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beginner’s guide

Welcome to our Beginner’s Guide. 

It is meant to show you how to get started making extra money off the internet with little time and effort. 

This blog is for people who want to put an extra hundred a month or so in their pocket with little effort. If you want additional real income, you will need to try other ventures like overtime, a new job, or a full-fledged side business. That is not the intent of this blog though.

Sorry, we can’t help you if that is your goal!

An extra $100 or so can allow you to squeeze things into a tight budget like eating out, buying a new outfit, or even adding to your savings. 

The digital age has given rise to an industry of apps and websites that exist to give you cash for various activities. Most of these companies exist to make money by marketing, so make sure you are ok with privacy permissions. 

All of these companies are legitimate apps and websites that you can use effortlessly. All have been featured in publications like the New York Times, Forbes, etc. 

Since there are so many and not all will work for everyone, we created this beginner’s guide to get you started. 

The Beginner’s Guide is not meant to be an exhaustive list of all apps and websites. It is just meant to get you started with the easiest apps that everyone should probably use if they are into getting cash back from the internet. 

First, you need to know the various types of apps and websites that give cash back. 

Types of legitimate free money makers

  • Receipt scanning apps that require taking a picture of your receipts. (I make $93/month with almost no time on these. Scroll down and read more.) 
  • Shopping Portals or Apps/websites that give you cash back for shopping. (Amount varies by how much you shop.)
  • Survey sites (I make $180/month on these, but it does require time and may not be worth it for all. )
  • Other

1. RECEIPT SCANNING APPS

These apps usually require little time. Just a couple of seconds to scan a receipt. 

Make sure you are comfortable with scanning receipts. 

These can range from just $3/month to $60/month. I will list what I make from each app. The magic is in combining these apps. Some people will not think the ones on the bottom of the list are worth the time. Again, it is up to you.

My personal experience is that it is one more second to scan a receipt for another app when you are already scanning receipts. Later, I will have reviews for each app. 

LIST OF RECEIPT SCANNING APPS

  1. Ibotta ($20-$50/month, not including as a cash back app. (https://ibotta.com/r/ylvivuh use referal code ylvivuh)

Ibotta is the most popular grocery app. It gets you more money than the others on the list, so it is first. You get money for the shopping you would do anyway. Like the other apps, make sure you are comfortable with scanning your receipts. Make sure you are comfortable with privacy permissions too. 

Again sign up here: https://ibotta.com/r/ylvivuh

Use referal code ylvivuh

2.  Shopkick (up to $60 month if you have time) Sign-up here: https://getsk.co/deal801013

Shopkick is the second biggest money making app. (If you scan receipts, it is actually the most profitable app). It is a little different than the other apps on this list because you get money for walking in stores and scanning products. I make $60/month from this but not everyone will like scanning products in stores though it takes me just 5-10 minutes in each store. 

Sign-up here again: https://getsk.co/deal801013

3. Saving Star

If you are using Ibotta, you might as well add this one. It has less offers than Ibotta, but money can add up over time.

4. Checkout 51

This works the same as Saving Star. Again, not as many offers as Ibotta. Again, if you are using Ibotta, you can add this.

5. Receipt Hog

This is one of my last recommendations. It will probably be in the $5/month range, so if you are pressed for time, you may not care. Again, it takes just a second to scan a receipt though.

6. Receipt Pal

This one is the same as Receipt Hog. You will get about $5/month. Again, my take is that it is one more second to add this app, but not everyone will feel that way. 

8. Fetch

If you buy name brands, then you may do better than me. You are rewarded for buying name brands. I buy a lot of organic products that are not big food brands, so only get $3-$5/month from this. If you buy name brands, you can get more again though. 

SUMMARY OF RECEIPT SCANNING APPS

I listed these in terms of importance in case you have little time or just might not like all of them. I would go with Ibotta and Shopkick if nothing else. If you don’t have extra time for Shopkick, then you could just use Ibotta. You can then use the other ones which will be similar to Ibotta and just require an extra second to scan products. 

MY EARNING EACH MONTH WITH RECEPT SCANNING APPS

Ibotta: $20

Shopkick: $60

Saving Star/Checkout 51: $0 (have not cashed out yet)

Receipt Pal: $5

Receipt Hog: $5

Fetch $3

Total : $93 per monthI

II. CASH BACK WEBSITES/APPS

Most people are familiar with Ebates. In case you are not, it is listed. It is the most popular one. I list other portals too. 

Use http://www.cashbackmonitor.com to see which portal has the highest rate for the store you are shopping at. 

The drawback to Ebates is that it takes longer to get paid, so if one of the other ones has a higher payout, go with them. You will get cash quicker. Some of these I have signed up with but have not used yet. 

I will review all later on the blog. I like Swagbucks and Ibotta if they have the higher rate because I get paid quicker. Swagbucks always pays me a month later, whereas Ebates can take a couple of months. As usual, use our referral.

An example of using a cash back portal:

You want to shop at Ulta.

You go to cashbackmonitor.com and see Ebates has the highest cash back offer.

