Better Get Started: How to Make an Extra $2,000 Before Recession Hits

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by Sarah Blake Updated on February 14, 2023
Disclosure: We’re letting you know that this post contains sponsored links which The Smart Wallet receives compensation for, which may impact their order of appearance. This site doesn’t include all available offers.

The signs are there pointing to a recession. A weak stock market, soaring inflation, and rising interest rates have us all concerned. While having a full-time job is essential, it’s time to start thinking of other ways to earn and save money to prepare.

Let’s go over some unknown ways to make some side cash that you may not have heard of. We’re all about trying new apps and services here, so we’ve picked some of our favorites below that could help out by the time a real recession hits.

1. A Legit Way to Earn $750 This Week

You can get $750 direct deposited into your bank account and all you have to do is try out some deals. The catch? You can only do this once a year!

Seriously, anyone 18+ can participate in Flash Rewards, a rewards program that’s been around since 2016 and has rewarded $12 million to members over time.

So how do you get the money? Answer: You just have to follow the instructions carefully!

Flash Rewards work by showing you “deals” they think you would like. This includes mobile apps and games, subscriptions, financial services, etc. Each type of deal you choose has its own mini task to complete.

  1. Head over to Flash Rewards and fill out basic info (Email, Name, etc.)
  2. Take a quick Survey (it helps figure out the optional offers & required deals to recommend)
  3. Complete deals by shopping Flash Rewards’ great brand name partners.
  4. Important: Follow the instructions on completing the specific number of deals for each level and get to Level 5 to get the maximum reward! (there are plenty of deals to try – some are free trials or app downloads, others require a purchase!)
  5. Claim the reward and get it in about a week!

You won’t get your reward if you don’t complete the required amount of deals. Sure, it takes a little more effort but it’s legit. Get your $750!

2. This Bubble Game Already Paid Out Millions to Players This Year

Pop some bubbles & win some cash in 3-minute games.

Check out Bubble Cash , where you can go on a popping frenzy against real players online to win actual cash. Drop a bunch of bubbles at once and get those high-scoring combos. No joke, they’ve already paid out millions so far this year. And with over 36,000 reviews at a 4.6-star rating, it’s legit.

Play for free, and then switch over to cash games whenever you want. Seriously though, cash game winners can win thousands of dollars…by popping bubbles.

3. Get Paid Up to $89 Playing Match 3 Games

Puzzle game lovers will love Match to Win, a free to play game where you can win cash rewards through 300+ exciting levels spanning across Hawaii, Paris, San Francisco, and more.

It’s simple. When you clear a level, you earn coins, which are redeemable for instant win scratchers, prize wheels, and sweepstakes up to $2,500! And yes, it’s legit – there are already over 135K reviews with a 4.5 average rating!

“I love the fact that you don’t have to purchase anything to win! Also, each level is different, so it doesn’t get monotonous! – Noelle Belmore

Also, join the daily Cash Dash event, where players enter a sweepstakes race by collecting in-game trophies. Be among the first Top 25 players for bonus prizes of $5 to $10! Cash out via PayPal when you reach $7. So download and play for free to start winning cash!

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5. Play Fun Word Puzzles & Get Paid Up to $85

Stimulate your brain in a different way by playing word puzzles on Words to Win, a free-to-play game where you can win cash rewards through beautiful levels modeled after vacation spots like Australia, Mexico, Hawaii, and more.

It’s simple. Create words out of the letters given and complete the crossword puzzle board. You’ll then earn coins to redeem for instant win scratchers, prize wheels, and sweepstakes up to $500!

There’s no stressful countdown timer per game and you can cash out via PayPal when you reach $7. Tracy T. said: “Best game ever! This is my daily relaxing game and it really pays and cashes out.”

Download now and play for free to start winning cash!

6. Get $35,000 Worth of Debt Paid Regardless of Your Credit

Owe $35,000 or less on credit cards? Find a personal loan using LoansUnder36 to pay off all your balances and consolidate them into one balance to make it easier on yourself.

It takes 2 minutes to find loans regardless of your credit status, with APRs from 5.99% up to 36% max. Their network has over 100 vetted lenders, and you’ll be able to compare side-by-side with no obligation quickly.

There’s no credit score impact by checking and the repayment periods are flexible, ranging from 61 days to 72 months (6 years). Plus, you can get the funds as fast as 24 hours!

7. Play 3 Minute Games & Win Cash Over $1,000 Every Day

When you’re looking for more games to play that could actually be productive to your wallet, check out Pocket7Games on iOS which despite the name, actually has 9 different classic games to choose from.

