Money hacks are the best way to both earn cash fast, save a bunch of money, and move towards financial freedom.

It’s true.

This is because money hacks are powerful money strategies, tips, or methods that consistently make or save a lot of money in a relatively short amount of time.

Here are the types of money hacks I will cover in this post:

• Money hacks to save money
• Fast money hacks to earn cash without a job
• Personal finance hacks
• Ways to get free money legitimately

Putting together this list is the result of years of trial-and-error, research, and time-tested life hacks for what works to earn cash.

I hope they fatten your wallet and put you on the path to financial freedom.

Be sure to pin this post to your Pinterest board for later. I’m going to be updating this post with even more money hacks as time goes on, and you’ll be thanking yourself for having this as a financial reference.

Anyway. Let’s dive into this awesome list.

 

Some links in this post are affiliate links that help keep this information free for you. Please read the terms of use for more info.

 

 

Money-Saving Hacks

These are the best money hacks to save money fast and effectively. 

 

Get cheaper gas with the free GetUpside app

Gas prices are high right now.

I’ve been using a free app to save money on gas for a while now. It’s called GetUpside.

Now, every time you go to fill up your tank, this app will pay you for each gallon of gas. It’s really that straightforward.

Plus, you can refer your friends to GetUpside, help them out with the cost of gas, and make a little extra money when they use the app too.

Click here to download GetUpside and save money on gas now

 

Earn cashback from the grocery store with the free Ibotta app

Just like gas, the cost of groceries has been going up.

Fortunately, there is a free app you can start using today to noticeably lessen the cost. It’s called Ibotta.

I’ve been using Ibotta for years to save extra money on groceries (and it’s even more useful right now in 2024).

After downloading Ibotta, you will need to select grocery items and scan your store receipt containing those items. This is so Ibotta knows how much cashback to give you.

Click here to download Ibotta and start saving money on groceries ($10 bonus after you scan your first receipt into the app)

 

Save money on your online purchases with Rakuten

Let’s face it. Online shopping is super convenient and fun, but like other things, prices are going up.

When you shop using Rakuten, you will easily save money on virtually any everyday or lifestyle purchase online you can think of. 

Using Rakuten is like getting paid to shop online in a way. This is because they give cash back just for doing your normal online purchases with you. They are able to pay you because over 3,500 stores such as Target, Sam’s Club, and Macy’s pay them a commission to have us start our shopping journey on Rakuten.

It’s really this simple to save extra money while shopping online for your everyday purchases.

Click here to sign up for Rakuten ($30 bonus after you spend $30 or more)

 

Automatically get money back on your on-the-go lifestyle purchases

Ride-sharing, eating out, traveling, and hotel stays are back on the menu for 2024.

Did you know there’s a legit way you can get money back from these lifestyle purchases without any effort? 

It’s true. And, I really mean without effort.

When you download the free Dosh app and link your credit card to it, you will start getting real money deposited into your account as you make the lifestyle purchases you normally would.

That’s it!

The only time you’ll be checking the Dosh app once you’re set up is to withdraw your money into PayPal, Venmo or bank account!

Click here to download the free Dosh app and start saving money automatically on your regular lifestyle purchases

 

Get discounts & coupon codes applied to your online purchases automatically with Honey

Have you ever forgotten to apply or look for coupon codes before making an online purchase?

I used to do this all the time. That was until I started taking advantage of the Honey App.

Owned by PayPal, the Honey app is a free browser extension that searches the internet, and in 1-click, applies the best coupon codes or discounts to your purchases before checking out.

To date, I’ve saved close to $1000 on my purchases that I otherwise wouldn’t have over the last two years of having it installed. That’s pretty good for literally zero effort!

Click here to add the free Honey extension to your browser to automatically apply the best coupons for your purchases

 

Let AI negotiate your bills down to a lower price

Are you starting to notice bills going higher?

Well, if you’re like me and others living on planet Earth in the year 2024, that answer is a resounding yes. I’ve been telling people about the Trim service to save money on bills and fees.

Trim uses artificial intelligence to save you money in the following ways:

• Negotiates your internet, phone and medical bills down to a lower price 
• Lowers interest rates, gets refunds on unfair bank fees, and waives interest charges
• Cancels hidden, forgotten-about, and unwanted subscriptions

All of this is done for free! 

To get Trim working for you, just create an account here and upload a bill that needs to be negotiated. I recommend just linking your bank account or credit card, so Trim can negotiate all of your bills, and you can set it and forget it!

