How much passive income could I generate with just £10 per day?

Ken Hall wants to create his £10,000 yearly passive income dream by investing just £10 every weekday day in Footsie shares. Is it achievable?

| More on:

The content of this article was relevant at the time of publishing. Circumstances change continuously and caution should therefore be exercised when relying upon any content contained within this article.

Shot of a senior man drinking coffee and looking thoughtfully out of a window

Image source: Getty Images

You’re reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool’s Premium Investing Services. Become a Motley Fool member today to get instant access to our top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investing resources, and more. Learn More.

I have a predicament at the moment. My goal is to build a £10,000 annual return for long-term, sustainable passive income but am lacking spare cash to invest.

That got me thinking about setting aside a tenner each day for investing. By investing that money into a portfolio of FTSE 100 dividend shares, just how much could I theoretically generate for my retirement plans in a few decades?

Being patient

Let’s keep my £10 a day plan simple and stick to weekdays. That would give me £50 per week to play with. I will also assume no share price gains (or losses, which of course is somewhat artificial and not guaranteed), plus a 7% annual dividend yield paid out and reinvested four times each year.

Starting with £0 on day one, my portfolio is looking a bit sad. But hey, I’ve got to start somewhere, right?

After one year, my projections give me £2,712 of invested capital and a meagre £112 in annual dividends paid.

After five years of disciplined investing, that portfolio could be worth £15,654 with £980 of annual income. Not a lot to show for my hard work and savvy investing but there’s a nest egg starting to form.

Let’s fast forward a little bit. Let’s say I’ve been at this for 15 years. I wouldn’t be looking to retire just yet, which is lucky, because my hypothetical portfolio is worth £69,138 and paying £4,565 in annual dividends.

So, when can I hit the £10,000 in passive income I’m after? After 25 years that portfolio could be worth £176,189 and paying £11,742 in annual income. That’s enough for me to focus on protecting that and building towards a solid retirement in the future.

Which stocks can help me achieve this?

Clearly, the above is a simplified scenario. However, there are a number of Footsie dividend shares that have yields in the region that I’m talking about.

They include HSBC, Rio Tinto and British Land (LSE: BLND) with dividend yields of 6.6%, 6.5% and 5.9%, respectively. Among those three, I think British Land is an interesting proposition.

The company has a 97% occupancy rate and continues to be proactive in managing its portfolio. Asset disposals and acquisitions are on the agenda. With a pro forma loan-to-value ratio of 34.6% and £1.9bn in undrawn facilities and cash, I think the property company could be one to watch.

With strong outperformance against its MSCI benchmark and a healthy dividend yield, the real estate investment trust (REIT) could be one to watch.

Of course, some of its chosen sectors can be cyclical and impacted quickly, such as retail parks, so it may not be one for me to rely on in my long-term passive income plans.

Please note that tax treatment depends on the individual circumstances of each client and may be subject to change in future. The content in this article is provided for information purposes only. It is not intended to be, neither does it constitute, any form of tax advice.

Wrap up

My simplified example gives me hope for the future. By setting aside just £10 each day, investing it well and enjoying a touch of luck, I think I could generate a £10,000 passive income in the future.

Ken Hall has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended British Land Plc and HSBC Holdings. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.

More on Dividend Shares

Close-up as a woman counts out modern British banknotes.
Investing Articles

I asked ChatGPT for the 3 best UK dividend shares for 2026, and this is what it said…

2025 has been a cracking year for UK dividend shares, and the outlook for 2026 makes me think we could…

Read more »

Close-up of a woman holding modern polymer ten, twenty and fifty pound notes.
Investing Articles

£20,000 in savings? Here’s how someone could aim to turn that into a £10,958 annual second income!

Earning a second income doesn't necessarily mean doing more work. Christopher Ruane highlights one long-term approach based on owning dividend…

Read more »

Friends at the bay near the village of Diabaig on the side of Loch Torridon in Wester Ross, Scotland. They are taking a break from their bike ride to relax and chat. They are laughing together.
Investing Articles

Can you turn your Stocks and Shares ISA into a lean, mean passive income machine?

Harvey Jones shows investors how they can use their Stocks and Shares ISA to generate high, rising and reliable dividends…

Read more »

Young Black man sat in front of laptop while wearing headphones
Investing Articles

Down 60% with a 10.2% yield and P/E of 13.5! Is this FTSE 250 stock a once-in-a-decade bargain? 

Harvey Jones is dazzled by the yield available from this FTSE 250 company, and wonders if it's the kind of…

Read more »

Shot of a senior man drinking coffee and looking thoughtfully out of a window
Dividend Shares

How much do you need in the stock market to target a £3,500 monthly passive income?

Targeting extra income by investing in the stock market isn't just a pipe dream, it can be highly lucrative. Here's…

Read more »

Fireworks display in the shape of willow at Newcastle, Co. Down , Northern Ireland at Halloween.
Dividend Shares

Look what happened to Greggs shares after I said they were a bargain!

After a truly terrible year, Greggs shares collapsed to their 2025 low on 25 November. That very day, I said…

Read more »

Thoughtful man using his phone while riding on a train and looking through the window
Dividend Shares

Will the Lloyds share price breach £1 in 2026?

After a terrific 2025, the Lloyds share price is trading at levels not seen since the global financial collapse in…

Read more »

Passive income text with pin graph chart on business table
Investing Articles

This superb passive income star now has a dividend yield of 10.4%!

This standout passive income gem now generates an annual dividend return higher than the ‘magic’ 10% figure, and consensus forecasts…

Read more »