HOW TO MAKE £2,000 BEFORE SUMMER

HOW TO MAKE £2,000 BEFORE SUMMER

Jasmine Birtles

Top money making tips from across the internet and beyond!

HOW TO SAVE MONEY ON HOLIDAY

Jasmine Birtles

Would you like a lovely, relaxing holiday in the sun this year? Of course you would – we all would!

So, you’ve found a great deal for your trip to Paris, the Pirenees or Papua New Guinea and you’re all excited to go.

Happily, there are lots of ways you can make and save money to put towards a wonderful break for you and your family or friends.

Now what do you do when you’re away to save yourself some pennies and also make the pounds, euros and go further?

You will find them in this eBook.

There’s everything here from making money on cashback sites, doing competitions, making money from your hobbies, making cakes and sweets to selling your unwanted belongings at car boot sales and even renting out rooms to bring in the bacon.

This eBook has lots of tips and ideas to cut your costs when you’re away and also protect the money and items that you have while you’re away.

Not only are these ideas good for making and saving you money, they’re also fun and, in some cases, will get you out there, meeting people.

You can also get all of this information on my wonderful website, , which has thousands of money-saving and money-making articles and a free newsletter too.

So go on. Make some money and have a good time!

GET PAID WHILE SOAKING UP THE SUN

1. Make money as a lifeguard

If you’re a strong swimmer why not become a lifeguard for the perfect summer job? It’s a great way to meet people and although it’s a serious job (your role is to look after and possibly save someone’s life) it can be lots of fun too.

HOW DO YOU DO IT?

There are two types of lifeguard:

Swimming pool lifeguards – employed by a leisure centre, private club, local authority, hotel or holiday centre Beach lifeguards – employed by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).

Once you’re qualified try sites like Leisurejobs, Gapyear.com and Gumtree. Also, contact your local pool and ask about vacancies.

WHAT ELSE DO YOU NEED?

To be a pool lifeguard you’ll need one of the following qualifications:

The National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ)

The National Aquatic Rescue Standard (NaRS): Pool Lifeguard

NPLQ and NaRS courses are based at local swimming pools or leisure centres and are run through approved centres.

To be a beach lifeguard you’ll need one of the following qualifications:

RLSS National Beach Lifeguard Qualification

National Aquatic Rescue Standard (NaRS): Beach Lifeguard, run by the Surf Life Saving Association of Great Britain (SLSA GB).

These qualifications can be gained by either

training with a commercial training organisation like Harlyn Surf School in Cornwall, or by joining a local RLSS Lifeguard club or SLSA GB life-saving club.

You can get information on all lifeguard courses in your area through the Learndirect careers advice website. Expect to pay between £100 and £150, although if you receive benefits you may be entitled to discounts.

HOW MUCH CAN YOU MAKE?

As a part-time lifeguard, you could earn anything between £6.19 and £10 per hour, depending on your level of experience and the type of place you’re working for.

Working full-time could earn you a salary of between £11,500 and £16,000, again depending on location and your experience.

2. Make easy money picking fruit

Over the last few years there’s been a shortage of willing fruit pickers offering their services to British farms. As a result there are usually plenty of fruit-picking jobs available throughout the summer. If backbreaking toil isn’t your thing then you could try your hand at the checking of the fruit, the weighing, packaging, labelling and even sales in the farm shop.

What you’ll be picking will depend of course on the farm but also on the month. For example, strawberries and gooseberries are often picked from early June to mid July, plums and apples are picked in late August, and apples and pears are picked in September.

HOW DO YOU DO IT?

Your best bet would be to travel down to your local farm and speak to the owners directly. Also look out for adverts in local shop windows and village halls. Find a farmers’ market near you here and ask about any jobs going.

Picking Jobs is a useful website where you can put in a search for fruit picking in Europe and see what’s available and Anywork Anywhere has a similar set-up.

When you see a job that interests you, email the employer directly giving a few basic details about yourself and the dates you can do.

WHAT ELSE DO YOU NEED?

You’ll be working outside so wear old casual clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty. You may be standing in fields for hours on end so comfortable shoes are a must. You’ll also need a hat and some sun cream so you don’t get burnt. Insect repellent is a good idea, and make sure you drink plenty of water.

Earnings are likely to be cash in hand and if you earn enough you will be expected to take care of all your own taxes. It’s unlikely you’ll make a lot of money here so you may not exceed your personal income allowance.

HOW MUCH CAN YOU MAKE?

