Saeed Darabi
- Founder and Editor, Money Pantry
As seen in:
Money Pantry Blog
Covers:
Personal finance (mainly making and saving money)
Doesn't Cover:
Tax and Investments
I am a personal finance blogger at www.blogstash.com writing about making money, credit, small business frugal living and more.
Articles by Saeed Darabi
Get Paid to Read Audiobooks on Amazon (Earn $100+/Hour)
You can get paid to read audiobooks on Amazon by narrating books through ACX, the Audiobook Creation Exchange run by Audible, which is an Amazon company. Authors post books that need a voice, you audition, and if they pick you, you get paid either a flat fee for each finished hour or a share of the book’s royalties. Get paid to read audiobooks on Amazon: quick facts Platform: ACX (Audiobook Creation Exchange), where authors and publishers find audiobook narrators.
How Much Do Side Hustles Actually Pay? 2026 Real Wage Index
To find out how much side hustles actually pay, I built The 2026 MoneyPantry Side Hustle Real Wage Index. Across the 15 popular side hustles I studied, real hourly pay ranged from about $2 to $50 after fees, car costs, and unpaid time were counted. That is often much less than the rate you see advertised. An app might show $20 an hour, for example, but that usually counts only active work, not waiting, driving between jobs, or unpaid screeners.
6 Online Dollar Stores That Ship to Your Home in 2026 (My Real Checkout Test)
If you’re looking for online dollar stores that ship to your home, the main options in 2026 are Dollar Tree, Five Below, DollarDays, Shop Miss A and Dollar King. The catch? On a small order, shipping can cost more than what’s in your cart. On September 22 and 23, 2026, I ran the same list of eight school supplies through each store’s checkout. Dollar Tree charged $65.96 just to ship it, and Five Below charged $7.95 on a $12 order. Online dollar stores at a glance: For big orders: Dollar Tree.
I Compared Grocery Prices Across US: 11 Cheapest Stores Near You
If you’re looking for the cheapest grocery stores in 2026, Costco and BJ’s are among the cheapest overall, according to a Consumer Reports price study. They were about 21% cheaper than Walmart, while Lidl and ALDI were about 8% cheaper. But there’s a catch: The cheapest grocery store depends on where you live, what you buy, and whether you pay a membership fee. The same store can even charge different prices for the same product at different locations.
Get Paid to Deliver: 23 Apps That Pay Up to $188/hr (2026)
You can get paid to deliver far more than just takeout. While standard food delivery apps like DoorDash average $9 to $25 an hour, specialized delivery platforms like Amazon Flex, GoShare, and TaskRabbit let you earn anywhere from $18 to $188 an hour delivering packages, furniture, and construction materials. Higher-paying gigs often require larger vehicles or heavier lifting, but they offer significantly better earning potential for your time.
There are a bunch of brands that offer free fabric samples by mail. To get free fabric samples by mail, request swatches directly from home decor retailers like Pottery Barn, Room & Board, or The Shade Store. Most major brands send 5 to 20 swatches with 100% free shipping, arriving at your door in 3 to 10 business days. I checked 31 popular fabric programs against each company’s official policies to weed out outdated blog claims.
17 Sites That Pay You to Answer Questions in 2026 (Up to $220/hr)
You can get paid to answer questions online, but how much you make depends on what you already know. If you don’t have special skills or professional experience, survey apps might bring in around $10 to $40 a month. But if you have a degree, a license, or years of experience in a specific field, the numbers change fast. Companies like Mercor are currently paying experts $150 to $220 an hour for specialized knowledge. So instead of giving you a random list, I organized this guide by your background.
21 Money Scams to Watch for in 2026 (and How to Avoid Them)
Money scams are everywhere right now, and they don’t always look like scams at first. If you’re trying to figure out whether a text, email, phone call, or online offer is real, here’s the main thing to understand: Scams have changed. These days, scammers don’t usually steal your money directly. They trick you into sending it to them yourself! Americans reported losing about $16 billion to fraud in 2025, the highest amount ever recorded and about 25% more than the year before.
18 Job Scams and Fake Side Hustles to Avoid in 2026
You get a text offering $300 a day to like videos. A recruiter messages you on WhatsApp about an easy remote job. An email promises you’ll make money reviewing products from home. They all sound different. But they often lead to the same place: a job scam! Quick answer: The biggest work-from-home job scams right now are fake recruiter scams, WhatsApp task scams, fake product testing jobs, AI training job scams, crypto deposit scams, and fake check scams.
