12 Unusual Ways To Make Extra Money (That Actually Work)

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Between rising costs of living, stagnant wages and the lingering effects of inflation, our money just doesn’t seem to go as far as it used to. Rent is skyrocketing, grocery runs nearly break the bank, and going out for dinner is starting to feel like a distant memory…

We could all use some extra cash. But it’s not exactly easy to just go out and snag a higher-paying job — and who has time for a second job? 

Luckily, there are some pretty clever ways you probably didn’t realize you can make extra money without getting a new job — and they actually work.

1. Grow Your Money More Than 10x Faster 

If you’re keeping your money in a traditional savings account, you’re missing out on some serious growth. You need an account that lets you earn competitive interest on your everyday balance.  

With a Langley High Yield Savings Account, you’ll earn 3.60% — that’s more than 10 times the national average interest on a savings account, which pays just 0.33% APY, according to the NCUA*. 

The Langley High Yield Savings Account has no fees, no minimums, and your money is insured up to $250,000. 

Want to start growing your money more than 10 times faster? It only takes a few minutes to open an account. 

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2. Teach Your Kids to Be Financially Savvy — And to Grow Their Money More Than 8x Faster Every Month  

Now that you’ve built healthy savings of your own, you’ll want to make sure your children are headed down the same path. Teaching kids to manage money isn’t always simple — but Cash App Families makes it easier.  

Plus, they’ll earn interest* — that’s more than eight times faster than the average savings account (which pays just 0.38%1).  

Cash App Families is a feature within Cash App that allows teens ages 13 to 17 to use the app with approval from an eligible parent or guardian.** Your teen gets access to a fast, secure way to send and receive money, and you get a detailed, real-time view of their transactions, balances, and spending habits.  

Parents can also help teens build financial skills like investing*** — starting with as little as $1. You control investing permissions and Cash App Card spending, allowing you to set limits and help ensure responsible use.  

Ready to help your teen explore spending, saving, and investing — all while earning  interest?* Download the app here to get started. 

3. Grow Your Money More Than 11 Times Faster 

Most people have a savings account. But here’s the problem: As of Sept. 21, the national average savings account pays just 0.37% APY. Savvy people know you can earn far more. You just have to choose the right account. 

That’s where a certificate can be so useful. The 14-Month Promotional Certificate from Langley, for example, pays 4.40% APY, which is more than 11 times the national average for a savings account. 

This is a great way to steadily grow your money over a fixed term. Once the term is over, you’ll get your deposit back, plus your earned interest. Your deposit is also insured up to $250,000 by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). 

Plus, you can get started with just a $500 minimum deposit. New money required (funds must come from an external source). 

Want to earn 4.40% APY on your money? It’s easy to apply here for a Langley 14-Month Promotional Certificate and start saving. 

4. Get Up to $1,000 in Stock Just For Investing

While your cash sits in a basic account doing absolutely nothing, smart investors are growing their wealth effortlessly – and getting up to $1,000 in stock just for opening and funding a new SoFi Active Invest account.

Whether you’re new to investing or a seasoned pro, SoFi® makes it easy to start, manage and grow your portfolio by investing in stocks, ETFs and even fractional shares, meaning you can own a slice of your favorite company without having to buy a full share.

Traditional investing platforms charge fees that eat away at your gains. But with SoFi Active Invest, you keep more of what you earn: There are no commissions on stocks and ETFs, no account minimums and no hidden fees.

It takes just a few minutes to open an account. Get started here and fund your account within 45 days to earn up to $1,000 in stock. 

5. Use a High-Yield Savings Account with a Competitive APY

Most people have a savings account. But too many people keep their money in a savings account that isn’t growing their money as fast as it could be. As of Jan. 20, 2026, the national average interest rate on a savings account was just 0.39%. 

To make sure your money is working for you, look for a high-yield savings account with a competitive APY, like the Capital One 360 Performance Savings account, which pays APY — more than eight times the national average.

Want to start growing your savings more than eight times faster? It’s simple to get started below and see how much you could earn.

6. Get the Funds to Start Investing in Real Estate 

Owning investment property has long been one of the most popular ways to build wealth and generate passive income. But there’s one major obstacle: getting the money to actually buy and renovate a property. 

That’s where Kiavi comes in. Kiavi offers hard money loans designed for real-estate investors looking to fund fix-and-flip projects or rental properties — with fewer requirements and faster closings than traditional banks. You could fund your next project in as little as one or two weeks. 

