Wouldn’t you like to pocket some extra money each year, just for doing the things you already do? Do you search the web or shop from popular websites such as Best Buy, EBay, Target, and even Walmart? Of course you do! I earned an extra $120 just from doing things I would normally do, so why wouldn’t you want to earn some extra money over the course of the year?
Get Paid To Search The Web
Last year I made over $20 just for using my web browser. Google is great and all, but they don’t pay you to use their search engine. However, Bing actually will. 
With the Microsoft Rewards program you get 5 points for each web search you perform using your PC, up to 150 points per day. You also get 5 points for each search using your mobile device, up to 100 points per day. Just today, I’ve earned 130 points just from searching the web. There’s even more ways to earn points, and those are laid out over at the Microsoft Rewards page.
I changed my default browser from Google to Bing on both my mobile device and on my PC so that I can earn points without even thinking about it. Currently, my lifetime balance in Bing rewards since I began with the program in 2015 is 56,170 points. That’s $53.50 in extra money just for doing my normal browsing. I invite you to compare Bing to Google and I don’t think you’ll notice much of a difference, except in your statement balance at the end of the year! I usually cash out my rewards balance toward the purchase of Amazon Gift Cards. The rest of the rewards aren’t much value to me, but there are a ton of different things you can cash your rewards balance out on, such as Xbox Live memberships and credit towards Microsoft products.
Microsoft Rewards offers no referral program at this time, so there is nothing in it for me to tell you about this program. I use it regularly and have made a small sum of money doing it, so I just want to share this opportunity with you if you didn’t already know about it. It’s super simple to sign up! Just visit Microsoft.com/rewards.
Get Paid To Shop
Since joining Swagbucks in 2015, I’ve earned over $65 worth of Amazon and Walmart giftcards by shopping for my normal products on their website. When Christmas time arrives, I buy the presents that I would normally buy from places like Best Buy, Walmart, Ebay, and other popular retailers. I buy through their shopping portal instead of directly from the retailer’s site. 
In many cases I can earn 1%-5% and in some cases even up to 40% of my purchases as a credit in points. When I went on my Montana vacation in August, I booked the car rental and the hotels through the SwagBucks website and earned almost $20 back on my purchases. I was already going to make these purchases, so why not earn a rebate by using the SwagBucks portal? My credit card and my employer also offer similar portals with varying levels of rebates, but I have found that SwagBucks beats their rebate on a consistent basis. I’ve even purchased jewelry and gift boxes from Omaha Steaks and earned a slight kick back. These were things I already planned on purchasing and did not purchase for the sake of earning a rebate. I didn’t have to change any of my habits to earn these rebates. There are so many retailers available that I could not possibly name them all, but I can say with near certainty that you will find a retailer that you shop at regularly that is available on the shopping portal.
Swagbucks does offer a refer bonus program, so by joining Swagbucks I will add to my current balance. The benefit to you (besides earning your own rewards) is that during the month of January, if you sign up and earn 300SB you will earn an additional 300SB. That’s $6 just for signing up and filling out some surveys, watching some videos, and discovering great deals on hundreds of products. One time I earned 400SB just for agreeing to receive a brochure from the State of Alaska’s tourism department. In addition to the 300SB bonus, if you shop at one of the online retailers and spend $25 or more using the Swagbuks portal, you will earn an additional 200SB. There has never been a better time to join Swagbucks. Visit Swagbucks.com/refer/CodyRose for more info and to begin earning!
Get Paid To Drive
I discovered a product called MileUp around Christmas time that claimed to pay real gift cards just for driving your car. It just so happens that I spend tons of time driving, so I thought I would give it a try. After using it for only two weeks, I was able to earn $20 in Amazon, Walmart, and iTunes gift cards. All I had to do is download the free app for my iPhone and sign up. It was as simple as that.
They will use the data they collect to improve their accident detection technology, so essentially you are helping to make the roads safer. If you are concerned about MileUp having access to your driving data and location, then maybe it is not for you. If privacy is not a concern to you, then I recommend visiting this link and downloading the app and start earning extra money for driving.
Actual Payouts
One nice thing about these programs is that they actually pay out! 
With other rebate and points plans I’ve been a part of in the past, you would earn all of the points, but for one reason or another you couldn’t cash out the points. Sometime they would say that you didn’t meet the requirements of the program, other times it would just be some sort of technical glitch that prevented the redemption of the earnings. This has never been the case for me with SwagBucks, Microsoft, or Mileup. I have always been able to cash out and use my giftcards within a few minutes.They are super easy to redeem in store at Walmart and online at Amazon.com too! Each redemption comes with an explanation of exactly how to use them and how to add the credit to your Amazon.com account. I have provided actual screenshots of my cashouts, so you can see that there is actually money to be gained here.
Just realize that you are not going to get rich doing this, but it is a nice way to earn some extra money back for the things you are already doing.
