But is Cleo Plus worth paying for to unlock all its features? And what do other users have to say about this all-in-one finance app?

Our Cleo review is covering how it works, its pricing, and how to ultimately decide if this app is worth using.

Want more fast money-makers? Checkout:

• EarnIn: Borrow up to $750 against an upcoming paycheck!
• TurboDebt: Get fast debt relief assistance if you have $10,000+ in debt!

Key Takeaways:

• Cleo lets users borrow $20 to $250 in a cash advance
• The app also offers budgeting, saving, and credit building tools
• You can use Cleo's humorous AI chatbot to roast your finances or to ask for advice
• There's no credit check requirement or interest on cash advances
• Cleo Plus costs $5.99 per month and unlocks many of its best features

Is Cleo Legit?

Cleo is legit and helps its members save more money, budget, and take out cash advances if they need a helping hand. The app is also popular, with a 4 star rating on Trustpilot with over 3,200 reviews.

If you're trying to save extra money each month, Cleo's AI chatbot and budgeting tools could be what you're looking for. We also like its cash advance feature since it's similar to apps like EarnIn and Super, which let you borrow up to $750 and $250 respectively.

If you just want a budgeting app, alternatives like Rocket Money are a better choice in our experience. But Cleo is a comprehensive app that also caters to gig workers and freelancers as well as full-time employees.

What Is Cleo?

Cleo is a London-based FinTech startup that was founded in 2016. The Cleo app, sometimes called Meet Cleo, is available on both the Android and iOS app store.

Currently, Cleo has more than 5 million users, and this app is pretty much the fastest growing app the FinTech world has ever seen.

Cleo has been incredibly popular for younger crowds/millennials, and this is by design. The Cleo app has a sleek interface, does all the work for the user, and mixes in witty bits of sarcasm to make managing your finances feel more engaging or humorous.

Its cash advance feature is also incredibly useful. It lets members borrow up to $250 against an upcoming paycheck and doesn't charge interest or require a credit check. And it's even available to gig workers and freelancers.

Overall, Cleo is a great solution if you need cash to pay rent or upcoming bills. And we like that it has a host of budgeting and saving tools for a long-term financial gameplan.

How Does The Cleo App Work?

Users have to connect their banking details to Cleo to allow the AI-powered chatbot to analyze spending patterns and actually get to work. You can use the platform through the mobile app version or Facebook Messenger.

Most major banks are supported, and setup only takes 2-3 minutes. If your bank isn't supported, you can request support with setup as well.

You can connect multiple accounts to the app, and actually using certain features is easy. For example, typing or saying ‘budget' will prompt the app to start working with you to create a budget.

Cleo operates on a freemium model like many other finance based apps. However, users still get some nifty features with the free version of  Cleo, which makes it easy to test out the platform before trying out Cleo Plus (more on why this feature later on).

Here are some of the main Cleo features to know about:

1. Cleo Cash Advances

The Cleo app lets users borrow $20 to $250 against an upcoming paycheck without paying interest or going through a credit check.

First-time users can only borrow $20 to $100. But you can increase your limit over time, and Cleo connects to your bank account to monitor your income and determines how much you're eligible to borrow.

Most cash advance apps require having a full-time job and regular paychecks to qualify. But Cleo works with side hustlers and freelancers, which is certainly a unique selling point.

Once you take out an advance, you have 14 days to pay Cleo back. Also note that funds take up to 4 days to appear in your linked bank account if you don't want to pay fees. If you need money instantly, you pay a $3.99 express fee.

Apps like EarnIn offer higher cash advance limits of up to $750 per pay period. But EarnIn doesn't work with gig workers, so Cleo is certainly easier to qualify for.

2. Track Your Spending

The most basic feature Cleo offers is the ability to track your spending. Once you connect your bank account to the app, you'll be able to view your balance, spending categories, and get an easy overview of your bank account.

This isn't much different than most budgeting apps, like Rocket Money or YNAB. However, you can also ask the Cleo app several questions, such as:

• How much do I spend on a certain category? (Such as food, rent, etc.)
• What's my largest expense?
• How much have I spent on alcohol this month?
• Show upcoming bills.
• How am I doing on my budget?

You get the idea. The Cleo makes it pretty simple to get a general sense of how you're doing for the month in terms of spending.

3. Budgeting Tools

Cleo is more of a financial assistant and less of a pure budgeting app. However, the app still makes it very easy to set budgets for different spending categories and to track your budget throughout the month.

Users can set their own budgets on Cleo or rely on AI-powered recommendations to set spending limits. This feature is great for anyone who struggles with budgeting or wants a bit of a helping hand to make sure their spending isn't off the rails.

Cleo monitors your purchases and alerts you if you are approaching a budget limit. As shown above, you can also ask Cleo if spending on a certain category, like dinner or drinks, is a good financial decision or not.

Additionally, you can set budgets for different time periods, which is useful if you want to monitor your spending during a vacation or a weekend retreat somewhere.

4. Cleo Savings

Cleo now offers a high-yield savings account that currently pays 4.11% APY. It doesn't charge any fees either, and this is a nice way to earn passive income on your emergency fund or idle cash.

Earning 4.11% APY is significantly higher than the national average. Users can set a savings goal, like their total savings target and timeframe, and the app then provides savings reminders to help members achieve this goal.

On top of that, Cleo savings offers 4 savings hacks: Set & Forget, Roundups, Smart Save, and Swear Jar.

These are all different methods of moving money from your paychecks into your savings account. Again, this is part of how Cleo makes financial management a bit more fun.

We also like that Cleo savings provides up to $3 million in FDIC insurance through its partner bank, Thread Bank. There's no minimum deposit requirement which is pretty neat too.

Just note: Cleo savings requires paying a $2.99 per month subscription for Cleo Grow. Alternatively, you can pay $5.99 per month for Cleo Plus, which unlocks all of Cleo's features.

If you want a free alternative, you can check out Current. This savings solution pays 4% APY and also has a nice $50 sign-up bonus for you to snag right now.

Pro Tip: Find the best high-yield savings accounts on the market with Raisin! This platform doesn't charge any fees and lets you find the best savings products for your goals.

5. Cleo Credit Builder Card

Another new Cleo feature is its credit builder card, a secured credit card that helps people improve their credit scores.

The main features of the Cleo Credit Builder card include:

• No minimum deposit requirement
• No fees
• No hard credit checks
• Access your paycheck two days early

You have to put cash into your security deposit to unlock a higher credit limit, but this is how secured credit cards work. But in exchange, you can start to improve your credit score as you use the funds to pay for things like gas, groceries, and everyday expenses.

And Cleo just has a $1 minimum direct deposit requirement, so you don't need to add a ton of cash to your card.

Requirements for Cleo's Credit Builder card include:

• Being 18 or older
• Have a SSN
• Get contacted by Cleo via the app and email to try out the card (it's still in testing)

Honestly, a secured credit card can be a useful tool to improve your credit score if you're struggling, so it's nice to see that Cleo is continuing to add these sorts of services.

Also note that Cleo lets you check your credit score if you're a Cleo Builder or Plus user. You just need to type in “credit score” to Cleo and it will provide your score from Equifax.

Pro Tip: Get a more comprehensive credit score and ongoing monitoring from CheckFreeScore.com. Stay in the loop about your credit score and learn how to improve it faster.

How Much Does Cleo Cost? – Cleo Plus Pricing & Other Plans

The basic version of Cleo is free. However, users have to upgrade to Cleo Plus for $5.99 per month to unlock most features, including cash advances. There's also the Cleo Grow plan for $2.99 per month and Cleo Credit Builder plan for $14.99 per month.

Here's a breakdown of Cleo's pricing and what you get with different plans:

As you can see, the free version of Cleo is really just a budgeting app with some AI-powered humor. And Cleo Grow only unlocks a decent high-yield savings account.

Cleo Plus is where the app really shines. And paying $5.99 per month to access cash advances is pretty competitive with a lot of other apps in the space.

As for the credit builder, it's a bit on the pricey side. We recommend using a solution like Kikoff instead if you're on a mission to improve your credit score.

The Best Ways To Get $500 By Tomorrow.

Is Cleo Worth It?

Cleo is worth using if you want a humorous budgeting app that also provides access to cash advances and a competitive high-yield savings account. However, we think most users should upgrade to Cleo Plus for $5.99 per month to unlock the app's best features.

If you just stick with the free app, there are plenty of better or similar budgeting alternatives out there. And we're fans of solutions like Rocket Money or a simple DIY spreadsheet.

But with Cleo Plus, you get a pretty decent savings account. And cash advances of up to $250 is another selling point.

Get started with Cleo!

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Cleo works with gig workers and freelancers for cash advances
• Humorous AI-powered chatbot puts a fun twist on budgeting
• Competitive high-yield savings account
• Cash advances don't charge interest or require a credit check
• You can try Cleo for free to test it out

Cons:

• Most Cleo features require Cleo Plus
• Expensive credit builder plan
• Cleo's pricing has changed a lot over the years and can be a bit confusing

The Best Apps Like Cleo

We think Cleo is a leading budgeting and cash advance app for good reason. But there are several useful apps like Cleo you should consider, especially if you're fully employed and want larger cash advances.

Some of the best Cleo alternatives include:

• EarnIn (best overall)
• Dave (best for side hustles)
• Super.com (best for cash back plus cash advances)
• Brigit (best for building credit)
• Current (best savings solution)
• MoneyLion Instacash (best for loans)

EarnIn is our overall pick since you can borrow up to $100 per day, for a total of $750, within a given pay period. And it's more affordable than Cleo too. However, Cleo is our number one pick for freelancers or gig workers who don't qualify for most other cash advance apps.

How To Make $1,000 In 24 Hours.

Other Cleo Reviews From Users

Cleo currently has a 4 and 4.6 star review average on the Google Play store and iOS store respectively, and the app certainly generates a lot of great press and feedback.

From the other Cleo reviews I've read, it seems like people generally like Cleo Plus for its cash advance feature. People also enjoy its humorous budgeting tools and how Cleo helps beginners understand a broad picture of their financial well-being and where they spend most of their money.

However, some negative Cleo reviews come from users who are unhappy with cash advances. This is because while Cleo can give you up to $250 in an advance, first-time users get a maximum limit of $100. And many users qualify for a lot less or don't qualify at all.

Again, your cash advance limit depends on your earning history. You can increase it over time, but you won't get a $250 limit as soon as you upgrade to Cleo Plus.

Is Cleo Safe?

Like pretty much any major FinTech product, Cleo uses bank-level encryption and doesn't save your personal information. It's a safe app to use overall.

Cleo also can't make changes to your account when viewing your banking information, and accounts are backed by a $250K guarantee. Confusingly, their support page states it's more of a ￡85,000 pledge, so I have no idea what's actually covered here.

Final Thoughts

I hope my Cleo app review helps you decide if this humorous little AI chatbot is worth using or not.

I love that Cleo continues to add new features, and I think the future is very promising for this app.

Whether or not you upgrade to Cleo Plus or Cleo Crusher is up to you. If you do, I hope the extra features help you stay more on top of your finances!

Get started with Cleo today!

Want more ideas to make money? Checkout:

• Is The Oasis App Legit?
• Is The Dave App Legit?
• Is The Klover App Legit?
• What To Do When You're Struggling With Money.

The post Cleo App Review – Is Cleo Legit & Worth Using? appeared first on WebMonkey.

The fact is saving money and building up a cushion of cash isn't easy for everyone. And with many goods getting more expensive, it can really feel like your wallet is being squeezed.

That's why in this post, I'm covering 10+ of my favorite ways to save more money each month.