You’ll typically be paid minimum wage.

Depending on the farm you’re working for, you might be paid hourly or daily, but sometimes you’re paid according to the amount you pick (e.g. you get x amount per kg or pound). This system is called ‘piecework’ and it’s fruitful (sorry) for those who work particularly hard.

3. Earn money gardening

If you’re green-fingered then gardening for cash is an ideal way to make some extra money. Lots of people start thinking about the state of their garden in the weeks leading up to summer so it’s the ideal time to pounce on their insecurities!

Offer your family, friends, colleagues and neighbours your services as an expert lawn mower, weed eradicator and plant potter and you’ll be a renowned small-time gardener in no time at all.

HOW DO YOU DO IT?

Start attracting business by handing out cards and flyers, and by knocking on doors. Once you’re up and running, word of mouth should spread and work should roll in on a regular basis.

WHAT ELSE DO YOU NEED?

Ideally, you’ll need your own lawnmower, garden tools and transportation to get from place to place.

In terms of tools, get yourself a sharp pair of secateurs, a pair of tough, skinny gloves and a long, thin trowel. There are plenty of different tools out there to help make your job in the garden a bit easier, so check out places like Robert Dyas.

HOW MUCH CAN YOU MAKE?

Don’t think too big to begin with – offer basic services that people generally don’t have time to do themselves for a reasonable price. Professional gardening companies charge around £15 for simple tasks, so long as you can beat their quotes you should have plenty of business.

4. Make a mint in the sun

Why not take advantage of the fact that Brits can’t cope with heat by selling ice lollies, hand-held fans, bottled water and sun cream on the hottest days of the year?

HOW DO YOU DO IT?

Now, we don’t want to get you into trouble, so if you’re planning on selling in public places then we strongly suggest you contact your local council to ask their permission or get the relevant permits.

Keeping the frozen stuff sub-zero will be your biggest difficulty, but if you can get hold of a newspaper-delivery bag they act as great insulators if you add a few bags of ice. Just ask nicely at your local newsagents.

You might find that carrying everything yourself is a little overwhelming so try posting an ad on Gumtree to employ some part-time minions and pay them a set fee for a few hours.

HOW MUCH CAN YOU MAKE?

People will pay way over the odds if they’re out and you’re the nearest convenience – so charge whatever you can to make a hefty profit.

Target public events, tourist hotspots and crowded places for maximum profits.

5. Get free festival tickets

Are you interested in getting FREE festival tickets?

Being a charity volunteer will get you into the festival for nothing and you’ll only have to work a few shifts – then you can enjoy the music with everyone else!

WORKING FOR OXFAM

Oxfam’s presence at summer festivals is huge. They need thousands of volunteers to steward, campaign and run their shops at festivals.

Volunteering will mean you work shifts (which vary depending on the festival so make sure you check first) and in return you get a FREE ticket, hot showers, hot food and an exclusive staff camping area.

OTHER VOLUNTEERING POSITIONS

Lots of festivals employ people directly too. There are loads of different jobs – but it’s mostly stewarding and/or litter picking that you’ll be doing.

Here are a few of the big festivals to get you started: Latitude, V Festival, Womad, Bestival, Leeds and Reading.

You can also volunteer at festivals with Action Aid, Greenpeace and WaterAid.

Find out more about free tickets here.

6. Save on airport parking

If you’re going away, book airport parking before you get to the airport to save loads.

Go online to Essentialtravel or Holidayextras and you can compare multiple car parks services and their rates at once.

For example, if you’re departing from Stansted you could save as much as £157.50 for a fortnight’s parking just by pre-booking.

7. Rent out Your Driveway

If you don’t use your garage or driveway you could rent it out for money – particularly if you are in London or another parkingunfriendly city.

Put ads in local papers or in the local newsagent or even on your front gate. If you live near a station, see if they will let you put a notice up there. Then see how much the station car park charges per day and try to undercut them – crafty!

Even better, register with a site like JustPark, put your postcode in and wait for desperate would-be parkers to contact you.

HOW MUCH CAN I EARN?

Most people letting out their driveway can expect to earn around £30 a week but if you live near major public transport route or in a city centre you could make over £3,000 a year.

If you only want to rent out your space every now and then during the summer, and you’re near a popular sports or entertainment venue, your space could be worth £10 per day!

You will need to check with your home insurance provider to ensure that renting out your driveway or garage doesn’t affect your policy, and any extra cash you make must be declared to the Inland Revenue on your tax return.