Click here to sign up with Trim for free and start saving money on bills and fees automatically

 

Take advantage of cashback credit cards

Cashback credit cards are one of the easiest ways to get money back from your purchases.

The notion that these types of cards are available is awesome.  In fact, I’d go as far as to say if you’re using regular credit cards instead that you’re throwing money away. Regular credit cards don’t give you any money back.

To make it worthwhile, you just need to make sure you pay your balance on time, according to the terms (usually 30 days).

I find it best to use cashback cards for regular expenses and lifestyle purchases.

 

Buy your regular items in bulk

This is an easy money-saving hack that will save you money over time.

All you have to do is think about non-perishable items that you regularly buy and stock up on them. Stores often provide discounts on bulk items.

As a bonus tip, be sure to buy in bulk when there is a sale on those items.

 

Get frozen fruits and vegetables

Frozen fruits and vegetables are both cheaper and last longer than fresh ones.

If you find yourself buying a lot of fruits and vegetables, this money move could end up saving you a noticeable amount of cash every month.

 

Cut back or eliminate beef

Chicken and fish are cheaper on a protein to ounce basis. So do your best to substitute beef for those two, or even non-meat options.

 

Opt for store brands instead of name brands

Most generic-branded items are exactly the same products as their name-branded counterparts. They’re even produced in the same facilities.

I’ve found that the only differences are in expensive packaging and better marketing. 

 

Earn cash fast without a job: 6 Fast Money Hacks

Broke or unemployed? These money hacks will help you make extra money fast.

 

Get paid to do secret shopping

Do you love shopping at stores? Get a sense of wonder when you go to a store for the first time, like me?

Then you should try being a secret shopper in your spare time.

A secret shopper essentially visits stores and gets paid to shop.

So you must be thinking. Why would a company pay people to shop?

This is because companies need to have small tasks done at their store, make sure customers are satisfied, and do market research.

Did you know there is a free app for your phone that will let you secret shop in your area? It’s called Merchandiser and it’s a cool way to make extra money.

You can download it here and start working right away once approved.

How to start secret shopping on Merchandiser

Download the app for free through this link.  You will see a list of jobs or “projects” that you can choose from. Each project shows you how much you’ll be paid, how long it will take, and step-by-step instructions for the specific task that must be completed.

Once approved, all you have to do is complete the job, submit your feedback from the job, and get paid!

Be sure to do jobs that are close to home, so you don’t use up too much gas or do jobs that are walkable! Merchandiser shopping jobs can last anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours and require little to no physical work.

 

Redeem simple offers

An app called Swagbucks has been one of my favorite money hacks over the years. There are so many easy ways to essentially get extra money on Swagbucks with little to no effort. 

The #1 way to use Swagbucks is to redeem simple offers like sign-up bonuses for things I’d do any way.

For example, I was going to sign up for HBO Max the other day. Before I did so, I checked Swagbucks and saw that they are paying 1500 in Swagbucks digital currency to sign up for HBO Max. I went ahead and did it and redeemed 1500 instantly for $15 in PayPal cash.

Cool, right?

Another example. There is the newer bank called Varo that, as of this writing, is giving away 12000 in swagbucks digital currency just for opening a bank account with them. Those digital swagbucks instantly redeem for $120 in PayPal cash!

When you see good offers like this, take advantage of them fast. They don’t stick around, so sign up now and start getting easy money.

Click here to sign up for free on Swagbucks and get a $10 sign up bonus when you sign up with this link.

 

Take easy surveys online

One of the easiest money hacks (that you can start right now) is legit online surveys.

Now, there are literally thousands of survey sites out there, but you don’t need to bother with more than one or two at a time.

The highest-paying survey website I’ve ever used is SurveyJunkie. The money I earned with them helped me pay my bills when I had financial struggles.

Also. SurveyJunkie pays fast unlike other surey sites. You can transfer the money you make from there straight to your PayPal account the same day.

Click here to create a free account on SurveyJunkie and start earning money online right now

 

Join the gig economy and get money on your own time

The gig economy has helped people of all backgrounds make money on the side and even full-time income.

This is because they are flexible, and you can be your own boss.

I’m a big advocate of time freedom, and the gig economy opens doors on the front.

Best gig economy apps at a glance

DoorDash – Deliver food for your community. Create your own schedule and hours. This compliments ridesharing apps or is a good alternative to them if you don’t want to have people in your car. Create a free account and download the app here.

Instacart – Deliver groceries to individuals in your neighborhood. Like DoorDash this compliments ridesharing apps other gig apps. Click here to create a free account on the Instacart app.