21 Shockingly Easy Lazy Jobs That Pay Well in 2026 (up to $150/hr)
Most lists of jobs for lazy people are full of gimmicks like Netflix tagger or jobs you’ll probably never do like professional cuddler or chicken sexer. Or they recommend survey sites that pay just a few dollars an hour. The truth is, some of the easiest jobs actually pay surprisingly well. Donating plasma, joining paid research studies, and a few flexible gigs can pay $50 to $150 an hour. Others barely earn enough to buy a cup of coffee. That’s why I put this guide together.
9 Legit Ways to Get Paid to Search the Web (2026 Tested)
Did you know you can make money just by searching the web? Microsoft Rewards pays regular Bing users about $2 to $4 a month just for searching the web. And it’s not the only company doing it. I tested these search reward programs myself to see how they work, how much you can realistically earn, and which ones are actually worth your time. In this post, I’ll show you legit sites and apps that pay you to search the web.
15 Best Free Roku Channels & Apps in 2026 (No Subscription)
Roku added more than 100 new free channels in the first half of 2026. Some of the biggest free Roku channels also disappeared, including Crackle and Freevee. But there are still hidden gems most lists miss, including ad-free library movies, NASA content, live sports, and more. I installed and tested more than a few dozen to find the best free Roku channels and apps for cord cutting.
11 Ways Gamers Are Getting Free Xbox Gift Cards in 2026 (Try Now!)
What if you already have a free $5 Xbox gift card waiting in your Microsoft account? You might! I know it sounds fake but Microsoft occasionally rewards users with free Xbox gift cards and account credits. A lot of users don’t even notice them. But even if you don’t have Xbox credits in your account, there are many other legitimate ways to earn free Xbox gift cards, without spending any money.
Earn $1000+ Renting Your Backyard for Money (Use These Apps…)
Your backyard could be making you money instead of just costing you money. People are renting out fenced yards for dogs, pools for parties, land for campers, and even unused space for RV storage. Some make a little extra each month. Others earn $8,000 to $15,000 a year! In this guide, I’ll show you the best backyard rental platforms, how much they pay, what they charge in fees, and which one is the best fit for your property. There’s no single best backyard rental platform.
Dumpster Diving for Money: Woman Makes $30,000 From Trash at These 11 Stores
Dumpster diving for money as a side hustle is profitable because stores like Ulta, Five Below, and Bath & Body Works toss thousands of dollars worth of brand new products in dumpsters every night. Boxes of brand‑new makeup. Sealed electronics. Home décor with the price tags still dangling. One woman known as the Dumpster Diving Mama, made $30,000 in a year selling what she found dumpster diving.
Earn Up to $150 to Visit Banks: 7 Bank Mystery Shopping Jobs Hiring Now!
Most bank mystery shopping jobs pay $10 to $25 for a simple teller visit. But those aren’t the only assignments available. While researching this guide, I found current jobs that pay $75, and even $130, for one visit. In this guide, I’ll show you where to find those higher-paying bank mystery shopping assignments, explain why some pay much more than others, and show you how as a secret shopper you can earn money from both the mystery shopping assignment and a bank account signup bonus.
Get Paid $60+ at Gas Stations for This Simple Mystery Shopping Job
Yes, you really can get paid to mystery shop gas stations. Most gas station mystery shopping jobs pay just $5 to $10 per visit. That may not sound like much. But that’s only the base pay. I’ve seen secret shoppers earn $20, $40, and sometimes even $60 or more for a single gas station assignment. Later, I’ll show you how to improve your chances of landing those higher-paying shops.
I Found 5 Shift Work Apps That Pay Up to $25 an Hour (Some in 30 Minutes)
Looking for flexible work that pays more than the typical gig app? Shift work apps let you pick up flexible warehouse, restaurant, hospitality, and event shifts that typically pay $15 to $25 an hour. Some even pay you within an hour of you clocking out. What I personally like about temp shift gig apps is that unlike many popular gig apps, you can see the hourly rate before you accept the shift, so you know exactly what you’ll earn.
Too Good To Go Review: Legit Way to Get $30 Worth of Food for $3?
Too Good To Go promises to help you save up to 70% on food from restaurants, bakeries, cafes, and grocery stores that would otherwise go to waste. But is Too Good To Go legit, and is it actually worth downloading? In this Too Good To Go review, I’ll explain how the app works, how much you can really save, its biggest downsides, and whether it’s the right choice for you. Yes. Too Good To Go is a legitimate app, not a scam.
How to Find Your $100,000 Penny With Coin Roll Hunting
A 1969 penny with a tiny printing mistake sold for over $100,000. Coins like that are still out there, sitting in the plain rolls your bank hands out for face value. Searching those rolls for hidden value is called coin roll hunting, where you buy rolls of coins at face value, search them for valuable coins, then return whatever you don’t want, also at face value. What I personally like about it is that it’s one of the few side hustles where you can barely lose money.
