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Apache is functioning normally

May 20, 2024 by Brett Tams

J. Crew clothes can be expensive, so if you’re a fan of the brand, it makes sense to find a way to trim costs where you can. The J. Crew credit card wants to be that money-saver, but the truth is that other credit cards will likely save you more.

Issued by Synchrony Bank, the J. Crew credit card has a $0 annual fee, but you’ll need to spend at least $1,000 a year at J. Crew to get the best rewards rates. Plus, there’s no 0% intro APR promotion, and the card’s ongoing interest rate is so high that you won’t want to use it to finance a new wardrobe.

Here’s what to know if you’re considering the J. Crew credit card.

🤓Nerdy Tip

In 2024, the J. Crew credit card officially switched issuers from Bread Financial to Synchrony Bank. The old Bread Financial-issued cards (with the green color scheme) will stop working after June 16, 2024. Those who had that card should have received a new one (in a dark-blue color) by June 2024.

1. There are two J. Crew credit cards

The J. Crew credit card comes in two varieties:

The J. Crew Mastercard, which can be used anywhere Mastercard is accepted.
The J. Crew Credit Card, which can be used for purchases at J. Crew and J. Crew Factory only. (Note that you can’t use it at Madewell, even though that brand is a part of the J. Crew umbrella.)

Which version of the J. Crew card you can get depends on your creditworthiness. Potential cardholders can use the prequalification tool to determine their eligibility for either card.

You must join Passport, J. Crew’s store loyalty program, to apply for the card. Those who have the card but don’t belong to Passport won’t earn rewards.

2. Rewards hinge on your Passport tier

The rewards you can earn with the J. Crew credit card depend on your status within the Passport loyalty program. There are three tiers: Green, Navy and Gold. All three tiers offer 1 point per $1 spent at J. Crew, but you’ll earn bonus points if you have a J. Crew credit card.

Green. Free to join. Green members earn 1 point per $1 spent at J. Crew.
Navy. Must spend $500 annually at J. Crew, or have a J. Crew credit card. Navy members with a J. Crew card earn 2 points per $1 spent at J. Crew.
Gold. Must spend $1,000 annually at J. Crew. Gold members with a J. Crew card earn 3 points per $1 spent at J. Crew.

The Mastercard version of the card also earns 1 point for every $1 spent on gas and grocery purchases and 1 point for every $2 spent on everything else. (Fuel stations at warehouse clubs and some supercenters and grocery stores don’t qualify.)

3. Rewards are valuable, but redemption is inflexible

Cardholders will automatically receive a $5 reward certificate for every 200 points earned. On the plus side, that means that 1 point is worth 2.5 points, well above the industry standard of 1 cent per point. But there are caveats when it comes to redeeming your rewards.

First, as with many store cards, rewards may be used toward more J. Crew purchases only. Second, because the $5 reward certificate is automatic once you accrue 200 points, you won’t be able to “save up” rewards over time for a large purchase — especially given that rewards expire 90 days after their issue date.

4. The APR is high

Outstanding balances on the J. Crew credit card will be assessed an interest charge of over 31%, as of this writing. That’s almost 10 percentage points higher than the February 2024 average APR on interest-accruing credit cards, according to the Federal Reserve.

5. Card benefits include a birthday gift and a small sign-up bonus

Being a J. Crew cardholder comes with a few extra perks beyond elevated rewards rates. Whether you have the J. Crew Credit Card or J. Crew Mastercard, you’ll get a $25 birthday gift, free standard shipping from J. Crew and J. Crew Factory, and free standard alterations.

As of this writing, new cardholders also get a welcome offer in the form of a 20% discount on their first J. Crew purchase with their J. Crew credit card. This discount may be combined with another offer in a single transaction.

To view rates and fees of the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express, see this page.

Source: nerdwallet.com

Apache is functioning normally

May 19, 2024 by Brett Tams

You can, but we don’t recommend it. In most cases, it’s not advisable to buy a car with a credit card due to limitations on credit card transaction amounts, high-interest rates on credit card balances, and potential merchant fees. However, some dealerships may allow you to use a credit card for a portion of the payment or for a down payment, but weigh the costs and consider alternative financing options before you do.

Are you shopping for a new or used car? If so, there’s a good chance you’ll need to finance this purchase. There are several financing options available, such as an auto loan or personal loan—but what about your credit card? Can you buy a car with a credit card?

The simple answer is yes, you probably could find a car dealership willing to accept a credit card payment. The real question you may want to ask yourself is, “Should I make such a large purchase with a credit card?”

Let’s take a closer look at the advantages and disadvantages of purchasing a car with a credit card so you can decide if it’s the right option for you.

Can You Buy a Car With a Credit Card?

Buying a new car with a credit card is possible, but it’s not going to be easy.

First, not all car dealerships accept credit card payments. This is likely due to the high processing fees credit card payments incur. These fees can range between 1.5% and 3.5%. For example, if you purchase a car for $20,000, these processing fees can range from $300 to $700.

Even if you do find a dealership willing to take a credit card payment, you may be responsible for paying these processing fees. The dealership may also limit the amount you can pay with your credit card. For instance, you may be able to use your credit card for a down payment but not to pay for the full value of the car.

Secondly, not all credit card companies allow cardholders to make a large purchase like this. It’s important to contact your credit card company first to better understand its policies.

Finally, even if the car dealership and credit card company permit this type of purchase, you have to have enough available credit. If you go over your credit limit, you could incur additional fees and higher interest rates—or the credit card company may decide to deny the transaction altogether.

Things to Consider

Before you grab your credit card and head to the car dealership, there are a few things you should know about making this type of purchase.

Limited Options

As mentioned above, not all car dealers and credit card companies allow this type of purchase. This could significantly decrease your options when you go looking for a car. You’ll be limited to finding a car at one of these dealerships.

Negative Impact on Your Credit Score

Adding a large purchase, such as a car, to your credit card balance can drastically increase your credit utilization. Because your credit utilization rate accounts for up to 30% of your overall FICO® credit score, any large purchase could cause your credit health to take a hit.

In fact, most experts agree that you should try to keep your credit utilization rate at or below 30%. It’s unlikely that adding a large purchase, such as a car, will keep your credit utilization low enough to meet this recommendation.

Your lower credit could impact your ability to get other credit cards, take out a personal loan, or even secure an apartment. This is why it’s important to understand the risks involved before buying a car with a credit card.

Lack of Available Credit

One of the main reasons people get a credit card is to have additional funds available in case of an emergency. Using a majority of these funds to purchase a car means you’ll have less available if you do face an emergency. Be sure to carefully consider this factor and the lasting effects it may have before making a large purchase.

Higher Interest Rates

Before you make any financing decisions, you should always compare interest rates. While your specific rates will vary based on your income and credit score, you’ll likely pay higher interest rates when making a credit card purchase than you would with an auto loan.

For instance, the average APR for credit cards is 27.89%, while average car loan rates range from 7.19% to 11.93%. Even if you have bad credit, you’re likely to find better interest rates through a car loan versus a credit card.

Even if your credit card comes with a 0% APR introductory rate, you still need to be careful. If you can’t pay the entire balance within the initial time frame, higher interest rates will be applied to your balance.

Ability to Make Payments

No matter what lending option you choose when purchasing a new car, it’s crucial to make sure you can afford the monthly payments. Before you even start shopping for a car, set a realistic budget to determine how much you can afford. Be sure to take the interest rate and any other additional fees and costs into account, such as insurance, registration, and processing fees.

Advantages of Buying a Car With a Credit Card

There is a potential advantage of buying a car with a credit card to consider. If you have a rewards card, making such a large purchase could help you earn cash back or travel points quickly. This could be very beneficial, especially if your rewards card has a welcome bonus that requires you to spend a certain amount in a short period of time.

The idea of earning big rewards with just one purchase may sound great, but you have to consider other factors. For instance, does your credit card charge an annual fee? Unless your rewards exceed the annual fee, it may not be worth it. You also need to factor in the higher interest rates.

Alternative Lending Options

Before using your credit card to purchase a new car, be sure to explore your other options, including:

Getting an auto loan. You’ll likely find better interest rates with an auto loan through a bank or credit union. Additionally, you’ll probably get a higher credit limit with a car loan than by relying on your available credit card balance.
Getting a cosigner. If you’re having trouble securing an auto loan due to your credit or lack of credit, you can consider using a cosigner. If your cosigner has good credit, it may help you get a car. There are some risks involved for the cosigner, so consider this option carefully.
Using your savings. If you have an emergency fund set up or available savings, it may be worthwhile to use this money to purchase a new car. Then, you can keep your credit card to use for any emergencies that may arise while you’re rebuilding your savings.
Doing a trade-in. If you don’t have money in your savings account to use as a down payment, trading in your current car may provide the funds you need. The more money you can put down on a new car, the better chance you have of being approved for a car loan and keeping monthly payments within your budget.

Before you use your credit card to buy a car, find out what your credit score is. This can help you determine what lending options are available to you. If your score is too low to secure an auto loan with reasonable interest rates, you can take steps to repair and rebuild your credit.

Use Credit.com’s Free Credit Score to find out your credit score and get started today.

Source: credit.com

Apache is functioning normally

May 19, 2024 by Brett Tams

Ascend Hotel Collection is part of the Choice Hotels International family and represents a series of boutique and luxury hotels, the top tier of the Choice brand.

Those who collect Choice Privileges points may find that these hotels are often an ideal choice when making a redemption since they have a higher profile than other hotels in the Choice portfolio.

If you are looking for a top hotel in the Ascend Collection, there are several options worth exploring.

What is the Ascend Collection?

Ascend Collection hotels deliver the same brand promise as other Choice hotels properties but offer a one-of-a-kind experience.

🤓Nerdy Tip

This soft brand resembles what other hotel companies have, such as Curio Collection by Hilton or The Luxury Collection (Marriott). The Ascend Collection is the top brand within the Choice Privileges program.

