12 Easy, Proven Ways To Earn

 How To Get Free Money: 12 Easy, Proven Ways To Earn 

David-Prado / Getty Images/ Stock photo When you need extra money, you often don’t have to look very far. Whether you need to pay the rent, a student loan or another bill — or you just like free money — these 12 simple ways to earn money can boost your bank account balance. Explore: Your Biggest Money Etiquette Questions Answered More: Should You Still Buy a Home in Today’s Market? 12 Ways To Get Free Money In most cases, to get free money, you provide something of value and get something in return. You might open an account or download an app, or you might give your time and effort in filling out an application. In return, you can get money — or, perhaps, phone, internet or utility discounts. If you think about it, that’s kind of like free money because it’s money you would’ve had to spend otherwise. Now that you know that these and other opportunities to earn free money are out there, it’s time to find out where to look. Take Our Poll: How Do You Typically Split the Restaurant Bill? Earn Rewards or Stock Investments Free money offers can boost your savings or checking account balance. The only thing you need to do is move your funds, and many banks can handle that electronically. Here are some ways to take advantage of rewards or stock investments. 1. Take Advantage of Bank Promotions One of the ways banks attract new business is by offering promotions. Just open an account and meet the promotion requirements to earn a bonus from one of these bank offers. How much you can earn: Most bonus offers are $200 to $500, but you may find higher offers if you carry a high balance or receive large direct deposits. What you need to do: Look for promotions at online banks and banks near you. Here’s a starting point for finding the best bank account promotions. What you need to watch out for: You typically have to maintain a minimum balance or receive direct deposits to qualify. How you’re paid: Money is typically deposited into the account you opened. 2. Get Free Stock Investments When it comes to legitimate free money apps, stock apps are some of the best. You can earn money by investing in stock, and some even offer free stock. Story continues How much you can earn: It varies by stock and whether the app is offering full stocks or fractional shares of stock. The value of stock rewards can range from a few dollars to hundreds of dollars. What you need to do: Look for an investing app that offers free stock. For example: Robinhood: This investing platform offers a free stock if you sign up through a referral link. Stash: Stash’s debit card allows you to earn a percentage back as stock in a company you choose as a default or the companies you make purchases from. For example, if you buy from Walmart, you can earn Walmart stock. What you need to watch out for: For some offers, you either need to refer someone or be referred by someone else. How you’re paid: Stocks or fractional stocks are added to your portfolio. 3. Earn Credit Card Bonuses Much like how banks offer bonuses to entice people to switch, credit cards offer sign-up bonuses. In most cases, you just need to purchase a specific amount to earn the bonus. How much you can earn: It varies by card, but many offer $200 to $500 in cash or points. What you need to do: Look for credit cards you’re likely to be approved for that offer sign-up bonuses . What you need to watch out for: You need to have good credit or you’ll be declined for offers. Also, applying for too many cards can hurt your credit score. How you’re paid: It varies by card; you could be credited points or a statement credit once you meet the requirements. Look For Discounts Another way to get free money is to look for discounts for essential services. Here are some options to consider. 4. Get Help With Utility Bills Utility bills can make a significant dent in your budget. These government programs can provide free money assistance. How much you can save: The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program is administered by states, so your savings can vary. Lifeline is a federal program that assists with phone, internet or bundled services and contributes $9.25 toward your bill. What you need to do: For LIHEAP: Visit the Office of Community Services website to find out who to contact in your state. For Lifeline: Visit the Lifeline website to find a company that accepts it. If your current phone or internet provider accepts Lifeline, it can help you complete the application process. What you need to watch out for: Both programs have income eligibility limits. How you’re paid: Assistance is typically paid directly to the service provider. Government Initiated Various federal, state and local programs allow you to get free money from the government. 5. Take Advantage of Your Employer’s 401(k) Match 401(k)s are retirement funds, so you won’t see the money until later. Taking advantage of a 401(k) saves you money now, though, because your contributions are tax-deferred, so they lower your taxable income in the years you pay into your plan. Even better, federal laws encourage employers to contribute funds. For example, your employer might match 100% of your contributions up to 5% of your salary, which means for every $1 you contribute, your employer will also contribute $1 up to that limit. That’s essentially free money. How much you can earn: Over time, employers could contribute thousands to your 401(k), and you’ll likely defer hundreds or more on your taxes. What you need to do: Sign up and contribute to your employer’s 401(k) plan. If you’re not sure where to start or what your employer matches, ask your human resources contact. What you need to watch out for: You can contribute a maximum of $20,500 to a 401(k) in 2022 ($27,000 if you’re age 50 or older). Also, note that contributions are tax-deferred, not tax-free — you’ll pay tax on your contributions when you withdraw funds in retirement. How you’re paid: The money grows in your account, and you can withdraw it without a penalty starting at age 59 ½ or if you experience hardship. 