I've been testing out different money-making and money-saving tips ever since my time in college. And with a few of these tips, you can keep more of your hard-earned money in your bank account.

Want some quick money-saving wins? Checkout:

• Rocket Money: Our favorite budgeting app that also helps you cancel unused subscriptions!
• Capital One Shopping: This free extension automatically applies available coupon codes at 30,000+ online stores!

How To Save More Money Each Month

1. Create A Budget

In my experience, creating a monthly budget is the foundational element to saving more money each month. After all, if you don't know where your money is going, how can you possibly know how to save it?

You don't need to complicate things here either. In fact, all I use is a simple Excel spreadsheet to record my monthly spending on categories like rent, groceries, utilities, entertainment, car payments, and similar categories.

This YouTube video from personal finance expert Dave Ramsey also covers tips for how you can create a budget that works for you and actually stick to it.

And again: you don't have to complicate things. Using a simple spreadsheet can work perfectly. You can also consider using budgeting apps like Rocket Money or You Need A Budget to stay on top of monthly spending.

?Get started with Rocket Money!

2. Save Money When Online Shopping

Shopping online can be a great way to snag deals and save time. You also cut back on gas by not heading to the store.

However, online shopping can still tempt you to overspend. And if you don't use tools like Capital One Shopping, you might still miss out on potential savings.

This shopping browser extension automatically applies available coupon codes at 50,000+ stores when you shop. This all happens on autopilot, so you don't have to waste time searching the web for coupon codes that don't work anymore.

Capital One Shopping also helps you find deals on Amazon with its price comparison feature. And it's 100% free to use, which is why we love it at WebMonkey.

You can check out other shopping tools as well. For example, both Coupert and Rakuten help you earn cash back when you shop online too. But for upfront savings, we suggest trying out Capital One Shopping.

Note: Capital One Shopping compensates us when you sign up with the provided links.

3. Use Cashback Reward Apps

I've been using reward apps ever since college to earn cash back and free gift cards when shopping. And this is a very simple way to save a bit more money each month, especially if you do most of your household's shopping.

Some of the top apps that pay you for shopping include:

• Upside: This gas rewards app pays you up to $0.25 per gallon.
• Fetch: A popular grocery rewards app with gift card rewards.
• Ibotta: One of the most popular U.S. cashback apps.
• Pogo: A passive income app that pays you whenever you shop.
• Bridge: Another app that pays you with passive income for every purchase.
• P&G Good Everyday: Save money and get exclusive deals on P&G brands.

I also made a video that covers even more reward apps if you're curious.

You still need to stick to a budget when you shop. But in my experience, earning $10 to $25 per month with these apps is quite realistic, which is over $100 per year on the low end and $300 on the higher end!

Save money on gas with Upside!

4. Get Your Paycheck Earlier To Cover Bills

Life gets expensive sometimes. And there's?always?bills to pay like groceries, gas, or rent tomorrow.

However, you don't have to wait two weeks to get your paycheck. Instead, you can use a leading cash advance app like EarnIn or Dave to borrow money against an upcoming paycheck.

With EarnIn, you can borrow $100 per day, up to $750, in a given pay period. And you don't pay any interest either. In fact, there's no mandatory fee whatsoever if you wait a couple of days for your cash advance, and there's just a small Lightening Speed fee if you need the cash immediately.

All you have to do to get started is download EarnIn and connect your bank account to the app. EarnIn then analyzes your previous paycheck history to determine how much you can borrow.

Not everyone gets approved for the $750 limit. But you build your limit overtime with consistent paychecks and on-time payments. And solutions like EarnIn are ultimately?way?more affordable than wasting money on loans.

?Try out the EarnIn app today!

Extra Reading: Ways To Get $500 By Tomorrow.

5. Cancel Some Subscriptions

If it's been a while since you've reviewed some of your monthly recurring charges, it could be time to cancel some of the unused ones.

Some of the sneakiest subscriptions people often forget about include:

• Ecommerce subscriptions like Amazon Prime
• Streaming subscriptions like Netflix or Hulu
• Online app or website subscriptions
• Memberships
• Subscription boxes

If you don't use a service, ditch it and save more money. The only exception I'd suggest would be for fitness memberships, like a gym membership. If you don't use your gym membership, get more active and make sure you're getting your money's worth.

Pro Tip: You can use Rocket Money to find and cancel unused subscriptions and to track your monthly spending to avoid overspending!

6. Build An Emergency Fund

An emergency fund is a cash cushion you can build to cover emergencies when they pop up.

This could mean covering car repairs, a water heater breaking, or some other sudden expense. And having this fund is crucial if you want to avoid using your credit card or taking out a loan.

Putting a bit of money aside each month into a separate savings account is a good way to build this fund. Plus, you can earn passive income with this money as it sits on the sidelines.

For example, high-yield savings accounts like?Current?pay 4% APY on up to $6,000. It also has a $50 sign up bonus to sweeten the deal.

You can look for other savings accounts at your bank or in your country. And again, Raisin is a useful online marketplace you can use to find the highest rates for dozens of banks and credit unions. But the bottom line is building an emergency fund is a must if you want to be prepared.

7. Tackle High-Interest Debt

High-interest debt is one of the most painful drains on someone's monthly budget, especially if they're trying to save more.

So, if you're currently struggling with debt, my advice would be to create a game plan to pay it off as quickly as possible. And in this case, I recommend turning to experts like Dave Ramsey and his debt snowball method.

This strategy focuses on paying off your smallest amounts of debt first. This lowers your monthly payments more quickly and helps you build up momentum to tackle the larger payments.

You can also work with a debt relief company if you're struggling. For example, companies like TurboDebt can help you consolidate your high-interest debt if you have $10,000+ in debts like credit card bills or personal loans. And this can be a faster way to lower your monthly payments and begin tackling your debt.

With a bit of money from your paycheck and a side hustle, you can use this strategy to chip away at painful debt and to start saving more each month.

?Get a free consultation from TurboDebt!

8. Search For Missing Money You're Owed

Did you know that the Government and other agencies currently owe?billions?of dollars in unclaimed funds to people?

That's right: this “missing money” piles up over the years. And it happens when funds like tax returns, investment income, and all kinds of assets are owed to people but go unclaimed.

These missing funds also means there's a chance you can get free money by searching for money that's owed to you. And this is where a tool called BeenVerified comes in handy.

BeenVerified's tool searches through Government databases and public records to find missing income and assets that could be in your name. And according to its data, about 1 in 7 people have some form of income that's owed to them.

What's nice is that BeenVerified has a $1 7-day trial, so it costs almost nothing to make sure you're not missing out on owed funds. Afterwards, it costs $29.99 per month. But if BeenVerified's tool can find you a potential payday, the cost is well worth it.

Search for missing money with BeenVerified!

9. Automate Saving Money

One simple trick to save extra money each month is to set up automatic deposits from your paycheck into a separate savings account.

Your bank likely has this option. And doing this ensures that you're always putting a bit of money aside. Even if it's $25 to $50 a paycheck, every little bit counts, so start building good habits.

Pro Tip:?Find the highest rates for savings accounts, money market accounts, and CDs with Raisin!

You don't pay any fees, and it only takes $1 to fund an account, and many Raisin partners are paying 5% APY or more!

?Boost your savings rate with Raisin!

10. Lower Your Insurance Rates

Like calling your phone or internet company, you can sometimes get cheaper rates on things like home and auto insurance if you call your provider or shop around.

Insurance is a competitive market, after all. So, get in the habit of looking for new deals or lower rates with your provider and competitors every year or so.

Pro Tip: You can use a free tool called Champion Auto Insurance?to quickly compare quotes from nationwide and local providers. People are saving $500+ per year on average. And it's completely free and just takes two minutes!

11. Start A Side Hustle

If you're living paycheck to paycheck and are struggling to make ends meet, starting a side hustle can help you save that extra bit of cash you need.

I've been side hustling for the last 5+ years. These hustles have always helped me save, and they're played a massive role in helping me grow my wealth.

Some popular hustles you can consider include:

• Using gig apps like Uber Eats or Instacart
• Making money online with survey sites
• Getting into online freelancing (I started with freelance writing)
• Doing odd jobs on Craigslist for cash
• Selling things you don't need anymore
• Starting some business, like a blog or YouTube channel

My side hustle tier list video ranks even more hustles if you want to explore some options.

Personally, I've used writing and blogging at WebMonkey as my main hustles. And my blog made $272,000 in 2022, which just goes to show how a hustle can even grow into a full-time income.

12. Save Money On Energy Usage

Another easy way to save more money each month is to reduce your energy spending.

Simple tips like turning off the lights or tap when they're not in use is a great place to start. I also save money by using electricity-heavy appliances, like my washing machine, on off-peak hours.

And if you live in the United States, you can actually get paid to?not?use energy during peak times with various energy partners.

Utility companies are willing to pay people to not use their energy when demand is too high. So, you can?use this link?to explore partners in your state that can pay you to save energy.

This is a nice way to essentially get paid for doing nothing. And you can also feel good that you're reducing strain on the energy grid.

13. Lower Your Internet & Phone Bills

Did you know you can often save more money just by calling your internet, phone, and cable provider and asking them for a deal?

I did this recently with my phone bill from Virgin. I've been a customer for more than five years, so I called them and said I was thinking of moving to a new company with lower rates. They dropped my monthly bill by $10 to match the competitor, no questions asked.

I suggest doing this every six to 12 months. You'd be amazed at the easy savings you'll find!

Pro Tip: You can find extremely cheap phone plans with Mint if you're currently looking to lower your phone bill.

14. Start Some Free Hobbies

Did you know that the average American household spends almost $3,000 a year on entertainment according to Value Penguin?

That's a lot of dough. And while I'm not against spending money on dining, seeing a movie, or an outing with friends, you don't always have to spend money to have fun.

For example, you can try free or cheap hobbies like:

• Walking in a park or nearby trail
• Going to the beach
• Playing pick-up sports with friends
• Biking or running
• Having a picnic with friends
• Playing an instruments
• Getting books or movies from your public library
• Learning new skills, like chess
• Volunteering your time

Personally, I'm spending a lot more time hiking, walking, and in the gym these days. I feel a lot better, and my monthly gym membership is only $40, which is money well-spent.

15. Ditch Brand-Name Products

Ditching expensive brand-name products is another easy way to save more money each month.

This can include ditching designer clothing and shoes. But it can also mean buying more generic brands at the grocery store or pharmacy.

You can also consider buying non brand-name products in bulk to save even more. I do this at Costco or NoFrills sometimes, and I find it helps me save a bit of money in the long-run.

16. Try A No-Spend Challenge

A no-spend challenge is what it sounds like: a challenge where you can't spend?any?money for a certain amount of time.

Now, people have different versions and lengths of these challenges. For some, a no-spend challenge means absolutely no spending, whereas other people still allow spending on necessities like groceries. Some challenges also go for about a week, while others might go for 30 days.

Whatever the case, you can make a conscious decision to not spend money on non-essentials for a week or two. This helps you hold yourself accountable, and it makes saving money feel like more of a game than a chore.

17. Learn To Cook

Eating out is a massive drain on a monthly budget, especially if it's a daily habit. And besides, learning how to cook nutritious, affordable meals isn't rocket science.

When I was in college, one of the best money-saving hacks I used was to reduce my grocery and food bill and to always cook at home. But I still made nutrient-rich meals that hit the macros I was looking for.

If you want a helping hand with getting started, you can read this Food Network article that has 10 healthy dinner ideas that all cost about $10.

18. Start A Garden

An often overlooked but easy way to cut down on expenses is to start your own garden.

Now, you don't have to go insane here or to even have a large backyard that you completely fill with fruit and vegetable plots: even a modest in-house garden or small backyard plot will do the trick.

