Best free bet offers

Please note: We do not condone gambling, however we are aware many students do like to have a casual flutter every now and then during big sporting events. The information on this page is complied simply to help you maximise your wins if you do decide to join a betting site.

You’ve probably seen the TV ads whilst watching the football or perhaps horse racing, where bookmakers try and entice you to sign up to their websites using a free bet offer or bonus.

For example, “place a £10 bet on our site and we’ll give you a £10 free bet!”.

Pretty much every bookmaker uses this method of promoting such offers, particularly in the run up to big sporting events like the World Cup or the Grand National.

With so many offers out there, we maintain this page to list the best free bets available to you. As we’ve already said, we don’t encourage gambling of any nature, but if you’re going to do it anyway make sure you’re getting the best ‘deal’ possible.

The table below lists all the best offers right now, and is updated most weeks.

Table of free bets

Bookie	Deposit	Free bet	Min. odds	Claim offer
	£5	£20	2.00	Claim Now »
	£10	£20	1.20	Claim Now »
	£50	£50	1.50	Claim Now »
	£10	£20	1.50	Claim Now »
	£5	£10	2.00	Claim Now »
	£10*	£88	2.00	Claim Now »
	£50	£50	1.75	Claim Now »
	£5	£20	2.00	Claim Now »
	£25	£25	2.00	Claim Now »
	£50	£50	1.50	Claim Now »
	£5	£25	1.50	Claim Now »
	£30	£15	1.70	Claim Now »

For search purposes, the bookmakers included on this page are: Paddy Power, William Hill, Winner Sports, Ladbrokes, Totesport, 888Sport, Sky bet, 188bet, Betway, Coral, Betvictor, NetBet, Bet-at-home, Betfred, 18Bet, Betdaq.

Disclaimer: Neither the author nor this website accept any liability for how you use the advice given on this page. Please be responsible

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Turn your old mobile phone into cash

As we try to keep up with the latest and smartest mobile phones, we’re left with a growing mound of old disused mobiles. Well, that mound could within a matter of minutes be turned into hard cash (to buy another phone perhaps?).

Mobile recycling sites make it incredibly easy, offering instant quotes, free postage and immediate cash transfers. All with a few clicks. However, it’s also easy to rush into selling your phone without shopping around to see who will offer you the most.

For example, when comparing prices offered for the iPhone 5 16GB, PhoneRecycleBank offered just £73 in comparison to Envirophone who offered £106! And for the Samsung Galaxy Note 2, Mazuma offered just £25.00 in comparison to fonebank who offered £85!

Check out our very own mobile recycling price comparison tool to see how much your old phone is worth, and get the most amount of money.

Tips to getting the most from selling your old phone

Get the price that matches the condition of your phone. Don’t sell it as a broken phone if it is still working perfectly (you would be surprised how many accidentally do this!)

Challenge the company if they try to lower their original offer. There are certain companies who try to get out of paying the price originally offered by claiming that your phone has too much ‘wear and tear’. This can sometimes be true but sometimes they are just trying to avoid paying what they ought to. Challenge them and you will be surprised at how quickly they will backtrack.

If your phone is slightly damaged or has a broken battery it may be worth looking at how much it would cost to replace it before looking to sell your mobile. You may get £40 more for a fully functioning phone and find a battery for just £10 on eBay.

Other ways to make cash out of your old phone

Sell My MobileOnline auction sites

Online auction sites such as Amazon Marketplace and eBay can sometimes be a more profitable method of selling your old handset. This can certainly be the case when selling more recent phones. Selling recent models that are still in demand can result in a lot more interest and bidding. However older phones may not receive such levels of interest so recycling sites may be the way forward here.

TIP: Be aware that auction sites do charge selling fees that will eat into your profit so try to take this into consideration before inserting your listing.

More online options

You could consider using forums to see if anyone is in the market for your old phone. Try technology forums or perhaps even those that are phone specific.

Or head to online listing sites such as Gumtree.

High street

Although the high street is associated more with buying than selling it is possible to make good amounts of money from old phones there. Stores such as CEX offer money for your old phones as well as other electronics and can often by very competitive.

They will be selling your phone on so will pay more than companies that simply recycle. Also a friend of mine was offered an additional £25 for just having their charger! As well as well-known high street names independent pawn shops can also be an option worth looking into. Pay them a visit to see what they will offer and perhaps go in with a foreknowledge of what other companies are paying.

Local advertising or social media

Although not the most common way of selling mobile phones nowadays it might be worth a try. Try putting an advertisement up in your local supermarket or inserting a listing in your local paper’s selling pages.

TIP: Include a picture of your phone to show that it is in good condition.

Social media would never have been something I would have considered until a friend tweeted that he was selling his iPhone 4 to allow him to buy the 4S last year. He managed to sell his phone to somebody local who happened to see his post.

Selling to people you know

Friends and family may be in the market for a new phone and if they know your phone is in perfect working order and has been well looked after they may choose to buy from you rather than going and buying new. It is always worth asking!

If you can cover all of these options then you will be able to get the best price for your phone. Obviously, different methods will work better for different phone models so make sure you cover all the options. After all, it could mean getting up to £100 more for your handset!

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Make money from YouTube videos

Remember that viral video you laughed at yesterday while chowing down on your doughnuts? That video could have earned the maker more than £100,000.Make money from YoutubeWe’re not kidding when we say you can earn some serious dollar from YouTube videos and it might just be the funnest money making gig like EVER!

While it sadly isn’t as easy as clapping your fingers and the money appearing in your bank account like magic, making money out of YouTube videos is still a relatively simple concept.

And, in an effort to help you earn some dollar, we’ve put together this step by step guide. Send us some of your earnings maybe?

How to make money from YouTube videos

How much money can you make?

How does it work?

What do you need to get started?

How do you make your videos the bestest?

How can you make even more?

How much money can you make?

Rich StudentStraight in there with the killer question, you shrewd lot. Well, the answer is a bit of a mixed bag really, if we’re honest.

While you might be lucky and find a video clip of yours goes viral and earns you £100,000 (like the guy who uploaded a clip of one of his son’s biting the other one’s finger), this is very unlikely. That said, if you have got something funny, by all means give it a shot.

You’re much more likely to build up revenue by getting an audience through constant content, whether you’re making vlogs, cat videos or just talking about custard creams.fredYou might remember the tale of 17 year old Fred Pye – he hit the news recently for earning £24,000 a year by making walk-throughs for Grand Theft Auto.

But as we said, it isn’t all like this. Livie Rose, a beauty blogger from Brighton says her pay fluctuates from thousands one month to £50 the next, and some people only report a few pounds here and there.

What can you realistically expect?

poundsign_shakyAs a benchmark you can expect to make around $1.50/1000 views. This means that 1million views = $1500… That’s around £880 to us English folk.

However, keep in mind that a lot of the channels (such as Epic Mealtime) sign advertising contracts with certain companies or even promote their own merchandise, like T-shirts, which can earn them even more on top of their views alone.

It’s hard to put a total on this but the possibilities are endless depending on what your videos are about.

How does it work?

confusedbadyThe basic deal with this is Google Adsense, a nifty little programme that allows you to monetise (we love that word) your website or videos with adverts.