Bingo Clash is the most popular, followed by Solitaire!, Bubble Shot, 21 Gold, Block Blitz, 2048 Blitz, Dunk Shot, Bubble Gold, and Cube Blast. Easily switch between games to play for fun or for cash against real players 1v1 or in a group.

Every day over $1,000 free cash is awarded to players who join the free entry events. Never be bored with plenty of surprise events and activities that give free cash plus earn up to $40 per friend you invite to play Pocket7Games!

More than $70M in prizes have already been rewarded so get in on your share of the fun.

8. Join the Millions of People Earning Up to $45 Per Survey

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Survey Junkie pays cash to members aged 18+ who participate in fun surveys about their shopping habits, cell phone usage, and more.

Signing up is free, takes only a few minutes, and you’ll earn your first 100 points ($1 value!) just by creating an account, answering some intro questions, and verifying your email address.

Once you hit 500 points (or $5) you can cash out for PayPal cash or e-gift cards!

Survey Junkie won’t get you rich quickly (no survey sites ever do), but it’s an easy way to make some extra cash by doing nothing other than giving your opinions.

9. Scan the Stuff You Buy & Get Free Rewards

The exclusive National Consumer Panel (NCP) program is opening up again for more participants! Make your voice heard and get paid for it!

Panelists use the app to scan barcodes of items purchased & provide details. You’ll then earn points for gift cards, tech like tablets and flat-screen TVs, and much more from their gift catalog!

The more you share your shopping habits (scan barcodes), the more rewards you can get. It’s a fun way to earn more rewards on items you’ve already purchased and at no extra cost to you.

Register now to see if you’re eligible to be a National Consumer Panelist. If you don’t get accepted based on your location, don’t worry!  They’re always expanding locations, so check back again.

10. Get $10 to Invest in the Legal Cannabis Industry. No Experience Necessary.

6 million customers already use Stash, an investment app that lets you start investing with as little as $5, and you can choose where to put your money, and they’ll provide guidance and tools to help. You can invest in some of the major companies you regularly use to make a custom Personal Portfolio.

You can even invest in the legal cannabis industry, which is big business, as retail sales are projected to hit $70 BILLION by the end of 2028.* Plus, with Stash Growth and Stash+, you can also choose the Smart Portfolio option, which offers hands-off stress-free investing based on your risk tolerance.

It takes less than 2 minutes to start, and they’ll even give you $10 to start investing when you sign up and deposit $5 or more into your Personal Portfolio.

Paid non-client endorsement. See Apple App Store and Google Play reviews. View important disclosures.

11. How to Put More Cash in Your Pocket - An Extra $5,500 Per Year

When you need extra money, side gigs and WFH opportunities are your best options. Use the free Steady app (co-founded by Shaquille O’Neal) to find flexible jobs and Income Boosters to do it! It’s easy, and their 6 million members are already earning money.

Here’s how to start:

  1. Download Steady and create a free account
  2. Browse gig opportunities
  3. For faster cash, try your first Income Booster; over $15M have been paid out so far, and they’re easy to do

“Steady gave me the opportunity to be at home, pick up my sons, and still make money,”- James Coleman.

On average, Steady members can increase their income by an extra $5,500! So set those financial goals and earn extra money on your own time.

12. Make $100 Your First Visit to This Site

One of the newest and easiest ways to make money on your phone is 100% free with KashKick. You just need to sign up with your name, email address, and password!

Get fun cash rewards just by playing games (which you’re already doing), answering surveys based on your user profile, trying out financial tools, and many more ways.

Check out KashKick and start making money in your PJs, in line, or wherever!

13. Play Solitaire and Earn Up to $83 Per Win

Two minutes is all you need to win up to $83 per win when you play Solitaire Cash, a fun Solitaire game ranked #3 in Cards in the App Store and has an average of 4.6/5 stars with 130K+ ratings!

Win cash for free or deposit cash to multiply your winnings from cash tournaments. Regular players are already winning thousands of dollars! New member bonus: Deposit $10 and get a $5 Bonus Cash!

“First game I found that ACTUALLY PAYS … fun & everyone seems honestly @ equal levels of ability” – Davi

“Win REAL money. I am so addicted since I just won $40 on the clash tournament.” – Holly

Solitaire Cash is free to play, so if you like playing quick games for chances to get up to $83 per win, check it out.

14. Getting Gas = Free Cash Back

With the high gas prices lately, it’s smart to get cash back any chance you can get.