6. Search for Unclaimed Money Unclaimed money includes dormant accounts, trust distributions, refunds and more that haven’t been claimed. It doesn’t hurt to see if you have any unclaimed funds. Finding out that you do could be almost like winning free money. How much you can earn: Hundreds to thousands of dollars What you need to do: Start your search online at the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators website. If you find unclaimed funds, the site will guide you to the appropriate site to file a claim. What you need to watch out for: Ignore texts offering unclaimed money or letters that ask you to send funds in exchange for unclaimed assets. These are scams. How you’re paid: Payment varies by type of unclaimed property. Products and Services You likely own items or can perform services that bring in extra money. Here are a few to consider. 7. Make Money From Your Old Devices You may have old cellphones, computers or other tech devices that you no longer use. You can sell them and put some money in your pocket. How much you can earn: Earnings vary depending on the device, its condition and where you’re selling it. What you need to do: Find your devices and remove your personal information. Disable any anti-theft or device protection features. Decide where to sell. You can sell on eBay, Facebook Marketplace, Craiglist or a site like Decluttr. What you need to watch out for: If you’re selling it directly, make sure to get cash or use a reputable platform with seller protections to avoid falling victim to fraud. How you’re paid: Payment is via cash or a platform like Venmo or PayPal. Decluttr offers direct deposit. 8. Sell Your Old Clothes If your clothes are in good condition and you gravitate toward name brands, you could make money by selling your old clothes online. How much you can earn: Earnings vary by site, and most take a cut of your earnings. What you need to do: Sign up with a site like Poshmark or ThredUp. What you need to watch out for: These services only accept certain brands and/or items in good condition. How you’re paid: Payment is often by PayPal or direct deposit. 9. Sell Your Photos If you have an eye for photography, you can make money by selling your professional-quality photos online. How much you can earn: You earn a percentage each time your photo is downloaded for use. Typical earnings range from a few cents to over $100 per download, depending on the image and license offered. What you need to do: Sign up with a site like Shutterstock or iStock by Getty Images. Shutterstock: You must submit a portfolio of 10 images for review. If approved, you can start uploading images for sale. iStock by Getty Images: You must submit three to six photos for review. If approved, you can start uploading imagines for sale. What you need to watch out for: Follow the instructions for image size and whether model and property releases are needed. How you’re paid: Online payments via PayPal, Payoneer or Skrill Via Apps and Survey Sites You’ve likely heard at least once in your life, “There’s an app for that.” And that statement holds true for getting free money, too. Here’s more. 10. Earn Money While You Shop Many apps and browser extensions make it simple to earn money while you buy the things you need. How much you can earn: The earnings might seem small but can add up to $100 or more over the course of a year. What you need to do: Download an app or browser extension. Popular options include: Rakuten: Ibotta app or a browser with the extension installed. If you shop in person, you can link loyalty cards and upload receipts. What you need to watch out for: Not every shopping site offers cash back, so review your app for the best places to shop.How you’re paid: PayPal or linked bank account 11. Take Surveys Marketing companies want to know what you think, and you can turn that into free money. How much you can earn: Surveys typically don’t pay much, but your earnings can add up over the course of a year. What you need to do: Sign up with a survey site. Some sites are currently offering sign-up bonuses. Options include: What you need to watch out for: Not everyone will qualify for every survey, and some can take a long time to complete. How you’re paid: Payments are made via PayPal or check. 12. Watch TV and Use the Internet Advertisers also want to know what you watch and your internet surfing habits. How much you can earn: Like with surveys, you don’t earn a lot, but it’s for doing things you enjoy, like watching TV or listening to music. What you need to do: Sign up with a site. Options include: Swagbucks: Earn cash and gift cards for watching videos, playing games, surfing the web, shopping and completing surveys. iRazoo: Earn cash by watching videos or searching the web. What you need to watch out for: IRazoo requires you to reach 3,000 points before you can receive payment. Swagbucks requires that you reach 2,500 points to redeem points for cash via PayPal. How you’re paid: Both sites offer gift cards and cash payments via PayPal. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: How To Get Free Money: 12 Easy, Proven Ways To Earn

Need a passive income stream? Here are 9 ways to make money online 