After you’ve signed up with the beast that is YouTube and built a decent amount of followers and views you’ll receive an email asking if you want to monetise your videos. You’ll then be able to select videos you want to earn dollar on.

The basic gist of this is companies pay Google to advertise on your videos and you’ll get a cut of the profit.

Just to be clear, you can’t monetise any videos with copyrighted material in them. So no nicking other people’s stuff y’hear?

What do you need to get started?

youtube-setupDepending on what you’re planning on filming you’ll need to get your setup sorted from the beginning.

There’s no point having good content if you’re filming it on your iPhone. A decent setup goes a long way towards showing that you’re serious and having people respect your videos.

You’ll need:

A decent camera – Quality is important and you’ll need to record your videos in full 1080p HD.

Video editing software – Both PCs and Macs have pretty decent video editing software (Movie maker & iMovie) but Adobe Premier is a decent option for advanced users.

Sound recording equipment – Most cameras come with a microphone but if you’re looking for top sound quality you might need to purchase a decent microphone.

Lighting – This is not an essential but some top Youtubers swear by it.

A decent backdrop – If you’re filming a vlog or pieces to camera you might want to set up a decent backdrop. You can stick with plain white or jazz it up a bit with a collection of posters for example.

How to make your videos the bestest?

watchingvidesAs we said before, the way this works is you get popular then you get paid. You can’t sign up to monetise videos no one has watched yet.

It makes sense really, who wants to pay to advertise on a billboard no one walks past? Yet while building up a decent audience might seem daunting, there are some easy tips that might help you get there sooner:

Choose your genre: One of the most popular genres on Youtube is gaming walk-throughs but it’s a pretty competitive. Take some time to think about what you can do well and whether you think you can make a success of it. Other genres that work well are: product reviews, comedy, how to’s, sports and films.

Choose a good username: Sounds trivial, trust us, it isn’t. You need to make your username memorable and steer clear from numbers and random characters. Yes, that means Xxx_ponysrock92_xxX is a no go. Sorry.

Catchy relevant titles: Make your title both catchy and relevant. That way people will remember it, and more people will stumble across it if they’re searching for something similar.

Upload regularly: You won’t build an audience if you stop posting! Remember, the longer you keep that audience locked in, the more monies you get.

Be original: There’s nothing wrong with tried and tested formats such as reviews or cat videos, but you have to make sure you stand out from the crowd. Go forth and be different kids!

Show your enthusiasm: You need to be creating videos about something you love. Having a passion for your videos will show! If you don’t love what you’re doing you’ll soon get bored and the videos will start to show that. The passion comes first and the money comes second…

Always make sure to follow the rules too; no inappropriate content, copyright or spamming. Play nice and you’ll be fine.

How do you make more?

money bathIf you’ve built up a pretty sizeable base and have a dedicated audience, there is one other avenue to explore aside from Google Adsense and YouTube itself.

Patreon is a great little web tool that allows your fans to sign up and donate money directly each time you post something new.

The key to this is building up an audience that appreciates you – if they like what you do the chances are they can be persuaded to part $1 or more each time you upload. Yes it’s US money, but money is money!

Also, as mentioned above, you can approach companies to talk about advertising or at the very least free sample for you to review/talk about.

You might even want to branch out into creating your own merchandise once/if you make a name for yourself.

Some of the big shots on here are earning about three thousand dollars everytime they post a new video. Yes you read that right.

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How and where to invest your money

This article has been written by Andrew Hallam, the author of Millionaire Teacher—The Nine Rules of Wealth You Should Have Learned in School (available on Amazon.co.uk).

Millionaire teacher shares his secrets

If you haven’t figured this out by now, let me share one of the most important things everybody should know:

The world is full of people who would sell you toe nail clippings and magic cat dung…if they could get away with it.

Andrew HallamUnfortunately, the financial service industry breeds more of those opportunists than any other sales field.  And they can skillfully disguise feline faeces to look (and smell) sweeter than a bouquet of spring flowers.

As a young investor, you can’t afford to put some of these products on your dinner plate — not if you eventually want to grow wealthy.  I’m a high school personal finance teacher who built a million dollar investment portfolio by the time I was 38 years old.

I published a book called Millionaire Teacher – The Nine Rules of Wealth You Should Have Learned in School. It hit #1 on Amazon USA for personal finance books in November 2011, #1 in Canada in February 2012, and now I want to boil down the essential elements for a young British audience.

If you just read this with scepticism, good!  That’s what I want.  Be sceptical of nearly everything people tell you, when they’re giving financial advice.  Find academic studies that might refute it.  Only then will you be educated enough to make a financial decision.  Don’t listen to a salesperson or financial advisor who refutes or supports certain advice.  Find an academic study, something truly impartial.

What should you invest in?

For starters, if you’re going to invest, buy assets that appreciate over time.  Cars lose their value each year, so it’s best to spend small amounts on depreciating assets (like cars) and more on assets that increase in value.  I’ve seen the advertisements for Forex trading, especially targeting young people with grand promises.  But remember this:  for every dollar that’s made, there’s a dollar that’s lost.  Always.

Rising investment chartUnlike stocks, bonds and real estate, currencies (as a group) don’t rise in value.  When you trade a currency, there’s another person on the other end of that trade.  Do you really want to gamble with them?

The only sure winner is the investment bank that makes money on the commission spreads from the sale and purchase.  These products are pushed for that reason.  They create excitement (usually for the naïve) and reap tremendous benefits for the large brokerages doing the transactions.

Investors are better off buying assets that appreciate over time — rather than wasting time and money trading currencies.  If two people trade a currency (forex) back and forth for twenty years, the winner will win by an equal proportion to the amount lost by the loser.  The odds are, also, that the winner wouldn’t win by much, if they each played the game for twenty years.

If you and I traded a stock market tracking fund or a London flat back and forth for twenty years, we would both benefit from the rising value of the stock market (plus dividends) or the rising value of the flat.  We’d likely be better off holding those assets, rather than trading them, but my point is this:  the overall stock and bond markets increase in value over time, as do real estate prices.

Forex trading doesn’t offer that.  It gives low odds of success (like a night at Blackpool) and you won’t find Warren Buffett, nor a college endowment fund manager, nor an economic Nobel prize winner suggesting Forex trading as a sensible investment method.  It makes money for the house, but not for the players, as an aggregate.

What would Warren Buffett suggest?

Buffett, consistently one of the wealthiest people in the world, isn’t a fan of the financial service industry.  He often jokes about a fantasy he has, where a bunch of brokers get trapped on a deserted island with no escape.  Many investors buy actively managed unit trusts, but the firms that create them have one goal:  to make money for themselves.

Warren Buffett

So how do you increase your odds of investment success?

If you think that Warren Buffett and a slew of Economic Nobel Prize winners offer valuable advice (these guys aren’t selling products) then you’ll be keen to build a diversified, low-cost portfolio of tracker funds.

In the U.S., these are called index funds.  They’re extremely low-cost unit trusts that beat more than 90% of professional investors over twenty year study periods, after all fees, attrition, and taxes.  Investment advisers and brokers hate these products, and they’ll usually do everything they can to deter you from buying them.  Brokers, after all, make more money for themselves when selling you litter box products instead.  Portfolios of actively managed unit trusts (and their hidden fees) are generally a bad deal for investors.

Choose Index Tracker funds

Allan S. Roth, adjunct professor at the University of Denver, ran a Monte Carlo simulation to determine the likelihood that an account of actively managed unit trusts would beat an account of index tracker funds.  After all, a responsible portfolio would have more than one tracker fund within it:  it would likely have at least a British stock market tracker fund, a bond market tracker fund, and an international stock market tracker fund.

Roth determined that, if you had five actively managed unit trusts over a 25 year period, your odds of beating a portfolio of index tracker funds would be just 3%.

If you had ten actively managed mutual funds over a 25 year period, your odds of beating a portfolio of index tracker funds would be just 1%.

You won’t find academically supported evidence to refute those findings.  For the best odds of investment success, index tracker funds are the right choice.  Investing is about putting the odds in your favour.

Five Years Ten Years Twenty Five Years

One Active Fund 30% 23% 12%

Five Active Funds 18% 11% 3%

Ten Active Funds 9% 6% 1Pick the right fund when investing

But not all tracker funds are created equally.  Some of them can be pretty expensive.  In Richard Branson’s autobiography, Losing My Virginity, he said that:

“After Virgin entered the financial services industry, I can immodestly say it was never to be the same again.  We cut all commissions; we offered good value products; and we were practically trampled by investors in their rush to buy.”

The great funds that Branson touted were Virgin’s index tracker funds.  But they’re too expensive.  Branson’s intentions might have been good, but HSBC offers the same products at a fraction of the cost.  And in the world of money, small costs add up.

Check out what a 1% difference can make over an investment lifetime:

£1,000 compounding at 7 percent interest for 50 years=  £29,457

£1,000 compounding at 8 percent interest for 50 years=  £46,901

If you’re twenty years old, you could realistically have money working for you until the day you die.  Sure, you’ll be selling some of it to cover living costs as you retire, but you don’t want costs to anchor your money over a lifetime.

The best UK tracker funds

I think the most convenient UK tracker funds are offered through HSBC.  In a 2008 study titled “Mutual Fund Fees Around the World” (published by Oxford University Press) researchers Ajay Khorana, Henri Servaes and Peter Tufano found that the UK’s stock market unit trusts cost investors an average of 2.28% a year, including sales costs and hidden expense fees.

HSBC bankA portfolio of HSBC’s tracker funds, in contrast, would cost you roughly 0.29% annually.  Virgin’s tracker funds cost more than three times as much.

When it comes to unit trusts, the lower the fees, the better.

As the global unit trust research firm, Morningstar reveals, low costs are the only reliable predictor of future performance.  Don’t fall for unit trusts with great historical returns.  The odds of them repeating that performance aren’t great.

Create a diversified portfolio of low-cost tracker funds, and you’ll beat more than 90 percent of investment professionals over your lifetime—without any work.  Don’t forget that a portfolio is not a single tracker fund – it’s a diversified basket of them.  This is the gem that most professionals will never be able to beat.

For further information on the topic of investing your money, read my book and I also recommend the following books.

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13 things you should know before taking part in a drug trial

You may have jokingly considered selling your body to top-up your dwindling student account – but is it a viable option?Student Drug TrialsIncreasingly students are considering volunteering their bodies for clinical trials in exchange for money.

As you might expect, there are mixed reviews and concerns, so we’ve explored the world of paid drugs trials to present you the vital things you need to know first.

We’ve also found out some of the leading companies to deal with, as well as some alternative money making ideas if you discover it’s not for you. Aren’t we so helpful?

Already know that trials aren’t for you? Head over to our ultimate guide to making money as a student for alternative methods of cash making.

What’s on this page?

13 things you need to know about clinical trials

Trusted companies to consider

Alternative ways to make money

What you need to know

There’s a growing demand for testers

poppingpillsThe constant creation of new drugs and medicines creates a high demand for willing human patients to test them on, as pharmaceutical companies need to ensure their product is safe for the mass market.

These companies will offer tempting cash incentives for taking part in the trials, and the actual effort involved on the volunteer’s part is minimal.

Yet while there are jobs aplenty and the rewards seems high, you should always weigh up all the facts first.

Different trials have different requirements

healthistoryMost clinical trials will request volunteers aged anywhere between 18-75, as long as they are healthy and don’t smoke or drink too much – we realise that may rule a lot of students out already!

Other trials may ask for specific requirements, such as asthma sufferers, women on the contraceptive pill or diabetics – it all depends on the type of trial you’re partaking in.

Basically, make sure you know what you’re signing up for and don’t tell porkies!

There are different types of trials

firstmaninThere are several phases of clinical studies, depending on how much research has been done on the drug already.

A phase one trial, also known as a ‘first man in’, means you’ll be the first humans to take the drug, but it will have been thoroughly tested on animals first.

Phase two trials are the next stage and you’ll be the second round of people to take the drug. Phase three is, well you guessed it…

Obviously, the further from the first you are, the more appealing the study may be to you!

You don’t always get paid more for riskier trials

riskandrewardBefore you register for clinical trials, the important thing to note is that the pay is not always higher for riskier drugs.

While there’s the potential to make hundreds or even thousands of pounds doing clinical trials, remember you could be risking your long-term health for just £100.

Payment is generally worked out on a time basis, that is: how many visits you made for the trials, the duration of stay on site for the trial, and the length of the trial.

Research companies may also offer an allowance to cover your travel.

Trials can last several weeks

twoweeksDepending on the trial you might just need to stay overnight, but others demand a two-week (or more) stay on the site of the trial. Clinical trials could therefore be a disruption to your studies and wider life.

Make sure to think carefully about it. You’re paying for lectures already so don’t skip these to make money – that just doesn’t make sense!

You’ll be given an examination

clincialOnce you register for clinical trials you will be given a full medical examination (thank god there’s no revision) to make sure you’re suitable. If the company decides to use you as a volunteer you will be given the green light to be a tester.

You should be prepared for a no though – they won’t take everyone!

You might not end up taking the drug

memeIt might sound weird, but not everyone in a clinical trial will actually end up taking the drug. Some people will be given the trial drug, some might get given something similar and others will get a placebo.

But shhhh… we probably shouldn’t have told you this and, of course, you won’t know what you’re taking at the time though!

Tests will be required

bloodtestIf you’re needle-phobic then this could be a biggie for you, as the chances are you’ll have to undergo some tests, such as giving blood.

If you can stand this though you won’t have to do much more. Lots of volunteers report getting paid to play on  PlayStations, getting unlimited Internet usage, and having time to catch up on work. Pretty much what you’d be doing back at uni then…

There are always risks

tightropeLounging about and getting paid for it does sound mighty appealing, but don’t forget there always is a risk factor here.

Some drugs will have ‘common’ side effects such as nausea, fainting and headaches, which could wipe you out for a few days, but others could be more serious.

In 2006 one trial, dubbed the ‘elephant man’ scandal left six men fighting for their lives after a drug caused an unprecedented reaction. One man’s head swelled up massively, so as to resemble an elephant, and another suffered organ failure and frostbite, leaving him with several amputated toes and fingers.

Yet while this is terrifying, it’s worth remembering this was only such big news because it happens so rarely.

