There are plenty of investments you can make with your money. Mutual funds, stocks, bonds, exchange-traded funds, and the list goes on. But don’t get so caught up in financial terminology that you overlook the single most important investment you need- yourself!
Outside influences have their say, but you’re ultimately in control of your future. The choices you make, the attitudes you hold, and the advice you take all shape your journey, for better or worse.
So stop worrying about what you see on Facebook and Instagram or watch on YouTube. It’s time to focus on your own life and understand why investing in yourself is truly the GOAT (greatest of all time!) investment you can make.
1. Improve Your Credit Scores Instantly For Free
Having a low credit score can impact a lot in your life, like the ability to rent an apartment, get a car, and even a cellphone plan.
That’s why it’s important to maintain positive credit card payment history and to keep credit utilization ratio in check (not using more than 30% of your credit line on any credit card).
Regardless of what your score is currently at though, everyone can use a boost to their 3 digit number, and Experian® wants to help.
A new feature called Experian Boost™ can help instantly improve your credit scores for free.
Experian does this by adding your positive payment history from utility and telecom bills to your Experian credit file. This is huge, because previously, your gas, water, electricity, TV, internet, and phone bills that you already pay for didn’t affect your credit. Now it does and to your benefit of potentially increasing your credit scores!
It’s simple to start, and all you need is a free Experian Boost membership and a few minutes to connect read-only permission to the online bank accounts you use to pay bills. Experian will check only utility and telecom payments and get you credit for the payments you’ve already been paying.
This process doesn’t hurt your credit at all and you can choose to remove the boost if you want.
Compared to expensive and drawn out credit repair services, this new alternative is the fastest and no-cost way to instantly improve your credit scores.
*Results may vary, see website for details.
2. Get Smarter – One Million People Start Their Day With This
While in college and preparing for the business world, Alex Lieberman and Austin Rief realized their classmates all felt the same way: traditional business news was dry, dense and boring. Their fellow millennials wanted to keep up with what was happening but didn’t have a news source that spoke to them.
That’s why they started Morning Brew – the free daily email that delivers the latest news from Wall Street to Silicon Valley. Written in a conversational tone and sprinkled with punchy humor, it makes reading the news actually enjoyable.
From Elon Musk’s latest move to the stock market’s highs and lows, Morning Brew covers the top news shaping the business world. With a touch of culture and lifestyle stories, you’ll get up-to-speed on what you need to know in just five minutes.
Find out why over 1 million people start their day with Morning Brew — sign up for free here.
3. Cash Out on The Everyday Things You Do Online
How much time do you think you spend online? Most likely more than you think.
The average American spends 24 hours online a week(*), but for me, I know I definitely surpass this since I have to be online for work. Along with post-office hours shopping, browsing, reading, it’s rare that I’m not online.
If it’s the same for you, capitalize on all that online time by earning points you can redeem towards gift cards, and even better, cash.
You can do it with Swagbucks ( iOS or Android), a free rewards program for the everyday things you do online.
Earn points by
- Watching entertaining videos
- Shopping at your favorite retailers
- Searching the web
- Participating in surveys
- Playing fun trivia games
Then you can redeem for a large variety of gift cards (Amazon, Target, Walmart, Starbucks are popular) or my favorite, Paypal Cash and Visa Gift Cards. Cash out in as little as $3!
You’ll even get a $5 bonus (iOS or Android) when you earn 2,500 SB points within your first 60 days.
The best way to earn SB? Surveys. You can get up to 300 SB for each qualified one you participate in. While you obviously won’t get rich doing this, you can nab an extra $10-$20 a month on them.
Keeping your profile updated and doing the Daily To-Do List will also earn you extra SB. There are a lot of opportunities so you can cash out early and often!
4. Play Games & Boost Your Savings at the Same Time. Win-Win.
It’s okay to make something that could be boring, fun.
Go ahead and download Long Game Savings a savings app on iOS or Android that turns saving into a game.
Just play 1 game a day, and you could win cash daily.
Yes, it’s safe. Your money is FDIC-insured up to $250,000 and you can withdraw money at any time.
After setting up your savings account, you’ll be able to play quick games like Spin to Win, Flip Cards, Slot Machines, and more for chances to win money to increase your savings. Eons better than 0.01% interest rate.
It’s like you’re getting paid to save (iOS or Android) and it only takes less than a minute of your day to play. And there’s no judgment on playing too many games.
5. Meal Prep and Get Up to $240 Cash Back in Grocery Savings
Did you know that it’s 325% more expensive to eat out versus eating at home*? Maybe it’s time to make more trips to the grocery store instead.