How to book Ascend Hotel Collection properties

Choice Privileges doesn’t allow points redemption more than 100 days in advance, so if you are a procrastinator, this program is for you! Unfortunately, Choice does not make it easy to find Ascend Hotel locations, but if you do an online search for your preferred city, the results include the Ascend Hotel Collection logo in the top left corner.

The cost in points varies by property and day, so you will want to check how many points you need on any given night. They range from as few as 6,000 points for a redemption night all the way up to 35,000 points for a standard hotel or as many as 100,000 for an all-inclusive hotel.

Here are some Ascend Hotel Collection locations worth visiting, whether you are planning to redeem points or earn them to redeem on a future stay.

Popular Ascend Collection hotels

With nearly 250 hotels in the soft brand, these Ascend Collection hotels in cities around the world are especially noteworthy.

If you’re looking for a boutique option that offers something local and unique, look no further than these Ascend properties. They are in various countries, such as Australia, Canada, Norway, Turkey, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Many of them are historic rebuilds.

Hotel Aquarius Venice, Italy

(Photo courtesy of Hotel Aquarius Venice)

The Hotel Aquarius Venice is in the Santa Croce district, which means it is convenient to the train station, about halfway between it and the Rialto Bridge.

Walking through the winding streets of Venice is a favorite pastime of tourists for people-watching and a little exercise. For those who want to arrive at the hotel by boat, it has an entryway to the canal through a small garden door.

Emotions All Inclusive Juan Dolio, Dominican Republic

(Photo courtesy of Choice Hotels)

If you want a Caribbean getaway with all-inclusive meals and drinks, Emotions All Inclusive Juan Dolio has a beachfront location and plenty to enjoy by the water.

There are three outdoor pools, including one in an adults-only area for more peace and quiet. The resort has seven restaurants and a stretch of private beach, providing a vacation getaway that packs in the value.

K Bar S Lodge, Keystone, South Dakota

(Photo courtesy of Choice Hotels)

Within view of Mount Rushmore, the K Bar S Lodge is a short drive from the national memorial. In the gardens, deer and other animals roam past.

Guests can enjoy complimentary breakfast each morning. Other amenities include free parking, an outdoor patio, a whirlpool, and furnished balconies in the rooms.

The Pine Lodge on Whitefish River, Montana

(Photo courtesy of Choice Hotels)

In Whitefish, Montana, The Pine Lodge is an ideal spot for those who want to spend time in the great outdoors.

The hotel is close to Whitefish Lake and the Whitefish Mountain Resort and also has a free shuttle to take guests to and from the airport or train station. Complimentary breakfast is also included.

The Giacomo Hotel, Niagara Falls, New York

(Photo courtesy of Choice Hotels)

The Giacomo is a towering hotel within close proximity to Niagara Falls. It provides restored history, with the building listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

From the front door, guests can walk to the Cave of the Winds, the Maid of the Mist boat tour, and nearby dining.

Hotel Blake, Chicago

(Photo courtesy of Hotel Blake)

Close to Grant Park and Millennium Park and in the Morton Building, Hotel Blake is on the National Register of Historic Places. This hotel is a great option for those who want to be close to tourist hot spots like the Art Institute of Chicago, Navy Pier and Lincoln Park Zoo.

With so many hotels in Chicago, it’s nice to redeem points for a hotel with local history and character.

Blue Angel Hotel NYC, New York

(Photo courtesy of Choice Hotels)

In the heart of Manhattan, Blue Angel Hotel NYC has a lovely al fresco terrace overlooking the city from the seventh floor.

Guests at this boutique hotel also receive a selection of drinks and snacks and a free pass to a nearby health club to use during their stay.

Earn Choice Hotels points quickly

Choice Privileges points can generally be redeemed for a night at a Choice hotel for between 6,000 and 35,000 points, but before you start using your Choice Privileges points, you have to earn them. Beyond qualifying hotel stays, another way to amass a large number of points is to earn a sign-up bonus from a Choice Hotels credit card.

Here’s how the company’s two co-branded cards compare.

How the cards compare

Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard®

Choice Privileges® Mastercard®

Annual Fee

Sign-Up Bonus

Earn 60,000 bonus points when you spend $3,000 in purchases in the first 3 months – enough to redeem for up to 7 rewards nights at select Choice Hotels® properties..

Earn 40,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months – enough to redeem for up to 5 rewards nights at select Choice Hotels® properties..

Still not sure?

If you seek more flexibility in redeeming miles for hotel stays, consider applying for a more general travel credit card instead. A more general travel credit card differs from a hotel card in that you can book lodging at multiple hotel chains, rather than reaping the benefits of staying loyal to a single brand.

The more high-end the travel credit card, the more benefits you can enjoy, including airport lounge access or automatic elite status in certain programs. That said, a brand-specific hotel card can net benefits like late check-out or free breakfast, which can have meaningful dollar value.

Choice Privileges’ soft brand, Ascend Hotel Collection

These one-of-a-kind boutique hotels allow Choice Privileges members to earn and redeem points at independent hotels that prove unique to their area. Each hotel has its own character and amenities, but for those looking for a hotel with its own style and substance, Ascend Hotels are a perfect fit.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024, including those best for:

Source: nerdwallet.com

Apache is functioning normally

May 18, 2024 by Brett Tams

If you’re paying full price at the gas pump these days, you might be missing a way to fuel your household savings. That’s because many rewards credit cards offer bonus points when you use them at the gas station.

Used right, those rewards are like a discount on every gallon you buy. Few consumers would turn down these savings when the average price of a gallon of gas as of May 2024 was $3.61, according to AAA.

It’s fairly common now to get triple points — 3 points per dollar spent — for using a rewards card to pay for gas. Notably, some of the best cards for fill ups don’t feature the names of big oil companies or their service station brands. Instead, you’ll likely save the most with general rewards credit cards or cards associated with warehouse clubs and credit unions.

As you shop around for a card that will shrink your gas budget, keep these tips in mind.

Use 3% as a benchmark

The most lucrative cards for gas offer the equivalent of 3% or more in rewards. Better still, many cards with high rewards rates don’t charge an annual fee, so you’ll pay nothing to earn rewards that can be redeemed for cash back, gift cards, travel and more.

Credit score matters

More often than not, rewards rates of 3x and above are found in cards that require at least good credit, or a FICO score of at least 670, to qualify. If you have a low credit score, expect your credit card options to be limited. Nonetheless, there are a few cards for people with bad, limited or no credit that earn rewards, albeit modest ones.

Mind the caps

Some cards — especially those with 5% rates and no annual fee — limit how much gas spending will earn bonus rewards. For example, you might get 4% on gas purchases up to $7,000 in annual spending. After hitting the cap, gas purchases earn just 1% until the new year. Before applying for a card for gas purchases, check the rewards cap, if any, and decide if it’s generous enough to accommodate your spending.

Beware of ‘cents off’ rewards

Instead of a percentage of cash back or points per dollar spent, some cards — especially gas station-branded cards — give you a specific discount, such as 6 cents off per gallon. But when gas costs $3 per gallon, that 6 cents off is a mundane 2% discount. Plus, gas station cards typically earn rewards that can only be spent at that particular merchant.

Rewards at the gas station vs. pump

Many cards that offer outsized rewards on gas spending also reward purchases inside the service station such as snacks and wiper fluid. But some cards limit rewards to gas spending paid at the pump, and some gas cards earn elevated rewards only on in-store purchases, not fill ups.

Rewards credit cards have terms and conditions that govern their rewards programs; read through them to see what purchases earn rewards and if that list aligns with your expectations.

Warehouse cards have pros and cons

Warehouse clubs like Sam’s and Costco can be great places to get cheaper gas, savings that are compounded when combined with the stores’ co-branded credit cards that offer high rewards rates on gas. However, these same cards only earn those desirable cash-back rates up to a certain annual cap, and the reward redemption process can be cumbersome.

Remember, too, that you must be a member of those warehouse clubs, which means paying an annual membership fee.

Stack rewards with card-linked offers

Many rewards cards offer digital coupons in the form of card-linked offers through the issuer’s app. You “clip” the coupon by adding it to your card, and once you make a qualifying purchase, you’ll receive your savings, often in the form of a statement credit. It’s common to find card-linked offers for gas purchases, so before your next fill up, skim through your card’s digital coupon list for a station near you. You’ll save with the card-linked offer and earn rewards from that fresh tank, if your card earns rewards on gas.

Look beyond gas rewards

As you shop for a good gas credit card, consider whether the card offers rewards in other categories that align with your spending habits. That way, your gas credit card card transforms into an everyday card that you can use to pay for things like groceries, take out and streaming.

Plus, you might not spend as much on gas as you think. In 2023, U.S. households spent an average of $2,635 per year on gasoline, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Even with a 3% rewards card, that’s $79.05 cash back per year, or about $6.50 per month.

Source: nerdwallet.com

Apache is functioning normally

May 18, 2024 by Brett Tams

The definition of a U.S. Savings Bond is an investment in the federal government that helps to increase your money. By purchasing a savings bond, you are essentially lending money to the government which you will get back in the future, when the bond matures, with interest. Because these financial products are backed by the federal government, they are considered to be extremely low-risk. And, in certain situations, there can be tax advantages.

Here’s a closer look at these bonds, including:

• What are savings bonds?

• How do savings bonds work?

• What are the different types of savings bonds?

• How do you buy and redeem savings bonds?

• What are the pros and cons of buying savings bonds?

Savings Bond Definition

First, to answer the basic question, “What is a savings bond?”: Basically, it is a loan issued by the U.S. Treasury and made to the U.S. government. Purchase a savings bond, and you are loaning that money to the government. At the end of the bond’s 30-year term, you receive your initial investment plus the compounded interest.

You may withdraw funds before then, as long as the bond has been held for at least five years.

