Find more money without more work
Need extra money for that last drink or a business class upgrade? How about getting this extra debt under control? Below are 30 smart ways to find extra money without finding extra work.
1. Get better insurance
Insurance is expensive and hassle – like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole – but it doesn’t have to be that way. That’s why we teamed up with lemonade.
Lemonade makes it a breeze to get the perfect insurance coverage, whether you’re a homeowner, pet owner, life planner, car commuter, or renter. They’re as friendly as they are charitable, and here’s the kicker: Lemonade lets you donate unused rewards to a charity of your choice.
So far they have helped support incredible causes like Citymeals on Wheels, Code to Inspire, March for Our Lives and one of our other favorites, The Trevor Project.
Are you ready to make insurance more accessible and do some good? Learn more and save with Lemonade today.
2. Cutting credit card payments
Ready to manage those pesky credit card payments? The Debt lasso method is your trusted tool to negotiate lower interest rates and free up more cash to pay off your debt faster.
Consider this: The average American can expect to spend $5,551 per credit card and pay a whopping 16.5% interest. However, if you use the debt lasso method to reduce that interest rate to 0%, you would see an additional $916 in your pocket each year. That’s almost an extra thousand to put into your credit card account! Imagine how much faster you could move into the debt-free sunset with this kind of cash.
So how quickly could you be out of debt with $1,000 more per year? Let’s find out.
3. Get paid for your thoughts
Do you have any opinions? Of course you do! Now let’s turn these hot insights into cash. Survey sites are basically begging for your dime, and the best part? They will actually pay you for it. Our top pick? Survey Junkie– because who doesn’t want to get paid to watch videos, review things, take surveys, and even shop (yes, seriously, you can get paid to shop)?
Here’s a sneaky little pro tip: Set up a routine to earn $1 to $3 a day while watching your favorite shows. You could pocket $350 to $1,000 more per year just for sharing your oh-so-wise opinion. That’s a sweet side benefit for the same effort it takes to make popcorn in the microwave.
But wait, there’s more! If you’re looking for even more ways to make money, check out Swagbucks. Not only do you get paid to share your opinion, but you also earn when you shop online. And let’s face it: we all shop online. So why not get paid for it or get a hefty cashback?
Are you ready to make money from your brilliant opinions? Sign up for Survey Junkie and Swagbucks today.
4. Optimize grocery shopping
- Step 1: Channel your inner grandma and subscribe to the Sunday paper. Yes, these old relics are still full of coupons. Grab the scissors and start cutting like it’s 1995. Trust me, old-school works.
- Step 2: Become the Sherlock Holmes of grocery stores. Visit your grocery store’s websites and find out about in-store sales. Get ready to hunt down these discounts like they’re the last snacks at a party.
- Step 3: Plan your weekly menu like a boss. Create a thrift store masterpiece using your coupon stash, the latest deals, and a quick look in your fridge. The goal? Buy little to nothing for the total price and waste absolutely no food. You are now a food saving ninja.
Two loyal companions in your search: The Honey extension And Ibotta. Before you shop, stop by Ibotta to see if there are any secret discounts awaiting the items in your cart. If Target is your grocery haven, check out their coupons too. Fan of whole foods? See what discounts are available – just because it’s fancy doesn’t mean you have to pay fancy prices.
All that? The same strategy helped us save over $30,000 on our grocery bill in a single year. Who knew saving money could feel so good?
5. Use a menu and shopping list
Become a fridge detective before you even think about going to the store. Look at what’s already hiding there – has there been anything frightening since last week? The half-used bag of spinach or the leftover tortillas? Instead of turning them into unrecognizable science projects, make them the stars of your weekly menu. Make use of what you already have before it becomes something only a compost bin could love.
Once you’ve planned your breakfast, lunch, snacks, and dinner based on the ingredients you already have in your kitchen, it’s time to get strategic. Make your shopping list like a savings pro, adding only the essentials you don’t already have. Stick with the list! Your mission is to save, not to spontaneously buy that fancy cheese you don’t need (okay, maybe a guilty pleasure, but let’s not exaggerate).
