27 Legitimate Ways To Get Free Money ($1,000 to $5,000) Now and Fast in 2024 (2024)

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For the longest time, I never really knew what the term “free money” meant.

In the past, I never put a lot of effort into searching for ways to get free money because I was focused on finding ways to save money and live better with these money-saving hacks. On top of that, I was so caught up with exploring my favorite and fun profitable hobbies that can make money on the side.

Plus, the idea of getting free money sounds too good to be true, right?

Well, I’m here to tell you that it’s not — it’s all about being resourceful and finding legitimate ways to earn free money that could help you financially.

Despite improvements in inflation rates, every single dollar continues to hold immense value in today’s world.

Just keep in mind that while some of these are more passive ways to earn, there will be some methods that require a bit of effort from your end. However, they are definitely not mission impossible!

For example, free and legitimate resources like Survey Junkiewill pay you up to $45 per survey just for offering your opinion about a product or service! You can start earning free money online immediately once you sign up.

I never really thought much about these free money resources, but the numbers really do add up!

You could get $2,000, $5,000, or even as high as $10,000 in what they call “free money” when you combine and take advantage of free resources out there!

With that said, there is such a thing as “earning free money,” and it’s something you can’t afford to miss out on (no pun intended, haha)!

My passion is to help you find creative ways to get free money, so I’ll always be updating this post. Be sure to save this image to your “money” Pinterest board here, so you can refer back to the latest free money hacks!

How To Get Free Money

So, here’s our quick story…

We were able to find creative ways to make extra money on the side, manage our money effectively, and learn how to properly build wealth over the years, but we were oblivious to the fact that we were actually taking advantage of what people call “free money” or “free stuff”.

Looking back, I have to say that taking advantage of these hidden money tools and resources contributed to the growth of our savings and net worth.

Some of these resources had big impacts on our savings, whereas others were small. In either case, no matter how big or small, they all add up in the end with an overall net positive effect.

With that said, I’m going to name all the places you can take advantage of so you can learnhow to get free money relatively fast!

Most of these resources are what we personally use and it has worked well for us over the years! Whenever I want free money in my bank account now, I always turn to these methods.

Before moving on to the big wins which will take more time, let’s start off with the quick and small wins!

These first few points I list won’t instantly turn you into a millionaire overnight, but they are fun and easy ways to get or earn money for free and fast.

Get money in your bank account now using the methods below! 💰💰💰

I need money now for free and fast!

This post is long to give you loads of information on many money resources and tools! I’ll always be updating this post, so save this image to your favorite Pinterest board here!

I know that many thoughts like these are going through your head right now:

“I need money right nowfor free and fast” or “Help, I need money desperately”!

Before we move on, I want to quickly mention that these are NOT get-rich-quick schemes. They are resources and tools to help you save or earn the most money possible without paying or putting down any form of investment.

Today, I’m going to show you how to earn free money on PayPalalong with free gift cards and other freebies.

Who wouldn’t enjoy these quick and small wins, right?

How I get free money mailed to me

How this works is that I claim free PayPal money (or free gift cards) through the legitimate websites I list below like Branded Surveys or Swagbucks.

Sometimes I even choose the option to get myfree money mailed to me.

How you want to redeem your cash money, gift cards, and rewards is up to you! 🙂

I recommend signing up for all of the free resources below if you are interested in banking some free money.

The more you sign up for, the more free money you may be able to receive in your bank account.

These are all quick and easy to sign up for, plus it doesn’t cost you any money to use these resources, so why not?

1. Get a free $100 bonus for refinancing your student loans

More than 50% of students leave school with student debt, according to a Forbes article.

Student loans can be a huge burden, but you may be able to lighten the load (and put some extra cash in your pocket) by refinancing your loans at a lower interest rate. There are a few online companies that offer this service, and you can typically get a $100 bonus for refinancing through them. Credible and SoFi are two popular options that are currently offering bonuses.

2. Pay down your mortgage payment

If you can afford it, I recommend paying down your mortgage principal. With interest rates continuously rising, it’s one of the best things you can do to get free money in the coming months.