For more details read our full article on making money renting out your driveway or garage.

8. House Swapping Holiday

If you think you can’t afford to go away, look into house-swapping. It’s a much cheaper option, particularly for families, as you only have to pay for your travel and food while you’re away.

WHERE TO BEGIN?

Most house-swaps are organised through agencies who either have internet sites or member catalogues.

When you join you will have to provide all the information about where you would like to go, dates when you could possibly go (being flexible will facilitate finding a swap), how many bedrooms and bathrooms you have in your house, as well as appliances and any extras you have like a big garden, garage or swimming pool.

Take a look at Jasmine’s experience and thoughts – p.s she highly recommends it!

IS IT SAFE?

Lots of people do not feel comfortable lending their house to someone else. However, the best way to assure a good swap is to find a reputable organisation to organise the swap. It’s also a good idea to get recommendations from friends.

Most of the agencies charge a one-off annual membership fee of less than £100 and will refund this if you do not manage to organise a swap during that year. Paying the money often means that you deal with people who are genuine about house-swapping and will respect your property as they will want you to respect theirs.

9. Make Money Walking Dogs

If you’re fit, active and enjoy spending time with animals then walking people’s pets can be a really enjoyable and easy way to make some quick cash whilst soaking in the sun.

We’ve got a comprehensive dog walking guide, and here are the basics.

Getting started

Find your first customers just by asking around. Start by asking neighbours and others you know if they require your services. If your workload seems a little feeble, you could try advertising with a poster or notice at your local veterinary clinic or in local shop windows.

After that, if you’re good and reliable, you’ll get publicity through word of mouth. Many dog walkers get clients when they meet them in the park. Get yourself some cheap (but good quality) business cards from Vistaprint and hand them out to dog owners when you’re on a walk.

You can also join a local dog-walking agency such as PetPals or register yourself as a dogwalking company at NarpsUK. Narps members can access discounted rates for insurance and it can also help you find more work through its pet-owner postcode search facility. You’ll earn less per hour but the work would be more regular. Just put ‘dog walking’ into your search engine with your local area and see what comes up. There are lots of little, local agencies all over the country.

What else you’ll need

The biggest expense will be insurance.

Pet Business Insurance offers a number of packages including:

Public liability

If the dog runs out into the road and causes a pile up, or bites someone.

Care, custody and control - looks after the pet itself if it gets injured while under your care.

Loss of key- if you lose your employer’s keys they’ll pay to change the locks.

You’ll also need a ready supply of pooperscoopers and bags and perhaps some doggy toys (but owners will usually supply their own).

Pricing

What you charge is completely up to you, but it’s advisable to only charge what you think people can afford. In tough economic times like these, you might have to sweeten the deal for clients to fight off the competition.

Offering both dog walking and pet minding services together will make you very useful, increasing your level of custom.

Try not to rob little old ladies of their pension, but feel free to charge anything up to £15 an hour to socialites with pocket-sized pooches.

Remember: When a dog does its business in a public place (eg. footpaths, parks, playgrounds, public beaches etc.) you have to clean it up by law and dispose of it properly.

If you do not, you can be given a £50-£80 on the spot fine!

MAKE £100 A DAY AS A TV EXTRA

To make £2,000 before Summer you only need around twenty days of this kind of work (maybe just some weekends). It’s worth a go.

Yes you really can make £100 a day – and even more – by doing work as a walk-on for film and TV projects.

The majority of filming work happens around London but many cities like Cardiff, Leeds, Birmingham and Manchester have regular work as well.

We have a big article here showing you how to become a film or TV extra and how much money you can make at it.

On the whole you can expect to make around £100 a day at it. Often the day rates are less than that but there are loads of ways you get

extra money added on such as going over by an hour, using your own costume (maybe you have a wig or a nurse’s uniform or similar) and having to come in early to be made up and put in special clothes. Working overnight or travelling a long way can also add on cash.

On the whole you get this kind of work through agencies but be careful here. There are some bogus ones (as there seem to be in all aspects of media work, particularly modelling) so check our article to find out some pukka ones and how to check out agencies you come across on the web.

Most will charge you something for registering and photos but it shouldn’t be much if they’re a genuine operation.

TURN YOUR TRASH INTO CASH

1. Have a car boot sale

A great way to earn some quick cash, especially during the summer months, is to go along to your local car boot sale and sell everything you don’t want. It’s also a fun way to get the whole family involved in clearing your home.