Now it’s time to go to the store, and here’s the golden rule: Stick to your list like it’s your new religion. Walk the aisles purposefully, armed with your vouchers and reusable bags. Bundle your coupons by store and show them off like a coupon ninja. Don’t forget to grab the bag discount! It may seem small, but every penny adds up. You’re the frugal version of a Pokémon master, collecting savings everywhere you go.
6. 21st century style grocery store
Downloading Ibotta to your phone is like having a personal savings assistant in your pocket. With just a few taps and a quick scan of your receipts, you can instantly unlock discounts and rebates on items you purchase at your favorite stores, restaurants, grocery stores, and movie theaters. The beauty of Ibotta? These savings can go directly toward paying off your debt and turning your everyday purchases into small victories for your financial health.
For even more savings, delve into the world of online discounts with RetailMeNot, SlickDeals, and Entertainment.com (which, trust me, has nothing to do with that clunky coupon book your mom used to carry). These websites offer a plethora of discounts and discounts on things that you have already wanted to buy. With just a little browsing, you can save money on everything from clothing to household items—and put those extra savings directly toward paying off your credit card debt.
Finally, make sure you install the Honey extension on your computer. Honey is like a magical little elf that automatically applies discounts, free shipping, and special offers to your online purchases without you having to lift a finger. Gone are the days of frantically searching for promo codes. Honey does all the work for you, leaving you more time to bask in the glow of your newfound savings while making your online shopping sprees a little less bad-feeling.
7. Grocery store once a week
We’ve all been there: You drive home and have no idea what’s lurking in the fridge, so you stop by the store “just to pick up a few things.” 20 minutes later, you have a shopping cart full of random items, a menu you made on the fly, and somehow you’ve spent $50 on a one-time meal (oh, and half of that? You already had that at home, but now it’s too late). Each of these little trips will crush your grocery budget until there are only crumbs left.
Trust us, we did it too. But seriously, don’t make the same mistake.
8. Get paid to shop (for others)
We stumbled upon Instacart by accident, and let us tell you, it’s a game changer. Not only do we save time, but we also avoid sneaky impulse purchases (because let’s be honest, who hasn’t thrown a $10 cheese into their shopping cart just because it looked funny?). No more aimless wandering through the hallways; With Instacart, we can get in and out without ever entering the store.
But here’s the kicker: Our time could mean cash in your pocket. Instacart is the perfect side hustle after school, work, or on the weekend. A few trips here and there could easily add an extra $100-$200 to your monthly wallet. That’s a lot of slack – or better yet, a nice chunk of progress towards your next financial goal. So if you’re looking for an easy way to make money while running errands, sign up as an Instacart shopper and start making money
9. Use cash
It may sound old-fashioned, but using cash for everyday expenses is like tapping into a secret money-saving superpower. Seriously, people who pay with cash spend 12 to 18% less than those who swipe their credit card like they’re on a game show. Case in point: McDonald’s says the average credit card order costs $7, but only $4.50 if someone pays cash. Turns out the extra Big Mac isn’t so tempting when you’re handed real dollar bills. So if you want to save 12-18% without even trying, start paying cash!
Of course, cash works even better if you have a budget. Once you know exactly how much you’re spending, it’s easy to get the cash you need on the way home from work or before you leave. It’s like having a built-in spending limit – you know, without feeling guilty about the credit card later.
10. Save money on online purchases
Wouldn’t it be amazing if you magically saved money on every online purchase without lifting a finger? Well, get ready to meet your new shopping friend: honey. This little browser extension is like a personal deal detective, looking for the best coupon codes while you’re busy adding items to your shopping cart. Whether you’re on Amazon or another favorite site, Honey pounces on you with discount codes like it’s on a mission to make your wallet happy.
Even better? It’s completely free! And as if saving wasn’t sweet enough, Honey also lets you earn points towards gift cards when you shop at select stores. So you’re basically getting paid to shop smarter – talk about winning the Internet.