FlashFood Review: Legit Way to Save 50% on Groceries (After New Fees)?
FlashFood helps you save money on groceries by selling stuff that are about to expire for up to 50% off. But there is one thing many older FlashFood reviews miss: the app now charges a service fee on every order, which can eat into your savings. So, is FlashFood still worth using? To find out, I reviewed FlashFood’s app, Help Center, store partnerships, pricing, and recent policy changes.
I Found 3 Apps That Pay You Up to $125 to Take Pictures of Houses!
Imagine driving to a house, snapping a few photos with your phone, and getting paid before you even get home. Getting paid to take pictures of houses and properties is actually a legit side hustle! Banks, insurance companies, mortgage lenders, and real estate firms need up-to-date photos and inspections of properties across the country. But instead of sending employees to every address, they use property inspection apps to pay everyday people like you and me to do it for them. The best part?
Earn Up to $1,000/Month Renting Out Baby Gear You Already Own
Your kids outgrew their crib, stroller, and car seat. Now that gear just sits in your garage or closet. The good news is that you can make money renting out baby gear to traveling families. Parents who travel hate hauling bulky baby gear through airports. So they rent what they need once they arrive. You can be the local parent who provides it. Below, I’ll show you how baby gear rentals work, what you can realistically earn, and where to find customers.
iVueit Review: Is Up to $50 a Task Legit and Worth It After Gas?
What if you could get paid to take a few photos of a building you walk past anyway? That’s the whole idea behind iVueit. You snap a few pictures of a local property, answer some quick questions, and get paid through PayPal. You work on your own time, and you don’t need any experience to start. It sounds easy, and a lot of it is. But the pay is small, and the jobs are not always there when you want them.
Rare Patient Voice Review: Get Paid Up to $385 Just for Talking About Your Health
If you live with a health condition, Rare Patient Voice will pay you to talk about it. Drug companies want to hear from real patients and caregivers, and they pay well to get it. Rare Patient Voice review: It’s a legit research company that’s paid out over $18 million to patients and caregivers since 2013. Studies pay around $120 an hour, mostly for phone interviews and short surveys. The catch is invites come and go, and you get paid by mailed check a few weeks after the study wraps up.
Babel Audio Review: $17.50/hr is Legit But Here’s the Catch…
Babel Audio pays $17.50 per recorded hour. But as a new worker, you’ll likely earn closer to $14 an hour in practice. I’ll explain why later in this updated Babel Audio review. Is Babel Audio legit? Yes. It’s a real platform that pays you to talk with AI systems for voice training. Payments go out every Tuesday through Dots, with no minimum payout threshold required.
How I Use Amazon’s Worst Reviews to Make Money
If you can read Amazon reviews, you can make money! When a buyer complains that a meal planner “has no grocery list,” they just handed you a winning product idea. When someone rants that a dog guide is “too basic,” they just told you exactly what to sell. Amazon has hundreds of millions of reviews. Most people read them to buy things. But you? You are going to read them to sell things. Hidden inside those complaints is a blueprint for products people already want.
63 Birthday Freebies for Kids: Where Kids Get Free Meals, Gifts & Fun in 2026
Kids birthday freebies can save you $50 to $150 during your child’s birthday month, depending on which rewards you stack. Many restaurants, ice cream shops, toy stores, and entertainment chains offer birthday freebies for kids, from free meals and desserts to arcade credits, toys, and birthday gifts.
Get Paid to Donate Stool: 9 Programs Paying Up to $1,500/Month (2026)
Someone made close to $180,000 last year just by going to the bathroom! I know that sounds weird but selling poop is a real, medically legitimate way to earn money. How to get paid to donate stool: Several programs actively pay stool donors in 2026. Human Microbes ($500/sample, remote-friendly) is the highest-paying. GoodNature pays up to $1,500/month in Tempe, AZ. Give a Crap MN pays $30/sample in Roseville, MN. Thaena accepts US donors nationwide but doesn’t disclose pay publicly.
70+ Restaurants That Give You Free Food on Your Birthday in 2026
You can get free food on your birthday at dozens of restaurants, but most people miss out on a lot of free food. Why? Because many of the restaurants that offer free birthday food have hidden rules. Without knowing them, you show up expecting a free meal and end up paying anyway. This guide fixes that. Quick answer MP Table of Contents Toggle Denny’s gives you a free Grand Slam just for showing ID. IHOP gives free pancakes. Starbucks gives a free drink in any size. Jimmy John’s gives a free 8-inch sub.