With every extra dollar you can put towards your mortgage, you’re effectively earning a risk-free return equal to your mortgage rate. When your lender calculates the interest you have to pay, it’s on a smaller amount, so you’re saving up money over time. This means that, in the future, instead of paying more interest costs, you can spend it on other things like traveling to Europe.

For example, if you have a $300,000 mortgage at 5% and you pay $150 more, it’s like getting a guaranteed 5% return because you don’t have to pay that interest! Not only that, but you’ll be mortgage-free sooner!

It’s not literally free money, but you’re getting a great deal and can sleep soundly at night.

3. Sign up for Branded Surveys now to earn free money!

Did you know that there is aneasy way to get free moneyso you can indulge in life’s little luxuries? You just have to share your opinions.

4. Get free money now with Survey Junkie!

Like Branded Surveys, Survey Junkie is my go-to whenever I’m asking myself how to get free money online fast. It’s a resource I use to earn free money by answering surveys. They have a 4.2 rating on TrustPilot, so it says a lot about how reliable and legitimate they are.

Compared to other sites, this has surveys that are the quickest to answer. Their questionnaires are easy to read and have a multiple-choice format. So if you just want something quick, there’s no need to look any further.

It’s not only surveys that this website has, though. There are other ways to earn points, such as product testing and online focus groups. But these tasks don’t happen too often, so your best chance of gaining a lot of points is through surveys.

You can get anywhere from 10 to 200 points for every survey or task you complete. That’s a really good number if you compare it to other sites.

Whenever I get enough points, Iredeem cash via PayPal. But you can choose to get gift cards from leading retailers like Amazon, iTunes, Groupon, and Starbucks, among others.

5. Use Swagbucks to earn free money (get free $5 now)

I know I mention a lot of times on my blog that I enjoy earning free gift cards online during my spare time. This helps me reduce spending at my favorite shops. But if you’re not a fan of gift cards, you can always choose to redeem money on PayPal for cash. In the end, it’s up to you, plus it’s free to use! 🙂

It’sone of the most popular rewards and survey sites in the world. I’ve been using them since 2009 and that’s how I redeem my choice of freecash or gift cards to my favorite shops like Amazon, Sephora, Starbucks, Walmart, and more. My husband and I combined have earned almost$10,000 in cash rewardssince becoming members!

This helps me earn free money so that I can splurge on my favorite things in life without having to pay. For example, I like redeeming them for free Starbucks drinks and gift cards! I seriously couldn’t say no to one of my favorite fraps like the Chocolate Java Chip!

Swagbucks is one of my favorite resources that I enjoy using to earn orget free money online. I highly recommend giving them a try too.

Swagbucks is 100% legitimate and has paid out its members over $918,443,963 to date!

👉💵 You cangrab your FREE $5 cash bonus from Swagbucks herethrough the special link.
⭐️ Important:Remember toverifythe email from Swagbucks in your inbox!

6. Earn free $5 with InboxDollars

Yes, you can earn free money, cash, and gift cards by taking surveys with InboxDollars.

It’s not a get-rich-quick scheme, but if you’re looking for free money hacks or ways to earn extra cash online, it’s a great way to do it. InboxDollars is a free online rewards club that gives you paid surveys and more ways to earn cash. It’s similar to other survey sites like Swagbucks and Survey Junkie, but with InboxDollars you can earn money for doing things you already do online, like reading emails, playing games, shopping, and taking surveys.

When you sign up for InboxDollars, you’ll get a free $5 bonus here just for joining. InboxDollars is free to join and you can cash out your earnings when you reach $30.

7. Earn extra cash and free money with more survey sites

You can earn absolutely make money fast today with some of the best online survey sites!

Other survey websites I recommend include American Consumer Opinion and MyPoints. By signing up for many survey sites, you’ll get to take more surveys for more money — it’s an easy way to earn a little bit of extramoney online today.

Want to learn more about sites like these that pay you PayPal cash? Be sure to check out these best survey sites to join for free and earn up to $50 per survey.
If you live in Canada, you may also want to check out: The Best Free Survey Sites in Canada For PayPal Money.

