Small Streams, Meaningful Rewards
#StressRelief #StressManagement #PersonalDevelopment #PersonalFinance #SideHustle #ExtraIncome #CashBack #MindsetShift #ReferralIncome #CashBack #AffiliateMarketing #FinancialHouse #FinancialWellness #FinancialSelfCare #SaveInvestEnjoy
As a disclaimer, EnvisionCo Blog is reader-supported. Some links on this site are for additional informational purposes whereas some others are affiliate links (don't worry, these will be clearly marked as such). When you click through an affiliate link on our site and sign-up for a service or finalize a purchase, we may earn affiliate commissions. This of course is at no additional cost to you. Additionally, EnvisionCo Blog is for informational and educational purposes only and is in no way intended to be a substitute for financial advice by a registered certified financial planner, medical advice by a qualified physician, or therapy by a trained mental health professional.
We often hear about self-care in terms of taking a break, getting enough rest, spending time with people we enjoy, reading a good book, taking a walk, or doing something that simply makes us feel good. While all of these things can certainly be meaningful forms of self-care, I have been thinking lately about another area of our lives that deserves to be included in the conversation: our finances. Taking care of ourselves financially can look very different depending on where we are in life and what we need at the moment. Sometimes financial self-care means paying down debt, building an emergency fund, or putting more money into our savings or investment accounts. Other times, it may mean giving ourselves permission to actually enjoy some of the money we have worked to earn. Recently, I had one of those moments.
For years, I have used different cashback apps, rewards programs, referral programs, and other opportunities to earn a little extra money. I don't necessarily spend hours trying to maximize every single opportunity, because at some point, earning a few extra dollars is not worth sacrificing all of my free time. Instead, I try to find ways to incorporate these programs into things I am already doing. Over time, those little amounts can add up. Recently, I was able to cash out money from both Upside and Swagbucks, and something pretty special happened. The money I had accumulated was enough to help cover my Labor Day beach trip to Destin with my cousin. And I enjoyed every minute of it.
This has made me look at these little side-income opportunities a little differently. I could have put the money into savings. I could have transferred it into one of my investment accounts. I could have used it to pay down a bill or put it toward another financial goal. Any of those choices would have been reasonable. Instead, I decided that this particular money was going to be used to create an experience and give myself permission to enjoy the rewards of my efforts. For me, that was self-care too. I think sometimes we can become so focused on being financially responsible that we forget that money is also a tool that can help us experience life. Of course, that doesn't mean spending every extra dollar that comes our way. There is tremendous value in saving, investing, reducing debt, and preparing for unexpected expenses. However, financial well-being does not have to mean that we postpone every enjoyable experience until some future date when everything is finally "perfect." Sometimes, self-care is the emergency fund. Sometimes, self-care is paying off the credit card. Sometimes, self-care is putting a little extra money into an investment account. And sometimes, self-care is saying, "I have intentionally earned and saved this money, and I'm going to enjoy it." My Destin trip happened to be my version this time. With that in mind, I thought it would be fun to revisit some of the ways I have personally used to earn a little extra money without turning my spare time into another full-time job. These opportunities aren't intended to replace a regular income, and they certainly aren't guaranteed to produce a specific amount of money. Instead, think of them as possibilities that may help you make a little more out of the activities you are already doing.
1. Upside
I've been using Upside for several years, and what I appreciate most about it is how easy it can be to incorporate into my regular routine. Upside partners with businesses to offer cashback opportunities, including offers at gas stations, restaurants, grocery stores, and other participating businesses. I have primarily used it for gas, which makes sense for me because I am already going to have to purchase gas. If I can receive a little money back from something I was already going to buy, I am happy to take advantage of the opportunity. Now I will be the first to admit that the individual rewards can seem pretty small when you look at them one at a time. A few cents per gallon or a few dollars from a purchase may not feel like much in the moment. However, when those small amounts accumulate over time, they can eventually become something more meaningful. I have found that this is where consistency matters more than trying to make a huge amount of money from one transaction.