Trials are regulated

Clinical trial regulationIt’s also worth noting that trials aren’t just devised willy nilly. All clinical tests must correspond to the regulations set up by the MHRA (the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) and be approved by an ethics committee.

While clinical trials can be risky, those who are prepared to take the risk are invaluable. The NHS and other medical institutions urge volunteers not to be put off drug trials as they are essential to the development of medicine.

Make sure you’re registered for aftercare

Aftercare drug trialsWhile there are some expected clinical trial risks such as nausea and headaches, lots of outcomes cannot be predicted.

You should ensure that you are contracted to received the adequate amount of care for this. Be sure you are registered with your own doctor before a trial to monitor any adverse side effects.

You’re free to leave at any time

runwayDrug trial volunteers are able to leave the trial at any time, so if you feel it’s all getting too much or you don’t like the way things are going you always have the option to bow out.

However, don’t let this lure you into signing up if you’re not sure!

There are lots of different companies

choiceYou should always make sure to research a range of companies before signing up to any trials, as you want to make sure you sign up to a credible, unbiased company.

Once again, don’t be swayed by the biggest pay-out. A company researching for a better product than their competitors may be biased with their results, and this could impact on your care.

Trusted companies to consider

If you’ve weighed up all the facts and still want to go ahead with clinical trials then there are a number of options you can take.

Educational institutes

Grad HatIf you live near a teaching hospital then that’s a good place to make an initial enquiry or alternatively you could look into trials at your university.

You may also come across post-graduates and researchers who tend to carry out low-risk research and frequently recruit volunteers in exchange for various rewards.

Find teaching hospitals »

Covance

covance_thumbOne of the big names in clinical trials, Covance will hold around 30 trials a year, offering a selection of phase one and phase two tests.

You can expect to be paid between £500 to £3,000 for your time, depending on the type of trial.

Visit the Covance website »

Trials 4 Us

t4us_twitter_logoTrials 4 Us is the largest clinical trial organisation in the UK and tests drugs for a range of conditions and illnesses.

They promise accommodation with unlimited gaming and internet access, as well as rates of up to £120 a day.

Visit the Trials 4 Us website »

Remember to read all the information provided and don’t sign anything unless you’re certain about it. Before opting in you should also discuss the trial with your doctor.

Alternative ways of making money

save moneyEven if you’re a cash strapped student, we promise there are other ways to make money.

The website Trials 4 Us offers money for blood donation, provided you fit the right category and some clinical trials involve paid psychological studies as opposed to drug taking.

For less invasive ways to make money, check out our articles on the best paid online survey websites, how to make money on YouTube or how to make money selling your stuff.

Have you ever taken part in a clinical trial to earn some extra cash? We’d love to hear about your experiences and tips in the comments below!

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6 steps to successfully working from home

Working from home may be your idea of heaven but it’s harder than it sounds. Here are some expert tips to earning some cash without leaving your student accommodation.workhomThe internet is crammed full of work-at-home job adverts which can look like the ideal job for poor students, particularly when you’ve got 5p in your bank account.

The idea of working at home in your PJs can sound like the best gig in the world, but be warned, it isn’t all fun and games.

Because we’re lovely people we’ve put together six of the most important things to consider before you hang up your work uniform for good.

Find the right job

job_offersSo you’ve decided that earning from home is the ideal set up for you. You’ve stocked up on tea, sugar and comfortable pyjamas; in fact all that’s left is the find the job itself.

You’ll find this next point a recurring theme throughout this article, so we’ll forgive you if you feeling like hitting us later, as long as you actually take in what we’re saying.

Put simply, finding a job online is exactly the same as finding any other type of job. Fail to take it seriously and you’ll fail to profit.

Online job sites are a great place to start and we’ve got our very own part-time job search engine. It’s also worth checking out sites such as Gumtree and Guardian Jobs.

Another option to consider is freelancing on various projects, as it gives you much more flexibility and variety.

Check out our step by step guide on freelancing for everything you need to consider and once you’ve done this you can head on down to sites like People Per Hour, where you can offer your services for shedloads of freelance jobs.

Once you’ve found the perfect job, you’ll need to make sure you put in an application that stands out. Check out our advice on acing phone interviews and making your CV or cover letter the talk of the town.

Don’t get conned

ScamIt has been said a million times before, but if something looks too fantastic to be true then it probably is…

You can forget your dreams of a £75 an hour gig; people simply aren’t going to pay mega bucks unless you’re very highly skilled.

Treat online job adverts just like you would any other; check out the company before you apply, expect at least a phone interview before being offered the role and always make sure you visit head office in person before you accept (or at least use Google Street view).

It might sound stupid, but blindly trusting the person at the end of an email could mean you end up working without getting paid or, even worse, scammed out of any money you did have.

Crank up the willpower

Scan_Pic0004-1024x751The possibility of having a job where you can work starkers and not leave your bed is definite bragging rights, but you’ve got to be sure you have got the self-discipline to not roll over and go back to sleep.

When you’re working for yourself, there will be no one to continually ring your phone and leave expletive messages if you don’t show up for a shift. And no one to tell you off for slacking half-way through.

Your housemates may be playing a round of Fifa and last night’s photos may well just have hit Facebook, but if you don’t find the time to work you’ll find your bragging rights evaporate very quickly.

Basically, don’t be these guys.

Avoid loneliness

lonely_boy_by_carpediemlavie-d57t4mkIn one sense online jobs can be some of the most social around. Some friends want to go for a ‘quick pint’ at the pub (personally we’d suggest pre-drinks, much cheaper)? No problem! Just switch your shifts around and the beer is yours before you know it.

However an online job can also be one of the loneliest ways to work.

There’ll be no more chats at the water cooler, complaining about the customers or attending raucous work dos.

In fact, for the most part, you’ll have to forgo the idea of meeting people at work entirely.

On the plus side though, there’ll be no more walks of shame when someone on your shift finds out what really happened to you last night.

Don’t do too many hours

stressed_student_budgetingIt’s always a little bit tempting to go overboard on work hours, especially when working actually means sitting on your bum at home.

Remember you’re not getting paid to do nothing, so the chances are you won’t be able to cook a roast or finish that essay at the same time.

Most uni courses suggest a limit of 15 hours a week for any kind of term-time job so you can still concentrate on your studies, but it’s probably better to go for a lower number of hours at first and then add a few more later if you think you can handle it.

Become self-motivated

Cat_using_computerWhilst decent companies will give you as much help settling in as they can, that doesn’t mean there’ll be someone there to help you when it’s 3am, you’re shattered and you haven’t the foggiest at what to do next.

You simply just have to get used to the idea that there will be no instant feedback and help only comes in emails between nine and five.

Getting organised and planning your workload will really help and give you plenty of time to take on problems.

And finally…

Don’t let all the above give the impression that all online jobs are bad; it’s just best to have a balanced view of things before you commit to anything.

One of the major advantages of working at home is you won’t have to pay for travel, or account time for it.

You also won’t have the worry of switching jobs or getting holiday when term ends and no one will complain if you end up working at ridiculous hours as long as the job gets done (extra flexibility).

Do your research and you could end up with the student job of a lifetime!

After all of that you you find yourself thinking that working from home for a company is not for you then why not take a look at our ultimate list of quick ideas to start making money online, here.

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Get rewarded for testing products

Do you want to get sent products to test, keep them and earn money for reviewing them? Of course you do!

