When it comes to sites that pay you to surf the web, answer surveys, and play games – InboxDollars is one of the oldest.

Do you enjoy watching Netflix or Hulu and looking for something easy to do to earn a little extra cash while you stream?

Sites like InboxDollars can turn that “wasted” time into a little bit of money.

What is InboxDollars?

Have you ever wished you could earn money just from sitting on the couch and playing on your phone? Good news! InboxDollars is a cashback program that lets you do just that.

Founded in 2000, InboxDollars is a BBB A-rated company that’s paid out over $59 million in cashback rewards. Thanks to mergers and corporate expansions, InboxDollars is available in the US, UK, and Canada, too.

InboxDollars works by inviting brands to pay consumers (that’s you) for information. By filling out surveys, giving feedback on videos, or shopping through a cashback portal, you earn cash while participating companies get the information they need.

And no, this isn’t so they can spy on you. The goal is to build better products for their customers. In exchange for participating, you’ll get real, actual dollars deposited into your bank account.

You won’t get rich with InboxDollars, but if you mindlessly scroll through Instagram while watching Netflix every night, why not make that time a little more productive? Earn 25 cents every time you watch commercials through the app or $5 for answering a few survey questions.

With daily participation, you can earn $30 every month or so. If this sounds too good to be true, don’t worry. InboxDollars has an A rating with the Better Business Bureau.

How To Earn With InboxDollars

You don’t just have to answer surveys to participate in InboxDollars.

There are six main ways to earn with InboxDollars:

1. Complete surveys

Good ol’ surveys. Depending on the survey’s complexity, you can earn $0.50 to $5 for each survey, which takes around 4 minutes.

If you’re part of a demographic group that companies desperately want to hear from, you can earn up to $20 per survey.

2. Watch videos

InboxDollars gives you $0.50 or so every time you watch a short video snippet. The snippet could be nearly anything—celebrity talk shows, cooking demos, commercials, product demos, movie trailers. If you’re taking a break in between Netflix binges, put on an InboxDollars video while you get more popcorn to earn extra moolah.

3. Play games

Now, this one is a little sticky. InboxDollars partners with the Game Show Network (GSN) to offer a paid games “casino” on its platform. The thing is, you have to spend money on these games to earn cashback.

Some people are cool with that, but many people don’t want to spend money on online games. If you’re already into paid online games, this could be an OK way to earn cashback. For every dollar you spend on the GSN games, InboxDollars gives you 18% cashback (or $0.18 on the dollar). This could eat through your money quickly, so only do this if you’re already a gaming aficionado.

A better way to earn money through games is to consider one from our list of the phone games that pay real money. These are competitive games in which you have to beat other players to win cash and prizes.

4. Shop online

If you were already going to shop online, why not make a quick buck in the process?

Cashback portals aren’t new, but if you’re already using InboxDollars to answer surveys, you can kill two birds with one stone and shop through their cashback portal.

The cool thing about InboxDollars is that the portal helps you locate free samples, discounts, and cashback deals. The deals rotate, too, so there’s never a shortage of options. InboxDollars sends an email explaining the deals so you can decide if they’re right for you before shopping.

5. Read emails

I get that your inbox is probably full, but if you won’t get stressed out by a few additional emails, InboxDollars lets you earn cashback by reading emails from its partner companies.

You either have to read the email to get points (and click a button inside) or take action on the offer in the email to earn.

If you’re worried about getting too many emails, you can use Unroll.me to manage emails like these. I get a “rolled up” email notification once a day, sift through everything, and choose which messages I want to read.

Now, InboxDollars “promises not to flood your inbox,” but that’s a relative term. I don’t mind the extra emails, but it’s pretty easy to remove it if you feel like it’s too much. Use email rollup services or just skip this entirely if you want to avoid being overwhelmed by emails.

6. Use coupons for cash rewards

The last way to earn cashback with InboxDollars is to use their coupons. Every time you buy an item with a provided coupon, you also earn cashback. This is an awesome way to double dip on savings, getting a cheaper deal with the coupon as well as cashback. You can get coupons for groceries, home goods, and beauty through this program.

Is InboxDollars Worth It?

As with any sites like this, InboxDollars is what you make of it.

In terms of earning, InboxDollars is good, but not nearly as strong as sites that focus on one of these areas. For surveys, SurveyJunkie has more earning opportunities. For games and offers, their sister site Swagbucks is better. For cashback, TopCashBack is a stronger alternative.

If you want them all, InboxDollars is a great option. There are some minor downfalls in that the platform is a little dated, has a slightly higher cashout threshold ($30 rather than $20), and is more of a generalist than a specialist.

Is InboxDollars A Scam?

No, InboxDollars is a reputable company with an A-rating and has been in business since 2000. They’re part of a larger ecosystem of sites all in the rewards business.

That said, you will not get rich using them (or any similar service or company). These are designed to earn a little extra cash while you’re doing other things, like waiting in line or watching TV. All of the platforms, whether it’s InboxDollars or other survey sites, are not particularly lucrative.

Some sites are scams, but InboxDollars is not one of them. They are legitimate.

That said, keep these things in mind to decide if the platform is right for you:

1. Remember that you’re the product

As with any cashback site, you need to remember that you’re exchanging your thoughts, data, and opinions for money. A lot of people are cool with that, but don’t be surprised that companies are paying you for your information. Again, this isn’t to read your mind but to design better services that people want to buy.

You can access more, better-paying gigs on InboxDollars when you complete more of your profile. They use this information to match you with surveys and other offers. If you don’t want to fill your profile out completely, you don’t need to, but the more you tell them, the more money you can earn.

2. Extra cash in your pocket

The nice thing about InboxDollars is that all of the rewards are cashback; there are no points to track or cash in. You won’t get rich doing InboxDollars, but it can be a good way to mindlessly earn money in your downtime.

You can cash out your InboxDollars account once your balance reaches $30. You can accept payment via PayPal, a mailed check, prepaid gift card, or an online gift card. InboxDollars You get a free $5 when you sign up for InboxDollars, which gets you started quickly, but keep in mind, you need to reach the $30 threshold.

The good news is that, once you reach the $30 threshold, you become a “Gold member.” When you become a “Gold member,” they give you access to more earning opportunities. It also takes less time to process your payments.

Surveys are the easiest and fastest way to earn money on InboxDollars. Put in 30 minutes or so into the platform each day to earn a few bucks. Dedicated participants earn $30 every month or so.

InboxDollars is an easy way to earn while couch surfing or if you’re waiting around. $30 a month isn’t a fortune, but it’s still money. Every cent matters when you’re trying to pay off bills, so if the time-money tradeoff is worth it, I say go for it.

3. If you’re going to shop anyway…

A no-brainer way to earn on InboxDollars is to use the cash back portal. If you’re going to be spending money, you might as well get the easy cashback.

The key is to shop through these portals for items that you were already going to buy.

That said, the cashback portal will help you earn $0.50 back on purchases right in time for holiday shopping. It’s a nice way to earn more money during a financially stressful time of year.

The post InboxDollars Review: Is It Worth It? appeared first on Best Wallet Hacks.

Did you know that Panera Bread bakes its bread on-site every day?

I knew their bread was good but I thought perhaps they were like half-baked elsewhere, frozen, and delivered on site for the final baking. Kind of like the over rolls you get at the grocery store.

It turns out fresh dough is delivered to each store every night and the bread is baked fresh every single day. And anything that is left over is donated through their Day-End Dough-Nation program.

If you’re a fan like we are, here are a few ways you can enjoy Panera for less:

Sign up for MyPanera Rewards

The best way to earn free food at Panera is to sign up for their MyPanera rewards program. Use your phone number or Panera app to track your orders and score personalized rewards.

And when you sign up for the first time, you get a Free Pastry or Sweet Welcome Reward valid for about 2 months.

You must be at least 13 years of age to sign up for the app, which is free. Best of all, you get a free reward when you join!

Keep in mind that you’ll earn rewards based on the number of purchases you make, not the total of those purchases. So, you would earn the same amount of rewards with five $3 purchases as you would with five $20 purchases.

If you’re camping out at Panera Bread to study, space your purchases out by 2-4 hours for them to count towards your rewards.

Panera’s reward app is great because they allow you to stack rewards. You can use more than one reward at a time, shaving even more off of your bill.

Forgot to scan your app at the register? No biggie. You can scan your receipt after the fact to earn the points.

Refer friends to MyPanera

If you and your friends are total Panera nerds, try referring your pals to the MyPanera program. You’ll earn a $5 referral reward good towards your next order.

Plus, your friends will get in on the money-saving fun, too.

Don’t forget your birthday!

Don’t forget to add your birthday!

There’s a place to add your birthday in the MyPanera app and when you do, Panera will send you a free sweet treat to celebrate every year.

Here are a few other places that will give you free food on your birthday!

Buy discounted Panera gift cards

I’m new to the discounted gift card game, but I love it already! Visit sites like Raise, Card Cash, GiftCards.com, and plenty more to find discounted Panera gift cards.

People sell their unwanted gift cards at a discount on these exchanges, where you can get a modest discount on the card’s face value. Average savings are in the 2-5% range, but occasionally you can save as much as 20%.

For example, you could buy a $10 Panera gift card for just $8. You won’t get rich doing this, but if you know you’ll be eating at Panera in the future, why not?

Sign up for the Panera email newsletter

Want to hear from Panera while scoring sweet deals? Sign up for their email newsletter to get special offers. These are separate from MyPanera rewards and often feature free delivery or catering specials.

Go late

Most Panera locations close at 9 pm. If you go around 8 or 8:30 pm, you might be able to score a day-old pastry for free.

Although many Paneras donate their leftover baked goods to shelters, sometimes they’ll toss an extra muffin your way if you’re nice to them.

Buy the meal deals

I’ve got a sweet tooth, which is perfect for the Panera meal deal. If you buy a salad, a bowl of soup, or a sandwich with a drink, you can get dessert for 99 cents.

Again, this won’t make you rich, but if you’re hankering for a gooey chocolate cookie, it’s not half bad. Plus, you can combine the meal deal with Panera rewards or gift cards to save more.

