Buzz
As a kid, I found a site called 'AllAdvantage' that promised to pay you for running a persistent banner ad at the top or bottom of your screen. Of course, I kept it running nonstop, using a small program to simulate mouse movements so that the ad wouldn’t turn off due to inactivity. My parents weren’t happy about the electricity I was wasting, but I managed to rack up over $150 one month—a pretty impressive sum for a kid.
Running a bitcoin mining rig is like the modern version of that, though you'd likely make less than I did back then. Fortunately, there are still other ways to earn a little extra cash while sitting at home. It’s important to note that we're talking about modest earnings here, so don’t expect to buy a Tesla by filling out online surveys. However, if you have some free time and are willing to be patient, here are a few methods to earn lunch and/or gas money online:
Seek out opportunities that offer maximum rewards for minimal time investment
A great place to find opportunities for earning with little effort is the subreddit /r/beermoney. Yes, the name is intentional; you’d need to put in a huge amount of effort to make a real living from these sites, but it’s a solid option if you have plenty of free time to spend at your computer.
This subreddit features a highly useful, pinned list of websites and services that can help you make some extra money. I suggest going through the entire list and considering which options align best with your time and reward goals, as well as your personal preferences. For instance, you might find completing surveys enjoyable, while others may prefer finding and completing new Mechanical Turk tasks.
Among the options listed on the subreddit, I would likely begin by checking out:
Swagbucks: Earn $1 for every 100 “Swagbucks” you accumulate, which you can gather by filling out surveys, watching videos, playing games, or taking advantage of special shopping offers (e.g., purchase certain items and earn Swagbucks, which can sometimes generate small amounts of money depending on the offer’s value).
PlaytestCloud: You can earn a bit of cash by playing video games and providing feedback (aloud!) during the process. While pay varies, the site generally offers $9 for a 15-minute playtest and survey.
UserTesting: Similar to PlaytestCloud, but you’ll be reviewing websites and apps while offering feedback. You can earn $10 for completing a 20-minute video survey.
Survey.com: Download the iOS or Android app to find local opportunities for participating in activities like product demos, mystery shopping, stocking shelves, taking photos of items, or assisting in creating promotional displays. The work isn’t strenuous, and it pays decently, provided you can locate nearby gigs.
Prolific: Here’s some good news—you can fill out surveys, assuming you match the demographics a researcher is looking for, and earn at least $6.50 an hour. It’s not a fortune, but it’s not hard to fill out a survey (or multiple surveys).
Respondent.io: A similar concept, but you participate in research studies, earning an impressive average of $140 per hour. The catch is that you need to fit the specific demographics a researcher requires, so don’t expect the money to flow easily.
Mechanical Turk: If you’re unfamiliar with Amazon’s program, here’s the basic rundown: You pick tasks to complete, which range from simple data validation to more subjective activities like surveys, content moderation, and beyond, and get paid for your work. To find better opportunities, I recommend using the unofficial /r/mturk subreddit, as you’ll encounter many low-paying offers on the site.
InstaGC: This site is pretty similar to the others. Complete surveys, watch videos, shop, and you can earn gift cards. 100 points equals $1, and according to /r/beermoney, “Many claim this is one of the easiest beer money sites.” Definitely worth a look!
Microsoft Rewards: Sure, you’ll need to use Bing for web searches to earn rewards, but Microsoft’s program is free. You can also rack up points by participating in daily quizzes and games.
Be cautious with “passive” earning opportunities
Although the rewards may seem appealing, be wary of giving companies too much access to your personal information. They don’t need to see your photos, messages, search history, or track your location at all times. Your privacy is far more valuable than a mere $20 a month (or whatever they offer).
Similarly, avoid the temptation to join any program that requires you to replace your router with a custom device or add a special networking tool to your existing setup. It’s the same issue—allowing companies to monitor your life may seem like an easy way to earn some money, but it’s a poor trade-off in the long run.
If you really want to engage in these types of programs, exercise caution. Load up a secondary smartphone or tablet with a dummy account and avoid using it for anything you’d normally do on your primary device. You still shouldn’t install a tracking router into your home network, but if you must, connect it to your regular router (if possible) and only attach one dummy device, such as an old laptop or smartphone. Use it occasionally for simple tasks, while continuing to use your regular router for everything else. If you want to take it a step further, you could even isolate this or any other tracking device behind its own VLAN, though that may be a bit much for the average person to manage.
Do your homework
There are countless “get rich quick” schemes out there that seem too good to be true. Those who participate in them are often eager to share how amazing their experience has been (and how much money they’re making), especially if they can include a referral link to an app or service they’re promoting.
See the pattern here?
Before diving into any service that offers to pay you a small amount for completing tasks, take the time to read reviews. What are users saying about the payments? The opportunities available? How long does it typically take to receive payment? Are there any creative techniques for boosting your earnings? Can you actually envision yourself doing the work, or will you likely quit after completing your first task?
And, perhaps most importantly, is the service legitimate? If someone is referring you to a site that allegedly pays out thousands of dollars a week (or month), the answer is likely “no.” Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, you’re either incredibly lucky, or you should put in a little more effort before committing your time (or your personal details) to some random platform. Also, never install random apps for a site or service before fully vetting it. The last thing you want is to let the promise of quick digital wealth jeopardize your cybersecurity.
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