Schedule in two times a year to go, once in the beginning of spring/summer around May or June to get rid of all your unwanted autumn/winter items. Then go again before the summer is over to de-clutter before the school holidays finish.

Car boot sales are quick cash but they’re not necessarily the best place to get top prices for things so don’t take valuable items that you could sell well online.

To find a car boot sale local to you use a search site like onlinecarbooty.com, Car Boot Junction or Your Booty or you can simply check the local papers or notice boards. For an in depth guide check our seven step guide on how to make the most of car boot sales

2. Recycle your gadgets

Knowing how to recycle your gadgets for cash could make you a tidy little profit.

Recycling companies don’t only hand over cash for mobile phones – some will also pay you for cameras, MP3 players, games consoles and more.

Prices vary depending on the make and condition of your gadget, but even a few quid is better than just throwing it away. Use our comparison tool to see how much you could get for your mobile.

TOP SELLERS

Perfumes (even half used), furniture, plants, toys and children’s clothes always do well, as do books, vinyl, CDs and the like. Also remember to keep the pricing simple, people love haggling and they love a bargain. It might be worthwhile marking items up slightly so that if people want to haggle you’ll feel more inclined to lower the price.

3. Sell Old Books, DVDs and CD’s

If you’re looking to get rid of games, CDs, DVDs and books, a site worth checking out is Ziffit. It’s a free service and easy to use via its website, or free app which scans barcodes on any book, CD, DVD, Blu-ray or game.

Ziffit then arrange and pay for the collection of any items and pay customers within a few days of the items being received. We have a whole article on how to make money selling your used items on Ziffit.

Also take a look at Spareroom.co.uk, where it’s free to advertise rooms to let. There’s loads of great advice for would-be landlords on the site, too. You can earn a yearly tax-free income of up to £7,500 from letting a room, so this is one of the best ways of making money almost from nothing!

5. Upcycle dull items and sell them on

Upcycle your junk to make useful and attractive items which you can then sell on for a profit. Old clothes, jam jars, wellington boots, plant pots and colourful card are just some of the things that can be turned into ornaments and gifts with a bit of creativity.

4. Rent out your space for cash

Got a spare bedroom you don’t use? Is it full of junk? Clear it out and make it into a comfortable bedroom for paying guests.

If you’ve not heard of Airbnb.com you should definitely check it out. It’s become very popular all around the world. People rent out single rooms to entire villas.

Its especially helpful for travellers looking for more affordable accommodation for short business trips and visiting friends to long holidays at home or away.

So if you live in an area that gets a lot of tourists or business visitors you could certainly make £2,000 before Summer by renting a room or your whole home on Airbnb.com.

For example, like the item of furniture but not the colour? Give it a paint job. It will give it new life and create a great focal item. Use hard-wearing eggshell paint to minimise damage and outdoor paints and varnishes for garden items.

Old jumpers, cardigans and shirts can be upcycled into great cushion covers. Cut off the arms and stitch the holes closed; fill with a cushion filler and create a fastening such as ribbon or wool loops and buttons in the bottom.

Get creative and you can make good money. Read our full article on upcycling here.

6. How to sell your stuff online

If you have a house full of clutter that you’re dying to get rid of then consider selling those items online to make some extra cash.

EBAY

eBay is a great platform to make money on but it can be a scary place to go if you’re new to it.

In order to make you feel at ease with selling on eBay download our free eBook “10 Steps to Making Money on eBay”. There you will find out

• how to register

• how to photograph and upload your items

• how to do the description for maximum sale price

• fees you’re likely to have to pay

LOCAL FACEBOOK GROUPS

There are local Facebook groups around the country where you can sell your stuff to people who live close to you and you don’t have to pay any selling fees. It’s also easier for people to get your things because they’re close. Sell children’s clothes, bikes, cars, furniture and more.

To find your local selling, swapping, buying groups on Facebook try searching the term “things for sale in (insert your town name)”. Look for groups with the highest number of members for a wider choice of things to buy and a larger sales potential network.

GUMTREE

Again this is more of a local service where you can post anything you want to sell –even your house – and there’s no cost (well, apart from houses anyway).

AMAZON MARKETPLACE

Whatever Amazon sells, you could sell your version too. Amazon marketplace can be a good way to sell your old books, CDs and gadgets. You could sell clothes and toys but people tend to go to Amazon for new versions of those.

DON’T FORGET

There are other ways to sell your stuff online. In fact, you can see in our articles and videos for our Clear Your Clutter Day (an annual de-cluttering event that takes place every March) that there are lots of sites where you could sell different things.