Go small

This is an old trick that works at many quick-service restaurants. Panera drinks come with free refills. However, Panera charges more if you buy a larger cup size. If you’re eating inside the restaurant, just get a small drink and refill as needed.

Pinpoint the free add-ons

Want to beef up your sandwich? Panera lets you add plenty of veggies without extra cost. This is not only delicious but it makes your meal far more filling.

Of course, some veggie options, like avocado, will cost you extra. But if you want cucumbers on your sandwich, feel free to load up because there’s no extra charge.

If you aren’t sure which add-ons are free, pull up your Panera app or the Panera website and start an order. You’ll be able to see in the app which options are free and which will cost you extra.

Buy Panera products at the grocery store

When I come down with a cold, all I want is a warm bowl of Panera’s creamy tomato soup. Fortunately for me and other Panera aficionados, you can buy some Panera foods at the grocery store.

Depending on your location, you can buy Panera soup, coffee, mac and cheese, dressing, or chili in-store.

These products are often cheaper at the grocery store than they are at Panera. If you really need a Panera fix on a budget, see if you can bring Panera into your home.

See if Panera products are in a store near you.

Get your carb fix on Bagel Tuesdays

I love me some carbs. Panera has answered my gluten-loving prayers with their Bagel Tuesdays deal.

Every Tuesday Panera sells their baker’s dozen of bagels for $3 off. In most places, that means you can pick up 13 bagels for $7.99.

I like to buy the baker’s dozen, slice them in half, and freeze them for later for homemade avocado toast. This is also a good option if you know you’ll need to feed a crowd.

Don’t order inside Panera

Restaurants are designed to make us buy more stuff. And I know that the second I walk in and smell Panera’s hot soups and bread, I want to buy even more food.

That’s why it’s smarter to order ahead of time from the Panera app. Panera’s Rapid Pick-Up option means you walk in, grab your order off the shelf, and leave. You don’t need to speak to anyone or wait in a line.

I love to do Rapid Pick-Up during business trips because I can pick up food quickly.

And hey, there’s less temptation to add on a cookie, so it’s a win-win.

Look for promo codes online

If you know you’re about to place an order on the Panera site or app, take two minutes to search for deal codes. I like using the Honey browser extension to do this automatically for me, but a simple Google search works, too.

Why not shave a few bucks off your order with a quick search?

Use smart substitutions

Use simple substitutions to game the Panera menu board.

I love the Chipotle Chicken Avocado melt, but I’ve always been more of a croissant-sandwich person. I ask Panera to put the sandwich on a croissant instead, which is free. You can always change the bread to either ciabatta or a croissant without an extra charge.

It’s a touch more expensive to order a readymade bread bowl off the menu. Build your own to save a little money. Just get an empty bread bowl and a bowl of soup on the side. The readymade bowls only come with a cup of soup, so this way you get way more food.

Love bagels? Me too! But I don’t like the $1 or so it costs for cream cheese. Instead of cream cheese, I get a slathering of butter for free. Also, Panera’s tub of cream cheese is, like, $2. If you’re getting a single serving of cream cheese for $1 or so, you might as well pay a little extra to get the huge tub.

Mention if your order is incorrect

Panera wants to give customers a good experience. If anything is incorrect with your order, don’t trudge through and eat what you didn’t order. Let the employees know!

If you politely tell Panera your order is incorrect, they’ll make it right by correcting the order.

They might even give you a freebie to make up for it.

This is making me hungry!

The post How to Save Money at Panera Bread appeared first on Best Wallet Hacks.

If you're short on funds but still want to give back, many charitable organizations would welcome your time if you cannot donate money. What's very challenging for a lot of organizations is managing the rush and periods of high demand, whenever they may be, and having a few extra hands pitching in periodically is very important.

For example, if there's a short-term crisis and your local food bank needs help – your time organizing and cataloging donations can be valuable. They may not have the finances to hire someone and most folks aren't looking for short-term work, so volunteering could be extremely valuable to them.

But one of the challenges is finding an organization whose mission matches what you believe.

Hopefully today we can help give you some ideas of the types of groups out there that can use your service:

Animal Rescue & Shelters

Whether you sign on as a foster, kennel cleaner, or dog walker, this volunteer opportunity is purrrrrrfect for animal lovers.

Who it's right for

If you have a love for animals, you'll love volunteering at the animal shelter!

But if you can't resist taking every shelter pet home with you, you might want to volunteer elsewhere. I'm speaking from experience because that's how I ended up with my cat, Zap.

Typical duties

Your duties will depend on your role at the shelter. Most shelters ask their volunteers to commit to four hours a month or regular shifts.

Duties may include:

• Bottle feeding
• Walking dogs
• Cleaning kennels
• Socializing the animals
• Administrative tasks

How to volunteer near you

Reach out to your local animal shelter near you to see if they accept volunteers. They typically have a volunteer orientation as well as additional training for dog handling and bottle feeding. Petfinder has a good search tool for finding animal welfare groups, you can use it to find those volunteering opportunities with a local shelter.

Habitat for Humanity

Housing prices are increasing. As a result, many people can no longer afford homeownership. This leads to homelessness and instability in your community.

Habitat for Humanity aims to build affordable housing that gives families shelter so they can be self-reliant.

Who it's right for

Got mad building skills? Put them to work at a Habitat site. But if you don't know how to build, that's okay! Habitat will train you as you go.

As a klutz who doesn't know how to use a hammer, I found my time with Habitat both rewarding and educational. All you need is to be physically fit and willing to step up.

Typical duties

• Building/construction
• Painting
• Repairs
• Customer service (At Habitat's ReStore locations)
• Demolition

How to volunteer near you

Find your local Habitat for Humanity. You'll need to complete an application and may need to attend an orientation.

Food Pantries

According to Feeding America, 40 million people in the U.S. don't know where their next meal is coming from. Food pantry volunteers fight hunger by providing meals to those in need.

Who it's right for

If you want to fight hunger and serve your community, consider volunteering at a food pantry. They offer flexible shifts for both individuals and groups.

You'll need to be in a fit condition to volunteer at a food pantry since you'll be expected to move boxes and sort donations. A sunny disposition doesn't hurt, either!

Typical duties

• Loading crates
• Sorting food
• Checking expiration dates
• Cleaning
• Greeting
• Cooking
• Delivery

How to volunteer near you

Many local food pantries partner with churches or religious organizations. Check if your city runs a food pantry, too. You can also check out VolunteerMatch for opportunities.

Library

Libraries give so much to the community. In addition to free books, movies, and games, they often offer special events, meeting spaces, and literacy initiatives.

Who it's right for

A love of people and the written word are all you need to volunteer at the library. Whether you want to read to youngsters or sequester yourself in the stacks, library volunteers are great with people and love to read.

Typical duties

• Checking books
• Storytime
• Event assistance
• Organizing
• Shelving

How to volunteer near you

A great way to find library volunteering positions is to connect with your local Friends of the Public Library. You can also inquire the next time you swing by your library.

Museums

Museums are a community treasure but often run on tight budgets. Museums rely on volunteers for education, events, and customer service.

Who it's right for

Do you find yourself visiting your favorite museums again and again? Or maybe you have a real appreciation for art or history? Either way, the museum is great for you.

You'll need to have good people skills since this job often involves customer service. Knowledge of the museum's pieces and history won't hurt, either.

Typical duties

• Cleaning/maintenance
• Materials preparation
• Special events assistance
• Gallery attendant
• Administrative tasks

How to volunteer near you

Do you have a favorite local museum? Visit their web site to see if they accept volunteers. Many museums offer volunteer programs that require an application, background check (because of priceless art and all), and training.

Retirement homes

1.3 million people live in retirement homes. For the elderly in these homes, loneliness is a real problem. That's why retirement homes enlist volunteers to keep the atmosphere lively and upbeat.

Who it's right for

If you enjoy sitting quietly with your grandparents and caring for others, you'll love volunteering at the nursing home.

Typical duties

• Hosting and entertainment
• Conversation with residents
• Cleaning
• Crafting
• Administration

How to volunteer near you

Search for local retirement homes. You'll complete an application, interview, background check, and orientation.

Hospitals

Hospitals have plenty of staff on hand, but still need help from caring, compassionate volunteers.

Who it's right for

Hospitals need people who have a sunny disposition to make the hospital feel more like home. If you like cheering people up and interacting with others, the hospital needs your talents.

Typical duties

• NICU cuddling (cuddle with newborns!)
• Admitting / administrative
• Greeting
• Ministry
• Pet therapy

How to volunteer near you

Search online for local hospitals. If you prefer working with kids, look for children's hospitals.

To be a hospital volunteer, you'll need to apply, undergo a physical, receive immunizations, pass a background check, and complete orientation.

Meals on Wheels

Meals on Wheels is an organization that prepares and delivers meals to senior households who need them. They are always on the lookout for folks to package the meals as well as deliver them to the folks who need them.

Who it's right for

As a deliverer of meals, they need people who have access to a car and a willingness to drive around to deliver meals and meet with the folks who need their meals. As a meal packer, they need folks who are willing to package up the meals (hot lunch and cold dinner) into bags and then sacks for the drivers to deliver.

Typical duties

• Delivering meals
• Meeting with seniors
• Preparing hot and cold meals
• Lifting (the food carriers)

How to volunteer near you

Search for your local chapter of Meals on Wheels and submit a volunteer application. Each local organization is separately managed, and many require you to be a resident of the state they service. You may also have to attend an orientation.

National Parks Service

Do you like the outdoors? Do you want to help make our national parks a better place? You can volunteer with the National Park Service.

Who it's right for

I think it's pretty clear who this is right for!

Typical duties

This is a little harder to answer because it's on a case-by-case basis and will depend on whether it's a one-time event or a longer-term situation. You would be working alongside park employees or with a partner organization. Suffice it to say you should expect to be working hard, working with your hands, and working outdoors.

How to volunteer near you

The National Parks Service maintains a Volunteer with Us page with more information.

Tax Benefits of Volunteering

When you volunteer, you can deduct the cost of driving to and from the volunteering location at 14 cents a mile as long as the organization is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. If you used public transportation, that expense is deductible well. This is an itemized deduction.

