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Besides mortgages (something else to “look forward” to), student loans are the next largest consumer debt in the U.S.
And even though you may feel alone in your burden, there are about 43 million Americans that are dealing with the same type of debt. And with the average student loan debt of $30,000, it can take almost 20 years to pay it all off!
And the term “debt” is misleading too. It’s associated with those that may not have been financially responsible but student loans trap you from the very beginning. We can’t just say that all 43 million Americans that have student loans are “irresponsible.” Far from it. They’re wanting higher education and are paying the long-term price.
So until that system can be fixed (if ever), we’re suggesting some things you can do to earn some side cash as well as manage your money more efficiently to help out with some payments. Even better when you can get paid for doing stuff you already do!
1. 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!
2. 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.
3. 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!
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5. Merge Matching Blocks to Win Cash Prizes
When you want simple gameplay but with strategy baked in, check out Tap n Merge Tournament, where you literally tap and merge number blocks to earn points.
Merge at least 3 of the same numbers to create a higher number block, and see how high of a number you can get within the 2 minute time frame. Our highest (so far) is 7! Combos and speed will also boost your overall score.
Play for free, and when you’re ready, switch over to cash games to earn faster. Cash game winners can win up to hundreds of dollars!
The relaxing background music, the gameplay, and the strategy involved will keep you entertained for a while.
Cash tournaments not available in AZ, AR, CT, DE, LA, MT, SC, SD, and TN.
6. 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!
7. Free Rewards Program Gives Out 7,000 Gift Cards Daily
There are a lot of survey programs out there, but none are as popular as Swagbucks, a free rewards program where you can earn free cash for your time and opinion. They’ve paid out over $885 million to their members already and they’ve been in business for 15 years.
Earn points for doing surveys, online shopping, uploading receipts, and playing fun games then redeem the points for free gift cards to Amazon and Walmart or choose PayPal cash.
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!
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9. Renters: Protect Your Important Stuff Starting at $5 a Month
You have a lot more valuables than you think. Imagine if your laptop, phone, camera, bike, jewelry, etc. got swiped or accidentally destroyed in a kitchen fire, water damage, or natural disasters?
It would hurt to pay and replace everything lost. However, by having renters insurance, your policy can cover all your household items, furniture, electronics, jewelry, and clothing. It doesn’t matter if your landlord has property insurance because that won’t cover your items.
Affordable renters insurance starts at just $5 a month and you can easily get a custom price from Toggle, a Farmers Insurance® company.
“By switching to Toggle, I actually saved $2/month and doubled my coverage from my previous insurance, plus my deductible is $400 less,” said Jeff from MO. Other members also say that it’s extremely easy to set up, approve of the fantastic rates, and love having the Pet Parent coverage option.
Your items are also covered by your policy limits wherever you go, so if a thief targets you at a cafe, or something gets stolen out of your car, etc, you have peace of mind!
Toggle serves the following 25 states: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin
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