Make some extra money by turning one of your passions or hobbies into passive income. Getty Images Inflation has reached record levels and prices on just about everything remain high. Congress has worked to pass legislation such as the Inflation Reduction Act aimed at lowering costs for Americans, but there are still questions about whether it will solve inflation.  Cutting corners and careful budgeting can help – but it might not always be enough. If you're looking to reduce some financial stress, you might want to consider creating a passive income stream. Fortunately, the internet makes this easier than you'd think. There are dozens of ways to make money online without any special training – like getting paid to take surveys, for example. 9 passive income ideas to help you make extra cash Before you begin your passive income journey, it's important to understand what it means. Essentially, passive income is money you're making from a source or business other than your direct employer. It typically is a task or action performed on the side that doesn't require a lot of effort (hence why a lot of the suggestions below exist online). "Passive activities include trade or business activities in which you don't materially participate. You materially participate in an activity if you're involved in the operation of the activity on a regular, continuous, and substantial basis," the IRS explains on its website. If you're looking to create a passive income stream, here are seven ways to make some extra cash. 1. Take online surveys Giving your opinion and taking part in market research can be an easy way to make money online. Some of the more popular survey sites include Survey Junkie, Swagbucks, OneOpinion, Opinion Outpost and Ipsos iSay.  Find out how you can make a few extra bucks from home by taking online surveys now! Keep in mind: These won't bring in huge earnings. Swagbucks says its members earn about $1 to $5 per day. Just make sure you do some research before you get started or commit to participating in any online surveys.  2. Start a blog Blogs aren't just for fun these days. They can be quite the moneymaker when done right. The key is to pick your niche, build your audience and then monetize the blog. Just remember: Building a following can take some time, so be patient. You can do this through affiliate marketing, which earns you a commission when someone clicks a monetized link or buys a product that's promoted on your blog. You could also try selling and displaying ads on your site. You can use a tool like Google Adsense to get started with the latter.  3. Sign up for a gig-working platform There are several platforms designed for online gig work. For example, Amazon Mechanical Turk is a place you can take on small tasks for businesses across the globe. They might include moderating content, taking a survey or transcribing audio.  Clickworker is a similar platform, or if you have a specific skill - like copywriting, editing or graphic design - you can use freelancing platforms like Fiverr, Freelancer.com and Upwork to connect with potential clients. 4. Start an online store If you're the creative type, you can start up an Etsy shop. Etsy sellers offer everything from jewelry and clothing to artwork, invitations, yard signs and more.  If that's not your style, you can start a drop-shipping store. With this strategy, you essentially operate a storefront. When a customer makes an order, you order that product from a third party (typically a manufacturer, vendor, or wholesaler) and ship it directly to the customer. Shopify has a whole dropshipping walkthrough you can use to get started (and you can use their platform to create your store, too). Shopify encourages users to consider this route and even lists ways it's beneficial, from reducing your stress to giving you the flexibility to work remotely. 5. Start a YouTube channel YouTube creators can make a lot of money, and it doesn't necessarily require much expertise. You can create how-to or explainer videos on virtually any subject or go more personal and put yourself in the videos. You can interview subject matter experts, provide tips and tricks, or even just show yourself playing various video, mobile or board games.  The important thing is to find a niche and build a following. You can then integrate Google Ads, become a YouTube Partner, and even make money off memberships, live chats and subscriptions. 6. Become a transcriptionist If you're a fast typer, you might consider doing some online transcription for cash. You'll simply need to listen to audio files and then type out what you hear. You get paid per piece, so the faster you can type, the better - at least, financially speaking. Rev.com, GoTranscript and TranscribeMe are just a few of the sites where you can find online transcription work. 7. Test websites and apps Fancy yourself the tech-savvy type? If so, you can get paid to test out new websites and mobile apps and hunt down any glitches. At UserTesting.com, for example, you get to test new sites and products from brands like GoDaddy, Hello Fresh, HP, Subway and Canva. You just need to have a reliable WiFi connection, a microphone, a computer or mobile device and you can get to work. BetaTesting.com, UserZoom and Userlytics are other similar platforms. 8. Sell your photos If you're known as the photographer in the family you can make some extra money by selling your photos online. There are websites like Fine Art America in which you can upload your images and have them featured on merchandise that's then sold on the site.  9. Become a virtual assistant More work than ever is being done online following the shift to working from home. It makes sense, then, that remote help will be needed. By becoming a virtual assistant via websites like Indeed (just search for "Remote Virtual Assistant") you can work for a business in need from the comfort of your home office. The work needed varies - from writing to social media management to traditional bookkeeping - so look around for something that fits your skills and background. More ways to earn quick cash If none of the above seem like a fit, do some research. You can also sell and buy domain names, review news apps and websites and more. There's a side gig for everyone. You just need to figure out your perfect fit.

