25 Foolproof Ways to Get Free Money

25 Foolproof Ways to Get Free Mone

Free money. It’s something that no one in their right mind would ever turn down.

And while I always advocate for setting up a sustainable side hustle for yourself, sometimes it’s nice to just make a quick buck.

As it turns out, there are a ton of opportunities out there right now to make a some easy “free” money.

This article outlines 25 of them.

How is this possible?

Companies Offering Free Money and Signup Bonuses

Of course, nothing in life is truly free, but if you are looking for really easy money, below is a list of companies and apps that are offering cash and gift cards to new users. As long as you realize that these bonuses are a way for companies to attract new people, there is no harm in signing up for a few different offers. All of these require no commitment and no purchase on your end.

Swagbucks – $10

Swagbucks is a popular rewards site that compensates readers via “Swagbucks” (or SB, for short) for many different online tasks. Tasks include taking simple surveys, watching short videos, shopping, and more. While you won’t make a significant income with the app, it’s certainly reasonable to earn a few decent sized gift cards each month.

As an incentive for signing up, Swagbucks is offering $10for all new users who download their mobile app. You can read a full review here.

MyPoints -$10

MyPoints is essentially a rewards program for your phone, similar to others already mentioned (it’s actually owned by Prodege, LLC, the same company that owns Swagbucks). 

Right now, if you create an account, MyPoints will give you a $10 Amazon gift card after completing a few basic tasks.

Remember, these survey rewards and cash back sites are not get rich quick schemes. Their purpose is to add a few bucks to your bottom line each month by doing things you’re already doing.

Dosh – $5

The DOSH cash back app has been creating a lot of waves in the cash back industry lately, and for good reason: free money to attract new users. Plus, their app works quite well for earning cash back. Everything on the app is focused on cash back, so there are no other ways to earn (like surveys, watching videos, etc.).

You get $5 for every card you link to the app and $10 for every friend you refer to the app. Get a few family and friends to sign up and the money adds up quick! (Note: The $10 referral bonus varies. Sometimes it’s only $5, but we’ve seen it as high as $15 per referral).

Ebates -$10

Ebates is another big cash back website, and, just like the others, they offer a generous sign up bonus for new users. A smart thing to do would be to join several different cash back sites and then “shop around” whenever you are ready to make a purchase. If Ebates is offering 6% cash back on Nike Shoes but you see that Swagbucks is offering 7% cash back, you’ll obviously choose to buy through Swagbucks.

Ibotta – $10

Ibotta is a cash back app specifically designed for grocery shopping. You get $10 just for signing up, and they’ll pay you $5 more for each friend you refer.

Inbox Dollars – $5

InboxDollars pays you in several different ways, the most common of which is consumer surveys. InboxDollars also “rewards you for checking your email”, which essentially means that they will send you a lot of offers from advertisers (so make sure sign up with an email you don’t mind getting a bit cluttered). Every time you open one of these emails and confirm that you’ve received it, you’ll get a small reward. InboxDollars currently offers a $5 signup bonus.

Vindale – $1

Same story as the other sites listed above. Sign up, take surveys, make a few bucks. Vindale is currently offering a $1 signup bonus for new users.

Nielsen – $50/yr

Nielsen (the TV ratings company) will pay you $50 a year to keep their app on your smartphone, tablet, or laptop. The app itself collects statistics on your internet usage anonymously in order to learn more about consumer trends. For instance, it might look at your search habits and see that you love reading about sports and shopping online for [insert item]. By tracking real life examples of “buyer personas”, they can help companies better understand their customers.

Also, everything with Nielsen is done anonymously, so you don’t have to worry about any data being linked to you. The app takes up barely any space and doesn’t slow down your phone or tablet at all.

Shoptracker -$39/yr

Similar to Nielsen, Shoptracker is an app that tracks your shopping habits (anonymously). Shoptracker exclusively looks at Amazon purchasing history in order to draw conclusions and identify patterns in customer behavior. If you don’t mind having Shoptracker “look over your shoulder”, you can get $3 a month for each month that you have it installed. There is also a $3 signup bonus.

