Casual (But Not Creepy) Ways to Make $2,500

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by Sarah Blake Updated on April 3, 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.

Don’t worry, no weird pics or videos suggested. 

Instead, let’s go over some fun and 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.

It’s a good mix of practical, fun, and legit ways but by no means would take the place of a full-time job. Yep, you still need one of those. So if you have some extra time, and want to break the stay-at-home funk but still want to be productive, here are some casual ways to make money online. 

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 participants 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. Ask This Company To Pay Off Your Outstanding Credit Card Debt

It’s 2024, and you want to body slam that debt down and keep it down. You just need a little help doing it.

MyLendingWallet can help if you have under $35,000 in debt. They’ll offer a personal loan that pays off all your balances and consolidate them into one balance to make it easier on yourself.

Regardless of credit status, you can quickly determine if you qualify for a loan with APRs ranging from 5.99% to 36% max. Since their network has over 100 vetted lenders, you’ll be able to compare with no obligation either.

You can get funds as fast as 24 hours, and they have flexible repayment periods (61 days to 72 months!). Even better? There’s no credit score impact to check, so see how LoansUnder36 can help now! It only takes 2 minutes.

3. How to Earn Up To $120 or More Without Stress!

Earn extra cash by playing popular mobile games, taking surveys, watching videos, referring friends and family, and more! KashKick is free to use, and sign-up is super easy.

KashKick also pays you to refer friends and family, and you can earn a 25% Bonus off any offers your friends and family complete! (If your referral earns $100, you earn $25!)

“Kashkick saved my life! I lost my job, and thanks to KashKick, I get a little side income to pay a couple of bills.” – Shanice, New Orleans

Find a new side hustle through this app and check daily to make that money wherever you are.

4. 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!

5. Get Paid Up to $225/Month While Watching Viral Videos and Taking Fun Surveys

Founded in 2000, Inbox Dollars has been paying customers for their opinions for over 22 years and counting! They are one of the most trusted survey sites with fun, multiple ways to earn extra cash that set them apart.

“Fast and easy. Love that I can cash out to my PayPal and easily transfer money to my bank account.” – Tefanie P

Take surveys, watch videos, play games, and even read emails for extra cash. Who wouldn’t want to watch viral videos for money and get paid up to $225/month?

Inbox Dollars is a great platform to make a little side money. It’s free to sign up, so give it a try today!

6. Get Free Cash Back Every Time You Get Groceries, Gas, or Meals

Why not get free money back any chance you can get? That’s why we like Upside, a free cash back app that partners with 100,000+ businesses to bring you great offers you can’t get anywhere else.

On average, frequent users earn an extra $340 a year for just getting things they already buy!

“Easy money back without a catch. I’m getting cash back on stuff I would’ve had to buy anyway. Upside gives you easy savings that you actually see!” – alicejpark90

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; there’s no limit to how much you can earn. Download Upside for free to earn cash back, and new members can use a welcome code: TSW25 to get an additional 25¢ a gallon on their first gas purchase!

Gas offers are not currently available in NJ, WI, or UT.

7. Earn Up to $750 Trying Out Offers

Try out offers and get rewarded. That’s the gist of Earn Big Rewards, a fun program where you can earn up to $750 (or even $1,000 if you’re ambitious) just by checking out sponsored offers from their partners.

Over 1 million members have gone through and got their rewards, and you can too! It’s simple.

Offers and deals vary, but the most important thing to know is that different levels have different rewards. Lower levels yield smaller rewards, while Level 5 will get you $500, $750, or $1,000.

You’ll be able to choose from mobile games, free trials, subscriptions, streaming services, and more after answering some quick questions.

Once you complete the levels you want, you can cash out and get the reward in a week!

8. When It’s 2024, 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 6.40% 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!

9. 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. Redeem free chances to win REAL money on a daily and monthly basis. You can also win up to $2,500 instantly!

Yes, it’s legit – there are already over 265K 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

Play anytime you want, and you never have to spend any money to enjoy the game. Cash out via PayPal when you reach $7. So download and play for free to start winning cash!

10. Over $55,000 Paid to Members Daily - Join for Free

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It’s about time you got paid for your opinions, right? It’s free and fun with Survey Junkie, which pays you with PayPal, gift cards, or directly to your bank account. Members get paid every day, and they’ve already paid out $76 million so far, so join to get your share!

“It’s easy to use, and you can get paid the same day. I really like that you can make a little bit of extra money,” Gabe L.

Just follow these simple steps:

  1. Click here to sign up for a free Survey Junkie account
  2. Take surveys
  3. Repeat daily and get paid; there’s no limit!

