35 Controversial (But Not Criminal) Ways to Make Extra Money

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Don’t worry, nothing unlawful, but maybe some raised eyebrows.

So 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.

This by no means would take the place of a full-time job, though. Yep, you still need one of those!

1. 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!

2. 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!

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4. 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!

5. 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.

6. 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 $12 for the first time, you can get up to $30 bonus cash!

7. 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!

8. 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!

9. 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.

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. 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!

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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!

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. When It’s 2024, and You Still Have Credit Card Debt Under $100,000

Stop the anxiety attacks by getting rid of your debt. If you owe $100,000 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!

17. 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!

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