Lyft – $300

Ridesharing companies are looking to one up eachother in a race to the top of the industry. That means there are some pretty aggressive sign up bonuses to be had, especially for new drivers.

Right now, Lyft is offering a $300 bonus for new drivers who complete 100 rides in their first 30 days. That may sound like a lot, but think about it — that’s only five rides every weekday after work. And of course, this bonus is given in addition to the profits you make from each trip. Here’s more information on what it’s like to be a Lyft driver.

Acorns -$5

Have you ever wanted to start investing, but didn’t know where to start? Acorns is a simple investment app that aims to change that. With an easy-to-use interface designed for beginners in the investing world, you can get up and running in just a few minutes. There is no minimum amount needed in order to open an account, and Acorns is even willing to give you a $5 boost to help you get started.

You can read our in-depth Acorns review here.

Trim

Trim won’t give you money, per se, but it will most likely find areas in your budget where you can cut back on spending, which is basically the same thing.

Trim is a simple (and free) tool that combs through your spending habits and finds quick, easy wins that’ll put more money in your pocket. For example, Trim can negotiate your cable bill, find subscriptions that you should probably cancel, and can even help you find more affordable car insurance. To learn more about how it works, you can visit Trim’s website or you can read our full review here.

Online Banks

Do you have money sitting in a checking or savings account that is earning you 0.01% interest? If so, it might be smart to consider opening an online high-yield savings account. With many of the top banks offering 1-2% APY, moving your savings is a smart move that will make you money. Consider checking out Discover Bank and CIT Bank for some of the most competitive rates on the market.

Savings Account	Opening Balance	Monthly Fees	APY
Open Account	$100	$0	2.45%
Open Account	$0	$0	2.10%
Open Account	$0	$0	2.20%
Open Account	$0	$0	2.20%

How to Get Free Money from the Government

Most of the time, we are used to paying the government via taxes. However, that’s not always the case. Here are a few ways that you get free money from Uncle Sam.

Unclaimed.org 

This is a website set up by the National Association of State Treasurers as a way to connect U.S. residents with “forgotten” money. Think of things like old security deposits on apartments and utilities, uncollected insurance reimbursements, account credits that were never used, that sort of thing.

MissingMoney.com 

This is a similar site to unclaimed.org. MissingMoney.com works by “thoroughly searching all participating states to find your family’s missing, lost, and unclaimed property, money and assets.” It doesn’t hurt to check!

Federal Pell Grant for Education

College doesn’t appear to be getting cheaper any time soon. If you need help with paying for college, there are many scholarships available, but did you know that there are many educational grants from the government as well? Unlike student loans, grant money does not have to be repaid.

A Federal Pell Grant can offer as much as $5,920 (2017-18 school year) to students for each year that they qualify. Qualifications are based on income, cost of attendance, and other factors. You can learn more at the Federal Student Aid website.

Child Care and Development Fund 

If you are having a hard time covering child care expenses while you are at work, there might be some government assistance available to you. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has a directory of state and local contacts you can check out to see about getting help with childcare costs.

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program 

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the average U.S. family spends at least $2,200 per year on energy bills — and nearly half of that goes towards heating and cooling. Depending on where you live and your income level, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP, for short) may be able to help you cover those costs.

Other Ways to Get Free Money Now

Still searching for ideas to get free cash? Here are a few more that don’t have anything to do with signup bonuses or applying to a government program.

Donate Plasma

Many people volunteer to give blood and platelets (myself included), but did you know that selling plasma is growing in popularity as a way for people to make “free” money? While it’s not technically donating since you are being paid, selling plasma is still a good deed that is always going to be in high demand. There are many people making between $200-300 per month from this!

Here is an in-depth guide on selling plasma that has lots of helpful tips on how to prepare for your donation and where to donate.

Refinance a Student Loan

If you are still working on paying off your student loans, you may be able to save money on interest payments by refinancing your loans.

“Refinancing” just means replacing your high interest rate loan with a lower interest rate loan — which can ends up saving you a lot of money over the lifetime of your loan. For example, if you refinance a $20,000 loan currently charging you 6.55% APR and you get a new rate of 3.75%, you will save roughly $600 per year in interest charges.

