32+ Ways Gen X Can Make Extra Money That Millennials Aren’t Taking Advantage Of

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by Sal Russo Updated on September 30, 2022
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 because talking about money should always be an honest discussion.

It’s always Boomers vs. Millennials vs. Gen Z, but what about Gen X? No wonder we’re called the “lost generation” since we seem to be the forgotten middle child.

But you’ll know some secrets (after reading this article) that the other generations aren’t taking advantage of—secrets relating to making extra money that’s unorthodox and, most importantly, fun. Read on how you can take advantage where others aren’t!

1. 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 3.99% 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!

2. Earn Up to $170 (Or More) Every Time You Win This Viral Bingo Game

Bingo King is the free modern version of bingo where you can win cash straight from your phone. There are daily cash prizes, unique power-ups, and exciting tournaments.

Play against other people of similar skill in multiplayer mode. Everyone gets the same card and the same numbers, so it’s based on how fast and accurate you are in the 2-minute games to win.

Pro-tip: Hit the bingo button as fast as you can once any row is ready for extra speed points

Easily cash out via Paypal when you reach $3! Play practice games and collect gems, and when you’re ready, participate in the multiplayer cash tournaments to potentially win more cash! You can also earn up to $45 when you refer friends to play with you!


Cash tournaments are not enabled in DE, LA, MD, MT, and TN, but you can still play for fun!

3. This Free Bingo Game Pays Up to $100 Per Win

There’s no need for boring bingo when there’s Blackout Bingo, a fast-paced and competitive bingo game where you can win real money.

2 minutes. That’s all you need per game when you play against real people that match your skill level. Tap the numbers fast and correctly to get bonus points!

“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

Play for free for prizes and when you’re ready, switch over to cash games to win real money. Download Blackout Bingo for free to start playing!

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

Cash games aren’t available in AZ, AR, CT, DE, LA, MT, SC, SD, and TN, but you can still play for prizes!

4. Scan the Stuff You Buy & Get Free Rewards

The exclusive National Consumer Panel (NCP) program is opening up again for more participants to earn money for their household opinions! When you become a free member, just use the app to scan the barcodes of items you purchase, provide a few additional transaction details, and you’ll earn points for:

  • Gift Cards
  • Tablets
  • Electronic Equipment
  • Flat Screen TVs
  • and much more from their gift catalog!

Plus, all panelists are automatically entered into weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual drawings to win extra points and gift cards – even quarterly sweepstakes to win $5,000!

The more you share your shopping habits (scan barcodes), the more rewards you can get. You can also answer surveys and share information about your overall shopping trip.

“Scanning my purchases is fun! I also enjoy taking the surveys. Earning points is fast and easy and they have a great selection of rewards.” – Jennifer B.

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. Eligibility will be based on your location. If you don’t get accepted this time, don’t worry! They’re always expanding locations, so check back again.

5. 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!

6. Join the Millions of People Earning Up to $20 Per Survey

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Companies are always looking for feedback to improve their products so get paid for just giving your honest opinion!

Just sign up for Survey Junkie (it’s free!), and join over 20 million members already earning cash. Completing a 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!

Redeem for popular online gift cards, Paypal cash, or bank transfer.

It only takes a few minutes to join Survey Junkie and you’ll earn your first 100 ($1 value!) points just by creating an account and verifying your email address. Earn even more when you take more surveys.

7. Switch to Car Insurance as Low as $19/Month to Save Big

Whether your driving levels are back to normal or you’re driving less because of WFH status, you can still save on your auto insurance. People typically spend $800 a year MORE than what they need and that’s a lot of money.

See how much you can save at Smart Financial, a free auto insurance matching service. Answer a few questions related to your car, driving history, and some basic personal information, and they’ll search through the network which includes Progressive, Allstate, 21st Century, Nationwide, and more.

Your monthly rate could be as low as $19/month! It’s easy and free to check to see how you can save on the road!

8. 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!

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 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!

10. 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!

