Money Saving Expert has shared more than 60 simple ways to boost your income – and one of the most unusual suggestions involves getting paid to watch TV
From selling unwanted items to signing up for side gigs, MSE has listed over 60 ways to top up your earnings – and yes, one option really does involve sitting down in front of the telly(Image: Getty)
Money Saving Expert (MSE) has shared more than 60 ways people can boost their income – and one of the suggestions genuinely involves watching TV (and no, it’s not Gogglebox).
Founded by Martin Lewis, MSE shared in July 2026 that some people across the UK could get paid for sharing their opinions. It explains: “There are scores of legit ways to earn extra money, whether selling stuff, working from home or using the web.
“After all, no matter how good a MoneySaver you are, a little bit more money’s always useful.” Discussing how to “get paid to watch telly”, it says that TV “addicts can cash in by getting paid for their opinion via The Viewers, which sources research panels for broadcasters and programme makers.
“Projects can include giving feedback on TV programmes before they hit screens, coming up with catchy titles or deciding which personalities should get more airtime. You can attend face-to-face research groups (these are usually in big cities around the UK), fill in surveys online or do both.”
To give everyone a fair chance to get involved and avoid you becoming a “serial respondent”, you can usually take part in just one group discussion every six months (unless the project has multiple stages). You can still complete the online surveys as often as you like.
Who can sign up?
The Viewers panel is open to all UK residents aged 16 or over. You’ll need to complete a short questionnaire about your viewing habits that takes around five to 10 minutes.
This helps the service share information with TV companies so they can target the right demographics for each study and ensure they’re capturing a broad range of views.
Applications are checked before you’re added to the panel, which can take up to two weeks during busy periods. But once you’re approved, you’ll have the same chance of being picked for a project as current members.
How much will I get paid?
MSE share: “You’ll get at least £40 for face-to-face group discussions and it’s usually paid in cash straight after the event. Occasionally there are online versions of a focus group, which pay the same amount via bank transfer, PayPal or Amazon vouchers.”
You should receive payment within a few days of the group taking place.
It continues: “Online surveys typically pay £1 to £10 depending on how long they are. Payments are made monthly via bank transfer, PayPal or Amazon email gift voucher. Unlike with many online survey sites, there’s no minimum you have to earn before you get paid.”
How do I sign up?
The Viewers official website says: “If you have views about TV, we want to hear from you!
“The Viewers is a fun research panel for all things telly. Whether that be feedback on what you watched last night, getting a sneak preview of new programmes or even developing new services.
“It’s free to register and always up to you whether you’d like to take part in anything on offer – whether that be a paid group discussion or online surveys and tasks offering £s and prizes.”
You can sign up here. For a full list of FAQ’s, you can look at their page here.
