Here, you can find a list of resources that I have curated over the years. I update this list on a regular basis to include the best ways to make money, save money and manage money!
Make money
Here are my favourite ways to make money online. These opportunities let you make money online without paying anything upfront, and they also pay you instantly through PayPal or gift cards.
Earn free gift cards with MyPoints
An awesome online money making site for you to get paid doing surveys and shopping online is MyPoints. As a matter of fact, there are 5 different ways you can make money with MyPoints: taking surveys, watching videos, shopping (MyPoints partners with over 1,900 top retailers including Walmart, eBay and Amazon), playing games, or even watching videos.
Check out my comprehensive MyPoints review to learn more!
Earn cash and gift cards with InboxDollars
InboxDollars is one of my favourite sites to make money online. There are six ways you can make money with InboxDollars: taking surveys, watching videos, playing games, shopping, answering emails, and even printing coupons!
Sign up here for InboxDollars today!
To learn more, check out my InboxDollars review!
Earn free cash and gift cards with LifePoints
LifePoints is another one of my favourite survey platforms. It has more than 5 million members on board, clicking away on their phones or desktops for free money.
You get well compensated for your time. They even have pulse surveys and mini-polls that take literally seconds to complete!
The app will transfer points into your online account as soon as you complete your first survey. You can then redeem them for cash via PayPal or gift cards for Starbucks, Amazon, and more!
If you are in the US: Sign up here for LifePoints!
If you are in Canada: Sign up here!
Interested in learning more about this platform? Check out my complete LifePoints review!
Earn gift cards with Swagbucks
By performing various online activities on Swagbucks, you can earn points, called SBs, and redeem for gift cards. The activities are simple. They include shopping at your favourite store, searching the web, answering surveys, watching videos, or playing games.
Sign up here for Swagbucks to earn $5 cash bonus!
Make money doing surveys with Survey Junkie
To get paid from surveys, you should try Survey Junkie. It is a great way to earn some side income while letting your opinions be heard by your favourite brands!
Sign up here for Survey Junkie!
Earn cash back with Ibotta
Ibotta is a mobile app that lets you earn cash-back on purchases. It can be used in person at malls, big box stores, many grocery stores, or online at Amazon, and even on a few travel websites. Pretty much anyone can find a use for this app.
Take out your phone and sign up for Ibotta here!
Earn cash back with Drop
Drop is a popular online cash-back shopping site in the US. Yes, this means that for every single purchase that you made through Drop, you get a discount! Drop has more than 2,500 stores from a wide array of categories listed, including many well-known brands like Amazon and Starbucks.
Starting on April 2nd, snap a selfie while getting vaccinated, and Drop will give you up to $50 in cash rewards! Click to learn more about the #DropCOVID campaign!
Get paid for sharing your opinion with Opinion Outpost
To get paid from surveys, you should try Opinion Outpost. You can take surveys from anywhere, from your home to your favourite coffee shop. All you need is a laptop and a stable internet connection.
Earn cash back on your groceries with Fetch Rewards
Fetch Rewards is one of the best grocery shopping apps in the US that allows you to earn free rewards on everyday grocery runs. By simply scanning and uploading receipts, you can earn free gift cards from popular retailers like Sephora, Best Buy, Amazon, Banana Republic, and more!
Save money
Lower your monthly bills with BillShark
Are you looking to have more money in your pocket? BillShark negotiates lower prices on your monthly bills to save you time, money and hassle. Sign up for BillShark here.
Open a high-interest savings account with EQ Bank
Are you a Canadian resident looking for a great savings account? You will want to check out EQ Bank, which offers one of the best high-interest savings accounts, TFSA and RSP! Sign up for EQ Bank here.
Get cash back with Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card
If you are looking for a Canadian credit card, you may want to consider signing up for the no-fee Tangerine Money-Back credit card. It is my primary credit card that offers cash-back on every purchase, including 2% for three categories of your choice. I use the card on a daily basis, and I cannot recommend it enough. Sign up for the Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card here.
Check out my Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card Review to learn more!
Manage money
Invest your money with Acorns
Acorns is the leading micro investing app in the U.S. It is a super easy-to-use app that enables you to invest your life’s spare money. You only need under 5 minutes to sign up, and there is no minimum investment required. You will be investing in a low-cost, diversified portfolio of exchange-traded funds, and watching your money grow effortlessly.
Invest with Moka if you are in Canada
Moka is the Canadian version of Acorns. If you are in Canada and can’t wait to see how your spare change can grow, you will want to have Moka!
Credit Sesame (US only)
Your credit score can have a big impact on your financial future, whether it’s buying a house, renting an apartment or landing your dream job. Credit Sesame offers credit score and monitoring, savings recommendations and Identity Theft Protection. ALL FOR FREE.
Sign up for Credit Sesame here!
Borrowell
If you are in Canada and can’t join Credit Sesame above, don’t worry! We have Borrowell here. Join over a million Canadians and get the tools you need to help understand, manage and master your credit – in under 3 minutes.
Blogging Resources
Self-host your blog with Bluehost
Bluehost is one of the largest website hosting providers and powers millions of websites. It is the backbone of this site, bellawanana.com.
They offer:
- FREE domain name for 1st year
- FREE SSL certificate
- 1-Click WordPress install
Create graphics with Canva
Canva is a graphic design platform that allows users to create social media graphics, presentations, posters and other visual content.
Personally, I use Canva to design my pins for my Pinterest account. Canva has many pre-loaded designs, and I am confident that you will find something you need.
Canva has a free version, which is what I started with. I encourage you guys to check it out! They also have a fancier, more powerful version called Canva Pro, which offers a lot more flexibility than the free version.
Bella Wanana is the blogger behind bellawanana.com, a personal finance and lifestyle blog. She loves sharing with her readers the best tips and tricks on personal finance and how to live a balanced but fulfilling life. She is also a freelance writer, and she has been featured on sites like MSN.com, Reader’s Digest, The Financial Diet, Yahoo Finance, and GOBankingRates.
