In order to get anything done in The Sims 4, players will have to find one way or another for their household to make some money. Usually, the quickest and best way to do so is to actually get a job, but if that's not an option or simply sounds boring, there are luckily many other ways to become rich that don't involve typing in cheats.
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While some of these money-making methods require the player to already own a few items of their own, such as an oven or a woodworking table, some of them don't need any preparation. Ideal for challenges, here are ten ways to make money in the game without resorting to cheats.
Updated on November 18, 2021, by Anastasia Maillot: Since its release, The Sims 4 has sought to bring as much diversity into the game's money-making methods. It's no longer realistic to make money from simply doing traditional careers, and the game has addressed that pretty well by introducing a ton of different methods to get rich. New expansions often come with new ways to make simoleons, one of the biggest ones being Cottage Living and the Dream Home Decorator pack.
Without further ado, here are the best ways to make money in The Sims 4, without the motherlode cheat.
14 Become A Farmer
Thanks to Cottage Living, it's not possible to take the idea of living off the land to the extreme. Players can begin their farming journey in Henford-on-Bagley's picturesque little farming community. There's a ton of new activities players can do to earn simoleons in The Sims 4, from growing bigger crops to making jam.
And of course, players can raise their own animals, such as chickens, llamas, and cows, which will all give back a bit of produce for a Sim to sell at a market stand in town. Better yet, wait for the regular Finchwick Fair to get a boost to all selling prices.
13 Freelance, Part-Time, And Odd Jobs
If there's one thing The Sims 4 has done right, then it's introducing alternative and more flexible jobs that reflect the reality of the modern world. Not everyone works a nine to five office job, and Sims can now also work different types and kinds of shifts to make money.
It's possible to become a freelance worker and do small tasks here and there for a bit of money. Part-time jobs allow for more free time and flexibility while still being more traditional career paths like barista, fast food worker, or baby sitter and odd jobs provide an even larger variety of gig-like activities. Bottom line is, there's something for every Sim out there.
12 Ask For Money
Why work hard when Sims can simply ask for money? Those with high enough Charisma skill can just walk over to a Sim and ask them for a loan. At level 7 of Charisma, Sims can ask others for a small loan, and at Level 9 they can ask for a large loan.
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As with all loans, they usually need to be paid back, but the player never has to if they don't want to. It's the ultimate way to mooch off of other Sims in the neighborhood.
11 Get A Traditional Career
The obvious way to make money in The Sims 4 is to find a proper job and just stick to it. However, The Sims 4 has introduced a few additional features to these full-time jobs to gamify them a bit more. For one, there are active careers that let players follow their Sim to their workplace and perform small tasks throughout the day for maximum immersion. There's also the Interior Decorator Career, which is between a gig-type job and an active career.
Sims who have been to university and have a degree in a related field can also begin a career at a higher level, with slightly higher pay. This also goes for Sims who are famous enough to get random phone calls from NPCs begging for them to take a job opportunity.
10 A DIY Style Hobby
For households that already have a little bit of cash in their bank account, they can simply invest that money to get their hands on special objects that can be used to craft items, which are then sold. This includes objects like the woodworking table, flower arranging table, and even newer ones like the fabricator from Eco Lifestyle or the candle maker.
The knitting basket from the Nifty Knittingstuff pack is also great for making a few extra coins, and so is the Cupcake Factory machine, which eventually will allow players to sell those cupcakes to a local bakery. Even better, if the player has quite a bit of money, they can start a full-on retail store where they can sell their creations or even open a restaurant to flaunt their cooking skills.
9 Get Lucky
Sometimes, players don't even have to do anything to have cash just drop in their account out of seemingly nowhere. The various festivals in City Living include some fun competitions and games which give participants cash prizes or rewards which can be sold afterward.
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Alternatively, if the player really wants to test their luck, they can play the lottery when it rolls around in the Seasons expansion. Sims have been known to earn up to a million simoleons, which can set them for life. Moreover, those with the Wishing Well in their game can try to ask for more money if they're feeling particularly lucky.