For example;

EBID

This is like eBay but cheaper. Admittedly it doesn’t have anything like the traffic of eBay but it’s worth a go if you’re fed-up of the constant charges with eBay.

LAYERHOME

This is a specialist site for vintage furniture. They generally sell cool stuff from the 50s, 60s and 70s but if you have something you think would go well on the site, send them a photo.

HOW TO MAKE MONEY SHOPPING

Whilst it might sound strange, you really can make money shopping using cashback sites (as long as you don’t spend more than you intended to.) All you need to do is visit Quidco and find the retailer you wish to shop with. Then click through and purchase as you usually would and watch as your cashback tracks into your account.

The cashback you earn is simply the commission that Quidco receives from the retailer for referring you to their website. Instead of keeping this commission, Quidco pop this money into your account for you to withdraw at your own leisure. This can be paid straight into your bank account, via PayPal or as an Amazon voucher.

1. Save money on Valentine’s Day

Get cashback when buying for your loved one this Valentine’s Day. You can get 11% cashback at Thortons and Chocolate Trading Company, and you can get a whopping 12.6% cashback at Hotel Chocolat

If you want to accompany your sugary treat with some flowers you can get 8.8% cashback at Bunches and up to 19.95% with Debenhams Flowers. And don’t forget a personalised card – Moonpig are offer 15.75% cashback.

2. Jetting away on summer holiday

Are you planning on going somewhere nice this summer? Then there are a range of offers for you to take advantage of.

The travel retailers on Quidco range including British Airways, Thomson, Expedia, easyJet, lastminute.com, Mr & Mrs Smith and Marriot Hotels. No matter what your holiday plans this summer, Quidco will have something for you.

3. Shopping for the little ones

We all know how costly caring for children can be. With toys, nappies, food, clothes and groceries to buy the costs can pile up.

However, there are plenty of ways to be rewarded when shopping. Retailers like Toys R Us, Kiddicare, Early Learning Centre and Mothercare all offer cashback when you shop online with Quidco.

5. Save on your tickets

Whether you’re looking to go the theatre, for a day out or to a festival, be smart and get cashback when you buy your tickets. Sites that you can get cashback from include lastminute.com, Ticketmaster, Attraction Tickets and LOVEtheatre

Every day costs really can be expensive. From groceries and utilities to clothing and homewares, we’ve all felt the pinch just trying to get by. Quidco, the UK’s no.1 cashback site has been helping people earn cashback every time they shop for a decade.

With one simple life hack you could be saving up to £250 per year just by shopping as you usually would. To show you how Quidco can help with the little to the large expenses in life, check out our list of the best ways you can save money when you shop through Quidco

5. Celebrate Pancake Day on the cheap

This year Pancake Day falls on February 28th . Don’t pay a fortune for your ingredients, find great deals at Tesco, Asda, Morrisons and Sainsburys’s, and also get cashback at the same time. Enjoy your tasty pancake knowing you made it for the best price!

You can browse 4,300+ retailers easily online, all of whom will be offering you a percentage of your purchase value back. We’ve compiled a few favourites below.

6. Save money buying make-up and perfume

The average Brit spends over £1,000 shopping online each year, this may seem unsurprising depending how much time you spend e-browsing yourself but for us it seemed like quite a large portion of our hard earned wages!

The good news is, we’ve found a handy way to help save on the little things that can really add up. To help savvy shoppers out there, cashback sites like Quidco deliver even more than easy price comparison.

BOOTS

One of the most renowned high street stores to pick up your health and beauty products. Boots offer some amazing deals, all of which Quidco sweeten by offering up to 6% cashback on!

An extra tip here, try to bulk buy your beauty products You’ll need then eventually and the more you buy, the more you save. Think of all those points, the 3 for 2’s and of course the added bonus of cashback!

THE BODY SHOP

An excellent crowd pleaser that will allow you to pick up natural, affordable products at the click of a button online. On top of their awesome offers such as free delivery on orders over £25, The Body Shop currently offer up to 7% cashback on your purchase with Quidco!

HOLLAND & BARRETT

Where you’ll often find the 1p sale. They offer the perfect excuse to buy in bulk and pick up double the health and beauty products for essentially no extra cost. They also happen to throw in up to 12% cashback through Quidco

If you need a little more convincing, how about £10 cashback bonus on your first purchase through Quidco? This sign up offer is only available for a short amount of time, so check your make up bag and bathroom cabinet quick. Any beauty essentials you may need in the next week could be made £10 cheaper by purchasing via Quidco!