💡 Quick Tip: Help your money earn more money! Opening a bank account online often gets you higher-than-average rates.

How Do Savings Bonds Work?

Savings bonds are issued by the U.S. Treasury. You can buy one for yourself, or for someone else, even if that person is under age 18. (That’s why, when you clean out your closets, you may find a U.S. Savings Bond that was a birthday present from Grandma a long time ago.)

You buy a savings bond for face value, or the principal, and the bond will then pay interest over a specific period of time. Basically, these savings bonds function the same way that other types of bonds work.

• You can buy savings bonds electronically from the U.S. Treasury’s website, TreasuryDirect.gov . For the most part, it’s not possible to buy paper bonds anymore but should you run across one, you can still redeem them. (See below). Unlike many other types of bonds, like some high-yield bonds, you can’t sell savings bonds or hold them in brokerage accounts.

How Much Are Your Savings Bonds Worth?

If you have a savings bond that has been tucked away for a while and you are wondering what it’s worth, here are your options:

• If it’s a paper bond, log onto the Treasury Department’s website and use the calculator there to find out the value.

• If it’s an electronic bond, you will need to create (if you don’t already have one) and log onto your TreasuryDirect account.

Savings Bonds Interest Payments

For U.S. Savings Bonds, interest is earned monthly. The interest is compounded semiannually. This means that every six months, the government will apply the bond’s interest rate to grow the principal. That new, larger principal then earns interest for the next six months, when the interest is again added to the principal, and so on.

3 Different Types of Savings Bonds

There are two types of U.S. Savings Bonds available for purchase — Series EE and Series I savings bonds. Here are the differences between the two.

1. Series EE Bonds

Introduced in 1980, Series EE Bonds earn interest plus a guaranteed return of double their value when held for 20 years. These bonds continue to pay interest for 30 years.

Series EE Bonds issued after May 2005 earn a fixed rate. The current Series EE interest rate for bonds issued as of May 1, 2024 is 2.70%.

2. Series I Bonds

Series I Bonds pay a combination of two rates. The first is the original fixed interest rate. The second is an inflation-adjusted interest rate, which is calculated twice a year using the consumer price index for urban consumers (CPI-U). This adjusted rate is designed to protect bond buyers from inflation eating into the value of the investment.

When you redeem a Series I Bond, you get back the face value plus the accumulated interest. You know the fixed rate when you buy the bond. But the inflation-adjusted rate will vary depending on the CPI-U during times of adjustment.

The current composite rate for Series I Savings Bonds issued as of May 1, 2024 is 4.28%.

3. Municipal Bonds

Municipal bonds are a somewhat different savings vehicle than Series I and Series EE Bonds. Municipal Bonds are issued by a state, municipality, or country to fund capital expenditures. By offering these bonds, projects like highway or school construction can be funded.

These bonds (sometimes called “munis”) are exempt from federal taxes and the majority of local taxes. The market price of bonds will vary with the market, and they typically require a larger investment of, say, $5,000. Municipal bonds are available in different terms, ranging from relatively short (about two to five years) to longer (the typical 30-year length).

How To Buy Bonds

You can buy Series EE and I Savings Bonds directly through the United States Treasury Department online account system called TreasuryDirect, as noted above. This is a little bit different than the way you might buy other types of bonds. You can open an account at TreasuryDirect just as you would a checking or savings account at your local bank.

You can buy either an EE or I Savings Bond in any amount ranging from a $25 minimum in penny increments per year. So, if the spirit moves you, go ahead and buy a bond for $49.99. The flexible increments allow investors to dollar cost average and make other types of calculated purchases.

That said, there are annual maximums on how much you may purchase in savings bonds. The electronic bond maximum is $10,000 for each type. You can buy up to $5,000 in paper Series I Bonds using a tax refund you are eligible for. Paper EE Series bonds are no longer issued.

If you are due a refund and you want to buy I Bonds, be sure to file IRS form 8888 when you file your federal tax return. On that form you’ll specify how much of your refund you want to use to buy paper Series I bonds, keeping in mind the minimum purchase amount for a paper bond is $50. The IRS will then process your return and send you the bond that you indicate you want to buy.

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The Pros & Cons of Investing in Savings Bonds

Here’s a look at the possible benefits and downsides of investing in savings bonds. This will help you decide if buying these bonds is the right path for you, or if you might prefer to otherwise invest your money or stash it in a high-yield bank account.

The Pros of Investing in Savings Bonds

Here are some of the upsides of investing in savings bonds:

• Low risk. U.S. Savings Bonds are one of the lower risk investments you could make. You are guaranteed to get back the entire amount you invested, known as principal. You will also receive interest if you keep the bonds until maturity.

• Tax advantages. Savings bond holders don’t pay state or local taxes on interest at any time. You don’t have to pay federal income tax on the interest until you cash in the bond.

• Education exception. Eligible taxpayers may qualify for a tax break when they use U.S. Savings Bonds to pay for qualified education expenses.

• No fees. Unlike just about every other type of security, you won’t pay a fee, markup or commission when you buy savings bonds. They’re sold at face value, directly from the Treasury, so what you pay for is what you get. If you buy a $50 bond, for example, you’ll pay $50.

• Great gift. Unlike most securities, people under age 18 may hold U.S. Savings bonds in their own names. That’s what makes them a popular birthday and graduation gift.

• Patriotic gesture. Buying a U.S. Savings Bond helps support the U.S. government. That’s something that was important and appealed to investors when these savings bonds were first introduced in 1935.

The Cons of Investing in Savings Bonds

Next, consider these potential downsides of investing in savings bonds:

• Low return. The biggest disadvantage of savings bonds is their low rate of return, as noted above. A low risk investment like this often pays low returns. You may find you can invest your money elsewhere for a higher return with only slightly higher risk.

• Purchase limit. For U.S. Savings Bonds, there’s a purchase limit per year of $10,000 in bonds for each series (meaning you can invest a total of $20,000 per year), plus a $5,000 limit for paper I bonds via tax refunds. For some individuals, this might not align with their investing goals.

• Tax liability. It’s likely you’ll have to pay federal income tax when you cash in your savings bond, unless you’ve used the proceeds for higher education payments.

• Penalty for early withdrawal. If you cash in your savings bond before five years have elapsed, you will have to pay the previous three months of interest as a fee. You are typically not allowed to cash in a bond before the one-year mark.

Here, a summary of the pros and cons of investing in savings bonds:

Pros of Savings Bonds	Cons of Savings Bonds
• Low risk • Education exception • Possible tax advantages • No fees • Great gift • Patriotic gesture	• Low returns • Purchase limit • Possible tax liability • Penalty for early withdrawal

Pros of Savings Bonds

Cons of Savings Bonds

• Low risk

• Education exception

• Possible tax advantages

• No fees

• Great gift

• Patriotic gesture

• Low returns

• Purchase limit

• Possible tax liability

• Penalty for early withdrawal

When Do Savings Bonds Mature?

You may wonder how long it takes for a savings bond to mature. The EE and I savings bonds earn interest for 30 years, until they reach their maturity date.

Recommended: Bonds or CDs: Which Is Smarter for Your Money?

How to Cash in Savings Bonds

You’ll also need to know how and when to redeem a savings bond. These bonds earn interest for 30 years, but you can cash them in penalty-free after five years.

• If you have a paper bond, you can cash it in at your bank or credit union. Bring the bond and your ID. Or go to the Treasury’s TreasuryDirect site for details on how to cash it in.

• For electronic bonds, log into your TreasuryDirect account, click on “confirm redemption,” and follow the instructions to deposit the amount to a linked checking or savings account. You will likely get the money within a few business days.

• If you inherited or found an old U.S. Savings Bond, you may be able to redeem savings bonds through the TreasuryDirect portal or via Treasury Retail Securities Services.

Early Redemption of Bonds

If you cash in a U.S. Savings Bond after one year but before five years, you’ll pay a penalty that is the equivalent of the previous three months of interest. Keep in mind that for EE bonds, if you cash in before holding for 20 years, you lose the opportunity to receive the doubled value of the bond that accrues after 20 years.

The History of US Savings Bonds

America’s savings bond program began under President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1935, during the Great Depression, with what were known as “baby bonds.” This started the tradition of citizens participating in government financing.

The Series E Saving Bond contributed billions of dollars to financing the World War II effort, and in the post-war years, they became a popular savings vehicle. The fact that they are guaranteed by the U.S. government generally makes them a safe place to stash cash and earn interest.

The Takeaway

U.S. Savings Bonds can be one of the safest ways to invest for the future and show your patriotism. While the interest rates are typically low, for some investors, knowing that the money is being securely held for a couple of decades can really enhance their peace of mind.

Another way to help increase your peace of mind and financial well-being is finding the right banking partner for your deposit product needs.

Interested in opening an online bank account? When you sign up for a SoFi Checking and Savings account with direct deposit, you’ll get a competitive annual percentage yield (APY), pay zero account fees, and enjoy an array of rewards, such as access to the Allpoint Network of 55,000+ fee-free ATMs globally. Qualifying accounts can even access their paycheck up to two days early.

Better banking is here with SoFi, NerdWallet’s 2024 winner for Best Checking Account Overall.* Enjoy up to 4.60% APY on SoFi Checking and Savings.

FAQ

What is a $50 savings bond worth?

The value of a $50 savings bond will depend on how long it has been held. You can log onto the TreasuryDirect site and use the calculator there to find out the value. As an example, a $50 Series I bond issued in 2000 would be worth more than $211 today.

How long does it take for a $50 savings bond to mature?

The full maturation date of U.S. savings bonds is 30 years.

What is a savings bond?

A savings bond is a secure way of investing in the U.S. government and earning interest. Basically, when you buy a U.S. Savings Bond, you are loaning the government money, which, upon maturity, they pay back with interest.

Photo credit: iStock/AlexSecret

Third-Party Brand Mentions: No brands, products, or companies mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.