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

11. 21 + Solitaire = Real 💰 and Serious Fun

Check out 21 Blitz, an extremely fun and fast-paced mobile card game. Play against real people at your skill level to compete for cash and prizes like tech, kitchen appliances, even a car!

It only takes 3 minutes to play. Make as many 21s as you can before the clock runs out or until you run out of moves.

Play for free against real people for prizes or switch over to cash games to win…well, cash! Currently, players are invited to play in a guaranteed $23,000 prize pool tournament. Plus, get up to $30 for each friend you refer. Cash tournaments not available in AZ, AR, CT, DE, LA, ME, MT, SC, SD, TN, IN but you can still win some amazing prizes!

12. Got What it Takes? Play Spades to Win Cash

Spades Cash is a new type of Spades game where you play in solo mode and enter 1v1 or multiplayer tournaments to win cash and real prizes. Everyone gets dealt the same game board, but it’s your skills and completion time that’ll determine the winner.

You’ll automatically get matched with other players that are on the same level, so games are fair. Avoid losing points by making accurate bids at the beginning of each game!

Practice makes perfect, so play the practice rounds, and then play the cash tournaments when you’re ready. Cash tournaments aren’t available in AZ, AR, CT, DE, LA, ME, MT, SC, SD, TN, or IN, but you can still win some amazing prizes like smart TVs, kitchen appliances, jewelry, and more!

13. 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.

14. 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!

15. Play Dominoes and Win Up to $60 Per Win

How about a game of dominoes? (aka “bones”) Especially when you can win up to $60 per winning game in  Dominoes Gold, a 4.7/5 stars game with over 25K+ ratings!

“I can personally confirm this game does pay out, and you can make a profit from as long as you have Skillz… 😉 – iphoneguy110

“Awesome game, won money within the first 20 minutes,” – jaggroff

Play for fun to win cash, or add cash to increase your winnings from the tournaments.

Try out Dominoes Gold for free and start winning that cash! Cash tourneys are unavailable in AZ, AR, IN, IA, LA, ME, MD, SC, MT & SD, but you can still play free!

16. 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 KashKickand start making money in your PJs, in line, or wherever!

17. 500,000+ People Received Loans for Emergencies Regardless of Their Credit

Gas prices are already high, so don’t let unexpected emergencies, like car repairs, house repairs, and more, stress you. Qualified borrowers can borrow between $500 and $4,000 through OppLoans, depending on the state of residence.*

Even better, applying won’t impact your FICO credit score^! Opploans reports customer payment history to the three major credit bureaus so that consistent on-time payments may improve credit score.+

OppLoans is also committed to helping customers build a better financial path forward. If OppLoans can’t give you the best rate, they’ll automatically check other lenders to see if you qualify for better terms!

“I was able to be approved for a loan within minutes and received my direct deposit the very next business day. I’ve never requested a loan before and was very leery of the process with it being online, but was pleasantly surprised at the customer service and prompt follow-up.” – Amaris A.++

You can see a state-by-state breakdown of loan rates and terms here.

18. Here’s How to Afford Vacation Plans

Pexels

You’re ready for travel, but yikes, inflation is going up. How are you still going to make the most of your year?

Use Scott’s Cheap Flights, where you can get up to 90% off flight prices since their team searches for the best deals for you all day long. And since they don’t get kickbacks from airlines, you know they’re not biased.

Here are some examples of some real deals:

  • $186 nonstop to Costa Rica
  • $226 nonstop to Norway
  • $286 nonstop to Barcelona
  • And more!

Just sign up to be a free member, and remember to verify your email. To start getting the really good deals, though, try out the 14-day free trial of their Premium or Elite memberships.

19. You Can’t Control Gas Prices so Save $720/Year on Car Insurance Instead

Have you checked your car insurance rates lately? You can check in 30 seconds if you’re overpaying since on average, people spend $720/year more than they should. It’s easy:

  1. Head over to The Smart Wallet’s auto insurance portal and connect your current insurance (no long form to fill out!)
  2. We’ll instantly check for a better deal
  3. See your savings!