Starting a small herb garden or vegetable garden is an easy way to cut down on your grocery bill and to eat a little healthier. Plus, this is a fun and simple hobby to start out, so you might as well give it a try.

Some of my friends grew vegetables throughout school to save money in college, and it's cheaper to get started than you'd think. Seeds are cheap, and some bags of soil and cheap plant pots will quickly recoup their cost in grocery savings.

Final Thoughts

I hope this guide on how to save more money each month helps you cut down on expenses and keep more money in your wallet.

Personally, I use hacks like reward apps, credit card rewards, and side hustle stacking to find some quick wins. And I stick to a monthly budget and automate a lot of my savings so I stay on track.

You can use some of these tips and other information online to build a money-saving plan that works for you. Speaking to a financial advisor if you have specific questions can also be an excellent idea.

In any case, thanks for reading, and best of luck in your quest to save more money!

Want even more tips to improve your finances? Checkout:

• The Best Ways To Make $5,000 A Month.
• How To Quit The Rat Race.
• The Best Income-Generating Assets To Own.

EarnIn Disclaimers:

1: EarnIn is a financial technology company, not a bank. EarnIn services may not be available in all states. Bank products are issued by Evolve Bank & Trust, Member FDIC.

2: Subject to your available earnings, Daily Max and Pay Period Max. Restrictions and/or third party fees may apply, see EarnIn.com/TOS for details.

3: EarnIn does not charge interest on Cash Outs. EarnIn does not charge membership fees for use of its services. Restrictions and/or third party fees may apply, see EarnIn.com/TOS for details.

4: Fees apply to use Lightning Speed. Lightning Speed may not be available to all Community Members. Cash Outs may take up to thirty minutes, actual transfer speeds will depend on your bank. Restrictions and/or third party fees may apply, see Cash Out User Agreement for details.

The post How To Save More Money – 18 Real Tips To Reduce Expenses appeared first on WebMonkey.

Since people shop online more frequently these days, there are more automatic ways to save more than ever before.

In fact, there are tonnes of money saving browser extensions that will automatically apply coupons and find the best prices when you shop online.

The Honey browser extension is a major player in the shopping extension place, and for anyone who shops online frequently, the Honey extension is definitely worth considering.

Plus, to date,?Honey has saved me more than $400?thanks to using the extension and referring friends/readers:

Set it and forget it extensions are extremely useful, and Honey is exactly that.

Time to break down if this platform is worth the hype and how to actually save money in our Honey extension review!

What is Honey?

Honey is a free browser extension that saves you money while shopping for things online. Formally known as Honey Science Corporation, the company was founded in October 2012 in Los Angeles, California.

According to Honey's website, the platform is used by 17+ million users worldwide. Honey has also found more than $1 billion in savings, and paid out $8 million to Honey members. The company was even acquired by PayPal for $4 billion, so there's certainly an impressive backing for the Ecommerce company.

The question is, how does Honey work?

How to Use The Honey browser Extension

Honey automatically searches the web when you shop online to look for coupons and the best price. In other words, Honey does all of the heavy lifting for you. Instead of having to search for the best price on your own, Honey helps save money automatically.

Honey also has a pretty awesome cash back component known as Honey Gold, providing even more ways to save (more on this later).

Plus, Honey is free, and figuring out how to use Honey just takes a few steps:

1. Create a free account on Honey with your email address or Facebook account.
2. Download the Honey browser extension (for free).
3. Shop as you normally would and automatically find savings when eligible.

That’s it! Once you’ve finished downloading the extension, you are ready to start saving.

How Honey Woks – Shopping Online

When you shop at your favorite stores online, the Honey browser extension will turn bright orange. This indicates that Honey has found coupons for you to apply when you checkout. When you actually go to checkout and complete your purchase, Honey will give you a little pop-up on the side of your browser, giving you the option to click “Apply Coupons”.

It will then scan the coupon codes on the website to see if any of them are valid for the items in your cart.

If there’s a coupon code that works, the best discount available will be automatically applied to your order. If there isn’t, Honey will let you know that you already have the best deal possible and you can continue through the checkout process.

Honey Gold –? Earn Free Cash Back

Honey has other ways of getting money back into your pocket aside from just applying coupons. It also offers a cash back rewards program called Honey Gold.

Honey Gold doesn’t require anything extra on your end, but you can still earn up to 20% cash back at participating merchants. Currently, over 4,500 merchants offer Honey Gold, so your chances of earning cash back are pretty decent.

How to Earn Gold

When you shop at a qualifying online store, Honey will reward you with a percentage of cashback in the form of Gold. No, it’s not real gold (I wish). It’s what Honey uses as the name for their point system, similar to credit card points.

When you’re eligible for Honey Gold on a site you are shopping at, Honey will show you a percentage amount in a pop-up with the option to activate the rewards. You can also use the Honey Explore page to find current deals and cash back opportunities.

Once you make a purchase, you will see a pending Honey Gold balance in your account. If the purchase is verified and qualifies for gold, your account is credited.

Reward Options

Once you have accumulated enough Honey Gold (1,000 to be exact), you can redeem those points for a $10 gift card at the following stores:

• Amazon.
• Walmart.
• Target.
• Ebay.
• Nordstrom.
• Sephora.
• Groupon.
• Macy's.
• 1-800 Flowers.
• Nike.
• Lowe's.

If you’re an international user, there will be certain stores that are only available for you to redeem Honey Gold depending on the country you live in.

Do not panic if you don’t see the gold in your Honey account immediately. It will appear as pending for up to 2 weeks, plus an additional 60 days to make sure you don’t return anything. Nice try!

Gift card codes are sent electronically via email, and you usually get a code within a couple of minutes.

Honey Gold Bonuses

On top of the regular rewards that you can redeem with Honey Gold, there are also Honey Gold Bonuses (available for U.S. members only).

Honey Gold Bonuses are dollar-based rewards that are usually higher in value than Honey Gold. It is redeemable for new users who have recently signed up for the Honey browser extension.?

The only catch with this bonus is that you have to redeem it quickly. The reward is time-sensitive, meaning you really only have 7 days to claim it.

It is usually worth it if you are going to shop at any of the eligible stores after signing up because these cash back rewards range anywhere from $5-$20. This cash is still transferred into Honey Gold, but keep in mind that $10 is the minimum to cash out. Cashing out quickly is likely to happen considering the bonus is relatively high.

In this example, I was shopping on Udemy for a course and randomly got a Honey gold bonus.

For a $14.99 course, getting $2 back in gold isn't too shabby at all. This might be a one-time offer, but make use of it if you can!

How to Claim A Gold Bonus

There are 2 main ways to claim a bonus. One way is to search through the Honey browser’s list of stores and find one with rewards that you would like to claim. You will then select “Claim my Bonus” to activate it.

You’ll have 24 hours to complete your purchase at the store you activated, and then up to 14 days of pending rewards until it appears in your account.

Another way to claim the bonus is, if you are shopping at an eligible online store, Honey will give you a pop-up showing you that this store is available for the welcome bonus. You can then select to claim your reward this way instead. Same rules apply to this method as the first option.

Other Features

The Honey extension includes some great ways to save and earn rewards. There are a few useful add-ons that can definitely come in handy as well, such as Droplist, Amazon Badge, and their referral program.

Droplist

Droplist is a feature that allows Honey to keep an eye on the products you’re interested in purchasing. It will let you know when your item of interest drops in price.

Another great feature of droplist is the ability to set the price at which you would like to be notified with Honey's Amazon price tracker.

For example, if you’re interested in a pair of shoes that cost $200, you can set a price of $180 with droplist and Honey will let you know if the price of those shoes drop below that number.

There is no limit to the amount of items you droplist, but there is a limit to the amount of time it will be monitored for. The longest amount of time you can choose to watch an item is 120 days.

Chances are though, you won’t be interested in buying something after leaving it on the back burner for more than 4 months. So, this feature can come in handy for short term purchases.

I have found this feature incredibly valuable around the holiday season, when prices rapidly fluctuate on name brand items.

Amazon Badge

If you shop on Amazon frequently, Honey's Amazon price tracking tool is going to be your best friend.

Honey is able to scan every Amazon seller when you shop for an item to ensure you get the best price currently available. If you use this in conjunction with Amazon historical price data with websites like Camel Camel Camel, you're pushing your Amazon savings to the limit.

Referral Program

Another great way to earn with the Honey browser extension is through referral bonuses.

Here’s how it works:

• You share your referral link with a friend.
• Your friends/family download the Honey extension using your referral link.
• Once they receive their first bit of Honey Gold, you will earn your bonus of 500 Gold (worth $5).

You can refer up to 200 friends equaling a whopping $1,000 worth of referral bonuses! Sounds like a straightforward deal to me.

Obviously 200 referrals might be difficult to achieve, but a few friends is definitely possible to make a little cash. Not to mention, you’re helping your friends save money when shopping online.

Is Honey Worth It?

Like any cash back app or website, the more you shop, the more you save. This makes it difficult to definitively say if Honey is worth it.

But, if you shop semi-regularly online, you might as well try Honey. Automatically applying coupons might find you some savings, and the added cash back from Honey Gold partners is nice.

As I mentioned, I've earned over $400 from using Honey after roughly two years. However, roughly $300 is from referrals and the rest is from actually using Honey.

This is indicative of how lucrative the Honey referral program can be, as well as the fact that even passively, Honey can save you a decent chunk of change every year without much effort.

For the average shopper, I don't think saving $50 per year is out of the question.

Extra Reading – Rakuten Review – A Powerful Cashback Program & Referral Program.

Frequently Asked Questions

Honey is a pretty straightforward platform. However, here are the most commonly asked questions about this money saving website.

Where Does Honey Work?

Honey supports sites in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and the U.K. Depending on where you live, there will be a slightly different availability of online stores that are eligible to be discounted with the Honey extension.

How Does Honey Make Money?

Honey works with their merchant partners and receives commissions when users activate Honey’s coupons to save them money. They receive commissions from Honey Gold as well.

This allows them to offer their browser extension for free, without selling anyone’s data.

Why is My Gold Pending?

As previously mentioned, your Honey Gold will be pending for up to 14 days to verify the purchase, plus an additional 60 days pending to make sure that there were no returns or cancellations.

If you do return something that you purchased online and received Honey Gold, the rewards will adjust accordingly. For example, if you purchased two shirts for $20 each, and return one of them, you will only receive Honey Gold for $20 worth of rewards.

What Browsers Does Honey Work On?

Honey’s browser extension is currently available on 5 different browsers:

• Chrome.
• Safari.
• Firefox.
• Edge.
• Opera.

Honey is also available on the IOS app store.

What Information Is Collected?

This is the information that Honey does collect in order to ensure a secure and reliable purchasing process:

• Name, Email, General Profile Information.
• Technical Device Information (Ex: Macbook, Chrome Browser).
• Specific shopping site data to find the coupons/rewards.
• Purchase History and Previous Coupon Use.

Here is what Honey does NOT collect:

• Search engine history.
• Emails.
• Website information that is not a retail site.
• Credit card numbers.
• Billing addresses or information.

How Do I Uninstall Honey?

The process of uninstalling Honey is relatively straightforward for most browsers.

Most browsers are as simple as right-clicking the browser extension and selecting “Remove from” to remove it from your browser.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, it doesn’t hurt to have that little square sit at the top of your browser. Will you save lots of money if you rarely shop online? No, probably not. You will save a little, and that might be worth it for you.

Here’s what I will say though…

There’s definitely an opportunity to make some money with Honey if you refer friends and shop online frequently. Honey Gold can add up and be recycled back into your shopping if you go about it the right way.