5 Tips to Make Your Money Last for the Rest of Your Life 

No one likes to think about the end, but when it comes to money, it’s important to plan for retirement with a long-term mindset. Making your money last is something that all retirees and those planning for retirement have to think about. After all, no one wants to run out of money before they die. The good news is that there are ways to make your money last for longer, making this something anyone can accomplish with a bit of patience, discipline, and self-control. Due - Due In the following post, you’ll find a list of the top five tips to make money last for the rest of your life and even longer. Tip #1: Save, save, save. The most important thing you can do to make your money last is to start saving as early as possible. The sooner you begin to save, the more time your money has to grow. If you’re already retired, it’s not too late to start saving. Even if you only have a few years left until retirement, every little bit helps. The key to saving effectively is to live below your means. While this may sound like obvious advice, that doesn’t mean it’s less relevant. Living below your means is about spending less than you earn and investing the difference. If you can do this consistently, you will build up a sizeable nest egg that can last for decades. How to know how much you need to save There are several different approaches to knowing how much to save every month. As a general rule of thumb, you should do your best to save as much as possible after accounting for all necessary living costs like housing, food, transportation, and healthcare. However, saving “as much as possible” may not cut it, and you may need to take extra steps to ensure your money will last long enough. But how do you know if you’re saving enough or not? You still need a specific number to aim for, which is where the following approach comes in. You need to estimate how big your nest egg needs to be by the time you retire to provide enough income to pay for your desired lifestyle during retirement. This is done in two steps. You first need to know how long your money needs to last. That goes through deciding when you plan to retire and knowing how long you’re likely to live, which you can find in online life expectancy tables. Once you have that information, you can establish a monthly, quarterly, or annual withdrawal plan that provides enough income to pay for the lifestyle you want. You can then use an online calculator to determine the value of your nest egg so that it lasts the number of years you’ll likely have left. Once you get that number, you can use the same calculator to find out exactly how much you need to set aside every month, starting today, for your savings to grow into the nest egg you just calculated. Tip #2: Max out pensions and social security Pensions and social security are two of the most important sources of retirement income for many retirees. If you have access to either of these benefits, be sure to maximize them. Pensions are a type of retirement plan offered by many employers. They generally provide a fixed income for life, making them an ideal retirement income source. If you have a pension, find out how much income it will provide and when you can start receiving payments. Social security, on the other hand, is a government-provided retirement benefit available to all retirees. The amount you receive from Social Security is based on your earnings history and the age at which you retire. You can start receiving Social Security payments as early as age 62, but if you wait until your full retirement age, you’ll receive a higher benefit. How to max out your Social Security benefits If you’re still working, maximizing your Social Security benefits is to continue working and paying into the system for as long as possible. The longer you work, the higher your benefit will be. If your employer offers to match your 401(k) contributions, ensure you contribute all you can to get the full match. This is free money that can ensure your nest egg lasts as long as you need it, especially after compounding for several decades. In addition, if you’re married, you can also maximize your benefits by ensuring that you and your spouse are working and contributing to social security. This will allow you to receive two benefits when you retire, which can significantly increase your retirement income. This will also allow you to take advantage of spousal and survivor benefits. Survivor benefits provide a spouse income after the primary breadwinner’s death. In contrast, spousal benefits allow a lower-earning spouse to receive a benefit based on the higher-earning spouse’s work history. This can be as high as 50% of your spouse’s benefit, so if either of you earns significantly more than the other and maxed out your Social Security contributions, the spousal benefit can add a significant amount of retirement income. Tip #3: Purchase annuities for fixed income An annuity is a financial product that provides guaranteed income for life. There are two main types of annuities: immediate and deferred. Immediate annuities start making payments as soon as you purchase them. In contrast, deferred annuities grow tax-deferred over time and begin making payments in the future, such as when you retire. Some people choose to use annuities as a way to supplement their retirement income from Social Security and