The post 9 Places for Community Service Volunteer Opportunities appeared first on Best Wallet Hacks.

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned one key fact about shopping.

New is nice but “gently used” + saving money is waaaaay nicer.

Back in the day, consignment stores developed a bad reputation of taking practically anything saleable, marking it down, and selling it. Given enough time, you can find a home for anything. While I appreciate things not going straight into a landfill, it was hard to find quality if you needed it.

Another knock against consignment stores is that you were limited to what was available in your nearby area. So if you really wanted deals, you might as well skip the consignment store and head over to eBay.

thredUp calls itself an online consignment store with “thousands of new arrivals” every single day and aims to only sell “like-new” quality and confirmed authentic. (and they deal in just women and kids clothing though, so men are out of luck)

Is it worth it though?

Buying on thredUp: The Pros

Buying clothes on thredUP has a lot of positives going for it. Here are the ones I think make it worth visiting to see if there are any gems in the mix.

Decent quality clothes

My beef with thrift stores is that no one is really vetting the quality of the clothes. Once upon a time, I used to buy yoga pants from the thrift store for $0.50 apiece. They easily tore after one month of light use.

thredUp vets the quality of the clothing before they sell it to you. I haven’t received anything that’s been damaged, ripped, or stained. That’s more than I can say about the thrift store.

No leaving the house!

The huge upside to online shopping is that you don’t have to leave the house. I can shop on the thredUp app or online while I watch Netflix. Ahhh, convenience.

Find flattering styles quickly

I have a very specific body type. It’s challenging to find flattering clothes that fit me. I used to spend an hour digging through thrift store racks, only to find maybe five pieces that would even fit.

thredUp has filters to help you quickly look for styles and colors. It’s much faster and more convenient than sifting through racks at the store to find something that might work.

thredUp’s clothes are cute, fashionable, and I know they’re going to fit me well, thanks to measurements included on every piece.

Adorable and reusable packaging

I’m a total cheapskate. I love saving packing materials and using them to wrap presents. thredUp goes the extra mile with their presentation: they always wrap the clothes in adorable green polka dot paper. This is a small thing, but if you’re out to save money, know that the packaging is super cute when repurposed.

Discount codes

If you’re using the Honey Chrome extension (and you should be!), you can easily find a coupon code for thredUp. They’re always running some kind of sale. In fact, I’ve never paid the full price at thredUp. Know that you can get their already-discounted prices even lower with coupon codes.

Buying on thredUp: The Cons

Like anything else, not everything with thredUp is perfect. The secondhand clothing retailer can improve in a few areas but these aren’t dealbreakers for me.

Everything is slow

I admit Amazon has me spoiled with their two-day shipping. It’s taken me up to two weeks to receive an item from thredUp. While the rational side of my brain is saying that’s not a big deal, it still ticked me off. Buyers are eager to receive their items as quickly as possible. It just seems to me that thredUp isn’t able to keep up with the demand.

Also, if you choose to sell to thredUp, it takes forever to hear back about your consignment pieces. I want to say it took nearly a month to hear back. I had actually forgotten I sent them anything.

Low payout for sellers

I know reselling used clothes isn’t a great way to get rich. But I expected a little somethin’ for my hassle, y’know? I’m glad thredUp at least offers free shipping for consignment, but I only got a $6 payout at the end of it all. And that was after sending in a huge pile of clothing.

I did use the credit to buy items I would actually wear, so that was a win. But if you want a decent payout and you want it quickly, it may be best to check out local consignments like Plato’s Closet or Clothes Mentor.

Too much immediacy while shopping

Maybe I’m just being nitpicky, but thredUp only lets you keep items in your cart for 30 minutes. This makes sense since they sell consignment pieces with only one of each piece in their inventory. You can’t stick something in your cart and come back to it later.

However, as a buyer, it’s super frustrating! I like mulling over my purchases for a day or two. With thredUp, I only have 30 minutes before the item will be opened up to other buyers. They’re definitely playing into impulse buying. If you can’t control yourself, this could be an issue.

The dangers of buying online

As careful as I’ve been while buying through thredUp, I’ve had a few snafus.

Namely, it can be hard to see when a fabric is sheer with their photos. I absolutely hate wearing camis and undershirts, so this has been a problem.

Fortunately, I haven’t had issues with sizing, since measurements are always included in each piece. Make sure you know your measurements before shopping on thredUp!

Selling on thredUp

I don’t have any personal experience with selling anything (yet) on thredUp but when I read about the process, it seemed like they have gotten it down to a science.

If you’re looking to simplify Marie Kondo-style and have a lot of clothes to sell, selling them one by one via Facebook groups or eBay can take a long time. And a lot of time. You might get more money for it but it’s a very manual process.

With thredUp, you order a “Clean Out Kit.” You then fill out the bag and send it away via FedEx or the United States Postal Service. They are always looking for a variety of different products and take over 35,000 brands, so chances are they will be able to sell many of the clothes you send as long as they are in good condition. If you’d give it to your best friend, chances are it meets their condition standards.

Once they accept your item, you can edit the price you want to sell your items. They may offer you a lower price immediately, at which point you can accept it and get paid immediately. You don’t have to wait for someone to buy it.

There is special treatment for “Luxe items,” or luxury designer brands where the item is listed over $100. Those are always sold on consignment and you get an extra 10% bonus.

When it comes time to get paid, you can get thredUp credit, a VISA prepaid card, or cash out on PayPal.

Seems pretty simple to me – you can sign up for yourself and get $10 off your first purchase.

The post I am thredUp with paying full price: A review of thredUp appeared first on Best Wallet Hacks.

If you buy something online and don’t go through a cashback site, you are leaving money on the table.

Most people know that you can earn cashback through your credit cards. For example, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card is one of the best cashback cards that will give you 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3x points on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on everything else (plus a $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit). (you can also get 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first three months)

But did you know about cashback websites?

If you’ve heard of the name Rakuten (formerly Ebates) or Fatwallet (before it was shut down), you’re familiar with some of the biggest cashback sites. Each one works similarly. All you have to do is sign up for an account, click on a link or special offer on the sites before making your purchase, and earn cashback on your purchases.

So which are the best cashback sites?

GetUpside

GetUpside is an app that offers cashback when you fill up your car with gasoline or when you visit restaurants. It’s a little different than the other cashback shopping apps on this list but valuable because it’s the only one that gives you cashback on gasoline.

You can just search the app before you need gas, find a gas station with the lowest prices, and then check in. Fill up, pay with a debit or credit card, submit the claim and wait for the cashback. You can do this at some restaurants too.

For WalletHacks.com readers, we have a GetUpside promo code that adds a 20¢ per gallon bonus on your first fill up – making the maximum cash back on that a solid 45¢ per gallon of gas. It has to be the first promo code you enter on your account – just enter WALLETHACKS20 and the bonus is yours.

Get 45¢ off a gallon of gas from GetUpside

TopCashback

TopCashBack was founded in the UK in 2005. By 2011, they expanded to the United States. Today, the cashback giant boasts over 8 million users across the globe.

TopCashBack bills itself as one of the fastest-growing cashback websites in the US. Their mission is to help consumers save more money while shopping online. They also offer a free app available to download in Google Play and the App Store.

TopCashBack is a cashback site that’s free to join. You can shop from over 4,400 merchants, including Amazon, Walmart, Groupon, Overstock, and more with TCB. The great thing about TCB is that they’re not only a cashback site, but they also give you access to sales and coupons to save way more money.

If you start comparing cashback rates, you’ll often see TopCashBack offering some of the highest rates. These sites work by earning a commission from the retail for referring you and then sharing a part of that with you. TopCashback shares 100% of the commission with you and makes money off traditional advertising. This is why they offer some of the highest cash back rates.

How it works
First, use the TopCashBack portal to choose a cashback offer. Follow the directions to complete your purchase.

Instead of pocketing the entire commission, TopCashBack gives you the entire commission as cashback from your purchase. Curious how they make money? They earn from advertising banners and by negotiating extra fees from the retailers.

Once TopCashBack receives the commission from your chosen retailer, they apply the credit to your account. You can then request the cashback from TCB and rake in the big bucks!

The rewards
Sick of hitting minimum payment thresholds? Then TopCashBack is the cashback portal for you. They don’t have a minimum payout, so you can withdraw as little as $2 if you want.

You can rack up the rewards by direct deposit, PayPal, or an Amazon gift card.

(for a limited time, get a $10 Amazon gift card sign up bonus after you earn $10 in cash back!)
Join TopCashBack

Swagbucks

How much swag do you have? When you go with Swagbucks, you have the opportunity to earn gift cards, score exclusive coupons, and enjoy more discounts.

Swagbucks is a California-based cashback portal. It’s free to join Swagbucks, and you even have the chance to earn one of 7,000 free gift cards every day.

How it works
Swagbucks partners with over 1,500 merchants, including Amazon, Target, Starbucks, and Walmart.

Simply sign up for a free account and start earning points, or Swagbucks (SB). You can earn SB shopping through their website portal or app, answering surveys, browsing the web (thanks to their Yahoo! partnership), and watch videos. Swagbucks also has a relationship with GSN, so you can also earn from in-game purchases.

For every SB you collect, you earn 1% cash back. I love the gamified nature of SB. Who doesn’t want to rack up points and save a little money in the process?

The rewards
Swagbucks is a cashback shopping portal, although their main payout is via gift card. However, if you prefer cold, hard cash, you can also accept your rewards through PayPal. Keep in mind that PayPal fees will cut into your overall earnings, though.

(for a limited time, get a $5 bonus!)
Join Swagbucks

MyPoints

MyPoints is one of the oldest online rewards programs. The site was founded in 1996, which means it’s older than some of its users!

MyPoints is a rebate site that partners with over 1,900 retailers. Score cashback when you shop on Groupon, eBay, Walmart, LivingSocial, and more.

How it works
Like Swagbucks, MyPoints is also a points-based system. As you earn points, you’re able to redeem them for cashback.

Although rebate shopping is the main way to earn on MyPoints, they also have other ways to rack up the points.

Complete surveys, play games, watch videos, print coupons, and even check your email to earn MyPoints.

