Actually, you don't need a website to earn with Google Adsense. You can participate in what is called revenue sharing programs. Hubpages.com is one of the sites that I use to earn an average of $200 per month consistently.

I don't put these ads on my own websites though otherwise I would earn more with these Google ads. Instead, I concentrate on earning as an affiliate for various affiliate programs which pay way more.

Jay

google adsense do pay you out but it is not enough to put your kids through college. If you have a website that generates a lot of traffic then by all means.