11. Rock your credit score
Let’s face it: Having good (or even great) credit can save you a lot of money over the course of your life. Whether it’s the interest on credit cards, loans or your mortgage, the better your score, the more cash you keep in your pocket instead of handing it over to the banks. We’ve even helped people improve their credit scores and then worked with them to use the debt lasso method to curb those credit card payments.
So how do you improve your credit score? It’s simple: have a plan. And no, “hoping for the best” doesn’t count.
Step one: Know your credit score. Step two: Understand what makes up your credit score. Step three: Take action to improve. Start by registering Credit karma to track your score with no hassle (and no cost). Then take it one step further Experian Boostallowing you to increase your score by 5 to 50 points in just 15 minutes. Yes, it’s so quick – like microwave popcorn.
Once you sign up for Credit Karma, everything runs smoothly. All you need is your social security number, phone number and address to get started. Once you’re logged in, you’ll see your credit score and a convenient breakdown of all the factors that affect it, like your total credit, payment history, current accounts, and available credit. It’s like a cheat sheet for your financial life.
Credit Karma also offers a list of steps to improve your score – you don’t have to tackle them all at once, just take them slowly and you’ll see the number start to rise. Are you ready to put your money to work for you? Sign up for Credit Karma for free today. Your future self will thank you.
12. Reduce all your expenses
You’re not the type to make big, dramatic gestures, but you do have a knack for subtle, strategic moves. It’s time to channel your inner CEO and try corporate-style cost cutting. Big companies love saving a whopping 4% across all departments – why not do the same with your personal finances? It’s like cutting your budget a little, without the drama. Need help figuring out where to start?
Start by identifying the 1-3 expenses that are secretly sabotaging your money game. These little outliers can be the biggest culprits, and simply cutting or reducing them can make your financial life much easier.
Once you’ve sorted these out, consider cutting a small percentage of all your expenses – without going overboard. This method frees up additional money that you can use toward your larger financial goals. It’s a cost cut for businesses, but make it more personal – and a lot less painful.
13. Give something back
Do you have a pile of things and clothes that you have never touched? You know what to do: return. Them. All.
Seriously, stop letting that sweater you wanted to wear or that device still in the box haunt you. Stores like Amazon, Nordstrom, Home Depot, and Target have return policies so generous that they might as well give you a hug as you leave. Ideally you still have the labels and receipt, if not, just bring the debit or credit card you used and voilà – the refund is made.
Now go ahead, clean up and get your money back. And next time, do yourself a favor and save those receipts like golden tickets.
14. Receive gifts
No random stuff to return, but sitting on a pile of half-used gift cards with only a few cents to a few dollars left? Jackpot! This is found money and it’s just waiting for you at PlasticJungle.com. Sure, you only get about 80% of the value, but let’s face it – that’s 80% more than you had, and it’s not like you’re going to buy anything useful with the remaining $1.37 at Chili’s.
So go ahead, redeem them and turn that forgotten plastic into real money. After all, it’s better than spending it on more things you don’t need.
15. Lower student loan payments
One of the easiest ways to have more money in your pocket is to stop throwing money away on the extremely high interest rates on your student loans – whether they are public or private. Take an example of our niece who used it SoFi She needs to refinance her student loans and is now putting an extra $200 back into her wallet every month like a boss.
Over the next ten years, she will save over $25,000. That’s enough for a dream vacation, a new car or about a million delicious coffees. Now imagine what you could do with this kind of cash – don’t just imagine it. Refinance those loans and watch the savings pile up.
16. Watch your money
Experts agree: just paying attention to your money is half the battle when it comes to managing it better. If you have no idea how much you’re taking home or where it’s all going, it’s like trying to steer a ship blindfolded – it won’t end well.
To get a realistic view of your cash flow, try exercises like tracking your expenses, reducing unnecessary expenses and, dare I say it, budgeting. Yes, I know, budgeting sounds about as fun as watching paint dry, but trust me, it’s the key to keeping your money under control and working for you – not the other way around.
