David Morey 
Lately, every expense has risen in price, from subscription services to rent and groceries. The wages have yet to catch up, and expecting that they will increase soon is naive. While this might seem grim and even pessimistic, there are ways you can save right now.
I’m not here to tell you about some get-rich-quick scheme. These are far too risky for an average person. However, you can invest some of your time and cover expenses by completing online surveys. The best way to find motivation to start is by knowing how exactly you can save money with them.
Are survey websites a scam?
Online survey platforms are definitely not scams if you choose a reputable paid survey provider. Of course, there is a risk of wasting your time. To avoid it, you first must understand why companies are willing to pay for online surveys.
Collecting honest opinions on products or services from customers is a resource-intensive task. Most companies need more money to organize the surveys, and statistically significant data requires thousands of participants.
Paid survey platforms act as a bridge connecting organizations with customers. Organizations pay money to survey companies, and they gather the opinions of people from the needed regions or social backgrounds. Obviously, survey platforms take their cut, but it’s better for everyone that someone can organize surveys.
Every survey site requires participants to understand whether and for what surveys they will be eligible for. Each site also has different rules for when they pay and what surveys you can expect.
Understanding these requirements is the key to discerning scams from legit websites that allow you to earn. Below are some of the main points you should look into before signing up for surveys.
Collecting too much personal information. If the survey site asks for your payment card details or more personally identifiable information than your doctor, it’s a red flag. They will need some information about you, but your email and name should be enough to get started.
Requiring payment to join. No legitimate survey platform will ask you to make a payment to participate.
Unrealistically high payout caps. One survey usually costs around a dollar, so ten dollars for a payout is a realistic goal that one can reach in a week or two. The best survey platforms have a five-dollar payout threshold.
Deliberately complicated payout process. If receiving your earnings requires yet another form or can only be paid out one specific way, the platform isn’t honest with participants. Look for platforms with multiple payout options, and the process takes a couple of clicks.
Regional restrictions. A common scam on shady survey sites is to promote certain regions as available to participate from, only to restrict them later. Don’t trust the provider and read some reviews online about regional restrictions for both filling out surveys and receiving payouts.
There are no other ways to earn money on the platform. Most legitimate survey platforms are part of a larger gig economy system. They usually also provide software testing, virtual assistants, and bandwidth-sharing opportunities.
Four Ways Paid Surveys Help You Save Money
Save on unnecessary expenses
Entertainment and hobby expenses are the first things we start saving on when times are rough. This makes life easier only on the wallet because boring evenings will stress you and your family out.
Survey sites provide a great middle ground—you can spend a few hours on your phone while commuting and receive one or two gift cards per month to cover the expenses. This was an ideal choice for me, as I managed to save money while still providing my kids with a way to access entertainment platforms.
Platforms like Pawns.app and Swagbucks offer many gift cards for expenses you would cut out when on a budget. Spotify subscriptions, PlayStation Plus credit, and even hotel gift cards. These providers offer hundreds of options for the taste of most users.
Spend less on groceries
Studies show that food-at-home prices are growing by at least 5 percent each year. With such a rate, many households will be unable to afford luxury items or eat out in a few years. Only some of us want to save on food, and growing your own vegetables is not an option for most.
Filling out surveys won’t produce more food, but you can get gift cards from popular grocery stores, such as Walmart, by completing surveys. I haven’t found any high-quality restaurants, but you can get some McDonald’s coupons for a few weekly surveys.
Pay your phone bill
Cutting your phone expenses is often a necessary measure to save some money. Many people have internet plans or other contracts that are unnecessary. However, no matter how much you lower expenses here, you still need a phone number.
If your phone plan costs only a few dollars per month, paid surveys can easily cover it.
One survey per working day, and you can easily collect a five-dollar gift card for AT&T and other popular providers.
Top-up your PayPal account
The most obvious way to save money from paid survey sites is to receive money for them. But these cash payouts are last on my list not because of their convenience but because of the bank charges and taxes.
Using PayPal can lower the latter, but if you earn more than a hundred from paid surveys or do it longer than a few months, the taxman will come for you.
Wrapping Up
Filling out online surveys will not make you rich, but there are plenty of methods to save money by sharing your opinion online. With the knowledge provided here, you can find a legitimate platform to earn some extra cash for daily expenses. I have already mentioned a few good options already.
