It makes sense that you are a skeptic. We’ll first define what we mean by “free money” to answer any queries you may have. Free describes any rewards or cash bonuses you get for signing up for and using a service. It’s as easy as opening a new savings account and getting a $10 welcome bonus. Or it could be the points you get to spend when you tell an organization what you think. So, this money is free because you aren’t trading hours of hard work for it. Instead, you are getting extra benefits while going about your daily life.
After discussing the definition, let’s move on to quick ways to make real money.
How Do I Get Free Money?
There are legal ways to obtain some of that free paper.
#1. Look for Unclaimed Funds.
This isn’t “free” money, technically. In reality, it aids in your search for and acquisition of unpaid debts. Most of the time, this happens with uncashed checks, lost savings bonds, customers who pay too much, or apartment deposits. Unclaimed property can also be stocks, money orders, gift certificates that haven’t been cashed in, royalties, annuities, or CODs.
#2. Take Advantage of Your Employer’s 401(K) Match at Work.
One of the best things a good employer could do for you matches your 401(k) contributions. Even though you might not have access to it right now, it will be yours once you retire.
#3. Request any Necessary Government Support.
Government assistance programs can help you get back on your feet if you’re in a difficult financial situation.
#4. Apply for Grants for Education.
You don’t have to spend a fortune on taking classes, whether you’ve just graduated from high school, want to advance your career, or want to make the most of your free time. In reality, attending school will be more affordable because of the numerous Pell Grants and other available scholarships.
#5. Find out About Healthcare Tax Credits.
I can’t tell you what will happen to the Affordable Care Act in the future because I don’t have a crystal ball. However, you can still get coverage through Healthcare.gov, the government’s online marketplace, until then. If you meet the requirements, you may be able to get a credit on your premiums. This credit is then paid directly to your provider. Even a premium tax credit, which helps cut monthly insurance expenses, may be available to you.
#6. Investigate Child Care Aid.
The cost of daycare significantly impacts household budgets for the majority of families. This can change depending on where you live. However, it might vary from $200 to $600 every week!
#7. Find any Unused Pension Money.
Finding unclaimed pension funds isn’t free, just like finding unclaimed money isn’t. If you have to leave a company as a result of an acquisition, merger, or layoff, you are instead entitled to money owed to you. To check if your name is listed in their database, go to pbgc.gov.
#8. Play Games on Your Smartphone.
Do you like using your phone to play games? In such a case, you might as well be compensated. The Android app Mistplay, for instance, charges money only to play games like Words With Friends 2, Star Wars, or Yahtzee. As you play more, you’ll accumulate prizes that you may redeem for Visa or Amazon gift cards.
#9. Drive Throughout the City.
Join Lyft if you have free time and want to make quick money. To become a driver, the ride-sharing firm will pay you a cool $1,000. The remuneration for Lyft drivers varies depending on where they are in the United States. The four factors of time, distance, tips, and bonuses are the only ones that affect pay.
#10. Workout.
Do you need the motivation to exercise? If you stick to your exercise goals, you’ll get achievements and sweatcoins as rewards. Given that weight loss can earn you real cash prizes (up to $10,000), HealthyWage is more alluring.
#11. Benefit From Free Offers.
There is a “Free” section on Craigslist, as you may have observed if you’ve ever browsed the site. Even if you shouldn’t just grab something because you like the price, you might uncover hidden treasures, such as furniture or exercise gear. If you give them a little TLC, you can sell these things for money.
How Do I Get Free Money to Start a Business?
It can be hard to find the money when starting a new business or even just keeping an old one going. But grants for small businesses are accessible for new businesses and businesses that need help with money. Businesses harmed by the coronavirus pandemic may also benefit from these grants.
#1. America’s Business Chamber Awards for Dream Big
An annual competition called the Dream Big Awards honors small enterprises for contributing to the American economy. A grant worth $25,000 is the award. Enterprises in several categories, including new firms and green businesses, are also given prizes in the competition.