Since there are many lenders out there, it might be helpful to use a service like LendingTree to compare all your options in real-time.

Let Someone Borrow Your Car

If you don’t drive very often but have a car sitting in your driveway, you can turn it into an extra source of income with Getaround. When someone wants to rent your car, they can do so straight from the app. You don’t have to worry about meeting up to exchange keys or handling the logistics.

As a car owner, you can make $5+ per hour just by letting someone else borrow your car. Getaround offers $1 million primary insurance coverage, so you don’t have to worry about possible damages.

List a Room on Airbnb

If you don’t want to let people borrow your car, but you are okay with people sleeping in your house, you can easily turn an extra room into a steady income stream with Airbnb.

If you want to know more about how hosting with Airbnb works, check out our comprehensive Airbnb guide here.

Sell Old Textbooks

If you have a stack of books collecting dust in a corner of your room, you might want to consider selling them for some extra money (especially if you don’t plan on opening them back up). To help you get the most money back, we’ve put together this list of some of the the best places to sell textbooks.

Sell Old Clothes

To quote one of our writers, Jamaica Winship, who has made a habit of selling old clothes she doesn’t wear anymore, “I’ve tried just about every online platform for selling my new and gently used clothes. My two favorites are Poshmark and eBay. The community aspect of Poshmark is nice, but eBay has a larger user base which means you can sell your clothes a lot faster.”

If you’re like most people, a simple sweep through your closet can often yield a lot of good finds that you can get money for.

Sell Old Electronics

Textbooks and clothes aren’t the only things you can sell for a quick buck when you need it. Popular sites like Decluttr are making it easy for people get cash for electronics, DVDs, and CDs. Decluttr is simple: just scan any item that has a barcode on it using your phone camera and get an immediate offer.

Once you accept the offer, they’ll send you a prepaid postage envelope you can use to ship your items. One day after your items arrive, you’ll get paid.

If you are specifically looking to sell an old cell phone, check out our cell phone selling guide.

How to Avoid Free Money Scams

Of course, someone looking online for anything along the lines of “I need free money” is probably at least somewhat desperate. Unfortunately, scammers love desperate people.

Here are few things to look out for to make sure you aren’t falling for any free money scams:

• Any legitimate free money opportunity will not ask you to pay any up front fees.
• Be careful with sharing your personal information. Don’t give your SSN to just anyone.
• If you are looking for government assistance, make sure the sites you are visiting end in .gov, .edu, or the like.
• If it sounds too good to be true, it is. Even the companies with signup bonuses are very transparent about the fact that the bonuses are meant to attract new users.

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How to Get Out of Debt: A Step-by-Step Guide for 2019

We all know the basic principles of how to get out of debt.

Whether you’re broke and have no money, a low income or bad credit, the steps are all the same. Spend less than you make and put any extra cash towards paying off your debt.

In practice, though, organizing what you need to tackle first, and knowing how to get started, can be overwhelming.

It can leave you feeling trapped and prevent you from getting started altogether.

To help you on your way to financial freedom, we’ve put together this simple, step-by-step guide to help you build a debt payoff plan and eliminate your debt. It doesn’t matter if you have no money or your income is low. Even with bad credit, you can still put this step-by-step debt payoff guide to good use.

Let’s walk through the steps and help you get out of debt once and for all!

Step 1: Find Out How Much Debt You Owe

You can’t develop a debt payment strategy until you know exactly what you’re up against.

It’s time to mentally gather up all your debts – from that $40 store credit card balance to your $30,000 car loan – and put it all in one place.

Write down the debts you have, how much you owe on each, the interest rate, and the minimum payment.

If you aren’t sure on the interest rate, take the time to open your accounts and find the exact number. High-interest rate debt is a bigger drag on your success than low-interest debt, so you need to know which is which.

Totaling it all up in black-and-white may be scary, but you’re getting ready to cut that number down! Promise yourself that is the highest your debt number will ever be.

Now, let’s get to work.

Step 2: Choose Your Approach: Debt Snowball vs. Debt Avalanche

Once know exactly how much you owe, it’s time to put a plan together for how you’re going to get out of debt.

