Free money may seem like a dream come true. It also might sound too good to be true. While there’s really no such thing as free money, there is easy money. There are plenty of ways for those that are savvy, motivated, or both to get a little bit of extra money online with very little work.
If you’re finding yourself a little low on spending money, just want to pad your paycheck with a little extra cash, or want to establish an ongoing line of secondary income, here are a few easy and simple ways to make money online with very little effort.
Money Making Apps
There are a variety of money-making apps on the market. These range in both style and risk factor. There are online gambling-rings that are specifically targeted at high-rollers, and there are free-to-play games that can put a few extra bucks in your pocket and maybe buy you a cup of coffee.
You may have even seen some of these apps advertised on your favorite social media. Bingo is a particularly popular game that has been touted as a free-to-play game that can give users real payouts. Another example in this genre are solitaire games that operate similarly.
If you have a bit of extra freetime and don’t want the commitment of an actual side-hustle, explore some of these different money-making games in the app-store and see if any appeal to you. There might be one that you actually find fun, and if you make a few bucks while you’re at it, that’s great.
Micro-Investing
Micro-investing is another convenient, easy, and free way to make your money, make money. Even if you don’t have hundreds and hundreds to invest, you can start small. That’s what micro-investing is all about. Plus, since the transactions are small, this is a good beginner investment for novice traders. There are whole organizations structured around consumer micro-investing, in both facilitating and aiding in transactions. Acorns, for example, allows users to round up everyday purchases and invest the difference in a tailored portfolio. Users can adjust further settings and make independent deposits as well.
After a while, the regular use of an Acorns account will add up, and you’ll have created a nice little nest-egg for yourself in case of a rainy day, without even trying. The fact that these micro-investments are occurring every time you make a purchase without you having to think about it takes a lot of the pressure and thought out of investing and saving. Rather than trying to focus on putting away $x amount of dollars every month, micro-investing apps do the work of saving and investing for you, so you can simply go about your month as you normally would.
It is worth noting, though, that micro-investing apps aren’t necessarily pure replacements for other savings strategies. As with most financial strategies, they best work in concert with one another. In other words, setting up a micro-investment account is a good step to take, but shouldn’t stop you from saving money elsewhere as well.
Rewards Programs
There are also a wide variety of rewards programs out there. This is true for credit cards, independent retailers, online stores, and so much more. Rewards programs are everywhere. This is partially because of how they enforce consumer loyalty, regardless though, some rewards programs are very handsome.
The classic rewards programs that come to mind and with which most of us are already familiar are credit card rewards. Travel programs, bonus miles, credit card point stores, the list goes on and on. However, debit cards are starting to join the ranks by offering rewards and perks as well.
Reimbursement Debit Cards
The Yotta debit card, for example, is a debit card that offers its users a chance at a 100% cash reimbursement on every single purchase every single day. The odds are about 1 in 250 on most purchases, but increase with special partnered brands and things like in-person dining. Even without those increased odds, if you make one purchase a day over the year, the math is such that you should get at least one of your purchases fully reimbursed.
This is an awesome perk for a debit card to offer users, and is probably the closest thing to actual free money on the list. There’s nothing special the consumer has to do, just use the debit card for everyday purchases and watch money get put back into your account, all on Yotta.
A Last Few Words
Every dollar matters right now. With the direction the economy is headed in mid 2022, consumers are becoming more frugal and financially conscious than they have been even in the couple years since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Whether you’re in between jobs, looking to supplement your income, or just want a little bit of spending cash, try some of these methods to get some easy money.