17. Increase W-4 Allowances
Your W-4 is like a nifty little tool that allows your employer to prepay your taxes to the IRS. A portion of every paycheck goes directly to Uncle Sam to cover your income taxes, and for most people that means a sweet tax refund between February and April. But here’s the kicker: When you get that refund, you’ve given the IRS an interest-free loan. Who does that? Nobody – except you, apparently.
Now, if you’d rather keep more of your money (and not act as the IRS’s personal piggy bank), ask your employer for a new W-4. Increase your tax allowances so you pay less taxes throughout the year. Keep in mind that this may shrink or eliminate the shiny refund, but the extra money in each paycheck can directly help reduce your credit card debt.
Of course, before you get started on your W-4, it’s a good idea to do this Chat with an accountant to find the right balance. Because while it’s one thing to give the IRS an interest-free loan, it’s another thing entirely to owe them money come tax season.
18. Cut the string
Get all the Golden Girls your heart desires with debt-free TV! But let’s say: What are the pros and cons of throwing the cord to the curb like the newest queen of RuPaul’s Drag Race?
For many of us, cutting the umbilical cord feels as horrible as the day Britney shaved her head. But let’s be honest: At a cost of over $150 per month, sticking with cable TV is essentially burning money, especially because you only watch a handful of shows out of the 36 million channels offered to you. In the meantime, your real favorites — whether it’s the Golden Girls marathons or the latest tea on RuPaul — are probably chilling on Amazon Prime, Hulu, or Netflix anyway. So why not say goodbye to your overpriced cable bill and hello to debt-free TV viewing?
19. Reduce your bills
Meet TrimYour new financial friend who will do the dirty work of negotiating your bills and canceling those sneaky subscriptions you keep trying to give up. It’s like a personal assistant, only much cheaper. All you have to do is download the app, connect it to your bank accounts, and let Trim do the work for you – cancel unwanted recurring charges and pay your bills while you sit back and relax.
Trim users typically save between $5 and $50 per month, and yes, Trim takes a 25% discount on your first month savings. But here’s the kicker: These savings continue to flow month after month. So at the end of the year you’ll have between $58.75 and $587.50 back in your pocket – even after Trim’s cut.
Oh, and if you’re hungry for more, you can upgrade to Trim Premium to save even more money. When you open a high-yield savings account with Trim, you’ll earn a 4% annual return on the first $2,000 you save. So not only do you save money, but you also ensure that it grows. It’s like financial magic.
Are you ready to let Trim do the heavy lifting? Check them out today.
20. Customize your insurance correctly
Car insurance: the recurring expense we all love to hate. Most of us simply dismiss it as one of life’s unavoidable costs, like taxes or forgetting your password, and we rarely bother to look for a better deal. Why? Because it feels like way too much effort. But here’s the thing: it’s actually not that hard!
In just a few minutes you could save hundreds by shopping at a cheaper price. No fees, no headaches – just real savings. On average, you could save up to $720 per year on your car insurance bill. That’s cash you could be using for something a lot more fun (or, you know, more responsible… like paying off debt).
So don’t settle. Get a better deal and keep the extra money where it belongs.
21. Sell things
Let’s face it – most of us have way more stuff than we actually need. Do you remember that fancy food processor you got for Christmas a few years ago and haven’t touched since? Or the mountain of books you’ve collected that you swear you’ll read one day? And let’s not forget the “gently worn” clothing you’ve been saving for when you no longer need to carry the extra weight. (We’ve all been there.)
It’s time to sell it, sell it, sell it! Two of our favorite places to dump the dusty junk are Decluttr.com and Swap.com. Not only can you sell your unwanted items, but Swap is also a treasure trove to score used branded clothing at significant discounts. So clean up the mess, make some money, and maybe even get a few wardrobe upgrades along the way.