Honey’s browser extension really is a set it and forget it type of tool. It simply can’t hurt to have it installed. The effort required compared to the savings earned seems to be low risk, low reward.?

Considering that it’s free, I say why not…Give it a try! Hopefully this Honey extension review has helped explain how to use honey and make them most of this platform!

Extra Reading:

• 12 Browser Extensions To Save Money When Shopping Online.
• Rakuten Review 2020 – How I Saved $400+ From Rakukten.
• UpVoice Review – Make $75 For Just Browsing The Web.
• 17 Awesome Passive Income Apps That Pay – 2020 Edition.

The post Honey Extension Review- How Much I Saved After 2 Years of Using Honey appeared first on WebMonkey.

I've covered ways to save money when shopping online before, such as by using money saving browser extensions. However, today I'm going to dive into one of the most popular rewards programs there is: Rakuten.

I've earned over $7,000 by using Rakuten for the last 5+ years. And my Rakuten review is covering everything you need to know about this platform and if it's legit or not.

Looking for more ways to make money? Checkout:

• Branded Surveys: Share your opinion to get gift cards and PayPal money!
• Capital One Shopping: Automatically apply available coupon codes when shopping online!

What Is Rakuten?

Rakuten, formerly known as Ebates, is a Japanese Ecommerce and retail company that was founded in 1997. And it's an easy way to save more money by earning cash back at 2,500+ stores.

While Rakuten is probably best known for their rewards platform in North America, the company is far more than just a loyalty program.

In fact, Rakuten is far more global. The company has a significant presence in Japan's internet and credit card market. It also sponsors the Barcelona Football Club, and has stakes in massive organizations such as Kobo, Pinterest, Lyft, Acorns, and dozens of other companies.

This Rakuten review is going to focus on its money-saving extension, however. And I'm going to share how the platform works and how I've earned $7,000+ in free money with it over the last few years.

How Does Rakuten Work?

Essentially, Rakuten acts as a massive affiliate network for thousands of retailers. When you shop online at a Rakuten-partnered retailer through its website, Rakuten earns commission. Once your purchase is confirmed, Rakuten then splits a portion of that commission with you for shopping through their website.

It's a win-win scenario for everyone!

Rakuten has thousands of partners and new offers every single day, so there is plenty of opportunity to save money. Cash back balance is credited to your account balance as you shop, and the company pays its Big Fat Check every 3 months via PayPal.

How Do I Sign Up?

To get started with Rakuten, all you need to do is to create a free account on their website. Profiles require either a valid email address or a Facebook account to get started.

Note: Rakuten is currently available in Canada, the UK, and the United States.?

Make sure you create a profile on the correct platform to ensure offers match your currency. You can create multiple Rakuten profiles if you shop in multiple countries. I use Amazon in Canada and the U.S. so I have two accounts.

Currently, Rakuten offers a $30 sign up bonus for newly referred users who open an account and spend at least $30 on a qualifying shopping offer. This is an amazing way to get paid for shopping, and the bonus is one of the best parts.

If you want to support WebMonkey and earn an easy $30, I would love it if you sign up for Rakuten with my link!

Is Rakuten Legit? – How I've Earned Over $7,000

Yes, Rakuten is legit, and it's one of the most popular shopping platforms in the world. ?I've also earned over $7,000 in rewards and have always been paid on time. Here's a screenshot of my lifetime earnings for some proof:

Most of my rewards have come from referring family members or readers of WebMonkey. But I've also earned cash back when shopping for things like electronics, flights, hotels, and clothing online.

How much you make largely depends on how often you shop online. But you might as well sign up and download its browser extension so you automatically earn whenever you shop at a partner merchant.

Different Ways To Make Money With Rakuten

Getting started with Rakuten is incredibly easy and free. However, there are several ways to make money you should know.

1. Install The Rakuten Browser Extension

You can save money with Rakuten by shopping directly through its website. However, if you're anything like me, remembering to visit Rakuten before shopping is unlikely.

I have probably forgotten to use Rakuten at least a dozen times. In order to ensure you are eligible for cash back when checking out online, be sure to install the Rakuten browser extension on the computer you do your shopping from.

The extension button highlights red to indicate an online retailer is eligible for cash back. With just one click, the extension redirects you to the same page but flows through Rakuten's system to ensure you are credited.

The extension is available on Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Microsoft Edge. The button also automatically applies coupons at checkout, similar to the Honey extension. Plus, the button has a ‘Price Magic' feature which ensures you get the lowest price available across partnered online retailers.

2. Use The Rakuten Mobile App

If you prefer shopping on your mobile phone, you're in luck: Rakuten has a free app for iOS and Android devices!

This app offers several nifty features to help you save more money, including:

• In-store coupon offers.
• App-exclusive cash back deals.
• Cash back on Lyft rides (app exclusive).
• 5% cash back on thousands of restaurants.

Even if you do all your shopping from a laptop, the app is worth trying out for the exclusive deals and cash back on Lyft and restaurants.

3. Shop In-Store

When it comes to cash back rewards, Rakuten is probably one of the most versatile platforms out there. You don't?just?have to shop online to save money. In fact, you can even earn cash back for completing in-store offers.

So, how do you use Rakuten in store?

Well, just follow these easy steps!

1. Select an offer –?Pick the store you will shop at in the app.
2. Link offer and card –?Link a debit or credit card to the app.
3. Pay with a linked card – Make your in-store purchase with the same card. If you're using debit, select ‘credit' when paying.

As you can see from the offers above, there's some pretty decent cash back offers. If you're going on a shopping trip, be sure to check in on Rakuten before leaving!

4. Use Rakuten Travel

If you have upcoming travel plans, you can use the Rakuten travel and vacations portal to score even more cash back.

Rakuten partners with Booking.com for their vacation and hotel deal search engine. Additionally, you can also search for plenty of deals on airlines, hotels, rental cars, cruises, and general vacation packages.

Double-dipping on travel rewards and cash back from Rakuten is definitely the way to go, so don't miss out on the potential for extra savings for your travel plans.

Extra Reading –?How To Make Money While Traveling.

5. Use The Rakuten Referral Program

Rakuten undoubtedly has one of the best referral programs in the online rewards industry. Here's how the program breaks down:

• United States – Users earn $10 to $40 for referring new members after they make a purchase.
• Canada – Users earn $10 to $30 for referring new members after they make a purchase.

As mentioned, I've earned most of my money from this referral program. I think it's a great way to get free money for signing up, and I like that both you and the person you invite earn from this referral bonus.

What Stores Work With Rakuten?

Rakuten partners with more than 3,500 partner stores in the United States and over 750 partner stores in Canada. It keeps adding new partners all the time, so it's easy to save money.

You can checkout the complete store directory to find a particular store. Some of the most notable partners include:

• Amazon
• Best Buy
• Hotels.com
• Macy's
• Walgreens
• Walmart
• eBay
• Nike
• Kohl's
• Target
• LG Electronics
• Expedia
• Shein
• Verizon

You get the idea. Rakuten has the best selection of any online rewards platform, hands down. It also has Double Cash Back deals or special offers for stores on a rotating basis, so checking the website regularly is a good idea.

How Much Money Can You Make?

Many offers on Rakuten pay between 1% and 10% cash back. However, you can find offers paying 10% to 50% cash back or even more, especially for products like software or subscription services.

I also like that Rakuten changes cash-back rates often. If you're patient, this usually means you can snag a boosted cash-back rate for a product you've been eyeing.

Realistically, you can probably earn at least $50 to $100 per year if you are diligent with this platform and don't miss out on savings.

When Do You Get Paid?

Rakuten pays out members quarterly with its “Big Fat Check” program as long as you have at least $5 in your account balance. You can get paid with PayPal cash or via check.

I've always chosen PayPal cash for my payment method, and Rakuten has never missed a quarterly payment. I wish it paid monthly, but I like that it pays real money and not gift cards or sweepstake entries.

Note: While many purchases credit cash back to your account within 48 hours, sometimes, retailers need more time to confirm your purchase. Some partners also want to ensure customers don't make returns. This means it can take 30 days or longer to post cash back to your account.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Free to sign up for
• You can get a $30 sign up bonus
• Works with thousands of retailers
• Browser extension automatically claims cash back
• You can use the mobile app or shop in-store

Cons:

• You only get paid quarterly
• Cash back can take 30 days or more to credit
• The coupon finder functionality isn't the best on the market

The Best Rakuten Alternatives

If you're looking for even more cash back, you can try the following websites that are similar to Rakuten:

• Capital One Shopping – Automatically apply available coupon codes at checkout to save money.
• Coupert – Another excellent shopping extension.
• Drop –?Earn rewards for shopping online and by playing games.
• Pogo – Automatically earn PayPal cash when you shop with a linked card.
• Honey – Another leading coupon-finding extension.
• Dosh –?Another way to earn passive cash back.
• TopCashBack –?A U.S. copy of Rakuten.
• Hoopla Doopla – Earn cash back for shopping at hundreds of partners.
• Kudos – This extension helps you choose the best credit card to shop with.

You can also read my post on the best passive income apps for even more ways to save! Plus, you can try out Rakuten Insight if you want to share your opinion to earn PayPal cash and gift cards.

Extra Reading – Rakuten vs Ibotta.

Note: Capital One Shopping compensates us when you sign up with the provided link.

Is Rakuten Worth It?

Rakuten is worth it if you shop online and want an easy and free way to earn cash back. In contrast, it's not worth using if you never shop online or you want to avoid potentially overspending due to temptation.

However, I think everyone should download its extension at the very least. This way, you never miss out on cash-back opportunities when shopping at an eligible retailer.

Is Rakuten A Scam?

No, Rakuten isn't a scam, and I've earned over $7,000 from using the platform. There's also plenty of other payment proof online, and this is one of the most popular rewards shopping platforms out there.

The main complaints people have are that purchases can sometimes take a while to credit. If you encounter issues, contact Rakuten support to resolve them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Rakuten Safe?

As always, I recommend reading the privacy policy to understand more about the sort of data you're giving up. Rakuten isn't different from other rewards platforms. It collects data, uses it for marketing purposes, and shares anonymous data with its partners. By signing up for Rakuten, you consent to the data collection practices outlined in its privacy policy.

In terms of security, Rakuten is safe. You don't have to link your card to receive payment unless you plan on shopping in-store. Otherwise, a PayPal email address is all you need to provide.

How Does Rakuten Make Money?

Rakuten makes money by earning commission from its partner retailers. In other words, stores pay the company to help market their products and services. When Rakuten drives a sale, it gets paid and passes some of the money on to you in the form of cash back.

How Fast Do I Earn Cash Back?

Most payments are credited within 48 hours. However, it can take up to 30 days for some merchants to verify transactions. If you have a question about a purchase made more than 30 days ago you can reach out to Rakuten support.

What Happened To Ebates?

Ebates rebranded to Rakuten in 2014.

Why Do I Have Pending Payments?

Rakuten's minimum cash out amount is $5.01. Additionally, bonus or signup rewards don't count towards this cash out threshold. Therefore, money will sit in your account until you earn enough cash back? to qualify for a Big Fat Check.

Money is sent quarterly using the following schedule:

Final Thoughts

If you buy most of your gifts, household goods, clothing, and other items on websites like Amazon for example, this website is a no-brainer.

If you're like me and don't shop much, this platform won't earn a lot. However, if you and some friends refer each other, you're still looking at some free and easy money.

That's all for now! Hopefully, my Rakuten review has shed some light onto the benefits of this platform, as well as why everyone is taking advantage of the amazing referral program.

Sign up for Rakuten and maximize the value of every dollar you spend!

