8 ways to boost your finances with social media

In Great Britain, 61% of adults used the internet for social networking in 2015, according to the Office for National Statistics, but these sites aren’t just for keeping in touch with far-flung family and friends; they’re increasingly being used to boost your finances; from complaining to companies on Twitter, to selling your wares on Instagram.

Here are our top tips on how social media can help stretch the pound in your pocket.

• Make money from your sofa.

1. Get your consumer complaints resolved - fast

Twitter and Facebook are fast becoming alternative avenues for complaints. The fact you’ve named and shamed the company in public may even help you to get a quicker response.

The day I wrote this feature, I spotted someone complaining on Twitter to a well-known supermarket that their bacon sandwich was literally taking the bacon by not including any of the streaky stuff – a picture of the offending meal was posted for all to see.

A mere two minutes later, the supermarket responded by asking for more information and promising the customer they would not be left out of pocket.

I, too, have used Twitter to complain. I once huffed and puffed about a train being cancelled, only for the rail operator to speedily respond telling me how I could claim compensation.

Moneywise’s special projects editor Rachel Lacey has also used Twitter to challenge private parking fines and to track down missing toy parts.

Many banks also have teams on hand 24/7 to answer your questions via social media. Just remember to write directly on the company’s Facebook page or link to their Twitter handle in your tweet to improve your chance of getting a response. And never compromise your identity; don’t post your bank details or other sensitive information online.

2. Look out for a new job

If you want to find a new job, join LinkedIn and set up an online CV, then connect with former colleagues and other professionals in your field. You can also use LinkedIn to search for jobs.

For a localised search, follow your nearest Jobcentre Plus on Twitter for job adverts in your area, and ‘like’ their Facebook pages for updates.

3. Make money selling crafts or unwanted goods

You can sell anything from old clothes to furniture using Facebook. It’s completely free and Facebook doesn’t take a cut of any earnings made. Just find a local sales group in your area, click ‘Sell Something’, fill out the details of what you’re selling with a price, and click ‘Post’.

If you want to save money on postage, stipulate that items are for collection only – just be safe about where you meet the buyer.

Instagram is also a tool for promoting and selling homemade crafts and wares, as it’s all about photos. Caption your picture with relevant hashtags so people can find what they’re looking for.

• How Moneywise team members make money from home.

4. Get money news and tips

Follow the national newspapers, money-saving websites and money-saving blogs on Twitter, and ‘like’ their Facebook pages and you’ll be first to hear of any news. From utility bill price hikes to top savings accounts being launched, if you’re among the first in the know you can be among the first to do something about it.

5. Promote your business

If you’ve got a business, no matter how large or small, social media can be an excellent form of free advertising, as well as a way to interact with your customers and get feedback from them.

Joanne Larner, (above) a 58-year- old osteopath from Rayleigh in Essex, puts part of the success of her first book down to social media. She self- published Richard Liveth Yet – a novel about Richard III set in the present time – on Amazon last May. But she notices a spike in e-book downloads as soon as she mentions the novel on her Twitter account, on her glob, or on her LinkedIn page. When she doesn’t post on social media, her sales go down.

Joanne advises others in a similar position “to find your target audience”.

As she is passionate about the history of Richard III, she regularly chats to like-minded people in relevant Facebook groups and uses this as an avenue to promote her book.

However, she warns that you shouldn’t only use these groups for self-promotion or no one will take an interest. Joanne says you need to actively engage and interact with people.

6. Nab discounts and freebies

Whether you’re heading out for a meal, planning a holiday, or buying a birthday present – try to get a discount first. Follow the likes of @vouchercodesuk and @MSE_Deals on Twitter to arm yourself with the best bargains.

And never miss out on a freebie by following the tweets of @LatestFreeStuff. It says it features samples and freebies given away by Dove, Colgate, Gillette, Fairy, Olay, Boots, Tesco and more.

Alternatively, all of these deals websites have their own Facebook pages, too.

