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Many ads claim that you can make $500 a month doing surveys.
I am sorry.
This is just not true.
A couple of years ago, I experimented with surveys.
I managed to get at most $180 per month.
This was with my days being nothing but surveys.
This lasted for a very short time.
Honestly, I just wanted to see how much was possible with surveys.
On average, most people will only make $20-$50 a month.
So given a more realistic average of around $20-$50 per month, are surveys worth your time?
What are paid online surveys?
Paid online surveys are surveys offered through sites like Swagbucks that partner with big companies.
You usually fill out a demographic profile and get matched based on your background information.
They are done for money, usually in the form of points.
How much do surveys pay?
This is the magic question that everyone wants to know.
How much do online paid surveys pay?
On average, surveys pay between $1-$4 per hour.
I know some people stopped reading.
Like everything we write about, whether receipt scanning apps or cashback sites, you won’t get rich with surveys.
Many people take offense to hearing that number as an hourly wage though.
Although that may sound out there, and many people say their time is worth more than that; there are some positives to surveys.
First, you can do surveys during twenty to thirty minutes of down time during your day.
For instance, you may have time to kill on a long commute or during a television commercial break.
Next, surveys can be done in your pajamas at home.
Honestly, my take on people who are offended by the wage of surveys is it depends on the person.
Surveys are a frugality tactic like all others from couponing to comparison shopping.
If you work sixty hours a week and barely have time to sleep, maybe surveys are not for you.
However, if you spend hours on social media or watching television; surveys may be ok.
Most people can agree that hours spent surfing social media or watching television are not the best uses of time.
There are various ways to use surveys.
I read about a journalist who used survey money for her Christmas fund.
Again, different frugality tactics work for different people.
How do surveys work?
Big companies like Coke spend billions of dollars on marketing.
Online survey sites reward consumers for taking surveys for these companies.
Survey sites work usually by giving you a certain amount of points for each survey.
For instance, on Survey Junkie, (after six months of inactivity), I was rewarded with 70 points for a 15 minutes the other day.
That comes out to $2.80 an hour.
I did not do surveys for 6 months.
I simply was too busy.
My schedule had changed.
I work a normal job now.
I run three businesses.
So, life can be hectic.
Six months ago, I had less things to juggle.
Needless to say, currently evenings are for rest or to get more done on one of my businesses during a work week.
I hope to move my work day to 4 days soon and have the one day for entrepreneurship.
In case you think this is a crazy schedule in the present, I love being an entrepreneur.
I am very happy.
Later, I want to be an entrepreneur full time.
That could be soon.
I definitely don’t think that is very far away.
This blog and my travel blog are both new blogs.
New businesses take time to make money, but I think it will happen quick enough.
Now, back to how surveys work.
Most survey sites have a points’ currency again.
After you build up a certain number of points, you can get a gift card starting at $3-5 to your favorite retailer like Walmart or Target on sites like Swagbucks.
You can also usually cash out with good old-fashioned, hard cash through PayPal on sites like Survey Junkie starting at $10 and Swagbucks starting at $5.
What is a disqualification rate?
Surveys have something called a disqualification rate.
Disqualifications means that your profile does not match the demographic the survey wanted.
This means you have to spend a couple of minutes answering background questions before you get to the actual survey to find out if you qualify.
This can waste valuable time.
You can be disqualified for a lot of surveys before you get to one that fits your profile.
Tips For Survey Success
- Allow a certain amount of time and keep to it
- Watch out for disqualification
- Do surveys while doing other activities
- Sign up for more than one site, so you will have enough surveys.
Best Sites to sign up for
- Swagbucks Get $3 for signing up after 300 points plus $10 after spending $20
- Survey Junkie
- My Points Get $10 gift card after spending $20
- Inbox dollars Get $5 for signing up
Summary
Surveys take more time than other things we review.
Do I think online surveys are worth your time?
It depends.
For some people, no.
It takes a lot of time for little money.
For a lot of people who spend hours watching television or surfing social media, probably so.
Again, surveys can get a bad rap.
Most of the problem with surveys lie in the fact that people think they are going to make more money than what is reality.
Adding Pennies is about putting money back in your pocket.
If you want to make real income, nothing we review will do that.
You will need to consider a raise, a different job, a real part- time job, or a business.
Many people live paycheck to paycheck.
A little spare change can come in handy.
When you combine all the methods we suggest to put extra cash back in your pocket, it can add up to a couple hundred a month.
Check out our Start Here page to learn more.
Whenever I have time, I do surveys for a quick $5-$10 gift card or build up some cash.
A lot of other people just let their cash build up for bigger goals like a Christmas fund.
At around $20-$50 per month, that is an extra $240-$600 per year if you have the time.