Latest Freebie – $9 in Compound

This free cryptocoin offer appeared in June 2020 and brings the freebie total to over $62 USD that we can cashout!

Coinbase, one of the biggest cryptocurrency exchanges for Americans, is offering over $62 worth of free money via different cryptocoins Once acquiring your free crypto, you can then hold on and hope it goes up in value, like you would with stocks from Robinhood or Webull.

Or, you can convert it to USD and cash out today!

The first thing you'll want to do is download and install the free Brave browser. I've personally used this browser since July 2019 and absolutely love it! It has a built-in ad-blocker that works wonderfully and highly protects your privacy online while surfing the net. You can even leave free, small tips for your favorite websites, like HIF.

After that, you'll want to make a free Coinbase account. Don't worry about the Bitcoin message on that screen, since we're not buying anything. Just freebies for us, please and thank you!

Get $62 in free cryptocurrency!

Now, onto the free cryptocurrency! You'll want to head over to Coinbase's Earn section and take their quizzes. But don't worry, I've got all the answers below 😉

There will be a video for each question that you'll need to watch the first 10 seconds of. You'll then be able to enter your answer and each free cryptocurrency with each subsequent correct answer. All told, it only takes a few minutes to earn all your free money.

Finally, if you find you're getting an “Earning Unavailable: Unfortunately this opportunity is not available in your region” message for any of the coins, you can use a VPN to get around it! 🙂 I personally use Private Internet Access or PureVPN, but any VPN should work.

If you're looking for a free VPN, my go-to here is ProtonVPN. Aside from their great security – I'm never going to recommend a VPN with bad security, that's a given! – I find their speeds to be quick and their IP addresses are almost never blocked by large websites.

Free $9 in COMP

The latest free coin offer just dropped in June 2020 in the form of $9 in free COMP. You can join the wait list now, then pick up your free money in few days. I'll update this post with the quiz answers once I move off the waitlist.

Free $12 in OXT

Next up at Coinbase is snagging our $12 in free OXT. Here are the answers you'll need to quickly advance through the quiz.

1. A peer to peer privacy wallet.
2. Orchid’s Ethereum token, OXT, as well as the Orchid app and a Web3 wallet.
3. Multihop configurations between bandwidth providers.

The OXT freebie has four bonus referral slots as well, each netting you $10 for a potential $40 in additional free money. You don't have to do these in order to get your initial free $12, but it's a nice option that'll bring your total to almost $100 in free cash!

Free $6 in XTZ

One of the easiest free crypto offers is the November 2019 deal where you get get $6 in free XTZ, also known as Tezos.

1. Formal verification
2. A decent computer, an internet connection, and 1 roll of Tez (8,000 XTZ)
3. The formal governance program

Free $10 in XLM

Now it's time to get your free XLM.

1. A decentralized protocol that unites the world financial infrastructure.
2. Facilitating low cost, universal payments.
3. Transactions are fast, inexpensive, and global.
4. To issue, exchange, and transfer tokens quickly and efficiently.
5. It relies on the cooperation of trusted nodes to confirm transactions.

Free $10 in EOS

Next, you'll want to snag your free EOS.

1. A blockchain protocol for fast, scalable applications.
2. Delegated proof of stake.
3. Fast, free transfers.
4. Stake EOS tokens.
5. Upgradeable smart contracts.

Free $10 in BAT

Now onto our free BAT coins (after you install the free Brave privacy browser)

1. There are too many ads and data trackers.
2. It is a free, open-source web browser build for privacy.
3. Users get paid BAT for viewing opt-in ads, and publishers get rewarded when users pay attention to their content.

Free $6 in DAI

Last, but not least, we've got our free DAI.

1. A decentralized stablecoin that aims to be worth one US dollar.
2. Decentralized and borderless.
3. Open a CDB with Maker.

Once you have all your free crypto, you can go back to your main Coinbase account and click the blue “Trade” button in the top right. You'll be able to convert your freebies into a more stable crypto, like Bitcoin or Ethereum, or sell them for USD! Once you've sold it for USD, you can then link your bank account to Coinbase and directly transfer it to your account.

