Looking to learn how to get free money now?

In a world where every penny is important, getting free money might seem too good to be true. But there are real and legitimate ways to add some extra cash to your pocket without too much work.

This could be money in old accounts that you forgot about, funds you can earn through different programs and apps, and more.

21 Ways To Get Free Money Now

My top picks to get free money now include:

• Search for unclaimed money on Unclaimed.org.
• Sell items that you already own around your home, such as clothing, unused gift cards, electronics, and more. Decluttr is a great site to start selling your stuff on.
• Apply for free government assistance, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for food, Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for college, and Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) for heating and cooling home expenses.
• Make sure you’re signed up for 401(k) matching with your employer if they offer it.

Recommended reading: 19 Great Ways To Get Free Stuff

Below are more ways to get free money right now.

1. Unclaimed money

Have you ever thought you might have money waiting for you to claim? Unclaimed money is often left in bank accounts, insurance policies, or forgotten deposits. It’s your money that somehow got separated from you, and now it’s out there, waiting for you to claim it.

Yes, this is real!

To get your money, you need to know where to look. Every state has an unclaimed property office, and you should search in every state where you have lived. Whether it’s a few dollars from old utility deposits or a lost paycheck, it adds up. And it’s more common than you might think – lots of people find something when they search.

Here’s how to start your search:

First, go to unclaimed.org, the website managed by the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA). This organization is key because it helps you track down unclaimed money that may belong to you.

That site will then bring you to missingmoney.com. It’s a useful resource that works with participating states to help reunite people with their money. You’ll need to enter your first name, last name, and state.

It doesn’t cost anything to search, and claiming your money is free too. So, get curious, do a little digging, and you might just find some unclaimed funds in your name. It’s worth a few minutes to potentially put some extra money in your pocket.

2. Survey sites

When you need some extra cash, survey sites can be an easy option. Lots of companies pay you money for your opinions for their market research.

Some of the paid online survey companies I recommend are:

Here are 11 Paid Online Survey Sites if you want to learn more about the different market research companies.

To get the most out of survey sites:

• Sign up with multiple sites. It increases your chances of getting more surveys.
• Be honest. Your feedback is valuable when it’s genuine.
• Stay consistent. Regularly answering surveys can lead to you being sent more surveys.

When I was paying off my student loans, I filled out many surveys every week. I did this before work, during lunch, or after work. It was convenient because I could do it whenever I had some free time. Yes, it’s not technically “free” because you are doing something for it, but it is easy and you don’t need anything special to get started.

3. Free government assistance

If you need help with money, the government has different programs to support you.

Some to start with include:

• Food and groceries – The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) can help low-income families with money to buy food. When your income is low, SNAP is a helpful way to make sure you can afford groceries.
• College – If you’re a student, completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) might make you eligible for grants, such as the Federal Pell Grant, which you don’t need to pay back. This grant is there to help if your family’s income is low and covering college expenses seems challenging.
• Heating and cooling costs – You can get help with utility bills through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). It helps manage heating and cooling expenses in your home.
• Childcare – If you have kids, the Child Care and Development Fund might have the help you need. It gives assistance with childcare expenses so that you can work or participate in education or training.
• Down payment assistance – This comes into play when you’re buying a home. There are programs to help first-time homebuyers with the down payment. You usually apply through state or local housing authorities.

Benefits.gov is a site where you can find the right assistance programs. It guides you to programs for which you might qualify for your state.

There are other free programs that you may find helpful as well. Below are helpful articles:

4. 401(k) Matching

Make sure you’re signed up for 401(k) matching at your employer if they offer it.

When you save for retirement, 401(k) matching is like getting extra money from your job without extra work. You put some of your paycheck into a 401(k) account; your employer might add more money to it, matching what you put in up to a certain amount.

Every company’s plan can be different, but many follow a common pattern. Let’s say your job matches 100% of what you contribute, up to 3% of your income. If you make $40,000 and you save $1,200 (that’s 3%), your employer also puts in $1,200. Now, if you save an additional 2%, they might match 50% of that. So for the extra $800, they would add $400 more.

This is great because:

• Extra savings – It boosts your retirement savings without you needing to invest more of your own money.
• Tax benefits – The full amount in your 401(k), including the match, grows tax-free until you’re ready to retire.
• Free money – It’s part of your employment benefit, so you should take advantage of it if you can.

If your employer gives a match, always try to save at least enough to get the full match as it’s a benefit you don’t want to miss.

