Let me start by saying: I’m not an expert. I’m just someone who got tired of hustling paycheck to paycheck and decided to see if this whole “passive income” thing was actually real.
Pssssssssst: it is!
BUT hold on to your horses, because it’s not what you’d expect – well, at least not exactly.
For 30 days, I tested everything I could realistically manage with zero tech skills, no big budget, and not a ton of free time (because life is life). I wanted something real. Something that could keep making money without me babysitting it all day.
That’s when I came across this blog called Maya Makes Money—and I’m not trying to over-glaze here, but it honestly felt like someone finally handed me the cheat codes to my 1992 SEGA addict self.
No fluff. No Ferrari pics. Just honest, helpful content from a badass single mom who, well, just gets it. And one of her (in my opinion) best posts on how to make money blogging literally changed the game for me. Yes, literally (again not glazing here but see for yourself to ‘get it’).
Anyhoo. Here’s what I tried, what worked, what flopped—and why Maya Water’s blog became the ultimate “broke girl’s go-to guide”!
Week 1: Affiliate Links That Don’t Feel Gross
I kicked things off with affiliate marketing. If you’ve never heard of it, it’s where you earn a small commission for recommending products online. But I didn’t want to turn into a walking ad for random junk.
Thanks to Maya’s guide on how to make money blogging, I learned how to pick stuff I actually use and love—like the planner that saves my mornings and the collagen that keeps my face from falling off.
I dropped my links in Pinterest pins and a couple blog posts. First week? $8.34. Not life-changing, but proof of concept.
Week 2: Digital Products = Real Sales
Next up? I opened a free Etsy store and listed a few digital downloads: a goal tracker, a grocery list template, and (because I’m Type A) a minimalist to-do list.
Guess what? I made my first sale while brushing my teeth.
Talk about passive income magic.
By the end of the week: $52 in sales.
And yup—I used Maya’s tutorial on how to bundle freebies and products together for even better results. Genius.
Week 3: YouTube Shorts Without Showing Your Face
Okay, I was super nervous about this one. I’m not a YouTuber. I don’t even like hearing my own voice in voicemails. But Maya made it sound doable—no face, no talking, no expensive gear required.
I downloaded a free app, used AI voiceovers, and posted a couple 60-second videos with funny text stories and viral-style content.
Results: One got 11,000 views in three days.
My mind = blown.
No money yet (I’m still waiting to hit YouTube’s monetization threshold), but this one feels like a sleeping giant.
Week 4: Blogging Is the Long Game (But Worth It)
This is where it all came together. I finally realized why everyone keeps saying blogging is the ultimate passive income strategy.
With blogging, I can:
- Share my affiliate links
- Promote my Etsy shop
- Embed my YouTube videos
- And grow traffic all at once
I wouldn’t have known how to start if it weren’t for Maya’s post on make money blogging. She lays it out like she’s talking to a friend. And trust me, that makes all the difference.
I followed her advice step by step and launched my own blog using a budget-friendly hosting plan she recommended. I even made my first $23 from a blog post that I almost didn’t publish.
What I Learned (The Real Tea)
- Passive income is absolutely real, but you’ve gotta plant the seeds
- Tools like Pinterest, Etsy, and Pictory make it WAY easier than I thought
- Blogging pulls it all together like a money-making engine
- You don’t have to be perfect—you just have to start
What’s Next?
If you’re curious about passive income, please hear this:
You don’t need to be an influencer, a finance bro, or even organized for that matter.
You just need the right roadmap—and Maya Waters has the kind that actually works in real life.
Whether you’re looking to sell digital downloads, post faceless videos, or make money blogging—she breaks it all down in plain English, with humor and heart.
So if you’re looking for a smart, honest starting point, start with her blog. It’s where I got unstuck. It’s where I finally started.
And now?
I’m not just surviving—I’m stacking.