FTC Refunds: You Could Be Missing Money Owed to You (Check in 1 Minute)
You might be owed money and not even know it! Every year, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sends out millions of dollars in refunds to people who were overcharged, misled, or affected by illegal business practices. The problem? Most people don’t recognize these payments when they arrive, so the money goes unclaimed. Quick answer MP Table of Contents Toggle Go to ftc.gov/enforcement/refunds and scan the active program list. Use Ctrl+F to search for any company you’ve done business with.
Everything You Can Buy With EBT in 2026 (+ 10-Second Trick to Check Any Item!)
If you’ve ever stood at a grocery checkout unsure what you can buy with EBT, you’re not alone. Quick answer MP Table of Contents Toggle What Can You Buy With EBT? Usually covered: Most groceries like fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy, bread, cereal, snacks, and non-alcoholic drinks. Not covered: Hot prepared food, vitamins and supplements, alcohol, tobacco, pet food, and household items. Depends: Soda, candy, and energy drinks in some states due to 2026 SNAP restrictions.
EBT Cash Benefits Explained: ATMs, Fees, and Expiration
You picked up your EBT card, started using it for groceries, and then one day noticed a second number on your receipt. Or your card got declined at the store even though you knew you had money on it. Or someone mentioned EBT cash benefits, and you realized you weren’t exactly sure what that meant. Quick answer MP Table of Contents Toggle EBT cash benefits EBT cash benefits are cash assistance loaded onto an EBT card separate from SNAP food benefits.
5 Ways to Check Your EBT Balance (Why It Says $0 + How to Fix It)
I know how it feels to stand at the checkout and wonder if your EBT card will work. I’ve been there myself. In 2002, when I first arrived in the U.S. as a refugee with no money, I relied on my EBT card for a few months just to get by. Good news: you can check your EBT balance in less than a minute.
EBT Card Guide 2026: How to Use It (Rules Just Changed!)
If you’ve ever stood at a register wondering whether your EBT card will go through, this guide is for you. This complete EBT card guide shows you how to use your card, fix common problems, and protect your benefits so you don’t get stuck at checkout. Most EBT issues have nothing to do with your balance. They come from things like PIN changes not processing, misleading balances, or fraud.
Hotels That Allow 18-Year-Olds to Check In (+ Avoid $250 Holds)
Booking a hotel room at 18 can be a massive headache. Since there is no federal law about hotel age limits, every place makes up its own rules. The exact same brand that welcomes you in Nashville might turn you away in Miami. If you book online without checking, you might show up, get denied, and lose your money. But don’t worry, you have plenty of good options.
I Tried Making $1 a Day Online for a Year: Here’s What I Found…
How to make $1 a day: Yes, it’s real and you can do it today. QuickRewards pays out as little as $0.01 to PayPal, and Qmee has zero minimum payout ever. The trick isn’t finding a platform that pays, it’s avoiding the ones that make you wait weeks to access your money. I’ll show you exactly which ones to use… You can really make $1 a day online and actually get paid the same day. The first dollar I earned online came from QuickRewards.
Prepaid Card to Bank Account: 4 Working Methods (Tested for 2026)
How to transfer money from a prepaid card to a bank account: : First, check what type of prepaid card you have. Reloadable cards like Green Dot, Netspend, and Walmart MoneyCard can usually transfer straight to your bank with an ACH transfer (typically 1–3 days). Gift cards like Vanilla Visa can’t do that, so you’ll need a workaround. Read on to learn that & what to do if your card gets rejected by a P2P app (common error)… Getting money off a prepaid card sounds simple.
Trash Can Cleaning Business: The $80K Truth Nobody Tells You!
How to start a trash can cleaning business: You pressure-wash residential bins and charge $30–$40 per home per month on a recurring route. But many people who try it end up selling a barely-used $30,000 rig a few months later. The difference comes down to a few numbers nobody publishes. Here’s how to find those numbers before you spend a dime… Starting a trash can cleaning business is one of those side hustles that sounds almost too simple.
Sell LEGOs: 10 Platforms Sorted by What Actually Pays (2026)
How much money is that junk car of yours worth? $300? $500? $1000? $3000? How much is the same junk car making you sitting in your ... Today, I am going to talk about a very easy method that almost anyone can use to earn a few hundred dollars easily. Done right, this method can ... If you are trying to learn how to sell sports cards, you probably know how popular and lucrative trading sports cards is. Sports cards have been ...