You’ll be aware of all the ingredients in your meal, in addition, you’ll get paid just for shopping!
It’s simple. All you have to do is take a picture of your grocery receipt and Ibotta (iOS or Android) will pay you cash.
Here’s how it works:
Before you go to the store, search for your shopping list items in the Ibotta app. After your store visit, take a photo of your receipt to get cash back.
Ibotta is free to download on iOS or Android and you’ll also get up to $20 in Welcome Bonuses when you sign up!
Some offers we found:
- 25 cents back on any item
- $3 – $5 back on various wine
- $2 back on KIND Protein Bars
- 25 cents – $4 back on ice cream
- $2 back on Herbal Essence Haircare
Popular stores are Walmart and Target, but Ibotta also works at restaurants, online shopping sites, and at the bar! On average, active Ibotta users save up to $240 a year or more. What would you do with that extra money?
Welcome Bonus: Up to $20
Average savings a month: $20
What it could add up to in a year: $240
Additional Referral Earnings: $5 per referral
6. Invest in Your Right to Be Entertained – School Competitors and Ca$h In
When you want to take a 5-minute break, check out Solitaire Cube (iOS or Android), which is like regular Solitaire, except you get to play for real cash.
Is there a catch? Yes but not really. I tried playing for free when I first started but I realized it would take me forever to get the tickets I need to play for real cash. I gave up and deposited $25 last week and I’ve already won $120.
The game matches you with players of the same skill level, so you have a solid chance of winning. If you’re a good Solitaire player, you could win some serious cash, like Katie Nguyen who took home $380,984 last year as one of the Top 10 Solitaire Cube players! Or check out our latest interview with Amanda, a mom who won $6,000 cash and more.
So if you think you can handle playing some Solitaire Cube (iOS or Android) to win legit cash, definitely download this game for free.
Cash tournaments aren’t available in AZ, AR, CT, DE, FL, LA, ME, MD, MT, SC, SD, TN, IN.
7. Budget Easier with this App – Even if You Don’t Know How
If you have trouble budgeting, you’re not alone. Most people actually don’t know how to properly budget and that could possibly put them in debt.
Truebill (iOS or Android) easily helps you budget, even if you don’t know how to. Their simple to follow budgeting pulls your historical spending, organizes it, and allows you to clearly see your spending so you can set a target budget with context. (Aka you can see where you’re wasting money on).
Truebill’s five-star reviews come from people formerly bad at budgeting. Dawn H. said “LIFE CHANGING!!!! I was never able to save money or budget myself but with Truebill all the work is done for you! I am very grateful.”
Truebill (iOS or Android) will also alert you if you’re getting a little too spend-happy in your budgeted categories so you know when to curb it. Another user, Clee M. said “This app is 100% true in what it advertises. I am normally skeptical about connecting my bank info to apps. This app is completely safe and easy to use!”
It’s simple but actionable budgeting that anyone can follow and it’s free to use! Join the many users today and control your spending with Truebill!
8. Bought Something Online and Price Dropped? Zero Effort to Get $$ Back
We do a lot of price comparisons before we buy something. But after the purchase, it’s out of sight, out of mind.
That jacket you bought a few weeks ago, might have dropped $11 and you wouldn’t have even known. However, major online retailers actually offer price drop refunds, but who spends time keeping track of their previous purchases?
A free tool called Paribus cross-references their list of major retailers with your email receipts and gets you money back if there’s ever a qualifying price drop.
After the first initial set up, it’ll monitor for you aka zero effort on your part.
Your purchase from Target dropped $7? You’ll get $7 back. Your shoes from Zappos dropped $12? You’ll get $12 back.
Paribus is free to use and they don’t take a cut for getting your money back. Why isn’t everyone using this?
9. Buy Stuff Normally (Or Splurge) = Get Gift Cards You Actually Want
If you have room for 1 more app on your phone, then it needs to be this.
Actually, delete another app to make room for this one. It’s that good.
It’s called Drop, a free app for iOS or Android that gives you gift cards on stuff you already buy from your favorite stores and brands.
Your everyday purchases from Amazon, Trader Joe’s, and Walmart? You’ll get points for that. Points translate to gift cards so the more you collect, the more you can redeem!
The only thing you need to do is link any credit or debit card you usually use for buying stuff and that’s it! Drop (iOS or Android) will automatically recognize when you buy from your activated offers to reward.
