Secret (But Not Sketchy) Ways to Make Money When You’re Bored & Alone

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by Mike Thomas Updated on October 6, 2021
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.

Don’t worry, no feet pics or OnlyFans suggested. Because, no thanks.

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, especially when you’re bored and alone at home, here are some ways to make money online. 

1. Get Paid to Play New Games. Regularly Cash Out Up to $25

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!

  1. Discover new mobile games curated just for you on Mistplay
  2. As you play, you’ll earn units
  3. Redeem your units for gift cards to Amazon, Google Play Store, and more!

“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 200 units just for signing up!

2. 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!

3. 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.

4. Fetch All Your Receipts (Even Virtual) & Get Free Money Back

Alice Ly / The Smart Wallet

Grab all the recent receipts you have and scan them into Fetch Rewards to earn points towards free money. Even better? Connect your email inbox and it’ll count your email receipts too from Amazon, Instacart, Shipt, and more!

Basically, upload any receipt, snap a pic with the app, and boom, you’ve got points for money.

Be sure to grab 2,000 welcome points on us when you use promo code REWARD before scanning your first receipt!

5. 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.

6. 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!

7. 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.

8. 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!

9. 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.

10. Make Easy Money Just Trying and Playing Games

There are so many new games coming out on the daily that it’s hard to choose which to play.

My strategy? Only focus on the games that pay for my time.

You can do it with AppStation, an app that pays you to try out new games.

When you earn coins from trying new games, you can redeem for:

  • PayPal Cash
  • Amazon gift card
  • GameStop gift card
  • PlayStation Store gift card
  • Xbox Live gift card
  • And too much more to list

Nab a 4,444 coin welcome bonus too, which is basically around 50 cents in value. And if you don’t like to wait, you can choose to payout as low as $1.

If your friends want to get it on the money action from afar, introduce them to AppStation, where you’ll get bonus coins and 25% of all their earnings. To make it a supportive group, your friends will also earn 25% of your earnings too!

11. Test Your Luck for Cash Rewards in this Match 3 Game

View of Lucky Match Level 4 Gameplay | Adam Palasciano

Match 3 game lovers will enjoy Lucky Match, a free-to-play game with hundreds of puzzles to solve for chances to win cash rewards. Irish imagery and music are themed throughout the game, so don’t be surprised if you’re still humming it even after playing!

“Rewards are steady and realistic, unlike the fake games that give huge amounts that you’ll never see. Doesn’t require large amounts of money to cash out.” – Karen Welch

Earn coins after clearing levels, which are redeemable for scratchers, spins, and sweepstakes up to $2,500! Everyone can cash out via PayPal when collecting $7 is reached. Play for free now to start earning some lucky cash!

12. 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!

It literally takes less than 4 minutes to fill out the form 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!

13. Get Free Stock Worth Between $5 and $200 + a Retirement Account that Matches

@MayoFi | Unsplash

Investing may seem expensive, and most people put it off until they have “enough” money. But time is the most critical factor, and Robinhood lets new investors start with just $1.

This free trading app, used by over 15 million people, lets you trade stocks, ETFs, and options commission-free! When your application is approved, they’ll give free stock worth $5 up to $200 for new members, with chances to get high-value stock on Facebook, Microsoft, etc.

NEW: Robinhood now offers IRAs with a 1% match! Instantly get an extra 1% on every dollar you contribute to your chosen retirement account. An additional 1% yearly could grow to $26K+ in 40 years.

Use Robinhood for your investing and retirement account needs, especially when they’ll match your IRA contribution!

14. Get Quick Cash Within 48 Hours Just by Playing Games

When you need a couple of bucks now, just download Rewarded Play, where you can earn your first $5 gift card within 48 hours just by playing some games.

This free Android app has hundreds of games to choose from; including Yahtzee, Scrabble Go, and Design Home where you can earn cash quickly. Redeem points for the gift cards of your choice from 20+ retailers, including favorites like Target, Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, etc.

Points add up quickly, so spend your phone time casually gaming to earn cash!

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

If you’re looking for an easy way to snag a little extra cash by being online, look no further. Inbox Dollars has a wide array of ways to make some money on the side.

Founded in 2000, Inbox Dollars has been around and paying customers for their opinions for over 21 years and counting! They are one of the most trusted survey sites with fun, multiple ways to earn extra cash that sets them apart from the others.

You can stick to sharing your opinion and take surveys, but you can also watch videos, play games, and even read email for some extra cash. Who wouldn’t want to watch viral videos and get paid up to $225 a month?

They also offer cash back for online shopping and coupon cash rewards to use at the grocery store too!

So if you’re looking for some extra cash and enjoy a wide array of options to earn, Inbox Dollars is a great platform to make a little side money. It’s free to sign up, so give it a try today!

16. 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!

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