27 Ways For How To Get Free Money

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Is it possible to get free money?

While the idea sounds far-fetched, the reality is there are many ways you can earn cash without doing much at all.

Granted, you aren’t going to make enough money to live off of, but you can earn more extra money than you might think.

So what are the best ways to get free cash?

From government assistance programs and unclaimed funds to getting free money online, there is no reason why you can’t get access to this cash.

Here is a complete list of how to get free money.

27 Easy Ways To Get Free Money

#1. Open Bank Accounts

The first way to get free money is to open a bank account.

Banks need deposits to turn around and use the funds for underwriting loans, which is how they make most of their money.

Many banks offer generous bonuses to entice people to open a new bank account.

I’ve seen bonuses from $200 up to $750!

Most times, you need to open an account with a certain amount of money and then set up a direct deposit, make a certain number of debit card transactions, or both.

Then after two or three months, you earn the bonus.

At this time, you can choose to close the account or keep it. 

If you live in a large metropolitan area, you can do this idea four or five times and quickly pocket $1,000 or more.

#2. Open Credit Cards

While many people start with the idea above, some graduate on to earning bonuses from credit cards.

This idea is great because it requires little or no effort.

Find the credit card with the best bonus, open the account, and put your daily spending on the card. 

• Read now: Here is how to make money with credit cards

Most credit cards require a certain spending amount for a couple of months to qualify for the bonus.

Once you get your free cash, you can open another credit card and do it again.

Of course, you need to ensure you don’t go into credit card debt using this tip, as the interest you earn would eliminate your free cash.

Also, some credit card companies are cracking down on this and only offer the bonus to new customers. 

The good news is after two years of not having an account, you qualify as a new customer again.

#3. Rakuten

Here is another way to earn free money by spending money.

This is perfect for you if you do a lot of online shopping.

Rakuten is a cashback site that pays to shop.

Create a free account and then find your favorite retailer. 

Click on the link, and you will be directed to their site, where you shop as usual.

A few days after your purchase, Rakuten will credit your account.

You might be wondering what the catch is.

There is no catch. 

Rakuten works similarly to an affiliate program.

For example, Amazon might pay Rakuten 10% for every sale it sends to Amazon.

They give you 2% of their commission to encourage you to shop through Rakuten.

They are one of my favorite rewards sites. Over the years, I’ve earned over $1,000 in cash back.

#4. Swagbucks

If you want a site that allows you many ways to earn free money, look no further than Swagbucks.

With this site, you can play games, complete online surveys, and complete online purchases for points.

But my favorite is watching videos.

Each task you do is worth a different amount of points.

Earn enough points, and you can redeem them for Paypal cash or gift cards to your favorite retailer.

Swagbucks even has a referral program that allows you to earn points for referring friends.

#5. Honey

Honey is another way to save money on your online purchases.

Install the free browser extension, and Honey will alert you to coupons or deals when you shop online. 

All you have to do is click the “apply coupon” button, and you save on your purchase.

#6. Upside

Gas prices can do tremendous damage to your monthly budget.

Luckily there is Upside.

This app lets you earn free cash when you buy gas.

Download the app and look for participating gas stations in your area.

You will see the cashback amount they are offering.

If you see an offer for $0.10, you earn this on every gallon of gas you buy.

The app has become so popular they now offer cash back at restaurants too.

You can cash out your earnings for PayPal cash once you earn $10.

Another great bonus is they pay you a referral bonus when others sign up for the app using your referral link.

You not only earn this bonus but also earn $0.01 for every gallon of gas they buy.

The best trick here is to create your free account and refer your spouse. 

It’s a simple way to earn money quickly.

#7. Capital One Shopping

Capital One Shopping works just like Honey, applying coupons and discounts when online shopping.

Once you download the extension or app on your phone, it works in the background, helping you to save.

#8. Survey Junkie

If you enjoy learning about new products and giving your input, making free money with survey sites could be for you.

Survey Junkie offers many surveys for you to complete and earn cash for.

Once you earn enough to meet the minimum withdrawal amount, you can have the cash transferred to your PayPal account.

The critical thing to understand with surveys is you will not get rich completing them.

At most, you can expect $100 a month or so in free money.

But if you enjoy them, they are a great option.

I completed surveys a lot, and the money I earned offset my monthly grocery bill.

#9. MyPoints

MyPoints is very similar to Swagbucks, as you can earn free money by playing games, watching videos, taking surveys, and shopping online.

The points you earn vary by task, and you can redeem points for gift cards.