7. Dress well for less this summer

SAVE MONEY ON BEACHWEAR

As summer is fast approaching, start thinking about getting your beachwear sorted now so you’re ready for the heatwave. You can get great cashback on brands such as Aspiga, Swimwear365 and Heidi Klein

If you’re looking for some easier access high street brands then you could always look out for value beachwear at ASDA George, Next and River Island.

SPRUCE UP YOUR WARDROBE

If you want a whole new summer wardrobe, or just that special one off piece there are hundreds of fashion retailers to choose from on Quidco. Earn cashback when you shop with retailers such as M&S and Boohoo, French Connection or ASDA George.

You can also take advantage of cashback on the high street with Debenhams, River Island and Reiss all offering up to 5% cashback when you shop in-store.

8. Do up the home for less

If you’re looking to take advantage of the summer sunshine and start on some DIY, then Quidco is the place for you.

Retailers such as B&Q and Wilkos are offering up to 4% cashback for all your DIY needs. And notonthehighstreet.com and House of Fraser have some great home décor ideas, all with brilliant cashback offers.

GET CASHBACK ON GARDENINING EQUIPMENT

If you’re feeling green-fingered and looking to make the most of the sun to do a bit of gardening, then make sure you buy any gardening essentials through Quidco so you can get cashback on your purchases.

Great brands include B&Q, Wilko, Wickes, The Range and Waitrose Garden. Also read our article, 13 ways to make and save money from your garden, for more tips.

BRILLIANT MONEY MAKING SITES

Here is our list of favourite money making sites from online surveys and cashback sites to competitions and selling online. Do one or two of these in the run-up to Summer and you’re well on your way to making that glorious £2,000!

1. Win freebies with online comps

Entering competitions online is a great way to nab free prizes for very little effort. They’re usually fast and fun to enter, and your chances of winning are often much higher than you’d imagine. Right now there are lots of people out there snapping up all the prizes you could be winning, so as the saying goes, ‘you’ve got to be in it to win it’!

DON’T FORGET

There are amazing prizes to win with MoneyMagpie every week of the year! Signup to our weekly newsletter for the chance to win or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter. It’s COMPLETELY FREE

Online competitions are generally the easiest to enter. Since they’re geared towards generating traffic, all they really want is your email address which is easy to provide.

Tip 1: You MUST set up a separate email account to enter online competitions, or you’ll find your inbox clogged up with nasty spam.

Tip 2: Concentrate on reputable brands or companies. We have our very own competition page on MoneyMagpie which gives you the chance to win everything from gadgets to gift cards.

Tip 3: Never pay to enter an online competition. If you like browsing through competition sites, stick to ones which offer free entry like Free Postcode Lottery. This is a great little site which gives away £300 every day at noon to one of the postcodes on their list. There’s no catch, the only downside is that you have to check each day to see if your number has come up.

4. Make easy money doing online surveys at home

If you have some free time, why not fill in a few online surveys and earn some money? It’s simple, effective and you could win cash prizes every now and then.

BE WARNED!

There are a lot of sharks in the business and you have to be careful what you sign up for. Some even have the cheek to try to get you to pay to join – ignore these companies. As a rule of thumb, the more lucrative or tempting it sounds, the more likely it is to be a waste of time. You certainly shouldn’t have to pay to join.

Once you’ve signed up to them, some companies might also send you marketing emails – a lot of them! If you don’t fancy receiving these we recommend that you set up a separate email account just for your online surveys. This way your personal account will be left alone, and all your survey-related emails will be kept in one place.

OUR RECOMMENDED ONLINE SURVEYS

Here are the sites offering online surveys we approve of. They’ve all received a thumbs-up from online survey users, but if for any reason these paid surveys fail to impress you then please do let us know. And always remember: never pay to join an online survey site…

• Nielsen Online Panel

• InboxPounds

• Toluna

• PanelBase

• The OpinionPanel Community

• Swagbucks

• MySurvey

Step 1: Register with several companies

You can sign up to as many survey companies as you wish. A full list of genuine ones is below.

REMEBER

You won’t qualify for every survey. Survey companies are after a ‘sample group’, which means they only look for a particular number of people within a specific age range or area, or who use a certain product. However, it’s a good bit of extra pocket money. One of our readers earns about £50 a month plus a regular supply of products to test.

