We’ve got you covered. If you’re looking for extra money, and aren’t we all, there are plenty of things you can do to get it. In today’s post, I’ll cover 150+ free money hacks that work.
This includes everything from using freelance platforms to make extra money to everyday tips you can use to put $100s or even $1,000s a year back in your pocket.
To make things easier, I’ve categorized these money hacks so you can find the tips that work for you.
Table of Contents
Free Money Hacks
Before we get to the list, let me explain what I think is a money hack.
To me, a money hack or “cheat” is basically anything that lets you save and make more money outside of your 9-5 job.
Your job should (hopefully) cover your monthly bills. Using these real money hacks you can earn a little nit extra to do what you please. It could be paying down some debt, saving up, investing or whatever else.
The best kind of money hacks are the ones where you get money for free or for doing things that don’t cost you money or a lot of time like a traditional job would.
Obviously, every money hack you I share is legit
Additionally, money hacks can be a great way to get things for free that you might normally pay for.
Here are the best free money hacks.
Get Free Money by Taking Surveys
One of the easiest ways to get some free money online is to take surveys. Anyone can sign up for a paid survey website and start earning money simply by sharing their opinion.
It’s that simple. I would recommend that you sign up for a few different survey websites so that you get access to more surveys that you actually qualify for.
Here are some survey websites to try…
1. Survey Junkie
Complete your profile, and Survey Junkie will match you with surveys. Your free money is sent to PayPal or you can get a gift card for Target or Amazon.
2. Crowdtap
Get paid for your opinion with Crowdtap. Get free gift cards for places like Target, Walmart, and Amazon.
3. PrizeRebel
PrizeRebel will pay you for your opinion. Your free money is sent to PayPal. Or you can get a gift card for places like Amazon, iTunes, and Starbucks.
4. Pinecone Research
Pinecone Research will pay you to answer surveys. You’re paid $3 per survey. Get your free cash sent by PayPal or check. Or opt for a Visa gift card.
5. Free Cash App
The Free Cash App will give you money to your PayPal account when you complete surveys.
6. Panel Opinion
With Panel Opinion, you can get free cash for taking short surveys. Money is sent to your PayPal account, by check, or by bank transfer.
7. Branded Surveys
Get paid between $0.10 and $3 per survey with Branded Surveys. Have your cash sent to PayPal, or choose a gift card for retailers like Applebee’s, Olive Garden, and Walmart.
8. Poll Pay
Poll Pay will give you cash for taking surveys. Payment options include PayPal, and gift cards to places like Google Play, Xbox, and Amazon.
9. Happy Surveys
Happy Surveys gives you PayPal cash when you answer quick surveys.
10. AttaPoll
AttaPoll will give you money for taking surveys. You can choose the length of the surveys you want to be invited to, so if you are only looking to do short surveys, then this is ideal.
11. Curious Cat App
Get points when your share your opinion with the Curious Cat App. When you have earned 100 points, you can cash out your earnings for cash to your PayPal account.
12. Opinion Outpost
Opinion Outpost will give you free PayPal money when you take surveys. You can also get Visa cards and gift cards for places like Target and Amazon. You can even redeem your earnings for a gift card for as little as $5.
13. 1Q
Get $0.25 instantly each time you answer a question with 1Q. The money is sent right to your PayPal account. It’s an easy way to get free money.
14. Surveys On The Go
Earn money to your PayPal account or Amazon gift cards when you take surveys with Surveys On The Go.
15. Darwin’s Data
At Darwin’s Data, you can get paid to share your opinions on legal disputes through online surveys. Pay is $25 per survey and you can get a Tango gift card. You can redeem Tango gift cards at more than 50 national retailers, like Amazon, Target, and Applebee’s.
16. Toluna
Toluna pays you for taking surveys. Money is sent to your PayPal account, or you can get a gift card for stores like Amazon, Walmart, and Starbucks.
17. i-Say
Get paid for taking surveys with i-Say. The money is sent to your PayPal account. You can also get Visa cards and gift cards for retailers like Amazon and Walmart. Pay is $0.10 to $1 per survey.
18. iPoll
iPoll will pay you to give your opinion on the products and services that you use. You’re paid right to your PayPal account, or you can get a gift card for Amazon or the App Store & iTunes.
19. YouGov
Get paid for answering questions and surveys with YouGov. Payment is sent right to your bank account.
20. SurveyMonkey
SurveyMonkey pays you for taking short surveys. These surveys take 5 minutes or less and you can earn up to $0.35 in credits per survey. Each time you reach $5 or more in credits on your account, you can redeem them for Amazon gift cards.
Get Free Cash with Your Car
Have a car? Well, you could get free money using it! From providing a taxi service to renting out your vehicle, there are plenty of ways to get free money with your car!
21. Uber
Uber will pay you for providing a taxi service to people. You can earn anywhere from $3 to $35 an hour. The average pay is $15 an hour.
22. Amazon Flex
With Amazon Flex, you’re paid to deliver packages for Amazon. You can pick up work when you want. Pay ranges from $18 to $22 an hour and you’re paid twice per week by direct deposit.
23. Shipt
Shipt pays you to shop for and deliver groceries to customers. You can pick up orders when it suits you. It pays you up to $22 an hour.
24. Lyft
Lyft pays you for providing a taxi service to people. Earn $16 an hour on average, and anywhere from $3 to $43 an hour.