#10. PrizeRebel

Earn free money for completing surveys with PrizeRebel.

They offer various surveys, each with a different payment amount.

While they haven’t been around the longest, they have made a name for themselves for what they offer.

#11. HealthyWage

Do you want free money to encourage you to be healthier?

Look no further than HealthyWage.

Set a weight loss goal and place a wager on a monthly bet. You get your money back plus extra cash if you meet your goal.

If you don’t meet your goal, you lose your money.

#12. Inbox Dollars

Inbox Dollars is another survey site that pays you to complete surveys. 

The payment amount is similar to other survey sites, and you can redeem for PayPal money once you have $15 in your account.

If surveys interest you, I recommend you use my hack to boost the amount of money you earn.

I show you how to research the top sites and open up accounts with each.

This allows you to maximize your time and the amount of free money you can earn.

• Read now: Here is how to get the most money from online surveys

#13. Dosh

Dosh is an awesome cashback app that can help you save while you shop! 

All you have to do is link your credit or debit card to the app, then shop at any supported retailer to earn between 2% and 5% cash back on every purchase. 

Plus, there are plenty of popular retailers, like Mobil, CVS, Mattress Firm, and even local coffee shops!

Dosh also has a referral program that allows you to earn an additional $5 for every friend you refer to the app. 

Your friend will also get a welcome bonus, so it’s a total win-win situation!

#14. Acorns

Acorns is a unique idea for free money.

It is an investing app allowing you to invest just $5.

But that’s not the best part.

They also offer a roundup feature that rounds up your everyday purchases and transfers the spare change into your Acorns account to invest.

Acorns also offers cash back at select retailers.

When you shop at these stores, Acorns will put cash back into your account.

For example, if you earn 3% cash back at Walmart and spend $97.25, Acorns will deposit $2.92 into your account.

This is in addition to the $0.75 you deposit from rounding up your purchases.

#15. Rocket Money

Rocket Money is an app that helps you to save money on your monthly subscriptions and bills.

Signing up is free, and Rocket Money will review your spending and suggest subscriptions to cancel.

If you want Rocket Money to do the work for you, they take a cut of your annual savings.

They will even look over your cable bill as well.

#16. Solitaire Cash

Did you know you can win money playing games?

Solitaire Cash is one app that allows this.

If you love solitaire, this game is for you.

They have free games where you earn points and ones that allow you to win free money.

Other games have you putting money down to play, with a larger jackpot for the top winners.

They also have multiple specials daily, allowing you more ways to earn cash.

#17. Bingo Cash

If solitaire isn’t your thing, but bingo is, look into Bingo Cash.

You earn money playing and winning bingo. 

Like with solitaire, you play with points or money, and winners get paid cash.

They have done a great job making the game interactive in that you are doing more than just trying to get BINGO.

#18. Mistplay

Mistplay is a trendy game that allows you to earn Amazon and Visa gift cards.

Many people swear by this game, not only because it is fun to play but because you can make easy money playing it.

#19. Earn Free Money With Junk Mail

What if I told you you could get free money from your junk mail?

You might think this is a scam, but it’s not.

The Small Business Knowledge Center collects junk mail and spam email for research purposes.

They have you ship it postage-paid for physical mail, so there is no cost.

While you won’t have the extra cash immediately, you can expect to make $20 every eight weeks.

• Read now: Learn how to get free samples by mail without surveys

#20. Receipt Hog

Receipt Hog is a great way to earn money, and all you do is scan your receipts.

The number of coins you earn varies for each receipt but ranges between 5 and 20 coins.

Collect enough coins and redeem them for PayPal money or a Visa or Amazon gift card.

#21. CoinOut

CoinOut is another receipt scanning app to use.

You earn coins for every receipt you scan and can earn more coins by connecting your email account so that online purchase receipts can be scanned.

You redeem your coins for PayPal cash.

#22. Fetch Rewards

Fetch is another receipt scanning app that earns you at least 25 points per receipt.

And that’s not all. If your receipt includes a purchase that’s part of one of their special promos, you can earn even more points. 

Once you’ve earned enough points, you can redeem them for free gift cards or PayPal cash.

And here is a bonus trick I do: Download and use all three receipt apps I list and scan the same receipt into all three apps to triple the points you earn!

#23. Free Government Assistance

Getting government help can be an absolute lifesaver for those struggling to make ends meet. 

While the process may seem daunting initially, several programs and resources are available to low income families that can help with things like food, housing, healthcare, and more. 

Whether signing up for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) or applying for state-funded programs like Medicaid, there are plenty of options to help offset the costs of daily living. 