5. Credit card sign up bonus

If you’re looking to get free money quickly, credit card sign-up bonuses can be a smart option. When you apply for a new credit card, many companies give you rewards for signing up. These bonuses could be extra points, miles, or even cash back.

To get these bonuses, you usually need to spend a certain amount on your card within the first few months. For example, some offers might give you $200 cash back once you spend $500 on purchases. Other credit cards may require $4,000 in spending in the first 3 months. The better sign-up offers usually want to see that you have an excellent credit score.

You simply just spend money on your new credit card like you normally would – groceries, bills, etc., and reach the advertised bonus reward.

Remember, the best deal for you depends on your spending habits and how you plan to use the card. Always read the terms carefully, so you know the requirements and fees, and make sure you use credit cards responsibly and don’t go into debt!

You can find a list of my favorite credit cards here – Best Rewards Credit Cards For This Year. I actually just applied and was approved for two new travel rewards credit cards (they are listed in that blog post!) each with a great bonus offer of over $500 each.

6. Bank account sign up bonus

When you open a new bank account, sometimes the bank will give you free money called a sign-up bonus. To get this bonus, usually, you open a new account and follow the bank’s rules, like depositing a certain amount of money or setting up direct deposits.

A new account sign-up bonus may be cash, like $100 for signing up for a new checking account, or it may be a higher percentage rate.

For example, I personally use Marcus by Goldman Sachs, and they have a very high interest rate. You can get up to 5.50%, at the time of this writing, through my referral link bonus for signing up. So, at this rate, if you have $10,000 saved, you could earn $550 with a high-yield savings account in a year. Whereas with normal banks, your earnings would only be $46.

To avoid fees, you usually need to meet certain conditions, like keeping a minimum balance. Always check the rules because each bank has different requirements, and the offers can change.

7. Investment account sign up bonus

When you sign up for investing platforms, you can usually get a sign-up bonus and it’s like a welcome gift! Some give you free stocks while others give you cash.

Some investment apps and sites that usually have sign-up bonuses include:

8. Play games for free cash

If you love playing games, you can turn your hobby into cash. Yes, you can earn real money by playing games on your phone or computer!

Game apps can pay you real money because they make their money from ads and purchases within the app. They share a part of what they earn to encourage you to keep playing their games.

Here’s a quick list of the top game apps that pay real cash:

1. KashKick is an app where you can earn $100 or more by playing popular cell phone games like Yahtzee and Monopoly GO. You can also earn money by trying out new products and services, watching videos, answering surveys, and reading emails.
2. Swagbucks is a popular rewards site where you can earn money by playing games, taking surveys, watching videos, and searching online with their web browser, and you can cash out what you earn with PayPal cash or gift cards.
3. InboxDollars is a rewards site that pays you for playing games as well as reading emails and answering surveys.

Other popular game apps include Blackout Bingo, Bingo Cash, Solitaire Cube, Mistplay, 21 Blitz, and Bubble Cash.

Recommended reading: Best Game Apps To Win Real Money

9. Bill negotiation apps

If you want free money now, then you may want to try lowering some of the bills you already have.

Saving money can be challenging, but you have a secret weapon: bill negotiation apps! These helpful tools can help you in reducing your costs without any hard work from you. Or, if you simply don’t like negotiating, they can help you feel less awkward.

Rocket Money, formerly known as Truebill, is your go-to when you want to find those sneaky subscriptions that keep taking money from your account each month. You know, the gym you don’t go to anymore or that streaming service you forgot about. Rocket Money finds them and can even cancel them for you.

Trim is like a money-saving coach in your pocket. It connects to your accounts and digs up ways to cut back on bills. Let’s say your internet bill jumped up – Trim notices and is on it! Trim handles negotiations for your cable, internet, and phone bills, cancels outdated subscriptions, and more. They will negotiate with the company to try and get you a better deal.

10. Cash back apps

When you buy things online, you can get money back on your spending by using cash back sites. It’s similar to getting a discount, but instead of saving money immediately, you receive some cash back later. I use cash back sites and apps almost every time I shop – it’s an easy way to get free money for me.

Some popular cash back sites that I like include:

• Rakuten – Rakuten sends you checks or PayPal payments. You shop online through their site and earn a percentage back. You can find deals for lots of stores and retailers, which means more chances to get money back for your online purchases.
• Swagbucks – Earns points that you can exchange for cash or gift cards.
• Fetch Rewards – I use this site for every single grocery receipt I have.
• Ibotta – With Ibotta, you shop, snap a picture of your receipt, and save. You can link your store loyalty cards for faster earnings. This app isn’t just for groceries; it covers clothes, travel, and more.
• Capital One Shopping – Capital One Shopping looks for better deals and coupons. You earn credits from purchases, which you can exchange for gift cards. I personally have this browser extension installed on my laptop, and it’s been a no-brainer.
• Dosh – If you want simplicity, try Dosh. Link your cards once, and when you shop at partnered stores, Dosh adds cash to your wallet in the app. No receipt scanning is needed.