#2. Salutations, Alice Grant Platform
Giving funding to small businesses is something Hello Alice does in partnership with several enterprises, including Door Dash and Progressive. You can sign up for an account to find out about new opportunities and apply for grants for your business.
#3. Comcast SURGE
Startup companies can get free marketing help and technical support from the Comcast RISE program. Businesses that have existed for at least a year are eligible for the RISE awards, which are given quarterly.
#4. Grants for Women Amber
WomensNet has Amber Grant available. Two $25,000 prizes are given out annually, and another $10,000 is given out each month. In addition to these prestigious grants, the foundation also offers money throughout the year. To get one of these incentives, a company must fill out an application and be owned by women.
#5. Grants Under COVID-19 for Small Businesses
Even though many federal, state, and private grant programs are no longer accepting applications, there are still options for small businesses that have lost money because of the coronavirus pandemic.
#6. SBA Grant for Small Businesses
The U.S. Small Business Administration gave out these funds as part of a relief effort in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. These include the Restaurant Revitalization Fund and the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant.
#7. Grants for Corporate COVID-19 Small Businesses
Even though several private companies no longer offer COVID-19 relief grant programs, there may still be a few options. For example, Main Street America, a non-profit group, still offers its Inclusive Backing Grant Program, which runs with American Express.
How Do I Get Free Money From the Government
In 2020 and 2021, when the government gave out a lot of COVID relief, free money from the government took on a new meaning. Even though the pandemic-related relief efforts have largely come to an end, for the time being, there are still daily government services that can help those in need. But in contrast to the automatic stimulus payments made under COVID, you’ll need to look for and apply for this financial aid. Although technically, you don’t pay anything because taxes fund most of these programs, it’s the closest thing you’ll discover to receiving free money from the government.
#1. Obtain Assistance With Utility Bills
Need assistance paying your phone or heating bill? These initiatives might be helpful in the following ways:
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program can help low-income households pay for their heating and cooling costs. The Department of Health and Human Services gives money to the states, which is then used to give out grants. Each state has its eligibility standards, including minimum income limits.
A reduced rate for phone or internet access is provided via the Lifeline program. You have to achieve some requirements.
#2. Find Childcare Funding.
For many families, daycare is a significant investment. According to the Economic Policy Institute, a nonprofit group focusing on low- and middle-income employees, the cost of baby care annually ranges from a little under $5,000 in Mississippi to more than $22,600 in Washington, D.C.
#3. Obtain Unclaimed Funds
It’s more like money that you owe yourself than free money. It can be an abandoned insurance product benefit, a misplaced saving bond, an unclaimed paycheck, or a long-forgotten payment made to an energy company.
When the owner of these unclaimed monies cannot be found, frequently due to a clerical error or businesses having an outdated address on file, the cash is turned over to the state. If you are interested in learning whether you have money owed to you, go to unclaimed.org, a website connected to the National Association of State Treasurers.
#4. Obtain Down Payment Support
You want to purchase a house but cannot make a down payment. We have state-based down payment assistance here. You can use these loans and grants to pay for the up-front costs of buying a house.
#5. Identify Health Insurance Tax Credits
People and families who buy health insurance through the government’s health insurance marketplace (HealthCare.gov) may be able to get a credit toward the cost of their insurance premiums. If you pay your insurance company directly with the Premium Tax Credit, your monthly payments will go down.
#6. Fill out a Grant Application.
Grants for higher education, such as the government’s Pell Grant, can simplify paying for college. For the award year 2022–2023, students who qualify for the Pell Grant may receive up to $6,495 in funding. The precise amount depends on several variables, such as financial need, attendance costs, and enrollment status.
How To Get Free Money Online
Here are some legal ways to earn free money online:
#1. Participate in a Focus Group
Why not get paid if you’re that person who always has an opinion on everything? Join a focus group and you’ll be compensated for your ideas and input on a variety of products, services, or concepts. Keep in mind that, while many focus groups meet in person, you can also identify groups that meet online. To get started, check out 20|20 Panel and User Interviews. Keep in mind that focus groups are typically more involved than other methods of obtaining free money, but the payoff (which varies) can be worthwhile.