By taking advantage of these resources, low income households can find the support they need to keep their heads above water and work towards a brighter future.

The best route is to reach out to non-profits in your local area. They can direct you to services near you to go for help.

From them, reach out to your state, as many states have different programs for those who need financial help.

• Read now: Learn how to get free food with no money

#24. Get Help Paying Bills

You don’t have to fall behind if you struggle to pay your bills. 

A quick phone call could be your lifesaver.

Many companies offer payment plans and other credits for low income families to take advantage of.

For example, many utilities participate in state programs to help make heating and cooling costs more affordable.

These programs are here to help you, so don’t be shy to take advantage of them.

• Read now: Use these tips to slash your monthly bills to the bone and save thousands

#25. Earn Free Cash For Contributing To Your 401k

Another simple way to get free money and build wealth is to contribute to your 401k.

This assumes your employer offers a match.

In this case, your employer might match your first 10% of contributions with 5% of their own.

It might not sound like a lot of money now, but it will grow over time thanks to compound interest.

This means the free money your employer gives you can grow into tens of thousands of dollars.

#26. Search For Unclaimed Money

All states have a website to help you find money that is yours, but the issuer cannot pay you.

You may have moved to a new address, or a loved one passed away, so the company is having difficulty issuing payment.

What types of payment?

It could be money left over from a closed bank account, life insurance proceeds, or a refund on health insurance.

If you are owed unclaimed funds, you fill out the form online to start the process. 

You can use the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA) to start your search.

#27. Free Money For Small Business Owners

Small businesses are often strapped for funds and looking for ways to keep their businesses growing. 

One way to do this is to take advantage of the free money available to them. 

Many organizations offer small businesses grants, loans, and other financial help. 

These resources can help with everything from startup costs to expanding operations. 

One of the best places to start is with local government organizations or non-profits. 

These groups often have government programs that offer money specifically designed to help small businesses succeed.

Avoiding Free Money Scams

Free money scams are a genuine concern, but there are ways to prevent them. 

First and foremost, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. 

Here are a couple of warning signs to pay attention to:

• Be wary of unsolicited emails or phone calls promising free money or prizes. 
• Never give out personal information to someone you don’t know or trust. 
• Don’t be swayed by high-pressure sales tactics or urgent deadlines. 
• Do your research and check the legitimacy of any offers before proceeding. 

Remember, there is no such thing as a free lunch, and any legitimate opportunities for free money will require effort, time, and possibly even a small investment. 

Stay vigilant and protect yourself from scams by never making a quick decision.

Think everything through first, and then decide.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I get free money right now?

The best way to get free money now differs for each person.

If you are struggling financially, the best thing you can do for yourself is seek government assistance.

If you want cash now, the fastest option is playing games. The more you play, the more you free money you can win.

From there, shopping online using the extensions is a great option. 

Should I get a cash advance or a payday loan?

If you are struggling financially and need money now, consider a cash advance or a payday loan.

These are bad choices because of the sky-high interest they charge.

You are better off asking for money from friends and family or calling the people you own money and asking for a payment plan.

While getting cash using either service is simple and fast, you are only putting yourself into more financial trouble, making it harder to dig out of.

Is taking cash or getting free gift cards a better option?

Some of the ideas on this list allow you to convert your points into free PayPal money or get gift cards.

Many people wonder which is the better option.

The truth is, there is no best choice all the time.

You have to do the math to see which is the best deal.

On most sites where you earn points, the point value is $0.01 per point.

So if getting $25 in PayPal cash is equivalent to 25,000, this is worth it.

The same is true with gift cards.

Where gift cards shine is sometimes the sites offer a discount to get a $25 gift card for 22,500 points.

This values your points higher and is a better use.

What should I do with the free money I get?

The best option varies and depends on your situation.

If you are in debt, then use the extra money to pay down your debt.

If you are in a financial bind or have a low income, use it to help make ends meet.

If your finances are in good shape, put the money into a savings account or invest it so it can grow.

• Read now: Discover the best ways to get free gift cards

Final Thoughts

As you can see, there are many ways for how to get free money.

The trick to making free cash a reality for you is to figure out the things you enjoy doing or the things that require the least amount of work and do those.

For example, if you love playing online games, then focus on those apps. 

On the other hand, if you need financial assistance, look into Rocket Money or government programs to help lower your utility bills to help with saving money.

The last thing you should do is think free cash is not possible.

You can. You just have to be smart about it so you don’t become a victim of a scam.