To start with cash back apps:

• Choose an app that fits your shopping habits.
• Sign up and link your credit or debit cards, if required.
• Browse and activate deals before you shop.
• After shopping, check your app account to see your cash back.
• Get your payout via PayPal cash or gift cards.

It’s free money for buying the things you were planning to get anyway.

Recommended reading: 15 Best Coupon Sites To Save Money

11. Getting your money back with returns

If you need money right away, then you may want to see if there’s anything in your home that you’ve recently bought that you can return.

You’ll want to make sure you have your receipt and know the company’s return policy. Some stores allow returns for a full refund, while others may only give store credit for refunds.

And, some stores have 3-month or even one-year-long return policies, so even if your item is sitting around collecting dust, you may still be able to return it. Some stores that have long return periods include Costco, REI, Sam’s Club, Target (some items, such as certain kid’s clothing brands), Ikea, Lowe’s, and Kohl’s.

You do want to be aware of restocking fees, as some items, like electronics, might have a restocking fee.

12. Scan your grocery receipts with Fetch Rewards

Fetch Rewards is a mobile app that gives you free rewards for simply scanning your grocery receipts. When you get your groceries, keep the receipt. Each time you shop, take a moment to scan your receipt with the Fetch app, earning you points for every purchase tied to an offer.

It works for receipts from any store, like grocery stores, clothing stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more.

I use this app for every single grocery receipt I have. It takes less than one minute for me to scan my grocery store receipt, and it allows me to easily earn points for things like free gift cards.

This is a very popular free app with millions of downloads.

You can sign up for Fetch Rewards here.

13. Share your internet with Honeygain

Honeygain is an app that lets you make money off your unused internet data. You simply install the app on your devices such as a desktop or mobile, and it works in the background sharing your internet bandwidth.

You’re paid based on the amount of traffic that goes through your connection, and Honeygain pays $1 for every 10 GB of traffic.

Please click here to get a $3 sign up bonus for downloading Honeygain.

14. Sell stuff around your house

If you need free money right now, start by looking under your own roof. You’d be surprised how much cash can come from things you have lying around.

Some examples include:

• Got old phones or computers? Sell your electronics; they’re in demand. Even broken items might fetch a price for parts.
• Your closet can be a gold mine. Sell clothes, especially kids’ ones that are outgrown.
• Those CDs, DVDs, and vinyl records gathering dust might be valuable to collectors or nostalgic music lovers.
• Selling furniture like an old chair or desk can make you money. Used furniture is popular for budget-conscious shoppers.
• Appliances, dishes, and silverware set aside are often sought-after items.

Sites like eBay, Facebook Marketplace, and Craigslist are places where you can list items.

15. Sell your gift cards

If you find yourself with gift cards you don’t plan to use, you can turn them into cash.

To maximize the amount you get back, compare offers from several sites. Typically, you can receive up to around 90% of the card’s value, but this depends on demand and card brand.

Places to sell gift cards include CardCash, Raise, and Cardpool.

Frequently asked questions about selling your old gift cards:

• Can I cash in partially used cards? Yes, most sites accept cards with remaining balances. So, even if your gift card is a random number like $23.46, you can still sell it and make some extra money.
• Is there a shipping cost? Some sites might charge for physical card submissions.
• Can you trade your cards for other cards? Yes, many platforms have this option.
• How long does it take to get paid? Payment times vary, but eGift cards are usually issued within 24 hours.

16. Grants and scholarships for school

When you’re looking for ways to get free money for school, grants and scholarships are very, very helpful. These are funds you typically don’t have to pay back. Grants are usually given based on your financial situation, so they’re based on need.

For example:

• The Pell Grant is a federal grant from the U.S. government to undergrad students with financial need.
• State grants could also be an option, depending on where you live.

Scholarships, on the other hand, can be merit-based, need-based, or focused on a specific group. You could get them for having great grades, excelling in sports, or being part of a particular community.

To get your hands on these funds, start early. Apply for as many opportunities as you can and always keep an eye out for deadlines. The more effort you put in now, the less you might have to borrow later.