Testing productsThe kitchen cupboards are empty, your purse is feeling rather light, and it’s months until you receive your next student loan instalment.

We’ve all been there, and if you don’t fancy robbing a bank, you’ll probably think that you have no option but to look for a part-time job.

But if you don’t want to venture into the world of regular employment just yet, check out this guide for the best product testing companies who often pay for your opinions.

If you’re interested in getting rewards for product testing, you’ll probably also fancy getting paid for filling out online surveys. Check out our full guide here.

What’s in this guide?

An introduction to product testing

What rewards can you get?

The best/legit product testing sites

Tips to maximise your product testing

An introduction to product testing

There are companies out there who are willing to pay you decent money for giving your opinions and reviewing their stuff.

hand coin

They’ll sometimes send products free of charge in exchange for your feedback (which you could sell online), or they might just pay you cold, hard cash for your views. Sounds great, doesn’t it?

We’ve already shared some great ways to make money, but this nifty guide will teach you everything you need to know about making money specifically from product testing. From assessing the benefits to finding the best (and legit) sites, we’ve got the essentials covered! Read on…

What rewards can I get?

Let’s get down to business. Are the rewards really worth the time and effort? Well, yes, often they are. Rewards differ from site to site, but there’s sure to be something that floats your boat.

Freebies

A few of the things we’ve received from product testing

We’ve seen some of the following freebies up for grabs:

Vouchers for stores such as Debenhams and Amazon

Gadgets and technology like Apple iPads and Samsung smartphones

Food items (sometimes limited edition)

Drinks

Cosmetics

Toiletries

Books and magazines

Cash

Clothing and footwear

It’s worth noting at this stage that not every user of product testing sites gets sent something to test. This is because there are 1000s of users and they simply can’t afford to send out 1000+ free TVs for example. But they do say, if you don’t buy a ticket you can’t win the raffle…

The best product testing websites

If you want to get involved with product testing, you’ll obviously need to know which websites offer the best deals.

There are more popping up all the time, but there are a select few with great reputations that you can be sure will deliver what they promise. After testing a whole range of sites ourselves we have come up with a list of the most trusted product testing sites below.

Toluna

Toluna logoWe say: Toluna is pretty much the best site out there when it comes to getting free products and rewards for your views. You simply sign up for a free account (click here), then you can choose to start testing products or select various polls to answer.

How it works: To receive free products for testing, you can visit the ‘testing’ area of the site (under rewards), and apply to test products. If you are chosen to test the product then it will be sent out to you.

You get to the keep the items, in exchange for filling in a short survey about what you thought of the product.

Example testing items: The goods on offer change all the time, but often include shower gel, toothpaste and cosmetics.

Likelihood of receiving products: Toluna generally have around 200-500 of each product to test and testers are chosen at random each time.

Sign up to Toluna »

UserTesting

usertestinglogoWe say: UserTesting is awesome because it lets you test websites for money. Although you won’t be testing products it’s really fun and the range of sites you get to test keeps you entertained.

How it works: You sign up and complete a test review. If that all goes well you are then sent sites to review from time to time.

You then get paid $10 to your Paypal for every review you do and they only take around 20 minutes.

Example testing items: Just websites (which you don’t get to keep)…

Likelihood of receiving products: It’s a trusted site and only 1% of reviews get declined.

Sign up to UserTesting »

Pinecone

Pinecone ResearchWe say: Pinecone is an excellent and well trusted survey and product testing site and one of the best paying.

The only problem with them is that invites are hard to come by and we only get them every now and then (check via the link below).

How it works: You can sign up to Pinecone to answer surveys and from time to time you might be asked to test a product.

Example testing items: Beauty products, food & drink & more

Likelihood of receiving products: The Pinecone products are a little more limited than other sites but you have less users to content with so chances of getting a product are actually higher.

Check if Pinecone are recruiting »

Ipsos

Ipsos logoWe say: Ipsos is one of the UK’s leading market research companies, and they are more than happy to reward you for your opinions.

How it works: It’s simply a case of filling in surveys and letting them know what you think about certain products, or what your typical buying habits are.

Sometimes the surveys require IPSOS to send you a product to test.

Example testing items: NA

Likelihood of receiving products: We’ve yet to be sent any products from IPSOS but have earned a lot through answering their surveys so it’s still well worth signing up.

Sign up to Ipsos »

Producttesting.uk.com

prodtestWe say: Producttesting.uk.com have lots of differing products to test from expensive electronic items to beauty products and weekends away.

It’s worth noting that we’ve had mixed reviews when promoting them in the past so be sure to be careful with your details such as your email.

How it works: The link below goes through to an offer to test a Toshiba laptop and once you’ve signed up for that you can browse other items on the site for testing.

Example testing items: iPhone 5s, iPads, TVs, beauty products, weekend breaks & more.

Likelihood of receiving products: As with any product testing there is only a limited number of each product and users are chosen at random.

Sign up to Producttesting.uk.com »

You can also want to try the website BzzAgent as well as looking out for “supermarket home panels” or signing up to fashion magazine newsletters but these product tests are very rare and hard to get on to.

Product testing tips

Know your odds

It would be easy to assume that just because you have signed up to test a product that you will automatically receive it. Unfortunately this is not the case!

Most companies set aside around £5,000 – £10,000 of products every month to test and because most of these sites have 1000s of users it means that they cannot sent a product to everyone.

It’s best to see it as if you are entering a competition each time!

Be selective about the products you choose

It’s easy to get carried away and sign up for every free product you can find, but you’re just wasting your own time.

If you have no real interest in receiving the latest copy of a baby and parenting magazine, don’t fill in the form!

Always follow-up with the company

Never forget that these companies are giving you free stuff because they want to know what you think of them. If you forget to send your reviews, they probably won’t send you anything again.

It usually only takes a few minutes to give your feedback, so make sure you do it.

Don’t give up after one day

If you sign up to a product testing website then never return, you’re not likely to receive anything. Make sure you check back on a regular basis to see what’s available.

On sites such as Toluna, you can even chat with fellow testers. If you prove that you’re reliable, have a fully updated profile and that you plan to stick around, you’re more likely to receive the best products.

Set up a “testing” email

If you don’t want your personal emails to get in the way of your testing emails (meaning that you might miss out on an opportunity) then we recommend setting up a testing email.

The good news is that you can also use this email for competitions, survey sites and any other times when you are unsure about handing over your personal email.

It might seem a bit too good to be true, but the product testing sites reviewed in this guide really are genuine and, if you stick with it, they’ll happily send you enough items to keep your spending as low as possible.

Smile!Have you ever used any of these sites? Did they work for you? Leave your thoughts and any of your own advice in the comments below!

If you’ve got the bug for getting rewarded for your opinions, check out our guide to paid online survey sites.

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Make money as a private tutor

The job market is tough, so if you’re looking for a bit of extra cash, you’re going to have to get creative when student money making.

Private tutoring is something that many students do to make ends meet. You’ll already have a lot of the necessarily skills, and though you’d need a PGCE to go into teaching in schools, there’s nothing stopping you from setting up shop and offering the service on a private basis.

If it sounds like something that could float your boat, we’ve put together everything you should know.

Why is it such a good option?