Throwing money at a different debt every month, without tracking your progress, is a surefire way for burnout. You’ll feel like you’re spinning your wheels and give up too soon.

The best way to pay down debt is to focus on one piece of debt at a time, until that one debt is entirely paid off. In the meantime, make only minimum payments on the other debts.CLICK TO TWEET

This gives you milestones to celebrate, motivates you to keep going, and keeps you organized along the way.

So the question is, how do you decide which debt to pay off first?

There are two main philosophies when it comes to making this choice, the “Debt Snowball Method” and the “Debt Avalanche Method.”

Debt Snowball Method

In a nutshell: Prioritize your debts from smallest to largest, ignoring interest rates.

Remember making snowmen as a kid? You would start with a small snowball, then roll it along the ground, picking up more snow until you had a massive snowman belly. That’s the concept behind the debt snowball.

With the debt snowball, you start by paying off your debt with the smallest balance, regardless of interest rate. While you pay off that debt, you make minimum payments on all the others.

Why is it called the debt snowball? Because the amount you put towards principle (your balance) snowballs every month. You keep putting the same amount of money towards your debts, even as you pay each one off, increasing the amount that goes towards principal over interest.

Debt Avalanche Method

In a nutshell: Prioritize your debts from highest interest rate to lowest, ignoring size.

The methodology of the debt avalanche is similar to the debt snowball, except with this method your goal is to minimize interest costs. No extra profits for those greedy creditors from you!

With the debt avalanche, you start by paying off the debt with the highest interest rate, regardless of size. Then move on to the debt with the next highest interest rate.

Why an avalanche instead of a snowball? Because, by eliminating high-interest costs first, you put more of your cash towards actual principal over time. This means getting out of debt somewhat faster (and cheaper).

Decide Which Debt You Will Tackle First

What’s more important to you? Getting quick, early wins by paying off small debts, or paying the least amount of interest?

Both the snowball and avalanche methods have their benefits. And while the debt snowball isn’t mathematically the cheapest way out of debt, it is one of the most effective. Pursuing a debt-free life can be a long process, depending on where you are starting, and paying off a few debts early on can really get you excited to keep going.

ACTION ITEM: Choose whichever method sounds best for you, then organize your debts in that order. You’re ready to start making payments!

Step 3: Make Some Big Changes

While small, day-to-day changes matter, a few big changes can fast track you to getting out of debt. Consider these ideas and decide whether the expense they represent is truly worth it to you.

Get Rid of Your Credit Cards

Are credit cards burning a hole in your pocket? It may be time to cut them up.

If credit card debt is part of your problem, sticking to cash and debit cards can help you reset your spending mindset. Nothing is more discouraging when you’re paying off debt than realizing you increased it accidentally with an impulse credit card purchase.

Once you are officially debt free, and used to spending less than you make each and every month, you can revisit the issue. In the meantime, credit card rewards don’t offset interest charges.

Sell Your Car

Have a hefty car payment? Consider selling your car for a cheaper used model to eliminate the debt and reduce your insurance costs.

Look for good used car deals outside of new car dealerships. You’ll have more room to haggle with private sales and at independent used car dealers. Just be sure you have a good mechanic look over the car before you buy.

Don’t have a car payment? Decide whether your family can get by with one car instead of two. Dropping your spouse off at work in the morning might feel like a hassle, but if that extra 15 minutes saves you $500 a month, it might be worth it.

Stop Investing (For Now)

Saving for the future is essential, but when you have expensive debt that is holding you back, you need to set your priorities. Pulling back on investing in the short-term can put you in a better position to invest adequately in the future. View each dollar you save in interest cost as a dollar wisely invested.

Make note: We would never recommend cutting your 401(k) contributions to a point where you don’t receive your full employer match. That’s free money, and the instant return is more than worth whatever you are paying in interest.

Cut Cable

It’s 2019. You can watch most of your favorite shows online, and even notable sporting events are offering free streaming options. We watched the Super Bowl last year via Amazon Prime.

If you haven’t cut the cord yet, it’s time! Traditional cable packages run over $100 a month and can be a major drag on your goals.