25. Instacart
With Instacart, you can earn money shopping for and delivering groceries. You can work when you want to as well. Earnings are $14 an hour on average but can vary from $5 to $25 an hour.
26. DoorDash
With DoorDash, you can earn money delivering food from restaurants and local eateries to people’s home. You get a base pay of $2 to $10 for each delivery you complete. And you can earn more with promotions and tips.
27. Turo
You can rent out your car with Turo. Earn more than $10,000 in a year. This is a good way to get free money, because other than listing your car, you don’t have to do anything to get cash.
28. Wrapify
Put ads on your car and get paid for driving your vehicle with Wrapify. Earn anywhere from $181 to $452 a month just for having ads on your car.
29. Be a car delivery person
Also, you could consider being a car delivery person. Make anywhere from $300 to $400 per vehicle delivered. Lots of places, like local garages and driveaway companies need people to pick up cars and deliver them.
Here are a couple of places that pay you for delivering cars:
30. UberEats
UberEats pays you for delivering good from restaurants and other eateries to people’s home. If you want to get free money now, this is a good option, because it offers an Instant Pay feature you can use to cash out your earnings up to 5 times a day.
Get Free Cash with Reward Websites
Reward websites pay you for a doing easy activities right from your computer or smartphone. These websites are sometimes known as “get paid to “website, as you, get paid to do specific tasks.
These sites do pay you to take surveys, like those listed in the survey section above, but the key difference here is that reward websites pay you for doing a multitude of tasks in addition to surveys. On these sites, you’ll earn for everything from playing games to shopping online.
Here are some awesome reward websites for getting free money online.
31. Swagbucks
Swagbucks pays you for:
- Playing games
- Shopping online
- Browsing the internet
- Taking surveys
- Watching videos
- Completing offers
- Uploading your receipts
You get points that can be redeemed for free PayPal cash, or for gift cards for a multitude of retailers like Amazon and Walmart.
Use the link in the section heading to earn $5 just for signing up.
32. InboxDollars
InboxDollars pays you for reading emails, playing games, shopping online, and taking surveys. You can get free cash sent to your PayPal or get a gift card instead.
33. Qmee
Qmee pays you for shopping online, taking surveys, and searching the internet. The app has no minimum cash out amount, so it’s great if you’re looking for free money fast. Have the cash sent to PayPal or get a gift card instead.
34. Current Music App
Get paid for listening to music, trying free apps, watching videos, and for plenty of other tasks with the Current Music App. Payment is sent to your PayPal account, or get free gift cards for places like Amazon, Walmart, and Target.
35. FeaturePoints
FeaturePoints gives you free money for shopping online, trying free apps, and taking surveys. Get the cash to your PayPal account or opt for a gift card to retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and Target.
36. Dabbl
Get free gift cards from Dabbl when you share your opinion, take quizzes, and watch videos. There are gift cards for places like Walmart, Target, and Amazon.
37. CashPiggy
CashPiggy gives you free PayPal cash for playing games, taking surveys, and other tasks. There are gift cards on offer for retailers like Amazon.
38. Rewardr
Get cash right to your PayPal or Paytm account when you download apps, play games, and complete surveys with Rewardr.
39. QuickRewards
If you’re looking for an easy free money hack, give QuickRewards a try. It pays you for playing games, completing offers, and taking surveys. Get your cash right to your PayPal account. You can withdraw your earnings with as little as 1 cent in your account.
40. Media Rewards
Media rewards pays you for watching TV, listening to the radio, and taking survey. Redeem your earnings for gift cards to retailers like Amazon.
Get Free Money When You Shop
We all shop right? Whether it’s for groceries, clothes, or books, we all buy stuff online or in-store. That’s why this hack is just genius. You can actually get free money when you shop with the platforms below!
Yes, really!
41. Ibotta
Ibotta gives you rebates when you purchase certain items are the store. With Ibotta, you can browse rebate offers, choose the ones you want, purchase the item or items featured in the offer, and then upload your receipt as proof of purchase.
These rebates can vary from $1 to $3 or more back for every product that you purchase. Earnings can be sent to your PayPal account, bank account, or Venmo.
And, you can opt for gift cards too.
42. Mr. Rebates
Mr. Rebates gives you cashback at more than 3,000 stores! You can even get coupons as well. If you shop online a lot, this is a good way to get free cash.
43. Receipt Hog
Get cash for your receipts from Receipt Hog. It doesn’t matter where you shop or what you purchase either. All you need to do is take a photo of your receipt, and you’ll earn money.
44. Honey
Honey is a browser extension that you can use to get free cash when you shop online. It will automatically find and apply discount does at the checkout with a single click.
45. Extrabux
Extrabux will give you up to 30% cashback at more than 10,000 stores.
46. Rakuten (Formerly Ebates)
Rakuten is another website you can use to get free cash when you shop online. It will give you up to 40% cashback at more than 2,500 stores. Your cashback is sent to PayPal. Just for signing up, you could get a $10 Rakuten Cash Bonus or a $10 Walmart gift card.
47. Get refunds with Price Protection from Capital One (Formerly Paribus)
With Price Protection from Capital One, you can find rebates instantly. It gives you refunds on products you have purchased within the last 30 days. It will automatically check for refunds and will identify recent purchases (past 30 days) based on shipping and order confirmation emails found in your mailbox.