My friends and I have shared various online chats since 2001, but we didn't discover Slack wasn't until 2015. It's now a program I couldn't live without. Goofing off and sharing links throughout the day with each other is so easy, even as we're spread across the globe.

A while back, one of the Slack rooms lit when a buddy of mine found an old link on Reddit about free unclaimed money. The following conversation ensued:

We laughed and my buddy proceeded to call his dad to walk him through claiming his $113. It was only later that it struck me. If one of my good friends didn't know about this page on HIF detailing how to search for unclaimed money, then I bet a ton of readers who haven't been with HIF since Day 1 don't know about it either!

So I decided to dust off this old post and republish it in the hopes that more Hiffers could find some free cash!

Wait, Free Money? What's the Catch?

Long story short, there are a few websites where you can search your name for unclaimed money you're entitled to. This could be money from bank errors, back pay from past jobs or employers, money from stocks, or from a myriad of other ways for money to be owed to you.

And this is serious money we're talking about here. Collectively, all the states hold over $40 billion in unclaimed money, assets, and property! California holds over $9 billion and New York holds over $16 billion. Even little old Connecticut holds close to $876 million.

So where does all this money come from? Well, for starters, the government is a big source. If the government owes you money and you do not collect it, then it's unclaimed. They're not allowed to just keep it! This also applies to private companies. State laws demand companies that owe you or your business money to turn it over to the state after a certain amount of time. This includes banks, credit unions, utilities, employers, and more. It also includes investments like pensions, bonds, or stocks, among other sources.

Many sources of unclaimed money come from deaths as well. It's not uncommon for wills to be outdated, leaving assets to distant relatives with a new names. It's also common for money to be left in you

As you can see, my buddy found $100 for his dad from a tax rebate he was owed from the mid-90s. The most I've ever found for myself was an $8 check from Verizon. But hey, it was something! I know of people who discovered unclaimed property from bank accounts, safe deposit boxes, stock dividends, literal unpaid wages!, tax rebates, insurance payouts, and so many other ways.

Find Unclaimed Money

State Unclaimed Money Forms

All 50 states, plus DC, have a dedicated state website with an official search form. So that should clearly be your first step in searching for unclaimed money and property! I highly recommend searching your last name and business name in every state you've ever lived or worked in. Below are direct links to each state's search form and you can learn more from the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators.

• Alabama Unclaimed Property
• Alaska Unclaimed Property
• Arizona Unclaimed Property
• Arkansas Unclaimed Property
• California Unclaimed Property
• Colorado Unclaimed Property
• Connecticut Unclaimed Property
• District of Columbia Unclaimed Property
• Delaware Unclaimed Property
• Florida Unclaimed Property
• Georgia Unclaimed Property
• Hawaii Unclaimed Property
• Idaho Unclaimed Property
• Illinois Unclaimed Property
• Indiana Unclaimed Property
• Iowa Unclaimed Property
• Kansas Unclaimed Property
• Kentucky Unclaimed Property
• Louisiana Unclaimed Property
• Maine Unclaimed Property
• Maryland Unclaimed Property
• Massachusetts Unclaimed Property
• Michigan Unclaimed Property
• Minnesota Unclaimed Property
• Mississippi Unclaimed Property
• Missouri Unclaimed Property
• Montana Unclaimed Property
• Nebraska Unclaimed Property
• Nevada Unclaimed Property
• New Hampshire Unclaimed Property
• New Jersey Unclaimed Property
• New Mexico Unclaimed Property
• New York Unclaimed Property
• North Carolina Unclaimed Property
• North Dakota Unclaimed Property
• Ohio Unclaimed Property
• Oklahoma Unclaimed Property
• Oregon Unclaimed Property
• Pennsylvania Unclaimed Property
• Rhode Island Unclaimed Property
• South Carolina Unclaimed Property
• South Dakota Unclaimed Property
• Tennessee Unclaimed Property
• Texas Unclaimed Property
• Utah Unclaimed Property
• Vermont Unclaimed Property
• Virginia Unclaimed Property
• Washington Unclaimed Property
• West Virginia Unclaimed Property
• Wisconsin Unclaimed Property
• Wyoming Unclaimed Property

Your next stop should be this US Government official unclaimed money guide. They breakdown all of the individual sites you can search for unclaimed money.