External Websites: The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third-party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement.

Tax Information: This article provides general background information only and is not intended to serve as legal or tax advice or as a substitute for legal counsel. You should consult your own attorney and/or tax advisor if you have a question requiring legal or tax advice.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

SoFi® Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A. ©2023 SoFi Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.

The SoFi Bank Debit Mastercard® is issued by SoFi Bank, N.A., pursuant to license by Mastercard International Incorporated and can be used everywhere Mastercard is accepted. Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.

4.60% APY
SoFi members with direct deposit activity can earn 4.60% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Direct Deposit means a deposit to an account holder’s SoFi Checking or Savings account, including payroll, pension, or government payments (e.g., Social Security), made by the account holder’s employer, payroll or benefits provider or government agency (“Direct Deposit”) via the Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) Network during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Deposits that are not from an employer or government agency, including but not limited to check deposits, peer-to-peer transfers (e.g., transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc.), merchant transactions (e.g., transactions from PayPal, Stripe, Square, etc.), and bank ACH funds transfers and wire transfers from external accounts, do not constitute Direct Deposit activity. There is no minimum Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate.

SoFi members with Qualifying Deposits can earn 4.60% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Qualifying Deposits means one or more deposits that, in the aggregate, are equal to or greater than $5,000 to an account holder’s SoFi Checking and Savings account (“Qualifying Deposits”) during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Qualifying Deposits only include those deposits from the following eligible sources: (i) ACH transfers, (ii) inbound wire transfers, (iii) peer-to-peer transfers (i.e., external transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc. and internal peer-to-peer transfers from a SoFi account belonging to another account holder), (iv) check deposits, (v) instant funding to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, (vi) push payments to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, and (vii) cash deposits. Qualifying Deposits do not include: (i) transfers between an account holder’s Checking account, Savings account, and/or Vaults; (ii) interest payments; (iii) bonuses issued by SoFi Bank or its affiliates; or (iv) credits, reversals, and refunds from SoFi Bank, N.A. (“SoFi Bank”) or from a merchant.

SoFi Bank shall, in its sole discretion, assess each account holder’s Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits throughout each 30-Day Evaluation Period to determine the applicability of rates and may request additional documentation for verification of eligibility. The 30-Day Evaluation Period refers to the “Start Date” and “End Date” set forth on the APY Details page of your account, which comprises a period of 30 calendar days (the “30-Day Evaluation Period”). You can access the APY Details page at any time by logging into your SoFi account on the SoFi mobile app or SoFi website and selecting either (i) Banking > Savings > Current APY or (ii) Banking > Checking > Current APY. Upon receiving a Direct Deposit or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits to your account, you will begin earning 4.60% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% on checking balances on or before the following calendar day. You will continue to earn these APYs for (i) the remainder of the current 30-Day Evaluation Period and through the end of the subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period and (ii) any following 30-day Evaluation Periods during which SoFi Bank determines you to have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits without interruption.

SoFi Bank reserves the right to grant a grace period to account holders following a change in Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits activity before adjusting rates. If SoFi Bank grants you a grace period, the dates for such grace period will be reflected on the APY Details page of your account. If SoFi Bank determines that you did not have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits during the current 30-day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, then you will begin earning the rates earned by account holders without either Direct Deposit or Qualifying Deposits until you have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits in a subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period. For the avoidance of doubt, an account holder with both Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits will earn the rates earned by account holders with Direct Deposit.

Members without either Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits, as determined by SoFi Bank, during a 30-Day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, will earn 1.20% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances.

Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 10/24/2023. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.

*Awards or rankings from NerdWallet are not indicative of future success or results. This award and its ratings are independently determined and awarded by their respective publications.

SOBK-Q224-1865150-V1

Source: sofi.com

Apache is functioning normally

May 17, 2024 by Brett Tams

Did you know that there are many ways to get an instant sign up bonus? Making extra money has become simpler because of many apps and websites that give you instant bonuses just for signing up. These sites and apps give a nice extra money boost when you create an account, and they have different…

Did you know that there are many ways to get an instant sign up bonus?

Making extra money has become simpler because of many apps and websites that give you instant bonuses just for signing up. These sites and apps give a nice extra money boost when you create an account, and they have different rewards like cash, points for gift cards, or discounts.

Whether you’re doing surveys, shopping online, or investing, the bonus you get when you sign up can be a good reason to try out a new service.

I have earned many, many instant sign-up bonuses over the years, so I know this is a real way to make extra money.

Best Ways To Get an Instant Sign up Bonus

Below, you will see the different ways you can get instant sign-up bonuses from the best sign-up bonus apps.

Here are my quick picks to get started with:

1. Swagbucks

Swagbucks is one of the top sites to start with if you want to earn free gift cards to your favorite places, such as Target, Amazon, Walmart, Visa, and more. They also have an instant sign-up bonus of $10.

Swagbucks is a website where you can earn points (they call them “SB”) by doing tasks like searching around on the internet, watching quick videos, using their cash back shopping deals, and answering surveys.

I’ve been using Swagbucks for years, and in that time, I’ve personally earned over 110 free gift cards. It’s easy to earn points, and the website is very easy to use as well.

Here’s how the Swagbucks instant sign-up bonus works: To get the bonus, you need to activate it in the SwagUps section of your account. You’ll receive a 1000 SB bonus, equivalent to $10, when you spend at least $25 at a store listed on Swagbucks.com/Shop. You must earn a minimum of 25 SB from this purchase, and it must be completed within 30 days of registering your account.

Please click here to sign up for and use Swagbucks (and receive a $10 bonus).

2. Fetch Rewards

Fetch Rewards is a phone app (which I use regularly!) where you earn points by scanning receipts from grocery stores. You can use these points to get gift cards for Target, Amazon, Starbucks, and other places.

Plus, you’ll get a 1,000 point sign-up bonus for using the code “HD4YXY” when signing up.

I personally use Fetch Rewards every time I go grocery shopping (I use it at least a couple of times a week), as it’s one of the easiest tools to use to earn points. I just shop like I normally do, and once I get home (or once I get back to my car), I open the Fetch Rewards app on my phone and take a picture of my receipt.

After you scan a receipt using Fetch Rewards, the app quickly adds points to my account. It doesn’t matter what I buy at the grocery store – I can still earn points.

You can sign up for Fetch Rewards by clicking here.

3. Marcus (high yield savings account)

A high-yield bank account is a special type of savings account that earns a higher interest rate compared to a regular savings account. This means your money grows faster over time.

If you are looking for a new place to save your money other than the low amount that your bank is giving you, then this is an option to look into. Now, you don’t typically get a debit card with this kind of account (this is not a checking account), but you do get a much higher interest rate.

For example, if you have $10,000 saved, you could earn $540 with a high-yield savings account in a year. Whereas with normal banks, your earnings would only be $46. That is a huge difference.

I personally use Marcus by Goldman Sachs as they have a very high rate. You can get up to 5.40% (at the time of this writing) through my referral link bonus. Plus, there are no monthly fees.

With Marcus, you can earn an extra 1.00% on top of the high-yield rate on Marcus’ Online Savings Account by signing up today. I actually signed up for Marcus last year and received this sign-up bonus myself, so I know that it is real. An extra 1.00% as an instant sign-up bonus is a no-brainer!

You can join Marcus by Goldman Sachs and get the new account bonus by clicking here.

4. InboxDollars

InboxDollars is a rewards website where you earn points by answering online surveys, watching short video clips, playing online games, and doing other activities.

The points that you earn can be redeemed for gift cards to places such as Amazon, Walmart, Apple, Target, Starbucks, Lowe’s, and more.

You can join InboxDollars and get a free $5 sign-up bonus.

5. Survey Junkie

Survey Junkie is a popular platform where you can earn extra money for sharing your thoughts in online surveys.

By answering three surveys daily on Survey Junkie, you can earn about $40 per month in free gift cards and PayPal cash.

The sign-up bonus on Survey Junkie often changes. Here’s one I recently saw: You’ve been selected for a $5 bonus starting tomorrow called the “May Day Bonus.” To earn this bonus, you need to complete 3 surveys per day for a total of 7 days between May 1 and May 13. Each survey must be worth 20 points or more. On average, members earn $25 in rewards during bonus events like this.

Please click here to sign up for Survey Junkie.

6. Branded Surveys

Branded Surveys is a survey platform where you earn points by answering questions. You can use these points to get free gift cards or PayPal money.

The surveys on Branded Surveys usually take 5 to 15 minutes to finish and pay between $0.50 and $5.00 each.

They currently have a 100 point welcome bonus for signing up.

You can sign up for Branded Surveys here.

7. Upside

Upside is a cash back rewards app for fuel (gas, diesel, etc.) purchases at a gas station.

When you use the app to locate and buy gas at participating stations, you can earn cash back that can be redeemed for gift cards.

Plus, when you use the app for the first time, you can earn a higher cash back amount to help you get acquainted with it. In my first use of the app, I received $0.74 back per gallon. I purchased 12.62 gallons of gas and saved $9.33 just by using the app for the first time. This was a large cash bonus, and it won’t always be this high, but it was definitely still nice to get.

This welcome bonus was really nice and easy to use!

You can sign up for Upside here.

8. Ibotta

Ibotta is an app that gives you cash back for shopping, especially at grocery stores. After you shop, simply upload your receipts to earn cash back. You can use this cash back for free gift cards to places like Walmart, CVS, Amazon, DoorDash, and Target, or you can transfer it to your bank account or PayPal.

Here’s how Ibotta works:

Download the Ibotta app – Get the app on your phone.
Check available offers – Before you shop, look for offers on specific items like crackers or fruit.
Shop and scan – After shopping, scan your receipt in the app to earn points.

Plus, you can use the code “XWRAFGT” to get $5 after you submit your first receipt to Ibotta as a bonus for being a new member.

You can join Ibotta here.