A satisfied customer had said “I left Geico. I was paying $150, now thanks to you guys, I’m only paying $50!”

Once we find you a better deal and you choose to switch, we’ll help you cancel your old policy, enroll you in the better one, and get a full refund on the unused portion of your prior payments. It’s the simplest and easiest way to get a refund on your overpriced car insurance policy.

20. The Best Financial App That’ll Save You $720/Year

Knowing your net worth isn’t just for rich people. It’s a financial report card that can tell you if you’re on the right track or if you need a wake-up call. To calculate it, you need the value of all your assets (things you own) minus your liabilities (things you owe). But wouldn’t it be nice if there were a tool that tracked your net worth over time for you?

Enter Rocket Money, the free money management app that’s like your personal finance assistant. It groups all your banking accounts together so you can see your earnings and spending in one spot. Plus, it helps you budget even if you don’t know how to.

  • The app will find all your recurring bills and subscriptions (even those you forgot about)
  • Rocket Money can help lower your bills by 20% (they negotiate for you)
  • The app also helps you start budgeting and set up auto-savings too
  • Their newest feature easily tracks your net worth

See what your savings could be with Rocket Money and start tracking your net worth too!

21. This Paid Survey Panel Gives Out 7,000 Gift Cards Daily

There are a lot of survey programs out there, but none as popular as Swagbucks, a free rewards program where you can earn cash for your time and opinion. Members can earn an average of $50 a month!

Get rewarded for doing surveys, online shopping, uploading receipts, and playing fun games, but the one activity that earns you the most points is completing surveys. Redeem points for free gift cards and cash. There are hundreds of different offers to explore and complete!

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!

22. Get Up to $55 Per Win Popping Bubbles

Make consistent extra money playing Bubble Cash, where you match 3 bubbles of the same color until you clear the board. It’s popular, too, since the game is frequently ranked within the Top 10 in the App Store with a 4.6/5 star rating with over 74K+ reviews!

Win free cash when you collect enough gems to enter practice tournaments, and then win MORE when you enter the higher stakes tournaments (there’s a small entry fee for the bigger tournaments).

“Finally, a game that isn’t a scam! I won $71 yesterday on Sunday, and today on Monday, it was already in my Paypal” – Mzmari

Play for free now, and then switch to cash games to increase your winnings whenever you want. Obviously, this won’t make you rich, but 100% worth it compared to other games that don’t pay. Just note that cash tournaments aren’t available in AZ, AR, IA, LA, MD, SC, and WA, but you can still play free!

23. A Legitimate 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!

24. 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 that’s 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!

Solitaire Cash is free to download and play, so if you like playing quick games for chances to get up to $83 per win, check it out. Cash tourneys are unavailable in AZ, AR, IN, IA, LA, ME, MD, SC, MT,  SD, and WA, but you can still play for free!

25. 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!

26. This Free Bingo Game Pays Up to $100 Per Win

There’s no need for boring bingo when there’s Blackout Bingo, a fast-paced and competitive bingo game where you can win real money.

2 minutes. That’s all you need per game when you play against real people that match your skill level. Tap the numbers fast and correctly to get bonus points!

“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

Play for free for prizes and when you’re ready, switch over to cash games to win real money. Download Blackout Bingo for free to start playing!

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

Cash games aren’t available in AZ, AR, CT, DE, LA, MT, SC, SD, and TN, but you can still play for prizes!

27. The #1 Most-Loved Banking App Has No Monthly Fees

On average, people pay $250/year just on overdraft fees! Skip the fees since Chime,®️ has your back. It’s an 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®️^
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • No transfer fees

Additional perks:

  • Get paid up to 2 days early1 with direct deposit
  • Get 2.00% APY2 (which is 11x3 the national average!)
  • Access to apply for Credit Builder4 for a better way to build credit history

“Getting a Chime card and account was my best idea in years. No overdraft fees, no surprises, and the app is amazing!! Big banks scam, but Chime isn’t one of them. I can’t say enough about it, and I’ve had it for over a year now!!!” – Anita from TN.

