The Savvy Couple https://thesavvycouple.com Fast Track Your Financial Freedom Tue, 23 May 2023 17:06:00 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://thesavvycouple.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/cropped-The-Savvy-Couple-Favicon-32x32.png The Savvy Couple https://thesavvycouple.com 32 32 27 Best Consignment Shops Near Me & Online For Selling In 2023 https://thesavvycouple.com/best-consignment-shops-near-me/ https://thesavvycouple.com/best-consignment-shops-near-me/#respond Wed, 29 Mar 2023 05:10:05 +0000 https://thesavvycouple.com/?p=18173 In this article, we will look at the best consignment shops near me and you, plus online shops.

If you’ve never shopped at one before, then you need to get right to it. They’re a great way to save money, but it’s even better than that.

We love brick-and-mortar thrift stores and online consignment shops for buying, but using them to earn extra income is even better!

We’ve learned a lot about selling flea market finds, and suggest you get involved in retail arbitrage too.

FREE Workshop
Flea Market Flipper

Turn your passion for visiting thrift stores, yard sales & flea markets into a profitable Reselling Business!

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Rocket Money Review 2023: Lower Your Bills & Manage Your Money https://thesavvycouple.com/rocket-money-review/ Tue, 21 Mar 2023 13:30:17 +0000 https://thesavvycouple.com/?p=28588 Our Rocekt Money Review will give you a feel for how Rocket Money works and why you would benefit from using it!

Rocket Money is a personal finance tool that helps you take control of your finances by giving you the ability to see where your money is going- and if you’re being overcharged.

Like most people, you’ve probably been overcharged by your service providers at least once (and likely more than that!). These charges can add up quickly, whether it’s an errant late fee or an unannounced rate hike.

These situations are frustrating, but Rocket Money can help save money each month and smooth out your financial life.

Rocket Money

Easily cancel unwanted subscriptions!

80% of people save money by using Truebill to find and cancel unwanted subscriptions!

Create a FREE Account Now

Overview: Rocket Money Review 2023

Before we get into all the details, here’s a quick overview of Rocket Money: 

  • You may recognize the name Truebill, but it is no more, and now the money-saving app goes by Rocket Money.
  • Rocket Money offers a free and premium version of their app.
  • They also offer a free 7-day trial of the Rocket Money Premium subscription.
  • The free app includes financial tracking, budgeting, and credit score features.
  • The premium account includes additional features, such as balance alerts, a Smart Savings account, etc.
  • Rocket Money is primarily a bill negotiation service: one of the best premium features is that Rocket Money will scan your bills and then negotiate with the company to get the best rate.
  • They also provide bank-level encryption to ensure the privacy and security of your data.

What Does Rocket Money Do?

How To Make $100 A Day raining money smiley successful couple with umbrella standing under money rain

Rocket Money is an excellent tool for helping users to live a frugal lifestyle and avoid overspending. It is simple to use and includes several functions that can aid in managing your finances.

One of the app’s main features is its budgeting tool, which helps users track their spending and stay within their budget to help avoid lifestyle inflation.

The app also provides users tips on saving money and services such as negotiating lower prices on bills and subscriptions.

The premium subscription of the software offers even more features and advantages that may help you lower your bills to save more money every month.

Get Refunds On Fees & Outages

The Rocket Money app will scan your bank account and bills for fees, like an overdraft fee or late fee. They will work to get you a refund for those fees to help you lower your bills each month.

It’s a good perk if you are unaware of the credit card and bank fees you’re paying or don’t have the time to negotiate bills on your own.

One of Rocket Money’s most valuable functions is reporting service outages and attempting to get back money for these disrupted services.

The service may keep track of cable, phone, and internet provider service failures and then ask for a refund on your behalf.

Manage & Cancel Subscriptions

Do you know how much you are spending on subscriptions and recurring bills? No? You’re not alone! It’s easy to lose track of how much you spend on monthly subscriptions.

Rocket Money can help you keep track of your subscriptions and even cancel unwanted subscriptions on your behalf. It’s a great way to save on things you may not be using anymore.

You can decide which subscriptions you want to keep and which ones you want to cancel.