The rewards
One of my favorite things about MyPoints is their payout options. You can cash out your points for gift cards, travel miles, a Visa prepaid card, and even PayPal. Rewards tend to start around 700 points, although it depends on what you’ve set your sights on.

MyPoints also has a Refer-A-Friend program. When your friend shops with your link, you get 10% of their total cashback. If you convert your friends to MyPoints for life, there’s a good chance you’ll start passively raking up the points.

If you don’t feel like going to MyPoints every time you shop, you can also install their browser extension.

Here’s our full MyPoints review.

(for a limited time, get a $5 bonus!)
Join InboxDollars

Rakuten

Rakuten is another veteran cashback site that got a rebrand from their previous name, eBates (what a great name for a cashback site!). They were founded in 1999 and today, they have over 10 million members globally. Their users have saved $1 billion in cashback since 1999.

In addition to cashback, you can also use Rakuten to slash your cost at checkout, thanks to coupon codes and exclusive deals.

How it works
Any time you have the itch to shop online, go to the Rakuten web portal or app. They partner with over 2,000 merchants for cashback deals, including Groupon, J. Crew, Kohl’s, Sephora, and Macy’s.

Download the Rakuten app or access their web portal to get started. Use their link any time you shop online to earn cashback. On their end, Rakuten verifies your purchase and then adds cashback to your account.

Like many rebate sites, Rakuten earns money through commission. The downside is that, unlike other sites, Rakuten takes a cut of your commission. You still get your cashback, but it may not be as much as other rewards sites.

The rewards
Unless you look for other ways to get rewards, that is! Rakuten is great about offering signup bonuses to new users. I haven’t tested it myself, but they claim that you can score up to 40% cashback shopping with them.

You can get your cashback paid out via check or PayPal, so the payment options aren’t quite as robust as, say, MyPoints.

We have a full Rakuten review if you want to learn more.

(for a limited time, get a $10 bonus!)
Join Rakuten

RebatesMe

RebatesMe has been around for over seven years with over 600,000 active users, so they’re able to get some of the highest cashback percentages in the industry. They’re most competitive in luxury apparel, jewelry & watches, health / supplements, sports / outdoors, beauty / skincare, and electronics – perfect for the holiday season. Periodically, they run promotions where you can get double cash back on some days, which can lead to double digit percentages. They also have a browser plugin that will tell you when you can earn cashback through RebatesMe – that way you don’t miss on any cash back.

Finally, one nice perk of the program that I haven’t seen anywhere else yet is their “cashback protection program.” If you make a purchase through the platform and, for some reason, it doesn’t get credit properly (which happens a lot), they will credit you for purchases up to $1,000.

As an incentive, they also give you a $45 bonus when you sign up and accumulate $10 or more in cash back within the first 90 days.

Our full RebatesMe review has more details.

Get $45 from RebatesMe today!

Upromise

Instead of simply sending you cashback, Upromise helps its users save for college.

Although it started as a savings resource in 2000, Upromise launched its retailer partnership program in 2001.

Upromise has one goal: to help you save money for college. Build up your savings account every time you shop.

How it works
You can use Upromise to shop either online or offline from their 1,000 merchant partners. Earn rewards shopping at places like Expedia, Best Buy, Walmart, and the Apple Store.

Browse offers and coupon codes on the Upromise site. When you shop through their portal, you earn cashback to pay for college. Easy, right?

I don’t always recommend credit cards, but Upromise does offer a Mastercard where you can earn 1.25% cashback on every purchase you make. You can even have them round up your purchases to the nearest dollar.

You can also earn cashback through the Upromise dining program.

The rewards
If you’re looking for straightforward cashback, Upromise probably isn’t for you. They pay out by depositing funds into a 529 plan, tacking it onto your student loan payment, or sending you a check.

Upromise also can deposit your rewards into a Upromise GoalSaver Account. They offer automatic transfers so you can save for school with little effort.

BeFrugal

Who doesn’t want to be frugal? With the cashback site, BeFrugal, you can save even more of your hard-earned money. Founded in 2009, the Boston-based company BeFrugal helps you save more online.

How it works
BeFrugal has a big advantage over other cashback sites: it has a tremendous network of retailers to choose from. Shop with over 5,000 retailers like Dick Sporting Goods, Target, Best Buy, Walmart, and Target.

Like with other cashback sites, you shop through the BeFrugal portal or use their Chrome extension to apply the savings.

You earn 100% of BeFrugal’s commission. They make their money through promotional deals with the retailers and pass the savings straight to you.

The rewards
BeFrugal claims you can earn up to 40% cashback on your purchases through their portal. They also offer a $10 signup bonus, as well as access to coupons.

You can redeem your cashback via check, gift card, direct deposit, or PayPal.

Mr. Rebates

Founded in 2002, Mr. Rebates is a cashback site where you can earn rebates for online shopping.

Funny name aside, you can buy nearly anything on the Mr. Rebates site, thanks to their handy category-style product search.

You can earn points shopping with any of their 3,000 approved merchants, like Walmart, Macy’s, eBay, and Groupon.

How it works
Mr. Rebates features different offers on their site every week. Depending on where you shop, you can earn 10% cashback.

To use Mr. Rebates, remember to shop through their portal. When you click on their links, you’ll activate a rebate code. Once they verify your purchase, they add the cashback to your account.

Like other cashback sites, Mr. Rebates earns a commission every time you shop through their website. They keep a portion of the commission and pass the rest over to you as cashback savings.

The rewards
Mr. Rebates has a $10 minimum for you to withdraw your cashback. They’ll pay you out via check, gift card, or PayPal.

Oh, and don’t forget their referral program! Share your Mr. Rebates referral link with a friend and you’ll earn 20% of your friend’s rebate.

They also offer a signup bonus for new users.

Check out our full review of Mr. Rebates here. 

The post Best Cashback Rebate Sites for 2024 appeared first on Best Wallet Hacks.

‘Tis the season for holiday gift exchanges!

Every year, our group of friends does a White Elephant gift exchange. That’s where you bring a gift under a dollar amount (ours is $25, which is a nice amount because there are plenty of ways to earn a little extra cash before the holidays!) and we all draw gifts in order. The first person picks a gift, unwraps it, and then waits. The next person can steal your gift or pick from the pile. If someone’s gift is stolen, they can steal another gift or take another gift from the wrapped pile.

It’s a fun way to do a gift exchange and the joy is more about the process and less about the gifts themselves.

(it’s a Secret Santa hack too – instead of buying gifts for everyone, you only have to buy it for one!)

But regardless of how you may do gifts with your friends and family, you might be looking for a good Christmas gift idea that costs less than $25?

(heck, you can use these gifts anytime, nothing holiday or Christmas-y about them!)

Here is a laundry list of ideas for your next gift exchange with links to Amazon, so you don’t even have to leave your house!

And if your group’s budget is higher – here’s our list of the best gifts under $50.

1. Sherpa Fleece Blanket

This first gift comes in at over $25 (the red one is currently only $26.94) but it’s worth it – it’s the Everlasting Comfort Sherpa Fleece Blanket. It’s 50″ x 65″, warm, and very comfortable. We learned about this brand because of their seat cushion (great for our wooden dining room chairs and our butts during long board games) but the blanket has been a hit in our house.

2. A premium water bottle

Water is super important but you don’t want to be drinking it out of a plastic bottle. It’s wasteful AND microplastics are a huge problem we’re only now starting to understand.

Why not get a premium stainless steel water bottle by Mira Brands instead? They cost less than $25 and you can get them insulated to remain cold (or hot!) for your favorite beverages.

3. GRADO Inspirational Cards

GRADO produces these beautiful cards (FSC recycled paper) that are beautifully designed, drawn, and produced. They come in a rigid box to protect the cards and each card follows a theme. I got the Live a Fulfilled Life – Awake Your Inner Self set of 48 inspirational cards and it’s helped set my mood in the mornings.

Each set of 48 cards is only $23 on Amazon and they have a wide variety of cards, even ones for kids. They also have planners and greeting cards though I haven’t seen those in person yet.

4. Reusable Ziplocs

Single-use plastics are expensive and bad for the environment.

Fortunately, reusable Ziplocs are a thing! Gift these to your eco-conscious friend looking to reduce their carbon footprint.

They aren’t as cheap as the plastic bags you use once and throw away but can you put a price tag on Mother Earth?

5. The Extraordinary Book of Useless Information

I know it has the word ‘useless’ in the title, but this gift is anything but useless. Your friends clearly need to know weird facts about presidents, animals, and refrigerators. This book is the perfect gift for trivia nerds and anyone looking for an entertaining read.

Check out The Extraordinary Book of Useless Information: The Most Fascinating Facts That Don’t Really Matter … because why not?

(and if you have young kids who can read… this is a great way to occupy their time!)

6. Roku

It seems like everyone is cutting cable and moving to streaming services. If your loved one has finally said sayonara to their cable package, gift them a Roku. This streaming stick enables you to watch Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, and a lot more from your TV.

7. Blue-blocking glasses

I don’t know about you, but I easily spend the majority of my waking hours in front of a screen. While tech is convenient, the blue light emitted by our devices is damaging our eyes and making it more difficult to sleep. I’ve had this pair of blue-blocking glasses for half a year and I absolutely love them.

(and they look far better than the Blue Blockers that OJ Simpson used to promote in the 80s!)

8. Safety razor

Cartridge razors are expensive and not very effective. And let’s face it: services like Dollar Shave Club are cool, but they’re still kinda pricey. Give the gift of a close shave with a simple safety razor.

9. Drying rack

This sounds like a weird gift, but hear me out.

One of my close friends moved to a cramped Chicago apartment after college. I jokingly gifted her this drying rack because she said she had to dry her clothes on the patio. As it turns out, she loved it! This drying rack is perfect for college students, people in cramped apartments, or anyone who’s trying to keep their utility bills low.

10. Tamagotchi

Remember the Tamagotchi craze from the 90s? Share the nostalgia with a pal thanks to Tamagotchi’s revamped line.

11. Slippers

It doesn’t matter who you are; your feet probably get cold in the winter. Slippers are one of those things that we always buy for other people, but not for ourselves. Do your parents a favor and gift them these unisex slippers for the impending chilly weather.