Want more money-making ideas? Checkout:

• The 20+ Highest Paying Apps.
• What To Do If You're Struggling With Money.

The post Is Rakuten Legit? How I Earned $7,000+ Using Rewards & Referrals appeared first on WebMonkey.

In our talk, we brought up how since we started working remotely, setting up shop in a Starbucks or local cafe is much more enjoyable compared to being cooped-up at home.

I'm a proponent of separating your ‘work' space from your ‘home' space, and personally, I now spend more money every month on coffee than at any point in my life. Additionally, most of my coffee budget is spent at Starbucks (can't beat the Blonde roast or their WiFi!)

Now, I've never been a staunch supporter of the whole ‘the reason you're broke is because you buy lattes' mentality since I think it's a tad extreme.

However, as you guys probably know, I absolute?love?cash back rewards or scoring free gift cards when I can.

Since I've been spending so much time at Starbucks these past two months, I decided to break down the most effective methods to get free Starbucks and to have some fun with their rewards.

Now, this isn't going to dramatically change your financial outlook, and I also don't think you should feel guilty for buying coffee occasionally. This is meant to be a fun post designed to score you some free Starbucks gift cards and rewards every now and again so you can splurge (or pass on the fun to someone you know).

As a former Starbucks barista myself, I'm about to let you in on some secrets!

1. Enroll In Starbucks Rewards

Alright, while this might be a bit of a no-brainer for some, enrolling in the Starbucks Rewards Program is hands down the most effective way to drink free Starbucks on a regular basis.

In a nutshell, Starbucks Rewards incentives members to consistently shop at Starbucks by offering them perks, freebies, and the ability to accumulate stars.

The main perks of the Starbucks Rewards Program include:

• Free coffee and tea refills.
• A free Starbucks birthday drink.
• Free food and beverages that can be earned by accumulating stars.

Starbucks Reward members earn?2 stars?for every?$1?they spend at Starbucks. You can also increase how fast you earn stars with Bonus Star games/offers in the Starbucks mobile app, as well as by spending on Double Star Days.

Here's how stars translate into enjoying free Starbucks:

• 25 Stars ($12.50 of spend)?– customize your drink for free.
• 50 Stars?($25 of spend) – free Starbucks coffee, tea, or bakery item.
• 150 Stars?($75 of spend) – free handcrafted drink, breakfast item, or parfait.
• 200 Stars?($100 of spend) – free sandwich, salad, or protein box.
• 400 Stars?($200 of spend) – free bag of Starbucks coffee, cup, or accessory.

These might not seem like the most lucrative rewards. However, if you are a freelancer and treat Starbucks as your office (or if you just like coffee), you can probably earn at least 1-2 free Starbucks drinks each month or save up your points for something more substantial.

2. Use Passive Reward Apps

I've been tinkering around with passive income apps and ways to earn free gift cards for almost two years now, and while this ‘hobby' doesn't break the bank, it is fun to get free rewards every now and again.

The main way I have earned free Starbucks over the past two years has involved using cash back reward apps.

In particular, the Drop app has enabled me to earn a free $5 Starbucks gift card every month or so, and this process takes absolutely zero?effort on my part.

Essentially, Drop allows users to earn reward points for shopping at 5 merchants of their choice (selected from a fairly comprehensive list of partners) and through special offers and rebates.

Once you connect your credit or debt card to Drop's secure app, you automatically earn Drop points for spending at valid stores.

I've chosen Walmart, Uber, Shopper Drug Mart, the LCBO, and Starbucks itself as my reward partners, so I'm actually able to double-dip on how fast I can earn gift cards when I buy coffee every week,

There are plenty of other cash back apps that work on a similar premise, but I've personally had the most success with Drop.

Once you redeem a gift card, all you have to do is add the balance to your Starbucks Reward app and you're good to pay in-store!

Download Drop and start enjoying free Starbucks drinks today!

3. Use Data Collection Apps

If you've been following WebMonkey for a while, you'll know I'm also a fan of installing data collection apps to earn quick and easy passive income.

Running apps like Mobile Performance Meter was a massive part of my phone farming setup, and this simple free app can earn users $36.50/year in PayPal cash just for sitting on their phones.

However, if you're specifically on the hunt for free Starbucks rewards, trying out apps like MobileXpression might be up your alley.

MobileXpression runs in the background of user's phones and collects data regarding cellphone usage and cellular network coverage for marketing companies.

In return, MobileXpression rewards users with credits each consecutive week of run-time that can be cashed in for gift cards to a variety of stores (including Starbucks and Dunkin' Donuts).

MobileXpression usually rewards users with a $5 signup bonus, and you can realistically cash out your first $15 gift card within the first month and a half of usage.

Your personal data is amalgamated so your privacy is maintained. However, deciding to monetize your user data is ultimately a personal decision.

Extra Reading – How To Get Free Starbucks Gift Cards.

4. Mistplay

I've mentioned Mistplay in my post on ways to make money playing video games, but this mobile gaming platform is definitely one unique way to enjoy free Starbucks from time to time.

On the Mistplay app (Android only for now), users can earn in-app rewards for downloading and playing select partnered games on their mobile phone. As you accrue points, you can eventually cash them out for a variety of rewards and gift cards to popular merchants like Amazon, Walmart, and Starbucks.

I've used apps like Mistplay in the past, and actually used AppLike when it was around to cash out Amazon cards, so the premise does work.

However, as multiple Mistplay reviews on Reddit reveal, it's a bit of a mixed bag. Mistplay is a great earner for some, but painstakingly slow for other users.

Like other beermoney apps, people are also finding ways to turn this into a semi-passive source of free gift cards:

As you can see, this user runs Mistplay on an idle device and has earned $80 across two different accounts.

If you're looking to take your free Starbucks quest to the next level, I'd recommend Mistplay in your spare time or in idle-mode like this Redditor!

Related Reading – Mistplay App Review.

5. S`More Lockscreen App

If you want to earn an additional $36.50/year or more in Starbucks gift cards, you might want to try the S`more lock screen app.

S`mores is a reward-based Android app that transforms your phone's lock screen into a customizable news portal that displays tailored articles, headlines, and…well…advertisements.

The concept behind S`mores is really that simple: monetize your lock screen with ads and content, and earn $0.10 in points a day for doing so.

You don't have to interact with any sponsored content to earn your $0.10/day, and a single unlock will suffice. You can also complete short surveys or polls if you wish in order to earn more points.

S`more reward points can be redeemed for a variety of gift cards, including Starbucks, making this a straightforward way to drink Starbucks for free.

Yes, S`more is somewhat annoying compared to your traditional lock screen. However, if you have an old phone laying around you can install this app on it (along with apps like Embee Meter and MobileXpression to start a passive earning device without any trouble).

Extra Reading – S`more App Review 2020.

6. Shopkick

I've talked about Shopkick in my post on the ultimate list of gig economy jobs, and in terms of a simple earner, Shopkick is near the top of the list.

Shopkick is sort of like a secret shopper meets cash back rewards platform. On the app, there are several ways to earn, including:

• Walking into specific stores (yes, literally just walking in).
• Scanning barcodes for money.
• Submitting recipts.
• Purchasing sponsored products in-store or online.
• Watching videos on the mobile app.

You won't break the bank with the Shopkick app, but if you live in a major city, you might be able to squeeze out some extra Starbucks money each month by completing simple tasks while you're out and about.

Read our latest Shopkick Review to learn how to maximize your rewards with this app!

Extra Reading – 15 Best Apps Like Shopkick.

7. Microsoft Rewards

If you want to try something other than our Google overlords for a moment and passively earn money in the process, trying out Microsoft Rewards could be a decent option!

Microsoft Rewards is a essentially Bing's user acquisition play. The system allows loyal Bing users to earn reward points for completing a variety of tasks and for using Bing as their search engine, with points being redeemable for a variety of gift cards, sweepstakes entries, and rewards.

There are plenty of ways to earn Microsoft Reward points. Some are as simple as just using the Bing search engine or answering polls, while others involve completing quizzes or even shopping online.

Now, a free $5 Starbucks gift card is currently 6,500 Microsoft Reward Points. Users do gain bonus points for maintaining streaks and consistently using Bing, but 6,500 is still quite a threshold.

Realistically, if all you do is search on Bing (15 points per day) and complete your daily set (involves 3 tasks such as polls or surveys), you can earn roughly 45 points per day. Factoring in bonus streaks, this means you can earn a $5 gift card every?120 days or so.

Personally, this earning rate isn't enough for me to justify switching to Bing.

However, if you like using the Bing search engine or find yourself shopping for Microsoft products and online films, you might as well try out Microsoft Rewards since you can get some decent rebate bonuses.

8. Starbucks Rewards Visa

Alright, if you're truly serious about getting free Starbucks coffee, signing up for the Starbucks Visa Card is your last step to maximize your earnings.

When you become a Starbucks Rewards Visa member, you unlock the following perks:

• 6,500 bonus stars after you spend $500 in the first 3 months of opening your card. This is equivalent to 130 free Starbucks coffees.
• Earn 1 star per $2 you spend at grocery stores, transit, internet, cable, and phone bills.
• Earn up to 3 stars for every $1 spent at Starbucks.
• Earn 1 star for every $4 spent anywhere else.
• Get 8 ‘Barista Picks' per year – so more free food and drink perks.

You can also earn 300 bonus stars when you add money to your Starbucks mobile app using your rewards visa. Additionally, this visa comes with a bunch of other perks such as purchase protection, trip cancellation, and more.

Just note:?there is a $49 annual fee for the Starbucks Rewards Visa.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, none of the tips I listed in this article are going to dramatically change your finances.

Additionally, I don't think you should overly stress about treating yourself to coffee every so often, especially if you use cafes as a workspace rather than spending hundreds a month on renting a shared office.

However, there's no denying that earning free rewards is fun. If you can automate some of your earnings with things like passive apps or credit cards, I think it's a win-win.

Plus, if you're a serious coffee addict and actually buy coffee every day, you are looking at a decent tab. Just check out the yearly latte and brewed coffee chart from my friend Ling at Finsavvy Panda (she also has a great post on ways to get Starbuck for free):

Even a simple act like enrolling in the Starbucks Rewards program or getting their Rewards Visa could make a decent dent in your bill, so take a look at your options and do something that makes financial sense!

Just please, don't hop on to a GPT site and grind out surveys to get free Starbucks gift cards. Trust me, that is not a worthwhile use of time to get some freebies!

Enjoy all the free coffee/perks you can unlock! I'll catch you guys in the next one!

The post 8 Ways To Enjoy Free Starbucks – How To Drink Coffee For Free & Save appeared first on WebMonkey.

Ecommerce is a growing, convenient beast. It doesn't matter if you do nearly all of your shopping online or prefer traditional retail stores, there's no denying that online shopping will continue to be a growing trend.

Since we're entering Black Friday and the Christmas shopping season, I decided to spin up a quick post on the number one price protection app there is:?Earny.

I've already written a post on the best money saving browser extensions to help prepare online shoppers for the next few months of madness.

However, I wanted to write an individual Earny review to tackle this price protection system independently given its popularity and relevance for this time of year.

I also wanted to write this review because I think there are?way?better Earny alternatives out there for most users, and I think the majority of shoppers should steer clear of this money saving platform (more on the reasons why and some great alternatives near the end of this post).

What Is Earny?

These days, many major brands and credit card companies have policies in place that offer consumers price protection guarantees.

Essentially, price protection safeguards consumers from unfairly losing out on significant price drops within a given amount of time. Generally, price protection lasts between 30-60 days for most purchases.