There’s literally no downside to using this free app (iOS or Android) to get more gift cards. Use it on top of your loyalty points and credit card points for even more rewards!
LIMITED TIME OFFER: Use promo code SMARTWALLET to unlock 5,000 points ($5) automatically when you link your first card on Drop!
10. Up To 40% Cash Back Automatically on Purchases? Sign Us Up!
Saving money and getting cash back on purchases always sounds like a great idea – until you completely forget to take the steps to get the savings. There are SO many ways to save money while shopping, who can remember if it’s not automatic?
Rakuten (previously called Ebates) on iOS and Android can help you get cash back on everyday shopping as well as apparel, beauty, and more, automatically. With Rakuten, you don’t even have to upload your receipts after your purchases. They’ll send you simple push notifications when your favorite stores increase their cash back deals or have a good sale.
Offering simple one-tap savings with no points or fees helps ensure that you get the most out of your purchases. So, before buying anything, hop into the app (iOS and Android) to see if you can get up to 40% cash back at over 2,500 stores.
They also have an amazing referral program where you can earn $25 for each eligible friend. New members get a $10 bonus too!
11. Your Next New Favorite Beauty Subscription is Only $10 A Month
You owe it to yourself to feel awesome and for some, that’s feeling pretty inside and out. Go ahead and play with beauty but instead of constantly spending money on the next best thing and ending up with some half-used items, check out ipsy (iOS and Android).
ipsy (iOS and Android) is a monthly subscription service that includes 5 beauty items in a trendy makeup bag delivered directly to your door. Best part? It’s only $10 a month AND there’s free shipping.
On average, the items are valued at $45 or more. Additionally, it includes all the brands that beauty addicts know and love (MAC, Smashbox, Kiehl’s, Too Faced, and more) so you know you’re getting the products you’d probably buy anyway.
The products are also customized for you! During sign up, ipsy (iOS and Android) asks some beauty questions in a quick two-minute quiz that they use to personalize your beauty bag so you get the items you REALLY want.
12. The App That Helps Broke Millennials Invest Easily (+Get $10)
Investing sounds complicated but it doesn’t have to be.
And you don’t have to be rich either to play the investment game.
That’s why Acorns is a popular choice amongst millennials and anyone new to investing since they make it so easy.
For every purchase you make, Acorns automatically rounds it up to the nearest dollar and then saves & invests the difference into your Acorns account.
So, for instance, if you bought lunch for $10.50, Acorns will round it up and deposit $0.50 to the app’s savings account. Pretty simple, right? It can do this for every purchase.
Just connect Acorns to your credit/debit card and it’ll save automatically or you can manually choose which transactions to round up if you prefer.
Since roundups are less than $1 and basically spare change, you’ll barely notice the impact initially but over time it’ll grow to make a big difference. Acorns will continue to round up and save for you, while at the same time, investing those savings so that your portfolio can grow.
The very minor catch? It only costs $1 a month for accounts that have under $5,000. It’s way cheaper than an investment advisor.
Limited time only: New members that sign up will get a $10 bonus!
13. Get a Free $20 to Save On Your Power Bill in Just 2 Minutes
In an era of solar energy, plastic straw bans, and a harsh reality that our planet is dying, everyone is looking for new ways to save Mother Earth.
So how about saving the planet and cutting down costs at the same time? Arcadia Power makes it possible to do both for renters or homeowners.
It’s free to sign up and takes only two minutes! Arcadia Power will then automatically find you lower rates to reduce your power bill by up to 30%
And you’ll get a free $20 Amazon e-gift card when you connect a utility bill.
13 states have open energy markets that let you shop around to save. But since that can get complicated, Arcadia Power does the work to connect to local community solar projects, track the market, and negotiate lower rates for you. Not only are you helping the environment by using clean energy, but you’re lowering your bills too!
The 13 states with open energy markets are DC, DE, MA, MD, NH, NJ, RI, ME, OH, PA, NY, IL, CT. If you don’t live in those states, you can still offset your monthly consumption with 100% renewable energy sources with Arcadia Power.
When it comes to bill time, your utility company sends Arcadia Power your electric bill, (you get a copy too), which they’ll pay with your card on file, and you’ll see how much you saved and how much clean energy you helped generate. No late bills!
There are no changes to your energy service and no credit card fees, just a cheaper bill and cleaner energy!
*Paribus compensates us when you sign up for Paribus using the links we provided.
Some of the sponsored links that appear on this page are from companies that offer investment advisory services. They compensate us; for details on our compensation arrangements, please click here.