22. Get a raise
You might not be excited about taking on a side job to make extra money, but guess what? You may be sitting on a pile of extra money at your current job – you just need to dig for it. It’s not easy and it won’t happen overnight, but it’s time to earn it and, more importantly, ask for it. Yes, I’m talking about a raise!
Think of it like finding hidden treasure—except instead of a map, you use your hard work and a timely conversation with your boss. You deserve it, so go get the extra money.
23. Rent your space
If someone is willing to pitch a tent in someone else’s backyard – don’t worry, we’ll keep it that way – you might just have more space than you think! While it may not be your style to let a guest camp out in your backyard, would you like to rent out that extra room in your house or the space above the garage? Now let’s talk.
A perfect option is MisterBandB, the largest network of gay-friendly rooms, apartments and houses available for one night or longer. It’s a great way to make extra money while being part of a welcoming community. And hey, if you prefer the mainstream route, Airbnb, with its endless stream of travelers, has you covered too.
So why leave that extra space when you could be making some serious money from it?
24. Change banks
If your current bank is charging you fees – ATM fees, low balance fees, etc. – it’s time to call it a day and move on. Seriously, you deserve better. Many banks out there (even virtual ones!) won’t penalize you for simply existing. No matter your banking needs, one thing is certain: you won’t have to pay any fees.
Sure, the “freer” the account, the lower the savings rate might be, but hey – it’s better to keep your hard-earned money in your pocket than hand it over to your bank just for the privilege of using your cash to be allowed, right?
25. Rent your car
Do you have a car that’s just sitting there collecting dust and maybe some bird droppings? Time to put the bad boy to work! Use Turo.com, JustshareIt.com, or GetAround.com to rent it out to people who actually need it. It’s like turning your car into a part-time Uber driver – without making small talk or navigating strange GPS routes. So let your car take the wheel (literally) and make some money on the side.
26. Sell your recordings
If you’re even a casual photography hobbyist, it’s time to start making money with those iPhone or Android snaps! Sell your photos to Shutterstock, Photoshelter, Fotolia, DreamsTime or iStock. Yes, your pictures could be out there and making money instead of just sitting in your camera roll next to all the memes you have saved.
But here’s the deal: To truly sell photos online, you have to master the beast that is Instagram. Trust us; Instagram is part art, part science. And hey, most artists are pretty good at science, right? It’s like balancing the perfect filter with knowing the exact time of day to post to receive the most love possible. You have this.
27. Get the savings
Don’t sleep on your savings! Instead of just claiming a tax deduction for your IRA or company-sponsored retirement contributions, consider claiming this credit instead. The Saver Credit can reduce your tax bill by up to $2,000 – yes, two grand! But before you high-five yourself, talk to your accountant to make sure you’re doing it right (because no one wants an angry IRS letter).
Now that you have 20 new ways to get extra money without working overtime, you have 20 more ways to pay off your pesky credit card debt faster. Be smart with your newfound money and soon it will be working for you instead of disappearing into the black hole of interest payments.
Need help with this clever tax trick? Click here to find an accountant who can help you.
28. Get cheap medicine
YouDrugstore is like the VIP pass for drugs at Canadian prices for Americans. Yes, you read that right – Canadian prices, right? From the land of maple syrup and civility, but with significant savings. Registration and shipping? Completely free for orders over $100. So why pay extra when you can already save on medications?
Whether you need the usual prescriptions or something rare that belongs in a medical drama, YouDrugstore has you covered with both brand name and generic options.
So why wait? Join YouDrugstore today and save like a Canadian.
29. Buy cheap health insurance
Finding affordable, easy-to-understand health insurance doesn’t have to feel like navigating a maze blindfolded. With just a few clicks and after answering a few simple questions, you can get a curated list of health insurance plans from top providers like Cigna, BlueCross BlueShield and Kaiser – all tailored to you and your family’s needs.
Health insurance is far too important to put off, so don’t delay. Start searching today and protect yourself before you panic again: “I googled my symptoms.”
Here’s more information to help you find extra money: