Whether you work full-time or you’re a stay at home dad, there are two things we can pretty much all agree upon.
Raising our kids is rewarding beyond measure.
And it’s also really freakin’ expensive.
There’s nothing like getting the opportunity to take a hands-on role with our kids’ development, watching them smile, laugh, and make new discoveries.
As a dad, there’s nothing I want more than to provide my children with the best life possible.
But that also requires talking about the cost of raising them, which sometimes feels insurmountable.
From diapers and daycare to extracurricular activities and – gasp – saving for their college education, it’s hard to stay above water.
That’s why I’m constantly keeping my eyes open for alternative forms of income, where I can earn some extra pocket money while still enjoying time with my kids.
And I’ve become quite the expert in sorting through these so-called side hustles, spotting the most legitimate ways to make money online.
Because I work from home, my personal favorite way to earn extra cash is by taking paid surveys.
Yes… I know what you’re thinking.
“Aren’t all survey sites scams?”
The answer?
Nope. Not if you find the right site.
When you find a legitimate paid survey site, it can actually be a super helpful way to add a little pocket money to your monthly spending budget. No… I’m not talking get-rich-quick money or college savings money. But if you want to take the kids out for a special brunch, or help soften the cost of a ridiculously expensive movie ticket, taking online surveys can definitely help.
In this blog post, we’ll go over how paid survey sites work and which site I recommend trying to earn extra cash.
How Do Online Surveys Work?
If you’ve never been a member of a survey panel, here’s the basic gist.
Today’s biggest brands need your opinion in order to make new products or upgrade their current ones. If you’re in their target demographic, they’ll ask you questions that help them to get the answers that they need. Then they’ll pay you for answering those questions.
Super simple.
And here’s the real kicker.
As a dad, I find that these things are actually pretty enjoyable.
How many times a day do you bemoan the state of the world that your kids are going to inherit? How many times a day do you hope for a better one?
Taking surveys gives parents the chance to make an actual difference in that world. Whether it’s questions about convenient household products that you want to see hit the shelves, or a survey about emerging tech that affects your kids, these surveys often make me feel like I’m helping to actively engage with the world around me and make it a better place for my kids.
Now to be honest, not all of these surveys are going to be interesting. Some of them can be snoozers. But for the most part, I actually find myself enjoying answering them in my spare time. And with the right site, you can answer screener questions that help to match you with surveys that you’ve got a good chance of qualifying for and will find interesting.
If you’ve made it this far, you’re probably interested in taking paid surveys and want to find out which site you can join first.
So You’re Ready to Take Paid Surveys… Where Should You Start?
If you’re ready to get started with a survey site, I recommend you start with Survey Junkie.
First off, they’re totally legitimate. So you don’t have to worry about not getting paid. Of course, any time you’re thinking of starting an online earning community, you’ll want to look at a company’s reviews. Survey Junkie is the highest rated panel on Trust Pilot, where you can read reviews from other members who are using the site. It’s 100% free to join and you won’t find any hidden fees. And when you successfully complete the redemption process, you’ll receive your points immediately.
So besides being legitimate, what else do I like about Survey Junkie?
As I touched on in the previous section…The surveys are really interesting and covers tons of different topics. And most of them don’t take too long to complete.
But Most Importantly. It’s Super Simple to Earn Money on the Site.
Survey Junkie marks each survey with a points value and estimate the time it will take, so I get to choose where I’m investing my time on the site. And even when I don’t qualify for the entire thing, Survey Junkie still gives me a few points for my effort. That’s a really nice perk that I haven’t come across on many other panels.
They also have an extremely low payout threshold, so the finish line is never too far off. As soon as you earn 1,000 points – or $10- you can cash out through PayPal, Amazon, or e-Gift cards to popular retailers like Target, Starbucks, and more.
With other sites, it can feel like you have to wait a lifetime to get paid, and you end up wondering if you ever even will! That’s not the case here. It’s refreshing to find an honest survey panel that actually does what it says – pay you for your opinion.
If you’ve got some extra time on your hands and you’re looking for a way to earn money from home, then I definitely recommend you start taking surveys with them. As a stay at home parent, we all know that time is a rubber band, and I actually enjoy Survey Junkie surveys enough to fit them in whenever I’ve got a chance!