26 Unusual Ways to Help Build Up That First Down Payment

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by Tess Simmons Updated on February 15, 2022
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You’re ready to take the next step in actually owning a home but you just need a little more for a down payment just in case. It is a crazy market out there and people now are regularly bidding over the asking price. 

Ideally, you should have a 20% down payment to avoid PMI (aka private mortgage insurance that increases your monthly mortgage payment) but…it’s not mandatory. The average down payment for first-time buyers is actually 6%, well below the ideal 20%. Depending on what state you’re in, that first down payment can change drastically based on the home prices.

In addition to your full-time job, side gigs, and whatnot, we rounded up some unusual ways to help grow your down payment pot. Even better, some are activities you probably already do!

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. 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!

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

Members can earn an average of $50 a month in popular Swagbucks, a free rewards program where you can earn cash for your time and opinions.

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, cash, and crypto vouchers. There are hundreds of different offers to explore and complete!

New members can get a free $5 just for signing up, so join the other 10 million members already part of Swagbucks and start earning free rewards!

4. 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 120K+ 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.

5. 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!

6. 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!

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. 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.

9. 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!

10. 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!

11. 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 iOS 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.

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.

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