Sell Your Unused Stuff

We could all do with a bit of minimizing. But instead of heading to the dumpster with your kids’ old toys and that ice bucket Aunt Marge sent you, list them for sale on Facebook Marketplace, LetGo, or Craigslist.

On average, people have over $1,000 worth of stuff in their house that they don’t use. When we went through our minimizing process, we sold over $1,200 of books, toys, extra kitchen gear, and more.

The fringe benefit of this exercise? You realize how many things you’ve paid good money for that you didn’t really need. That tough reality makes it easier to say no to spending in the future.

Step 4: Create a Monthly Budget

Want to know how much you can put towards debt each month? You’re going to need a budget.

A reasonable budget helps you understand where your money is going. It alerts you to where cash is leaking out to things that don’t really matter to you. And it clues you in on how much you can afford for the things you do want.

By building a budget thoughtfully and allowing yourself some flexibility, you can reduce money stress by knowing there is always money in the bank for the things you need.

How to Make a Budget

Before you dive in, remember one thing:  the budget you create today is not set in stone.

Your categories, spending, and habits will change over the first few months. And that is perfectly fine! It will take time to adjust to tracking your expenses and creating awareness of your needs.

How to start a budget in five simple steps:

1. Figure out how much money you make.

Look up exactly how much you get paid each pay period. This is what you have to work with.

2. Define your core expenses.

Housing, utilities, groceries, insurance – These are the nonnegotiable expenses and must be covered first.

3. Write out your debt payments.

For now, assume you only make minimum payments on all of your debts since that is the amount required.

4. Create categories for regular expenses and assign reasonable spending limits to each item.

Don’t be afraid to have many budget categories. It will help you have a greater understanding of where things are going. Some regular expenses include internet, cell phone, household goods, medical costs, pets, haircuts, car repair, and home repair. Not every item will have an expense every month, but by setting some money aside for those irregular expenses, you’ll be ready when they hit.

5. Allocate remaining money between debt paydown and quality of life expenses.

The money that is left over from your income after completing steps 2 through 4 is what you have to contribute towards your goals and fun. In addition to debt paydown, you may want to allow for dinners out, gym memberships, gifts, etc. Divide the money in the way that best works for you.

Pro tip: While you may want to run at your goals full speed, always have some pocket money budgeted. Even if it only covers one Starbucks coffee a month, those little treats will keep you sane.

If you have very little money left over after Step 4, you may need to review your core and regular expenses. Without big lifestyle changes you may be stuck treading water, finding it difficult to ever fully get out of debt.

As you get accustomed to your budget, don’t be afraid to shift money from one category to another. There is no such thing as a normal month. Don’t go on a spending splurge and completely fall off the tracks just because you didn’t accurately predict the cost of a house repair.

Use Trim to Lower Your Monthly Bills

Want to cut your bills without ever having to talk to a company ever again? Trim has your back.

Trim is one of our favorite money-saving tools. The free app sends you updates on your spending via text, finds unwanted subscriptions and cancels them for you, and can also negotiate your cable or internet bill (seriously).

Step 5: Lower Your Interest Rates to Save Money

The less interest you can pay to your creditors, the faster you’ll be able to escape your debt. Check out these top ways to lower your interest rates.

Refinance Your Student Loans

Student loans dragging you down? You may be able to refinance to a lower rate and shorter term.

Reducing the term of your loans, even with a lower interest rate, will likely increase your current monthly payment. But with fewer years of payments to handle, you can save a bundle over time. SoFi, a top student loan refinancing provider, offers one such service. With no prepayment penalties and no hidden fees, it’s an easy way to save thousands of dollars in interest payments over the life of your loan.

Negotiate Your Credit Card Interest Rates

Credit card interest rates aren’t set in stone. It is a competitive market out there for credit card companies, which means they have to be flexible to keep customers.

If you’re a long-time customer and in good standing, it doesn’t hurt to call and ask for a reduction in interest rates. More often than not, they will be willing to make a cut to keep you as a customer.