17. Referral programs

Referral programs are an easy way to earn some additional income by promoting products or services that you already use and love.

These programs reward you for inviting others – like your friends and family – to sign up or make a purchase through your unique referral link.

For example:

• A referral to a cash back site might earn you a flat rate, like $10, for every person who signs up and spends a certain amount.
• Sharing a hosting service might net you a percentage, such as 20%, of your referrals’ purchases.

18. Student loan forgiveness

Student loan forgiveness can help you stop owing money on certain federal student loans. This is big news for you if you borrowed money for school. It means you might not have to pay back some or all of what you owe.

If you work in certain jobs or have certain types of loans, you might be able to get forgiveness. This means you’ve got to have a job like a teacher or work for the government or a nonprofit as student loan forgiveness is like a thank you for helping others.

Programs to know about:

• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) – This program is super useful if you have a public service job. You need to pay the minimum on your loans for 10 years while you work at a qualified job. After you make 120 payments, you may be able to say goodbye to your remaining loan balance.
• Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) Plans – If public service isn’t for you, don’t worry. You can still get forgiveness through plans that change your monthly payment based on how much money you make. After 20 or 25 years of payments, whatever you still owe might be waived off.

So how do you apply for loan forgiveness? You must fill out and send in the correct forms. Contact your loan servicer to see what you need to do.

19. Get paid to exercise

Some apps will pay you for your normal walking, which is like free money because you don’t have to do much extra.

Apps like Sweatcoin and Fit For Bucks pay people to walk. Sweatcoin is actually one of the most popular apps in the world ever, with over 120,000,000 registered members.

Recommended reading: 19 Ways To Get Paid To Workout

20. Enter cash giveaways

Participating in cash giveaways is a simple way to potentially get free money now. Companies and organizations often organize these events to promote their brands or celebrate achievements.

The main drawback is that there’s no guarantee you’ll win anything; it all depends on your luck. So, it might take a while for you to win your first prize, if ever.

When I was paying off my debt, I entered many giveaways and got lucky a few times. I once won $10,000 cash, actually! I’ve also hosted some cash prize giveaways over the years too.

You can find giveaways on social media, such as by searching under the #giveaway hashtag. You can also search for sweepstakes websites on Google. These sites compile all the sweepstakes and giveaways available to enter, making it even easier to find many opportunities on one simple website.

21. Careful consideration of cash advances

When you’re low on cash, a cash advance might seem like a good choice. It’s a loan you can get on your credit card, usually quickly and without a credit check. However, before you decide, it’s important to understand the costs involved, such as:

• Interest and fees – You’ll usually pay a much higher interest rate on advances than regular purchases. It can be very hard to get out of this debt hole due to the high rates.
• Repayment terms – Unlike purchases, there’s no grace period. Interest starts adding up the moment you get the cash. So, you should plan to pay it back as soon as possible.

Even though a cash advance might help you out of a bind, it could cost you a lot more in the long run. A better option might be to consider other financial assistance or savings strategies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are common questions about how to find free money right now.

Is free money real?

Yes, free money is real but typically comes with certain criteria or actions you must perform, such as taking surveys, participating in government programs, or receiving rebates. But, there are ways to get paid to do nothing as well, like finding unclaimed money that you are due.

How do I get money ASAP?

If you need money right now, I highly recommend finding items around your home to sell. This could be some old clothing, a cell phone that you don’t use anymore, or even a piece of furniture.

What are the quickest methods to earn money online today?

If you want to learn how to get free money without working, some quick online methods include selling items that you own online, searching for unclaimed money that you are owed, and using cash back apps.

In what ways can I get financial assistance without needing to repay?

Look for government assistance programs like the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program or apply for grants, which don’t require repayment. Nonprofits can also provide aid, depending on your situation.

What are some legitimate sources to get free financial help?

Some real sources for free financial assistance include federal or state government programs, nonprofit organizations, and community groups. I do highly recommend doing your research to avoid scams.

Are there options to get funds directly on my debit card with no fees?

Some apps and services allow you to earn money or rewards that can be transferred directly to your debit card without fees. These might include cash back rewards from debit card purchases.

How To Get Free Money Now – Summary

I hope you enjoyed this article and found some ways to get free money now.

Finding money right now doesn’t always mean working extra hours or making big changes to your budget. Instead, you can learn how to get free money now in many other ways, such as using government programs or getting company contributions in your 401(k).

Even easy things like answering survey questions, opening new bank accounts, or using cash back apps when you shop can help you get some extra money.

What do you think is the best way to get free money now?

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