While the government doesn't have a central website for locating unclaimed money, they do have specific areas to look based on where the money is coming from.

Unclaimed Back Wages

• Unpaid Wages – If you think you may be owed back wages from your employer, search the Wage and Hour Division's (WHD's) database of workers for whom it has money waiting to be claimed. WHD is a part of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL).

Life Insurance

• VA Life Insurance Funds – Search the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for unclaimed insurance funds that are owed to certain current or former policyholders or their beneficiaries. Note: This does not include funds from Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI) or Veterans' Group Life Insurance (VGLI) policies from 1965 to the present.

Retirement

• Pensions from Former Employers – Search for unclaimed pension money from companies that went out of business or ended a defined plan.

Taxes

• Tax Refunds – The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) may owe you money if your refund was unclaimed or undelivered.

Banking, Investments, and Currency

• Bank Failures – Search the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) for unclaimed funds from failed financial institutions.
• Credit Union Failures – Find unclaimed deposits from credit unions.
• SEC Claims Funds – The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) lists enforcement cases where a company or person owes investors money.

Mortgages

• FHA-Insurance Refunds – If you had an FHA-insured mortgage, you may be eligible for a refund from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). To search the HUD database, you will need your FHA case number (three digits, a dash, and the next six digits—for example, 051-456789).

International

• Foreign Claims – U.S. nationals can find money owed to them from foreign governments after loss of property.

Beware Unclaimed Money Scams

Finally, watch out fir people who pretend to be the government and offer to send you unclaimed money for a fee. These scammers use a variety of tricks to get your attention, but their goal is the same: to get you to send them money. Government agencies will not call you about unclaimed money or assets.

• The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) provides tips on how you can avoid government imposter scams.

Just remember: if somebody asks you to pay for “free” money, then it's not free!

With those tips, hopefully some Hiffers can find some free cash floating around out there. Get started with the links above and good luck!

With everything happening out there *waves hand towards window,* I know some people are having trouble making ends meet. You should see my bank account right now! 🙃While making money via quick surveys is available to most of us, I recently stumbled across an even better survey site exclusively for military families.

If you're an enlisted military member, veteran, military spouse, or military parent then you qualify for Military+Families. This includes Coast Guard, National Guard and Reserves, which means roughly 10-15% of Hiffers should be able to join!

The payout for their surveys are a bit higher than what civilians are offered via other sites. This is a great way to earn a little extra cash during lockdown without having to put on pants! Simply answer a few basic questions to see which surveys you qualify for, then earn points and cash out for giftcards to Amazon, Walmart, Target, and iTunes!

If you sign up before May 31, you'll receive free Allstate Identity Protection throughout the rest of 2020. You're able to sign up for any of the individual or family plans, so this freebie could be worth up to $315.

Some of the services you'll receive are data breach alerts, bank account monitoring, and up to $50,000 in stolen funds reimbursement. You will need a credit card to sign up for this, but you don't get charged now. You will have the option to elect a paid subscription before your free service ends, but it's not required.

If you're not in the market for identity protection, perhaps this freebie from Ikea might help. It's a free instruction set on how to stay home in self-isolation!

Is it seriously tax time again? Already?! You've got to be kidding me. I swear, it's every freaking year, like clockwork.

Before I get to any freebies, let's get one thing out of the way. If you assume I'm going to take this opportunity to post my favorite Simpsons tax day video, then you know me too well!

If you're looking to get your IRS tax return in faster than Homer or before another huge backlog piles up, then I've got some free and discounted options below!

Free 2020 Federal Tax Filings

TurboTax Free Edition – TurboTax offers both free federal and state tax returns if you use the most common forms, like a 1040. However, they even offer slightly more forms for free than most other services – you can see a full list by scrolling down and click on grey “tax forms” tab. Also, if you're a returning customer, almost 50% of your work is done by transferring last year's info with a single click!

H&R Block Free – Another free federal and state tax option is H&R Block. On top of being free, they're heavily promoting the difference between them and TurboTax.

H&R Block is offering 45 forms required for filing your free online taxes, which is twice as many as TurboTax. They specifically mention these situations to look out for.