8. Get cash back from your normal grocery shopping

If we’re talking about the best way to get free money, it’s hard to match grocery store loyalty programs. I consider it the best because you’re earning free money from something that you already do.

Many stores offer cashback rewards for shoppers who use their store card or app when buying items. The amount you can get from these kinds of rewards will vary depending on the store and your total purchase. But no matter how much it is, it’s still free money that you can use for your bills or next grocery.

Using your grocery rewards cards or apps isn’t the only way you can earn cashback. There are many apps like Checkout 51 that allow shoppers to get some of their money back when they buy specific items or from specific shops. With Checkout 51, the app shows over 100 new offers weekly. Since there are so many, you’re bound to see a few items that are already on your list.

Capitalizing on the available rewards and apps makes saving more money on groceries easier than ever before. I personally love to use multiple cashback apps because it feels like I’m getting FREE money back into my account.

9. Sign up for Rakuten and get paid to shop

Earn lots of cash back when you sign up with Rakuten today.

Yes, you can actually get paid to shop (almost anywhere online) and it’s absolutely free money back in your pockets without putting in any work!

I’m not kidding you!

It’s like gettingFREE CASH just for shopping at over 2,000 of your favorite stores when you join Rakuten (formerly Ebates). This includes Amazon, Apple, Walmart, Gap, Old Navy, Sephora, Macy’s, Kohl’s, Target, eBay, and more! I’ve been using Rakuten since 2010 and I get back hundreds of dollars just for shopping for the things I normally buy. NO. EFFORT. INVOLVED!

How I use Rakuten to accumulate cash back in my account:

Here’s a quick example screenshot below of what I got back from a couple of my past purchases — $116.90 in free money!

And in case you didn’t know, you can stack Rakuten free money rewards with store promos, other cashback apps, and discounts! That allows you to keep more money in your pockets!

You can read my full review and tutorial on how to use Rakuten to earn free money today when you shop. You won’t be disappointed with Rakuten!

UPDATE: Take a quick look at my newer screenshot below!

10. Get free money right now by reading e-mails

With MyPoints, you can earn freegift cardsor free PayPalcash just by watching videos, taking surveys, shopping online, reading e-mails, and more. I like to use this free resource to redeem an occasional gift card or free money towards any of my extra spending.

MyPoints has paid out its members $236,000,000!

🌟Sign up for MyPoints here for FREEand get a $5 bonus immediately when you take 5 surveys!💵
⭐️ Important:Don’t forget to verifythe email from MyPoints in your inbox so that you can redeem your bonus!

11. Use free money-saving apps

Free money-saving and cash back apps like these ones here could help you save and earn free money online.

For example, Trim is a money and budgeting assistant that may be able to help you save money by negotiating some of your monthly bills for you (e.g. cable, Internet, cell, bank fees, subscriptions, etc.). That means you don’t have to do any work for this free assistant to help you find ways to put money back into your pockets!

This app can also help you cancel subscriptions that you don’t use. On top of that, he can auto-fight fees with your bank and help you keep track of your spending too! Trim is safe to use, and you can quickly make $400 in free money because of all your savings. Trim has now helped its users save over $86,000,000 in total!

12. Use Drop and say hello to free money!

I frequently use the Drop appto rack up cash rewards on my everyday purchases.

The app is free to use and requires absolutely NO effort to collect points at the places you regularly shop at.

The one thing I really love about Drop is their points can be combined with other rewards, promos, cash back programs, and coupons! So yes, you can stack up your Drop points with the Rakuten free money-back app and other credit card rewards!

To learn more,read my honest review and tutorial on how Drop works. If you like the idea of passive money, then I’m sure you’re going to enjoy this app as much as I do!

How I use Drop to get started with earning free points:

Once you understand how much you can benefit from Drop, you’ll want to start immediately. Earning free gift cards with Drop is easy. All you have to do is the following:

Create an account with the Drop app.
Link your debit and/or credit cards since this is how Drop will track your spending. Rest assured that Drop usesindustry-leading security to ensure all your data is safe. They will never store your bank information and credentials on their servers.
Shop from your favorite stores and get points for your purchases. If you live in the U.S., there are more shops available to you. Amazon, Dunkin’, Sephora, Starbucks, Lyft, and Chipotle are some of the stores they’ve partnered with.
You can earn more points by playing games, investing in cryptocurrency, or answering surveys.
Once you have enough points, you can redeem them for free gift cards!