Then, the tool will continuously monitor and compare price changes for these items in real time, and if it detects an eligible claim, it will request a refund or provide you with instructions on how to get a refund yourself. You’ll get a refund for the difference in the price you paid and the lower price. And, the refund is credited directly onto the original form of payment, or you receive the equivalent amount in store credit.
48. Fetch Rewards
Fetch Rewards will give you free gift cards for places like Best Buy, Chipotle, and Target, when you scan your grocery receipts.
49. TopCashback
Earn cashback at more than 4,400 stores with TopCashback.
50. CheckPoints
CheckPoints pays you for scanning your receipts, and shopping online. You can even get paid for scanning barcodes on popular products in stores across the country, and for taking surveys. You can redeem your earnings for gift cards to places like Amazon, Walmart, and Target.
Get Free Money by Selling Stuff
You can also get free money by selling stuff you already have.
There are plenty of things you can sell, either online or in-person, like to local stores or at a yard sale.
Here’s what you can sell for cash…
51. Sell gold
If you have some gold jewelry, like a bracelet or necklace, then you could sell it for some quick cash. This is a good way to make money fast because many places will pay you on the spot for your gold.
Have a read of 11 Best Places to Sell Gold Near You or Online (for the Most Cash!) to learn more.
52. Sell unused gift cards
If you have some unwanted gift cards, then you could consider selling these to make some extra money. You likely have a gift card you won’t use, so you may as well sell it.
Here are a few places to sell unused gift cards:
53. Sell your DVDs
Another thing you could sell are DVDs. For many places, you just get a quote online, ship your DVDs to the company, and get paid. Shipping is often free too.
Here’s where you can sell your DVDs:
54. Sell your clothes
Have some clothes you no longer wear? If so, sell them online.
Here’s where you can sell your clothes:
55. Sell your used books
Sell your used books online if you want some free money.
Here’s where you can sell books online:
56. Sell your used electronics
Used electronics, like laptops and tablets, can also be sold online.
Here’s where you can sell your used electronics:
57. Sell baby stuff
Baby stuff is another thing you could sell. Kids grow out of stuff so fast, so you may as well sell stuff you no longer need. You could sell things like baby clothes, toys, and highchairs.
Since kid’s grow out of stuff fast, you could sell the items they’ve outgrown. This can include things like clothes, toys, and highchairs.
Here’s where you can sell baby stuff:
58. Sell scrap metal
Sell scrap metal, like copper, aluminum, iron, steel, and other scrap metals.
59. Sell games consoles
Games consoles, like the Xbox or PS4, can also be sold for some extra cash.
Here are a few places where you can sell your used games console:
60. Sell used sports equipment
Sell used sports equipment, like helmets, soccer cleats, and baseball bats.
Here’s where you can sell used sports equipment:
61. Sell sports cards
Another thing you can sell are used sports cards, like baseball cards and basketball cards. You could sell them to a store nearby or online.
Here are some places to sell sports cards:
62. Sell furniture
You could make money selling used furniture. Perhaps you have a coffee table or nightstands you no longer want? Sell your unwanted furniture for some quick cash.
Here are a few places where you can sell furniture:
Earn Free Money by Freelancing
Freelancing is another way to bring in some extra money. There are lots of freelance platforms and gigs out there that are great for making money.
63. Fiverr
On Fiverr, you can find freelance work in more than 200 categories. You can provide services like:
- Animation
- Book writing
- Creative writing
- Email marketing
- Freelance writing
- Game art
- Graphic design
- Infographic design
- Logo design
- Photo editing
- Podcast editing
- Podcast writing
- Proofreading
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
- Social Media Management
- Social Media Marketing
- Songwriting
- Speechwriting
- Video editing
- Voiceover work
- Web programming
- WordPress sites customization
You get to set your own rates. You can charge anywhere from $5 to $10,000 for a service on there.
64. UpWork
On UpWork, you can find work in a variety of categories.
There are lots of jobs available on there, like:
- Online writer
- Data entry clerk
- Transcriptionist
- Proofreader
- SEO Expert
- Resume writer
- Graphic designer
- Illustrator
- Customer support agent
- Virtual assistant
- Programmer
- Web developer
- Singer
- Game designer
- Actor
- Animator
Each job on the platform has an estimated budget, but you’re able to set your own rates. There are lots of payment options on offer, like PayPal and direct bank transfer.
65. Be a freelance writer
You could do some freelance writing on the side to earn some extra money fast. Freelance writers make $23 an hour on average but pay can fall anywhere between $12 and $58 an hour.
Pay can vary from $0.01 per word to as much as $0.10 per word or even more than that.
Here are some writing websites that pay:
You can also find private clients on websites like UpWork and PeoplePerHour.
66. Truelancer
Truelancer is a great platform for finding online work. There’s work available in categories, like IT & Programming, Writing, Content & Translation, and Data Entry and Admin.
67. Be a proofreader or editor
Proofreaders and editors earn money editing work like articles and books.
They check for spelling mistakes, typos, and grammatical errors. You can do this job from home and can work as often or as little as you want to.
Pay for proofreaders is anywhere from $12 to $30 an hour, with the average pay being $18 an hour. Editors earn $25 an hour on average and pay can range from $9 to $60 an hour.
Here’s where you can find work:
Have a read of my proofreading guide to learn more.
