If you’re going to be able to make some money out of things you’re already doing or things that you’re going to do anyways, then this is just a perk! For example, searching things online with a search engine, shopping online, and buying groceries. These are all basic things we do normally and there are easy rewards and rebates systems in place for you to make some cash or receive gift cards from.
It’s nice when you get to save money, but it’s even nicer when you get to MAKE some extra side money. While things may start off as pocket change, but with the power of time and consistency, it adds up to hundreds of dollars.
There were many things I utilized as a college student and as a pharmacy student to occasionally help pay for little things like food and drinks and other things I want (usually from Amazon). The money adds up eventually. It doesn’t happen overnight, and it does NOT make an income, just extra side cash I wouldn’t have had otherwise. I am still using these systems now as a pharmacist & I appreciate them a lot.
1). Microsoft Rewards, AKA Bing Rewards
Bing is a search engine, much like Google, but it was created by the company, Microsoft. It’s a free online website that you can sign up for and you can earn points for searching anything on their search engine. The points can be used to redeem towards gift cards, such as Target, Amazon, Dunkin Donuts, etc..
You are limited to how many searches can be counted towards points in a day. For instance, if you’re using your desktop, you can earn up to 150 points per day. Each search is worth 5 points.
Pro tip: You can earn more points in searches by setting Bing as your default browser through your phone. I personally also downloaded the Bing App on my Iphone to do searches.
They even give you this dashboard where you can earn additional points while learning something new (via trivia games, quizzes, and daily sets).
I’ve earned up to $115 in gift cards from Bing since 2016. While it doesn’t sound like a lot over a 4-year period, that’s still extra money that I would not have had otherwise as a college student, and it’s all from me doing simple things as a student, such as doing research online for a school paper.
Here’s a small snippet of my reward history. I’ve also donated points to be used towards charity.
Just recently, they added a feature called Bing Rebates, which pertains to getting rebates from online shopping. You can earn a percentage back from shopping online via various popular companies such as Walmart, Express, Sephora, etc…
**No, I don’t receive any compensation from Microsoft. I just love them so much and I think you would too.
2). Ibotta
Ibotta is available as a phone app that gives you cash back on your grocery shopping trips as well as online mobile shopping. There are a lot of participating grocery retailers, including Walmart, Target, Albertson’s, Fry’s, Sprouts, etc… There are also numerous participating online retailers for mobile shopping, such as Michael Kors, Ticketmaster, Lowes, Petco, Forever 21, etc…
For groceries, all you have to do is: A). find and add offers from specific retailers, B). make the purchases, then C). snap a picture of your receipts (sometimes it’s also necessary to scan the bar code of some items).
For online mobile shopping, you’ll just have to launch the website to the company you’re looking for through the Ibotta app first, then make a qualifying purchase.
The cash back amount will depend on what offers are available and what you buy. You’ll be able to cash out for cash (via PayPal) or redeem for gift cards (such as Amazon, Best Buy, DoorDash, Starbucks, etc…), once you’ve reached the $20 threshold. Grocery store rebates will usually show up in your account about 24 hours after purchase. Mobile shopping rebates may take up to 90 days.
*There’s a special opportunity going on right now where you can earn $20 for signing up & completing the welcome bonuses. Here’s a referral link or uses this referral code: qarnuuv
(*promotion may end abruptly)
Pro tip: Always look for “ANY ITEM” offers at grocery retailers. What this means is you’re able to add the offer for any item on your receipt, not just for something brand and size specific (i.e 24 oz. bottle of Prego spaghetti sauce). The offer is most likely worth $0.10 and won’t go towards any bonuses, but they can add up over time.
Ibotta recently added an extension that you can use online through your PC instead of just your phone app. Also, some retailers have the option for you link your loyalty rewards for that retailer so that you don’t have to scan images of your receipts (they’ll know what you bought from your linked loyalty rewards to that retailer). Another new feature they’ve added is for you to pay directly from Ibotta so that you can earn cash back from your entire purchases as opposed to a few selected items. All of these features are just more ways to earn cash back through Ibotta.
Here’s a small snippet of my earnings. While I’ve been a member since 2015, I didn’t utilize the app until October 2017 (definitely regret the delay, but once I made it a habit, it was easy). It took 3 years to earn $201 dollars, but again, that’s an extra couple hundred of bucks more than I would’ve had otherwise.
**I am able to earn referral bonuses via Ibotta if you use my link.
Other Ways To Make Side Cash
These other options will require a little more work so this is more like a bonus section. They’re not terribly time-consuming so it’s still worth it as students to participate in them.
- Taking Surveys
I use Surveys on the Go iPhone App & earned $96.54 in Amazon gift cards in about 2 years.
Surveys on the Go allows cash outs at $10 and above, with 4 options: PayPal, Amazon, Starbucks, or Visa. Each survey will ask a couple of preliminary questions to see if you qualify to take them. Most of the time, I don’t qualify but that will always earn $0.10 for at least attempting it. If you do qualify for a survey, it make take anywhere between 15-30 minutes to complete and it might get you up to $2.50.
I also use Google Surveys iPhone App. I’ve earned $25 in about 1 year.
Google Surveys will payout at $2.00 via PayPal. All of their surveys lasts about 2 minutes with usually 3 questions max so it’s extremely simple and quick.
2. Get the Apple Credit Card (if credit allows you to)
I love all of my Apple products; there’s no denying that and it’s no different with their new Apple Credit Card because of so many reasons:
A. DAILY cash back. It takes me months to earn $25 cash back on my regular bank credit card before I can cash it out. So the fact that I get to see daily cash back from my Apple Card and be able to utilize it right away is a huge change.
B. Cash back on ALL purchases! 1% cash back is guaranteed on all purchases. 2% cash back is guaranteed if I use Apple Pay (mobile paying without using the physical card at participating retailers). 3% cash back is available for certain promotions and companies that Apple partners with, such as all Apple products & services sold by Apple will have 3% cash back.
C. The organization & tracking of your money utilization is seamless.
D. Interest may be high, but if you use your credit card like how you’re supposed to, which is to only spend if you already have the money, and to pay off the balance each month, then you’re on your way to building your credit up. Better credit can lead to better interest rates for future loans, if needed.
E. The physical card you receive is simplistic, but sturdy and it feels unlike any other credit card you may have had. It also doesn’t contain any numbers on it so your information is secured.
None of these tips will give you the opportunity to make a side income, but it can add up to give you some extra side cash that you can use on a cup of coffee, get you a free movie ticket, buy that Amazon gift, gradually add to your saving goals, etc… As college students, these are nice things to have paid for by other means and I definitely feel that more students should utilize it.
Let’s be connected!
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