7. Get recommendations for local services

Whether it’s a plumber, electrician or a hairdresser you’re after, type it into the search bar on Facebook alongside your location, and a number of relevant local companies should pop up. Then click on their pages to read more about them, including any reviews people have left.

If you’ve built up a following on Twitter post a comment asking if anyone can recommend services in your area. Or if you are on Facebook, see if there is a group for where you live – these can be a good source of local knowledge.

8. Join in with online forums to discuss and encourage saving money

Forums are a huge online resource where users discuss ideas, post tips, and provide encouragement to each other. Plus you don’t even have to post on forums – you should be able to simply ‘lurk’ and read other people’s comments.

The MoneySavingExpert.com and LegalBeagles.info forums are a great place to start for general money- saving and money-making tips. You can also target specific forums depending on the help you’re after.

Tripadvisor.co.uk, for example, can be a helpful source of holiday saving advice.

Just be aware that people posting may not be experts and their opinions shouldn’t always be acted upon.

Source: Helen Knapman

19 reasons why you owe it to yourself & others to be rich

A lot of people think that if you are rich, you have to have taken from the poor. This is nonsense, because money is fluid; constantly moving. One paper denomination could circulate 10,000 times and as such is not a single exchange where someone gains and someone else loses. Money is simply a universal mechanism of exchange, a way to measure value, a unit of account and a future store of that value. It is not good or bad, right or wrong. If you can learn to leverage money to its full purpose and potential, rather than make it mean what you think it means, or how it makes you feel, then you transcend being a slave to money and you become a money magnet and master.

The most important fundamental of becoming a money master is to accept, believe and then own your right to be rich. It is your birth right. No one was born to be poor. Sure, some people less fortunate can’t help their environment and upbringing, but if you’re reading this you probably can.

Here are 20 great, real reasons why you shouldn’t just be rich, but it is your right and responsibility to be rich:

1. Your increased net worth increases your self worth

Which in turn lifts others up around you. The rising of tides lifts all ships.

2. You help others grow their wealth by growing yours, because:

a. You pay more people more money (because you can afford to)
b. You teach people what you know that helps them make money (which is the greatest gift of all and a more lasting legacy)
c. You inspire people, which creates a positive knock-on, butterfly effect of wealth (well being)

3. The more you make, the more you can give away

Pretty obvious, but many don’t seem to get that the more you earn and own, the more you can share and give. Charity starts at home, commit to wealth and to creating wealth around you.

4. Being broke restricts you from serving, solving & creating

You can’t do much that is creative or inspiring if you lack financial resources. Sure you can be creative, but an artist can do better work with better tools.

5. Being broke consumes resources in society, being wealthy produces them

If you have no money you have to rely on parents, the state and donors to help you get by. If you are wealthy you provide value and resources for others.

6. Being rich leaves a legacy for others to carry on

Money is not the only form of legacy, but it can finance most kinds; schools, libraries, hospitals, foundations and history.

7. It is one of the measures of your progress

Whilst not the only measure, making more money gives you feedback that you are growing, improving and progressing. It’s a useful measure and method of keeping score.

8. You can fund innovation, progress & improvement in important areas

Pretty much all progress is fuelled and financed by money. The cures of disease, the running for election, reaching the moon and Mars; the solving of man’s challenges is accelerated with money.

9. You can fund your passions

Some say that money doesn’t make you happy, but your passions make you happy. Some of those passions are expensive to fund and as such money funds your passion which makes you happy. Use money to fuel and fund your passions, and then share your passion with others to inspire them. Don’t wait until you retire to do what you love.

10. You can start a foundation & even reduce poverty itself

By creating vast wealth you can set up your own charity. A lot of people don’t like the fact that many charities consume most of the donations before they support their cause, so you can change this by starting a foundation, funding education and schools, libraries, hospitals, or simply donating your time to help the causes that matter to you. You can’t do this if you have no money to fund causes or your free time.

