15 Things to Do When Those $600 Extra Unemployment Checks Stop Next Month

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For those out of work, the extra $600 weekly unemployment checks have been vital. But those benefits will be expiring July 31st.

There hasn’t been any confirmation yet if the benefits will extend so be prepared if the extra money does get cut off. For now, resist the urge to spend (if you can) and budget like mad.

In the meantime, while you’re looking for a job or just waiting for your previous one to start up again, try these methods below to make some extra side money. Some are self-explanatory, while some are pretty offbeat. Anything that can help is worth trying!

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2. 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!

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5. 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!

6. Work From Home: Earn $20 Per Hour to Start Teaching English To Kids Online

The past few months have been rough on Americans and their livelihoods. If you’ve been considering a side gig to supplement your primary income or need a job working from home, teach English online to kids ages 5-13!

EF Online (Education First) is a teaching platform helping to connect students in China and native English speakers for 20+ years with their global network of 600+ schools. You’ll experience a flexible schedule where you can work from home, earn up to $20/hr to start, with all lesson materials are provided. While teaching experience is preferred, it’s not required. Earn extra rewards the more you teach!

Here are the requirements:

  • Must be a native English speaker living in the U.S.A with a Bachelor’s degree in any field
  • By the start of your teacher’s contract term, you must earn and submit documentation of a 40 Hour TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certification (or higher)
  • Agree to an online background check (no cost to you)
  • Be available to work during a set range of hours
  • Have a solid wifi connection and headset
  • And lastly, be passionate!

Classes are 25 minutes each and since EF Online encourages repeat classes, you might be teaching the same students regularly. In addition, parents can book you up to 6 months in advance leading to a more stable income.

If you enjoy interacting with kids, this is definitely a rewarding and flexible gig from home!

Note: The following U.S. states are excluded from this gig – CA, IN, MA, NH, NJ, NY, and IL.

7. The Money App Backed by Celebrities That Saves AND Invests for You

Acorns has caught the attention (and their investments) of Blackrock, Paypal, and major names like Dwayne Johnson and more. Plus, they have about 10 million all-time customers!

That’s because Acorns automatically saves and invests your spare change from every purchase with the Round-Ups® feature. You’ll get a diversified portfolio picked by experts based on your investment profile.

You only need $5 to start investing, and when you set up recurring investments, you’ll get a $20 bonus!

Get started in under 5 minutes with no financial experience or expertise needed. You’ll also get access to retirement, investing for families, rewards, and more based on your subscription plan.

With no hidden fees, Acorns makes it easy to invest in your future with your spare change!



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