These slippers look a lot like the LL Bean mocs and are a fraction of the price. I don’t know if they’ll last as long but at $20, worth a shot. There’s a whole list of slippers on Amazon that are all affordable and look super comfy.

12. A great grater

Knife skills are something you learn. For people, like myself, who are knife-challenged, graters are your best friend. I’ve gotten very familiar with this OXO grater set, which can grate and slice veggies in mere seconds. It even has a carrying case so you won’t lose anything!

13. Lifestraw

I’ve had my Lifestraw for years and it’s amazing. This doodad enables you to safely drink from streams and rivers out in the wild. It’s a fantastic gift for hikers or outdoors enthusiasts. Lifestraw is also an important addition to any emergency prep kit, too. We just throw it in our backpack so we already have it.

14. Waffle iron

I finally felt like a complete adult the moment my parents gifted me a Cuisinart Waffle Iron. There’s nothing like the aroma of freshly-made waffles with butter and syrup. Mmm. Gift this waffle iron to your family for breakfast deliciousness.

15. Rocketbook

Do you ever feel guilty when you have to toss a notebook in the trash? Rocketbook solved this problem with their reusable notebooks. Simply write with a Frixion pen and microwave the book to wipe away your notes once it’s full.

16. Metal straws

With more and more eateries banning single-use straws, it’s wise to have a set of your own. I got this set of metal straws on Amazon and love them. I keep half at the house and half in my car, just in case. They even come with pipe cleaners so you’re sure to clean out the insides.

17. DIY facial kit

Everybody needs a little pampering! I’ve fallen in love with the weird-yet-cool Zombie facial treatment face masks. You look like the living dead for 15 minutes but will have beautiful glowing skin afterward.

Pair it with the pet grooming gloves and you’re ready for your very own cameo in a campy horror movie!

18. Silicone baking mat

If you talk to any home baker, they use a lot of parchment paper. It can get expensive and annoying buying parchment paper every time you want to bake cookies. Gift your favorite baker this set of AmazonBasics silicone baking mats for no-fuss cooking.

(and parchment paper is just paper coated in a thin layer of silicone – so a silicone mat is just the reusable version of parchment paper!)

19. French press

While there’s a place and time for coffee shop drinks, it’s best to make your morning cup of joe at home. If your loved one enjoys quality coffee, consider gifting them this nice French press by Cafe Du Chateau. It even has a French name so your friends can rest assured they can make Starbucks-level coffee without leaving their kitchen.

20. Minimergency kit

If your buddy has ever bummed a safety pin or chapstick off of you, they need a Minimergency kit. They make one for men and one for women, designed to cover the small ‘oops’ moments of daily life.

21. Cards Against Humanity

This ain’t your grandma’s card game. Cards Against Humanity is an irreverent and adults-only game is a must-have for any gaming closet. Remember that this game contains adult content and isn’t a wise gift for kids or people who may be easily offended!

22. A true blender bottle

As a shake drinker, I love my blender bottle. However, the little ball of metal that’s supposed to stir up my shake just doesn’t do enough. The PROMiXX blender bottle literally has a blender attached to the bottom of the bottle, giving you the option to whirl your smoothie to perfection when you’re on the go.

If you only need the version with the wire ball, the best is probably BlenderBottle.

23. Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is an amazing way to unwind. If your best friend can’t live without her lavender oil, consider gifting her these roll-on essential oil blends. They also are small enough and secure enough to throw in a bag.

24. Sleep headphones

My husband is super finicky when it comes to sleeping with headphones. After years of searching, he’s fallen in love with these sleep headphones. Whether your loved one travels frequently or needs to drown out the sounds of a snoring partner, they’ll love these headphones.

25. Bluetooth speaker

Got a music lover on your Christmas list? Consider gifting them this portable Bluetooth speaker by Anker. It’s small and designed for travel, so it can be used wherever and whenever they feel like jamming out.

26. Whiskey stones

There’s nothing more disappointing than a watered down drink. Consider putting these whisky stones under the tree for the whisky connoisseur in your life.

27. Cheesemaking kit

Oh, yes! You can make your own cheese and home, and it’s incredibly easy. Gift this cheesemaking kit to the DIYer or devoted home chef on your list.

28. Spiralizer

Zoodles are all the rage these days, but buying spiralized veggies can get a little pricey. Gift this spiralizer to any vegan or keto-lover to help them save a little cheddar on their grocery bill.

29. Tile Mate

Do you have that friend or coworker who always manages to lose their keys? They can use the Tile Mate system to track their keys, or any other object, to avoid five minutes of panic every morning.

It’s on you to figure out how to tactfully gift it though!

30. Pyrex dishes

I avoided buying Pyrex dishes for so long because I couldn’t afford them. Once I bit the bullet and switched to Pyrex, though, I finally saw the light. These dishes make meal prep and leftovers so much easier to handle. If your loved one is trying to streamline mealtime, Pyrex dishes are the way to go because they can go in the microwave and the oven.

31. Cute succulents

It’s a scientific fact that greenery makes us feel more cheerful. But for those of us with black thumbs, it can have the opposite effect. Give the gift of cheer to even the most plant-averse giftee with adorable succulents. Plant them in an adorable corgi or whale succulent pot to make a real statement.

32. Snacks!

Got a friend that’s permanently hangry? Perfect! Gift them an assortment of fun or weird snacks to try. Gift these neat snacks from Japan to sate their wanderlust, or even this beef jerky assortment for a voracious meat-lover.

33. Gym survival kit

The New Year means more people will be going to the gym to conquer their resolutions. Help your fitness-obsessed giftees with a gym survival bag full of nice toiletries. Here’s my favorite for women, and here’s a great option for men. They’re also awesome gifts for jetsetters, too.

34. Wireless Bluetooth earbuds

Do you have a coworker who loves listening to his music out loud in the office? Nip that in the bud with these nice-yet-affordable wireless Bluetooth earbuds.

35. Cell phone lens

Instagram is hot, hot, hot right now. Most of its users are concerned about taking a perfect, well-lit shot. If you know one of these picture perfect-obsessed Instagrammers, gift them this cell phone lens. It not only will help them focus for a crisper image, but supply more light to improve the shot.

36. Silk pillowcase

If you know someone who complains about bedhead or general bad hair days, they’ll love this silk pillowcase. Aside from how it makes your bed 1,000% fancier, it’s easier on your hair.

37. Head massager

I firmly believe that everyone can do with a good scalp massage. Unfortunately, a fancy salon treatment isn’t in the budget for most of us, so we make do with awesome tools like this head massager. It’s discreet enough for your friends to keep in their office drawer for a sneaky lunchtime massage.

38. Face cleansing brush

My grandma always said, “There’s nothing like a good scrub.” And she was so right. This face cleansing brush single-handedly helped me beat adult acne for healthy, glowing skin. It’s a great gift for makeup lovers, but I’ve also caught my husband using it a time or two!

39. Portable phone charger

Nobody likes fighting over outlets to charge their devices. Fortunately, with this nifty portable charger, your loved ones won’t have to. I use this portable charger from Anker and it’s saved my butt more than once on road trips.

40. Loose leaf tea set

While I’m a tried-and-true coffee lover, much of the population prefers tea. If your mom loves a mug of green tea in the morning, consider gifting her a loose leaf tea rig. You can score these tea diffusers and even this kettle for less than $25.

41. Humidifier

Winter comes with dry, cold air that does a number on your body. Give this humidifier, which also doubles as an essential oil diffuser, to keep your loved ones cozy during the cold months.

42. Pop Socket

Got a clumsy friend who keeps dropping his phone? Help him make cracked screens a thing of the past with a Pop Socket. These handy devices attach to the back of your phone and double as a handle and kickstand.

43. Foot hammock

Cubicle jockeys around the world are looking for ways to make the cubicle life more comfortable. This foot hammock easily attaches to the bottom of your coworker’s desk so she can rest her feet without fuss.

44. Carphone holder

If you’ve ever used your phone GPS to navigate while driving, you know how treacherous it is to look up and down at the screen. Yikes! Minimize distractions with this magnetic car dashboard phone holder.

I use this one and it’s much sturdier than air vent phone holders, especially if you have a larger phone.

45. Gratitude journal

Gratitude truly is the key to happiness. Gift this five minute gratitude journal to someone who seems like they already have it all. It’s hard to wrap happiness with a bow, but this is as close as you can get.

46. Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook

Got a Potterhead on your gift list? Great! This unofficial cookbook is perfect for Harry Potter fans who want to recreate iconic recipes from the book series.

47. Adult coloring book + pencils

Coloring is a soothing activity that’s fun, whether you’re 9 or 99 years old. Give this beautiful coloring book with these pre-sharpened colored pencils to your grandma or even for your office’s white elephant party.

48. White noise machine

Whether you hate sleeping in absolute silence or you need to drown out the wailing of your neighbor’s cat, a white noise machine makes all the difference.

49. Bathroom spray

I mean, everyone poops. Poo-Pourri is the gift that nobody admits they want, but everyone can use it.

(and they work well with porta-potties too!)

50. Sheet masks

Self-care and pampering are vital during the hectic holiday season. One of the best ways to decompress without leaving your living room is with a sheet mask. Gift this expansive set of sheet masks to someone on your Nice list.

51. Adorable dryer balls

Dryer balls by themselves can be a practical and useful gift. But when you consider how there are some really cute dryer balls out there, they make for the perfect gift. Gift a set of puffer fish or cactus dryer balls to anyone that loves soft laundry.

Do you like Puffer fish? Or perhaps a little cacti?

The post 50 Nifty Christmas Gift Ideas Under $25 appeared first on Best Wallet Hacks.

Founded in 2011 by Manish Chandra, Poshmark is a marketplace that lets you buy and sell clothing, accessories, handbags, shoes, dresses, and even makeup on online. It's a great way to buy products at a discount and becoming more and more popular every single day.

You can visit the Poshmark website but if you want to sell, you'll need to download their free app. Once you download the app, you can become a seller and post an item in thirty seconds.

How Poshmark Works

Poshmark is a lot like eBay in that it's a marketplace matching buyers and sellers.