So, as a consumer: let's say you buy a pair of sneakers for $100 with your credit card, only to find out that that same pair of sneakers went on sale three weeks later for $60. If you shop with a popular credit card that offers price protection, you can usually open a claim and receive the difference in price to save some money.

Now, since securing price protection savings requires time and the awareness of price drops in the first place, automating this process is definitely the way to go these days.

That's where popular platforms like the Earny app have found their place in the market.

How Does Earny Work?

Earny is very similar to price protection apps like Parbius.

Essentially, Earny connects to the inbox where you receive the majority of your online sales receipts and automatically monitors your purchases for price drops.

If Earny can find lower deals and your price protection claim is successful, you end up saving money without having to do a thing.

Since people obviously love free money and easy savings, it's isn't surprising that Earny has over 3 million users and has allegedly found savings on more than 85 million purchases, resulting in ‘billions in protected purchases.'

Sounds good so far, but what?exactly does Earny cover?

Earny Partner Retailers

Currently, Earny tracks items purchased from the following retailers according to the Earny support page:

• Best Buy.
• Bloomingdale's.
• Costco.
• The Gap Group.
• Banana Republic.
• Old Navy.
• Athleta.
• JCrew.
• Jet.
• Kohl's.
• Macy's.
• Newegg.
• Nike.
• Nordstrom.
• Overstock.
• Sears.
• Target.
• Walmart.
• Zappos.
• Home Depot.

Earny states they are continually working to update their list of partners, but this is the most recent data provided in July 2019.

Credit Card Price Protection

If you enable Earny credit card protection (which involves connecting your credit card to the app), Earny will also be able to monitor your Amazon purchases to watch for price drops.

Many popular credit cards can offer up to 90 or even 120 days of price protection for their users, and the process of connecting your credit cards to Earny is straightforward: simply find your specific card and bank and enter the your credentials into the app.

Currently, Earny works with all Citibank cards and all Mastercards.

Earny also offers support for the following banks and cards:

• Bank of America.
• US Bank.
• Capital One.
• Barclays.
• First Premier Bank.
• USAA.
• Wells Fargo.
• Fifth Third Bank.
• Chase.
• Visa.
• Discover.

Even if your specific credit card isn't listed on Earny's app or website, you can most likely connect you card through the Mastercard section.

Just note that many Mastercards have a limit of 4 price protection claims per year.

Earny Hotel Savings & Deals

Finally, Earny can also monitor hotel confirmations and help users rebook their stays in lower rates become available. Earny scans many major hotel booking sites and engines, enabling their system to find the best current rates.

Earny also states that their members can enjoy “access to exclusive rates all year round,” but their hotel search engine is just powered by Priceline, so this isn't anything special or exclusive in reality.

Earning Cash Back

Earny has recently put out an update that allows their users to earn cash back by shopping through the Earny app or browser extension.

I've covered different money saving browser extensions before and use several myself, so it's nice that Earny has at least added this new feature to their platform to allow users to save more money.

Earny Pricing & Signing Up

Unlike other price protection platforms, Earny is?not?free.

However, I have to admit, I'm a little confused about Earny's pricing model. When I signed up for Earny and also did some searching around the web, I found a slew of different information regarding how much Earny costs.

Signing up for Earny is free and fast. All you have to do is connect your inbox to the platform and create an account and boom, you're essentially done.

However, if you want to actually save money from price protections or get nifty hotel deals, you'll have to pay.

Personally, my Earny account gives me the option to pay?$1.99/month?to actually start benefiting from the service.

I've seen other Earny reviews state that the cost is actually $4.99 a month or even as high as $7.99 each month.

I'm not sure if Earny somehow knows I'm a student, if this is a temporary deal, or if other reviews are simply outdated. Whatever the case, just know you'll be paying for Earny if you want to reap the possible rewards.

Getting Paid By Earny

Once you've created an Earny account, you can update your profile section to finish linking your Amazon account and to setup your payment options/link any cards you may have.

You can also setup the specific account you want your Earny savings to be deposited to. There will be a small transaction applied to your card to make sure it's legit, but this will be reversed.

How Much Can You Save With Earny?

According to Earny, their average user saves $75 by using their service (according to the homepage).

However, when I checkout my pricing plan page (screenshot above), the potential savings are listed as being in the $160+ range if you factor in hotel deals, late delivery fees (this isn't mentioned anywhere else on their website), and general price drops.

This ultimately leads me to conclude that none of these numbers are exactly trustworthy seeing as their own funnel is full of inconsistencies.

So, what do the good people of Reddit have to say?

Well, it seems like Earny was a pretty decent way to save about a year ago:

Another user also shows a screenshot of over $180 in savings (Earny used to take a 25% fee a year ago).

More recent Earny reviews, however, are generally quite negative.

The final comment in this particular thread also brings up a good point:?cash back platforms might be more powerful.

Sure, automatic price protection is nice, but since you have to pay for a service like Earny, I would only recommend this app to someone who spends hundreds or even thousands of dollars a year on online retailers (that are also Earny partners).

If you only spend a couple hundred bucks, forget it.

Plus, many popular cash back platforms and passive income apps are also free and mostly hands-off anyway, so I personally think your time might be better spent researching these avenues.

Earny Alternatives – Paribus, Cash Back Platforms, & More

If the idea of automatically benefiting from price protection and late deliveries appeals to you, I think Paribus is better than Earny for several reasons.

Firstly, Paribus is completely free, so there's really no downside to hooking this app to your email if you aren't too worried about your personal data (more on this later).

Secondly, Paribus currently monitors 29 retailers for price drops – 9 more partners than Earny can currently offer.

I think the fact that Paribus is free and monitors more retailers makes this decision a no-brainer when it comes to the Earny vs. Paribus debate I've seen online.

In terms of other alternatives or money saving ideas, I think keeping it simple is your best friend.

You really don't need to pay anything to start saving bits of extra money every year. Other than certain credit cards that may justifiably carry fees for the benefits they provide, top-tier companies are often more interested in data collection than monthly fees.

Currently, here is my 100% free money saving regimen for getting the most out of my wallet when shopping online:

Honey –?I use this free browser extension to automatically apply coupons at checkout, and have saved over $70 to date from the platform.

Rakuten –?I use this free cash back portal to earn rewards for shopping at merchants like Amazon. Checkout my Rakuten review to see how I've earned around $400 with the platform.

A Cash Back Credit Card?– I use a basic American Express to earn 1-2% cash back on all my purchases. I don't pay any fees for this card and even had a 6 month signup bonus that granted higher cash back amounts. Shop around for a free credit card and possible signup bonuses if you haven't incorporated cash back into your life yet!

Drop –?I currently earn free Starbucks/Amazon gift cards when I spend money at Walmart, Starbucks, Uber, Shoppers Drug Mart, and the LCBO (Canada's draconian version of liquor stores, for any U.S. reader). Drop is a free app and partners with dozens of merchants, so there's plenty of ways to earn.

That's about it.

You can experiment with other free savings apps or rebate programs, but as long as you can find a few that work for you, you can easily find hundreds of dollars in savings each year.

Just think about it: a cash back credit card alone will save you 1-2% on so many purchases you make per year.

Long story short, don't waste time with Earny or other paid rebate programs unless you spend an insane amount of money online.

Final Thoughts & Privacy Concerns

At the end of the day, if you're getting something for free, you're the product.

Data collection is a massive business these days. In fact, data is now more valuable than oil for the first time in human history.

Personally, I'm alright with selling a decent amount of my user data to companies in exchange for freebies and cash. However, this is ultimately a very personal decision, and an important one.

Yes, companies like Earny are secure and legit. All these apps and services have top level encryption and amalgamate data sets/say they don't sell your personalized data.

Regardless, if you opt-in to these services, you are letting a third party company scan your personal data and transaction history. Keep this in mind when deciding if you want to use price protection services or other money saving apps.

People may recommend platforms like Earny because of juicy $15 referral bonuses.

Hell, half the reason I'm writing this post is because I found some nice keywords and also like promoting Paribus/Honey (I use them both, and they pay me up to $5 for referring people…there I said it!)

Regardless of what people say, just be smart, do your research, and find what works for you! Hopefully, this Earny review helped guide you in the right direction.

Thanks for reading! If you want to find more unique ways to save money, I suggest checking out my post on extra money saving hacks to take things one step further!

The post Earny Review – Is This Money Saving App Worth The Price? appeared first on WebMonkey.

The thing is, a 9-5 job isn't really just 9-5. Between commuting, running errands, and prepping for the work week, it can be difficult to find free time.

However, if you're ever in a crunch for cash or are simply looking for some part time side hustles, a full time job doesn't put you out of the running.

In fact, you can still find plenty of opportunities to earn extra money that don't completely ruin your social life or day job.

So, today we're covering some of the best side hustles for busy professionals that you can use to make money while still holding down your career.

Looking for other quick & flexible ways to make extra money? Checkout:

• Branded Surveys – Share your opinion to earn free PayPal money and gift cards!
• Ipsos iSay – Another fun way to get gift cards and PayPal cash!

The Best Side Hustles For Busy Professionals

I've been making money online or with various gig apps for years. And when I started out, I had to balance work, college, and making extra money in my schedule.

I'm not alone. In fact, about 45% of Americans also have a side hustle according to 2022 data from Zippia.

However, it can?be difficult to juggle everything, especially if you're working 40+ hours a week. But that's why I'm covering?the best side jobs for busy professionals that meet the following requirements:

• Have no contractual obligation or offer a very flexible schedule.
• Only require a few hours a week at the most to start earning income.
• Don't require a lot of skills or qualifications to start.

It's truly important to have control over your schedule here. Plus, you also want to choose a side gig that actually pays enough for it to be worth your time.

That being said, let's examine some of the best side jobs for busy people you can use to boost your income!

1. Food Delivery Apps

One of the best side hustles for busy professionals that you can make quick money with are food delivery gigs.

These apps are ideal for working professionals since they let you work the hours you want. And, signing up is easy and free, so you don't have to jump through hoops to start earnings.

In my post on?delivering for DoorDash versus Uber Eats, I was able to interview one of my good friends to learn how much money he makes by delivering food in Toronto.

My friend is able to make upwards of $20 an hour by delivering during dinner rushes or late night bar hours. He also avoided putting mileage or wear and tear on his car by making money with his bike.

Plus, there's several popular food delivery companies you can work for, including:

• DoorDash – Deliver food in your city and make money on your own schedule!
• Postmates – Deliver food and everyday essentials to people in your city, with earnings comparable to DoorDash or even higher.
• Instacart – Make money on the side by delivering groceries to people and earn around $15 to $20+ per hour!
• Uber Eats – Become a delivery driver for Uber Eats and hustle on the side to earn extra cash like DoorDash.
• Cornershop – Another popular job like Instacart that pays you to shop for people's groceries.
• Shipt – One more grocery delivery gig that also pays $15 to $20+ per hour on average.

As you can see in the screenshot above, some people make amazing money delivering for DoorDash or similar food delivery apps.

Granted, if you're only going to deliver for a few hours per week after work, you won't be making thousands of dollars per month. However, even if it's $200 a month or some other amount, I think food delivery jobs are one of the best side gigs for busy people.

If you want to make money on the side, get some exercise, and work 100% on your own schedule, I'd highly suggest checking out some popular food delivery companies in your area.

Extra Reading –?DoorDash Driver Tips & Tricks To Earn More Money.

2. Charge Scooters For Money

Another unique side hustle for busy people that you can test out is charging scooters for money.

If you live in a major city that has electric scooter rentals available from companies like Bird, you can actually start a decent part time side hustle by keeping these scooters charged.

As a scooter charger, you scoop scooters off of the street, charge them at your home or office, and then return the scooters to a central hub once they are fully charged.

