I just got a smart phone in 2013, after I had my previous cell phone for four years. I had been putting off purchasing a new phone because it was so expensive, but I did not realize all of the money that I was losing by not having a smart phone. I am an extreme couponer. I get excited whenever friends and family give me coupons, I glean every clearance rack we pass by, and I carry my coupon binder into every store like a child. But what if you haven’t decided that you are ready for that? Or what if you want to take your coupon savings to the next level? This is where smart phone applications come into play. I have listed my favorite, most valuable (FREE!) applications for saving money below.
Ibotta
This app pays you to shop! For every qualified purchase, ibotta will give you money back. This is ON TOP of your coupons, so in some cases with free items, I actually make money on purchases. This is definitely my favorite app so far, as I can submit my receipts (by taking a picture of my receipt with my phone), and ibotta will give me money for items that I would normally already purchase. They have also included a new store specials section, with more deals exclusive to specific stores, like Target and Walmart, and give you cash bonuses for redeeming more offers. Last month, I received $50 in cash from this free app. I would highly recommend it, and new users get a $10 bonus! Click the link below to get started.
Shopkick
This is such a great app that I use almost every day. This app is great when you are shopping, as you get points for walking into stores, as well as for scanning items in the store (using your phone’s camera). There are coupons for specific stores in the app as well, such as $3 off $15 of men’s apparel, or $1 off of a bag of chips. You can even get points for actual purchases, by linking your debit card if you want to earn extra points. There are dozens of rewards to choose from, but my favorite by far are Target giftcards. I earn an average of $10 a month in Target gift cards, which can be redeemed in store, and instantly scanned from your phone at the cash register. These are great to lower your shopping trip costs, or to save up for your holiday shopping. Click the link below to get Shopkick for your phone.
SavingStar:
This website turned app is SUCH a great resource for freebies and stacking savings! You submit your receipt, and get money back on your purchase. A couple of things that set this app apart from the others are the healthy offers (20% off a produce item, new every week), Freebie Friday (100% back on an item, new every Friday), and their “threshold offers” (get $5 back wyb $25, etc). There are also the regular $1/1 type rebates available, which come in handy when there aren’t coupons out for items. Overall, GREAT app!
Sign up here: Shopmium from your app store, referral code MGGMEFVW
Gas Buddy
This app is great for saving money at the pump! So much money is spent on gas in our house, that this is another app that we use every week. This app will use your phone’s GPS to locate the cheapest gas prices in the area. I like to use it especially when I am not near home and our “favorite” (also known as the cheapest) gas stations. It is very surprising that there can be a .50 difference per gallon a quarter mile away from one gas station to another. Sign up below for this app.
I use all of these apps to save, and earn, hundreds of dollars a year, in addition to all of the money that we save with coupons. I do not like downloading lots of apps, but I do have one page on my phone set aside just for these applications. I figure that if I am getting paid by my smart phone, these are some of the most valuable things that I could have on my phone. I would recommend trying out all of these apps for at least a month or two, and see how much you can add to your wallet!
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