9. Rakuten

Rakuten has an easy way to earn cash back on purchases from over 3,500 stores. When you buy something, a percentage of your purchase comes back to you as cash. Your earnings can be sent to you by check or PayPal.

With Rakuten, you can earn up to an additional 10% cash back on purchases made within your first 7 days of using the service.

When I first signed up for Rakuten, it was due to me receiving a welcome bonus. And, I know many others who have received this new member bonus too.

You can join Rakuten by clicking here.

10. Prime Opinion

Prime Opinion is a survey website where you can earn money by sharing your opinions from home. It’s a legitimate platform with many surveys available to complete – currently, there are over 40 different surveys listed in my personal dashboard when I log in.

Your points can be used toward free gift cards and PayPal cash.

Currently, you can sign up and get up to a $5 free bonus with Prime Opinion.

Click here to join Prime Opinion.

11. MoneyLion

MoneyLion is a finance app that has many features, such as the ability to get quick cash of up to $500, a tool that will help you to build your credit, another that will help you invest, and more.

MoneyLion also has a $5 instant sign-up bonus after you open an account.

12. MyPoints

MyPoints is an app that allows you to earn rewards by scanning receipts, answering surveys, watching videos, and shopping online. You can earn points by scanning your receipts and then redeem them for gift cards or cash.

To get started with MyPoints, visit their website and go to the “Magic Receipts” section. From there, you can snap a picture of any receipt from stores like grocery stores, warehouse clubs, drugstores, clothing stores, restaurants, and more.

When you sign up for MyPoints, you can receive a $10 welcome bonus. Here’s how it works: Spend $20 or more (excluding taxes and shipping) on any shop merchant through the MyPoints site or MyPoints emails within your first 30 days of membership. They’ll credit your account with 1,750 Points, which you can redeem for a $10 gift card of your choice.

Please click here to sign up for MyPoints.

13. InboxDollars

InboxDollars is a rewards platform that has many ways for you to earn points, such as taking surveys (earn between $0.50 and $5.00 for each one), reading emails, playing online games, and watching videos.

With InboxDollars, you can receive free gift cards to places like Target, Amazon, PayPal, iTunes, Apple, and many others.

Plus, you can get a $5 sign-up bonus when joining.

By signing up for InboxDollars, you can receive a free $5 too.

14. Cash App

Cash App is a mobile payment service that allows you to send money to friends and family. When you sign up for Cash App, you might receive an instant sign-up bonus too.

You’ll have to find a referral code from a friend who already uses Cash App. Then, sign up using this code and send $5 to another Cash App user. By doing this, you’ll receive a $5 bonus. It’s like getting free money just for trying out the app that you probably are already looking to use.

15. BeFrugal

BeFrugal is a cash back site that lets you earn money just by doing your regular shopping.

You can get up to 40% cash back at over 5,000 different stores. And, your cash payout is via check, PayPal, direct deposit, Zelle, Venmo, or gift card.

Plus, you can join for free and get a $10 bonus as a welcome.

You can sign up for BeFrugal here.

16. Fundrise

Investing in real estate can seem challenging, but with Fundrise, you can start a little more easily. When you join Fundrise, you can invest in properties across the USA without the hassle of being a landlord.

Plus, you can begin with a small amount of money.

When you sign up with Fundrise, you sometimes get a bonus.

You can sign up for Fundrise here.

17. Robinhood

Robinhood is a website where people can buy and sell stocks, ETFs, options, and more (like crypto) without having to pay high fees. This app was made to help more people start investing easily and have an investment portfolio, especially those who are new to it.

Robinhood gives new users different sign-up bonuses to get them started with trading in the stock market.

The bonus varies depending on when you sign up. But, some examples include:

$25 when you deposit $1,000+
$250 when you deposit $10,000+
$1,000 when you deposit $50,000+

Or, sometimes you can earn a bonus by moving your brokerage account from another company to Robinhood. Whether you transfer $10,000 or $1 million, they’ll give you a bonus equal to 1% of the amount you transfer, and there’s no limit on how much you can earn (Robinhood states this disclosure, “To keep the bonus, you must keep the money you transfer into Robinhood in your Robinhood individual brokerage account for at least 2 years.”).

18. Acorns

Acorns is a micro-investment app, meaning you can buy small pieces of stocks instead of full shares, which makes investing easier.

With Acorns, you can connect your debit and credit cards. It rounds up your transactions to the nearest dollar and invests the spare change.

Acorns typically gives a $5 welcome bonus to new users.

You can click here to sign up for Acorns.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are answers to common questions about the best sites and apps for an instant sign-up bonus.

Do any apps actually give you money?

Yes, some apps do give you real money just for signing up. These apps range from survey platforms to financial services, and they use sign-up bonuses to get more people to sign up and try out their service or product.

What app gives you money instantly for signing up?

Apps that give you money instantly for signing up include Fetch Rewards, Swagbucks, Rakuten, Upside, Cash App, and more. Many apps pay you money to sign up because it makes their app look more appealing.

Which app gives the highest sign up bonus?

While sign-up bonuses change all the time, financial apps tend to have higher sign-up bonuses for new users.

Why do sites give a sign up bonus?

Sites give a sign-up bonus to encourage new users to join their site or app. It’s a marketing strategy that benefits both the company and you – they gain a new customer, and you get extra cash or rewards.

Do banks have sign up bonuses?

Yes, banks like Wells Fargo and Chase sometimes have sign-up bonuses for new members who have a qualifying direct deposit.

How To Get an Instant Sign up Bonus

I hope you enjoyed this article on the best ways to get an instant sign-up bonus.

Certain apps like Swagbucks and Cash App give you instant cash bonuses, while others like Fetch Rewards or BeFrugal reward you with points or cash back when you use their platforms for shopping. Investment apps like Fundrise or Acorns also have sign-up rewards, such as a free stock or investment credit.

Here’s a quick list of my favorite ways to get an instant sign-up bonus:

I have earned many instant sign-up bonuses over the years from many different apps and sites, so I know that this is real. While the sign-up bonuses won’t make you rich, they can be enticing and get you to try something new.

What is your favorite way to get an instant sign up bonus?

Recommended reading:

Source: makingsenseofcents.com

Apache is functioning normally

May 15, 2024 by Brett Tams

Do you want to find ways to get free Walmart gift cards? Yes, you can get free Walmart gift cards and make some extra money for this popular store. Walmart gift cards are a convenient way to handle your shopping budget, give gifts, or treat yourself. You might be surprised to learn that there are…

Do you want to find ways to get free Walmart gift cards?

Yes, you can get free Walmart gift cards and make some extra money for this popular store.

Walmart gift cards are a convenient way to handle your shopping budget, give gifts, or treat yourself. You might be surprised to learn that there are ways to get these gift cards without paying for them. By joining rewards programs, taking surveys, or using trade-in services, you can earn points that can be redeemed for free gift cards to Walmart.

Before you think this isn’t real, let me tell you – I’ve earned over 110 free gift cards myself. It feels great to use a free gift card to get something I want.

How To Get Free Walmart Gift Cards

Here is a quick list of places to get free Walmart gift cards to get started with:

Below is more information on each method to get free Walmart gift cards.

This is a screenshot I took a couple of years ago of the free gift cards that I’ve earned from Swagbucks as proof. As you can see, it says I’ve earned 109 gift cards over the years! I mainly redeem for free Walmart gift cards, but you can do Starbucks just as easily too.

1. Swagbucks

Swagbucks is a great website to start with if you want to earn free gift cards to places like Walmart.

On Swagbucks, you can earn points (called “SB”) by doing tasks like answering surveys, playing games (like Candy Crush!), downloading apps, searching something on their search engine, and watching videos. Just sign up, fill out your profile, and start earning points to redeem for a free Walmart eGift Card code.

I’ve been using Swagbucks for years, and during that time, I’ve earned over 110 free gift cards myself. Earning points is easy, and the website is very user-friendly.

You can redeem your points for anywhere from a free $5 Walmart gift card to $500 at a time on Swagbucks.

2. Fetch Rewards

Fetch Rewards is an app for your phone (which I personally use at least once a week!) where you earn points by scanning receipts from grocery stores (any grocery store!). You can use these points to redeem Walmart gift cards.

You get points for every receipt no matter what, but you can earn more points if you buy specific items that they feature in their app. These include points for General Mills products (such as cereal), points for Tostitos chips, points for dog treats, and more.

Personally, I don’t really keep track of what I can earn extra points with – I just shop like I normally do and scan each and every receipt.

Fetch Rewards is one of my favorite ways to earn free gift cards as I don’t have to do much to get points. I just shop how I normally do, scan my receipt with my phone (I am literally just taking a picture of my receipt), and then I get points. You get points for every single grocery receipt too.

3. Sign up for the Walmart Rewards program

Walmart Cash is a rewards program for Walmart customers. You earn Walmart Cash by claiming offers on Walmart.com or in the Walmart app. Then, you can use your Walmart Cash for future purchases in-store or online.

Here’s an example of how it works:

If you want to use Walmart Cash in store:

Step 1 – Open your Walmart app and log in.
Step 2 – At the register, use the app to scan the QR code displayed there.
Step 3 – Choose “Use Walmart Cash” to turn your balance into a Walmart eGift Card and use it to reduce your bill.

It’s easy to use, but surprisingly, many people do not know about this rewards program.

4. Upside

Upside is an app that will help you get cash back for your fuel purchases (yes, from when you go to the gas station!). With Upside, you can get around $150 per year in estimated cash back.

Plus, the first time you use the app, you can get a higher amount of cash back in order to get you used to the platform. For my first time using this app, I was able to get $0.74 back per gallon. I bought 12.62 gallons, which means I saved $9.33 all by just using this app for the first time.

Not all gas stations are included in the Upside app, but you can earn rewards by choosing from the listed stations within the app. There are several gas stations that qualify near me, so I’m sure there are some that you go to as well.