🌟For a limited time, get your FREE $5 bonus immediately after linking your first card. No purchase is necessary!

13. Government incentives for energy-saving resources

Depending on where you live, the government offers many incentives and rewards (FREE money back) just for going green.

Not only are you saving money on your home’s energy, but you’re getting reimbursed as well!

For example, my fiance and I installeda Nest thermostat for freeafter applying to one of our government programs. So, you may want to check your country and state/province to see whether you’re qualified for any of these incentives.

14. Get free money from scholarships and bursaries

POTENTIAL SAVINGS: $1,000 TO $5,000

If you follow me and my blog, you’ll know that I’ve mentioned a few times that I grew up in a not-so-well-off family, so you can read my blog post on how to budget and save money fast on a low income.

Before applying for University many years ago, I dug my head into many different sources to see where I could get financial aid from the school and government.

Thank goodness I applied for scholarships and bursaries because, without it, I would’ve carried an additional $10,000+ in student debt (and let’s not forget the interest payments as well)!

Having that said, I highly recommend you check whether you’re eligible to apply for scholarships and bursaries. According to this source, $3.6 billion in federal grant money went unclaimed!

Plus, there’s nothing to lose by filling out an application form.

15. Tax credit and deductions (a huge winner)

POTENTIAL SAVINGS: UP TO $12,000 (VARIES BY YOUR INCOME)

If you’re a recent grad, you have a hidden stash of cash!

I know, tuition sucks and it’s not easy to pay off your student loans. However, you can use your tuition to offset your annual income and lower your tax bill.

When my fiance and I graduated from University, we used our education deductions to save $30,000 (combined) in income taxes!

On top of tuition deductions, there are many more tax credits and deductions provided by IRS, which you can read more about here.

This is stuff you seriously don’t want to miss out on because the wins are big!

16. Improve your credit score and save thousands!

POTENTIAL SAVINGS: UP TO $1,000 PER YEAR (VARIES ON CREDIT SCORE AND IF YOU CARRY A MORTGAGE)

Here’s another HUGE winner!

You can actually save thousands of dollars just by having an excellent credit score. That’s why it’s important to make an effort toimprove your credit score. The higher your score, the less interest you pay!

To build up our credit score, my fiance and I made sure we paid back all of our credit card balances IN FULL each month.

We also made sure that we paid all of our other bills on time (e.g. Internet, cell phone, insurance, student loans, etc.). As long as you are not overspending with your credit cards and paying your bills on time, you will be fine! It’s crucial to know where you stand so that you can improve your score and save thousands of dollars in the long run.

Related post: 50 Best Ways To Save Money Every Day (Without Depriving Yourself)!

17. Get free money from your company

TOTAL PERKS: UP TO $15,000 PER YEAR (VARIES BY COMPANY)

Be aware of the free money and incentives your company offers!

There are a lot of people who miss out on free money by not taking advantage of their company benefits.

It’s pretty easy to miss because many people don’t really think about them. They just don’t realize how much money they can save and earn over the years just by paying attention to them.

You may want to review your offer letter or directly contact your company’s HR to see what you’re leaving on the table!

18. Don’t miss out on your employee ownership program (EOP)

POTENTIAL SAVINGS: UP TO $2,000 PER YEAR (VARIES BY COMPANY)

If your company matches a percentage of your contributions in the company stock, why not take advantage of free money to accumulate wealth?

For example, my company matches 50% of my investment in our company’s stock.

I know a lot of my coworkers who get overly excited about free food and coupons, but they let their stock ownership plan slide! From a rational perspective, it just doesn’t make any sense because they’re essentially ditching free money which exceeds the value of free food and coupons!

Word of caution: it’s not a good idea to invest all or most of your money in your company’s stock. Avoid putting all your eggs into one basket by finding ways to diversify your investments!