When you buy on Poshmark, you get their Posh Protect guarantee. Every sale is final but if you never get the item or it doesn't match the listing, they will give you a full refund. You have three days after the shipment arrives to notify Poshmark of any problems.

You can report it directly in the app and provide photographic evidence. If the item is damaged, incorrect, fake, or not as described, you can get a refund. The only thing not covered is if you change your mind or it doesn't fit.

When you sell on Poshmark, they make it really easy to complete the transaction. You get a pre-paid, pre-addressed label that you stick on a box. You can drop it off at your local post office or have them pick it up for free at home.

Poshmark $5 Invite Code Bonus
If you sign up and want $5 in your account to spend, use the Poshmark invite/promo code MISSMARTHAR to get $5. My lovely wife will get $5 off too.

Poshmark Pros

Poshmark has a lot of advantages, whether you're buying or selling your designer fashion.

Useful app

There's a lot to love about the Poshmark app. What's different about Poshmark is that it's more of a buyer and seller community, like eBay, unlike other secondhand sites like thredUp or StitchFix.

The app is easy to use on both the buying and selling side. The photos and pricing are easy to see and there are no surprises. The app's filters are also a great way to pick out your favorite brands. Poshmark Parties let you create your own curated fashion feed. You can choose certain styles, colors, and sizes to help you find items more quickly. You can set up different Poshmark Parties, too. For example, if you want to switch between shopping for yourself and for your teen daughter, you can easily switch between filters.

Because it's a selling app, Poshmark gives buyers and sellers public chat options to communicate (and even haggle on prices). It also gives you protection in the event a deal goes belly-up. It's a much safer alternative to shopping on eBay or Craigslist.

Sense of community

Poshmark is truly unique because of its community. Unlike other secondhand clothing apps, Poshmark isn't focused solely on transactional details. You can use this app to communicate with fellow fashionistas and even gain followers to share your love of fashion.

Sellers have a lot to gain from using Poshmark. Instead of just shipping off items for consignment, you're actively managing sales from the Poshmark app. It's a great way to build your business acumen while making a quick buck from your already-worn luxury items.

Save tons of money on designer fashion

This is the reason people love secondhand! Items on Poshmark are up to 70% off retail. If you're trying to score Lululemon, Torrid, or Marc Jacobs without the heart attack-inducing price tags, Poshmark is where it's at.

They also offer flat rate shipping for $5.95, so there are never any nasty surprises when it comes time for checkout.

Refer a friend invite codes

You can invite your friends to join Poshmark. They get $5 off their first purchase and you get $5 whenever they make their first purchase.

If you need an invite code for Poshmark, ask a friend. Or you can use this Poshmark referral code – MISSMARTHAR.

Poshmark Cons

Although Poshmark does a lot of great work, there are a few sticking points for this platform.

High fees for sellers

This is the worst part of Poshmark. Their selling fees are significantly higher than other online selling platforms.

If you sell a piece that's under $15, Poshmark takes a $2.95 fee. For anything you sell that's over $15, Poshmark takes a 20% fee.

It's more expensive than other platforms, but it's because they bring so much to the table. You get access to a buy-ready audience, their platform, and readymade shipping labels. It's just about as easy as you can get. You do get something in exchange for the fee, but remember that it will cut into your profits if you choose to sell here.

If you were to go with eBay, you have to handle a lot more yourself. You have to coordinate payment via PayPal, then pay for postage separately, then have to deal with any instances of fraud. Poshmark takes care of all those parts.

And if all you're doing is buying, you don't have to worry about the fees!

Slow customer service

Customer service is the lifeblood of business.

Unfortunately, many users have complained that Poshmark's customer service moves at a glacial pace. If you anticipate dealing with customer service to handle disputes, know that it may take some time to reach a resolution.

US-only

Aw, what a bummer!

Much to the annoyance of the rest of the world, Poshmark is only available in the US right now. You'll have to use other apps to sell your designer items if you're outside of the US.

It's all on you

Poshmark is an app that connects buyers and sellers. It doesn't sell the clothing: you do as a seller. That means there's a certain amount of hustle required on your part to know what will sell, and to make sales happen. There's a good chance your item might not sell, too. If you don't have your pulse on the latest fashion trends, you might have a hard time selling on Poshmark.

The other difficulty with Poshmark's setup is that you might have to deal with difficult buyers. Of course, 99% of the people you'll meet will be lovely, but there will be an odd bad apple to deal with.

The post Get your posh on with Poshmark: A Poshmark Review appeared first on Best Wallet Hacks.

There’s a shelf in my basement stacked with things I know I will never use but are too valuable to throw away or recycle. Or at least I think they’re too valuable to throw away or recycle.

It’s things like old electronics, old cell phones, DVDs, books, and other odds and ends that are valuable if I could just match up with someone looking for that thing.

Fortunately, there are a ton of sites out there to sell your stuff online. You can use the apps that specialize in certain items, as Decluttr does for electronics, or you can use a platform that can help you sell anything, like Craigslist or eBay.

1. SellCell

If you have electronics you don’t need, try to sell it on SellCell. They’re a marketplace of electronic buyers, which includes some of the companies lower on the list, and they will give you a price for your electronics from a myriad of sites based on the condition of your item.

The best part is that they’ve also set up bonuses with some buyers, sometimes 5-10% higher than what you’d get directly from the site. If I were selling something, this would be my first stop just to see if there’s a bonus.

Check out SellCell

2. Decluttr

Is your family game closet overrun with games, smartphones, and DVDs? Great! You can sell them for a fair price with Decluttr. This platform specializes in selling used tech, complete with free shipping and next-day payments.

You just have to enter the barcode (or you can use their search function for items without a barcode, like cell phones) and they will instantly tell you how much they’ll pay you for it. There are no games involved – you just send them the item and they pay you. No hidden fees.

• CDs and DVDs
• Video games
• Textbooks (mostly college textbooks)
• Cell phones, tables, and readers
• Legos (by the pound)

Who this is perfect for: Busy people who want to get a fair value for an item but don’t want to deal with the hassles and risk of selling something to a private individual. 

If you have broken electronics, here are seven places where you can sell those.

Check out Decluttr

3. Poshmark

Do you have years-old Michael Kors sunglasses crowding your closet? Poshmark is one of the best places to sell clothing and accessories. Why? Because Poshmark has created a community for buying and selling higher-end fashion.

This online platform and app even has “Posh Parties” where you can list items together with friends. List items in less than a minute and use Poshmark’s prepaid shipping labels for ultimate convenience.

As far as fees go, Poshmark takes a flat fee of $2.95 for all items under $15. For items sold for $15 or more, Poshmark takes a 20% commission.

After you sell an item, you can withdraw the money from your Poshmark account via Direct Deposit request or check request.

Here’s our full review of Poshmark.

4. OfferUp

Are you looking for a less creepy alternative to Craigslist? OfferUp could be for you. This app lets you buy and sell items in your local area. It’s perfect if you can’t or don’t want to mail your stuff.

The OfferUp platform has a code of conduct for behavior and usage to keep buyers and sellers safer. The site gives users profiles, ratings, and transaction history.

And you can instant message users through the OfferUp app.

As the largest mobile marketplace in the U.S., OfferUp is a great place to sell your collection of fanny packs (I’m not here to judge).

And it’s free. As with Craigslist, you won’t pay any fees to use OfferUp.

5. Facebook Groups & Marketplace

If you’re like me, you’re on social media for several hours a day. Why bother navigating to another app when you can sell directly from Facebook? Local Facebook Groups connect you with people who are potentially interested in your goods.

Garage sale groups and parenting groups are popular places to sell. When in doubt, list your items on Facebook Marketplace to sell to people near you.

It’s free to list and sell on Facebook Marketplace, and the site has some of the largest followings around.

This is especially useful if you’ve bought some unclaimed packages from Amazon and want to unload them fast without a fee. Margins on those are often slim so avoiding fee is great.

6. Craigslist

Craigslist is the OG method of local selling. If you don’t want to bother with signing up for the other platforms on this list, give Craigslist a try. Sell everything from boats to old couches to declutter your home.

As always, it’s free to list and sell on Craigslist. Craigslist is a very basic site with minimal bells and whistles, but it’s also highly visited. It’s a great choice if you like selling your stuff in person.

Pro tip: Meet at police stations for Craigslist exchanges, and always phone a friend to let them know where you’re going.

7. eBay

If you’re on the opposite end of the spectrum and don’t want to deal with people in-person, good ol’ eBay is for you. List your item either for auction or with a fixed price. Ship it to the highest bidder and watch the cash roll in. Just remember to build your shipping costs into the price!

Note: eBays fees can be quite high. Make sure you read the fine print regarding fees before you set the price for your items. That way you won’t be sorely disappointed when your eBay bill comes due (been there, done that).

Here’s 10 things you didn’t know you could sell on eBay. 

8. Oodle

Oodle is the internet’s answer to classified ads. It’s simple, free, and shows you listings in your local area or you can search other Oodle communities.

FYI, there is a limited number of items you can post on Oodle at one time. The number of active listings you can have at any one time depends on the category you’re posting in.

Note: Oodle beefed up security recently by ensuring that only registered users can use the site. So, you’ll have to register before using Oodle.

9. Bookoo

Whereas Oodle is the net’s answer to classified ads, Bookoo is the net’s answer to yard sales.

The Bookoo site says it’s a family-friendly alternative to Craigslist. It’s free like Craigslist, but with a more community-oriented feel.

One downside is that Bookoo has limited communities it’s active in. Therefore, you might not find a large selection of items available in your area.

10. StillWhite.com

Still White is a site that helps people sell wedding dresses. It’s a pretty popular site: when I checked the site, they had over 50,000 wedding dresses for sale.

The company charges a one-time fee of $20 or $30 (for a premium listing) to list your wedding dress. You handle shipping, and the buyer pays for shipping.

Many brides dream of a beautiful, white dress for their big day. If your dreams of ever-after didn’t pan out, or you want to get rid of your huge 80s wedding gown, sell your wedding dress on Still White for cash.