The process is relatively simple. You sign up, search the app for available offers, claim an offer when appropriate, make your purchase using the linked card or following the requirements provided, and then receive the applicable cashback. You can sign up using my Upside referral link and enter promo code NT3G8 if the current offer allows it. Keep in mind that referral bonuses and promotional offers can change, so be sure to review the current terms when you sign up. What makes Upside particularly meaningful to me right now is knowing where some of those little rewards eventually went.
I was able to cash out money from Upside and use it toward my Labor Day trip to Destin with my cousin. That makes me smile because it gives a completely different meaning to those small rewards. They weren't just numbers accumulating in an app anymore. They eventually became part of a memory. Your money may have a completely different destination, and that's okay. You may decide that every dollar you earn through cashback goes into your emergency fund. You may use it to pay down debt, add it to your vacation savings, or invest it for the future. The point isn't what you do with the money. The point is that you get to decide what purpose you want that money to serve.
Disclaimer: I may receive a referral benefit from Upside if you sign up using my link and/or promo code. Referral bonuses, participating businesses, cashback amounts, redemption options, and other program details can change, so please review the current terms when signing up.
2. Swagbucks
I've been using Swagbucks since July 2013, which means I have been around long enough to see the platform change and evolve over the years. To be completely honest, I don't take advantage of everything Swagbucks has to offer. If I did, I probably would have earned considerably more by now. Swagbucks offers a variety of ways to earn points, including surveys, shopping, receipt offers, games, trivia, searches, deals, referrals, and other activities.
Surveys are probably one of the things people most commonly associate with Swagbucks, but I rarely use that feature. Instead, I have primarily used Swagbucks as a way to earn rewards from purchases or activities I was already planning to complete. For example, if I am shopping online or booking a hotel, I may check Swagbucks first to see whether there is an opportunity to earn points or cashback by starting my purchase through the platform.
That is an important distinction for me because I don't want earning extra money to become another source of stress. If I have to spend hours doing something I don't enjoy simply to earn a few dollars, then I have to decide whether the money is actually worth the time and energy. However, if I am already going to make a purchase, taking a few extra minutes to see whether I can earn something back feels much more worthwhile. Over the years, those small rewards have added up. I have previously cashed out my Swagbucks for gift cards and cash, and more recently, I was able to cash out again. This time, those rewards became part of the money I used for my Labor Day trip to Destin.
There is something really satisfying about that. I wasn't sitting on the beach thinking about how many Swagbucks I had earned or how many transactions it took to get there. I was simply enjoying time with my cousin and appreciating the fact that small rewards I had accumulated over time had helped create the opportunity for that experience. If you would like to try Swagbucks, you can use my Swagbucks referral link. Referral bonuses and other program terms can change, so please review the current offer before signing up.
Disclaimer: I may receive a referral benefit from Swagbucks if you sign up using my referral link. Referral bonuses, earning opportunities, redemption options, and other program details can change, so please review the current terms when signing up.
3. Amazon Associates
Another part of my income diversification strategy is the Amazon Associates Affiliate Program. This opportunity is a little different from Upside and Swagbucks because I'm not earning cashback from my own purchases. Instead, I can potentially earn commissions when I share qualifying products with my audience and someone makes an eligible purchase through my affiliate link. One of the things I appreciate about affiliate marketing is that there is no inventory for me to purchase, store, package, or ship. I can write an article, create content, or share a resource that is genuinely relevant to what I am already discussing and include a product recommendation when it makes sense. For example, I have written about self-care before and shared some of the ways I was trying to refill my own cup. I talked about drinking afternoon tea, reading for enjoyment, and journaling as ways to intentionally spend some time caring for myself. An article like that naturally creates opportunities to share products that may support those activities. I could share the tea I enjoy, the book I am reading, or a journal that someone might want to use for their own self-reflection. The important thing for me is that the product recommendation should actually fit the content. I don't want to recommend something simply because there is an opportunity to earn a commission. If I'm talking about reading, I can share a book. If I'm talking about journaling, I can share a journal. If I'm talking about tea, I can share tea. The affiliate link becomes an additional resource rather than the entire purpose of the article.