For example, if you have a gym membership that you never use, Rocket Money can cancel it and save you a monthly fee.

The app will also work to negotiate better rates for the subscriptions you want to keep, like a lower rate for your cable bill, for example.

Rocket Money Plans

trubill features

Rocket Money has a free and paid version of its app. They also offer a free 7 -day trial of their premium features.

The Rocket Money Premium subscription feature is on a “Pay What You Want” price model. The Rocket Money cost means that you decide what you pay, anywhere between $3 – $12 per month.

One downside, though! Rocket Money does charge a 40% savings fee on the savings you make in the first year.

Free Features

  • Budgeting
  • Financial tracking
  • Balance alerts
  • Credit score

Premium Features

  • Syncing your balance
  • Premium Chat
  • Cancellations Concierge
  • Custom Categories
  • Unlimited Budgets
  • Smart Savings
  • $120 Pay Advance
  • Real-Time Account Sync

5 Steps To Lower Your Bills

save money coins

Rocket Money is a free service at first. It does look for savings in various ways with the free version. You have to sign up for the premium service and pay a monthly fee to get the more significant savings.

Rocket Money charges a “savings fee” of 40% for every dollar from the subscription services Rocket Money can lower. You aren’t charged if Rocket Money’s bill negotiation is unable to save you money.

So how do you let the app know which bills to look for savings? It’s actually all automatic, with very little input on your part!

Here’s how Rocket Money works:

1. Select Your Provider

The list of bill providers on Rocket Money is pretty comprehensive. Some of the companies on the list include AT&T, Comcast, and Time Warner Cable – all big names that offer various services.

If your provider isn’t listed, you can submit a request for them to be added.

2. Connect Your Bill(s)

Okay, this is the step that some people don’t like because they wonder, “Is Rocket MoneySafe?” But not to worry, Rocket Money uses Plaid to provide bank-level security and encryption when connecting to your accounts.

In this step, you will give Rocket Money access to your monthly billing statements by connecting or linking your Rocket Money account with your bill providers.

Connecting the two accounts can be done by entering your bill provider login information or uploading an image of the bill on the Rocket Money portal.

3. Fill Out Some Info

After you’ve connected your account, you will need to provide a little more information (your mobile number and Account Pin) and decide if you want to enable “TrueProtect.”

TrueProtect allows Rocket Money to try to lower your recurring bills (like your cell phone bill) by negotiating on your behalf.

4. Add Your CC

In this step, you will add a credit card.

If Rocket Money saves you money, they will charge the one-time success fee to your credit card, aka the 40% charge from the subscriptions it successfully negotiated that we mentioned earlier.

5. Start Saving!

After you’ve completed all the steps, sit back and relax. Rocket Money will analyze your bills and work to save money. The company has a pretty success rate, reportedly saving users an average of $180 per year.

If you’re not happy with the service, you can cancel.

Budget & Tracking

rocket money savings

Rocket Money’s Budget and Tracking feature is simple. It allows users to see their spending habits and easily track their monthly budget. The feature is easy to use and helps users stay on top of their finances.

Free version users can create two budgets, but with Rocket Money Premium, users can create multiple budgets.

The budgeting feature can be found under “Start a budget” on your Rocket Money dashboard.

The tracking feature of Rocket Money is one of the most simple we’ve seen. You can instantly see your cash flow and how much you’ve spent this month when you open the app.

Under the spending tab, you can see all your transactions. There is a filter to search for specific transactions made on any linked accounts. There are also monthly reports that you can generate to show where your money is going

Rocket MoneyPremium Services

While the free version of Rocket Money offers some great features, the paid version is even better. For just $3 – $12 per month (billed annually), you can get access to:

Syncing Balances

One of the Premium features we like is syncing your bank account balance. It makes it easy to keep track of your money in one place. You can link all your bank accounts and transactions to see how much money you have left in your account.

To get started, connect your bank account and credit card accounts to Rocket Money. Then, go to the settings tab and select “Enable Balance Sync.”

Premium Chat

work from home chat jobs

You may have questions from time to time. With the chat, you can connect with Rocket Money’s excellent customer service to answer your questions quickly.