11. It will transmute confidence into other areas of your life

When I was skint (temporarily poor) I lost confidence in meeting people, socially, dating and my self employment. It seemed to exaggerate all the worse areas of my life. Conversely as I become more financially secure it increased my confidence in these areas. The rising of tides lift all ships. Money will not change you, but it will exaggerate your existing traits. So use it to do that as a force for good.

12. You will have a statistically better relationship

Half of marriages end in divorce, and most of those divorces are due to money problems. A lack of money will make all your problems worse, because it is the universally agreed mechanism of exchange, which enables us to do anything. Not having to worry about money will relieve stress in your relationships, leaving you to worry about the things that really matter.

13. Money makes you more of what you already are

It is a myth that money will always change you, it mostly makes you more of who you already are. Money will likely exaggerate your great traits (and your bad ones). You can expand your great traits by becoming rich, and use those to help others too.

14. Money gives you security & confidence

If you ever get stuck or get into hardship, you can pay your way out. You know you will always be secure, confident and strong, with a level of wealth behind you for protection. That enables you to get out there and do what you love with more volition. You never have to sell out, you can always follow your dreams.

15. You will attract other wealthy people

Wealth attracts wealth. We are attracted to people like us. The more riches you have. the more likely you are to attract the quality of peer group that lifts you up further. You can forge partnerships, raise more money for ventures and your causes, and meet some of the worlds most interesting people.

16. What you learn by getting rich you can carry into future endeavours

Being rich is a learnable skill, like any other vocation. The lessons you learn are great life lessons that you can carry into many other endeavours. It is also a great gift to pass on to your children, clients and people you care about.

17. You can put your kids through good schools/education

I don’t know a parent who doesn’t the best education for their kids. Private schools aren’t necessarily the best by default, but you can afford the best possible public, private or self education for your kids the more money you have.

18. You create many jobs

Wealth and riches create employment and opportunities. If you have a company it creates economy and increased local GDP by helping people fund their careers (and passions), and pay their overheads. The private sector funds most of the public sector too, so in creating jobs you have a cascading effect of money circulation.

19. You pay vast taxes

Despite some big companies reducing their corporation tax bill, they still pay vast taxes in business rates, VAT, employers AND employees national insurance, pension contributions, fuel duty, regulatory and accountancy, income tax and more. You are funding many of the public sector services by generating wealth, and that is good for the local, national and global economy.

There are so many reasons to be rich that transcend greed and power. Wealth contributes too, not just for your lifestyle, but those around you too. Let’s be honest, money does make you happy, or at least what good you can do with it makes you happy. Don’t be a martyr, stop worrying about how people will judge you, and go and create the wealth you deserve and do great things with it.

Source: https://robmoore.com/blog/19-reasons-why-you-owe-it-to-yourself-others-to-be-rich/

The Best Paid Online Survey Websites

We all have a bit of time to kill every now and then, particularly over holiday breaks and in the evenings. Make sure you're turning it into cash!

Close the YouTube cat videos down. Instead spend your spare time earning £100s a year filling out online surveys or testing products.

There are a growing number of research companies out there offering rewards for your opinions, however they're not always as legit as they make out.

With this in mind, we've created a run-down of the trusted survey sites, personally tested by ourselves. We reveal how much you can realistically make from each site and share some helpful tips to maximise your profit.

Legit online survey websites

Each site has a limited number of online surveys each month for each person. If you want to earn serious rewards it's worth signing up to as many surveys for cash as possible.

Swagbucks

Very popular with students, thanks to a wide variety of ways to earn rewards. Exclusive signup bonus!

Who are they? Swagbucks are a reliable survey site who also offer rewards for playing games and watching videos.

Rewards: Cash, vouchers and prize draws.

Amount per survey: 70 points called SB (40p).

Min. reward threshold: 1 SB.

