How to Create $1,000 Out of Thin Air

It’s not every day that $1,000 stuffed in an envelope and addressed to you falls out of the sky. But that doesn’t mean you can’t get something for nothing, or at least more for less.

Here are some ideas that can put hundreds of extra dollars in your bank account, with no luck required, and almost no effort.

1. Get paid $100 for your opinion

How about earning money while watching TV from the comfort of home?

Survey Junkie is a free site that pays you for taking surveys, participating in polls and giving your opinion.

In exchange for completing market research surveys (which take an average of 15 minutes to complete, according to Survey Junkie) you can earn points redeemable for gift cards at companies like Amazon and Target, or for cash through PayPal.

Just fill out profile questionnaires to identify which surveys you qualify for, and you’ll be ready to start earning rewards from your desktop computer, laptop, tablet or phone.

Take a look and get paid cash for your opinions.

2. Replace your overpriced car insurance

When was the last time you compared or otherwise evaluated your car insurance costs? Car insurance is an expensive nuisance, but that doesn’t mean you should let it drain your bank account. Here’s a super-simple way to get a better deal and save hundreds.

Take the hassle and guesswork out of your auto insurance with The Zebra. You can get real-time comparisons from more than 100 insurance providers in just three minutes and easily lock in a new, better rate.

The Zebra says its users save an average of $368 per year on auto insurance, and could save as much as $440. All you need to get started — besides things you probably know off the top of your head, like your address and recent driving history — are your current coverage limits.

What have you got to lose? Save hundreds on insurance with a quick visit to The Zebra right now.

3. Find cheaper home or renters insurance in minutes

Want to save a few hundred more? Don’t stop with your car insurance.

We’re all tempted to “set it and forget it” with homeowners insurance, too. Who wants to go through the painful process of comparing providers and making a change? Fortunately, Policygenius eliminates this hassle.

You can find big savings on your homeowners insurance policy in literally three minutes — with Policygenius.

Just answer a few simple questions to be shown multiple potential new homeowners policies, which you can apply for in a few simple clicks. (Not a homeowner? Policygenius can set you up with a better renters insurance policy, too.)

It’s painless, so get started and check rates from as low as $25 a month.

4. Refinance your mortgage and save hundreds every month

Instead of saving hundreds, how about saving thousands? It’s entirely possible by refinancing your mortgage.

America’s most popular lender, Rocket Mortgage, can likely save you big bucks, as well as help convert some of that home equity into a nice, fat bank balance.

Whether you’re looking to pay down high-interest debt, do some renovations, lower your payments or shorten your loan to become debt-free faster, Rocket Mortgage can help.

Rocket Mortgage reveals its typical rates for 15-year and 30-year fixed mortgages right on its website, even before you fill out any information.

Don’t waste any more time or money: Compare rates and lower your payment today.

5. Invest in companies like Amazon, Facebook or Tesla for free

Here’s the deal: If you’re not investing in the stock market, you’re missing out on historically great returns. In fact, the average stock market return is about 10% per year for nearly the last century. And now, you can invest in companies like Amazon for free.

Just link your bank account to investing app Robinhood, and the site will reward you with one share of a randomly selected stock that could be worth as much as $225.

If you don’t like the one you get, or want to cash out ASAP, you can sell your reward stock three trading days after it hits your account.

And if you don’t get a big-name stock, don’t give up — you can earn more free stocks, worth up to $500 per calendar year, by referring friends to Robinhood.

Freebies aside, Robinhood is an easy way to get started investing because it has no minimum balance, doesn’t charge commissions or fees and lets you purchase cryptocurrency or fractional shares of expensive stocks that would otherwise be out of reach.

So don’t wait: Claim your free stock and get started with Robinhood.

Bonus: Get a free $991.20 every year

More than 1 million Americans have reported saving an average of $991.20 each simply by reading the totally free Money Talks Newsletter.

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