**Think $1K/month passive income is impossible? Here's the reality check**

Took a deep dive into what actually works for building passive income streams. Spoiler: it's not as sexy as the "make money while you sleep" hype makes it sound.

Top contenders that don't require you to be a finance bro:

**Dividend stocks + REITs** — Literally the most boring but reliable way. Park $140K in peer-to-peer lending at 9% returns? That's your $1K/month right there. Not revolutionary, but it works.

**Digital products** — E-books, courses, printables. Once made, they sell themselves (in theory). Platforms like Amazon KDP, Udemy, Etsy handle distribution. Reality: needs solid marketing to actually move units.

**Crowdfunding/P2P lending** — Returns typically 5-10% annually. Fundrise is the go-to. Less passive than it sounds — you're still picking what to invest in.

**Everything else** — YouTube channels, rental properties, affiliate blogs, email newsletters. All technically "passive" after setup, but that setup phase? Can take months or years.

**The catch nobody mentions:** You either need capital upfront (real estate, stocks) or you need to grind content creation for months before it generates anything. Most people quit before month 2.

Taxes will eat a chunk too, so don't mentally spend it twice.

Honest take: $1K/month passive isn't a get-rich-quick thing. It's "I'm willing to set something up now and wait" energy. But yeah, totally doable if you've got either money or patience.