Money, or Simoleons, as it's known in The Sims 4, is vital to ensuring a productive life for your fictional family. Players are limited in building, decor, skill-building items, food, and more without it. While there are many cheats to get around this inconvenience quickly, some players may be looking to make money the way the game initially intended.

Unfortunately, making a significant amount of money without using cheats in Sims 4 is a much longer process. Some methods are common, such as getting a job or making money off a hobby, while others are a little less desirable, depending on your Sim, such as stealing, beachcombing, and digging for treasure.

13 Perform Music

Earn Tips By Singing or Playing An Instrument

One of the ways to earn a few extra Simoleons for free is to have a talented Sim perform for others. This can be done using any musical instrument, such as a piano, guitar, violin, or microphone. The main catch is that your Sim needs to do this in a public place where other Sims can stop and listen to them.

Since this method is entirely based on earning tips, your Sim won't be able to make a living this way, but it will bring in a little spare change. A good place to perform is San Myshuno's Waterside Warble, where a busking setup can be found near the food stalls.

12 Take Your Chances On The Lottery

Participate In The Lottery For A Shot At A Million Dollars

As part of the Seasons expansion for Sims 4, your Sim can choose to partake in the Lottery when it comes time for it. To enter, your Sim only needs to be a young adult with at least 100 Simoleons for a ticket. Tickets can be purchased via the computer or phone, and only one ticket per Sim is allowed.

Therefore, to increase your odds, your best bet is to have every eligible Sim purchase a ticket, especially since every other eligible Sim in town will also automatically be entering. The winner will receive a million-dollar payout, more than any single cheat code can provide.

11 Search The Beach For Shells

Beachcombing Can Be A Great Way To Find Valuable Shells To Sell

Beachcombing is an easy way to earn money. To do it, your Sim doesn't even need a beach—just some sand. Simply click on the ground where there is sand, and your Sim should be prompted with two options: looking for seashells or trash. Select Look for Seashells, and your Sim should begin digging in the sand.

Watch out, as Beachcombing can sometimes give negative Moodlets to your Sims if they're bitten by a crab.

This won't make your Sim rich by any means, but doing it for a minute or two and selling the findings can reward a decent amount, making it a fast way to earn Simoleons in Sims 4. On rare occasions, your Sim may find a shell that is more valuable than any of the others.

10 Dig For Collectibles

Perhaps All The Money Your Sim Needs Is Right Under Their Feet

Similar to beachcombing, Sims can look for collectibles in Sims 4 by digging through the dirt to find different objects that can be sold. However, not just any patch of ground will do the job. Instead, Sims will need to find specific rocks or dirt mounds that prompt the option to do it.

They can be found scattered anywhere, but the park in Oasis Springs is one place to start looking. Watch out for capsules, however, as they have a set selling value while closed. Opening them may increase this value but could also lower it, so it's your gamble.

9 Set Up Shop At The Flea Market

Get Rid Of Your Unwanted Goods By Selling Them To Others

They say one man's trash is another man's treasure, and that logic still applies in Sims 4. With the addition of the City Living expansion, your Sim now has the option to attend a flea market and participate in it. Though you're not going to make a large amount of money, it is a nice way to sell some items you otherwise don't need.

Furthermore, while it isn't the same as necessarily making money, finding a great deal here is an excellent way to save money, which means more in your Sim's pocket in the long run. Unfortunately, the flea market is not a daily occurrence, so you'll need to store up some stuff until it rolls around.

8 Ask Other Sims For Money

Asking For Money Isn't Always Desirable, But It Works

One way to acquire a decent amount of money, though a bit undesirable, is simply to ask for it. However, this method requires little work as Sims must have a relationship established for them to agree. Furthermore, to even have the option to ask for money, your Sim also needs to be at a Charisma level of 7.

However, don't stop there, as higher loan amounts become available the higher your Charisma is. This means you can ask for several thousand dollar loans once your stat is fully maxed out. The best part about this method is it feels like a cheat because you have no obligation to pay it back.

7 Start A Little DIY Side Hustle

Sims Can Get Crafty And Make Some Homemade Goods For A Little Extra Cash

Primarily as part of various expansion packs, Sims can pick up some DIY hobbies to bring a little extra income their way. Some examples include making candles, woodworking, knitting, or even baking. Sims can even go as far as opening their own store or restaurant if they're feeling fully prepared to take on a life of entrepreneurship.

However, opening your own business requires a bit more starting funds than a small hobby, so it's best to stick with smaller DIY projects for now. Once you've saved up some by selling those, you can perhaps look into expanding into a full-fledged business if that interests you.

6 Resort To Stealing

Pursue A Life Of Crime If You're Looking To Make Money The Easy Way

Perhaps the closest to cheating you can get without using cheats is simply to start stealing in Sims 4. However, it's not as easy as you'd think since to properly steal items, your Sim needs to have the kleptomaniac trait and must level up their Mischief.

One thing to be wary of with the Klepto trait is that these Sims will have an urge to swipe, meaning that if you don't steal something for a while, your Sim may take control and do it themselves, which you want to avoid if possible.

Furthermore, to avoid embarrassment, it's best to ensure nobody is around when you do it, including babies. When still building up the skill, only small objects can be stolen, but once maxed out, you'll be able to make off with valuable things such as an entire piano.

5 Make Money By Using A Computer

Hop Online To Make Money The Modern Way

Perhaps one of the easiest options, especially now that your Sim has free access to a library, is utilizing a computer. There are a few different options when using a computer, with the most prominent being to Write A Book. After the Sim completes the book, they can publish it via the mailbox and profit on daily royalties.

Another good option for Sims with a high video game skill level is entering into competitive game tournaments or even entering into the world of streaming. Though streaming can take a bit to build up a good following, the payouts can be massive if you put some time into it.

4 Try Out Fishing

Let Your Sim Enjoy Some Time To Themselves While They Reel In Some Money

Though this isn't necessarily ive income in the same way that writing a book and gaining royalties is, Sims in Sims 4 will fish for as long as they are left there to do so. Meaning players can leave their Sims to fish for a while, and they will accrue a decent amount of Simoleons.

Some of the best places to fish are the front of Willow Creak's museum and the grotto of Oasis Spring's Park.

While it is harder for lower-level Sims to catch any fish at all, if you allow them to spend some time increasing their level, they'll be more likely to catch difficult fish, which also means that they'll catch more lucrative fish. The worst part about this method is that it can be time-consuming and boring to watch.