Affiliate marketing does require work. You still have to create useful content, maintain your links, disclose your affiliate relationship, and continue finding ways to provide value to your audience. However, content that has already been created can potentially continue generating clicks and commissions over time, which is one of the reasons I consider it part of my passive-income vault. And just like with cashback, I believe transparency matters. Your audience should know when you may receive compensation from a recommendation. I would rather someone know exactly what the relationship is and then decide for themselves whether the product or resource is right for them.
4. Chase
Yes, I am including a credit card in this list. I know credit cards can be a sensitive subject, and they should be approached carefully because cashback rewards aren't beneficial if they encourage you to spend money you don't have or carry a balance that results in significant interest charges. Personally, I have used my Chase card for expenses that I was already planning to pay, such as gas, groceries, car insurance, and my cell phone bill. Rather than using cash or a debit card for those purchases, I have used the credit card and earned cashback rewards. The important part for me has been treating the credit card as a payment method rather than as additional income.
One thing I particularly enjoy is the possibility of stacking rewards. For example I have linked my Chase card to Upside, which means that when I make a qualifying purchase, I may be able to receive cashback from both programs. Depending on the current credit card reward categories and the specific Upside offer, this can create another opportunity to earn something back from a purchase I was already going to make. However, this strategy isn't appropriate for everyone. If using a credit card makes it harder for you to control your spending, the cashback rewards may not be worth it. A dollar of cashback doesn't make sense if you end up paying much more than that in interest because you carried a balance or purchased things you didn't actually need. That is another reason I think financial self-care requires us to know ourselves. What works well for one person may not work well for someone else. The goal isn't to collect the most rewards possible. The goal is to make financial choices that support your overall well-being.
Disclaimer: Earn a $200 bonus after spending $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening when you sign up using my Chase referral link. I may receive a $50 referral benefit if you sign up using my referral link. Referral bonuses, earning opportunities, redemption options, and other program details can change, so please review the current terms when signing up.
5. Ally
Ally is another financial resource that has been part of my financial life for several years. I originally discovered Ally in 2016 while researching high-yield savings accounts, and one of the things I have appreciated is the ability to organize savings around different goals. Having different savings buckets can make it easier to give your money a purpose. Instead of simply thinking about having "more money in savings," you can identify what you are actually saving for. You might have an emergency fund, a vacation fund, a car repair fund, a holiday fund, or another goal that is important to you.
This is one of the places where I think financial self-care and traditional self-care overlap. Having money set aside for an upcoming expense can reduce some of the stress that comes with knowing a bill or event is coming. Saving for a vacation can allow you to look forward to something without wondering how you are going to pay for it. Building an emergency fund can provide a little more breathing room when life decides to do what life does and throws an unexpected expense your way. And sometimes, those savings goals can be funded with the little bits of extra money we earn along the way. Imagine taking the money you earn from cashback apps and automatically moving it into a vacation savings bucket. You may not notice $3 or $5 disappearing from your checking account, but over time, those small deposits can become meaningful. That's essentially what happened with my Destin trip, although this time I allowed myself to use the accumulated rewards rather than continue saving them.
Disclaimer: Earn $100 when you open a new Ally Bank account using my Ally referral link and meet the requirements. I may receive a $50 referral benefit if you sign up using my referral link. Referral bonuses, earning opportunities, redemption options, and other program details can change, so please review the current terms when signing up.
6. SoFi
SoFi has also been part of my financial journey through saving and investing. I have used SoFi Invest for my non-dividend-paying stocks, and I have also explored its checking and savings options. What I appreciate about having different financial accounts and tools available is that they remind me that not every dollar has to have the same job. Some money may need to remain accessible for emergencies. Some may be saved for a short-term goal. Some may be invested for the future. And some money may eventually be used to create an experience that brings us joy. That last part is easy to overlook.
