CHRISTMAS can put a strain on your wallet when the cost of living is already high – but there are ways to get free cash with little effort.
With energy bills and the cost of essentials still stubbornly high, you may find it difficult to balance your budget.
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To help, we’ve rounded up easy ways to add more to your Christmas fund before December 25 without lifting a finger.
1. Switch your bank account – up to £200
You could get up to £200 in free cash just by switching to a new bank account.
Nationwide is paying new customers £200 to switch current accounts and the cash should be paid out before Christmas.
To get the bonus, go on Nationwide’s website, or use its app, switch from a non-Nationwide current account to a FlexDirect account and have two direct debits set up.
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The cash will be paid within ten days.
If you have money in your account, you’ll get a 5% interest rate for the first 12 months on balances up to a maximum of £1,500 too.
First Direct pays new customers £175 in free cash if they switch to its 1st Account.
You need to deposit £1,000 within three months, but given all the criteria are met, you’ll receive the bonus within 28 days.
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You can only benefit from the offer if you’ve never had any sort of account, loan, mortgage or other First Direct product.
You can earn £175 free by signing up to Lloyds Bank’s Club Lloyds current account.
The money is then paid within three working days of completing the switch.
You’ll need to pay in a minimum of £2,000 a month or pay a £3 a month account fee.
Plus you can choose from 12 months of Disney+, six cinema tickets, a Coffee Club & Gourmet Society membership or a magazine subscription.
Find out more about how to get free cash when you switch banks in our guide.
2. Complete online surveys – up to £200
With sites such as Swagbucks, Toluna and i-Say, you can start earning cash with just a few clicks.
Surveys will be distributed to you depending on who you are, where you live, and what you’re into.
Typically, they will take between 10 and 15 minutes to complete.
If you qualify for surveys and check in regularly, you could make around £5 an hour.
By that reckoning, you could get close to earning £100 a month and with just over two months until Christmas that could double.
Payments are usually made via PayPal once you’ve reached a certain threshold, but check carefully, as this can vary from site to site.
As a general rule, steer clear of survey sites where you have to pay to be a member.
3. Referral bonuses – £50
“Refer a friend” schemes are where you refer a pal to buy a service and you both get a cash bonus or freebies if they sign up.
The rewards can make you a tidy sum and are available on everything from broadband and banking to food and fashion.
One woman previously revealed that she made £600 a year just from referrals – £50 a month.
We’ve rounded up offers by the UK’s major companies.
4. Cashback offers – £100s
Cashback websites give you money back when you spend online, meaning it’s a handy tool for spending you’re doing anyway.
TopCashback and Quidco are two of the most popular and could earn you hundreds.
When you’re shopping, make sure you click through the websites to get some extra cash.
Both have widgets you can download so you never forget.
They are free to use but there are plus memberships which cost £5 a year and can give you a higher rate of cashback.
You can also earn cashback from your bank depending on your account.
The Sun previously covered a savvy customer making more than £50 a month in cashback from Halifax.
Just remember to activate it with your bank as it’s not always automatic.
5. Get paid to watch TV – £140
If you enjoy watching TV then this could be a great way for you to fill your pockets.
Theviewers.co.uk puts together research panels for broadcasters and programme makers so that they can get feedback on TV programmes before they hit the box.
You can either attend face-to-face research groups, fill in surveys online or do both.
It is free to register and it is up to you whether you’d like to take part in anything on offer.
You can tailor what you would like to hear about such as focus groups, online surveys, or reviewing new TV programmes.
You can earn between £40 and £70 for a discussion group and it’s usually cash in hand.
Do a couple of them before Christmas and you’ve made £140.
6. Rent out your things and space – up to £200
Anyone with items and space they don’t always need may want to consider renting them out.
For example, this could be a driveway or parking space, as well as items in your home.
Tarek Fergani told The Sun he made £400 from renting out his parking spot in Southsea, near Portsmouth.
It took Tarek four months to earn £400 so with just over two months to go until Christmas you could be looking at earning £200.
He used the YourParkingSpace website, which he described as easy to use.
You enter some standard details such as your name, email address and the bank account you want to be paid into.
You also need to upload a picture of the spot so the renter knows what they are getting.
But there are similar apps around, so it’s worth comparing them with others before you sign up.
Meanwhile, one fashionista has revealed how she managed to make a whopping £9,000 just by renting her unused clothing.
Plus, another tech geek increases his income by £3,000 every month just by renting out his gadgets online.
The exact amount you can make naturally depends on how often you rent out your stuff, as well as how much people are willing to pay.
Check out our guide for more information.
7. Check your winter fuel payment – up to £600
Millions of households are eligible for a £600 payment direct to their bank accounts this winter.
Those who qualify for the winter fuel payment will automatically become eligible for a £300 top-up.
It is separate from the £900 cost of living payment for those on Universal Credit and other legacy benefits.
The winter fuel payment is usually worth between £100 and £300 for those over state pension age.
But payments are being boosted by a further £300 through the “pensioner cost of living” payment.
The cash boost is set to be distributed with the usual Winter Fuel Payments from November 1.
You will get the winter fuel payment if:
- You were born on or before 26 September 1955
- You lived in the UK for at least one day during the week of 20 to 26 September 2021 – this is called the “qualifying week”
To secure the cash, some households will need to apply for the support – and applications are already open.
Most people are paid in November and December but if you have not received it by January 26, 2024, you’ll need to contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre by calling 0800 731 0160.
8. Check if you have a ‘lost’ bank account – £2,100
Teenagers may be sitting on money in so-called Child Trust Funds (CTF) without knowing.
Families are urged to check if they have one of these accounts, which is worth up to £2,100 on average.
CTFs are a type of savings account that used to be available for children.
All of these children automatically received a £250 voucher and lower-income families got £500.
Parents could decide whether the lump sums would be invested in stock or shares or saved in cash when the accounts were opened.
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These accounts are no longer available unless you already have one.
Read more about CTFs in our guide.