pensions. Others use them as a primary source of retirement income. The biggest advantage of an annuity is that it provides guaranteed income for life, and you can make that income as big as you want, depending on how much you put into it. Combined with your pension and Social Security benefits, an annuity can help cover your basic living costs like housing, transportation, and healthcare entirely. Things to look out for when purchasing an annuity There are many factors to consider when choosing the right annuity for your retirement. To start, you need to choose the right type of annuity. You have several options, including purchasing a deferred fixed annuity and paying it off monthly until you retire. Alternatively, you could invest your money in other ways before retirement and buy an immediate annuity with a single lump sum taken from your nest egg upon retirement. That way, you’ll automatically turn your lump-sum payment into a steady and guaranteed income stream. You need to be mindful of the costs associated with annuities. A plain, vanilla income annuity will be your cheapest option, and it will provide the highest possible income, but it comes with several strings attached. If you wish to retain access to your principal, have payments that increase over time, or have other special features, you will likely have to pay fees for those extra bells and whistles in the form of annuity riders. These fees can seriously add up and take a considerable chunk of your income, so be sure to read the fine print carefully before signing on the dotted line. The amount of money you put in an annuity is also an essential factor to consider. You should never put all your eggs in one basket, especially if that basket gets locked up for years before you can access it. It’s not wise to put all or most of your savings into an annuity to cover all your income needs during retirement. It’s smarter to use income annuities to supplement your income and cover the basics, investing only a small portion of your net worth. Tip #4: Establish passive income sources A passive income stream is one that doesn’t require much work on your part to maintain. This could include investment in income-producing assets like rental properties, dividend-paying stocks, and mutual funds. But there are hundreds of other ways to start earning passive income. Some common examples include: Creating and monetizing a YouTube channel Writing a book and earning royalties Sell original music as NFTs with royalties embedded into the smart contract Starting a blog about retirement lifestyles and using it for affiliate marketing Renting out your spare tools or even your car Creating and selling online courses Sharing photos on stock photography websites and more. The key to making passive income work for you is choosing an activity you enjoy and can see yourself doing long-term. That way, it won’t feel like work, and you’ll be more likely to stick with it. Once a passive income stream is up and running, it can provide a significant source of additional retirement income that can help make your nest egg last longer regardless of your health. On the other hand, you can also look for alternative sources of income that aren’t as passive. This could mean turning a hobby into a side hustle or taking up a part-time job that allows you to work remotely from a beach in Barbados. Tip #5: Budget, budget, budget Once you’re retired, it’s crucial to closely examine your expenses and ensure they align with your new income and lifestyle. Many people find that their spending patterns change once they retire, and that’s perfectly normal, but you need to know exactly how they changed. Creating a budget is the best way to keep track of and manage your expenses. Budgeting during retirement is a bit different from budgeting during your working years. For one, you’ll need to account for any changes in your income as time passes, whether from a reduction in Social Security benefits or a change in your pension payments. You’ll also need to factor in any new expenses, such as increased healthcare costs, and account for the possibility of inflation eating away at your purchasing power. There are many ways to approach budgeting in retirement, but one of the simplest and most effective is the 50-30-20 method. Under this system, you would allocate 50% of your monthly income towards essential expenses like housing, transportation, and healthcare. 30% would go towards discretionary spending on things like travel and entertainment, and the remaining 20% would be set aside for savings and investments that will help your money last longer. If your monthly retirement income doesn’t quite stretch as far as you’d like it to, there are a few ways to cut costs without sacrificing your lifestyle. You can read this post to learn about some ways to save retirement money. The bottom line With these five tips, you can help ensure your retirement savings last at least as long as you do. Purchasing an annuity, establishing passive income streams, and budgeting carefully are all key to making your money last a lifetime. You don’t have to be a millionaire to enjoy a comfortable and worry-free retirement, living life the way you want and always dreamed of. All it takes is a little bit of planning and some smart financial decisions along the way. The post 5 Tips to Make Your Money Last for the Rest of Your Life appeared first on Due.