It’s a great money maker

You can earn some pretty decent cash being a private tutor. The exact amounts will vary depending on where you’re based and what your subject specialism is, but you can expect to be able to charge between £25 and £35 per hour. That definitely beats working in a bar.

You’ll get some fabulous experience

Private tutoring will look good on your CV, and in many ways, you’re showing your initiative and ability to think outside of the box. When it comes to applying for a graduate job further down the line, you’ll have a clear advantage over those who have just worked in shops during their time at university.

You can work the hours you want

Most students have a hard time balancing their jobs with their studies, but when you’re self-employed, you can pretty much pick and choose the hours you work. A lot of private tutor jobs can now be done online, so you might not even need to venture out of the house!

Are you the right sort of person?

Just like any job, private tutoring isn’t for everyone. If you’re going to succeed, there are a few personal qualities that you’ll need.

Can you manage your own workload and finances?

Can you be a personal tutor?One of the joys of working for an employer is that they’ll look after the tricky stuff, such as knowing how much work you have to do and sorting out the finances. If you go into tutoring, you’ll have to manage these things yourself, as well doing the actual day job.

Can you work with people?

Even if you’re working online, you’ll need to deal with people on a regular basis. This requires empathy, understanding and the ability to tailor your work to their needs. If you’d rather just get on with what you’re doing without having to interact with others, this line of work probably isn’t for you.

Not forgetting that you may have to deal with people of all ages.

4 things you need to know

Student Income TaxSo, you’re loving all the benefits of private tutoring and you think you’ve got what it takes. Before you rush into anything, here’s what you need to know!

Registering for tax

Being self-employed, you’ll need to register with HMRC for tax purposes. Unfortunately, working for yourself doesn’t mean that you can escape the taxman. This is really important, so make sure you do it sooner rather than later.

But remember if you earn below the personal income allowance threshold you will be eligible to avoid paying any tax.

CRB checks

If you’ll be working with people under 18, it’s worthwhile getting a CRB check. Many parents will ask to see this before they’ll even consider taking you on.

Legal issues

When you’re working as a private tutor, you should have a contract in place between yourself and your students, which covers the technicalities of your relationship. This will include your rate of pay and the hours that you’ll work. Taking a little time to get this in place will save you a lot of potential headaches in the long run.

Deciding how much to charge

As mentioned, private tutoring can be lucrative. When it comes to setting your prices, the ball is pretty much in your court. Try starting out at the lower end of the spectrum, and increase your prices as you get more experience.

Where to advertise

Advertise online tutoringTo get your private tutoring off to the best start, you’ll need to advertise your services. Here are a few ideas.

The Internet

There are several websites where you can sign up to be matched with potential students, including First Tutors. A lot of these will charge either a one-off fee or an ongoing cut of your wages, so bear this in mind before committing yourself.

Your local area

If you’re going to be offering your services in your local area, it makes sense to advertise locally. Find out how much it’ll cost to place an ad in the newspaper, and look out for newsagents that will let you put a card in their window. It’s a great way to spread the word about what you’re doing.

Be creative to get yourself out there. You could ask to talk at a local school parents’ meeting for example.

When it comes to making cash on your own terms, private tutoring could be just the ticket.

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Student to Millionaire: The ultimate guide

So you fancy being a millionaire? There probably isn’t a student alive who hasn’t thought what it would be like to have a bottomless bank balance.Student to millionaireWhile we’ve all dreamt of countless jaunts to far-flung destinations, and an endless queue of gorgeous people wanting to help you splash your cash, short of a lottery win, chances are you’ve ruled it out as a daydream.

But being a ‘millionaire’ isn’t really as difficult and unachievable as you might think. Lots of people prove each and every year that you don’t have to be a banker, EuroMillions winner or be born with a silver spoon in your mouth to build up your wealth to seven figures.

So, here’s our ultimate guide to getting that million. Let’s get rich!

What’s on this page?

What makes a millionaire?

What to do when you’re a student

What to do when you’re a graduate

What to do before you’re thirty

What to do before you retire

Fast track methods

What makes a millionaire?

save moneyOk, so a million quid ain’t what it used to be. It’s actually getting easier every day thanks to things like inflation. So for many budding rich-listers it’s a question of lifestyle and not having to worry about your finances.

To live like a millionaire, you don’t actually need to have a million pounds in the bank – 99% of ‘millionaires’ don’t. To actually be a millionaire you will most definitely have to be right on top of your finances and investments!

Being a millionaire can mean all sorts of things, but in this guide we’re essentially going to look at a realistic path in which you can build up your wealth to a target beyond £1,000,000.

We’ve suggested a few ‘fast track‘ ways to becoming a millionaire at the end for those who just can’t wait… but stick with us for the fool-proof guide first!

Let’s briskly walk through the rest of your life, taking a look at the steps you can take to become a millionaire (or even a billionaire!).

As a student

Rich StudentMost students have to scrimp just to get by, and can expect to leave university with a hefty amount of student debt (see how much).

So, becoming a millionaire at this stage in your life is a tall order. If you’re serious about being wealthy though, now’s the time to get your act together.

Set goals!

The wealth game is a long slog. Money doesn’t come easy. Before you embark on your millionaire challenge, it’s vital that you have a clear life plan.

You need to work out a feasible and realistic route to making your millions that draws on your past skills, experience and ambitions.

We’ll touch on setting income goals later on, but if you’re serious about this then you need to know how to achieve it not just dream it!

Sort out your spending habits

Most millionaires don’t run around buying Lamborghini’s all the time while cracking open the Champagne for breakfast. In fact, that’s part of the reason why they’re millionaires in the first place.

Smashed lamboThey say that ‘a fool and his cash are soon parted’, and that’s a fairly decent motto to live by if you want to join the super-rich.

Hone in on your money skills

Practicing and learning some basic budgeting and money saving skills while you’re a student will stand you in good stead for the rest of your life, so don’t just write it off as ‘something you’ll do another day’!

If you haven’t already got it, download our free book: The Essential Student Guide to Finance.

Start earning

To be wealthy you need to have income! Use any spare time you have (aside from studying and partying) to earn some cash. It’s a good idea to land a part-time job, but it can also pay off to be more creative.

Check out our quick ways to make money guide, or why not start-up a small business if you have something to offer?

Start saving

There’s no getting away from the fact that you will have student debt, but because you don’t have to pay it all back right away (if ever) it’s not like other debt (read about the repayments).

You may find that sometimes you do have a few quid to spare, especially when the loans come in.

BankGet into the habit of putting this into a savings account (easy access is best at this stage) and you’ll be surprised how much interest you can earn on it during your time at uni.

At the same time, remember to cut down on spending. Avoid having a car and think carefully before splashing out on big-ticket items if you don’t really need them.

As a graduate

graduateGoing from a life of education into a world of work can be a daunting prospect. There’s a lot to adjust to, and you might still be worrying about what you actually want to do with your life, nevermind the challenge of becoming a millionaire in the next few years!

Our advice is don’t worry about the unknown, things always work out and there are lots of things you can do to boost your chances of breaching the high-life.

Get a job

Your first priority to maximise your income at this stage is to secure a well paid job. Having said that, think carefully about the career you want to embark on: one you will enjoy and can progress quickly in. Read more about finding a graduate job.

