Today's the 25th, and I am currently at $33.41. I never cash out early; I always do it on the last day of the month.
What I do: videos or whatever it takes to get the ptc, the daily cash email, and then, mostly surveys. I can earn 30 cents or more just getting disqualified each day on those. But I usually end up qualifying for a few. I try to be sure I earn a dollar per day. Some days, I am a bit short, but I make up for it on other days.
If you do the ptc, the daily cash email, watch some videos, and try to take enough surveys to get to around 30 cents per day, you will find that you will end up qualifying for a few surveys, and your balance will build quicker.
The best thing is to not let it become this big unapproachable goal. Just commit to doing a certain amount each day without fail (unless you work), and you will start to build the income.
You won't make big bucks, but it's nice to have a bit of mad money for fun or to help with the bills.
I don't bother with referrals although you make a lot more that way. I don't know enough people to refer, and with my OCD, I would become obsessed with what others are doing or not doing because it would affect my income.
This way, what I make depends on how much effort I put into it.
Hope this helps.
I broke it down a bit mathematically under another post titled "money."