Payment per scooter varies on how long it's been since a scooter was charged. Additionally, it only takes around $0.25-$0.40 in electricity costs to fully charge a scooter.

According to Kevin from Financial Panther, both Bird and Lime pay between $3-$5 per scooter charge.

Kevin is able to pick several scooters up during his commute, enabling him to earn anywhere from $10-$30 a day if conditions are right.

Kevin currently earns anywhere from $150-$1,000 a month just by charging scooters, which is pretty insane. So if you live near a Lime or Bird hub, this could be a very lucrative part time side hustle to consider!

3. Use Paid Survey Sites

If you want an easy way to make money with a laptop or phone, you can always use survey sites that pay you cash.

This is also a decent side hustle for busy people since you can answer surveys in your spare time when watching TV or relaxing around the house. I've also used plenty of GPT sites and apps since my phone farming days in college, so I know they're legit and pay out.

Some of the most popular platforms you can use include:

• Branded Surveys: A leading platform that lets you cash out at just $5 for PayPal cash and gift cards.
• Survey Junkie: Another popular survey site with a low $5 cash out requirement.
• Swagbucks: This site lets you make money with paid surveys, trivia games for cash, watching ads, and downloading apps.
• Grindabuck: One of my favorite get-paid-to websites where I've earned over $120.
• Kashkick: A newer survey site that lets you earn free PayPal cash for answering surveys.

Using sites like Branded Surveys and other similar sites isn't going to replace your day job. But again, these are flexible side hustles for working professionals that can make a bit of extra beermoney on the side.

4. Start A Blog

Another one of my favorite side hustles for working people is to?make money with a blog. And this also a very personal example for me since blogging is now how I make most of my income, but it wasn't alway like this.

I started WebMonkey while I was a full-time student and working 20 hours a week at Starbucks.

And, what started out as a college side hustle gradually grew from grocery money into something more serious.

Take a look at the first few months of my blogging income:

I was elated when WebMonkey was earning $200 to $300 a month. But, fast forward a few years, and I made $22,000 blogging in 2020. Then, in 2021, WebMonkey made $92,000.

Most of my blogging income comes from?affiliate marketing and running display advertising with Mediavine, a premium ad network.

In fact, Mediavine can make $500 a day or more in advertisement income alone. And affiliate income then makes up the rest.

It also took a long time to get here, but I held down full-time jobs the?entire?time.

So, I think starting a blog is a viable side job for busy people because you can do it on your own schedule and the growth potential is?immense.

Plus, blogging can help you branch out into other online income ideas, like selling eBooks, online coaching, or even making money on YouTube.

If you want to get started with blogging, it doesn't have to be expensive. You can purchase a domain name and basic WordPress hosting with a company like Namecheap for less than a cup of coffee per month.

5. Play Games For Money

Do you like playing video games after work? If so, another side hustle for working professionals you can try is to use various paid gaming apps.

There are numerous apps and websites that pay you with PayPal money and gift cards for playing new games. This makes it easy to start an easy video game side hustle that you can enjoy before or after work.

Several paid gaming apps I've used and recommend include:

• Cash Giraffe: My new favorite cash game that lets you redeem PayPal money and gift cards.
• Mistplay. Play new Android games and earn free gift cards with this gaming loyalty program.
• Rewarded Play: This app like Mistplay also lets you earn gift cards for trying different Android games.
• Gamehag. Play premium PC games and earn points, which are redeemable for free Steam games, gift cards, cash, and other prizes.
• AppStation: Another popular gaming app for iOS and Android devices with plenty of gift card rewards.

Like survey sites, these gaming apps aren't going to make you $100 a day or anything even close to that.

But they're a flexible, fun side hustle you can use to earn some freebies after a busy work day.

6. Walk Dogs & Pet Sit

If you're an animal lover, dog walking or pet sitting can be a great way to make extra money while working a full time job.

Companies like Rover and Wag have created marketplaces where dog and pet owners can pay to have someone walk or look after their beloved furry friend.

Taking care of pets or walking dogs is a decent side job for a few reasons.

Firstly, companies like Rover allow you to set your own schedule and pay rate, and there is no minimum monthly requirement for how active you need to be.

Secondly, all pet sitters and walkers get insurance under companies like Rover, so you are protected while doing your work. Considering that you can make upwards of $19/hour walking dogs with Rover and even more by pet sitting, there's definitely money on the table (especially if you live in a major city).

7. Flip Items On eBay

In another one of my Young Money interviews, I got to hear from Nathan of Millionaire Dojo on how he makes hundreds of dollars every month flipping items on his eBay store.

If you're willing to put in some time on the occasional weekend or two and invest in a modest amount of inventory, you can start to earn extra income every month and diversify your income.

The proof is in the pudding.

Nathan earns more than $500 from flipping on eBay every month, and he also interviews other successful sellers on his blog while documenting his own progress.

If you enjoy thrifting and can find a few hours a month to buy inventory, this might be a viable side job for additional income.

You can also sell stuff on other local marketplaces like the Facebook Marketplace or even by pawning stuff for cash.

Extra Reading – Best Ways To Make Money With A Pickup Truck.

8. Do Micro Jobs For Money

If you want to make money online as a beginner, another side hustle you can try are micro job sites.

Micro job sites pay you for completing short online tasks like:

• Data entry
• Image annotation
• Social media moderation
• Transcription

Clickworker is one of the most popular micro job sites out there. And you can sign up for free and then complete short tasks to earn bits of PayPal money.

Realistically, you can probably earn an extra $50-$200 per month if you take a bit of free time to complete short tasks online. And you can potentially earn a bit more if you can get a job with websites like Appen or Lionbridge.

However, this category of side jobs for working professionals is pretty straightforward since you choose whenever you want to make money online.

9. Referee Sports

Refereeing soccer matches is how many of my friends made money as teenagers. But I also know several adults who have been refereeing matches for as long as I have been playing.

Becoming a referee generally requires completing a course and having some understanding of the sport you're officiating, and you don't set your own hours. However, if you can find a gig officiating a summer game every now and again, it's pretty decent money.

Refs can easily get paid $50+ per game, or even more if you make it to higher levels/age groups of play.

Besides, who doesn't want to get paid to enjoy some outdoor weather and a sports game? If you don't mind angry parents yelling at you, it's an absolute walk in the park!

If you're looking for even more creative side job ideas, you can also checkout one of my YouTube videos on other side hustle ideas:

10. Rent Out Assets For Money

I've already written a post on ways you can rent out your assets for cash. And, this would probably be my go-to for extra money right now since I'm pretty swamped with freelance writing and blogging.

There are also plenty of creative ways to earn money on autopilot by renting things out, including:

• Renting out a spare room on a website like Airbnb or VRBO
• Renting out your storage space with Neighbor
• Renting out electronics and other expensive gear on a marketplace like Fat Llama
• Renting out your vehicle with Getaround

This is a nifty source of passive income, and in terms of side hustles for busy people, it's by far the least intensive option.

Living in a major city will probably make this side gig more viable. But I still think it is worth exploring if you want to earn extra money alongside your full time job.

11. Contractless Gig Jobs

Thanks to the power of the gig economy, it's never been easier to make money on the side whenever you find some free time and motivation.

Just take a look at some of these popular gigs as an example:

• TaskRabbit or Thumbtack – Get paid to assemble furniture, do yard work, help with moving, or complete other odd jobs as you see fit.
• Handy – Make money assembling furniture or cleaning.
• Bellhops or?Dolly – Help people with their move for some side cash.
• HelloTech – Get paid to help people with their tech problems and installations.
• Uber & Lyft – Make money as a rideshare driver in your city.
• Amazon Flex – Earn $18 to $25 with this driving gig by delivering packages for Amazon.

You can also make some serious money here: just checkout this screenshot from a weekend of working for Handy:

These gigs all let you set your own schedule and accept the shifts/gigs you want, which is important for busy professionals.

And the hourly rates for many of these gigs can reach $15 to $25+ per hour if you work quickly and get a bit lucky with tips.

Extra Reading – 9 Apps Like TaskRabbit To Start A Side Hustle.

12. Start Investing

One final side hustle for busy professionals that you can consider is to begin investing.

This isn't a classic side hustle in the sense that you don't have to go out and hustle with a gig app. But learning how to make your money work for you still takes time and attention.

However, there are plenty of ways to begin investing for income if you want to put some of the income from your day job to work, including:

• Investing in real estate with crowdfunding companies like Arrived (U.S. only)
• Investing with a robo-advisor
• Investing in various stocks and ETFs with a commission-free broker like?M1
• Investing in bonds, CDs, and other fixed-income securities
• Opening a high-yield savings account
• Using micro investing apps like Acorns to gradually invest and build good habits

There's no single ‘correct' formula for how to invest. And you should always consider speaking with a certified financial professional if you need specific advice for your personal situation.

Personally, I'm sticking with dividend stocks and ETFs for the most part these days. But you should do your own research online and think about your overall investing goals and what's best for you.

Final Thoughts

I hope this guide on the best side hustles for busy professionals gives you a few ideas on how to make money while holding down a busy schedule.

I know from experience that life can get hectic. But if you work?smart, I firmly believe it's possible to hustle while still focusing on your career.

And starting out small is?absolutely?fine. So, don't be afraid to make a few deliveries with DoorDash, answer some surveys with Branded Surveys, or to start your own freelancing hustle or blog.

It might take some time, but the rewards are always worth it in the long run. Just never forget to also enjoy life and to live a little!

That's all for this one! I hope this list of the best side jobs for busy professionals helps you to earn a bit of extra income in addition to any full time job you might have.

Catch you guys in the next one.

Want extra ways to boost your income? Checkout:

• The Best Jobs You Can Do From Your Phone.
• 20+ Jobs That Pay $5,000 A Month.

DoorDash Disclaimer: Actual earnings may differ and depend on factors like number of deliveries completed, time of day, location, and expenses. Dash now subject to background check and availability.

The post The 10+ Best Side Hustles For Busy Professionals appeared first on WebMonkey.

Between paying for tuition, rent, groceries, and still keeping up with a social life, financial stress is incredibly common for students. In fact, 70% of college students are stressed about their finances.

I'm a recent college graduate, but I remember a lot of that stress.

During college, I worked 10-20 hours a week as a Starbucks barista, and I also started several college side hustles and worked remotely to pay for tuition.

However, the main strategy that helped me to get through college was to live frugally. Earning money is great, but if you can figure out effective ways to save money in college, you'll be better off in the long run.

I want to take a trip down memory lane and share some of the most effective strategies I implemented during my time as a student.

If you're looking for the ultimate list of tips to save money in college, this is the post for you!

This post will contain tips surrounding:

• Food budgeting.
• Rent/utilities.
• Tuition, textbooks, and school expenses.
• Entertainment.

Let's get to it!

Want to pay less for your monthly phone bill? Checkout:

• Mint Mobile – Get Premium Wireless For Just $15/Month!

Saving Money In School – Food Related Expenses

Outside of rent, tuition, and textbooks, your grocery bill will be one of your main expenses.

The following tips are a great way to cut down on your student grocery bill and to save more money each semester.

1. Adopt A Simple Diet

One of the easiest ways to save money in college is to adopt a minimalist shopping plan.

My roommate actually devised the perfect college menu when he was in school that consisted of:

• Breakfast: Eggs and toast, or plain oatmeal mixed with yogurt and frozen berries.
• Lunch: Rice/beans, veggie mix (either frozen peas and carrots or some frozen green beans), and minced chicken or turkey.
• Dinner: Repeat lunch.

This foundation, plus a few extra items every now and again like fruit or vegetable, created an extremely lean but effective diet. Buy treats or something exciting every once in a while, but stick to the core diet.