Everything is handled online — from applying and getting quotes to tracking your loan approval. You can even get pre-approved with no impact to your credit score and no application fee. 

Kiavi offers fix-and-flip and bridge loans from $100,000 to $5 million, with rates as low as 7.75%. Investors may qualify for up to 100% of the purchase price and renovation costs, and 80% of a property’s after-repair value. 

For investors focused on long-term rental income, Kiavi also offers rental property loans with rates as low as 6%, up to 80% loan-to-value and flexible term lengths.  

Kiavi has already funded more than $30 billion in loans and is trusted by professional real estate investors across the country. Whether you’re planning your first fix-and-flip or expanding your rental portfolio, Kiavi could help you move faster on your next investment opportunity.  

Want to see how much you could qualify for? Get started here to explore loan options and get pre-approved online. 

7. Let This Free Tool Help Find You Deals When You Shop Online 

Chances are you do at least some of your shopping online — so why not make sure you’re getting the best deal? 

That’s where Capital One Shopping comes in. It’s a free browser extension and mobile app that automatically searches for coupons, better prices and rewards across more than 100,000 online retailers. 

Just install the extension or download the app on iOS, then shop like you normally would. It works quietly in the background to help you save.  

When you’re ready to check out, it automatically applies eligible coupons and lets you know if your item is available for less somewhere else. It even factors in shipping costs, membership pricing, and alerts you if something you viewed drops in price later. 

Right now, you can find deals like up to 30% back on DoorDash, $50 back when you spend $100 at Sam’s Club, plus savings at retailers like Walmart, CVS, and Target*. 

More than 11 million people already use Capital One Shopping, and it has a 4.9-star rating on the App Store. 

Want to make sure you’re getting the best deal when you shop online? Add the free browser extension on desktop or download the iOS app to redeem your $20 rewards bonus. 

* savings found 4/23/2026 

8. Diversify Your Portfolio With Precious Metals — And Get Up to $20K in Free Metals 

If the past few years have shown us anything, it’s that market disruptions can come out of nowhere and impact your retirement savings.   

That’s why many people invest in precious metals to diversify and protect their wealth: Precious metals often rise in value during uncertain economic times. 

One option is a precious metals IRA through a company called Priority Gold — right now, you can even get up to $20,000 in free silver on qualifying purchases. 

Opening a gold or silver IRA is easy, and you can roll over funds from existing retirement accounts without any taxes or penalty fees. Or you can buy gold and silver directly from Priority Gold’s extensive collection. 

If you decide to sell your precious metals in the future, Priority Gold offers a no-fee buy-back program. Plus, Priority Gold has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. 

Right now, Priority Gold is offering up to $20,000 in free silver with qualifying purchases, and you’ll get free account setup, free insured shipping and free storage for up to five years. 

Want to diversify and safeguard your investments by adding gold and silver to your portfolio? It’s easy to get started here and get your free guide. Plus, you could get up to $20,000 in free metals on qualifying purchases. 

9. Pocket an Extra $325 When You Open This Checking Account 

Keeping your cash in the right place is one of the easiest ways to boost your balance. 

When you open a new Wells Fargo Everyday Checking account, you can earn a $325 bonus. All you have to do is make $1,000 or more in qualifying direct deposits within 90 days of opening the account. After the 90-day qualification period, Wells Fargo will deposit your bonus within 30 days, as long as you’ve met the requirements. 

You’ll also get FDIC insurance, 24/7 fraud monitoring, and access to an app with a 4.9-star rating. 

Want to add an extra $325 to your wallet? It takes just minutes to open an account. 

10. Get $255/Year in Cash Back on Gas and Food 

One of the most underrated ways to get extra money is to use a free cash-back app like Upside. It pays you cash back on things you already have to buy, like gas, groceries and restaurants — frequent users earn an average of $255 per year. 

Once you’ve downloaded the Upside app, you can start earning cash back at nearby gas stations, grocery stores and restaurants. Just claim a cash-back offer, then make your purchase as usual with a linked credit or debit card. Then cash out directly to your bank account, or via gift card. 

Upside has already paid more than $1 billion in cash back to its more than 5 million users, and the app has a 4.6 star rating.  

Getting started takes just minutes. When you download the free app right now and use promo code 10moneylion, Upside will give you an extra $10 bonus on your first qualified gas, grocery or restaurant transaction. (Minimum purchase of $35, valid for new users only.) 

Get started to see how much cash back you can earn on gas, food and other things you already have to buy. 