If you don’t want to chat with support, you can find the answers in the Rocket Money knowledge library, or you can email support for help.

Cancellations Concierge

Rocket Money saves you money with its premium services feature bill called cancellations concierge. This feature is excellent if you have a lot of bills and don’t have the time to cancel subscriptions.

Rocket Money monitors and works to help you cancel your services – from your cell phone plan to your cable subscription.

You have to provide the concierge with your account information, and they’ll take care of the rest and cancel subscriptions for you.

The free version provides you with instructions on canceling subscriptions and getting bank fee refunds, but you don’t have to lift a finger with the paid version!

Custom Categories

Rocket Money lets you create custom categories to help you organize your finances. Custom categories are beneficial if you have a lot of expenses and want to track them by category.

For example, you could create a custom category for “household” and then add all of your household expenses to that category. This would let you see how much you’re spending on household supplies each month.

Unlimited Budgets

This feature allows you to track as many budgets as possible without any additional fees from Rocket Money. You can create budgets for anything, including food, entertainment, and travel.

For example, you might want to create a budget for your weekly food expenses. You can limit how much you want to spend on groceries, and Rocket Money will track spending habits and alert you if you go over budget.

Smart Savings Feature

What we love best about Rocket Money is how it has automatic features to save you money, and Smart Savings is another perfect example of that.

Rocket Money provides sub-savings accounts with a Premium service called Smart Savings, which you can use to simplify saving for small and short-term savings goals.

With this feature, you can move money from your checking account to an FDIC-insured bank account to reach your financial goals without thinking about it.

You may opt to have automatic transfers run, establish limits to avoid overdrafting and withdraw funds from your savings accounts at any time.

For example, you could use your Smart Savings account to withdraw $50 a month from your checking account before Christmas to pay for gifts.

The Rocket Money app makes it easy to keep setting aside money for general savings or special gifts, and it’s all in the palm of your hand!

Pay Advance

empty wallet no money

You can use Rocket Money to get cash early- simply apply for your pay advance up to 15 days before your payday.

Once your check arrives, Rocket Money deducts the money you owe from your checking account. This service comes with no interest, so you can focus on your finances without worrying about additional fees.

Rocket Money

Easily cancel unwanted subscriptions!

80% of people save money by using Truebill to find and cancel unwanted subscriptions!

Create a FREE Account Now

Rocket Money Vs. Trim

trim homepage

Rocket Money and Trim are companies that offer similar services.

Both companies offer bill negotiation services that will help you lower bills like the cable company bill each month.

Here’s some info on Trim to see why people use it:

Trim

Trim has a philosophy that they want “to help all hardworking Americans be financially healthy!”

Trim is simple to use and offers a variety of features that can help you manage your finances. You can use Trim to track your spending, lower monthly bills, budget your money, and even cancel your unwanted subscriptions.

Here’s a list of what Trim offers for free:

  • Subscription Cancellation
  • Monitor daily bank transactions
  • Negotiate Medical Bills
  • Bank Negotiation – Lower credit card APRs and get bank fees refunded
  • Simple Savings (automate your savings)
  • Car Insurance Comparision
  • Liabilities Calculator

Trim and Rocket Money both offer bill negotiations with over 15,000 financial institutions. The big difference between Rocket Money and Trim is the amount Trim charges for bill negotiation.

Trim recently lowered their fee to 15% of the total first year of savings. Remember, Rocket Money’s success fee is 40%.

But like Rocket Money, if they cannot negotiate savings and lower bills for you, there is no charge.

FAQs

budgeting

Is Rocket Money safe to use?

Yes, Rocket Money is a safe and secure way to manage your finances.

This financial app uses the Plaid service to connect with different financial institutions and encrypt your data with bank-level security to ensure that your information is safe.

Who would benefit from Rocket Money?

Rocket Moneyis an excellent tool for anyone who wants to lower their monthly bills. If you’re looking for a simple way to keep track of your budget, detect potential savings, and lower bills, Rocket Money is a great option.

How much can I save with Rocket Money?

You may be wondering, “Can Rocket Money save me money?”

Rocket Money says they can save you an average of $180 per year. However, your savings will depend on your specific financial situation.