11. Tradyo

Looking for local classifieds? Tradyo is an upgrade from old school listing sites like Craigslist. List your item or service for free to sell in your community. Use the IM feature to chat with potential buyers with ease.

Tradyo doesn’t have an official website–it’s an app that’s only available for Apple users. Note that Tradyo is based in Canada, so U.S. users might have a limited selection of listings to choose from.

This means you might find it more difficult to sell on Tradyo if you’re in the U.S.

12. 5Miles

Even with most local selling sites, there’s a chance you’re in for a 20-minute drive. 5Miles fixes this problem by connecting buyers and sellers within a five-mile radius of each other.

However, when you visit the site, you will see listings that are more than 5 miles away from you. This is because you can choose a community’s site to post your items on even if you don’t live directly in that community.

Stay safe with the 5Miles rating system and cloaked contact information. Their team even reviews your listing before it goes live, ensuring it’s up to snuff to sell your stuff.

13. Yardsales.com

A lifelong lover of a good deal, I break into a cold sweat when I see a yard sale. If you’re putting on an “everything must go” yard sale this weekend, consider listing it on Yardsales.com.

You can attract more buyers to your sale, as well as sell items directly through the site. Nifty, eh?

It’s free to list stuff on this site. However, they do have a program where you can purchase “credits” to enhance your listings.

14. Etsy

You wouldn’t think this online handmade goods store would be great for selling old stuff, but it is! Along with handmade goods, Etsy lets you sell craft supplies and vintage items.

If you have antiques or vintage items that are quirky, weird, or outrageous, consider listing them with Etsy. Etsy’s requirement for vintage items or antiques is that they’re over 20 years old.

15. Bonanza

Bonanza was voted the best-selling eBay alternative in 2020. One reason why is lower fees. Whereas eBay often has listing fees along with final sale fees of up to 10%, Bonanza lets you list for free.

And their final sale fee is only 3.5% (+ a 1.5% fee for any amount over $500).
As with eBay, you can sell pretty much anything on Bonanza; clothing, home decor, art, electronics, and more.

16. Amazon Seller Marketplace

Do you have a pile of stuff that you want to sell, but don’t feel like the hassle? Amazon offers a Seller Marketplace where you can sell your porcelain doll collection with fewer headaches.

Let Amazon deal with selling and shipping your item. They do take a small fee per item, so make sure it’s worth it!

17. Cash4Books

The other day I discovered some old college textbooks in my bookshelves. Instead of hanging onto them, I’m going to sell them for cash at Cash4Books. Get a quote on your textbook’s value in seconds.

This site works kind of like Decluttr. You enter the ISBN numbers of each textbook. Cash4Books gives you a quote.

If you’re happy with the quote, you send in your books. They’ll pay you via check or PayPal if the books are in the condition stated. With free shipping and quick payment, it’s a marvel for emptying your shelves.

18. Mercari

Mercari is an app that lets you sell just about anything. List your home goods, clothes, electronics, and more. Turn your rompers into cold, hard cash with this marketplace.

Note that like eBay, Mercari does charge a 10% flat fee for each completed sale. Also, keep in mind that Mercari withholds payments until your buyer receives and approves the item. If you want an immediate payout, consider other apps on this list.

19. VarageSale

VarageSale touts itself as another safer alternative to Craigslist. All members are verified with a confirmed name and photo.

There’s an admin/monitor in every community that keeps an eye on transactions to help ensure safety.

And there are no fees for listing or selling on VarageSale.

20. Tradesy

Tradesy helps you sell designer bags, shoes, clothing, accessories, and more. You list your item, then ship it with Tradesy’s free shipping kit when it sells.

The site charges a flat commission of $7.50 on anything that sells for under $50. For items that sell for $50 or more, they’ll charge you a commission of 19.8 percent.

Bonus: Tradesy handles returns themselves.

21. The Real Real

The RealReal is another site that sells high-end designer clothes and fashion. The RealReal is a true consignment shop. You use their virtual appointment system to get a value on the items you wish to sell.

Then you ship the item (for free) and they do the rest; listing, photos, shipping, etc. When the item sells, you get the profit minus a commission.

Note that paying for someone else to do all of the work comes at a price: You will pay a commission of up to 45%.

22. Small Business Knowledge Center – Sell Junk Mail

This one is a little weird but you can sell your junk mail to market research companies.

The most prominent company is SBKC – Small Business Knowledge Center.

Sign up as a Panelist, get accepted, and then send them mailers and get paid for it. Limited space is available but this is the most reputable company of the bunch. They will pay for all kinds of direct mail and even email you forward them. You earn points that can be used for gift cards – don’t expect to get rich but a little extra money never hurt anyone.

Bonus: Pawnshops

This isn’t a way to sell your stuff online, but it is a quick way to sell stuff. Pawnshops aren’t just for your creepy Uncle Vinnie. They’re a wonderful way to make extra cash from the old stuff crowding your garage.

However, do your homework before going to a pawn shop. After all, these guys are in the business of making a buck. Know the history, quality, and worth of your item going in.

Bring an appraisal for big-ticket items, like jewelry, to make sure you’ve been paid a fair price.

How to Get the Most Money when you Sell Stuff Online

If you’re looking to earn the most money when you sell stuff online, here are some tips that might help you do that.

Give a Clear (and Honest) Description

There’s no sense in wasting your time and the time of potential buyers. When you create your listing, be clear and detailed about what you’re selling. Make note of any defects that people would want to know about. That way people are getting what they expect.

Include Good Photos

Good photos are a must have when you sell stuff online. Post clear shots with good lighting and simple backgrounds. Include photos of any defects people should know about.

Be Willing to Haggle

Haggling is simply a part of selling stuff online. If you’re not willing to haggle, make that clear too. That way no one will come expecting to get a lower price.

Consider Fees and Shipping Costs when you Price

When you’re selling stuff that needs to be shipped or on sites that charge sellers a fee, take those costs into account when you list. Choose your listing price knowing that your profit will be reduced by those costs.

List Locally on the Free Sites

Listing locally on free sites like Letgo and OfferUp is sometimes the best way to go. You don’t have to pay any fees. And you don’t have to worry about shipping; just meet up with the buyer or have them come to your house or workplace.

In other words, local listing sites often mean bigger, faster profits.

Be Open Minded

It might be tempting to just throw away items you no longer want. However, as the old saying goes, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.

So, list those items you might think no one wants. Stick an attractive price on them. You never know.

Summary

When selling stuff online, it’s best to use the apps that will get you the most money for your items. Platforms that specialize in specific items, such as Gazelle specializes in electronics, will likely get you the best deals. 

However, if you don’t want to deal with shipping your items – or they are just too big to ship – local platforms like Facebook Marketplace will be your best bet. If you have items that just aren’t worth selling look into recycling them – there are places that will actually pay for that stuff. 

The post 22 Apps to Help Sell Your Junk & Stuff Online appeared first on Best Wallet Hacks.

Whole Foods gets a bad rap for being expensive. But you know what? It’s one of the best places to shop if you want quirky, health-conscious ingredients. I’m 3,000% basic, so Whole Foods is my go-to store for finding more exotic ingredients. I’m basic, sure, but I’m not made from money.

Fortunately, there are ways to fight for a lower total at my beloved Whole Foods. Check out these Whole Foods shopping hacks to score healthy food without compromising your budget.

Go with 365

Like many grocery stores, Whole Foods produces its own generic brand of products. You can score 365 brand coffee, peanut butter, granola bars, and more for way less. If you aren’t finicky about name brands, the Whole Foods store brand is the way to go.

Do the math

Unless you calculate the cost per ounce, it’s hard to tell if pre-packaged or bulk items are the better deal. Whip out the calculator app on your phone to do some math. I was shocked when I realized packaged dried parsley was cheaper than bulk parsley. Who knew?

I like to grab the pre-packaged version of a food and take it with me to the bulk area. I’ll compare the cost per ounce to find the cheaper deal. If you’re math-challenged like me, I use this calculator to do the heavy lifting. Don’t judge.

Buy actual whole foods

Whole Foods is known for its focus on minimally processed foods. Processed foods tend to be more expensive because they go through additional manufacturing and packaging. To save more at Whole Foods, buy actual whole foods. This means opting for veggies and fruits from the produce aisle and some bulk bin items, like grains.

Put down the coconut water

I’m guilty of buying the $4 can of Fair Trade organic nitro coffee at Whole Foods. While a neat treat, the beverage aisle at Whole Foods is a budget nightmare. Prepared beverages have some of the highest markups in the grocery store. Think about it: they just add flavoring to water and resell at a big margin. If you want to keep your Whole Foods bill manageable, I say skip the fancy drink aisle. You can make a cold matcha latte at home!

Get bulky

I used to straight-up ignore the bulk bins at Whole Foods, mostly because it looked like effort and math. Fortunately I’ve changed my ways and come to realize that the bulk bins are where it’s at! I don’t have to buy a five-pound sack of bulgur wheat if I don’t need it. I just swing by the bulk area and scoop up one pound of grain for way less.

The big caveat to the bulk bins is to compare prices. Sometimes the unit prices on bulk goods are higher than the pre-packaged goods.

Time your trip

Check your local Whole Foods to see if they do daily deals, like $1 Taco Tuesdays. If you want first pick of the best sale items, swing by on Wednesday, when the week’s sales are announced. Some stores also do Friday-only sales, so keep your ear to the ground for upcoming deals.

Chop it yourself

Whole Foods is infamous for selling prepared whole foods, like supremed grapefruit slices, cubed melon, and even pre-peeled oranges. I’ve fallen for their siren song of convenience before, but the markup on these items is ridiculous. It also produces a ton of unnecessary plastic waste.

If you’re intimidated by the thought of processing your own produce, YouTube has tons of great video tutorials. If my clumsy self can do it, you can, too!

Follow Whole Foods

Companies want to reward their loyal followers with insider information. That’s why it’s important for any Whole Foods savings lover to follow the chain online. Subscribe to their email newsletter and follow both the national and local branches on social media. They like to send coupons and exclusive sneak peeks to followers.

Coupon books

Some Whole Foods locations produce coupon books. If your store offers them, they’ll usually be located near the sale papers at the front of the store. When in doubt, ask customer service. You can save a lot of money just by connecting with the awesome Whole Foods employees.