11. Grow Your Savings More Than 8x Faster Every Month  

If you keep your money in a traditional savings account, you could be missing out on serious growth.  

When you keep your savings with Cash App, you could earn up to interest* — that’s more than eight times faster than the average savings account (which pays just 0.40%**).  

Cash App pays a base interest rate, but when you set up a direct deposit of just $300 per month, you’ll boost that rate to interest. Even better? There’s no minimum balance or monthly/hidden fees, and Cash App monitors your money 24/7 to look out for any fraud.  

Want to boost your savings to interest every month with Cash App’s partner bank? It’s easy to get started below with as little as $1 and watch your money grow more than eight times faster than average.** 

12. Stop Wasting $1,100 a Year on Car Insurance

Sometimes, the easiest way to put money in your pocket is to find out where you’re wasting it. And most people are seriously overpaying for car insurance — by as much as $1,100 a year.

Fortunately, Insurify lets you compare all your car insurance options at once — and it can put an extra $1,025 a year back in your wallet. 

Just enter some basic details about your car and background, you’ll get customized quotes you can review on your own time and from the comfort of home. 

Want to add up to $1,100 back to your wallet this year? It’s easy to get started here and see how much you can save.

*NCUA Credit Union and Bank Rates.  

**The national average savings account interest rate is 0.37% APY, according to the FDIC, as of Sept. 21, 2026. 

Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s). Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. See Terms & Conditions. 

*To view the eligibility requirements for sponsoring a teen, please visit the Sponsored Accounts section of the Cash App Terms of Service. 

**Brokerage services provided by Cash App Investing LLC, member FINRA/SIPC, subsidiary of Block, Inc. Investing is a non-deposit, non-bank product that is not FDIC insured and involves risk, including monetary loss. Block, Inc. is not a member of FINRA or SIPC. For additional information, see the Cash App Investing disclosures. Fractional shares investing may involve additional risks such as non-transferability. For additional information regarding the unique risks and limitations of fractional shares, please see your Investing Customer Account Agreement. 

***Cash App has higher self-reported weekly usage among teens compared to top national banks and select fintechs (source: U.S. Brand Health Equity & Tracking Study by Material+ (Cash App commissioned online survey of 7,806 respondents aged 13-65, Q1 2025) 

Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank  partner(s). Direct Deposit provided by Cash App, a Block, Inc. brand. 

*Cash App will pass through a portion of the interest paid on your savings balance held in an account for the benefit of Cash App customers at Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Member FDIC. To earn the highest interest rate on your Cash App savings balance, you need to  (a) have a Cash App Card or sponsor one or more sponsored accounts and receive at least $300 in paycheck direct deposits each month; or (b) have a sponsored account with sponsor approval to earn interest. Exceptions may also apply. Savings yield rate is subject to change 

**The national average savings account interest rate is 0.37% APY, according to the FDIC, as of Sept. 21, 2026. 

**** With a Cash App Card, your funds are eligible for FDIC pass-through insurance through our Program Banks Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. and/or Sutton Bank, Members FDIC for up to $250,000 per customer when aggregated with all other deposits held in the same legal capacity at each Program Bank above, if certain conditions are met. 

*SoFi: The probability of a member receiving $1,000 is 0.028%. If you don’t make a selection in 45 days, you’ll no longer qualify for the promo. Members must fund their account with a minimum of $50.00 to qualify. The probability percentage is subject to decrease. Members are only eligible for the Stock Award promotion upon opening their first brokerage account; subsequent cash brokerage accounts are ineligible for the promo, including for members with multiple accounts.

Other fees, such as exchange fees, may apply. Please view SoFi’s fee disclosure to view a full listing of fees.

There are limitations with fractional shares to consider before investing. During market hours fractional share orders are transmitted immediately in the order received. There may be system delays from receipt of your order until execution and market conditions may adversely impact execution prices. Outside of market hours orders are received on a not held basis and will be aggregated for each security then executed in the morning trade window of the next business day at market open. Share will be delivered at an average price received for executing the securities through a single batched order. Fractional shares may not be transferred to another firm. Fractional shares will be sold when a transfer or closure request is initiated. Please consider that selling securities is a taxable event.

INVESTMENTS ARE NOT FDIC INSURED • ARE NOT BANK GUARANTEED • MAY LOSE VALUE

Capital One interest rates accurate as of 10/21/2026. See website for all current rates. Savings vary depending on account usage and payment behavior.

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.

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