Want to Make Extra Money Now?
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Search “free money” on the internet and you’re bound to find a whole lot of scams and not many legitimate opportunities. While truly free money is often few and far between for most of us, there are ways you can legitimately find and earn free funds. Stick around to find out about these opportunities, instead of risking vicious computer viruses or falling into the hands of a devious schemer.
Getting free money doesn’t always come in the most direct form. For example, you can get free money just by signing up for a new bank account. At the same time, it’s more about knowing where these opportunities exist and how you can take advantage of them to increase the funds in your bank account. Some might even be right under your nose!
Our guide below includes several ways you can earn free money, each leveraging different aspects of your life. Even if you can’t take advantage of each of the 12 ways to earn free money, there are ways you can use the same concepts to find and recognize more opportunities in your life. Sometimes all it takes is a little inspiration.
Are you ready to see how you can get free money? Let’s get started!
What is “Free” Money
Earning free money may sound too good to be true. When we talk about “free” money in this article, we mean funds you earn for an action that doesn’t necessarily require you to pay a fee. Instead, you’re the one receiving the money. For example, creating a new account on a platform could earn you a sign-up bonus of a few dollars. There are many ways you can earn free money, from bank accounts and credit card bonuses to stocks and cashback offers.
“Free” money can also refer to opportunities to earn rewards that would equate to a specific dollar amount. Credit card offers may offer rewards in points, which you can redeem for cash back, travel perks, or even credit on your latest statement. While some “free” money offers do require a small fee or commitment, those costs can pale in comparison to what you get when you participate.
12 Ways You Can Earn Free Money
We’ve compiled a list below of 12 ways you can earn free money. Some of these opportunities could be considered a type of passive income, especially if you benefit from an action you were already going to take. Other ways to earn free money include downloading an app, opening an account, or filling out specific information. In return, you can expect discounts, benefits, or other types of rewards, including free money.
1. Answer Survey Questions in Your Free Time
Earning free money doesn’t have to be a one-time thing. Instead, you can earn free money in your free time by answering survey questions from several websites. These include Survey Junkie, Swagbucks, InboxDollars, Pinecone Research, and MyPoints, to name a few. Some surveys may only take a few minutes of your time, and if you continue to contribute to each platform daily, you can quickly stack up your rewards.
Even if you don’t qualify for every survey on these platforms, you can still earn a few extra points here and there for your time. That can easily add up to $5 here or $10 there. Most survey apps that pay also give you the option of choosing between PayPal payments, checks, or selecting gift cards from your favorite merchants.
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Our Pick
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- $1 – $3 per survey + extra ways to earn up to $100 with focus groups
2. Buy Your Way Into a Credit Card Bonus
Credit card companies want you to open an account with them, no matter what your credit score is. However, you should be cautious of these opportunities, especially if you’ve been trying to increase your credit score lately. Credit card companies still require good credit and a credit check to qualify for credit card bonuses, so keep this in mind before you start filling out applications.
Most of the time, credit card companies want you to switch from their competitors. That means you typically cannot have an account with them already. The best way to take advantage of credit card bonuses is to couple them with purchases or actions you already plan on taking. You’ll have to meet specific purchase requirements, some of which can offer up to $500 in cash back or points. Each card pays out in a specific way depending on eligibility requirements, fulfillment procedures, and additional parameters.
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Best Credit Card With 0% APR Intro Periods
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Best Credit Card for Good Credit
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Best Credit Card for Bad Credit
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- Intro APR: 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers
3. Claim Free Stocks
Free stocks may not translate directly to a green Andrew Jackson, but they can be a great way to start or contribute to your stock portfolio. Both Robinhood and Stash offer ways you can earn free stock, without a whole lot of effort or knowledge. Create a new account with Robinhood by referral to earn free stock, or use your Stash debit card to make purchases from companies you want to earn stock from.
The value of free stocks depends on the platform, which stocks they offer, and which stocks you’re awarded. Some may only be worth a few dollars while others could potentially be worth hundreds. In addition, platforms may offer fractional shares of stock instead of full shares. When you open an account or complete an offer, these stocks tend to automatically add themselves to your portfolio on that platform.
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Most popular
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Get 16 free stocks valued up $2,000
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Get $20 bonus investment after joining
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- No fees to open or maintain an account
- No fees to transfer funds to an account
- Free Level II data
- No account minimum
- Advanced trading platform
- Free research tools
- No fractional shares
- No minimum deposit
- Low-cost, diversified funds
- Beginner-friendly
- Offers online checking account
- Easy-to-navigate interface
- $3 per month
If you’re looking to invest in stocks but aren’t sure where to start, check out apps and platforms that offer free stocks. These can be a great way to potentially receive stocks that could jumpstart your investment journey.
4. Earn More for Your Snapshots
These days, it’s easier to be an amateur photographer with the advent of smartphones. If you have an eye for setting the scene and plenty of subjects to capture on film, you can sell your photos online for free. Every time someone downloads your photo for use, they’ll pay a royalty fee. These fees can earn you pennies per download or upwards of $100 or more. It all depends on what you take pictures of and which licenses you offer.
Many photographers use Shutterstock, iStock, or Getty Images to jumpstart their careers. These platforms offer payments via PayPal, Payoneer, or Skrill, depending on the terms offered. While the majority of people who want to use your photo will pay for its use, be aware that this industry isn’t immune to theft.