If you’re finding it hard to get on to the career ladder, then pick up a part-time job for the time being whilst you job hunt. And if you’re really struggling to find any paid work then don’t be afraid to sign on at the Job Centre for a short period.

Start a business

The fast-track method of becoming super wealthy in your twenties is to start a high growth, high return business with a plan to exit within 5 years or so.

But, of course. there is absolutely no guarantee you’ll even make a penny, and the risk can often outweigh your other options of building a longer term income.

Facebook MarkIt’s important to have a well researched idea and a solid business plan before you start, and a clear picture of how you’ll support yourself when there’s no money coming in.

Having said all this, there may never be a better time to start in business than as a graduate. You’re responsibilities are minimal and even if it all goes Pete Tong, you’ve got a wealth of experience to build on to take forward.

Start with our own list of business ideas.

Take advantage of tax-free ISAs

One of the reasons why people will never become millionaires is simply because they don’t know how. There are lots of competing options out there fighting for you to invest in, but you need to think smart and do your homework on what is available to you and then what will give you the best return.

money on printingTax free cash ISAs are one of the best ways to consistently build up your savings. If you don’t yet have an ISA, get one now! Why? Read on…

Every year, each person in the UK over the age of 16 has an allowance of money they can put in a tax-free savings account, called an ISA. Once your money’s in the account, it stays tax-free, year after year. So if you have a little bit of spare money lying around, you should absolutely, definitely, 100%, put it in an ISA. After all, why pay tax (currently 20% on savings interest) when you don’t have to?

You can open a different ISA every year with a different provider if you want to, so shop around for the best rate. The top interest rate you can expect right now is around 3%. If you deposit £5,760 (the max. allowance for 2013/14) in one of the best ISAs, you’ll earn £169.76 over the year in tax-free interest. If that same amount was invested in a normal savings account paying 3%, after tax you’d receive £135.

For more on ISAs, read our guide on the best ISA accounts.

Before you’re 30

Millionnaire by 30A few years on from graduating, you’ll hopefully have a decent amount of cash coming in on a regular basis. Now’s the time to start getting serious. Being wiser with your spare money is what makes the difference between your Average Joe and your millionaire.

Get on the property ladder

Homes under the hammerWhilst you’re renting a property, you could see it as throwing cash down the drain every month.

Of course there are lots of benefits in renting, but by this point you should be a little more settled both in where you want to live and financially.

You may be quite happy living with your parents for a few years after you graduate (even if they’re not over the moon), and building up your cash reserves, but sooner or later, you should be looking into buying your own place.

Once you’ve bought your own house or flat, you’ll probably be paying much less every month in mortgage repayments than you had been forking out on rent, and you actually have a place of your very own at the end of it. Historically, property prices follow a strong upward trend so you really are investing in your future.

If you’re in a good financial position, then considering a buy-to let investment is the next step to financial freedom. So long as you can get the initial deposit down, and get a good mortgage deal which is less than the rental income, you’re on the fast track to being rather rich.

Again, you are also likely to benefit from a rise in overall property prices meaning you can bring in big bucks by selling up at the peak of the market and buying at the bottom.

Of course, there is the whole issue of getting a deposit together, and that’s a lot easier said than done.

But going back to those budgeting skills you honed as a student, you can put a plan in place to save up the necessary amount. You’d typically be looking at needing 10% of the property value.

Invest in stock markets using index-trackers

chart risingIf you’re not familiar with the stock market, it can all seem a little bit daunting. Index-tracking stocks are fairly straightforward though, and more to the point consistently beat the vast majority of managed and hedge funds.

In simple terms, these funds are a collective investment scheme that replicates the movements of one particular financial market (eg. the FTSE 100). There are 3 big advantages over other stock market investments:

Very low-cost, with long-term returns of up to 10%pa

Don’t require much knowledge or professional help

Avoid the classic issues of following greed and making stock choices

Easy to manage

Can be wrapped in a Shares ISA for tax-free returns

Maximizes the magic of compound interest (where interest income is reinvested)

This sort of investment works best when it’s given several years to appreciate and mature, so think of it as a long-term venture rather than a get rich quick scheme. But be assured, over time your wealth portfolio will swell nicely.

andrew hallamRead our guide on index-tracking investments, and if you really want to learn how to make your millions using this strategy then definitely read Andrew Hallam’s Millionaire Teacher. Highly recommended.

Get to grips with your pension

Retirement might seem like a long way off yet, but sorting out a pension fund before you hit 30 is a very wise move.

The benefits of pensions in growing your wealth are on a par with index-tracking investments. Even a modest amount put into a pension fund now can make a big difference in the future.

As with many of the other tips on this page, the key thing is to grow your knowledge of these major types of investment products available to you.

You might be able to get a good pension through your employer, who often match every pound you put in, but don’t forget to look at other providers too.

Virgin Money Student ISATry to pick a flexible one, that allows you to pay in as much or as little as you can afford, with a low annual fee. Virgin Money is offering some good deals at the moment.

Before retirement

Rich before retirementWhen you retire you’ll still require an income to cover not only basic living essentials (like rent and food) but to sustain the lifestyle you have worked so hard to achieve.

To be a millionaire OAP requires some planning years before you reach retirement age.

Set an income goal

goal-earnMost retirees are ‘pensioners’ because, well, they are living off of their pension which at least covers living costs. But you want to live like a millionaire, right?

To get to this level of income without working requires a fairly sizable pension plus a good number of other streams of income being earned every month on your capital assets.

If you want to really live it up post-work, it’s important to set an income goal before you retire that does not require you to work any more. This number will vary for everyone, but whatever it is, pick one and work to it. Instead of retiring at 70 you might find you’re able to retire at 58 if you wanted to, because you’ve reached your goal.

By the time you give up work, your investment portfolio becomes your income portfolio. To protect your nest egg you need to diversify…

Diversify your interests

Don’t keep all your eggs in one basket. Over the years, you should aim to build up a portfolio of wise investments that will get you set for when you retire.

A good income portfolio would ideally include a mix of:

pie chartCash and stock ISAs

Government bonds

A pension (private or state)

Index-tracking funds

Buy-to-let property (UK or overseas)

Cash

All of these are sources of sustained income. This kind of balanced portfolio will leave you in a position to enjoy your retirement, rather than wondering how you’ll afford it. And with the UK’s state pension getting worse each and every year, that’s a very good position to be in.

Write a Will

Remember, whatever happens, you can’t take it all with you when you’re in the ground. After a life of saving and building up your wealth, you want it to fall into the right hands when you’re gone.

It can be worth seeking professional legal and tax advice to make sure you have a strategy that maximizes the beneficiaries of your Will. And don’t wait until you’ve gone grey, the earlier the better!

Fast tracks to becoming a millionaire (legally)

Become a millionaire

If the long but fool-proof road to becoming a millionaire – that is, scrimping and saving as a graduate and building a well-balanced and sustained investment portfolio in your 30s onwards – doesn’t appeal to you, then there are other more creative ways to becoming filthy rich in a shorter time-frame.