68. UserTesting
UserTesting will pay you for testing out websites. You’re paid 10 per test, and each test takes around 20 minutes.
69. Mturk
Mturk gives you money for doing tasks, like tagging objects found in an image, editing and transcribing audio content, and moderating content. Although the pay per tasks isn’t particularly high, this is still a good way to earn extra money. You’re paid right to your bank account or have your earnings put on an Amazon gift card.
70. Teach kids how to speak English with VIPkid
With VIPkid, you can get cash from home by teaching English to children in China. You teach classes online, from home and get to work on your own schedule. VIPkid pays you $14 to $22 an hour.
71. Pick up some transcription work with TranscribeMe
With Transcribe me, you can get money for transcribing audio and video. Pay varies from $15 to $22 per audio hour and payment is sent to your PayPal account for all the work you complete on a weekly basis.
72. Clickworker
Clickworker pays you for tasks like writing texts, categorizing data, and testing apps. It’s a great site for making money from home and your earnings are paid out weekly to your PayPal account.
73. Tutor students online with TutorMe
TutorMe will pay you to tutor students online. The site covers more than 300 subjects, so you can find one you want to teach. You also get to decide when and how often you want to teach. Payment is $16 an hour plus bonuses, and you get paid weekly.
74. Be a paid expert
Paid experts make money answering questions online. Get paid to answer everything from medical questions to questions about home repairs.
Here’s where you can find work:
Have a read of this post for places that pay you to answer questions.
75. Be a math tutor with Yup
Yup pays you for tutoring students in a variety of math subjects. You are paid monthly via direct deposit or PayPal.
76. Be a virtual assistant
Virtual assistants get paid to help people with tasks like scheduling appointments, organizing meetings, and making phone call. This job can be done from home, and it pays $16 an hour on average. Pay can range from $10 to $27 an hour.
Make sure you have a read of my post on how to become a virtual assistant for tips on how to get started and for a list of virtual assistant jobs.
77. Teach English online with Cambly
Cambly pays you to teach kids how to speak English. You can earn $10.20 an hour and no experience or degree is necessary to teach through the platform.
78. Tutor students with Skooli
Skooli pays you to tutor students online and you get to set your own schedule. You can earn up to $25 an hour.
79. PeoplePerHour
On PeoplePerHour, you can find freelance work across multiple categories, like:
- Admin
- Business support
- Creative arts
- Design
- Mobile
- Social media
- Marketing & PR
- Software development
- Tutorials
Payment is sent is to your PayPal account.
80. Be a guest blogger
Guest bloggers contribute articles to websites. Since websites always need articles to publish, they may take submissions. Just submit a blog post or idea, and if it’s approved, you’re paid for each post that you contribute.
Here are a few sites that take submissions:
81. Review books
Get paid to review books for authors. This can help authors to improve their books and sell more copies.
Here are a few sites that pay you to review books:
How much you earn depends on the website. For example, OnlineBookClub.org pays $5 to $60 per review, and Booklist pays $15 per review.
Grab Sign Up Bonuses
Looking for free money hacks that are super simple? Well, this is the section for you!
One of the easiest ways to get free money is to open an account with a bank or other financial organization. Many places will give you money for opening up an account and we’re talking $100s here!
Sure, you do normally have to meet other requirements to get the bonus, like depositing a certain amount of money into the account within a specific timeframe. Still though, this is such an easy method to pick up some free cash.
Here are some bank accounts, and one other financial organization, that will give you free money when you open an account.
82. Chase
When you open a new Chase Total Checking account, and set up a direct deposit within 90 days of coupon enrollment, you can get a $225 bonus!
83. Robinhood
Robinhood is a company, rather than a bank, which offers commission-free investing. When you open up an account with Robinhood, the company will add 1 share of free stock to your account.
The value of the share at the time of purchase may be anywhere from $3 and $225 and fluctuates based on market movements. The company states that there’s an approximately 98% chance of the stock bonus having a value of $2.50 and $10.
84. TD Bank
With TD bank, you can get a $150 bonus when you open a TD Convenience Checking account or a $300 bonus when you open a TD Beyond Checking account.
85. Bank of America
Get a $100 bonus when you open an eligible Bank of America Personal checking account and set up and receive two qualifying direct deposits of $250 or more each within 90 days of opening your account.
86. PNC Bank
Earn a $200 bonus from PNC Bank when you open a Virtual Wallet with Performance Spend account and establish direct deposits totaling $2,000 or more to the Spend account.
You can get a $300 bonus when you open a Virtual Wallet with Performance Select account and establish direct deposits totaling $5,000 or more to the Spend account.
87. Citibank
Citibank will give you a bonus of $300, $700, or $1,500 when you open an eligible checking account and complete the required activities. You can get a bonus of $20 to $2,000 when you open an eligible savings account and complete the required activities.
88. Aspiration
Get $100 credit when you open a standard Aspiration Spend & Save Account and make the required amount of transactions. Get $150 credit when you enroll into Aspiration Plus either during account sign up or no later than 60 days from account opening and complete the required amount of transactions.
Get Free Money with Local Gigs
You can make free money by doing local gigs. This can include everything from dog-walking to furniture assembly.
