Who doesn't like to save money? If you're like me saving a few dollars on groceries or product purchase always makes me feel good. With cellphones the need to clip coupons is becoming a thing of the past. There are so many apps available now that being able to save a dollar here or there is a no-brainer. With so many apps available we've highlighted a few of the more popular. By no means is this a complete list but a good starting point to save a few dollars in one way or another.
Shopkick
With Shopkick the objective is to earn what are called "kicks". You can earn kicks in a variety of ways by:- Walking into a partner store
- Scanning barcodes of specific products
- Purchase and submit your receipt from a partner store with a physical location
- Visiting an online partner store
- Purchases from an online partner stores
There are no membership fees and the app is free to download and use. It's also easy to install and use. If you already shop at their partner store it's a good way to earn a little on the side. By no means are you going to make a salary that you can support yourself with but you can earn a few kicks for shopping the way you already do. Spend a minute or two collecting kicks and go on about your business. Let the kicks add up and treat yourself to something nice down the road.
Click Here to create your Shopkick account
Ibotta
I like to think of Ibotta as the coupon service that you don't have to clip coupons for. Once you've installed the app you're taken through a brief walkthrough of how Ibotta works. When done you will find yourself on the Rebates & Offers page. From here you can browse partner stores and see offers that are available through that retailer. Once you've identified items from the list you will likely have to complete a minor task like watching a video or participating in a poll to unlock the offers. These tasks can be completed before you even head out for your shopping trip.After you have completed your shopping trip you will need to take a picture of your receipt and scan the barcodes for each item you have identified in their offers. You submit your information and wait for your cash back to appear on your Ibotta account. The time to receive your cash back is often processed within 24 hours. Another important thing to keep in mind is that you only have 7 days to submit your purchases to qualify for the cash back.
While there are a few hoops to jump through with the process it's really not difficult at all and shouldn't add that much extra time to your shopping trip. Once you've accumulated $5.00 in cash back deals you can request a payout and have the funds deposited into your PayPal or bank account.
Click Here to create your Ibotta account
Ebates
Yes, another shopping app that allows you to earn cash back on purchases you likely already make. Ebates was originally established back in 1998 and has continued remain a front runner in the cash back shopping arena. The app is free to use and easy to install and navigate. Once signed in you can browse for retailers based on your shopping needs. Once you've determined the offer you are interested in click the "Shop Now" button and off you go to the retailer's website. Once you make your purchases you should see your rebate appear in your account within a few days. Some retailers may not provide the rebates until the return period has expired.The rebates will vary from one retailer to another and may even differ month to month by a specific retailer. Rebates may be in the form of a flat rate such as $2.00 off a purchase or it may be a percentage such as 5% cash back for a purchase. keep in mind to take advantage of Ebates you must accept the offer through their website or app prior to making your purchases. If you don't first accept the offer you won't qualify for the cash back.
There are other methods to take advantage of Ebates cash back offers. You can link a credit card to your account and it can be used for in-store purchases. There are also apps available for mobile phone and tablets and even a toolbar utility that you can use on your web browser.
Ebates offers a large selection of retailers and there is a good chance you already shop with one or many of them. The downside is that you are limited to their partner stores so you may not find everything you're looking for. Ebates also only disperses funds 4 times a year so you do have to wait for your check or PayPal payout. All in all, for a few extra minutes of your time, it's a good program to earn cash back.
Click Here to create your Ebates account
Checkout 51
Another cash back shopping app that has gained popularity is Checkout 51. The process works similar to Ibotta. Once you've created an account you can login to view the various offers available. Browse the offers you are interested in and then make your purchase at the store of your choice, unless the offer is for a particular retailer. Once you've made your purchases you simply upload your receipt to Checkout 51. Really, it's as easy as that.Checkout 51 updates their offers on a weekly basis; Thursday's at 12:00 a.m. to be specific. The previous week's offers thus end on Wednesday's at 11:59. This is important to know since you won't qualify for the cash back for the previous week's offer if you miss the Wednesday deadline. Some offers are also available in limited quantities so an offer may be unavailable if the threshold has been reached. Essentially you should upload your receipt as soon as you can. Offers are generally for specific items so it's critical that you clearly read the offers and purchase the corresponding item. Some offers can be used more than once while others are only valid once. You can click the offer to view the claim limit. Another advantage is that online purchases also qualify; your packing slip will serve as your receipt. Keep in mind your online purchases still need to be entered within the qualifying week the offer was available.
You should see your account credited within 48 hours of submitting your receipt. Once your account has reached $20.00 you can request a cash out in the form of a check or through your PayPal account. You can easily signup online and the app is also available on both Android and iOS platforms. Free to use with no membership fees makes this app another great way to build your savings arsenal.
Click Here to create your Checkout 51 account
Yowza!!
Remember way back when you were scanning the Sunday paper for coupons? Well with Yowza!! You can cut the coupon clipping. You can create your account online or download the app which is available for both Android and iOS. Once you have logged in you can search for coupons by city or state. After you have selected a coupon, simply click a button and save the coupon to your digital wallet on your phone. When you visit the retailer, open your wallet and let them scan the code.The Yowza!! interface may be lack luster in design yet it's relatively easy to use. There are plenty of large retailer offerings available and many more smaller retail stores to choose from. The app has the ability to save your favorite retailers so you can receive notifications when a coupon is added. You can share the coupon with others through their social sharing through email, Facebook and Twitter.
The nice thing with Yowza!! is once you've saved your coupon and used it in store you're done. There are no barcodes to scan or receipts to upload. It's just an easy way to grab a coupon and save a few dollars on that next purchase.
Click Here to create your Yowza!! account
Something to keep in mind with the coupon and cash back apps mentioned above is that you can sometimes stack your offers. For example you may get a coupon from Yowza!! and then make a quality purchase through Ebates and/or Ibotta. Then check in through Shopkick as you enter the store. Now that will not be an option for every purchase but if you do your research you might be able to take advantage of multiple offers at once. It can be a good method of building up the savings all around.