Try these for size:

Move abroad – with a healthy bank balance you can live like a king in exotic countries such as India, Mexico and Thailand

Lotteries, game shows & competitions – this method of course all comes down to luck, but for a (very) small group of people a punt has paid off big time

Career choice – this guide has mostly focused on investing, but get into a high paying industry or job and you might be driving the flash car quicker than you think

Sell a business – we touched on this, but there’s still lots more to be said for starting up a company, adding value, generating sales and flogging it on

Gambling – not one to recommend since the majority of gamblers get into bad debt, but nonetheless it can be a quick way to big bucks for some. Check our guide to Matched Betting to profit without risk

Property developing – you’ve seen the daytime TV shows, and adding value to houses is without doubt a great way to build wealth relatively quickly

Inheritance – you probably haven’t got much choice in this one, but you can always send a Christmas card to distant wealthy relatives, just in case.

A million isn’t what it used to be, but it’s still more than enough to give you a very comfortable lifestyle. Making wise investment choices will help your cash to stand the test of time –  AKA inflation, your biggest wealth enemy.

Whether you’ve got a couple of tenners spare or perhaps a couple of thousand, give some really serious thought to what you should do with it.

But remember, if you want to be a millionaire, you’d much rather stash it away to earn more money than spend it now.

For more about becoming a millionaire in the 21st century, check out these great books:

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How to earn money by entering competitions

Entering competitions is fun. Especially when you win. It’s even more fun when you actually make money out of it. Ka-ching.duckscroogeNope, we’re not pulling your leg, it is entirely possible to make money out of entering competitions and people even do it professionally. They’ve even got a name for it too. It’s called ‘comping’. Weird, huh?

Marketing bigwigs reckon that there are about 30,000 competitions running at any one time in the UK, featuring prizes of anything from cars to toilet roll. Either way, that’s a hell of a lot of freebies.

So, next you’ll be wanting us to let you in on all the tricks of the trade we expect. Oh, you actually do? Good job you found this guide then.

What’s on this page?

Which competitions to enter

Free competitions or paid?

Top tips to maximise winnings

Which competitions to enter

candyWith so many competitions out there, it’s easy to feel like a kid in a candy shop. But it’d be a full-time job trying to enter them all, so how do you know which ones you should try?

As we mentioned already there are hundreds of competitions out there so try and focus on ones with prizes you really want.

Don’t forget, however, you can always sell your winnings on for a profit, but if you neither want the prize yourself or think it’s worth flogging, don’t waste your time with it.

Look for competitions:

On our Facebook page

In our competitions section

On Facebook & Twitter

On TV & Radio

In magazines

And all over the web

If you’re worried about being scammed then stick to big brand name competitions first, till you’re confident you know what’s legit and what’s not.

It is a very well regulated industry these days though, so you shouldn’t run into mega-problems if you use your noggin wisely.

Free or paid competitions?

freewillyThe keen beans amongst you will have noticed already that while many draws are free to enter, some do have a small charge. When you’re first getting started, stick to the free ones wherever possible.

Once you start winning some prizes, you might decide that you can justify investing a little bit in your new hobby. Do remember though that a lot of the paid ones can be entered for free by entering online instead of texting.

It’s also a good idea to remember that a free competition may have an ulterior motive (such as collecting your data).

Top tips for winning competitions

adelegrammywinningIf you’re looking to win all of the things (and who wouldn’t) then there are a few tips and tricks of the trade that will help maximise your chances. Cue the bullet pointed list.

Put aside time to enter: Goes without saying really, but if you don’t enter you won’t win! The more comps you enter, the better your chances. Try and put aside at least an hour each week if you’re serious about this comping lark.

Keep track of entries: Keeping track of your entries helps you see where you’ve had successes and also stops you from wasting time entering twice. Come on, it’s not hard!

Stock up on essentials: Make sure you’ve always got a steady supply of postcards and stamps, just in case that dream comp comes up with a super quick deadline.

Get a competition email address: Not comfortable with giving your own email out for fear of junk bombardment? Just set up another free email address and let all the rubbish pile up there. Just remember to check it though in case you win!

Get a competition SIM card: Similarly, if you don’t feel like giving out your phone number grab a free SIM from O2, Vodafone or Giff Gaff.

Check the rules: It’s amazing just how easy it is to get yourself disqualified, just because you haven’t read the rules properly. Read the small print, look out for trick questions and pay particular attention to the closing date.

Compers have quite a close-knit little community, so watch out for forums where you can pick up hints and tips. Big name compers such as Martin Dove have also written loads on the subject well worth checking out. He won an ACTUAL YACHT guys.

Make sure to let us know your top tips and if you do win it big, we’d love to know.

For lots more money making ideas you should also checkout this big list of ideas.

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Slicethepie guide: Make money reviewing music

Wanna earn some actual real life money, just by sitting at home in your pants listening to music? Who are we kidding, of course you do! pieeatingSlicethepie is a music review website that pays you (yes, in cash) for sharing your honest opinions on new unsigned artists.

You also have the opportunity to earn even more dosh by referring your friends and earning commission from their reviews too. What better way to make money than discovering awesome new music and sharing your views on it?

Typically you can expect to earn 6-10p per review you write on the site and 10% commission on your referrals, so while you won’t get rich over night, it’s not a bad income if you’re doing something you enjoy anyway.

You might think it’s sounds like an ace idea to try and rig the system somehow to get more money. Sadly for you, however, Slicethepie are constantly on the lookout for unnatural useage and you’ll promptly get banned. Play fair!

Here’s our whistle-stop essential guide to getting your account balance off the ground and putting together your first few reviews.

Writing your first review in 3 steps

Get an account

First things first, click here to register for your Slicethepie ‘Scout’ account.

Go through the sign up steps which will get a quick profile of you and what kind of music you’re into.

Make sure you use the email associated with your Paypal account! Once you’ve opened your account you’re ready to start earning straight away.

slicethepie

Review a track

You’ll be streamed a track at random to listen to. Review the music in the text box below the player and rate it out of ten using the slider.

What should I write?

It’s important to write a good, honest and full review of the tracks as this will boost your ratings on the site, which means you’ll earn more cash. Write lengthy, detailed and constructive reviews to make sure you earn the most money.

Screen Shot 2014-04-16 at 14.17.30These could include: melody, harmonies, lyrics, vocal, arrangement, rhythm and production, to name but a few. Try to always bear in mind the commercial potential of a track when you review it too – could it be a hit in the mainstream market?

Reviews go straight to artists so try to give feedback which will help them improve their music, commenting on a number of different aspects of a song.

Money earned for reviews will be added to your account balance and you can see how much you’ve earned in your session too.

Cash out!

As soon as you’ve earned a minimum of $10, you’ll be able to withdraw your earnings straight to PayPal. Then all you have to do is work out how to spend the money 🙂

Earn money from your friends’ reviews too

If you want to maximise your earnings, or if you’re simply not up for reviewing yourself but would love some extra pocket money, then Slicethepie can help with that too.

Once you’ve registered, you’ll be able to refer friends to the site using your unique link and earn money from the reviews THEY submit.

To find your link, just hit ‘Invite Friends’ in the Scout or MySlice tabs:

slicethepie refer

Then sit back, relax and watch the money roll in! It really is that simple, and this is not a scam. In total Slicethepie has already paid out over £1 million to reviewers and you could soon be a part of it.

To get involved, sign up here now.

For more on boosting your income, check out our big list of money making ideas.

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