Low Stress Ways to Reduce Your Grocery Bill: Top 3 Apps to Earn Extra Cash!

While they are great, it's not Ibotta, Rakuten or any other receipt scanning option

10/11/20255 min read

A woman carrying a grocery basket of vegetables picks up a Boxed Water box
A woman carrying a grocery basket of vegetables picks up a Boxed Water box

It feels like grocery prices seem to be climbing higher every week, putting a strain on our budgets just to obtain a necessity. But what if you could offset those costs by earning extra cash right from your phone? Making even a dent in your weekly grocery, gas, phone bill or even just earning some extra cash to treat yourself can help in the current economy we all find ourselves in. Now these are all completely legit and well rated on sites like Trust Pilot but keep in mind, these are by no means a way to get rich. They are low stress ways to put some extra money in your pocket using just your phone. I've personally been using these very platforms coming up on almost a year now to help reduce those everyday bills and I've been pleasantly surprised with how much extra cash I've earned using these from time to time.

This guide highlights three popular platforms – Prime Opinion, Survey Junkie, and Product Tube – showing you how to sign up, what benefits they offer, how much you can realistically earn, and my top tips for success to maximize your earnings and help reduce those grocery bills (or any other bill you choose of course).

1. Prime Opinion: Share Your Thoughts, Get Paid

Prime Opinion offers a straightforward way to earn money by sharing your opinions through paid surveys. It's known for its user-friendly interface and transparent reward system.

How to Sign Up:

  1. Sign up here: Become a member at Prime Opinion!

  2. Create Your Account: Sign up using your email address, Google, or Facebook account.

  3. Complete Your Profile: Fill out a demographic profile. This is crucial as it helps Prime Opinion match you with relevant surveys. Be honest and thorough.

  4. Start Surveying: Once your profile is complete, you'll see available surveys you qualify for.

Key Highlights (Company Benefits):

  • High Payouts: Prime Opinion claims to offer some of the highest payouts per survey in the industry.

  • Instant Withdrawals: They boast instant withdrawals, meaning you can get your earnings quickly.

  • Variety of Payout Options: Choose from popular options like PayPal, bank transfer, and various gift cards.

  • New Surveys Daily: A consistent stream of new surveys ensures opportunities to earn.

Potential Earnings:

  • Per Survey: Earnings typically range from $0.50 to $5.00+ per survey, with some longer or more specialized surveys paying more.

  • Hourly Rate (Estimated): While not an hourly job, if you qualify for and complete surveys efficiently, it might average out to $5 - $10 per hour of active survey time, though this can vary greatly.

  • Monthly Potential: Depending on your dedication and qualification rate, you could earn anywhere from $20 - $100+ per month.

Key Tips for Success:

  • Complete Your Profile Accurately: This is the most important step. A detailed and honest profile ensures you receive surveys you're likely to qualify for, reducing disqualifications.

  • Check Daily: New surveys are posted regularly. Checking the platform daily can help you catch higher-paying or more relevant opportunities before they fill up.

  • Be Patient with Disqualifications: It's common to be screened out of surveys. Don't get discouraged; simply move on to the next one.

  • Be Honest: Always answer questions truthfully. Survey platforms have quality checks, and inconsistent answers can lead to account suspension.

2. Survey Junkie: Your Voice, Your Rewards

Survey Junkie is one of the most popular and trusted online survey platforms, allowing users to earn cash and gift cards by sharing their opinions on various products and services.

How to Sign Up:

  1. Sign up here: Become a member at Survey Junkie

  2. Create Account: Sign up with your email, Facebook, or Google account.

  3. Build Your Profile: Fill out your demographic questionnaires. These "profile surveys" help them match you to relevant paid surveys. The more complete your profile, the better your chances of qualifying.

  4. Start Taking Surveys: Begin taking surveys that align with your profile.

Key Highlights (Benefits):

  • High Trust & Reputation: As a well-established platform, Survey Junkie has a strong reputation for paying out and protecting user data.

  • Simple Interface: Known for its clean and easy-to-navigate design.

  • Variety of Topics: Surveys cover a wide range of topics, keeping the experience engaging.

  • Low Payout Threshold: You can cash out once you reach $5 (500 points), making it easier to access your earnings.

Potential Earnings:

  • Per Survey: Most surveys pay between $0.50 to $3.00, with some longer or specialized ones reaching $5.00 or more.

  • Hourly Rate (Estimated): Similar to other survey sites, expect around $1 - $3 per hour of active survey time, accounting for disqualifications.

  • Monthly Potential: With consistent effort, you could earn $20 - $75+ per month.

Key Tips for Success:

  • Diversify Your Profile: The more detailed and diverse your profile information, the broader the range of surveys you might qualify for.

  • Answer Consistently: Always provide honest and consistent answers. Survey Junkie has systems to detect inconsistencies, which can lead to lower quality scores or account issues.

  • Focus on Points, Not Just Time: Some shorter surveys offer good point-per-minute ratios. Don't always go for the longest surveys, as they might not be the most efficient.

  • Cash Out Regularly: Once you hit the $5 threshold, consider cashing out your points to keep your earnings accessible.

3. Product Tube: Short Videos, Real Cash

Product Tube stands out by paying you to record short videos of specific products (you do not have to be in these videos! They only want to see the products!), often while shopping or at home (more rare but I have done some--screen recording shopping a website). It's a fun and engaging way to share your opinions on consumer goods.

How to Sign Up:

  1. Download the App: Product Tube is primarily an app-based platform, so download it from your device's app store.

  2. Create an Account: Register with your email.

  3. Complete Profile/Surveys: You'll typically fill out a brief demographic profile.

  4. Receive Project Invitations: Product Tube will send you invitations for projects that match your profile. These usually involve specific products or shopping habits.

  5. Record & Upload: Follow the project instructions to record a short video (often 1-5 minutes) of yourself discussing or using the product. Upload it directly through the app.

Key Highlights (Benefits):

  • Higher Payouts Per Task: Individual projects typically pay significantly more than standard surveys.

  • Engaging Tasks: Instead of just clicking answers, you get to express yourself creatively through video.

  • Amazon Gift Card Rewards: Payouts are usually in the form of Amazon gift cards, which are practically as good as cash for grocery shopping.

  • Focus on Real-World Products: Get paid to review items you might already buy or use.

Potential Earnings:

  • Per Project: Projects typically pay $5 - $20+ for a short video. Some more complex or multi-part projects can pay even more.

  • Hourly Rate (Estimated): If you qualify for and complete projects, the effective "hourly rate" can be much higher than survey sites, potentially $20 - $50+ per hour of active task time, though opportunities are less frequent.

  • Monthly Potential: Earnings are highly variable due to project availability. You might earn $20 - $100+ per month, depending on how many projects you qualify for and complete.

Key Tips for Success:

  • Opt-in to Notifications: Turn on app notifications so you don't miss new project invitations, as spots can fill up quickly.

  • Be Authentic & Clear: Brands want genuine opinions. Speak clearly, be natural, and ensure your videos meet the quality requirements (good lighting, clear audio).

  • Check Requirements Carefully: Each project will have specific instructions (e.g., "record yourself in a grocery store," "show this specific product"). Read them thoroughly to avoid rejection.

  • Patience is Key: Projects are not always abundant. It might take time to receive invitations that perfectly match your demographics and shopping habits.

  • Build a Good Rating: Consistently providing high-quality videos can lead to more invitations over time.

By incorporating these apps into your routine, you can start chipping away at your grocery, gas, phone bill, self care, etc. expenses and keep more money in your pocket. Happy earning!