Turn on Upside, a free cash back app that partners with over 20,000 gas stations and local businesses which includes Shell, 76, along with Popeye’s, Papa John’s, and much more. You can earn an extra $148 a year (on average)!

Wherever you are, just use the app to see where you can get cash back! You can get up to 25¢ per gallon, up to 30% back on groceries, and up to 45% back at restaurants.

Easily cash out via bank transfer, Paypal, or gift card and there’s no limit to how much you can earn. Download Upside for free to start earning free cash back and new members can use a welcome code: TSW25 to get an additional 25¢ a gallon on their first gas purchase!

15. Win Up to $100+ Per Game in This Bingo App

Check out Blackout Bingo, where you play competitive bingo with real players online to win cash. It’s easy to grasp, and two minutes per game is all you need.

Play for free and then switch to cash games whenever you’re ready for the bigger prizes. Cash game winners can win thousands of dollars just by playing bingo!

Pro-tip: Deposit $5 for the first time, and get a $5 bonus cash when you use code: TSW5

Download Blackout Bingo for free to start playing and win some money!

16. Say Goodbye to Overdraft Fees with the #1 Most-Loved Banking AppTM

When you want financial peace of mind, use Chime,® the award-winning mobile financial app and debit card that’ll help you save with no monthly fees, including:

  • No minimum balance
  • Fee-free overdraft with SpotMe®️* (Chime will spot you up to $200, so you don’t get overdrafts)
  • No foreign transaction or transfer fees

Additional perks:

  • Get paid up to 2 days early with direct deposit1
  • Earn 2.00% Annual Percentage Yield (APY)2 with the high-yield Chime Savings Account3
  • Access to apply for the Secured Chime Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card4 for a better way to build credit history

Sign up for Chime and get started on saving money and working on improving your credit score!

17. Affordable Car Insurance Exists - Save Up To $610

You’re probably overpaying on your current auto insurance without even realizing it.

  1. Just check on EverQuote to start comparing
  2. They’ll check from plenty of agencies to find you the best deal
  3. Pick your savings!

Filling out the form takes less than 4 minutes to start saving big. EverQuote can save drivers up to $610 a year on average* compared to their current insurance premiums.

It’s super simple, so try it out to see how much you could be saving on the road!

18. The Money App That’s Backed by Paypal, Dwayne Johnson, Ashton Kutcher, and More

Celebrities and leading investors can be particular about where they put their money, but Acorns has caught the attention (and their investments) of Blackrock, Paypal, and major names like Dwayne Johnson and more. Not to mention, they already have 4.7 million+ customers!

That’s because Acorns Banking does more than other types of accounts as it automatically saves and invests for you. Every time you purchase on your new metal debit card, your spare change gets invested into an expert-designed, diversified portfolio of stocks and bonds. When you make your first investment, you’ll get a $20 bonus!

You can get started in under 3 minutes with no financial experience or expertise needed. You’ll also get access to retirement, investing for families, rewards, and more, all in one app.

With no hidden fees, Acorns makes it easy to invest in your future with your spare change.

19. When It’s 2023, and You Still Have Credit Card Debt Under $50,000

Stop the anxiety attacks by getting rid of your debt. If you owe $50,000 or less, AmONE can help by matching you with a low-interest loan to pay off all your balances. Problem solved.

Their interest rates start at just 5.99% compared to credit cards which can go as high as 36%! Plus, it’s only one monthly bill, making it way easier to manage.

There’s also no credit score impact to check, and repayment periods are flexible. Take 2 minutes to check, and you can get funds as quickly as 48 hours to wipe that credit card debt!

20. Over 5M+ Players Love This Bingo Game to Win Real Cash

Two minutes per game is all you need in Blackout Bingo, a social, competitive bingo game where you can get up to $100 per win.

Play for free for prizes and switch to cash games to win real money when you’re ready.

PRO-TIP: Deposit $5 for the first time, and get a $5 bonus cash when you use code: TSW5

Yep, double your money to play!

“You wanna cash out 1,000 bucks a month? It’s very doable, but it’s not just gonna happen magically. Practice for free, get your game tight & then you will see the results you want. This app pays and makes plenty to go around” – rainking76

Download Blackout Bingo for free to start playing and win some money!

21. Play New Games and Earn Branded Gift Cards

The more you play, the more rewards and gift cards you can get. That’s the gist of Mistplay, an app where you can try out new Android games to earn units/gems and make optional in-app purchases. Redeem units/gems for real gift cards, including Uber, VISA, Spotify, and more!

Play as many games as you want since you can earn more gift cards that way. Plus, there’s nobody to compete against! New members get a BONUS of 200 points just for signing up.

