The $30 suggested figure is one I don't worry about. They say it keeps you from worrying about any surveys being disqualified and deducted from your balance, but if that happens the remaining balance just rolls over to the next month and you only lose the deducted amount. If I have over $25 and the end of the month rolls around, I am jerking that chain.
You can see in the last two years I have not lost a penny to expired earnings:
Amount Date Status Extra
$26.20 2022-07-30 Pending Cancel What is this?
If approved, expect payment on or before: August 20th
$27.81 2022-06-11 Approved
Check #77183
» Check Status: Processed. Printed & mailed on 2022-07-20. Track?
$26.25 2022-03-31 Approved
Check #77143
» Check Status: Processed. Printed & mailed on 2022-04-20. Track?
$26.83 2022-01-31 Approved
Check #77105
» Check Status: Processed. Printed & mailed on 2022-02-18. Track?
$25.05 2021-09-06 Approved
Check #77005
» Check Status: Processed. Printed & mailed on 2021-10-20. Track?
$25.00 2021-07-19 Approved
Check #76974
» Check Status: Processed. Printed & mailed on 2021-08-19. Track?
$33.18 2021-06-18 Approved
Check #76952
» Check Status: Processed. Printed & mailed on 2021-07-19. Track?
$25.36 2021-05-23 Approved
Check #76930
» Check Status: Processed. Printed & mailed on 2021-06-18. Track?
$25.00 2021-03-30 Approved
Check #76897
» Check Status: Processed. Printed & mailed on 2021-04-20. Track?
$62.00 2021-02-21 Approved
Check #76854
» Check Status: Processed. Printed & mailed on 2021-03-22. Track?
$31.92 2021-01-15 Approved
Check #76825
» Check Status: Processed. Printed & mailed on 2021-02-22. Track?
Bottom Line I made $334.60 that I am now earning 15% interest on compounded daily without lifting a finger