Our Thoughts

bills shopping receipts

Rocket Money is an excellent tool for anyone who wants to better handle their spending and save money each month on their road to financial freedom!

Keeping track of your spending is possible with a free budgeting app, but Rocket Money goes a step further and makes it easy to see where you can save and gets the ball rolling for you.

The app is easy to use and offers a variety of features that help manage your finances. The paid version is even better, offering more features and benefits that can help you save money each month.

If you are looking for an app to help you keep track of your budget, we recommend Rocket Money.

Rocket Money

Easily cancel unwanted subscriptions!

80% of people save money by using Truebill to find and cancel unwanted subscriptions!

Create a FREE Account Now
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81 Birthday Freebies You Need to Get Your Hands On In 2023 https://thesavvycouple.com/birthday-freebies/ https://thesavvycouple.com/birthday-freebies/#comments Mon, 27 Feb 2023 06:00:19 +0000 https://thesavvycouple.com/?p=3962 This guide will help you take advantage of all the birthday freebies you can imagine so you can make your birthday one to remember!

Your birthday is the best chance to get as much free food, drinks, gifts, so much more free birthday stuff!

Let’s check our list of birthday freebies to sign up with before your birthday.

Quick Picks

Want some other options to get free stuff or a free meal that you can get more often than just your birthday?

You could get free gift cards besides free food!

Here are the best sites to earn free gift cards before your next birthday:

  • Best Website: Swagbucks has a $10 sign-up bonus. You can earn gift cards via surveys, watching videos, and playing games. 
  • Best App: Steady is the best side hustle app ever. You get to earn money on your own terms when you need it most. 
  • Fastest Way to Earn: InboxDollars has a $5 sign up bonus to get you started with plenty of ways to earn. 

Restaurant Birthday Freebies & Deals- Free Food!

1. A&W All American Food

When you join their Mug Club, you’ll get exclusive deals and coupons straight to your inbox. 

That includes a free root beer float on your birthday! Now I know not everyone is a fan of floats, but a free root beer float can be a great free dessert for the end of your birthday.

Join the Mug Club today! 

2. Applebee’s

If you join Applebee’s eClub, then you’ll get a free appetizer just for signing up!

On your birthday, they like to keep it a secret as to what you’re free birthday gift actually is, but it could be a free appetizer or free dessert.

Join Applebee’s eClub today!

3. Auntie Anne’s

 When you join Auntie Anne’s My Pretzel Perks program, you’ll get a free pretzel on your birthday. 

Sign up and get your free pretzel today!

4. Baskin Robbins

When you sign up for an account on Baskin Robbins, they promise tons of great deals AND SPRINKLES. 

You’ll get a free scoop ice cream cone on your birthday! The perfect free dessert for your day!

Sign up for Baskin Robbins today!

5. Bruegger’s Bagels

When you join Bruegger’s Bagels Inner Circle, you’ll get a free bagel with cream cheese and on your birthday, a free treat to start your day right. 

Sign up for the Inner Circle here!

6. Champps

If you’re looking for a fun night out, consider Champps for their awesome loyalty program. You can get $10 off $30 just for signing up!

You’ll get a free surprise deal (maybe a free meal!) sent right to you a few weeks before your birthday. 

Sign up for Champps’ MVP loyalty program today!

7. Chipotle

Chipotle has a rewards program where you can earn points to use for freebies, including a free drink, meal, and more.

Your free birthday reward is chips and guacamole, but you need to purchase something at least $5+ to get it.

Some places don’t ask for a purchase, but if you’re at Chipotle, you’ll need to grab some tacos or a burrito to get your freebie.

8. Cinnabon

Cinnabon Rewards offers you 10 points in rewards for every $1 you spend at Cinnabon.

For your birthday, you’ll get a free special offer- free coffee!! You’ll get a 16 oz. cold brew drink when you go in on your birthday.

9. Cold Stone Creamery

coldstone ice cream

Cold Stone Creamery has a great rewards program that will let you turn in accumulated points for dollars off your purchase. 

When you sign up, they’ll preload a Buy One, Get One FREE Creation for your free birthday gift. More free dessert for you- you don’t have to share, we won’t tell!

Join the program now!

10. