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You have a solid budget and a consistent income. You pay your bills on time and even put some away into savings at the end of the month. You’re doing everything right! *high fives
But even with your solid financial choices, you would love to go out to dinner or shop a few sales without dumping your budget on its head.
If your income doesn’t offer the room you need to take a little bit of spending money, try these tips. They’re quick, easy, and sure to give you the pocket money you need to enjoy life.
1. Don’t Toss That Receipt! Do This First for Free Money
Before you crumple up that receipt in your pocket or forever lose it in the abyss of your purse, scan it into the Fetch Rewards app for iOS or Android, and earn points towards free money. I repeat, free money.
It’s ridiculously simple and actually fun to use.
Shop at any grocery store, convenience store, club store, neighborhood store, or big box store, take a picture with the app, and that’s it. (Favorites include Target, Kroger, and Walmart!)
Unlike other apps, you don’t have to go to specific stores, there’s nothing to pre-select prior to shopping, and there’s no minimum spend. Just scan in any receipt (iOS or Android) from a store that sells groceries (even when you didn’t actually buy any groceries) and boom, points for money.
You can start cashing out as soon as $3 (3,000 points) and you can grab a $2 welcome bonus on us (2,000 points) when you use promo code REWARD before scanning your first receipt!
Welcome bonus: $2
Average savings a month (depends on purchases): $25
What it could add up to in a year: $302
Additional referral earnings: $2 per referral
2. Fun Times in 3 Minute Increments – A Classic Game for $
3 minutes.
Make as many 21s as you can within that time or until you run out of moves.
That’s the basic gist of 21 Blitz (iOS only), a modern take on a classic game where you’re no longer just playing against the dealer but with actual people around the world.
It’s fast-paced and it basically does all of the math for you. This game is great for killing time and earning cash all at once.
You can play for free against real people (iOS only) for prizes or switch over to cash games to win…well, cash! Cash game winners can win up to $7,000 or more in the mini-tournament.
Cash tournaments not available in AZ, AR, CT, DE, FL, LA, ME, MD, MT, SC, SD, TN, IN.
3. Get Paid for Playing Free Digital Scratch-Offs
Don’t bother going to the liquor store to buy physical scratchers (they get expensive too).
Instead, play digital scratchers for free on Lucktastic (iOS or Android).
There are a ton of different scratchers you can play, and you can earn both cash and tokens.
Scratched all of them for the day? Don’t worry, there are specific night-time scratchers that are available every night too!
When you want to redeem your earnings, you can choose from:
- Amazon gift cards
- CVS gift cards
- Dunkin’ Donuts gift cards
- Check mailed to you
- Visa gift cards
Lucktastic keeps things free (iOS or Android) by showing a few ads here and there plus it’s easy to play and multi-task at the same time. Cash prizes go up to $1 million dollars!
Regular giveaways are always happening too. Until October 31st, you could win a trip for four to Walt Disney World!
4. School Competitors in Solitaire and Ca$h In
When you want to take a 5-minute break, check out Solitaire Cube (iOS only), which is like regular Solitaire, except you get to play for real cash.
The game matches you with players of the same skill level, so you have a solid chance of winning. If you’re a good Solitaire player, you could win some serious cash, like Katie Nguyen who took home $380,984 last year as one of the Top 10 Solitaire Cube players! Or check out our latest interview with Amanda, a mom who won $6,000 cash and more.
So if you think you can handle playing some Solitaire Cube to win legit cash, definitely download this game for free on iOS.
Cash tournaments aren’t available in AZ, AR, CT, DE, FL, LA, ME, MD, MT, SC, SD, TN, IN.
5. Why Yes, You Can Get Paid to Drink Alcohol
Anytime you feel the need to hydrate yourself with some strong refreshments, be sure to open this app, so you don’t miss out on free money.
It’s simple. All you have to do is take a picture of your grocery/bar/restaurant receipt and Ibotta (iOS or Android) will pay you cash.
So before you go to the store or bar, search for your items in the Ibotta app. After your visit, take a photo of your receipt to get cash back.
Ibotta is free to download on iOS or Androidand you’ll also get a $10 sign up bonus after uploading your first receipt!
On average, active Ibotta users get back up $240 a year. What would you do with that extra money?
6. Cash Out on The Everyday Things You Do Online
How much time do you think you spend online? Most likely more than you think.
The average American spends 24 hours online a week(*), but for me, I know I definitely surpass this since I have to be online for work. Along with post-office hours shopping, browsing, reading, it’s rare that I’m not online.
If it’s the same for you, capitalize on all that online time by earning points you can redeem towards gift cards, and even better, cash.
You can do it with Swagbucks, a free rewards program on iOS or Android for the everyday things you do online.
Earn points by
- Watching entertaining videos
- Shopping at your favorite retailers
- Searching the web
- Participating in surveys
- Playing fun trivia games
Then you can redeem for a large variety of gift cards (Amazon, Target, Walmart, Starbucks are popular) or my favorite, Paypal Cash and Visa Gift Cards. Cash out in as little as $3!
You’ll even get a $5 bonus (iOS or Android) when you earn 2,500 SB points within your first 60 days.
The best way to earn SB? Surveys. You can get up to 300 SB for each qualified one you participate in. While you obviously won’t get rich doing this, you can nab an extra $10-$20 a month on them.
Keeping your profile updated and doing the Daily To-Do List will also earn you extra SB. There are a lot of opportunities so you can cash out early and often!
