Look, I’m going to be honest with you.
Most people are still nursing their holiday hangovers while you’re reading this. They’re making vague promises about “getting serious” in the new year. Meanwhile, there’s a narrow window right now—between New Year’s and the end of January—where you can set up income streams that actually work.
Not theoretically. Not “someday.” Actually work.
I’m talking about things you can launch in days, not months. Things that tap into what people are already searching for right now. And most importantly, things that don’t require you to quit your job or drain your savings account.
Here are five you can start this week.
1. The Digital Planner That Sells While You Sleep
January is productivity obsession season. Right now, millions of people are typing “2026 planner” and “life organization system” into Google. They’re overwhelmed, scattered, and willing to pay someone who’s figured it out.
That someone could be you.
Create a digital planner using Canva or Notion—something people can download instantly. But here’s the key: don’t make a generic planner. Make one for a specific type of person. An ADHD-friendly work planner. A side hustle income tracker. A content creator’s editorial calendar.
The more specific, the better it converts.
List it on Etsy or Gumroad, write a simple description that speaks directly to your person’s pain point, and you’re done. People who’ve done this are pulling in $500 to $2,000 a month, and the best part? You build it once.
Time to set up: 3–7 days
What you need: Canva account, understanding of one specific problem
2. The High-Yield Account Referral (Easiest Money You’ll Make)
Here’s something wild: most people still have their money sitting in savings accounts earning 0.01% interest. Meanwhile, high-yield accounts are paying out around 4.5% to 5% right now.
That’s real money they’re losing. Every single day.
If you have a blog, social media following, or even just friends who trust your judgment, you can share referral links for accounts like SoFi, Wealthfront, or Varo. When someone signs up through your link, you get paid anywhere from $50 to $150.
Write one post titled “Where I’m Keeping My Money in 2026 (And Why You Should Too)” and watch what happens.
Time to set up: 15 minutes
What you need: A platform where people listen to you, affiliate approval (usually instant)
3. The Micro-Course Nobody’s Teaching
People don’t want another 40-hour certification program. They want to solve one problem this weekend.
That’s your opportunity.
Pick something you know how to do—set up a Shopify store, edit videos in CapCut, write better emails, meal prep for the week—and record a 60-minute course showing exactly how to do it.
Price it low ($47–$97) so people don’t overthink the purchase. January buyers are impulsive. They’re in “new year, new me” mode and they’ll buy on emotion if you make it easy enough.
Platforms like Teachable or Skool make this stupid simple to set up. And unlike YouTube tutorials, people actually value what they pay for. They’ll watch. They’ll finish. They’ll tell their friends.
Time to set up: 10–14 days
What you need: Knowledge of one thing people struggle with, a microphone, screen recording software
4. AI-Designed Print-on-Demand Store
If you haven’t played with AI art generators like Midjourney or DALL-E, now’s the time. You can create professional-looking designs in minutes—designs that would’ve cost you hundreds of dollars from a freelancer two years ago.
Turn those designs into t-shirts, mugs, wall art, whatever. List them on Amazon Merch, Printful, or Redbubble. You pay nothing upfront. When someone buys, the platform handles printing and shipping.
The critical deadline here is February 1st. Valentine’s Day shopping starts early, and couples buy a lot of cheesy matching stuff. Get your designs live before then.
Time to set up: 2–5 days
What you need: AI art tool subscription, basic design sense, print-on-demand account
5. The Dividend Portfolio You Start With Lunch Money
“Investing” sounds intimidating. It shouldn’t.
Apps like Robinhood and Public let you buy fractional shares of stocks with as little as $10. You can literally start a dividend portfolio for the cost of a sandwich.
Why does this matter right now? There’s something called the “January Effect”—stock prices often climb early in the year. Plus, dividend stocks pay you just for holding them. It’s not get-rich-quick money, but it’s money that works while you’re doing literally anything else.
If you already have an audience, promote these investing apps through referral links. Brokerage referrals pay incredibly well, and you’re genuinely helping people start building wealth.
Time to set up: 20 minutes
What you need: An investing app, enough for a coffee
The Real Reason This Works Right Now
None of these require you to be an expert. They require you to be slightly ahead of where someone else is and willing to share what you know.
The people crushing it online aren’t the ones with perfect plans. They’re the ones who started messy, learned as they went, and actually shipped something while everyone else was “getting ready.”
You’ve got about three weeks before February hits and everyone’s resolution energy fizzles out. After that, the opportunity is still there—it’s just quieter.
So pick one. Start today. Thank yourself in March.