I personally sold more than half of my company shares and re-invested them in other ETF index fundsfor better diversification.

19. 401K Company Match (Pension Matching Plan)

POTENTIAL SAVINGS: UP TO $2,000 PER YEAR (VARIES BY COMPANY)

Similar to EOP, many companies will match your contributions, typically 3% of your salary, towards your retirement program (401K in the U.S., RRSP in Canada). Again, why not take advantage of this free money to build up your net worth faster?

I know so many people who opt out because they feel that their paychecks are getting deducted, but this is the easiest way to invest without feeling the pinch! For example, if the company matches 100% of your contributions, you’re pretty much getting a guaranteed 100% return on your investment, PLUS any gains from the fund it’s invested in.

You can’t beat this return elsewhere!!

So, for every $200 you invest (or contribute), your company gives you $200 for free! That’s a total of $400 in your account invested in the markets!

In the end, it is YOUR money!But be sure you know your vesting period.

20. Take advantage of your wellness and health benefit program

POTENTIAL SAVINGS: UP TO $1,000 PER YEAR (VARIES BY COMPANY)

If your company offers to compensate you for sports equipment such as workout clothes, running shoes, roller-blades, fitbits, bikes, treadmills, gym memberships, etc. you should take advantage of this.

You’d be surprised how much money you save, especially when you’re buying quality products. I saved money by purchasing my favorite Nike shorts which I can use for exercising.

Not to mention, if you’re casually dressed on the weekends, you won’t have to spend a lot of money on your clothes either. With that said, it’s worth taking a look to see whether your company offers this.

21. Save money (and earn free money) by taking advantage of your medical benefits

POTENTIAL SAVINGS: UP TO $500 PER YEAR (VARIES BY COMPANY)

This includes prescriptions, drugs, dental services, eye exams, eyeglasses, contact lenses, sunglasses, sunscreen, massages, etc.

Again, all of these add up and many people don’t pay attention to them and let their benefits expire.

I actually let some of those benefits and perks slide during my first couple of years at work because I didn’t put much thought into them.

D’OH!

Don’t make that same mistake! Now that I think back, losing out on thousands of dollars hurts… A LOT!

22. Take advantage of free education

POTENTIAL SAVINGS: UP TO $10,000 PER YEAR (VARIES BY COMPANY)

If you’re interested in pursuing higher education, some companies will pay for your education and any additional courses to develop your skills for your work. They even offer leadership courses that are great for those who want to advance in their careers.

I personally got compensated for taking advantage of these programs, such as the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) program and other financial industry education, which helped me advance in my career before I recently decided to quit my job for this blog.

That’s more than a few thousand dollars saved when you take advantage of these perks! Plus, the potential to increase your salary! 🙂

23. Search for birthday freebies

Is your birthday coming soon?

Did you know that you can redeem these birthday freebies here? It’s up to $150 value for FREE, so you probably don’t want to miss out!

This includescompanies that give out free samples.

What an awesome way to save money on your special day! 🙂

Download my FREE portable PDF herefor the best places to get free stuff on your birthday! I think you’ll really enjoy this freebie! 😉

24. Use credit cards to your advantage

POTENTIAL SAVINGS: UP TO $800 PER YEAR (VARIES BY CREDIT CARD AND YOUR OVERALL SPENDING)

Another great way to get free money is by signing up for a rewards credit card – it’s one of my favorite ways to earn extra money with no effort!

There are many cards that offer cash back or points for every dollar you spend. You can often earn even more rewards by using the card for specific purchases, such as gas or groceries. Just be sure to pay off your debt balance in full each month to avoid interest charges. When you’re responsible with credit cards, then you may as well take advantage of credit cards that offer rewards, cash back, and other perks!

If you’re looking for a more passive way to earn free money, consider taking advantage of sign-up bonuses from bank accounts and credit cards. Many banks and credit card companies offer cash bonuses when you open a new account and meet certain spending requirements. While you will need to be careful not to spend more than you can afford, these bonuses can give your budget a boost.