Our review: We love Swagbucks, and we hear positive reviews from our readers about them too. We've found that completing surveys and polls every day provides the best return for your time, however you can also complete a much wider range of offers to bump up your earnings.

Surveys take around 10 minutes to complete, meaning you can earn around £2.40 an hour. Swagbucks also offers users the ability to complete surveys from multiple providers and give consolation points when you don't qualify for a survey. Read our full Swagbucks review.

Toluna

Test, keep products and earn vouchers.

Who are they? A trusted opinion website working on behalf of leading companies. They want to know what you think about certain products, services and issues. In return, you get rewarded!

Rewards: Free products, Amazon vouchers and prize draws.

Amount per survey: 3,000 – 6,000 points (80,000 points gets you a £15 voucher).

Min. reward threshold: 500 for prizes, 80,000 for vouchers.

Our review: You won't be sent products to test all the time, but we have received a couple over the space of a few months. So it's worth signing up just to get freebies 

You can also answer surveys on the site to earn yourself points which equal vouchers. Each survey takes around 15 minutes to complete, so it'll take around 4 hours overall to earn a voucher.

MySurvey

Make £3-5 per hour.

Who are they? A popular consumer panel who are always looking for new members to participate in market research studies for rewards.

Rewards: PayPal payments, Amazon and high-street vouchers.

Amount per survey: Around 100 points.

Min. reward threshold: 345 points (£3).

Our review: Another one worth signing up for. We got lots of surveys sent from these guys, and they tend to match your profile and interests as a consumer.

The average survey takes about 15 minutes to complete, and gives you 100 points. So you could earn around £3-£5/hour.

YouGov

Earn 50p per survey.

Who are they? This is a little different to others, focusing more on social issues and general interest topics. YouGov polls include topics such as politics, public affairs and commercial products. Great if you have big opinions!

Rewards: Cash and prize draws.

Amount per survey: 50p – £3.

Min. reward threshold: £50.

Our review: YouGov is one of the more interesting sites to sign up to because of the kinds of surveys they conduct. Most are on current issues that are in the news and they encourage you to express your views.

Surveys can take up to 30 minutes but are not always that frequent. We received one or two a fortnight, so it can take a few months to hit the threshold. However, you get £1 just for joining and if you get your friends to sign up too you can quickly get lots more points and cash!

Panel Opinion

Low payout threshold.

Who are they? Panel Opinion are one of the most popular survey sites.

Rewards: Cash.

Amount per survey: 50p – £4.

Min. reward threshold: £10.

Our review: The surveys usually take around 10-15 minutes to complete and you can even make up to £4 for a single survey sometimes.

They pay out in cash and have a low payout threshold of just £10.

Ipsos i-Say

Make £10+ a month.

Who are they? One of the largest (and best paying) survey-based market research companies around, working with trusted brands and research companies worldwide.

Rewards: High-street and Amazon Vouchers, plus prize draws for all members.

Amount per survey: ~£1.

Min. reward threshold: £10.

Our review: A well-trusted panel. They send you surveys every week to answer by email. The reward threshold is relatively low, and most people will be able to cash out in under 10 surveys.

Survey Bods

£3 upon sign up and profile completion.

Who are they? SurveyBods work with top companies that want your opinion.

Rewards: Cash, Amazon vouchers and prize draws.

Amount per survey: 50p – £3

Min. reward threshold: £15

Our review: The surveys usually take around 10 minutes and are pretty easy to complete. You have to be as honest as possible as they have a “strike system”. 3 bad surveys and you're out (we like to see it as a challenge).

They're a well trusted site that work with top brands and well worth joining through our link for a £3 cash bonus when signing up. Make sure you complete your profile too. Plus their site is a lot more snazzy than a lot of the others…

Hiving

Good referral scheme.

Who are they? They run surveys on behalf of leading brands.

Rewards: Cash.

Amount per survey: ~50p

Min. reward threshold: £4

Our review: Hiving reward you around 50 points per minute when completing surveys and you can withdraw as soon as you reach 4000 points (£4).

