Yahoo Finance 
Three easy ways to earn free money
Fancy giving yourself a quick financial boost? There are loads of ways to earn easy cashback on your everyday spending.
Use a cashback website
The most obvious is to use a cashback website such as Top Cashback and/or Quidco when you’re shopping online. Both pay cashback on purchases at places ranging from supermarkets to shoe shops.
But right now you can also earn cashback on some top financial products ranging from the longest 0% credit cards to a top-rated current account. Let’s take a look at what’s on offer.
['I get 3% interest without tying up my money']
Double your money with a cashback credit card
If you’re happy paying for your everyday spending with a credit card, making sure you pay off your balance in full each month, why not take advantage of a cashback credit card?
The latest additions to this market are the NatWest and Royal Bank of Scotland Cashback Plus cards. These pay 1% cashback on all spending at supermarkets and partner companies, and 0.5% cashback everywhere else, although until March you can boost this to 1% by paying using contactless technology. There is no annual limit on how much you can earn.
However, these cards have a £24 annual fee and there are better cards out there.
One is the American Express Platinum Cashback Everyday card, which is fee free and pays 5% on all purchases for the first three months, up to a spending limit of £2,000 (so you can earn up to £100 back). You can then earn up to 1.25%, depending on how much you spend.
If you’re a bigger spender, the American Express Platinum Cashback card charges £25 a year, but you can earn up to £125 in the first three months and then a flat 1.25% after that point.
The Santander 123 credit card also charges an annual fee - £24, unless you have a 123 current account. It pays 1% cashback on supermarket spending, 2% at major department stores and 3% at all major petrol stations, and on National Rail and Transport for London travel.
[Compare cashback credit cards]
Get paid to switch to a top-rated bank
How do you like the sound of £100 for moving your current account to a bank that consistently comes out top of customer service surveys? First Direct is offering that ‘welcome bonus’ when you switch to its 1st Account.
You need to switch using the Current Account Switch Service and pay in at least £1,000 a month for three months to qualify for the £100. You also need to pay in £1,000 a month permanently or you’ll have to pay a £10 account fee.
If you’re not happy you can leave First Direct anytime between six months and a year and the bank will pay you another £100.
The Co-op Bank will also pay you £100 to switch to its Current Account Standard, providing you pay in at least £800 within the first 31 days and set up two active monthly direct debits. It will also donate £25 to charity.
Meanwhile, Halifax will pay you £100 to switch to one of its current accounts.
And if you’re a fan of M&S, you can switch to its fee-free Current Account and receive a £100 M&S gift card. You can also earn M&S points on spending on the account’s debit card.