And yes, it’s legit and already has 10M+ downloads. Download the app for free and start racking up those gift cards!

22. School Competitors in Solitaire and Ca$h In

Solitaire Cube is like regular Solitaire, except you get to play for real cash.

The free game matches you with players of the same skill level, so all is fair. Even casual players like Amanda, a stay-at-home mom from IL, won a 55″ TV, $6,000, and more prizes.

It’s easy to start:

  1. Tap now to download from the Samsung Galaxy Store
  2. Follow the instructions on screen to install
  3. Open the app and play!
  4. Practice playing for free and when ready, play for cash!

So if you think you can handle playing some Solitaire Cube to win legit cash, definitely download this game for free to play on your Samsung.

BONUS: When you deposit for the first time, get a $5 bonus cash when you use code: TSW5

23. Get Paid In the Next 48 Hours Playing Games

You’ll get paid in gift cards, but it’s still money. Choose from favorites like Amazon, Kohl’s, Chipotle, CVS, etc., and you can earn your first $5 gift card within 48 hours just by playing some games.

Just download Rewarded Play, the free app that lets you play games and earn hundreds of dollars from having fun. The more games you play, the more you can earn with no limit!

And they have popular games like Monopoly Go!, Yahtzee, World Series Poker, Wheel of Fortune, and plenty more.

“I’ve probably earned $2,000 in Amazon gift cards in the last 2 years. Could be more if I played every day!” – Kandi S.

Of course, you won’t get rich, but earning money from playing these games is better than nothing at all.

24. A Legit Way to Earn $750 This Week

You can get $750 direct deposited into your bank account and all you have to do is try out some deals. The catch? You can only do this once a year!

Seriously, anyone 18+ can participate in Flash Rewards, a rewards program that’s been around since 2016 and has rewarded $12 million to members over time.

So how do you get the money? Answer: You just have to follow the instructions carefully!

Flash Rewards work by showing you “deals” they think you would like. This includes mobile apps and games, subscriptions, financial services, etc. Each type of deal you choose has its own mini task to complete.

  1. Head over to Flash Rewards and fill out basic info (Email, Name, etc.)
  2. Take a quick Survey (it helps figure out the optional offers & required deals to recommend)
  3. Complete deals by shopping Flash Rewards’ great brand name partners.
  4. Important: Follow the instructions on completing the specific number of deals for each level and get to Level 5 to get the maximum reward! (there are plenty of deals to try – some are free trials or app downloads, others require a purchase!)
  5. Claim the reward and get it in about a week!

You won’t get your reward if you don’t complete the required amount of deals. Sure, it takes a little more effort but it’s legit. Get your $750!

25. A Legit Way to Earn $750 This Week

You can get $750 direct deposited into your bank account and all you have to do is try out some deals. The catch? You can only do this once a year!

Seriously, anyone 18+ can participate in Flash Rewards, a rewards program that’s been around since 2016 and has rewarded $11 million to members over time.

So how do you get the money? Answer: You just have to follow the instructions carefully!

Flash Rewards work by showing you “deals” they think you would like. This includes mobile apps and games, subscriptions, financial services, etc. Each type of deal you choose has its own mini task to complete.

  1. Head over to Flash Rewards and fill out basic info (Email, Name, etc.)
  2. Take a quick Survey (it helps figure out the optional offers & required deals to recommend)
  3. Complete deals by shopping Flash Rewards’ great brand name partners.
  4. Important: Follow the instructions on completing the specific number of deals for each level and get to Level 5 to get the maximum reward! (there are plenty of deals to try – some are free trials or app downloads, others require a purchase!)
  5. Claim the reward and get it in about a week!

You won’t get your reward if you don’t complete the required amount of deals. Sure, it takes a little more effort but it’s legit. Get your $750!

26. Turn Your Amazon Purchase History Into $20+ in No Time

Share information on what you buy on Amazon and get rewarded with the MSR app. Earn even more when you share how you use your smartphone too!

“I’ve made like 30 dollars on this app for only having it for a month. Not bad.. and the tasks are super simple.” – Sincere Asher Phifer

MSR uses simple “video tasks” instead of boring surveys like:

  • Amazon purchases
  • Screen time
  • Battery life settings
  • YouTube viewing history
  • Instagram ad clicks
  • And more!

You’ll earn points and redeem gift cards from 40+ brands, including Amazon, VISA, and more. Or you can earn straight cash via PayPal. Plus, it’s free to join! 

For extra rewards, refer friends to earn 40% of everything they get for passive earning!

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