They also reward users for referring friends and give you points even if you are declined for a survey.

PopulusLive

Earn £1 for every 5 mins.

Who are they? They are a big UK survey site who provide stats to the press and current affairs programmes.

Rewards: Cash.

Amount per survey: ~£2.

Min. reward threshold: 50 points (£50).

Our review: PopulusLive are a favourite among the survey taking community because of their decent payout. It can take some time to reach the threshold and surveys run out quickly once they have enough respondents.

It's essential that you fill in your profile fully to get the maximum number of surveys. You also have to be very careful with your answers as they have quality checks in place to make sure you aren't cheating or rushing through.

Global Test Market

Earn £100 per year.

Who are they? This is a well know US survey site but they pay out cheques in £s.

Rewards: Cash, vouchers and prize draws.

Amount per survey: ~£1.20.

Min. reward threshold: 1000 points ($50/£32).

Our review: Surveys take around 15 minutes each so you could be earning £4.80 an hour. Be aware that cheques do take a while to arrive in the post, and we'd recommend not wasting your time with the ‘prize draw' surveys (unless you're feeling very lucky).

The OpinionPanel Community

Members get £10 just for signing up.

Who are they? They are the UK’s largest research panel for students & grads or anyone aged 16-25. They offer interesting surveys and online focus groups for big brands and universities, with their research often reaching the media spotlight!

Rewards: Amazon and high-street (eg Topshop, Topman, River Island) vouchers.

Amount per survey: 50p-£4 per survey, £30 – £50 for online focus groups.

Min. reward threshold: £25

Our review: The OpinionPanel Community are a trusted site and their surveys take around 10 minutes to complete. The majority of surveys tend to pay out around £1-2.

There is also mobile compatibility so you can complete surveys on the go.

PanelBase

Earn £3 just for signing up!

Who are they? PanelBase aren't your average survey site. They don't inundate you with surveys, but the ones they do send are very well paid and relevant to you!

Rewards: Cash, vouchers and prize draws.

Amount per survey: 50p – £10 (avg. ~£1.50).

Min. reward threshold: £10.

Our review: £3 just for signing up to a site is a bit of a no-brainer… The surveys pay out higher than the industry average too which gives you the opportunity to earn some good dough!

However they do select their survey respondents very carefully so you may be sent slightly less opportunities than other sites. Just make sure you fully complete your profile to give yourself the best chance.

Opinion Outpost

One of the lowest payout thresholds.

Who are they? Opinion Outpost have shot up in popularity due to fast payouts and fun surveys.

Rewards: Cash and Amazon Vouchers.

Amount per survey: 50p

Min. reward threshold: £2.50

Our review: You only need to complete 5 surveys to be due a payout and they take around 10-15 minutes each.

Valued Opinions

£10 voucher per hour.

Who are they? Valued Opinions are part of a larger market research group. They send out online surveys to members whose profiles match broad demographics and requirements.

Rewards: Vouchers (inc. Amazon, M&S, Sainsbury’s, John Lewis).

Amount per survey: £1 – £5.

Min. reward threshold: £10.

Our review: First off, signing up with Valued Opinions automatically enters you into a prize draw for an iPad. From there, they use your profile to send you relevant surveys to complete.

The surveys are usually quite interesting, and can take anything from 10-30 minutes each, so within just one hour you could bag yourself a £10 voucher.

Branded Surveys

Online community with frequent global market research surveys

Who are they? Previously known as Mintvine, Branded Surveys are popular due to providing a high volume of surveys.

Rewards: Cash or gift cards.

Amount per survey: Varies.

Min. reward threshold: $10.

Our review: One of our personal favourites. Great new website, easy to use and fast paying.

You can also earn ongoing points for referring friends, where you get a percentage of everything they earn.

MindMover

Interesting surveys on consumer products

Who are they? Mindmover allow you to share your opinions on everything from food to public transport.

