1. Making Even Their Everyday Accounts Work for Them

Checking accounts aren’t exactly known for high annual percentage yields, or APYs. But here’s what many people don’t realize: Even your everyday accounts can earn you money.

For example, the Vanguard Cash Plus Account offers a competitive annual percentage yield (APY) of as of Feb. 19, 2025. That’s more than 52 times the national average interest on a checking account, which pays just .07% APY.

The Vanguard Cash Plus Account has no minimum balance requirement, there are no fees to open the account, and you can get started with as little as $1. And your money is eligible for FDIC coverage up to $1.25 million for individual accounts and $2.5 million for joint accounts.

Want to start growing your money more than 52 times faster than the average checking account? It only takes a few minutes to open an account.

2. Comparison Shopping for Insurance (It’s Costing You up to $1,025 a Year)

Odds are, you didn’t drive off with the very first car you looked at. You researched models that fit your needs and lifestyle. Maybe you spent more time than you’d care to admit debating over colors and features. But when it came to car insurance, you likely went with the first option you found. 

Now, you’re probably paying far more than necessary for your monthly premiums. Over time, those extra costs could add up to hundreds of dollars a year. To pump the brakes on this excess spending, it’s time to shop for a new insurance plan. 

Fortunately, Insurify makes comparing car insurance simple and efficient — and it can save you up to $1,025 a year. On a single platform, you can browse insurance offerings from some of the most respected providers. After entering basic details about your car and background, you’ll receive customized quotes that you can review on your own time and from the comfort of your own home. 

There’s room for you on the superhighway of Insurify shoppers who have lowered their yearly premiums by up to $1,025, contributing to over $44 million in collective savings every year. Ready to cut your car insurance bill? It’s easy to get started here and see how much you can save. 

3. Making Their Money Work for Them With High-Growth Accounts

You work hard for your money, and you deserve to have your money work hard for you, too. Unfortunately, too many people overlook the importance of where they keep their money — and it’s costing them.

If your cash is sitting in a regular savings account, it may not be pulling its weight. Getting a Gainbridge® FastBreak™ annuity can snap your money into shape by growing it up to 13 times faster* than an average savings account. This annuity offers up to 5.50% APY**, a self-managed platform, and gives you the option to access your money without tax penalties before age 59 1/2.

If you’re new to annuities, here’s the gist: It’s a contract between you and an insurance company that promises regular, dependable payouts in the future — typically monthly, and better yet, often for life. It’s a reliable approach many people use to support long-term financial growth. The Gainbridge® FastBreak™ annuity comes in 3- to 10-year terms with premiums ranging from $1,000 to $1 million, and you can withdraw up to 10% of the account value each year.**

Ready to start growing your money 13 times faster? Get started with the Gainbridge^® FastBreak™ annuity to start earning up to 5.50% APY.**

4. Getting Up to $1,000 in Free Stock When You Start Investing

Far too many people don’t invest. And even among those who do, most people don’t realize you can get free stock just for getting started. Talk about missing out.

When you invest with SoFi Active Invest, you can earn up to $1,000 just for opening and funding an account. All you have to do is open and fund a new account within 30 days.

Once you open your account, you’ll get access to commission-free trading on stocks and ETFs, plus you can buy fractional shares of your favorite companies. Unlike other platforms, SoFi has no account minimums and no hidden fees, so you’ll keep more of what you earn.

It takes just a few minutes to open an account. Get started here and fund your account within 30 days to earn up to $1,000. 

5. Getting Paid $17 a Day to Play Free Games on Your Phone

We all have a game or two we like to play on our phone during our free time. Wouldn’t it be nice to get paid real cash for it? That’s exactly what a free site called Scrambly does — the average person earns $17 per day.

Scrambly works with developers who want to get their games and apps in front of new people, and they’re willing to pay you to try them. When you sign up, you can browse more than 150 free games and apps. Just find one you like and start getting paid.

You don’t need to play long, either — you can earn by playing just a few minutes at a time. And it’s all completely free. In fact, if you make an in-app purchase on a Scrambly-discovered app, they’ll give you cash back.

Once you earn $1, you can cash out instantly via PayPal, Visa, Amazon Google Play and Apple. More than 2 million people already use Scrambly, and the average person cashes out in just six minutes. 

Ready to start pocketing up to $500 a month in extra cash just for playing free games on your phone? Get started here and see how much you can earn. Right now, you’ll even get a 500 coin signup bonus.

6. Earning Passive Real-Estate Income — With Just $1K

You might think you need a fortune to invest in real estate. Even if you could raise enough to purchase an income property, the idea of being a landlord isn’t exactly appealing. So, earning money as a real estate investor stays a distant dream.

Luckily, a company called Arrived lets you invest in rental homes and vacation properties with a minimum investment of just $1,000. The best part? You don’t even have to be a landlord. Arrived handles all the nitty gritty work. 

The process is simple. Just sign up, then browse the available properties, like a single-family rental home in Charlotte, or a vacation rental in the Catskill Mountains. You decide how much you want to invest, then watch for property appreciation and quarterly rental income payments. 

More than 540,000 people have already invested with Arrived, and it’s already paid out $3.5 million in dividends to its investors. Depending on the property and terms of the investment, investing in single-family and vacation-rental properties has historically yielded between 6% and 15% returns. 

Ready to start earning passive rental income? Click here to get started and see how much you can earn.

{{text: rateTexts.expertAdviceHeader.text}}

BROUGHT TO YOU BY {{image: rateUrls.logoPath}}

{{html: rateTexts.expertAdviceProTipsCopy.html}}

{{text: rateTexts.expertAdviceClientName.text}} Sponsored Tip {{tooltip: rateTexts.expertAdviceToolTipCopy.text}}

{{text: rateTexts.expertAdviceAdTitle.text}}

{{html: rateTexts.expertAdviceAdCopy.html}}

{{text: rateTexts.ctaButton.text}}

{{image: rateUrls.logo300X25Path}}

Bottom Line

Your financial journey might be missing key steps that could provide a foundation for financial success. If you’ve never considered a high APY checking account, diversifying your portfolio with gold, finding a side hustle that works with your life, or becoming a passive real estate investor, now is the time to act.

*Source: FDIC, national average of savings, week of 2/18/25. Rates subject to change.

**Gainbridge^®: Annuity rates are subject to change at any time, and the rate mentioned may no longer be current. Please visit Gainbridge.io for current rates, full product disclosures and disclaimer. Withdrawals above the 10% free withdrawal amount are subject to a withdrawal charge and market-value adjustment. FastBreak™ is issued by Gainbridge Life Insurance Company in Zionsville, Indiana. FastBreak™ is not a tax-deferred annuity; instead, it is taxed annually.

GOBankingRates maintains editorial independence. While we may receive compensation from actions taken after clicking on links within our content, no content has been supplied by any advertiser prior to publication.