Things to mention to get them on your side? Let them know how long you’ve been a loyal customer and that you would love to stick around. But, also share that other credit card companies are offering you lower rates, even 0% introductory rates for balance transfers, and that you can’t ignore the interest savings. Usually, they swing into customer retention mode, and they may be able to pull some strings.

Consider a Balance Transfer Credit Card

Can’t sufficiently lower your interest rate? Consider a balance transfer, which lets you move debt from one credit card to a different card with a lower rate – sometimes even 0%.

Effectively, you are paying off one credit card with another. But if the rate difference is wide enough, it could save you money. Just make sure you get all the details before starting a transfer. Many balance transfer cards charge a transfer fee of 3% to 5%. And they may have limits on how much you can transfer.

While 0% interest sounds fantastic, only undertake a balance transfer if you are serious about paying down debt. Make sure you can pay off the balance during the 0% offer period. Otherwise, you’re just playing hot potato with your balance.

Step 6: Improve Your Spending Habits

Embracing a frugal mindset will reduce your spending and allow you to pursue your goals more effectively. Not sure where to cut? Start with the big stuff.

Save Money on Food Each Month

The average American spends 10% of their budget on food, one of the most significant categories after housing. We have to eat, but do we have to pay so much doing it? Here’s how you can cut.

Stop Eating Out

Not only is eating at a restaurant more expensive, but it is also harder on your waistline. Meals at restaurants cost more and include larger portion sizes and more fat than the average dinner cooked at home.

Over 4% of the American budget (so 40% of total food spending) goes to food away from home. Eliminate dining out from your budget, at least until you are debt-free.

Avoid Impulse Buys in the Grocery Store

Before heading to your weekly grocery store shop, take the time to make a list. Check your grocery store’s online circular and review Ibotta, a free app that gives you cash rebates on grocery store purchases, to see what’s on sale. Then, build a meal plan and list around those items.

Once you’re in the grocery store, stick to your list! To avoid extra purchases motivated by hunger, have a snack before heading to the store.

Learn How to Say “No”

Nights out on the town, drinks with coworkers, and shopping trips with friends are tempting. But when it doesn’t fit in your budget, you’re sacrificing your future for a little fun today.

Don’t be afraid to say “no” to any event you can’t afford. You don’t have to isolate yourself in your debt-free journey, just be willing to offer an alternative. Suggesting a game night or potluck at your place could mean more quality time with your friends for a lot less money.

Give Up Your Expensive Hobbies

Spending $100 a month on yoga classes just isn’t realistic when you’re hustling to get out of debt. Trade in your expensive hobbies for lower cost options like free YouTube classes or a monthly book club.

Step 7: Increase Your Income

Frugal living is powerful, but it has a limit. You can’t save more than you make. So, to take your debt-free journey to the next level, it’s time to bring in some more dough.

Ask for a Raise

If you’ve been working hard and providing value to your company, it never hurts toask for a raise.

Don’t just drop the request in your manager’s lap though. Ask for feedback, develop your skills and take on more responsibility. Along the way, proactively let your superiors know what you’ve accomplished. You want your manager to know you deserve a raise before you even walk through the door!

Start a Side Hustle

Commit a few spare hours in your week to something your good at or a task you enjoy to make money from home. Since the average person watches five hours of TV a day, I’m willing to bet you can make the time. Start from your couch today by taking surveys online with Swagbucks or Survey Junkie, or by reviewing websites with User Testing.

Start a Low-Overhead Online Business

The internet has made it easier than ever to start a business with close to zero up-front costs. Set up shop as a freelance writer, proofreader, or virtual assistant, and offer your services to other companies who want outside help with hiring a permanent employee. You can work as many or as few hours as you want, with some people turning their businesses into six-figure full-time jobs.

Get your first clients by reaching out to local businesses, posting about your new business on Facebook and LinkedIn, or listing your services on UpWork.

Putting it All Together

Whether you’re broke and have no money, you’re living on a low income or you have bad credit, just stick to these steps to become debt free once and for all.

Once you have an action plan for how to get out of debt, achieving debt freedom just requires time. Stay focused on your goal, stick to a budget, trim fat from your spending, and find ways to bring in more income to speed up your journey. Just don’t forget to celebrate all the little wins along the way!