How I Made £50 Doing YouGov Surveys

Let’s face it—we’d all love to make a bit of extra money without having to sell a kidney or become a social media influencer. Good news: you can! And no, I’m not trying to recruit you into a pyramid scheme and no affiliate link. Bad news - it aint quick!

Instead, I want to tell you about something I’ve actually used: YouGov surveys.

So, what is YouGov?

YouGov is a legit survey site where you answer questions about everything from politics to pineapple on pizza (I’m team anti-pineapple, fight me), and in return, you earn "points". These points eventually convert into "cold, hard cash"—or gift cards, if you prefer your rewards a little more Amazon-y.

YouGov uses the data to gather public opinion on stuff companies, governments, and media outlets care about. It’s all anonymous, so you won’t end up as a meme because of your controversial opinion on Crocs.

My experience: I got paid!

I’ve been doing YouGov surveys here and there—nothing too intense, just in the gaps of everyday life. Recently, I hit 5000 points, which is the magic number. That unlocked a nice, satisfying £50, which landed straight into my bank account like a glorious digital pat on the back.

It didn’t take a lot of commitment in terms of time during the week. I didn’t need to dedicate my weekends to a screen or stay up until 2am rating toothpaste. I just answered a few surveys a week, some short, some longer, and boom. £50. It did however take a year for me to accumulate enough points to redeem. I hadn't realised it had taken this long if I am honest.

Not life-changing, but hey, that’s a takeaway for the family, a tank of petrol, or five cheeky pints depending on how you live your best life.

How it works

Here’s the quick version:

1. Sign up at https://yougov.co.uk.

2. Fill out some basic profile information (so they know what surveys to send you).

3. Wait for survey invitations (you’ll get emails or notifications when one’s ready).

4. Complete surveys and earn points (typically 50–100 points each).

5. Once you hit 5000 points, you can redeem them for £50 in cash (or a gift card, if that’s more your preference).

It’s simple. You can do them on your phone, tablet, or computer. I’ve answered them while having a cuppa, waiting for dinner to cook, or hiding from my kids for five peaceful minutes.

There is also the option to link it to various things such as YouTube history, bank statements etc for some points, but it does not seem like a worthy trade off at all! So I stay clear of all that.

The Pros

• It’s free: You don’t pay anything to join or participate.

• Flexible: You can do surveys whenever and wherever you like.

• Legit cash: No cryptic points system that turns into a £3 gift card. This is **real money**.

• Interesting topics: Sometimes you get asked your opinion on things that actually make you think (and other times, it's about biscuits—still important).

• No spam: YouGov isn’t one of those dodgy sites that bombard your inbox with offers for fake Ray-Bans.

The Cons

• Slow burner: This is not a get-rich-quick scheme. You won’t retire on YouGov cash. I had a look back and it took me just over a year to get this! Not good use of my time you could argue.

• Survey frequency varies: Some weeks you might get three or four surveys, other times it might go quiet.

• Payout threshold: You have to hit 5000 points before you can cash out. No half-measures.

  
  

How to fit it into your day

Think of YouGov surveys like that friend who doesn’t text often but always brings good vibes. You don’t need to schedule survey time just slot them in around your routine.

Waiting rooms? Survey.

Toilet break? Survey (no judgment).

Sat in the car waiting for the kids to finish football? Survey.

Pretending to be busy on your phone to avoid awkward small talk? Survey.

My Thoughts

If you’re on your FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) journey like me, then every little bit helps. No, YouGov won’t replace your 9-to-5, but it’s a low-effort way to earn a bit extra.

I hadn't realised how long it had taken me to get to the 5000 points until I wrote this post. Instead of doomscrolling useless content on social media I instead would opt to do a survey if I could. But the length of time it has taken to get £50 is pretty nuts.

However, despite that, £50 is now sitting nicely in my Emergency Fund of my NS&I Premium Bonds, giving me some better odds of hitting the jackpot! Always a dreamer.

I'll probably continue with it as it doesn't impact my day or week, it offers a break from whatever I am doing, and there has been an increase over recent months of more frequent surveys so I would expect to reach 5000 points again much quicker.

So go on, give it a go. Sign up, start clicking, and in a few months, treat yourself to something nice—paid for by your very informed opinions.

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