Here are some local gigs you can try…
89. Handy
Handy pays you for a variety of tasks and for roles like:
You can make money for doing tasks and for roles like:
- Appliance repair
- Carpentry work
- Cleaner
- Computer and network services
- Concrete and masonry work
- Doors, locks, and locksmiths
- Electrician
- Fabric cleaning
- Furniture assembly
- Garage door installation
- Handyman
- Hanging and mounting
- Holiday light installation
- Home improvement
- Home theater
- HVAC
- Lawn care
- Light fixture installation and repair
- Moving and junk removal
- Painting and wallpaper
You can earn up to $45 an hour working with Handy.
90. Shovel snow
Shoveling snow can be another way to bring in extra cash. So, shovel now for people in your neighborhood during the winter months.
91. Wag!
Wag! is a website where you can find dog walking jobs. You can earn $14 an hour on average.
92. Gigwalk
Gigwalk will pay you for doing a variety of local gigs. The pay ranges from $3 to $100 and you’re paid right to your PayPal account.
93. Wash cars
Get paid to wash cars for people near you! Lots of people would likely be happy to use your services if they knew they didn’t even have to drive their vehicle to a car wash to have it cleaned. So, make some extra cash by offering a car washing service to people in your neighborhood.
94. TaskRabbit
TaskRabbit will pay you for helping people with their errands and to-do’s.
You can get paid to help with tasks, like:
- Furniture assembly
- Home repairs
- Helping people to move
- Cleaning
- Mounting
- Yard work
- Shopping
- Delivery
- Lifting
- And more.
You can earn anywhere from $3 to $78 an hour.
95. Rover.com
On Rover.com, you can find pet-sitting and dog walking jobs. And you could earn up to $1k a month.
96. Thumbtack Pro
Thumbtack Pro is a website where you can find work in lots of categories.
You can choose your line of work, which can include:
- Landscaper
- Mover
- Electrician
- Housecleaner
- Painter
- Handyman
- Wellness instructor
- Home electronics specialist
- Photographer
- IT Specialist
97. Field Agent
Field Agent will pay you for doing jobs that are mostly mystery-shopping related. You get paid to visit local businesses and provide your feedback on them. Local gigs tend to pay between $3 and $20, and you’re paid right to your bank account.
98. Collect and charge scooters
Another way to get some free cash it to collect and charge scooters. Typically, you’ll earn $3 to $20 per charged scooter.
It’s your job to collect scooters in your nearby metropolitan area, put them in your vehicle, and charge them.
Here’s where you can find work:
99. Clean windows
You can make $12 to $24 an hour providing a window cleaning service to homeowners, and businesses near you.
100. Do some pool cleaning work
If you live in a warm area and a place where many people have pools, then you could earn money by providing a pool cleaning service to people near you.
101. Shopkick
Get paid for doing a variety of shopping-related tasks with Shopkick. You can make money doing tasks like:
- Walking into select stores
- Scanning receipts of selected products
- Purchasing stuff online
You can have free cash sent right to your PayPal account, or you can get a gift card to places, like Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, and Sephora.
102. Work as a landscaper
Do some landscaping work for people near you to earn some extra cash. As a landscaper, you’ll build and maintain gardens and other outdoor areas. Tasks can include anything from cleaning outdoor areas to trimming hedges. Pay ranges from $10 to $20 an hour.
Here’s where you can find work:
103. Be a music teacher
If you know how to play a musical instrument, then you could get some extra cash by offering music lessons. Music teachers make $26 an hour on average.
104. Provide a laundry service
Provide a laundry service to people near you. This is a good way to make some extra money.
105. Do some cleaning
Offer a cleaning service to people near you. This can be a good way to earn money. Aside from advertising your services locally, you can also find cleaning work on Housekeeper.com.
106. Paint houses
If you’re looking for some cash, try painting people’s houses. You could paint the interior or exterior of the property depending on your skillset. You can advertise your services online on sites like Facebook and Craigslist, or just let people in your neighborhood know that you’re offering this service.
107. Bellhops
With Bellhops, you can get money by helping people to move. You can earn up to $21 an hour including tips and bonuses, and you’re paid weekly.
108. Mobee
Mobee is a mystery shopping app that will pay you to visit local businesses and provide your opinion on them. For answering questions while you shop, Mobee will give you points. These points can be redeemed for gift cards to places like Amazon, Starbucks, and Target.
Get Free Money You’re Already Owed
You may also have money that you’re already owed.
Here’s how you can find it…
109. Check for unclaimed tax refund checks
If you were expecting a tax refund and didn’t get one, then go to the Where’s My Refund Page of the IRS website here or you can call the IRS to check the status of your refund. You can find the contact details for the IRS here. This can be a good way to get free money, because the IRS has millions of dollars in tax refunds that go unclaimed.
110. Check your credit card rewards
If you have a cashback credit card, check to see if you have any rewards pending that you may have simply forgotten about. This is such a good free money hack.
You may be able to redeem your rewards for statement credit, cash, or credit for the other places you may shop at anyway.
111. Check for unclaimed back wages
Another way to get free money is to check for unclaimed back wages. You could be owed unpaid wages. You can search the Wage and Hour Division’s database, which is part of the U.S. Department of Labor to see if you are owned any money. Visit this page to find out if you are owed any unclaimed back wages.
112. Check for money from bank failures
If you had any money in a bank that failed, then you may be able to pay it back. Under the FDIC, each depositor is insured to at least $250,000 per insured bank. Learn more here.