8 Flea Markets
Players with the City Living expansion should look forward to one particular festival, which is known as the Flea Market. Not only will it feature a ton of townies coming over to sell their own items and objects for a good price, but the player can also set up some of their own things.
This is a great chance to sell any unwanted objects or collectibles without actually investing in a retail store. The only downside is that the player needs to wait until the flea market is in town to start selling.
7 Start Performing
Musical geniuses are in luck because starting an improvised performance is a perfectly valid way to make make money in The Sims 4 in just a few seconds. The only thing that's required is a musical instrument, such as a guitar or a violin. Some museums will also feature a violin for free, which lets Sims practice the skill.
If that sounds like too much of an investment, Sims can also sing anywhere. The Practice Singing interaction attracts any nearby townies, and even if the Sim is bad at what they're doing they might still give a few simoleons out of pity. However, with higher skills, the rewards are better too.
6 Use The Computer
Luckily with the existence of libraries, players no longer need to save up for a computer to use any of the multiple useful functions it has. When it comes to making money in The Sims 4, a computer is easily one of the best items in the game due to how versatile it is and how many ways there are to become successful through it.
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Sims can either write books and sell them to a publisher for royalties or they can also write jokes. Alternatively, they can put their programming skills to use and even start a video gaming livestream once they're good enough. The possibilities are endless.
5 Steal
If any kind of honest work sounds like the worst time ever, rest assured there are a few ways to make money without doing any real work at all. The only requirement here is that the Sim has a specific trait given to them in CAS, otherwise it will be impossible to do this.
Give them the Kleptomaniac trait, which will allow them to swipe just about any object they see. Be careful, however, since getting caught will give them the Embarrassed moodlet and prevent them from swiping again any time soon. Similarly, if they succeed in swiping, they need to wait for the adrenaline rush to end before they can do it again. The items can then be sold easily through the inventory.
4 Harvest And Garden
One of the favorite ways of many Simmers to make some serious cash is through gardening and harvesting plants. In the beginning, if a household can't afford to buy anything, just looking around in the nearby area will usually reveal some plants and trees which might be in season and carrying some fruit or flowers. These can be harvested and sold.
Eventually, Sims can set up their own garden, where they can cultivate whatever plants and vegetables they want. With higher skill comes better quality crops, which also increases the amount of money the player can make.
3 Dig Collectibles
For those playing a particularly grueling challenge that prevents their Sims from getting a real job, the easiest and most immediate way to make any money in The Sims 4 is to check the surrounding areas for any sort of rocks that can be broken for gemstones and crystals. Some of the rare ones sell for a really good price.
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Players will also find tiny mounds on the ground which can be dug, and treasure maps that can be used to hunt down treasure. Time capsules will usually carry collectible statues, which when sold fetch a decent price. Some critters like frogs can also be caught and sold.
2 Fishing At Easy Spots
Fishing might sound like a super boring and tedious job, but once Sims get really into it, the activity becomes surprisingly rewarding. In the beginning, Sims will have to pick their fishing spots carefully and find places where less difficult fish are swimming. One of the best places is in front of Willow Creak's museum for instance.
Eventually, they can go for more challenging locations, such as the back of Oasis Springs' park, which has a very difficult fishing spot. However, the more difficult the fish, the better its price, and fishing can rack up some serious profits for a dedicated Sim.
1 Paint At Museums
In terms of the "meta" level of the game, it's safe to say that painting is the most broken money-making method in The Sims 4. This is because Sims can become very good with very little effort, and easels are readily available at any museum. The downside is that the Sim needs to play for the canvas on their own.
However, once the skill evolves, some of the paintings can go for incredibly high prices. Masterpieces can cost up to several thousands of simoleons, and if a Sim makes a few of these per day, they can afford a huge mansion in no time.
The Sims 4 was released on September 2, 2014, and is available on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
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