We can become so focused on preparing for the future that we forget that we are also living in the present. There is nothing wrong with wanting to build wealth, save for retirement, pay off debt, or create financial security. Those are meaningful goals. At the same time, I don't think we have to view enjoying our money as automatically irresponsible.
The key is intentionality. If you need to build your emergency fund, perhaps your extra money belongs there. If you are working toward paying off debt, maybe your cashback should go toward that balance. If investing is one of your priorities, perhaps those extra dollars can help you continue building your portfolio. If you have been working hard and have intentionally created room in your budget for enjoyment, perhaps some of that money can help you take a trip, enjoy a meal, buy something you've been wanting, or simply do something that makes you smile.
Disclaimer: I may receive a referral benefit from SoFi Check and Savings or SoFi Invest if you sign up using my referral link. Referral bonuses, earning opportunities, redemption options, and other program details can change, so please review the current terms when signing up.
What Does Financial Self-Care Look Like for You?
My Labor Day trip to Destin gave me a new way to think about the little streams of extra income I have been building over the years. I have often talked about these programs from the perspective of earning more money, but this experience reminded me that the real value may not always be in the money itself. Sometimes, the value is in what the money allows us to do. For me, this time, it allowed me to spend time at the beach with my cousin. It gave me a break from my regular routine and allowed me to enjoy an experience without having to pull the money directly from my regular paycheck. It was a small reminder that the little things I had been doing over the years could eventually contribute to something I genuinely enjoyed. For someone else, that same money might provide a completely different kind of relief. Maybe $25 goes toward an emergency fund. Maybe $50 gets invested. Maybe $100 helps pay down a credit card. Maybe a few dollars here and there eventually cover the cost of holiday gifts. Maybe someone saves their rewards for an entire year and uses them to fund a vacation.
There isn't one universal definition of financial self-care. The important thing is to be intentional about what your money is doing for you. Sometimes financial self-care is about preparing for the future. Sometimes it is about reducing the financial stress we are already carrying. Sometimes it is about creating more stability. And sometimes, it is about giving ourselves permission to enjoy something we have worked toward. I think we need all of those things.
We deserve to be responsible with our money, but we also deserve to experience the lives we are working so hard to build. If every extra dollar always has to be saved for some future version of ourselves, we may miss opportunities to create memories in the present.
My Upside and Swagbucks rewards didn't make me rich. They didn't replace my income. They didn't solve every financial concern I have. What they did was give me a little extra money that eventually became part of a Labor Day trip to Destin with my cousin. And that was enough to remind me that sometimes the little things really do add up.
So, as you think about your own financial goals, ask yourself what would feel like financial self-care right now. Would it feel better to add a little more to your savings account? Would paying down a bill give you a greater sense of relief? Would investing that extra money make you feel like you are taking care of your future self? Or maybe you need to give yourself permission to use some of that money to enjoy the present. Whatever you decide, let it be intentional. Financial self-care isn't about doing everything perfectly. It is about making choices that support your well-being, your goals, and the life you are building. Please remember as you begin this journey, do not worry about getting it perfect; just get it going. Until next time. Happy reading.
Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants.” ~Epictetus
Here at EnvisionCo Blog, we try to keep ads to a minimum making our blog entirely reader-supported. We may feature links on this site for additional informational purposes. From time to time, we may feature other links which are affiliate links (and these will be clearly marked). When you click through an affiliate link on our site and sign up for a service or finalize a purchase, we may earn affiliate commissions. This is of course at no additional cost to you. However, if you like what you see and would like to make a donation to help us keep ads to a minimum, we would greatly appreciate it! Nothing fancy. We accept the price of a cup coffee with as much gratitude as we would the price of a tank of gas!
Comments