This app does require you to select the gas station in the Upside app before you actually pump the fuel into your car, so this is an important step.

Then, you earn rewards that can be redeemed for free Walmart gift cards.

You can sign up for Upside here.

5. American Consumer Opinion

American Consumer Opinion is a company that pays people to share their opinions through surveys.

It’s free to join American Consumer Opinion, and surveys usually pay around $1 to $5 each. Once you reach a certain amount, you can redeem your earnings for free Walmart gift cards (or other rewards like PayPal cash).

Click here to join American Consumer Opinion.

6. Survey Junkie

Survey Junkie is a popular website where you can earn free Walmart gift cards by taking surveys online in your spare time. Answering three surveys a day on Survey Junkie can get you about $40 worth of Walmart gift cards each month.

Please click here to sign up for Survey Junkie.

7. Branded Surveys

Branded Surveys lets you earn points by answering questions in surveys. You can use these points to get free Walmart gift cards. Surveys take 5 to 15 minutes and pay between $0.50 and $5.00 each.

Click here to join Branded Surveys.

8. PrizeRebel

PrizeRebel is a website where you earn points by doing tasks like surveys and watching videos. You can use these points to get free Walmart gift cards.

I logged in last week and I had enough points for around $150 in free gift cards. I redeemed them all at once, and it is definitely some nice extra spending money!

Click here to sign up for PrizeRebel.

9. PayPal Honey

PayPal Honey is a free browser extension that automatically finds and applies coupon codes and promo codes when you shop online. By using it, you earn points that can be redeemed for extra money.

Here’s how it works:

Shop online as you normally would.
At checkout, Honey will find and apply the best coupon codes for you.

10. Ibotta

Ibotta is an app that gives you cash back for shopping, such as at grocery stores. After you shop, simply upload your receipts to earn cash back that you can use for free Walmart gift cards.

Here’s a quick summary of how you use Ibotta:

Download the Ibotta app.
Check to see what the available offers are before you go to the grocery store (such as Honey Nut Cheerios or oranges).
Take a picture of your grocery receipt using your phone with the Ibotta app.

Some of the offers I see when in the app, so that you can get a better idea, include:

$1.00 cash back for buying General Mills cereal (such as Honey Nut Cheerios)
$0.50 cash back for buying mandarin oranges
$1.00 cash back for buying Starbucks Cold Brew
$5.00 cash back for buying Colgate toothbrushes

And so much more.

You need at least $20 in earnings for a free Walmart gift card. You can also redeem your points for many other gift cards, as well as PayPal cash or even a deposit straight to your bank account.

You may be wondering how Fetch Rewards and Ibotta differ. They are very similar and I use both. For me, I use Fetch Rewards and Ibotta at the same time for the same receipts. It’s a way to get even more points for doing something very similar.

You can join Ibotta here.

11. Rakuten

Rakuten lets you earn cash back on purchases from over 3,500 stores, such as Walmart, Target, Best Buy, Sephora, Old Navy, Chewy, Nike, and more.

When you buy something, you get a percentage of your purchase back in cash. You can receive your earnings through check or PayPal once a quarter.

While Rakuten doesn’t directly provide free Walmart gift cards, you can use the cash you earn from Rakuten for shopping at other stores like Walmart.

You can sign up for Rakuten for free here.

12. Find Walmart gift card giveaways

If you’re looking to get free Walmart gift cards, entering sweepstakes and giveaways can be a fun way to give it a shot.

To earn free Walmart gift cards through giveaways, you can:

Follow brands on social media like Instagram. Many companies host giveaways where you can win gift cards. Keep an eye out for their posts or stories announcing these giveaways.
Search hashtags like #freewalmart, #giveaway, #giveawayalert, #contest, and #freebie on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to find Walmart gift card giveaways.
Subscribe to online sweepstakes websites that list current giveaways to find opportunities to win Walmart gift cards.

Now, of course, entering giveaways isn’t a guaranteed way to get free Walmart gift card codes, but it doesn’t take a lot of time. I have personally entered giveaways through all of these methods (I used to spend probably an hour a week entering giveaways, haha!), and I have actually won quite a few things from free gift cards to cash, household goods, and more.

13. Prime Opinion

Prime Opinion is a survey website where you can earn money by sharing your opinions from home. They have many, many available surveys to complete, so there is a good chance that you can earn enough for regular free Walmart gift cards.

You need $5 in your account to redeem your points for Walmart gift codes on Prime Opinion.

Please click here to join Prime Opinion and get up to a $5 free bonus.

14. InboxDollars

InboxDollars is a rewards site where you earn points by answering online surveys, playing games, signing up for their shopping offers, and more. Then, you can use your points to get free Walmart gift cards.

You can join InboxDollars and get a free $5 sign-up bonus.

15. Walmart’s trade-in program

Walmart’s trade-in program is for you if you have electronics that you no longer need. You simply go to the Walmart trade-in website and select the type of device you have from options like phones, tablets, game consoles, and more.

Then, just answer some questions about your item’s condition and specifications.

After that, you will see an offer for your item. If you agree with the offer, then you’ll get a Walmart eGift Card.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are answers to common questions about how to get free Walmart gift cards.

How can I get a Walmart gift card without paying?

You can get free Walmart gift cards without paying by answering surveys, trading in your old electronics, joining the Walmart rewards program, and getting cash back at places like the gas station.

How do I know if a Walmart gift card promotion is real?

To verify if a Walmart gift card promotion is legitimate, you can always check the official Walmart website, contact their customer service directly, or search on the FTC’s website to see if anything pops up.

If it’s an app that you are wanting to sign up for, you can look for their reviews, such as on Trustpilot to see what real people like you and me think about the app. There are scams out there, so you will want to stay safe and prevent fraud from happening to you. If something sounds too good to be true, then it may be best to just skip it!

Can you really get a Walmart gift card worth $100 or more for free?

Yes, there are ways to get a free $100 Walmart gift card. Many of the sites and apps above can allow you to earn enough points to get free Walmart gift card codes. For me, I actually just redeemed $150 in free digital gift card codes at once, so I know that it is a real thing. I like to save my points up so that I have a large amount in gift cards to redeem at once, and then I can put it toward a larger purchase.

Can I use Walmart gift cards at Sam’s Club?

Yes, Walmart eGift Cards can be used at Walmart.com and in Walmart stores. Sam’s Club members can also use them in-store or at Samsclub.com.

Best Ways To Get Free Walmart Gift Cards

I hope you enjoyed this article on how to get free Walmart gift cards.

There are many ways to earn free Walmart gift cards, as discussed above. From answering online surveys to uploading photos of your grocery receipts and using cash back sites, you can save money at Walmart by earning and using Walmart gift cards.

Plus, the gift cards can be used at both local Walmart stores and online, so you can get what you need and when you need it.

Walmart has low prices, but now you can save even more money.

Have you ever received a free Walmart gift card?

Recommended reading:

Source: makingsenseofcents.com

Apache is functioning normally

May 15, 2024 by Brett Tams

Everybody loves a relaxing vacation, but the chaotic nature of an airport terminal can induce anxiety in even the most zen of travelers. Loudspeaker announcements, beeping golf carts and crying children create a cacophony — wouldn’t it be nice to wait for your flight in a peaceful environment instead? Enter airport lounges.

Hanging out in an airport lounge before a trip or on a long layover can enhance your travel experience by a mile. And these havens aren’t just for those flying in fancy cabins.

What are airport lounges?

Airport lounges are quiet areas inside the terminal where passengers can relax before a flight or during a layover, eat snacks, work using the lounge’s Wi-Fi network, and sometimes even shower. Typically only paying members, passengers flying in business or first class, or cardholders of certain travel cards are allowed access. Here’s how to get in to airport lounges.

How to get in to airport lounges

There are six ways to get access to airport lounges.

1. Fly in a premium cabin

One of the most reliable ways to get airport lounge access is to fly in first or business class (typically on international routes and select transcontinental flights). This may sound like an expensive way to access a lounge, but if you purchase your flight with airline miles, your ticket still grants you entry to a lounge — either the one for your carrier or for one of its partners.

2. Reach elite status with an airline loyalty program

Frequent flyers are typically rewarded for their loyalty, and if you fly enough with one carrier or multiple carriers in the same alliance, you can enter airline lounges when flying on select routes.

For example, Executive Platinum, Platinum Pro or Platinum elite members of the American Airlines AAdvantage program can enter an Admirals Club on departure or arrival on qualifying international flights operated by American or Oneworld partners, even if they fly economy — and they can bring one guest with them.

Additionally, if you reach status with an alliance, which usually requires earning status with a specific airline, you’re able to get free airport lounge access when flying on a member airline.

3. Purchase a day pass

Another option for accessing an airport lounge is to pay for it.

United Airlines sells one-time passes that allow you to enter a United Club a single time, either before your flight or on a layover. Alaska Airlines also sells single-entry passes to passengers wishing to enter an Alaska Lounge. American Airlines sells day passes that are valid for 24 hours and allow you to enter multiple Admirals Clubs within that period.

Here’s how much airline lounge access will cost you with the following carriers:

Alaska — $60.
American — $79 or 7,900 AAdvantage miles.
United — $59.

Delta Air Lines no longer sells single-visit passes to Delta Sky Clubs, and annual membership is available to Medallion members only, meaning holding certain credit cards is the only way to access Delta lounges for general SkyMiles members (more on that later).

4. Purchase an annual membership

If you’re a frequent traveler, buying an annual lounge membership instead of repeatedly buying day passes can make sense. Of course, the value will depend on how often you fly with that specific airline.

Let’s take a look at how much an annual airline lounge membership will cost for individual, non-elite status flyers.

Alaska — $550.
American — $850 or 85,000 AAdvantage miles.
Delta — $695 or 69,500 SkyMiles.
United — $650 or 85,000 MileagePlus miles.