25. Get free money via retailer loyalty programs and rewards

Despite looking forquick ways to make an extra $100 fast and socking my savings away into an investment account to slowly watch my money grow, I still enjoy reaping the benefits of FREE STUFF with loyalty programs.

Until today, I still use the following rewards to claim free money or free stuff:

Starbucks Rewards: I have to confess that I kinda have a Starbucks addiction. Each time I go there to work on this blog, I love to order their specialty drinks. Since I’m already going to spend my money there, I take advantage of theStarbucks Rewards to save money. To reduce my spending further, I also like touse Swagbucks to redeem their gift cards for FREE. These are all FREE to sign up for, plus you get a free drink on your birthday. 😉 You can also check out the Starbucks hacks I use to get free coffee and drinks.

Rakuten: Whether I’m shopping at Walmart, Best Buy, Lowe’s, or Amazon, I always remember to use Rakuten to get FREE cash back. I honestly can’t stop talking about them because it’s one of the best ways to get FREE money back on all your purchases. You may as well since it’s on the way! Plus, you can use them ON TOP of discounts and store promotions!

26. Get money now by finding ways to make extra money

Finding treasures in the attic or earning a little extra cash from a side hustle that you enjoy may be the way on how to get $1,000 in free (or at least effortless) money in your pocket now.

If you have unwanted items around the house, consider selling them online or at a garage sale. You can also quickly earn extra cash by taking on odd jobs for friends and neighbors. Finally, think about ways to make money from your hobbies or talents. For example, you might be able to sell handmade jewelry or baked goods. Once you find something that you wholeheartedly enjoy, it won’t be hard for you to quickly make $900!

I have a huge passion for helping people find creative and unique ways to earn extra money, so I put together these other articles that will help you find more ways to make extra money. Some are free and require zero investment while others require more effort or a small investment:

How To Make An Extra 500 Dollars Per Month Online
How I Became a Full-Time Blogger Making $10,000 Per Month Online
The Best and Legitimate Ways To Earn $200 Per Day
The Best and Free Apps To Sell Your Clothes Online
Work From Home Jobs That Pay Up To $10,000 Per Month

27. Refer friends and earn

One often overlooked yet intriguing way to secure free money is through referral programs, which is a form of affiliate marketing. Many banks and credit card companies offer rewards for bringing in new customers. I stumbled upon the value of these programs during a casual conversation with a friend who was on the hunt for a credit card with no annual fees and a decent cashback system. Having used credit cards with similar benefits, I suggested a few options. As luck would have it, my friend signed up for one of them, and I received $50 as a referral reward.

Let’s consider the Chase Freedom credit card, for example. This card offers zero annual fees, provides a decent cashback program, and to my pleasant surprise, features a fantastic referral program as well. By referring a friend to Chase Freedom, you can earn $50 for each successful referral, with the potential to earn up to $500 every year.

So, imagine you refer a friend, and they decide to apply for the Chase Freedom card. After spending at least $500 within the first three months, they not only receive a generous $200 sign-up bonus but you are also rewarded with $50 for introducing them to the product. This situation becomes a win-win for all parties: your friend gets the card they desired with an additional bonus, the bank gets a new customer, and you earn free cash simply by recommending a product you trust and use.

This personal experience highlighted the numerous benefits of referral programs. They present an excellent opportunity to earn extra cash while helping friends in accessing excellent products. It’s essentially free money for everyone involved. Therefore, the next time you come across a product or service that you genuinely appreciate, don’t hesitate to share your recommendation.

Conclusion about legitimate ways to earn free money today

From free survey sites and cashback apps to credit card sign-up bonuses, there are many legitimate ways to get free money. While some methods may require a little effort, they can all help you save or earn extra cash.

No matter how you choose to get free money, be sure to do your research and only use reputable sources. There are many scams out there that promise free money but will only end up costing you time and money. With a little effort in putting multiple ideas together, you can easily find legitimate ways to get free cash, and you never know, you might be on your way to making $1,000 fast!

Over to you — it’s time for you to get free money now! Did you find this post helpful? What are your favorite ways to find free money?

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