The secret isn't to live off of Kraft dinner or Ramen (you'll just get scurvy and die this way).

I made a recent YouTube video that breaks down some of the best ways to save money in college, and it includes a section on how to keep meal planning affordable!

Just remember, you still need some variety (greater food variety actually has multiple benefits) but the key is to keep things fairly simple for your weekly shopping trips.

2. Buy In Bulk

One benefit of buying a limited number of food items is that you can shop in bulk to save money.

Find the closest bulk food supply store, Costco, or place you can stock up on essentials and go to town! Don't be afraid about buying an absurd amount of food in one go if it won't spoil and if the savings make sense.

3. Shop On Student Discount Days

Almost every grocery store in my city gave between 5-10% off on certain days of the week to students. I never diligently shopped on these days, but that was a missed opportunity.

Find out when stores offer student discounts and take note. If you can shop once a week for food and only on discount days, you can save money on your grocery bill throughout your entire degree!

Extra Reading – 14 Awesome Freebies For Students.

4. Meal Prep

Eating out or ordering delivery is the bane of college students. Events like drunken Uber Eats at 2am or exam season pizza binges can easily sink a student budget.

If you want to save money during college, you need to meal prep on a regular basis.

With your frugal grocery list in hand, it should be easy to plan out your meals and cook several portions every couple of days. Having readily available meals will reduce the likelihood you cave in and order food, and you can even freeze meals for backup.

I highly suggest investing in a cheap rice cooker and set of glass containers that you can use to make meal prepping a breeze.

5. Delete Temptation

After a complicated, tumultuous relationship with Skip The Dishes, one of my old roommates made the tough decision to delete the app from his phone.

Trust me, if you have apps like Skip The Dishes on your phone you will use them. 

Delete the apps, unsubscribe from their email marketing, and just download the app again when you order food next time (it takes 30 seconds and this extra step makes it harder to purchase food on a whim).

6. Use Price Match Apps

Almost every major grocery store offers price matching these days, and you don't even need to use flyers or coupons anymore thanks to price match apps.

Personally, I use Flipp to quickly scan for coupons and deals or to price match various grocery items at checkout. I don't use it as often as I should, but it's an incredibly straightforward way to save money while grocery shopping.

I shop primarily at Walmart and NoFrills, and I still find great deals through Flipp, so this isn't just for fancy grocery store shoppers!

7. Use Receipt Scanning Apps

I've written a post on the best reward apps and I currently use Checkout 51, Receipt Hog, and Caddle to earn cashback for buying various items.

The downside to having a minimal grocery list is that you won't qualify for many of the offers on some cashback apps, but for random purchases like medication or cooking supplies/kitchenware, they can come in handy.

Again, these apps won't break the bank, but you can probably make $20-$40 a year without too much effort by using some of these apps!

8. Set An Alcohol Budget

Learning how to budget as a student is incredibly important, especially when it comes to food and alcohol.

I find that grocery bills for a single person are fairly consistent. Alcohol, on the other hand, is definitely more volatile based on events you attend, the season, or how many memories you're in desperate need of forgetting.

Set a monthly alcohol budget and stick to it.

I didn't do this in college, and while I don't drink often, grabbing pints at restaurants or random new beers from the Beer Store can add up surprisingly fast.

9. Buy A Flask

If you frequently go to bars or clubs while in school, I definitely suggest buying a flask so you can bring your own alcohol into an establishment.

A small flask is easy to sneak into a bar, and I've seen countless people do this without getting caught.

It's a simple but easy way to cut down on your alcohol spending, and you can drink in the bathroom stall like every other frugal degenerate has done before you. My friends and I did this frequently, and it saved a lot of money!

Seriously, make the $10-$15 purchase and bask in the amount of money you save on alcohol.

Rent & Utilities – Reducing The Cost of Living

Once your food and alcohol budgets are sorted, it's time to turn your money-saving focus towards another necessity: rent and utility bills.

10. Embrace Student Life

During college, I started out by paying $450/month to live in a student housing complex that was fairly close to campus, banks, and a grocery store.

I lived with fantastic roommates, and having multiple people in the same house helped keep utilities at a manageable level. Utilities never surpassed $50/month because of the shared bills.

In my final year of college, I moved in with my now ex-girlfriend (don't do this), paid $750/month in rent (don't do this), and probably spent closer to $80/month on utilities (don't do this).

The point is: take student life for what it is and don't rush to get out of it.

I deeply regret rushing through that phase of my life, and there were certainly many advantages to living like a student that also help save money.

Sure, I started work sooner and eventually got my own place, but I still could have finished my degree early while working a 9-5 job and stayed with my roommates for one more year.

Live with a bunch of your close friends in a rundown house for your entire college career and save as much money on rent as you can. Trust me.

11. Furnish For Free?

We never bought a single sofa for our student house, and I don't even think we really purchased chairs or much in the way of furniture in general.

If you're looking for ways to save money in college, stick with what old tenants left behind or find free items on Kijiji.

One of the funniest moments I had in college was when my roommates brought back a free Kijiji sofa that had springs falling out the bottom of it as they carried it through the door. The thing was incredibly uncomfortable but it really did bond us.

Extra Reading – How To Save $10,000 In A Year.

12. Work With Your Landlord

If you can learn how to do basic household maintenance or fix problems like clogged drains, toilet issues, or whatever else needs to be done, you can probably offer to do the work for your landlord in exchange for payment when problems arise.

In college, our landlord lived an hour away, and he made plenty of offers over the years for us to do work like painting or even to show the house to future tenants in exchange for money.

If you sense an opportunity to make some extra money (which can be applied against your rent), take action.

13. Negotiate Internet Bills

If you are in charge of paying the internet bill for your student house, make sure you stay as the account holder for at least one year/for as long as possible so you can eventually negotiate your internet bill.

My housemates and I never did this, but in hindsight, we definitely could have threatened to move to Bell and had Rogers drop their monthly price for us if we had just bothered to ask.

Extra reading – 7 bonus tips for cutting down on monthly expenses.

14. Don't Over-Pack For Residence Or Your First College Home

I was guilty of this for my first year living in a dorm, as well as my first year living in a college house with friends.

Trust me…you will NOT use that egg-McMuffin maker machine, or that crock-pot. You also won't wear half the articles of clothing you decide to pack (let's be real, sweatpants or jeans are king).

Keep things simple, and prioritize items that will improve quality of life, organization, and your overall health…pack vitamin C, cold medication, or a nice toiletry bag for the dorm showers, not a fancy kitchen appliance you'll never use. The easiest way to save money in college is to just be smart and realistic with your money, after all.

If you want tips for how to pack for college as a guy or girl, check out the following posts:

• Guy dorm room essentials.
• Girl dorm room essentials.

Saving On School Related Expenses

Once you've saved as much money as possible on the necessities, it's time to start tackling the most unfortunate part about going to school in the first place: the price tag.

15. Actually Apply For Scholarships

Everyone intends to apply for scholarships or competitions, but almost no one ever does (and this is why you have to start trying).

An entrance scholarship helped save me $5,000 in tuition at my college, and one of my college side hustles was to enter a marketing competition where I ended up winning $1,000.

Look around for opportunities for free money. They will promptly stop the second you graduate school, more or less, so take advantage of the chance while you still can.

16. Opt Out Of Useless Services

If you take a close look at your student fees, you will notice there are dozens of random associations and clubs that get a slice of the pie.

While you can't opt out of everything, many colleges let students recoup some of their tuition for things like dental or optical coverage if they are insured elsewhere.

If you already have coverage, don't be lazy: opt out of things you don't need to save a few hundred bucks.

17. Download PDF Textbooks

If you do some digging on Reddit, you can find plenty of great sources or methods to download your textbooks for free.

Sure, the edition might not always be correct, and you have to navigate a confusing labyrinth of sketchy Russian sites and viruses to find what you're looking for, but it is worth it.

Plenty of my friends downloaded textbooks, and the worst that ever happened was a slap on the wrist from Campus IT support.

If you can't find textbooks to download, you can try shopping at Abebooks (this is where I bought all the books I couldn't get for free).

18. Sell Textbooks

If you're going to end up with a bunch of electronic textbooks versions on your laptop…I mean…you might as well…

Selling textbooks online for $10 a pop was the easiest, fastest money I have made in college.

Students are always looking for cheap alternatives to the criminally expensive textbooks profs push, and you will sell textbooks like hotcakes through various Facebook groups or even local classifieds.

Extra Reading – Sell College Notes For Cash.

19. Don't Buy Textbooks

This is by far the most straightforward tip to save money in college but no one seems willing to do this for some reason.

Sometimes, you don't need to buy a textbook.

For example, I took a stupid but required course called ‘Individuals and Groups in Organizations.' The textbook cost something like $120.

The course was essentially about learning how people function in the workplace, and was some social well-being bullshit that is all common sense anyways.

Didn't buy the book, did fine in the class, and didn't waste money. Textbooks are resources, and if you don't need the resource, don't pay for it. Besides, you can usually rent textbooks from the library if you need to study a specific chapter.

Extra Tips For Saving Money In College

Once you've cut costs on food, rent, and school expenses, you can use these other simple methods to save even more money.

20. Use A Cash back Credit Card

Forget what they say about being too young to use a credit card. If you can drink, vote, and legally marry someone, learn how to use a credit card and start earning cash back without overspending.

I used a credit card all throughout college, but I was foolish and never got one with cash back rewards. Even if you receive 1% cash back, it will add up over the years.

21. Use Cash back Apps

I've written posts on ways to save money when shopping online or cashback apps you can use, and while they don't lead to an insane amount of savings, getting in the habit is worth it.

Shopping online can already help save money, so you might as well use some cashback apps to recoup even more cost.

I personally use Drop, Ebates, and Honey at the moment to save, and this is an easy way to recoup $100+ a year at least.

These programs are free and one of the easiest ways to save money in a pinch if you're looking for more options.

Checkout our Drop app review and Honey extension review for all the details!

22 – Take Advantage Of Student Deals

If you subscribe to services like Amazon Prime, Spotify, Apple Music, or other subscription services, you should be on the lookout for student prices.

If you have a .edu email, you can usually signup for student deals during college and even afterwards for as long as the email account stays active. Long story short, avoid paying full price for as long as you can!

Extra Reading – The 8 Best Amazon Price Trackers To Find Deals.

23 – Use A High-Interest Savings Account

Even if you don't invest your money while in school, you should at least park your money somewhere it can earn interest.

Personally, I used Tangerine's (Canada only) high interest savings account to save money in college with whatever spare money I had between semesters, and it added up.

If Tangerine isn't your thing, you can use other high interest savings accounts or take a look at apps like Peak Money!

You can also try out the CIT Savings Builder Account to earn 1.45% interest on the money you save!

24 – Tax Refunds

I'm no tax expert, but I do know there are plenty of ways to save money as a college student thanks to various tax laws.

If you can claim your rent and tuition while informing the government that you are basically broke, you should be able to get a decent of money back on your tax return (if you have a job) or as benefit payments.

Again, look into the laws for your given country/state, but don't pass up on free money!

Final Thoughts

College is incredibly expensive, and money can be tight while you pursue an education, but there are ways to reduce financial burden and stress.

Stick to a budget, live frugally, start a side hustle or pick up some work if you need to make ends meet, and just be smart. You can find ways to save money during college if you have a plan in place.

Additionally, remember that grades are not really that important if your resume can back you up, and please don't forget to live a little.

Catch you guys in the next one!

Tom and the boys of Greasy Gordon.

The post How To Save Money In College – 23 Actionable Tips That Actually Work appeared first on WebMonkey.