5 Unexpected Ways To Make Extra Money (That Actually Work)

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 5.70% 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 5.70% APY**.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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 Thor Metals Group. 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 Thor Metals Group’s extensive collection.

Worried you may need to sell your precious metals in the future? Thor Metals Group offers a no-fee buy-back program. Plus, Thor Metals Group has an A rating with the Better Business Bureau.

5. Grow Your Money More Than 52x Faster

One of the best ways to make extra money is to make sure the money you already have is working for you — even the money in your day-to-day account.

The Vanguard Cash Plus Account offers a competitive annual percentage yield (APY) of 3.65% as of Jan. 15, 2025. That’s more than 52 times the national average interest on a checking account, which pays just .07% APY.

The Vanguard Cash Plus Account has no minimum balance requirement, there are no fees to open the account, and you can get started with as little as $1. And your money is eligible for FDIC coverage up to $1.25 million for individual accounts and $2.5 million for joint accounts.