Passive Income Report (How Much I Made In July And What I Learned)

Passive Income Report: How Much I Made in July and What I Learned

Building passive income is one of those dreams most people tuck away under “someday.” For years, I did the same. But in July, I finally felt like I had something worth sharing—not because I made a fortune, but because I made progress. This article walks through exactly how much I earned in passive income in July, where it came from, and the lessons that came with it.

If you’re just starting your passive income journey, or if you’ve been on the path for a while but want to see what’s realistic from an everyday perspective, this one’s for you.

Where My Passive Income Came From in July

To understand what worked and what didn’t, I broke down every source of passive income that generated cash last month. Some of these are digital, some are physical, and a few are what I call “semi-passive”—things that took effort upfront but now earn quietly in the background.

Here’s a breakdown of each income stream:

Income Source	Description	Amount Earned
Digital Products	Ebooks, templates, printables sold on Etsy	$325
Affiliate Marketing	Blog + social media links	$410
YouTube Ad Revenue	Monetized content from previous uploads	$185
Online Courses	Udemy and Teachable sales	$295
Stock Photography	Licensing photos on Shutterstock, Adobe Stock	$78
Dividend Stocks	Quarterly dividend payouts	$142
Rental Property	Net profit after mortgage and expenses	$630
High-Yield Savings Account	Interest earned	$22
Peer-to-Peer Lending	Net of defaults and fees	$36

Total Passive Income in July: $2,123

This was one of my best months yet—not because of one giant source, but because several small streams added up to something meaningful. Let’s unpack what worked and what I’ll keep tweaking.

Lessons from Each Income Stream

Passive income sounds simple on paper, but every source comes with its own challenges, learning curves, and opportunities. Here’s what July taught me:

Digital Products

Selling on Etsy is not truly set-it-and-forget-it. I had to update keywords, respond to a few questions, and refresh a few listings. Still, it was well worth it.
Seasonal items do better than evergreen in some niches. A summer-themed planner outsold everything else this month.

Affiliate Marketing

Writing one helpful blog post that ranks can beat ten mediocre ones. My post about budget travel gear keeps bringing in consistent clicks.
Social media reels with affiliate links (where allowed) performed better than static posts.

YouTube Ad Revenue

Old videos continue to work, even when I haven’t uploaded in weeks.
Evergreen content (like tutorials or reviews) tends to keep earning over time, even if they start slow.

Online Courses

Bundling older courses together into a discounted package spiked sales this month.
Shorter, more specific lessons seemed to convert better than long general ones.

Stock Photography

It’s slow and steady, but definitely not a get-rich-quick option. One photo of a beach scene made me over $30 alone—so targeting popular concepts is key.
Uploading regularly increases visibility. I slacked off in June, and July reflected that.

Dividend Stocks

Nothing flashy here—just slow compound growth.
I’m reinvesting every payout. It’s not income I rely on now, but it’ll grow over time.

Rental Property

This remains my highest earner but also the most complex.
I had one maintenance request this month, which cut a bit into profits but reminded me to keep a repair fund active.

High-Yield Savings

Barely noticeable but still something.
The goal here isn’t to earn, but to store cash that I might invest later without losing value.

Peer-to-Peer Lending

Still skeptical here. The returns are okay, but the risk feels higher.
I’m withdrawing payments and not reinvesting until I feel more confident in this platform again.

What I’ll Do Differently Going Forward

Every month teaches me something. July’s big lesson? Focus and consistency beat constant chasing. Instead of launching five new things, I want to double down on what already works.

Here’s what I’m changing or continuing in August:

Focusing More on Evergreen Content

Content that solves a recurring problem (like travel checklists or budgeting templates) tends to bring in more reliable income than trendy stuff.

Email List Nurturing

I’ve been neglecting my email subscribers. I’ll be sending out weekly tips and highlighting products or affiliate links in a helpful way.

Reinvesting Profits into Better Tools

Upgrading my email platform and buying better design tools will save time in the long run and improve product quality.

Exploring Low-Competition Niches

I plan to research smaller topics that have loyal audiences but aren’t saturated. This applies to both my blog and Etsy shop.

Automating More Tasks

Setting up automatic posting and scheduled email campaigns can help me stay consistent even on busy weeks.

Testing New Affiliate Programs

Amazon’s rates have dropped, so I’m experimenting with niche-specific programs that pay better commissions.

Frequently Asked Questions About Passive Income

Is $2,000+ in passive income a normal amount for beginners?

No, it’s not typical right away. This took over two years of building blogs, courses, and digital shops. In the beginning, I earned less than $100 a month. But once things start compounding, results improve.

How much time do you spend maintaining these income streams?

Roughly 8 to 10 hours per week. Most of that is responding to messages, updating listings, or writing blog posts. Some weeks are busier; others require almost no effort.

Which stream is the most beginner-friendly?

Selling printables or templates on Etsy is a great starting point. There’s no need for a huge following, and you can start with free design tools like Canva.

Do you need a big audience to make affiliate income?

Not necessarily. What you need is targeted traffic. A blog post that solves a specific problem can convert even with low visitor numbers if the product is a good fit.

Is rental property really passive?

It can be, but only if you outsource tasks. I have a property manager now, which makes it mostly hands-off. But early on, I dealt with everything myself, and it didn’t feel passive at all.

How do you pick which tools or platforms to use?

I try to balance ease of use with cost. I started with free tools but eventually upgraded to paid options like ConvertKit for email and Canva Pro for design because they save time and help me earn more.

What about taxes on passive income?

Every dollar I earn gets reported, and I work with an accountant who helps me track deductions and stay compliant. It’s something to take seriously as income grows.

Can passive income replace a full-time job?

For some people, yes. But it’s best to treat it as supplemental at first. I still do freelance work, but the goal is to keep building until I have the option to work less or not at all.

Final Thoughts: Progress Over Perfection

Earning $2,123 in passive income in July didn’t happen overnight. It came from years of experimenting, failing, learning, and adjusting. Some months will be higher, others lower. What matters most is momentum.

If you’re looking to start your own journey, don’t feel pressure to copy someone else’s setup. Pick one or two things that interest you and get started. The first $10 you earn passively will feel like a huge win—and it is.

July showed me that stacking small wins consistently is what leads to meaningful results. Passive income isn’t magic, but it’s possible. And best of all, it’s scalable. You don’t need a million-dollar idea. You just need persistence, a bit of strategy, and the willingness to keep showing up.

No matter where you are in your journey, keep going. Your future self will thank you.