7 Ways to Boost Your Finances While You Sleep

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So you work from 9-to-5, but your income just isn't cutting it. You need to earn more money, but there are only so many hours in the day. Your problem could be solved with passive income, or money you can earn without needing to be physically present — even in your sleep. (See also: 12 Side Jobs for Stay-at-Home Moms and Dads)

Check out these strategies for increasing and diversifying your income without having to take on another "real" job.

1. Sell Products Online

It's easy to setup an ecommerce store for selling products online, or you can partner with a big company like Amazon to do the selling for you. Selling items on auction sites like eBay is also easy. Even monetizing your hobbies via sites like Etsy can pay off big time. There is no need for you to be present — or even awake — to receive orders or payments.

2. Create Awesome Online Content

It's definitely possible to make money while blogging or producing YouTube videos, especially if you're consistently producing awesome stuff. Of course, scientists have yet to discover a way to blog while sleeping. So, the work itself has to happen with your eyes wide open. But the money-making part of the operation can happen while you're sound asleep.

People can read your content at any hour and click on your site's advertisements. You can also make money through affiliate marketing, in which users click on a link to a product or service, and you get a cut from any sale. It's possible to schedule social media updates to direct people to your site at any hour. Waking up to see a robust new traffic and revenue report can be a truly exhilarating experience.

3. Rent a Property

Being a landlord can often be more difficult than people expect, but it can be a great passive income stream if you have a low-maintenance property and great tenants. Ideally, the amount of rent you collect will exceed whatever payments you have to make on the property, making it a profitable venture that you can manage on the side.

4. Peer-to-Peer Lending

Websites such as Lending Club allow you to earn some passive income by lending to people who need cash and earning interest on those loans. Once you select who you want to lend to, the income will come on its own as long as the borrower can pay you back.

5. Invest in International Stocks

Imagine waking up to find that your investments made money overnight. That's what can happen if you place money in investments from around the globe. Some international investments — especially those in Europe — have performed sluggishly in recent years, but others offer strong growth potential.

If you are intimidated by the idea of investing internationally, don't worry: There are some very solid mutual funds and exchange-traded funds that mirror international markets, meaning you avoid the need to research individual stocks. The iShares Core MSCI Total International ETF is well regarded and has low fees. Funds from the Lazard Fund Family have also performed well.

6. Trade Currencies

The foreign exchange market (or forex for short), is open round the clock, six days a week, and it's possible to schedule trades to take place while you're asleep. Before jumping into the Forex, it helps to know the difference between the Euro and Yen, of course. And trading currencies isn't for everyone — it's volatile, and often requires strong knowledge of global markets. Check out reputable forex courses, such as those offered by TD Ameritrade, first.

7. Just… Sleep

There is some evidence that sleep, by itself, can at least indirectly help you financially. There's no question that getting adequate sleep can make you more alert and productive. But the benefits of sleep may go much deeper. Sleep deprivation has been linked to a variety of ailments ranging from obesity to cancer, so getting enough sleep could be a way to avoid costly medical bills.

Some new research suggests there's a link between inadequate sleep and Alzheimer's disease. Thus, getting enough sleep will help you remain mentally sharp as you age, possibly extending the length of time you can work and earn money.

How do you make productive use of your time sleeping? Perk up and and tell us about it in comments!