Oh the Joy of Passive Income

So, this summer, life happened. And then it happened again, and in August, life happened one more time. In other words, I have had some big things happen in my life this summer that have been distracting me from writing.

Since about the middle of May, I have not written a single article on any of the three websites I write for which include eHow, Suite 101, and Today.com. The exception is this blog, which earns me NO income.

And since I have not been writing, two of my writing contracts are on hold and the third site, eHow, does not require a contract or for you to remain active. However, all three sites are still bringing me in some money each month. How? Why?

Two words. Passive Income.

Passive income has always been a goal of mine since I realized at age 16 that I didn't want to work hard for the rest of my life. Okay, that may be an slight exaggeration, I think I realized it when I was about 25. Not that I am not a hard worker...

Either way, passive income means just as it sounds - income without doing anything. Passive. Yep, not doing ANYTHING. It is the opposite of ACTIVE income, which eludes to some sort of action being involved, which means you are actively earning income. Usually this means, you will actually have to work for your money.

Now, passive income does not mean you did not work hard to earn that money, it just means, even when you are NOT working, income is still coming in. Because I did work out to get all those articles written.

Makes sense, right? Great plan, huh? Well, yes, but at some point, you do have to put in some effort to maintain that passive income. As a freelance writer, this means, I will have to write some more to earn some more passive income.

Now, I can stop writing right now and never write again, and I will still earn some money each month, but it will probably not increase a whole lot. Darn. But, it still is nice.

I will pick up my writing again as soon as life slows down again. Oh, it will. In the meantime, I am enjoying the monthly payments, even if I do not do anything to earn it! Oh, the joy of passive income.