5. Find Local Government Programs for Support
Free money can help pay the bills too. If you’re looking for help with your utility bills, check out the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. You may qualify for savings on your utility bills based on how much you make. In addition, you can depend on Lifeline, which is a federal program aimed at making internet and cellphone service more affordable.
To qualify for these opportunities, make sure you meet the eligibility requirements. You may need to provide additional documentation demonstrating your need, or even speak with a case manager. Most of these programs will pay your monthly assistance directly to the service provider, so keep this in mind if you plan on applying.
6. Get Paid for Surfing the Internet
Chances are you surf the internet at least once or twice a day for some reason. You might be looking up a recipe, trying to convert measurements, or even just curious about what’s going on in the world. But did you know that you can earn extra money from watching TV and surfing the internet?
Sites such as Swagbucks and iRazoo will pay you to look over your shoulder as you browse the interwebs. While you may not earn a huge amount from these opportunities, the funds can quickly add up to rewards like gift cards and cash. If you need money now, these apps can potentially pay you for playing games to win real money or listening to music as well.
Sign up for free and start using Swagbucks Search, powered by Yahoo!, every time you search the web - you get paid!
7. Leverage Bank Promotions
Like credit card offers, you can earn free money by opening a new bank account and meeting the eligibility requirements. Some banks offer cash bonuses while others may reward you in different ways. It all depends on which bank you choose.
Most banks will offer anywhere from $50-$500 in cash for opening a new bank account. Some promotions require you to fund your new account with a particular balance, maintain a daily balance of a specific amount, or even spend a determined amount each month. Before you sign up for a new account, be sure to read the fine print, especially when it comes to how long you need to keep the account open. Most of the time, these bonuses credit automatically to your account once the requirements have been met.
8. Match Your 401(k) Contributions
If you want to enjoy free money later, rather than right now, see if you can maximize your 401(k) contributions. This works especially well if your employer matches your contribution. Many people choose to max out their retirement contributions not only to take advantage of the benefits later but defer taxes on those funds as well.
Contributing to your 401(k) can also lower your taxable income for that year. This may put you in a lower tax bracket or even allow you specific deductions in some cases. Check with your employer’s human resources department regarding requirements and limits to your contribution. Some employers even offer to match 100% of your contributions. As long as you wait until you’re halfway to 60 years old, you can take out those retirement funds without penalty.
9. Sell Off Your Old Electronics
Electronics rise and fall like fashion. One day they’re in and the next day they’re history. If you have unused cell phones, computers, or other technological devices, you may be able to sell them for profit on platforms such as Facebook Marketplace, Decluttr, Craigslist, and eBay. How much you earn will depend on what condition the device is in, what type of device it is, and where you sell it. It’s best to stick with reputable platforms so you can get paid via PayPal, direct deposit, Venmo, or cold hard cash.
10. Track Down Unclaimed Money
Unclaimed money sounds like something that falls under the “finders keepers” rule, but you can find unclaimed money you have a right to. Begin your search with the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators to see if you have any unclaimed money left in your name. The search won’t cost you a dime and has a 50/50 chance of finding you your rightful funds. At the same time, be wary of scams as they’re just as prevalent.
11. Trade Up Your Old Threads
Selling your old clothes can be a great way to make some free money. Though you invested in them back in the day, these clothes can put money back in your pocket if they’re in good condition. In fact, apps like ThredUp and Poshmark will pay you or even allow you to post your old clothes for sale.
How much you earn selling your old clothes depends on what styles you have to sell and how much clothing you have available. Really, all it takes is uploading pictures of your threads and posting a description. You can get paid via PayPal or direct deposit, minus listing and other platform fees.
12. Upload Your Receipts
Shopping can be a drag, especially when you look at your receipt later to see how much you’ve spent. However, if you use apps like Fetch Rewards and Ibotta, you can earn more for the spending you already do. All it takes is snapping a photo of your receipt and uploading it to either app.
The best thing about this type of free money is that you’re already spending the funds, but now you can take advantage of them in a unique way. Receipts will earn you a few points here and there depending on what you purchased, but the rewards can quickly snowball if you do a lot of shopping. You can also combine these apps with those that offer cash back. Once you accumulate enough rewards, you can choose payment via PayPal or a linked bank account.
With Fetch, you get rewarded for anything you buy. Snap a receipt to get started. Shop all your favorites & get rewarded on Fetch. Try the free app now. Earn points and redeem.
FAQs
You can earn free money from a myriad of apps, including InboxDollars, Pinecone Research, Survey Junkie, and MyPoints. Rakuten, Ibotta, Facebook Marketplace, and Poshmark also allow you to earn free money as well.
Yes, many apps will award you with free money for playing games and watching TV. Many of them, like Survey Junkie and Swagbucks, will also award you for answering surveys as well.
There are many ways you can get free money online without investing. If you can find credit card offers that fit your financial needs, this is a great way to earn extra money for accomplishing a task you were already going to do.
Claim Your Free Money Today
Earning free money doesn’t take a lot of effort once you know where to find it. We hope you’ve found this article helpful in figuring out how you can get free money without having to risk getting scammed. No matter your financial situation, you can find tons of ways to earn free funds. If you combine each of these opportunities, you may even be able to add to your savings, pay down a little bit of debt, or even treat yourself however you see fit.