You go to Ebates.com and type in Ulta.

10 % back at Ulta

Let’s say you spent $100 at Ultra. That would be a free $10!

Most people spend more than $100 a year shopping. The averages person spends at least $2,000 on clothes. If you got 10% each time, that would be $200 a year. Shopping includes everything from makeup to clothes to appliances.

If you shop online, why not?

My suggestion is to buy most things online and pick them up in the store. That way you are always getting cash back. I do that with my contact supplies. I order them online and just pick up at Walgreens. 

Some items are not allowed cash back though like prescriptions. Groceries and household items do not count for cash back, so you will need apps like Ibotta for that. 

HOW TO USE CASH BACK PORTALS

  1. Decide on the store you want (Examples include Macys, Sephora, Old Navy, Target, Walmart, etc).
  2. Go to http://www.cashbackmonitor.com and type in your store.
  3. See which cash back site has the highest rate (Tip: Don’t use too many portals because you will have change spreed in different places. Maybe pick 2-4 cash back apps to use).
  4. Click the cash back site (i.e. Ebates, Swagbucks, Be Frugal, Top Cash Back, etc).
  5. Make sure you are logged in and click on your store from the cash back portal.
  6. Shop like normal on the store website. 

TOP CASH BACK SITES

  1. Ebates (sign-up here: https://www.ebates.com/r/TRACYS1629?eeid=28187 )
  2. Swagbucks (sign up here: https://www.swagbucks.com/refer/Tracynicole2
  3. Ibotta
  4. Be Frugal
  5. Top Cashback (sign-up here: https://www.topcashback.com/ref/member714814369950 )
  6. Lemoney
  7. Giving Assistant
  8. Mr. Rebates
  9. Coupon Cactus

As I review more sites, I will add them to this guide as well as review each one on the blog. 

III. SURVEY SITES

Survey sites will take the most time and may not be worth it for all.

Surveys can be the equivalent of $1-$4/hour and are not worth it for all again. 

The best use is probably minimal time and getting Amazon or other gift cards.

I dedicate one to two hours a day and get about $180/month. 

The positive is they can be done in 15 minute increments throughout your day and not at hours at a time. You can also do these while lying in bed or in between watching television (like my favorite Food Network or HGTV shows). 

I am just experimenting right now. Later, I may not do surveys because there are lots of other ways to make more money off the internet. I am an online entrepreneur with a flexible schedule though too. 

If you go this route, sign-up for more than one site so that you will have enough surveys. One site will usually not have enough surveys. Use our link, so that we get referral credit. Again, that is how we run the website.

BEST SURVEY SITES TO TRY

  1. Survey Junkie: Survey Junkie is rated #1. This is one of the two I use. They only have surveys.
  2. Swagbucks: Swagbucks has surveys and a lot of other ways to earn like sign-ups, etc. They are one of the biggest sites. I think their “Discover” offers are great if you don’t like surveys. I got $20 just for signing up for Hulu!
  3. Inbox Dollars: This is another good one. I have not used it much, but when I did it was good. I did not like the $30 requirement to cash out (most sites just require $10-$20). Still a good choice.
  4. My Points: This is owned by the same company that owns Swagbucks. 

I currently use Swagbucks and Survey Junkie again. These are the top four to get started with though. Just two sites work for me. Some people may need more though. I earn $180 a month again. 

The negative to that is instead of only $180 doing surveys, at $10/hour, I would earn $560 dollars doing a regular job for the same time. Most people can make more than $10/hour too. 

Again, the positive is that you can do these at 15 minute segments throughout the day or while in pjs and in bed. As I make more money doing other things, I may drop surveys though. It is just an experiment for now. Will let you know what happened later!

 Fifteen minutes here and there when you would not be doing anything but surfing the web or watching television can add up in cash. People tend to berate surveys, but it is up to you. What works for one person, may not work for all. If it works for you, great! Again, I caution you to watch your time with this though. 

V. OTHERS

Will add later as learn and try more sites. 

discount gift cards

Discounted gift cards are another way to save money. Go to a site like giftcardgranny.com or raise.com and find a card. These sites can sell gift cards at discounted prices for restaurants and other stores. They guarantee your money back if something goes wrong with the gift card for up to 30 days because these are used gift cards.

An example: Right now, there is a Jason Deli’s gift card for 40% off. I don’t know much about Jason’s Deli. My mom loves it. If you like it, you could save almost 50% on your order!

It will vary by the restaurant or store.

You only buy these when you need them because you are only guaranteed your money back for 30 days.

Will add more ways to save or get free money later.

CONCLUSION

Just keep in mind this website is not intended to make extra thousands or quit your day job, Just an extra hundred or so. If you want to make thousands more, you probably need to get a promotion, work overtime, or start a full side business. I am not a business coach (though love being an entrepreneur). 

A side business is a great way to make more money. That is not the scope of this blog though. Again, this blog is just for people who want an extra couple hundred. Couldn’t we all use an extra $100 a month? That is an extra $1200 a year!

Hope you love the blog, and this gets you started!