How to Make Money Watching Television
At age 14, I was interested in only two professions: video game player or TV watcher.
At the time it was explained to me that you couldn’t earn money doing these things, so I went to college and got a job instead. While it’s been a long time since I started my career, a large part of me still wishes that I could just kick back with the remote and collect cash.
If you are like me and have longed to make money watching your favorite shows, you are in luck.
There is a new Apple app called Viggle where you get paid for watching TV. Finally, we couch potatoes can make money the way we’ve always wanted, with a bowl of Doritos and arm chair.
How It Works
The last time I tried making money from watching TV, it felt like a lot of work. I was a Nielsen family and had to keep a viewer journal of all the shows I watched in order to make a few bucks. Ultimately, the journal was onerous and wasn’t really worth the money. Viggle, on the other hand, is much easier to use.
There is no journal to record your watching and you don’t need to be randomly selected to participate. You download the free app and when you start watching a show, you check-in through your smart phone. The app listens for what is being said on TV and will recognize the show automatically.
You are then awarded points for how long you watch the show. Points are usually awarded by the number of minute you watch, but Viggle also has special offers. These offers promise bonus points, usually a few hundred extra points, for watching certain shows on certain dates.
How Much Can You Make?
After you’ve accumulated enough points, you can exchange the points for various awards. The rewards are mainly gift cards from retailers like Amazon, Target and CVS (The denominations depend on the retailer and the value of the gift card).
Just to give you an idea on the earning potential – I clocked in 300 points the first night I tried this (plus I got 1,500 points for signing up). The cheapest reward is a $5 gift card for 7,500 points.
App Availability
Right now, Viggle is available on only Apple products. It is compatible with iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad.
No one will be quitting their day job with Viggle, but who would turn down a free gift card for something we’re doing anyway? (Side Note: Anyone who leaves a comment below claiming they don’t watch TV is not be trusted) 🙂
Here’s the link to signup for Viggle. Heads up – this link will open your App store, so you may want to click this link while on your phone.
Good luck Penny Hoarders!