Rewards: Cash.

Amount per survey: 50p – £1.50.

Min. reward threshold: £20.

Our review: MindMover is a decent option but it can take a while to build up the points as surveys are sometime few and far between.

It takes around 15 minutes to complete each survey.

iPoll

Mobile compatibility & multiple payout opportunities.

Who are they? iPoll used to be called Survey Heads and are a US based company.

Rewards: Cash, vouchers & magazine subscriptions.

Amount per survey: 40p – £1.70

Min. reward threshold: £20

Our review: It will take you around 15 minutes to complete a survey but the range of rewards are decent.

The only downside is that the amount of surveys tends to be quite low.

Pinecone Research

£3 per survey, invite only.

Who are they? Pinecone are an exclusive survey and product testing company who are invite only.

Rewards: £3 per completed survey, free products to test and keep.

Amount per survey: £3.

Min. reward threshold: £3.

Our review: Pinecone is the Holy Grail of survey sites and invites are rare so it's well worth signing up while we have some invites on offer. The payout is huge and surveys don't take too long to complete. You sometimes get sent products to test and keep too!

Note: There's no guarantee that they will be open to new registrations at any one time, but we try to arrange a limited number for our readers each month. Check the link below. If we don't, join our newsletter for updates.

New Vista Live

Earn £100 per year.

Who are they? A leading marketing research company who have chosen to conduct surveys online rather than traditional cold-calling and so on.

Rewards: Cash and prize draws.

Amount per survey: Around £1 a survey.

Min. reward threshold: £50.

Our review: NewVista offers users cash for completing surveys where 1 point = £1. For some, it can take a while to reach the £50 threshold but the surveys usually take just 15 minutes (so ~£4/hour) and they pay well.

Make sure you answer questions honestly as NewVista are known for chucking in a few red herrings to make sure you're actually thinking rather than speeding through.

Tips for maximising your online survey profit

Rather than just leaving you with a list of online survey sites we wanted to make sure that you get the most out of all of them.

Here's a few ways to make sure you get the maximum rewards or profit from each site.

Sign up to them all

It's a good idea to sign up to as many as possible. This means that you will always have surveys to answer instead of waiting for one or two to come along every month.

There is no harm in signing up to loads and you can always unsubscribe if you don't like the service that one of them is providing.

Set up an alias email

You don't have to do this but we would recommend setting up a separate email for all of your survey site accounts. That way you can log in each day and easily see the surveys on offer (without it clogging up your personal inbox).

You should also check your emails regularly as some surveys are only open for a day (sometimes less).

Be honest

Try and be honest when filling in these online paid surveys as sometimes you can be penalised for contradicting yourself or giving inadequate responses. Also, don't try to second guess the system by saying that you are a wealthy businessman or woman to get more surveys. It won't work!

Watch out for scams and fake sites

A number of sites (we won't call anyone out) advertise dodgy survey sites to students so make sure you avoid them. The ones to watch out for are generally the ones that sound too good to be true!

It's also worth noting that you aren't guaranteed to receive products from the product testing site as users are chosen at random so if anyone promises this you should be very wary.

Put it this way, there are 1000s of users on each survey site, do you really think that they can afford to send out 1000s of free PlayStations for people to test?

Cash in when you reach the limit

Unless you are looking to build up a big amount and aiming for one of the top rewards for which you have time for, then it's best to cash in early with these paid survey sites.

Also be aware that some sites will have restrictions on when you can spend the points and how long they are valid for.

Don't ever pay to join

All of the paid survey sites listed above are free to apply for and use. You shouldn't get sucked into paying for a subscription to any online survey websites, whatever they promise you.

The sites listed on this page have been tried and tested and are genuine. If you are already a member of any of these survey sites or any that aren't listed then please do let us know what you think of them!

Source: https://www.savethestudent.org/make-money/best-paid-online-survey-sites.html