So, for example, if you’re going to fly round-trip with United six times in a year (12 individual flights), buying a day pass to the lounge each time would cost you $708 total ($59 x 12); an annual membership at $650 would be a better deal.

5. Present your military ID

Sometimes, being a military member can get you access to airport lounges. For example, the USO airport lounges are designed for active-duty service members and their families who are stationed around the globe.

Additionally, some airline lounges, like Admirals Clubs, offer complimentary access to U.S. military personnel in uniform traveling on American Airlines flights. United also provides complimentary access to U.S. military personnel at its United Club locations.

6. Open a credit card with airport lounge access

Many premium cards on the market offer some kind of lounge access to cardmembers. Premium co-branded airline cards typically offer access to the respective airlines’ lounges, and bank cards typically offer access to their own lounges and to lounges in the Priority Pass network.

Travel cards that give you lounge access

Let’s take a look at some of the best credit cards with lounge access.

Co-branded airline credit cards

Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®

By paying the $595 annual fee for the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®, you get access to the Admirals Club without having to pay the annual membership (a $255 savings), plus you get all of the other cardmember perks.

Standout perks include getting the first checked bag free for up to nine passengers booked on the same reservation, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit of up to $100 every four years, a 25% savings on in-flight purchases, and the opportunity to earn AAdvantage miles on purchases made with the card.

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card offers access to Delta Sky Clubs for primary cardmembers and holders of four annual one-time guest passes (in conjunction with a same-day Delta ticket). As of Feb. 1, 2025, Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card holders will get a total of 15 Sky Club Passes per year. Terms apply.

Additionally, the card offers access to The Centurion Lounges by American Express, but access comes with restrictions. First, you must be flying that day with Delta, and second, you must have paid for the flight with an American Express card. A cardmember may bring up to two guests to The Centurion Lounges for $50 per person ($30 per child ages 2-17). Terms apply.

United Club℠ Infinite Card

The United Club℠ Infinite Card is a premium co-branded United card that comes with United Club membership for the primary cardholder and eligible guests (two adult guests, or one adult and dependent children under the age of 21).

You must be flying United or a Star Alliance partner to access United Clubs.

United Club℠ Infinite Card

NerdWallet Rating

Annual fee

$525

General travel cards

The Platinum Card® from American Express

As a cardmember, you can access the following airport lounges:

Airspace Lounge.
Delta Sky Club (when flying Delta).
Escape Lounge.
Lufthansa Business Lounge (regardless of ticket class when flying with Lufthansa, Swiss International Air Lines or Austrian Airlines).
Lufthansa Senator Lounge (when flying business class with Lufthansa, Swiss International Air Lines or Austrian Airlines).
Plaza Premium Lounge.
Priority Pass Select (enrollment required).
The Centurion Lounge.

As of Feb. 1, 2025, Sky Club access for The Platinum Card® from American Express members will be reduced to 10 visits per year, unless your yearly purchases on the card total $75,000 or more. And if you do spend that much on The Platinum Card® from American Express, you’ll receive complimentary access for up to two guests to Centurion Lounges. Otherwise, the Centurion Lounges charge a guest fee of $50 per adult and $30 per child ages 2-17. Terms apply.

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

When it comes to free airport lounge access, travelers who hold the Chase Sapphire Reserve® card have fewer options than those who hold other cards, but there are still a couple of options. With this credit card, you can enter the following lounges at no extra cost:

Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club.
Priority Pass Select.

Although only four Chase Sapphire Airport Lounges are currently open, the network is expanding. To gain access to these lounges, you must activate your Priority Pass Select membership, which includes access to more than 1,500 airport lounges around the world. Up to two guests are allowed for free.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Capital One Lounge.
Plaza Premium Lounge.
Priority Pass Select lounges.

Capital One Lounge locations are at just a few U.S. airports at the moment. Primary cardholders have unlimited access and can bring up to two guests. Entry for additional guests costs $45 each.

How the cards compare

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

on Chase’s website

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Annual fee

Welcome offer

Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply.

Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $1,125 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

Still not sure?

Which banks offer airport lounge access?

Several banks offer card options with airport lounge access. If you’re looking for a card that includes lounge access as one of the benefits, consider the following credit card issuers.

American Express

As mentioned, The Platinum Card® from American Express offers lots of lounge options for travelers seeking some peace and quiet. However, if you don’t want to pay a high annual fee, we recommend the American Express® Green Card. It comes with an up-to-$100 statement credit for LoungeBuddy purchases. Terms apply.

LoungeBuddy, a lounge booking platform, sells limited-time access to select lounges in airports around the world. Depending on the airport, you might be able to get a couple of one-times passes with your annual credit.

Capital One

Capital One offers lounge access with its premium Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card. Cardholders receive complimentary Priority Pass Select membership, Plaza Premium Lounge access, and unlimited access to Capital One’s own Capital One Lounges.

Chase

For general travelers, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® card is going to offer the most convenient lounge access with its Priority Pass Select membership and access to the Chase Sapphire Lounges.

United flyers will find what they need with co-branded United cards. As we’ve discussed, the United Club℠ Infinite Card offers unlimited United Club access to primary cardholders, but if you’re a casual traveler, the United℠ Explorer Card will do the job. It comes with two one-time United Club passes every card membership year, so you can use it twice or enter once with a guest.

United℠ Explorer Card

NerdWallet Rating

Annual fee

$0 intro for the first year, then $95

Citibank

Though the Citi Prestige® Card is no longer open for new applications, those who currently hold it can take advantage of Priority Pass Select perks.

American Airlines flyers will enjoy unlimited Admirals Club access with the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®.

U.S. Bank

How to get airport lounge access recapped

Leave the crowded gates behind you and head to an airport lounge to wait out the layover. There are many ways to gain entry, even for passengers sitting in economy cabins — and you might be able to treat your travel companions to some peace and quiet as well.

Credit card memberships, elite status and lounge passes can transport you from a chaotic airport terminal to a serene lounge, making your next connection less stressful.

To view rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, see this page.

To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, see this page.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024, including those best for:

Source: nerdwallet.com

Apache is functioning normally

May 15, 2024 by Brett Tams

Holding company Better Home & Finance hired Chad Smith to be the president and chief operating officer of its mortgage business, it announced on Friday. Kevin Ryan, who previously held the position of president, will continue serving the company as chief financial officer.

Before joining Better, industry veteran Smith was the CEO of Mission Loans from December 2020 to May 2024. As of Friday, the online lender had 43 sponsored loan officers and eight active branches, per the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System (NMLS). Meanwhile, Better had 227 sponsored LOs and seven branches, the NMLS shows.

Prior to Mission, Smith held the position of executive vice president for consumer direct and portfolio retention at Caliber Home Loans, a mortgage lender acquired by Newrez in 2021.

Better’s board of directors appointed Smith on May 8. According to filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the executive will receive an annual base salary of $1 million, a minimum performance bonus of $500,000 for the first year of employment, and an annual target bonus opportunity equal to 100% of his base salary.

Smith will also be granted stock units. Better stock closed at $0.43 on Friday, up 3.37% from the previous day. The company went public in August 2023 via a partnership with the special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) Aurora Acquisition Corp, ending a two-year journey.

The deal unlocked $565 million of fresh capital for a company that has narrowed its losses. Better posted a GAAP net loss of $59.5 million in fourth-quarter 2023, down from a loss of $339.4 million in the previous quarter. In Q4 2023, Better generated a funded volume of $527 million across 1,633 loans.

Founder Vishal Garg told HousingWire in February that the company was hiring loan officers, processors and underwriters, and more recently, changing its compensation structure.

“The loan officers we’ve been hiring are industry experts that we’ve been bringing onto our platform, rather than the traditional noncommissioned loan officers that we used to hire in the past and who used to be usually people who had never worked in the industry,” Garg said.

In April, a former top executive voluntarily dismissed with prejudice a lawsuit filed about two years ago against the company and some of its leaders, including claims that they violated labor and securities laws.

Source: housingwire.com

Apache is functioning normally

May 13, 2024 by Brett Tams

Do you want to learn how to get free PayPal money? Yes, there are actually many ways to get cash straight in your own PayPal account. Receiving PayPal cash for the extra income you make is great because PayPal cash can be used for almost all online shopping. If you want to increase your budget…

Do you want to learn how to get free PayPal money?

Yes, there are actually many ways to get cash straight in your own PayPal account.

Receiving PayPal cash for the extra income you make is great because PayPal cash can be used for almost all online shopping.

If you want to increase your budget without working extra hours, earning free PayPal money could be the solution. Many legitimate platforms offer tasks like surveys, watching videos, or trying new apps in exchange for cash directly deposited into your PayPal account.

I have personally used many of the apps below on a regular basis and have earned a lot of free PayPal money over the years.

Recommended reading: How To Get $20 PayPal Now

How To Get Free PayPal Money

Here are some places where you can start earning free PayPal money:

Below is more detailed information about each method for getting free PayPal cash in your PayPal account.

Here’s a screenshot of how you can redeem your points for free PayPal money on Swagbucks.

1. Swagbucks

Swagbucks is a well-known rewards website that gives you PayPal cash as a reward. It has been downloaded over 5 million times and has paid out over $500 million in rewards.

On Swagbucks, you can earn points called “SB” by answering surveys, getting cash back when you shop through their platform, and watching short videos.

With the points you earn on Swagbucks, you can put money directly into your PayPal account. You can redeem your points starting at $5 (this is 500 points) all the way up to $250 (25,000 points).

I began using Swagbucks about 10 years ago, and since then, I’ve earned over 110 free gift cards for myself, including a lot of PayPal cash. I don’t spend a lot of time on it – just every now and then.

2. User Interviews

User Interviews is a company that pays for online studies. These are more in depth than paid online surveys, and you can earn around $50 to $100 per hour or more for sharing your opinions and feedback.