Uber & Lyft – Drive people where they need to go.

Rover – Get paid to walk and take care of friendly dogs.

TaskRabbit – Do handyman-type work on your own schedule.

 

Sign up for bank bonuses

One of the first legit money hacks I ever leveraged was signing up for bank bonuses.

Many newer banks or established banks offering new types of accounts, will pay you just to open a new bank account. This money made is called a bank bonus.

Typically, they require you to deposit a minimum amount of money (usually $500 or more) or link the account to a direct deposit for a number of months.

It’s surprising how under the radar this money hack still is.

My favorite bank bonuses are:

• Chase Total Checking
• Citibank Personal Checking
• Wells Fargo Checking

 

Use the Steady app

Steady is a useful app that helps you bring in stable income in a way that fits your income.

How it works is by showing you paid gigs, offers, resources, and jobs that are available right now.

Download Steady for free by searching it on the app store for iPhone or Android.

 

Personal Finance Hacks

These are battle-tested money hacks to stay on top of your personal finances and achieve financial freedom.

 

Establish streams of passive income

Time is something we can’t back, and we all have the same 24 hours in a day. This makes time a valuable resource in one’s life.

Add the fact that just relying on one income can be incredibly risky.

I can’t stress how important it is to establish at least one stream of passive income. When you have streams of passive income, you retain more time to do what you love and increase the amount of money you have.

Some of the best ways to create passive income are to:

• Start a profitable blog
• Create digital products
• Invest and grow your money
• Ad revenue and sponsorships by making long form videos for Youtube using Pictory
• Rent things you own 

I utilized or continue to utilize all five of these ideas, and I can tell you they’re truly life-changing.

 

Apply the Rule of Ten

Going by the name, this rule sounds hard but it’s actually one of the easiest, yet effective personal finance hacks I know of.

So what is the Rule of Ten? 

It is the art of saving 10% of your money before you spend t. Another way of looking at it is putting away $0.10 for every dollar you earn, into a savings or investing app like Acorns.

For example, let’s say a two-week paycheck from your job is a net of $1440.86. You would then put away 10% of it which would amount to $144 (or for us math nerds you can round then cents to $145).

If you don’t want to worry about remembering to save, I recommend an effective budgeting tool like Qapital.

 

Invest your money starting now

Start investing and growing your money today, even if it’s pocket change.

Chances are, if you don’t invest, you are highly likely to be living paycheck to paycheck indefinitely and never reach a sustainable level of financial freedom.

Seriously, facts bear this out.

If you’re just beginning, don’t have much to invest right away, or you don’t have the time to pick an investing commodity, I recommend automated stock investing with the Acorns app.

Acorns automatically invests the spare change from your purchases (or any money you add to the account) into a portfolio that’s been handpicked by economic pros.

Using Acorns is a smart, tiny-risk way to start growing your net worth without having to lift a finger.

Click here to sign up for a free Acorns app and get $5 towards your portfolio

 

Do the 30-day Rule

Yes, I have another rule for you!

This time, it is the 30-day Rule. And, if you have a knack for buying a lot of things, perhaps more than you need, this money hack will work well for you.

So what this rule is, is simple:

When you are considering buying an item that is expensive or potentially unnecessary, instead of buying it right away, write it down. Now after 30 days, if you still need it, consider getting it. If you forgot about it, then congrats, you saved money and didn’t waste it on an unnecessary purchase.

 

Pay your debts before any non-essential spending

This personal finance hack is crucial.

If you let your debt buildup too much, chances are you will never be financially free and be stuck in a loop of working just to pay debt.

Why?

When left alone or not paid in full, debt only gets worse through the accumulation of interest, penalties, and late fees. So be sure to pay debt off as soon as you can, even if it means sacrificing some leisure activities or non-essential spending for a period of time.

 

Spend time around good people who are doing well financially

One of the best personal finance hacks I’ve learned over the years is to optimize who you spend your time with for financial, personal, happiness, and spiritual reasons.

“They” say that you are the sum of the five people you spend the most time around. So, if you’re spending most of your time around negative people who always seem to be broke, it’s no surprise that, that energy will inevitably rub off on you.

Don’t know anyone who’s doing well financially in real life? You can always start by seeking mentors or a community online.

If you’re having trouble finding a community or don’t want to pay for a mentor at this time, start by following financially positive people on places like YouTube or listening to positive podcasts.

 

Do powerful money affirmations

Writing and saying affirmations is a powerful way to attract more money into your life.

This is because they reprogram your subconscious mind to focus on creating your goals and intentions, in this case, financial freedom.