113. Check for money from credit union failures
You could be owed money from a failed credit union. You may be able to get the money back from the National Credit Union Administration if you put money into a credit union that failed. Learn more here.
114. Check for unclaimed money at Unclaimed.org
Also, you can search for unclaimed money that you may not know about at Unclaimed.org.
Get Free Money When You Play Games
Like playing games? Many of us do!
Did you know that you can actually get paid to play them? The apps and sites below pay you simply to play games! This is such an easy way to get free money, right?
115. Mistplay
Mistplay will give you gift cards to places like the PlayStation store, Amazon, and iTunes just for playing games.
116. Lucktastic
Lucktastic will give you tokens when you play free scratch cards. Redeem these tokens for gift cards to places like Amazon, Domino’s, and Bed, Bath & Beyond.
117. AppStation
Another app that will pay you for playing free games is AppStation. Get your earnings sent to your PayPal account or get a gift card for places like Amazon, Walmart, and Xbox.
118. TapChamps
TapChamps will give you free money to PayPal, Visa cards, or gift cards for places like Amazon, the Nintendo store, eBay, the PlayStation store, GameStop, and the Xbox store when you play games.
119. Rewarded Play
Rewarded Play will give you gift cards for places like Amazon, Walmart, and Target from Rewarded Play when you play games like Solitaire, Mahjong, Wheel of Fortune, and Yahtzee.
120. AppKarma
With AppKarma, you can get free PayPal cash or gift cards for retailers like Amazon, Starbucks, Google Play, and Xbox when you install or play on apps.
121. Flash Rewards
Play games and use apps on your phone and Flash Rewards will give you free gift cards for brands like Visa, Amazon, PlayStation, Nike, Nintendo, and Starbucks.
Get Free Money When You Start an Online Store
Having your own online store can be a good way to bring in some extra money.
Here’s where you might want to consider starting your store online…
122. eBay
Since it’s such a popular website, and you can sell pretty much anything on there, eBay is definitely a good option for selling. You can list up to 250 items for free each month and the fees are pretty reasonable too.
123. Etsy
Etsy is great for selling stuff like handmade items, vintage pieces, clothing, and antiques. You do have to pay a fee to list stuff for sale on there though and a commission fee when your items sell.
124. Fulfilment by Amazon (FBA)
With FBA, you can sell items on Amazon. You get your inventory delivered to an Amazon fulfilment center, and Amazon will handle everything, like shipping products when they sell to customer service, for you. FBA is the most popular way to sell on Amazon with 57% of sellers using FBA to sell. Amazon does charge you fulfillment fees for these services.
Other Ways to Get Free Money
Okay, so above, I’ve covered a lot of hacks for getting free money. There’s everything from taking surveys to playing games! In this section, I just want to cover some miscellaneous ways to get free money, which didn’t fit into any of the categories above.
Make sure you consider these free money hacks…
125. Be a Twitch streamer
Twitch Streamers basically get paid to play games. If you can build up a following, this can be an easy and fun way to get some cash. Earn money through Twitch Affiliates, and once you’ve grown your channel, you can become a Twitch Partner. Have a read of this post to learn more about making money with Twitch.
126. Make money with bottle redemption
If you have some plastic or glass bottles, you could trade them in at a bottle redemption center to make some extra cash. It’s important to note that not all states have bottle redemption laws.
There are ten states that have bottle redemption laws:
- California
- Connecticut
- Hawaii
- Iowa
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- New York
- Oregon
- Vermont
If you reside in one these states, then you could redeem your bottles for cash.
Here’s how much you could get depending on your state:
- California: 5¢ for containers that are less than 24 oz. and 10¢ for containers that are 24 oz. or greater.
- Connecticut: 5¢
- Hawaii: 5¢
- Iowa: 5¢
- Maine: 15¢ for wine and liquor and 5¢ for all other containers.
- Massachusetts: 5¢
- Michigan: 10¢
- New York: 5¢
- Oregon: 10¢
- Vermont: 15¢ for liquor and 5¢ for all other containers
It’s a good way to make extra money, particularly if your family drinks a lot of bottled beverages, such as water, soda, or wine.
Have a read of Make Money with Bottle Redemption: The Complete Guide to learn more.
127. Do some gigs on Craigslist
Do some gigs on Craigslist – you’ll find a mix of online work and local gigs. You can find work in a variety of categories from furniture assembly to freelance writing.
Head on over to the “Jobs” section of your city’s Craigslist, and you’ll be able to browse job openings. There, you can find jobs separated by category, such as “general labor” and “writing/editing.”
Just be careful of scams, so never pay to apply for or to do a job. And, don’t provide any sensitive personal information.
128. Start a YouTube Channel
Having a YouTube Channel can be an easy way to make money. At first you won’t make money, but if you can put in the effort to build up your channel, you could earn an income from posting videos.
Once you get enough views, you can join the YouTube Partner Program and start making money from the ads that play on your videos.
And, you can also earn by creating sponsored videos, selling merch, or using affiliate links in the description box of your videos. Online reports suggest that YouTubers earn anywhere from $0.25 to $7 for every 1,000 views they get.
129. Sell courses online
Start an online side hustle where you sell a course about a topic you’re knowledgeable about.