It only takes a few minutes to join Survey Junkie but remember to verify your email address.

Completing each survey earns you 20 to 100 points. Each point is worth one cent, and when you hit 500 points (or $5), you can cash out, which is one of the earliest cash out points we’ve seen!

11. Scratch & Play Games for Free Money

Want to have fun? If you enjoy playing scratchers and trying out new Android games regularly, you might as well earn some extra (free) money for your time. Payments are guaranteed!

Scratch Cards Pro lets you scratch cards and play other free games for points. These points are put towards cash vouchers that you can redeem via PayPal. The more you level up, the more you can get!

You’ll get paid immediately once you reach each cash voucher’s amount. Download the free app with over 1M+ downloads and a 4/5-star rating.

12. Here’s How to Legally Bet On Games

If you can read this, it means you can legally bet on your favorite team and players.

Do it with FanDuel Sportsbook, America’s #1 online sportsbook, where you can safely, legally, and securely bet on sports.

It’s simple to get started:

  1. Create an account with FanDuel Sportsbook & deposit at least $10
  2. Find your game and the outcome you want to bet on
  3. New users get an amazing promo: bet $5 and get $200 in bonus bets guaranteed

Don’t be a sideline sitter; dive into the games with some bets. Just bet $5, and you’ll get $200 in bonus bets guaranteed, WIN OR LOSE.

21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. $10 Deposit req. Refund issued as non-withdrawable bonus bets that expire in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See full terms at fanduel.com/sportsbook. FanDuel is offering online sports wagering in Kansas under an agreement with Kansas Star Casino, LLC. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MI, NJ, OH, PA, IL, TN, VA), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), 1-800-522-4700 (WY), or visit www.1800gambler.net (WV).

13. Free Rewards Program Gives Out 7,000 Gift Cards Daily

There are a lot of survey programs out there, but none are as popular as Swagbucks, a free rewards program where you can earn free cash for your time and opinion. They’ve paid out over $885 million to their members already and they’ve been in business for 15 years.

Earn points for doing surveys, online shopping, uploading receipts, and playing fun games then redeem the points for free gift cards to Amazon and Walmart or choose PayPal cash. 

New members can get a free $10 just for signing up, so join the other 10 million members already part of Swagbucks and start earning free rewards!

14. 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!

15. The Money App Backed by Celebrities That Saves AND Invests for You

Acorns has caught the attention (and their investments) of Blackrock, Paypal, and major names like Dwayne Johnson and more. Plus, they have about 10 million all-time customers!

That’s because Acorns automatically saves and invests your spare change from every purchase with the Round-Ups® feature. You’ll get a diversified portfolio picked by experts based on your investment profile.

You only need $5 to start investing, and when you set up recurring investments, you’ll get a $20 bonus!

Get started in under 5 minutes with no financial experience or expertise needed. You’ll also get access to retirement, investing for families, rewards, and more based on your subscription plan.

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

16. Please Spot Me Up to $2001, So I Don’t Get an Overdraft Fee!

We got you. Or, more specifically, Chime ® has your back; the award-winning mobile financial app and debit card will have you saying goodbye to overdraft fees!

That’s because their SpotMe®️ tool can literally spot you up to $2001 without charging a fee as long as you receive qualifying direct deposits.

You need qualifying direct deposits of at least $200 a month into your Chime Checking Account to qualify, and one of the easiest methods is to route your paycheck there so you don’t have to think about it.

Other perks:

  • Get paid up to 2 days early3 with direct deposit
  • Get 2.00% Annual Percentage Yield (APY)4 with the high-yield Chime Savings Account5
  • Access to a new way to build credit history with the Secured Chime® Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card6
  • FDIC-insured up to $250,000 through The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC.7 (it’s safe!)
  • No minimum balance, no monthly fees, and no foreign transaction/transfer fees

Sign up for Chime and say goodbye to overdraft fees and other benefits!

17. Get Free Money Back on All Your Shopping Hauls

Check your pockets; check your purse. And keep receipts for your iPhone.

Just grab all your recent receipts from your coffee runs, grocery trips, restaurants, and gas station fill-ups, scan them into Fetch Rewards on iOS, and earn points for free money! Connect your email account, as well, to count DIGITAL receipts from Amazon, Instacart, and more.

Basically, snap a pic of your receipt from anywhere, and that’s it; you’ve got points for money. There’s no minimum spend, no need to select items manually, scan in any receipt from any store or gas station, and it’ll automatically reward you.

It’s free and easy to use and is a must-have iOS app for anyone who buys stuff!

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