8 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 13x Faster

This one’s almost too easy. If you’re keeping your savings in a traditional savings account, it’s probably not doing much for you. In fact, the latest numbers from the FDIC show that the average savings account only pays 0.41% APY.* 

If you want to grow your money faster — 13 times faster* — one option you might consider is the Gainbridge® FastBreak™ annuity. You’ll earn up to 5.35% APY** on this annuity, which comes with a self-managed platform and the ability to withdraw your money without a tax penalty before age 59 1/2. 

An annuity is a contract between you and an insurance company that promises you a future payout in regular installments, usually monthly and often for life. The Gainbridge® FastBreak™ annuity comes in three to 10 year terms, in premiums of $1,000 to $1 million, and you’re able to withdraw up to 10% of the account value each year.** 

The FastBreak™ annuity is self-directed, easy to set up and comes with 30 days to cancel your contract if you change your mind. 

Want to start growing your money 13 times faster than if you kept it in a savings account? Get started here to start earning up to 5.35% APY**.

2. Start Earning Passive Real-Estate Income — With Just $1,000

Investing in real estate has always been a way the wealthy earn passive income. There’s just one problem. We can’t all afford to just go out and buy a rental property.

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.

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

3. Stop Wasting $1,025 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 $1,025 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 $1,025 back to your wallet this year? It’s easy to get started here and see how much you can save.

4. Get 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.

5. Use This App to Get $300+ in Annual Value While You Build Credit — No Hidden Fees, No Interest

Building credit can feel impossible if you don’t already have it. Most cards either reject you or stick you with sky-high fees and interest.

But with an app called Fizz, you can actually get over $300 in annual value via rewards while you build your credit.

Here’s how it works: Become a Fizz Member for less than a cup of coffee a month. Connect your existing bank account and apply for a line of credit to use for everyday purchases. Then, turn on daily autopay, and Fizz will report your on-time repayments to the credit bureaus — so you can build your credit while your wallet grows, too.

You can earn over $300 in annual value along the way, including 3% cash back in a category of your choice, cash-back rewards at merchants near you, and flash deals worth up to 100% cash-back at popular spots.

Unlike traditional credit cards, there are no hidden fees, no interest and no ATM or foreign-transaction fees. More than 100,000 people already use the Fizz app.

Want to pocket an extra $300 in annual value or more while you boost your credit? Download Fizz on iOS and Android and start earning. You could get approved for up to a $1,000 line of credit today.

6. Diversify Your Portfolio With Precious Metals

If the past few years have shown us anything, it’s that disruptions to the market can come out of nowhere. Between the pandemic, supply-chain issues and bear markets, a lot of people’s retirement savings felt the impact. 

That’s why it can be a smart idea to look for ways to protect your retirement savings from the unpredictable. For a lot of people, investing in precious metals is a way to diversify and protect their investments.

One way to do this is with a precious metals IRA through a company like Priority Gold. Precious metals often outperform other investments in a volatile market, and their value tends to rise with inflation, making them an effective hedge during uncertain economic times.

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.

Worried you may need 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 $10,000 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. Right now, Priority Gold is offering up to $20,000 in free silver on qualifying purchases.

7. Get $280/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 $280 per year.

Once you’ve installed Upside, 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.

Getting started takes just minutes. Upside pays its users $1 million each week, and the app has a 4.7 star rating from more than 250,000 reviews. 

When you download the free app right now, Upside will pay you an extra 25 cents per gallon on your first tank of gas. Hurry though, this offer expires soon. Get started to see how much cash back you can earn on gas, food and other things you already have to buy.

8. Get Up to $1,000 in Free 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 free 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 30 days to earn up to $1,000. 

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*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.

*Fizz: ShoulderTap Technologies, Inc. d/b/a Fizz (together with its subsidiaries, “Fizz”) is not a bank. The Fizz Debit Mastercard® (“Fizz Mastercard”) is issued by Patriot Bank, N.A., Member FDIC. The Fizz Visa® Debit Card (together with the Fizz Mastercard, the “Fizz Card”) is issued by Lead Bank, Member FDIC. Loans offered in connection with the Fizz Card are originated by Lead Bank. Any promotions or rewards offered in connection with the Fizz Card are offered and managed by Fizz, not our bank partners. Increases or specific changes to your credit score are not guaranteed. Impact on your credit score may vary depending on your use. Fizz is required to report late payments, missed payments, or other defaults on your account, which may negatively impact your credit score. 

*Terms and eligibility restrictions apply. See joinfizz.com for details. Over $300 in annual value of Fizz Card based on cash value available to Fizz Card users assuming half of all available rewards and promotions are used. Membership is subject to a periodic, recurring subscription fee. Fizz Members may choose to apply for a Fizz Card, but are not required to. Fizz Membership does not guarantee access to a Fizz Card. Application and eligibility restrictions apply. You may apply for the Fizz Card without subscribing to the Membership by contacting support@joinfizz.com.

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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