive Income
For years, we were paying $450 per month for an empty piece of land next to our house. We loved the added privacy it gave us, but financially? It wasn't doing anything for us besides costing us money each month - a total liability.
Then, we discovered Neighbor.com. This platform lets you rent out unused storage space—attics, basements, garages, driveways, even land. We listed space on our property, and within months, we had multiple people paying us to park their RVs and trailers on our vacant land.
Now, instead of costing us money, that land paid for itself and brought in extra cash every month!
What Else Can You Rent Out for Extra Income?
Once we saw how easy it was, we started looking for other liabilities we could turn into assets. Here are a few ideas:
🚐 RVs & Campers
We dream of taking an RV trip with our kids one day, but RVs are expensive. That’s when we found RVShare.com. Just like Airbnb, you can rent out your RV when you're not using it. Many people make enough money in one summer to cover their entire year's loan payments—plus extra!
🚗 Your Car
Cars are notorious money pits, just losing their value over time, but with the right strategy, they can also bring in cash:
Rent It Out – If you don’t use your car every day, consider listing it on platforms like Turo. Travelers and locals in need of a vehicle will pay to use yours, and you can set your own availability.
Advertising on Your Car – Companies like Wrapify or Carvertise will pay you to wrap your car with advertisements. If you drive often, this could be an easy way to make passive income.
Ridesharing & Delivery – If you have free time, driving for Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, or Instacart can turn your car into a consistent source of income.
🚜 Tools & Equipment
Need an expensive tool for a project? Buy it and rent it out afterward!
For example, we’ve been thinking about buying an excavator to clear space for a barn. Instead of paying thousands to rent one, we could:
✅ Buy the excavator
✅ Rent it out on Facebook Marketplace
✅ Charge $200 per day (vs. the usual $250/day rental price)
✅ Make extra money after we’re done using it
Take a look around—how many things do you own that you rarely (or never) use? Instead of letting them collect dust, you can:
Sell Lightly Used Items – Clothes, furniture, electronics, and collectibles can all be sold on platforms like Facebook Marketplace, eBay, and Poshmark.
Rent Out Equipment – Have a camera, power tools, lawn equipment, or even camping gear? Sites like Fat Llama allow you to rent out high-value items to people who need them for short-term use. Even things like designer handbags (check out Rent the Runway!).
Flip Items for Profit – If you enjoy thrifting or finding deals, flipping items (buying low and selling high) can be a fun and lucrative side hustle.
🏡 Storage Space
Your home is likely your biggest asset, but are you maximizing its potential? We realized we weren't! Got an unused garage, basement, attic, or backyard? People are willing to pay for storage space, especially in areas where storage units are expensive. You can list it on Neighbor.com like we did.
Or if you feel comfortable, you can go a step further and rent out a room of your home to long-term renters or even as a short-term rental on platforms like AirBnB or VRBO to help offset your mortgage costs.
The Bottom Line: Your Stuff Can Work FOR You
Most of us have untapped earning potential sitting right in our homes or garages. Whether you're renting out space or stuff or selling unused items, there are countless ways to make money from what you already own.
The best part? You don't have to work extra hours to do it. Your stuff can be making money while you sleep. So, take a fresh look at what's around you—your next income stream might be hiding in plain sight.
If you’re ready to start turning your liabilities into money-making assets, I’d love to help. Let’s jump on a call and strategize how you can “find” extra money every month—without working extra hours.
****When you sign up for neighbor dot com through my link (our account is actually under my husband's name: Nathan) you get a BONUS and we may get a small commission when you do so, but I would never recommend anything that we don't actually use ourselves and totally love!