Our subconscious minds are responsible for automating and maintaining our deepest thoughts, habits, and beliefs.

Energy flows where attention goes. So, make sure to stay consistent with affirmations and stay focused on your goals no matter what.

Click here for my money affirmations and start creating financial abundance in your life.

 

Cultivate an abundance and wealth mindset

 The idea for this money hack is to transform your state of mind from one that lacks to one that is wealthy and abundant.

You do this by saturating your mind with resources, reminders, writings, and anything else that cultivates a wealth and abundance mindset.

Examples could be books, videos, speeches, and writings by people who have succeeded financially, or something as simple as sticky notes in your room with wealth or success quotes on them.

Also, start spending time with people who are wealthy. By doing these things, you will start to see your own money habits and mindset change overtime.

 

Keep a rainy day fund

One of the most important things people neglect is establishing a financial safety net or rainy day fund.

If there is an unexpected financial situation, or you simply need more money for something, you will be ready. 

And at the very least, your rainy-day fund will give you peace-of-mind since you know that you always have a financial cushion supporting you.

I recommend creating your rainy-day fund with money from the Rule of Ten mentioned previously or putting in little lump sums when you can.

 

How to get free money in 2024: 7 Legit methods

 

Join Inboxdollars

Joining Inboxdollars is one of the easiest money hacks there is.

You get money by redeeming offers, entering sweepstakes, playing games, answering questions, and other leisurely activities.

Also, when you sign up here, they will give you a $5 bonus just for completing your profile. To make sure you get the $5 and can start making money, be sure to check your e-mail to confirm your account creation.

Create a free account on Inbox and get a $5 sign up bonus through this link

 

Apply for the Awesome Foundation grant

There is this little-known grant offered by the Awesome Foundation that offers $1000 for creative projects.

Being eligible is a sinch for us creatives. All you have to do is to at least be working on a creative idea. This can be a novel, new music album, series of paintings, innovative business, or any other creative idea.

To apply, you just have to fill out an application consisting of information about you and your creative project.

If one of the Awesome Foundation’s chapters likes what they see, they’ll give you a $1000 grant that you can use towards your creative idea!

 

Forward your junk mail to the SBKC

If you’re a business owner or entrepreneur, the Small Business Knowledge Center will pay you to forward your junk mail to them.

They essentially give you rewards that can be redeemed for gift cards like Visa cash cards.

Some participants make up to $20 every 4-6 weeks doing this.

 

Search for unclaimed money

Did you know that every state has cash, stocks, dividends, accounts, and more in assets waiting to be claimed? This totals up to more than $40 billion dollars!

I was shocked to find this out.

This is how it happens. When businesses or individuals are for whatever reason unable to pay what rightfully belongs to another, they will send the money or assets to the government to be claimed at a later time. Makes sense.

So, how do you go about claiming any money or assets that may be owed to you?

You could use Unclaimed.org to do it manually, or have Credit Karma do everything for you free. The only thing you have to do is create an account, verify your identity, and they will do the rest.

Sounds good to me.

Click here to find money that may be owed to you from your state government

 

Ask for donations

Donation is one money hack you may not be doing enough of, especially if you have creative ideas and compelling reasons.

Friends, families, fans, and even acquaintances may be willing to give you money. They could be inspired by you, or simply in a giving mood that day. I’ve certainly been a recipient of this kind of grace over the years.

The top three apps I recommend for receiving donations are Venmo, PayPal, and Cash App.

Cash App right now is offering sign-up bonuses. So, if you’re looking for free money now, I recommend downloading Cash App first. Just make sure you send $5 or more within two weeks of creating your account to get the money for sure.

Click here to download Cash App (Get $5 when you send your first $5 or more within 2 weeks)

 

Enter free sweepstakes

Free sweepstakes are a way to win free money or valuable prizes like cars without any investment or purchases needed.

Some people enter sweepstakes on a part-time and even full-time basis. However, I personally find sweepstakes best done when you have a few minutes of downtime like when you’re waiting in line or something.

Some of my favorite legit sweepstakes are Publisher’s Clearing House and Omaze.

 

Get financial assistance and grants from the government

There are a plethora of opportunities to get free money from the government in legitimate ways.

Small business owners, students, creatives, and those of lower incomes can get grants or assistance to help lower expenses or finance specific projects.

Here are some of the best websites on grants and programs to get you started:

• Small Business Administration
• Benefits.gov
• Grants.gov
• The Child Care and Development Fund 
• Food assistance

 

Frequently Asked Questions