• For Families – Child and Dependent Care Expenses
• For Students – Student Loan Interest Deduction
• For Students – Tuition and Fees Statement
• For Uninsured – Health Coverage Exemptions

Obviously, if any of these situations apply to you, H&R Block sounds like the way to go!

If you find you need to upgrade to a different plan, you can get up to 35% off, but I'm not sure for how much longer.

TaxAct – Another provider offering $0 federal and state tax filings is TaxAct. Their free plan is for people with basic 1040 or W2 income.

A new feature for 2020 is their free service now also includes dependents, retirement income, college expenses, and plenty more scenarios.

If you need to upgrade to their paid plans, I have a 20% off promo link to help save even more money.

Credit Karma Tax – Credit Karma Tax is a premium product that's 100% free, from start to finish. That includes all of our super-useful features, plus free filing for all supported forms and situations. Have a side-hustle? Own a home or sold some stock? Other tax services might charge you to itemize these deductions – but we don't.

From what I can tell, they don't even have a premium plan, so there's really no coupons or promo codes needed.

TaxSlayer – The final, highly rated service on our list offering both state and federal tax returns for free is TaxSlayer. Like the others, this is primarily aimed at single, married, and student filers with a basic 1040.

Their paid services start at $17, but SLAYIT35 should save 35% off any of their plans!

FreeTaxUSA – Finally, we have FreeTaxUSA, who my friend swears by. One of their nice perks is that they offer all of their federal plans, both Free and Deluxe, absolutely free. So if you have a slightly more complicated federal return, you can still get it completely free with FreeTaxUSA.

The downside is they don't offer any free state tax returns. However, I looked around, and believe you can save 10% with either code FREETAXUSA10 or COUPONS10.

So there you have it! With one of those six sites, you should be able to file your taxes for free or extremely cheap. Now hopefully we get a break from all these taxes next year! I hear it's a leap year, that's gotta help us somehow.

It's hard not to love this freebie from Robinhood. It's thankfully still kicking in the new year, so be sure to pick up your free stock using the guide below.

I'm not a huge stock trader. I'm more of a sock trader, in that I'm always unwittingly trading left socks with the person using the washing machines after me at the laundromat.

When I first started investing, I found the online brokerage fees of $7 per trade to be a bit steep. That's why I joined Robinhood a few years ago and never looked back. They're an app-based brokerage account regulated just like all the big Wall Street companies. What sets Robinhood apart are their no-fee trades, which means you never pay a commission when you buy and sell stocks. The only drawback is they don't have great research options, but I always got around that by using all the free research tools on other websites. Then I go back to Robinhood and make my free trades there 🙂

While that's all well and good, Robinhood is running a promo giving away free share of stock to anybody who joins! For no money whatsoever, you can get a free share of a surprise stock. While it's completely random what you get, you have a 1 in 150 chance of getting a share of Facebook ($178.92), Apple ($172.50), Microsoft ($84.14) and a 1 in 100 chance of getting a share of Ford ($12.36), AMD ($11.12), or Vereit ($7.92) – all for free! The lowest stock you can get for free is priced at $2.50, so there are no garbage or penny stocks being offered here.

How to Get a Free Share of Stock

Fun Fact: The stock above was $4.20 when I got it! It's now worth $0.74! I should have sold it long ago! This wasn't a very fun fact!

To get your free share of stock, simply sign up via their app and wait for your account to be approved. You have to be referred by somebody in order to get your free share, so it's important you go through a link here on HIF. You can only have 1 account per person, so they confirm your identity with your social security number (similar to how tobacco freebies do!) using bank-level SSL and 128-bit encryption.

After your account is approved, open the app and click on the “Free Stock” link in the menu. You should then have a share of stock to claim! You then have to wait 2 business days before you can sell the stock and then wait another 30 days before you can transfer the money out of the app and into your bank account.

With the number of readers HIF has, I'd be shocked if a few Hiffers didn't get a share of those mega expensive stocks! In fact, I'd love for Hiffers to share what they got in the comments just so we could see how much free money was given out.

Robinhood has an overview of this promo on their site, along with a few FAQ about it.

Fingers crossed you're one of the lucky Hiffers to hit it big with a share of Facebook or Apple. Good luck!