Saturday Spotlight: Money Saving Apps

We all love to save money but who has the time.  Do you cut coupons to grocery shop and then forget to take them?  I am definitely technically challenged but I am on a mission to pay off debt so I learning how to use digital coupons and money savings apps. So, pull out your smart phone and check out some of these money saving apps.

My favorites are:

Shopkick – rewards you with “kicks” when you visit participating retailers like Macy’s, Target, Best Buy, Walmart, etc.). Admit it, you go to at least one of these retailers every week. You also can earn “bonus kicks” for scanning specific items while in store. NO, you don’t have to purchase them, just scan the UPC code. Once you’ve earned enough reward points you can redeem them for retail and restaurant gift cards.  This is a fun way to get the kids involved in grocery shopping by letting them scan the products.  They have also added online rewards too.

Ebates – my favorite site for saving money when shopping online! You have seen the commercials right, where people are getting thousands of dollars back.  Well, the truth is I do’t get thousands back but I do average about $25 per month which is pretty good. Right now, you can earn $10 for clicking my link and joining as a new member.  Then get your referrals link so you can earn $25 for each person who joins using your link.

Cartwheel – Are you a Target shopper?  Be sure to grab their Cartwheel app so you can save additional money on products you buy.  This is a savings on top of the 5% they offer by using your Target credit card or debit card.  There is no need to open a credit card to get the 5%, you can link your Target card to you checking account and use it like a debit card.

For the grocery shoppers who love to use coupons, here are three apps just for you:

Checkout 51 – to save on groceries. Every Thursday morning, Checkout 51 updates with a new list of offers. Simply choose the offers you like, purchase them at any store then upload a photo of your receipt through the mobile app or website. When your account reaches $20, Checkout 51 sends you a check.

Ibotta – Before heading to the store, choose the offers you like then go shopping. (The more offers you select, the more you can earn.) After you check out, take a photo of your receipt which Ibotta will verify and then credit your account. Cash rewards can be deposited directly into a PayPal account. Every time you redeem an offer a new one will be sent to you.

What are YOUR favorite money saving sites? Share them with us.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

Money Saving Apps

I will be the first to admit that I am technically challenged.  I am on a mission to pay off debt so I am moving into the digital age for coupons and savings apps.  So, pull out your smart phone and check out some of these money saving apps.

Shopkick – rewards you with “kicks” when you visit participating retailers like Macy’s, Target, Best Buy, etc.).  Admit it, you go to at least one of these retailers every week.  You also can earn “bonus kicks” for scanning specific items while in store. NO, you don’t have to purchase them, just scan the UPC code.  Once you’ve earned enough reward points you can redeem them for retail and restaurant gift cards.

Checkout 51 – to save on groceries. Every Thursday morning, Checkout 51 updates with a new list of offers. Simply choose the offers you like, purchase them at any store then upload a photo of your receipt through the mobile app or website. When your account reaches $20, Checkout 51 sends you a check.

Ibotta – Before heading to the store, choose the offers you like then go shopping. (The more offers you select, the more you can earn.) After you check out, take a photo of your receipt which Ibotta will verify and then credit your account. Cash rewards can be deposited directly into a PayPal account. Every time you redeem an offer a new one will be sent to you.

SavingStar – offers e-Coupons for participating stores that are automatically added to your store’s savings card. The savings are stored in an account and once you’ve saved $5 or more you can be paid through a bank transfer, PayPal account or Amazon.com gift card.  This is a great way to save and use the extra money to pay off debt.

Retail Me Not – Before you shop use this app to find coupons and coupon codes for most major retailers. You can use Retail Me Not for online shopping as well.  A great way to get the best deals.

Shop Savvy – Use this app to scan items in the store to compare prices so you can see if you can get a better deal. This is super helpful if you have a specific item you’re looking for and want to find the best price.

Gas Buddy – This app helps you to find the best gas prices in your area by listing current prices at the gas stations closest to you. You can even earn points when you report a gas price.

Every Dollar – Dave Ramsey’s free online budgeting tool with a iPhone app. Helps you to create your budget for the month and allows you to connect your bank account for a small fee.

Mint – This free budgeting app automatically tracks your accounts and allows you to see exactly where your money is going. This is one of the top apps recommended by money saving individuals.

Ebates – my favorite site for saving money when shopping online!  Earn bonuses too when you help your family and friends save.

What are YOUR favorite money saving sites?  Share them with us.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!