Here’s where you can sell your courses:
130. Self-publish books with Kindle Direct Publishing
Publish a book with Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP). Get between 35% to 70% in royalties. Once your book is up for sale, you will keep making money over and over again, even in your sleep!
131. Become an Influencer
Have a large social media following? You may as well leverage that to get some free cash. Social media influencer are paid to advertise and create sponsored content for brands on Instagram, Twitter, blogs, and other social media platforms. They’re also paid for things like using affiliate links in their posts or selling things like beauty products or merch.
Here are a few places to find work as a brand influencer:
132. Start a podcast
Start your own podcast and get cash just to talk about stuff! Podcasters earn money through things like sponsorships, merch, and affiliate commission. Have a read of this guide from ThePodcastHost.com on how to start a podcast.
133. Try retail arbitrage
With retail arbitrage, you buy something to sell it at a profit. So you could purchase a pair of shoes for 50% off. You pay $50 for the shoes instead of $100. Then you resell the shoes for $80, making a $30 profit on the sale. The customer still saves 20% off the RRP.
You can purchase discounted products at places like:
- The thrift store
- The dollar store
- The clearance section of any store
- TJ MAXX
- Marshall’s
- Ross
And you can even find free items online and resell them for a 100% profit.
134. Cash in your change
Have a change jar in your in your home? If you have some spare change at home, cash it in! You could use Coinstar but you’ll have to pay a fee of around 12.9%. But paying a fee is no fun, which is why I created a list of ways you can go about cashing in your loose change for free.
135. Donate plasma
Donate plasma twice per week and earn anywhere from $280 to $400 a month.
Here are a few places that will pay you to donate plasma:
Have a read of How to Make up to $400 a Month Donating Blood Plasma for Money to learn more.
136. Dine out with Dosh
Dosh will pay you for shopping, dining out, and booking hotels. Get the cash to your PayPal account or get gift codes.
137. Participate in focus groups
Focus groups are sort of like surveys except you talk about a product or service with a group of people. They’re conducted either in-person or online.
Pay varies anywhere from $20 to $400 per study.
Here are some places where you can find paid focus groups:
138. Return a recent purchase
If you’ve made a purchase recently that you’re on the fence about, consider returning it. It’s a good way to get some cash fast. Just make sure that item is still in good condition and within the return window.
139. Install the Nielsen Mobile App
Just for having the Nielsen Mobile app installed, you can earn up to $50 a year. The app pays you for being part of the research that Nielsen does.
140. Search for free money in your home and on the street
A really easy free money hack is to simply search for free money in your home and on the street. Have a read of 61 Places to Find Money Fast: Are You Looking in the Right Places? for places to find extra money.
141. Have a yard sale or garage sale
Get some free cash from stuff you already have in your home by having a yard sale or garage sale. You can get cash on the spot, so it’s a good option for making money fast.
142. Check your scratch-offs
Have a scratch card you’ve forgotten about? It could be a winner. I once found a scratch off worth $10 that I simply forgot about! Have a look to see if you have any scratch cards and check to see if it’s a winner.
143. Install SavvyConnect from SurveySavvy
SavvyConnect is an app from SurveySavvy. It pays you just for having it installed! You can earn $5 per device each month! You really don’t have to do anything to earn cash with this!
Easy Free Money Hacks
Okay, so above, I’ve given you so many ways to get free cash from taking surveys to freelance writing to driving for Uber. In this section, I just want to give you some free money hacks that are just great for getting cash on a day-to-day basis. These are simple tips and tricks that anyone can use to free up more cash in their budget.
144. Switch utility companies
Does your electricity provider really provide the best price? Compare the cost of utilities from multiple providers to make sure you’re getting the best price. If not, consider switching – you could free up $100s each year!
145. Try the Free Stuff app
The Free Stuff app allows people to give away stuff and get stuff for free.
This is a good way for people to get things they need and help out others too. Have a browse on there to see if there are any free items you may want.
146. Cancel subscriptions
Many of us have a paid subscription for a service we don’t use anymore, but we just forgot to cancel it.
I once had an Xbox GamePass Subscription run for an entire year that I totally forgot about it. I cancelled it and saved about $180 for the year! That’s almost $200 in free cash just for cancelling one subscription!
Check to see if you have any recurring subscriptions that you forgot about. Doing this can take you less than an hour but could net you $100s a year in free cash.
147. Switch to a cheaper cell phone company
Cell phone contracts can be really expensive. Compare prices and consider switching to a cheaper provider. Check out this post for cheaper, or even free, cell phone providers.
148. Compare insurance providers
Compare prices for car insurance, homeowners’ insurance, health insurance, renters’ insurance, auto insurance, and any other type of insurance you pay for. Consider switching for a better deal. You could get $100s a year in free cash just for switching providers.
149. Consider cutting cable
Cable can set you back a lot of cash. Sometimes streaming services can work out cheaper. Netflix is one of the cheapest, as is Amazon Prime. Check out this post for more cheap cable alternatives.
150. Get a cashback credit card
Cashback credit cards give you rewards each time that you spend. Often, you can get statement credit, gift cards, airline points, and more.
151. Purchase secondhand stuff
Secondhand stuff, like clothing, is much cheaper and often in good condition. Purchasing used items can save you $1,000s a month.
152. Make meals at home
Eating out every day can really add up. So, try to make lunch at home, and limit how often you eat out. You could save a surprising amount, and food you make at home is often healthier!