#2. Begin doing some freelance work.
Even if you currently have a 9-to-5 job, whether in a traditional office or as a stay-at-home parent, you could take up some freelance work in the evenings. Freelancing is advantageous since it allows you to supplement your income by utilizing your specific skill set, such as writing, instructing, translating, or programming. To get started, visit Upwork, Freelancer.com, or Gengo.
#3. Examine a Mock Trial
Do you enjoy a good courtroom drama? Are you a fan of John Grisham adaptations and “The Lincoln Lawyer”? Then watching a mock trial online could be a fantastic option for you. Websites like Ejury.com will pay you to watch a simulated trial, answer a few questions, and provide feedback. The reward ranges from $5 to $10 per case.
#4. Earn Money While Shopping
If you’re looking for specific products or services, you might be able to get some discounts and free money by installing browser extensions like Swagbucks’ SwagButton and CouponCabin’s Sidekick. These extensions provide you updates about discounts, coupons, and cash back chances while you shop, which can help you save money when you shop online.
#5. Register for Surveys
Signing up for online surveys allows you to earn money or receive gift cards in exchange for sharing your thoughts. To get started, visit online survey sites such as Survey Junkie, OneOpinion, InboxDollars, and Opinion Outpost. When it comes to remuneration, some survey sites provide $2 (or less) per hour of work. This isn’t a quick method to get rich, but it can provide you with some extra money.
#6. View Videos
Videos are another excellent option to supplement your income. Sign up with Swagbucks or Inbox Dollars to watch movie trailers, TV shows, news, ads, and other content on your mobile device or laptop. In exchange, those websites will provide you points that you may redeem for cash via PayPal or gift cards to various shopping outlets. The monthly reward on sites like Swagbucks can be up to $90.
#7. Play some music
There’s also some easy money for audiophiles out there. You can listen to and rate songs by registering with music review websites such as Slicethepie, Playlist Push, and HitPredictor. You’ll be paid for each review, but the amount is changeable because they favor quality reviews. This means that the more extensive, varied, and critical your review, the higher your compensation should be – however this is more of an art than a science. Payment is made using PayPal.
#8. Play Video Games
Gamers may appreciate earning money for their efforts. Apps such as Coin Pop allow you to earn coins that can be redeemed for gift cards or cash via PayPal. Keep in mind that the payout is tiny and is determined by the amount of time you spend playing games on the app, but the benefits accumulate over time. You can also play games for money on websites like Swagbucks.
#9. Audio transcription
If you can type at least 60 words per minute, you might want to try your hand at transcribing. Websites such as Rev money for transcriptions of various audio recordings, such as lectures, podcasts, and interviews. Furthermore, Rev pays their transcriptionists each week via PayPal.
#10. Please Refer Your Friends
Some companies will pay you to suggest your friends, ranging from credit card companies and banks to stores and travel sites. After making your own purchase, you’ll typically be routed to a web page inviting you to refer your friends by providing you with a personal link to share. For each person who clicks the link and purchases the service or product, you will receive a referral incentive. The amount paid out varies. T-Mobile, for example, presently offers a $50 prepaid gift card for a successful referral, whereas Grove Collective offers $10 for one.
Be wary of scammers.
While there are ways to obtain government financial help, there are also grant scammers that promise to provide you free money from the government in order to steal from you. Don’t be duped. The government rarely approaches people with offers of free money, particularly for launching a new business or addressing personal expenses, and when it does, it never does so through social media. State and federal programs aim to assist needy individuals and families back on their feet and on their journey to financial independence.
Conclusion
You don’t have to travel far to find snag-free money, regardless of whether you’re in a bind, attempting to pay down debt, or setting it aside for a rainy day. Just be cautious of fraud. Also, make an effort to concentrate on the prospects that make sense for you.
For example, don’t apply for rewards cards if you don’t want to build up credit card debt because you can’t pay off the monthly balance. Additionally, participating in focus groups or completing surveys wouldn’t make sense if you were pressed for time. The primary lesson is that free money is available for you to take advantage of. All you have to do is go out and take advantage of it!
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