Step 2: Check your inbox in your free time

Most surveys are sent to you via email at random times. Surveys can take anywhere from 10 to 45 minutes to complete. When you receive the email it will tell you roughly how long the survey will take and give you a link to a new window where it’ll begin.

Also, get free goodies to test out for Toluna. They have loads of products they need to have tested so if you sign up for the testing side you can get new things every month. Right now, for example, they’re getting people to test out Garnier Hand Cream and pots of caviar…yes seriously! So you can see the kind of things you could get to try for nothing.

Click here to join up now and get all these great freebies.

2. Make money having fun!

Here’s a great money-making idea for you!

20Cogs is a new website where you can make money in your spare time, at home or on the go. You’ll complete 20 Competitions, Offers, Games or Surveys and once you’ve completed them you’ll be paid via BACs or PayPal. The average payout is over £200!

Firstly, you will need to sign up to be a member. This is of course free to do and, as MoneyMagpie reader, you will get an exclusive £10 bonus just for joining.

3. Make Money Watching Television

We know what you’re thinking – can you REALLY make money watching television? Well yes, you can! Ok, you might have to do a bit more than just watch but there are plenty of ways to turn your relaxing pastime into a money making opportunity.

You can make money from TV by:

• Giving your views

• Selling your story

• Creating a game show format

• Writing a TV script

• Being a TV extra

• Doing voiceovers for adverts

• Making funny home videos

• Being a game show contestant

To find out how more about all these money making ideas read our article “Make Money Watching Television”.

2. Get paid to listen to music

If you love your music, sign up to Slicethepie.com for free and get paid to listen to and review music by unsigned bands.

This isn’t necessarily a big money earner as you’ll only get 1-2p per review at the beginning, but as you get a better ranking there is potential to make more and more cash. Not only is it a good way to make a few extra quid but you could get to hear the next big thing before anyone else.

5. Make quick and easy money using cashback sites

Getting rewarded for doing your shopping might sound too good to be true, but if you shop through a cashback site that’s exactly what you’ll get – a bit of money back on everything you buy. While cashback sites won’t make you a millionaire, if you use them on a regular basis it’s possible to make hundreds each year.

HOW CASHBACK SITES WORK

comparison site like Kelkoo to find out which retailer offers the cheapest deal, and then see if you can find that vendor on a cashback website.

CLEAR YOUR COOKIES

Tracking your path through to a retailer can be a tricky business, which is why some cashback can get lost. Cashback websites create something called a cookie – a tiny crumb of digital information that identifies you – and it is stored on your computer.

The problem is that lots of other websites do that too, which can confuse things. You know when you go onto Amazon and it immediately recommends certain items based on what you’ve purchased and viewed on their site before? That’s done with a cookie. So, to ensure you get the cashback you’re entitled to, make sure you clear your cookies and click through directly from the cashback site to make your purchase.

DON’T BE TEMPTED BY OFFERS OF PRODUCTS YOU DON’T NEED

Cashback sites are essentially shopping portals. Instead of going directly to a company’s website to buy whatever you need, you visit that site via a cashback website that then pays you.

Why? Because cashback sites have partnerships with all the retailers they list and will be paid by those retailers for directing people their way – and will then pass that money onto you.

You have to register as a member to use cashback sites, but it’s usually free. We recommend steering clear of any which ask you to pay for membership.

As a member you’ll get an account and will collect cashback each time you shop through the site. It can take some time to process, but it will eventually be put in your account. After you reach a certain threshold – which varies between different sites – you’ll be able to withdraw your money.

MAKE SURE YOU’RE GETTING THE CHEAPEST DEAL FIRST

Getting 5% cashback on a £150 camera is not a good deal if you can get the same camera for £75 elsewhere. Use a price

Earning cashback is great, but make sure you don’t end up buying things simply because you’re lured by the cashback deal. You’re not saving money if you end up spending it on things you wouldn’t have otherwise bought.

MAKE A BIT EXTRA BY REFERING A FRIEND

Many cashback sites reward you for getting friends to use the site too. So if your friends fancy saving some money as well, point them towards these sites and make some extra money for yourself. Free Fivers pays you £5 when you sign up and another £5 once a referred friend has earned £25.

6. Our favourite cashback site is Quidco!

Whatever you’re looking to buy this summer, we’re sure Quidco has a deal with your name on it.