They launch over 2,000 studies monthly, and they have paid over 85,000 people in the last year.

These are typically completed over the phone or in a video call where an interviewer is asking you questions.

The average study pays over $60. When you participate in User Interviews, you can receive payments in various forms such as cash, a check, PayPal, Amazon gift cards, Visa gift cards, and more.

You can click here to sign up for User Interviews.

Recommended reading: User Interviews Review – Make $50 To $100 An Hour Sharing Your Opinion

3. KashKick

KashKick is a rewards platform where you can get rewards for doing things like answering questions and playing games online. You can then turn these rewards into free PayPal money.

They have games like Monopoly GO, Yahtzee, Bingo Blitz, Scrabble Go, and others where you can earn $100 or more per game.

You need just $10 to cash out.

4. Ibotta

Ibotta is an app that gives you money back when you buy groceries. Just upload your receipts after you shop to earn cash that you can use as free PayPal cash.

Here’s how Ibotta works:

Browse offers – Check the Ibotta app to see what cash back offers are available before you go shopping (like for granola bars or toothpaste).
Shop in store – Go to the store and make your purchases.
Upload your receipt – Take a picture of your grocery receipt using the Ibotta app on your phone to earn cash back.

Some examples of the cash back you might be able to earn include: $0.50 cash back for buying body wash, $3.00 cash back for buying laundry detergent, and $1.00 cash back for buying cereal.

You need $20.00 to cash out to PayPal in the Ibotta app.

You can join Ibotta here.

5. Upside

Upside is an app that gives you cash back when you buy gas at certain gas stations. You can earn about $150 per year in cash back. Not all gas stations nearby are part of the app, but many are, so you’ll likely find some that qualify near you.

When you use the app for the first time, you can get a higher cash back amount to help you get familiar with it. In my first experience with the app, I received $0.74 back per gallon. I bought 12.62 gallons of gas and saved $9.33 just by using the app for the first time. It’s super easy and was a no-brainer to use.

Getting cash back on your gas is nice, especially with how expensive gas is these days!

To complete a PayPal cash-out on Upside, you need just $1.00 in your account.

You can sign up for Upside here.

6. Sell your old phones on Decluttr

Decluttr is a website where you can sell your old phones, CDs, DVDs, books, video game consoles, and more. It’s one of the most popular places to buy and sell electronics and tech items because they pay well and quickly.

Here’s how Decluttr works:

Open the Decluttr app and get a free valuation for the items you want to sell. It takes just a few moments to see what your item is worth.
Tell them the make, model, and condition of what you are selling. If you’re selling DVDs, CDs, or games, then you just enter your barcode or take a picture of the barcode with the Decluttr cell phone app.
If you’re satisfied with the offer for your item from Decluttr, just find a box that will keep it safe during shipping. Pack the item in the box, and Decluttr will provide a free shipping label. Simply print out the label and tape it to your box to send it off.
Finally, once Decluttr receives and checks your item, you’ll get paid the next day through direct deposit to your bank account or PayPal.

You can check out Decluttr here.

7. American Consumer Opinion

American Consumer Opinion is a site where you can take online surveys and earn points.

Their surveys pay around $1 to $5 each and once you earn enough points, you can redeem them for free PayPal money.

You need at least 1,000 points before you can withdraw and get free PayPal cash.

Click here to join American Consumer Opinion.

8. Survey Junkie

Survey Junkie is a paid online survey site where you can earn free PayPal cash for answering paid online surveys.

You can earn around $40 in free PayPal cash each month by completing around three short surveys each day.

You can redeem your points for free PayPal money starting at just $5 or 500 points.

Please click here to sign up for Survey Junkie.

9. Branded Surveys

Branded Surveys rewards you with points for answering survey questions. Surveys typically take 5 to 15 minutes and pay between $0.50 and $5.00 each. You can redeem these points for free PayPal cash.

You might have noticed there are several survey sites listed here. Companies pay you to answer questions because they want to improve their products and advertising. By understanding more about you, they can make better decisions. The best part is that these surveys are simple to answer, and you can join as many survey sites as you like.

You can click here to join Branded Surveys for free.

10. PrizeRebel

PrizeRebel is a website where you earn points by taking surveys, watching videos, and referring new members. You can redeem these points for free PayPal cash.

Just a few days ago I logged in to PrizeRebel, and I realized that I had enough points for around $150 in free PayPal cash. I redeemed them all at once, and now I have some nice extra spending money!

On PrizeRebel, you can get free $5 PayPal cash for 500 points. You can also choose any custom amount to redeem as well in PayPal cash.

Click here to sign up for PrizeRebel.

11. PayPal Honey

PayPal Honey is a free browser extension that automatically finds and applies coupon codes for you when you shop online. By using it, you earn points that you can redeem for extra money.

You can redeem your points for cash, gift cards, or free PayPal shopping credits.

12. Rakuten

Rakuten lets you earn cash back on your everyday purchases from over 3,500 stores like Target, Walmart, Lululemon, Macy’s, Lowe’s, and Best Buy. When you make a purchase, you get a percentage of your spending back in cash.

When you shop through Rakuten, you get cash back as a percentage of what you spend. For example, if a store offers 5% cash back and you spend $200 there, you’d earn $10.00 in rewards in your Rakuten account.

You can receive your earnings via a check or PayPal once every quarter.

I have received over $1,000 in PayPal cash from Rakuten over the years. It’s a no-brainer if you want to easily save money when shopping online.

You can sign up for a free account on Rakuten here.

13. Find free PayPal money giveaways

If you’re looking to earn free PayPal money, entering sweepstakes and giveaways can be a fun way to try your luck. Companies host giveaways to attract new followers and keep existing followers and customers excited about their brand.

You can find free PayPal money giveaways by searching and/or following related hashtags on social media, such as #freepaypalmoney, #giveaway, #giveawayalert, and #freebie.

You can also follow online sweepstakes websites that list current giveaways.

Entering giveaways doesn’t guarantee free PayPal cash since they’re contests, but it’s quick and easy. I used to spend about an hour a week entering giveaways and have won gift cards and cash prizes.

14. Honeygain

The Honeygain app pays you up to $30 a month to share your internet connection with companies that use it as a tower.

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

Please click here to sign up for the Honeygain app.

Here’s a screenshot of how you can redeem your points for free PayPal money on Prime Opinion.

15. Prime Opinion

If you want to learn how to get free money on PayPal, then Prime Opinion makes that possible with easy minimum threshold payout amounts to reach. You can get free PayPal cash starting at just 500 points, which is $5.

Prime Opinion is a survey website where you can earn money by sharing your opinions from home. They have lots of surveys available, and when I logged in recently, I had almost 50 surveys that I could take right away.

Please click here to join Prime Opinion and get up to a $5 free bonus.

16. Five Surveys

Five Surveys is a market research company that pays you to complete surveys. You just need to complete five surveys and then you can earn $5.

I signed up for Five Surveys myself to test it out for you. One thing I really like about Five Surveys is the number of available surveys. On the first day, there were 42 surveys I could start with, and more are being added all the time.

To withdraw from your Five Surveys account, just choose your preferred method. Options include PayPal cash, bank transfer, Venmo, and gift cards.

Please click here to sign up for Five Surveys.

17. Dosh

Dosh is a quick and simple app that automatically gives you cash back when you shop at certain stores like Costco, Sam’s Club, AT&T, American Eagle, and over 10,000 other companies.

Just link your debit or credit card (or even your Venmo or bank account) to the app, and everything else is handled for you. When you shop and pay with your linked card, you’ll automatically receive cash back into your Dosh account, which you can then transfer to your bank or PayPal account.

Once you accumulate $15 in your Dosh account (this is the minimum payout threshold), you can transfer it to your bank, PayPal, or Venmo. Alternatively, you can choose to donate your cash back to charity.

Recommended reading: 14 Best Apps To Scan Receipts for Money

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are answers to common questions about how to get free PayPal money.

How do I get money from PayPal for free?

You can earn free money on PayPal by completing online surveys, watching videos, selling your old stuff, and getting cash back when shopping online.

How do gamers receive PayPal funds by playing online games?

Apps like KashKick will pay you in points to play their online games. The points that you earn can then be redeemed for free PayPal funds straight in your personal PayPal account. YouTubers can also get paid to play online games and stream what they are doing.

What methods are available to secure a quick $10 on PayPal?

You can quickly earn $10 on PayPal by completing tasks such as taking surveys, reading emails, or shopping online through websites like Rakuten. These sites allow you to cash out once you reach a minimum amount. You can also become a freelancer on Fiverr and get paid in PayPal cash for hard or simple tasks. This wouldn’t be free money because you would have to work for it, but it is another option.

How do I check my PayPal balance?

To check your PayPal balance, you will have to log in to your PayPal account. Right after you log in, your PayPal balance will be listed for you to easily see.

Can you get PayPal money right away?

Some platforms may pay instant payouts to your PayPal account, while others may have a processing time or a minimum threshold before you can cash out. Always check the payout terms of the website or app you’re using to understand how and when you can access your earnings. Sometimes, it may take a couple of days before it lands in your personal PayPal account.

If you really need money right away, then another option may be to ask someone that you know for help or to ask for donations.

Best Ways To Get Free PayPal Money

I hope you enjoyed this article on how to get free money on PayPal.

Getting free PayPal money is great because it is just like extra cash. You can pay for your online purchases with it at almost all stores, and PayPal also has the PayPal Debit Card (so, this is kind of like getting a free PayPal gift card), so that you can buy things in-store too. Or you can also transfer it to your bank account and withdraw it just like cash.

Now, there are PayPal cash scams out there, so I do recommend that you be careful. If you are ever suspicious, do as much research as you can.

I have personally used many of the sites above and have earned well over $1,000 in free PayPal money over the years for doing things just in my spare time.

Have you ever earned free PayPal money?

Recommended reading:

Source: makingsenseofcents.com