Give Chime a shot and see how online banking can be made easy.

28. Get Paid to Try New Games. Regularly Cash Out Up to $25

If you don’t have this app already, you’re missing out on making money from games. Download Mistplay, an Android game platform where you try free games, earn points and redeem them for Amazon, PSN, XBOX Live, and more.

On average, players are cashing out between $10 – $25 regularly!

“This app is the real deal. There’s a good selection of games, and new ones are being added all the time. More importantly, when you reach the target amount of points, you do get paid. Great job, Mistplay people.” – Geoffrey Daley, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Just be sure to start your games from Mistplay so it can keep track of your game time to credit you properly. New members get a BONUS of 250 points just for signing up!

29. Earn a $10 Amazon Gift Card by Trying New Games

When you’re ready to add even more games to your lineup, then download Cash Giraffe, an Android app that pays you to try out new games for, yes, you guessed it, cash. All are free to download!

Just earn coins from trying new games, and then you can redeem them for:

  • PayPal Cash
  • Amazon gift card
  • GameStop gift card
  • PlayStation Store gift card
  • Xbox Live gift card
  • And more good stuff

“Payouts are faster than most apps. PayPal rewards are small, but hey, it’s free money 💰 🤑“- Cassandra McGuire

A 3,599 coin welcome bonus is yours immediately too, when you sign in! Plus, get 200 coins for every friend you refer and 25% of their earnings.

30. 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 that’s 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!

Solitaire Cash is free to download and play, so if you like playing quick games for chances to get up to $83 per win, check it out. Cash tourneys are unavailable in AZ, AR, IN, IA, LA, ME, MD, SC, MT,  SD, and WA, but you can still play for free!

31. How to 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!

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

32. How to Manage Your Debt And Actually Save Money

Is your debt growing instead of shrinking? If so, then you don’t have clear payoff goals.

The financial platform, Goalry, makes managing your debt along with other personal finance matters, like saving money, extremely easy. Depending on your goals, you’ll be directed to different areas on the platform to set up a fun but productive plan.

You can set debt payoff goals, keep track of your progress, and have a clear picture of the end of the tunnel instead of being in the dark. Goalry will even prioritize which debt you should pay off first.

At the same time, set up saving goals, so you can manage your debt and save for a rainy day too. Sign up now for a free 30-day trial to see how easy it is to pay down your debt!

BONUS: Play the Solitaire Game Where Players Cash Out $72 On Average

When you want a fun way to make money, play the free game where players have collectively won over 10 million dollars so far! Check out Solitaire Fortune, where you play timed Solitaire 1v1 or multiplayer, and whoever completes the deck fastest can win real cash.

All games are fairly matched, and you can choose to play in the free coin or the cash tournaments. For new players, you can get up to $20 bonus cash on your first deposit!

Cash out with PayPal, VISA, Mastercard, and more whenever you want. On average, players cash out $72, so download Solitaire Fortune for free and see if you can get it on that too.

Solitaire Fortune is unavailable to residents in DE, IN, LA, ME, MD, MI, MT, SC, SD, and TN

BONUS 2: How to Treat Yourself Despite Inflation Costs

Prices are rising everywhere, but it doesn’t mean you still can’t have nice things. Use Opinion Outpost, a free, online market research program that pays you up to $5 per survey.

It’s easy:

  1. Take short surveys on topics that interest you.
  2. Earn PayPal cash or gift cards for brands like Amazon, Texaco, Southwest, Target, Grubhub & more!

On average, Opinion Outpost pays its members $390K a month for their opinions. Why not make extra cash in your spare time?

And yes, they’re legit. They’ve been around since 2009 and are members of the ESOMAR & the Marketing Research Association, so your info will stay safe and confidential.

Join over 2M+ happy earners sharing their thoughts for awesome rewards. It’s free!



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