Join Whole Kids Club

I don’t have kiddos, but I salute the brave people who shop with their little ones. If you take your little ones shopping at Whole Foods, look into joining the Kids Club. Some locations offer free treats or snacks to pint-sized members. They also offer great educational resources for kids on healthy eating and gardening.

Buy in bulk

This isn’t just about exploring the bulk bins. If you buy lots of product at once, you can score a sweet deal. For example, buy six bottles of wine to get 10% off. You can also get 10% off your bulk bins purchase over 25 pounds. You can even get 10% off when you buy an entire case of products. Just check the price on the shelf to see how many items are in a case to qualify for the discount. Sure, this means you have to reaaaaally love Larabars, but if you’re okay with stocking up, you can save a bit more.

Talk to the employees

I’ve never met a Whole Foods employee who wasn’t an amazing person. Talk to the deli employees or the butcher to ask for deals. Once I had a butcher give me a free sack of soup bones just because I mentioned I was cooking beef stock.

You can even get cuts of meat and cheese divided into smaller portions by taking it to the employees. This is a great way to buy only what you need and save a bit more money, too.

Eat the samples

I’m sure I don’t have to twist your arm here, but the samples at Whole Foods are a great way to save money. You get a free snack and can sample a food before you buy it. Whole Foods actually has a generous sampling policy, so you might try asking an employee to sample something, even if it isn’t in the sample display.

Bring your own

Whole Foods is all about healthy, sustainable living. It’s no surprise that they give incentives for people to reduce waste. Bring your own cloth bags and get a 10 cent credit to your bill for each bag.

I’ve heard of some people bringing their own containers for bulk bin purchases, too. Some stores require you to stop by customer service to weigh your containers, so don’t forget to check first! Other Whole Foods stores sell milk in glass jars. Remember to bring back your jar for as much as a $3 rebate.

The bottom line

Whole Foods is a magical wonderland of deliciousness for foodies. But your total can skyrocket if you aren’t paying attention. Use these shopping hacks to save even more money at Whole Foods so you can eat well, even on a shoestring budget.

The post 14 Whole Foods Money Saving Hacks appeared first on Best Wallet Hacks.

Everyone needs a hobby. Or two. Or five.

But not everyone can afford a hobby. Or two. Or five.

Especially if that hobby is an expensive one, like golf or, you know, something absurd like collecting cars or art.

The perfect hobby is one that lets you tap into some of your energy and creativity but doesn’t tap into your wallet in a significant way. We wanted to pull together a massive list of some great hobbies that can be done with very little financial investment. If you wanted to spend money, you certainly could with any of these hobbies, but they’re inherently frugal in nature.

Here are some of the best cheap but fun hobbies that you can get into this weekend:

Writing

You don’t need $50 Moleskine notebooks to write. Jot your daily thoughts in an app on your phone, or scribble passing thoughts on scraps of junk mail. If you really want to get into writing, consider starting a blog to share your thoughts with the world.

Brewing beer

If you love drinking beer, you’ll love brewing it even more. There are some setup costs with beer brewing, but it’s worth it! To keep it cheap, borrow equipment or pool together with some buddies.

Fermenting wine

I’ve been making my own wine for over a year and it’s awesome. There are hardly any materials needed and you can have wine in as little as a month.

Baking

Who doesn’t love fresh-baked bread? For the cost of flour, sugar, milk, and yeast, you can teach yourself the art of baking.

Reading

There’s nothing cheaper than staring at something for several hours! Reading is an educational and entertaining way to visit far-off places from your couch. Keep it cheap by renting books from the library.

(did you know Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited program lets you read unlimited books from 1 million ebooks?)

Become a movie buff

You don’t have to go to the movie theater every week to be a movie buff. Swing by your local library and check out both old classics and new releases.

Running

I get wheezy when I run, but my husband swears it’s a fun, cheap hobby. Simply lace up your shoes and pound some pavement. You get fresh air and exercise, so what’s not to love?

Sewing

Learning to sew may be one of the most challenging and affordable pursuits there is. Follow YouTube tutorials to learn how to hand-sew. If you want to score a sewing machine on a budget, thrift stores are your best bet.

Coding

Any type of hobby that lets you build something is a hobby worth having. Coding unlocks so many doors. Take a free class at Code Academy to start building in the virtual space.

Volunteering

I used to volunteer at a local animal shelter. Sure, it was hard work, but it was so satisfying. I also made a ton of new friends! Volunteering is a great way to spend your time and do some good.

Photography

Normally I wouldn’t classify photography as “cheap,” but the cameras on today’s smartphones make this a breeze. You don’t need a DSLR to have an interest in photography; just use your phone camera to get started. You can always upgrade later!

Geocaching

If you like treasure hunts, you’ll love geocaching. Download the free app and search for hidden caches in your neighborhood.

Pickling and canning

Do you love pickles and jams? Make your own! Buy whatever produce is on sale and learn how to preserve it.

Gardening

There’s nothing more satisfying than growing something from nothing, and gardening lets you do just that. Whether you’re into lush rose gardens or utilitarian vegetable patches, gardening is a fun and cheap way to get some fresh air.

Barbecuing

Ask anyone who loves ‘cue and they’ll tell you it’s an art. Become a barbecue master by watching online tutorials. Start small with a simple grill and expand to fancier equipment as you grow your skills.

Cooking

Who doesn’t love to eat? Become a neighborhood-renowned chef by honing your cooking skills to eat fancy meals at home.

Crocheting

All you need to crochet is a crochet hook and thread. You can often get these items cheaply at craft stores, or occasionally on sites like Freecycle.

Fishing

You don’t need to pay $10 for a cut of catfish – go get it yourself! You need a license, rod, lure, and maybe some bait to start fishing.

Music

Believe it or not, you can learn to play an instrument on the cheap. Many people sell used instruments just to get rid of them; some people even give them away. Check out YouTube tutorials to learn how to play and let out your inner Mozart.

Learn a new language

Bring a little more culture to your life and learn a new language. There are countless free apps and sites that help you nail down a new language in no time.

Genealogy

My husband and I have really gotten into genealogy. You can discover so many amazing things about your story. The best part? It’s like playing detective.

Dancing

Whether you already love to dance or have two left feet, dancing is a fun way to let your hair down. Try local Meetups for dancing or, if you’re shy, practice with YouTube.

Meditation

Life is hectic. Take a timeout by practicing mindful stillness through meditation. I meditate daily and it’s a fantastic way to cultivate happiness.

Restoring furniture

If you love working with your hands, restoration could be up your alley. Peruse flea markets, garage sales, and thrift stores to find furniture you can easily upcycle.

Learning magic

Now you see it, now you don’t! Learn sleight of hand or card tricks on the cheap with YouTube tutorials.

Doing comedy

If you love performing and making people chuckle, consider doing a comedy routine. Follow Jerry Seinfeld’s advice and hone your humor daily with writing.

Whittling

Do you have a stick? Check. Do you have a nice, sharp knife? Check. Congrats! You can start whittling right now. Just watch your fingers, pal.

Podcasting

Podcasting is all the rage right now. Build your own fan base by hosting a podcast on any topic you please.

Raising animals

My sister runs a small farm in Oklahoma, where she raises chickens, pigs, goats, and more. It’s very rewarding to raise animals, especially when they keep you supplied with fresh eggs every morning.

Thrift shop flipping

Do you love thrift shopping? Make a buck on your love of all things secondhand by flipping or restoring items from your local thrift store.

Pottery

You do need a setup to make pottery, but I know people who enjoy simply painting pottery. Express yourself while making a beautiful decoration for your home.

Yoga

Yoga is a great way to stretch, strengthen your muscles, and forget about all the crap from your day. You can score free Yoga tutorials on YouTube, so there’s no need to join a studio.

Scrapbooking

I know from firsthand experience that scrapbooking becomes expensive in a heartbeat. If you truly make your scrapbooks from, well, scraps it’s a cheap hobby and a fun way to preserve memories.

Origami

There’s much more to origami than folding a bunch of paper. It’s both an art and a science, and requires nothing except paper to get started.

Foraging

Many of us live in cities where we’re disconnected from nature. Foraging is a fun way to find edibles out in the great wild. Just make sure you don’t eat funky mushrooms! Partner up with a professional to learn the art of safe foraging.

Swimming

Swimming is especially cheap if you live near the water. If you don’t, passes to the local community pool are cheap as dirt.

Mentoring

I believe that everyone needs a mentor. Join a program like Big Brothers Big Sisters to partner up with a kiddo in your community.

Couponing

I used to be an extreme couponer and it was a lot of fun! It can be a time-consuming hobby, but if you’re up for the challenge, you can learn how to bulk shop on the cheap.

Dumpster diving

This can be as simple as rifling through curbside piles before a bulk pickup day, or digging in grocery store bins for perfectly edible produce. Just check your local laws before you dumpster dive!

Gold panning

What’s more exciting than literally striking gold? Make gold panning a new hobby and you just might strike it rich.

Gaming

Whether you love board games or video games, gaming is a fantastic way to have fun on the cheap. Score used games online or trade games with friends.

Candle making

Nice candles are expensive. Why not make fancy candles at home for a fraction of the price? You can even sell your creations for profit.

Fostering animals

Nothing’s better than cuddling a kitten. Sign up to foster homeless animals. You’ll save lives while staying purr-fectly entertained.

Watercolor painting

Painting can get expensive, but hobbyists don’t need a $50 canvas. Snag a palette of decent watercolors at the craft store and let your imagination wander.

Archery

All you need for archery is a bow, arrows, and maybe a target. Revive this ancient sport to build upper body strength while having fun.

Flower pressing

There’s nothing more soothing than a walk in the woods. Make a hobby out of nature walks by collecting leaves and flowers. Press them in between the pages of a hefty book for perfectly pressed flowers.

Rollerblading

Sure, the roller rink was more en vogue in the 80s, but rollerblading is still a fun way to move. You can even score cheap rollerblades at the thrift store.

The post 47 cheap fun hobbies you can start this weekend appeared first on Best Wallet Hacks.