7 Places to Sell Vinyl Records for the Most Money (+ Spot $100 Gems)
Where to Sell Vinyl Records: The best places depend on your goals: use Discogs for most records, eBay for rare pressings, Facebook Marketplace for fast local cash, and local record stores or fairs for instant payment or patient, high-value sales. Read on to learn how to spot the 3 things that turn a $10 record into $100… Got vinyl records sitting in a box and wondering where to sell them? Good timing.
How to Become a Medical Courier: Make $20–$45/hr as a Side Hustle in 2026 - MoneyPantry
Can you really make money as a medical courier: Yes, W-2 drivers (at companies like MedSpeed & Labcorp) average $16–$21/hr; Independent Contractors (ICs) typically earn $22–$45/hr after expenses. Read on to learn the truth about those $200/hr TikTok claims… Half a million people have watched videos claiming you can make $50–$200 an hour as a medical courier. Here’s the truth: That’s not the average.
Earn Up to $700 a Day as a Mock Juror (8 Sites That Pay in 2026)
Can you get paid to be a mock juror? Yes, and some cases pay as much as $700 for a single day. But before you get excited, most online mock jurors earn about $50 a year. Read on to learn how to be the exception… Wait, you can actually get paid to be a juror, from your couch? Yep! Attorneys hire everyday people to review real case summaries online so they can see how a real jury might decide before the trial ever starts. Some online reviews pay just $5 for a quick 30-minute verdict.
Get Paid to Test Drive Cars: 4 Real Ways [$28/hr]
Can you get paid to test drive cars?: Yes! There are four legit ways, from $25 gift cards at local dealerships to $28/hour as a paid vehicle evaluator for major auto makers. Keep reading to see which methods pay reliably (and the one thing a dealer might ask for that you should never give!)… You’ve probably seen it on TikTok or Reddit: walk into a dealership, hand over a coupon, and walk out with $50. Sounds like easy money. It can be.
How I Made $1,000 in a Weekend (And It's Even Easier in 2026)
How to make $1,000 in a weekend Do a room-by-room home audit to pull furniture, tools, electronics, and clothes you’re not using. Price everything at 7–15% of retail to move it fast. Combine a Saturday/Sunday garage sale with Facebook Marketplace and OfferUp to maximize reach and cash in hand. But here’s the hybrid pre-selling strategy I used that pushed our total from $600 to $985.65, and most people skip it entirely… It was May 2008.
Is Selling on eBay Worth It? Here's What Fees Actually Cost You in 2026
Is selling on eBay worth it in 2026? It depends on your category. eBay takes 13-17% of every sale including shipping. First 250 listings are free monthly. Worth it for electronics, collectibles, and niche items. Not worth it for thin-margin or bulky items. Read on to avoid the pricing mistake most beginners make so you can make more money selling the exact same items… You finally listed a few things on eBay, made some sales, and then realized you barely made anything after fees. Sound familiar?
11 Apps That Pay You to Work Out in 2026 (+ One That Pays $1,000/Year)
The best apps that pay you to work out: Sweatcoin (best for outdoor walkers), Evidation (best passive earner), CashWalk (best for beginners), WinWalk (best Android-only stacker), StepBet (best step challenge), and HealthyWage (best for serious weight loss goals). But keep reading because one option most people completely overlook pays 10 to 50 times more than any of these apps combined.
I Got 13 Free Pallets in One Day: Here's Exactly How to Do It
Just a few weeks ago, I walked out of my gym with 13 free wooden pallets. I didn’t plan it. I was finishing my workout when I noticed delivery trucks outside dropping off new equipment. There were pallets stacked by the loading dock. I asked the workers, “Can I take a few of these?” They said I could take all of them. So I loaded all 13 into my truck and drove home. Zero dollars spent. Need Easy Extra $300+/Month for Free? FreeCash: Get paid for testing games, using app & taking surveys.
How to Make Money Online in 2026 Without Skills (I Tested These 5 Easy Methods)
How do you do your Christmas shopping on a budget? Is that even possible? Christmas is such a fun and enjoyable time of year. But, there’s ... If you are wondering where to sell Beanie Babies for cash, you probably know how huge these toys were at one point. In the ’90s, Beanie Babies were ... Looking for Cash App surveys? Doing Cash App surveys is a great way to get free Cash App money in your account. As I explained in our recent ...
How I Cut My Car Insurance $235/Year in 15 Minutes Without Switching Companies
Wanna watch free NFL streams you can watch online on your desktop, laptop, phone or other connected devices? Many of us want to watch football ... We all love to get stuff for free, so who wouldn’t want free subscription boxes, right? In today’s post, I’m going to cover some places where you ... Razors cartridges can cost like $15 to $30 and who wants to pay that? As it turns out, not many of us! Keeping a clean-shaven face, leg, ...
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