They offer cashback with all your favourite brands including, Marks and Spencer, B&Q, Tesco, Amazon.co.uk, Debenhams, Expedia, Boots, Argos, BT, The Body Shop, ASOS, Waterstones, Sky and thousands more…

We’re not kidding; you could be earning hundreds and even thousands of pounds a year.

IT’S INCREDIBLY SIMPLE

• Browse the offers available on their site or search for a specific brand, product or service.

• When you want to redeem an offer, just click through to the retailer’s website via the link on their website and make your purchase.

• Quidco tracks your visit and once the retailer has confirmed your sale, they pass on the cashback value.

EVEN YOUR FEEDBACK PAYS

Quidco Opinions is their way of rewarding you for your feedback about products and services. Simply register for an account, complete a personal profile detailing your likes, interests and the products that interest you and they’ll match you to relevant marketing and research surveys.

Your answers help businesses to make better decisions and in return they offer cash rewards for your time and attention.

SAVE MONEY TIDY YOUR FINANCIAL CLUTTER

1. Check out your ins and outs

Even small changes can help you balance your income against your outgoings, which can often help you feel more in control of your finances.

It can help you work out when to allow room for certain irregular or seasonal costs, for example a direct debit like a TV licence, a one-off annual charge like insurance, or things like birthdays or special events – as well as stopping outgoings you may no longer need or use, like a gym membership you forgot you had.

And keeping up to date with when your credit bills are due can help you avoid the risk of missing payments, which could affect your Experian Credit Score.

2. Could you get a better deal on your regular bills?

When did you last change your tariff? With highly competitive markets like mobile phone, energy, broadband or insurance, once an introductory deal is over many people allow their contracts to roll on to higher rates without even realising it – so they can end up paying more each month for the same thing.

Changing could save you hundreds of pounds, with tariffs changing so often it’s hard to keep up with it, and companies both trying to get customers from their rivals or persuade them to stay loyal to them.

In some cases your current provider will want to keep you as a customer and may be persuaded to match or better deals you find elsewhere.

With bank accounts, many people think it’s more trouble than it’s worth to ensure all their payments and debits are changed. There’s a chance you don’t have the best account for your needs, such as overdraft provision, or benefits like car breakdown cover.

3. Make Some Simple Savings

Simple things like making your own packed lunch instead of nipping out for a pricey baguette can save a packet over the course of a year. Other simple wins could be to try and ignore the temptation to make impulse buys, and not to shop for food when you’re feeling really hungry!

Likewise, walking, running or cycling to work/play where possible. Not to mention cutting out gym membership you hardly ever use, or satellite TV channels you never watch – it can all add up!

Do you use the train for family trips? There are railcards that could save you money. Need a hotel? You could check voucher websites for useful ‘percentage off’ code campaigns, or cashback deals.

And even at home you can save money!

According to the Energy Saving Trust, a typical household could save up to £30 a year just by reaching for the off switch instead of the stand-by button, while using a bowl to do the washing up rather than a running tap could save another £30 a year.

4. Get your credit report in shape

Another way of doing that is to make sure your Experian Credit Report is accurate and up-to-date. Your credit report can show you if you’ve missed some payments on cards or loans you have.

Doing this could help you be better off in the long term, as when you make an application for a loan, credit card, mortgage or other type of credit – like a new utility contract or a mobile-phone account – lenders look at your credit report to work out a credit score for you.

Lenders like to see evidence that you might be a responsible borrower, and given that late or missed repayments stay on your credit report for at least six years, it’s a good idea to make your repayments on time if you can.

Checking your Experian Credit Score before you apply for new credit can give you a good indication of how lenders see you.

And now, you can see your Experian Credit Score Free. Forever. It’s updated every 30 days so you always have the latest information.

Find out more in our article on how to clean up your credit record.

5. Snowball your debts

Get your debts in order so you can ‘snowball’ them and start paying them off the cheapest way.

Snowballing debts means you’re paying them off by starting with the most expensive – not the one you owe the most to, but the one with the highest APR (Annual Percentage Rate).

Once you’ve paid that one off, you then move down the list doing the same to the next most expensive, and the next.

Each time you pay a whole one off, the more money you gather to throw at the lower ones – just like a rolling snowball! Snowballing debts means you’re paying them off by starting with the most expensive – not the one you owe the most to, but the one with the highest APR (Annual Percentage Rate).

Once you’ve paid that one off, you then move down the list doing the same to the next most expensive, and the next.

Each time you pay a whole one off, the more money you gather to throw at the lower ones – just like a rolling snowball!

Find out more by reading our article on snowballing your debts.