153. Use a list when you shop
Using a shopping list stops you from overspending. Make a list and stick to it. That way you don’t be tempted to purchase items you don’t need!
154. Start meal planning
Meal planning has saved me so much money. Before I started meal planning, I would just run to the store whenever I ran out of something. Often, I was making like 3 or more trips a week to the store, and I’d end up buying stuff I didn’t plan to, which meant I spent more than I planned to. In the end, I started to plan meals for the entire week. Now, I do one grocery shop per week. It’s saved me $100s a year.
155. Shop for groceries online or use grocery pick up
Buying groceries online can save you so much money. Order groceries online for home delivery or for pickup at your local store. I find that by ordering my groceries online, I tend to spend less. I don’t buy things that I don’t need. You’ll know exactly what the order total will be too, so you can budget accordingly.
156. Never shop when hungry
Seems obvious, but really this is another one that can stop you from overspending at the store! Before you go shopping, make sure you’ve had a meal or at least a snack. I know that I pick up everything when I shop hungry and end up spending way more than I planned to.
157. Participate in a kid’s clothing swap
If you have children, swap kid’s clothes with local families. Kids grow out of stuff so fast, so trading stuff makes total sense. It could free up $100s in free cash each year.
158. Carpool
Another way that you can get $100s in free cash each year is to carpool. You can carpool with colleagues to save money on gas! Chip in for gas of course, but you’ll still half the amount you would usually spend on driving yourself.
159. Check out the free section on Craigslist
Did you know that you can get all sorts of stuff for free on Craigslist? You can find everything from free furniture to free books on there. Get some free stuff on there, and you can save $100s. Be sure to be safe with meeting with anyone from CL though. Take a friend with you for the meetup and make sure you meet the person in a public place, like outside of a grocery store or police station.
160. Compare prices across different retailers
If you tend to shop at the same grocery store, make sure that you compare prices to other local stores so that you get the best price any everyday essentials. Visit different retailers to price check similar items.
161. Enter giveaways and sweepstakes
Many brands have giveaways and sweepstakes where you can get your hands on a variety of items at no cost. Be sure to avoid scams. Don’t pay to enter a giveaway. It’s a good idea to follow your favorite brands on social media and sign up for their newsletter or email list too. This is a good way to stay up to date with giveaways and sweepstakes from legit brands and companies.
162. Pay off high interest debt first
If you have a credit card that has a high interest rate, consider paying it off as quickly as possible. Doing this means that you could save $100s a year in interest payments.
163. Try the Free Stuff Times app
The Free Stuff Times is a really cool app that lists a lot of different freebies. Again, this could save you so much cash.
Here’s where you could get the app:
164. Visit yard sales near the end of the day
If you visit a yard sale at the end of the day, you can often get items at much better prices. This is because, by the end of the day, most sellers just want to offload their stuff, so they are willing to cut their prices, or even offer some items for free.
165. Try a no-spend weekend
At the weekend, you can end up spending a lot of cash. Eating out, going to the movies, and other typical weekend activities can be expensive. Don’t worry; I’m not telling you not to go out and enjoy yourself at all. Just cut back a little. Going out on just one out of the four weekends in a month could put $100s back into your account each month.
166. Check out the free section of OfferUp
OfferUp also has a great free section where you can find a variety of items on offer. Again, these can save you $100s.
167. Ask for a raise
Another way to get free money is to ask for a raise. Now, asking for a raise isn’t easy, so this tip isn’t for everyone. But, if you don’t mind putting yourself out there and asking, then this can be a good way to get more money. Approach your boss and ask for a raise.
168. Complain if you’re not happy with a service
I hate it when people complain for no reason and they’re rude when they do. So, you should never complain just to save money. However, if a service is subpar, then complaining is perfectly acceptable, and it could get you free money.
A while back, our cell service was terrible. The company blamed it on damage to a cell tower in our area, but they took months to repair it. We couldn’t make or receive calls without getting cut off. After about 3 months of this, my husband called up and complained politely. The company gave us 3 months of cell service for free!
Also, another time, we paid for next day delivery when we ordered something online. The item took 3 days to arrive. Again, my husband called up to explain the situation, and we were given a refund for the delivery cost. If you have paid for a service and you’re not happy with it, do get in touch with the company, because you can often get a refund. Just be polite.
169. Sign up for store loyalty programs
Store loyalty programs can save you so much money. You can get huge discounts, money back on purchases, free stuff, and much more.
Whatever stores you shop at frequently, check to see if they have a loyalty program.
Here are some loyalty programs from popular stores:
- CVS ExtraCare
- Target RedCard
- Starbucks Rewards
- Kroger Fuel Points Program
- Food Lion MVP Program
- Albertsons for U
- E.B Points Club Rewards
170. Get free samples
Always take advantage of free samples. A free shampoo sample, for example, means you don’t have to purchase it at the store, putting free cash in your pocket.
Here are some places where you can get free samples:
Closing Thoughts
Fortunately, there are so many ways to get free money! This can include really simple things like cancelling subscriptions, or opening up a new bank account, getting cash for stuff you do already like playing games or watching videos, or awesome side hustles like freelance work or local gigs that’ll give you extra money.
There really is a free money hack to suit everyone. Use our tips and get $1,000s in free cash!
Oh, and if you have any free money hacks of your own, feel free to share them with us in the comments section below.
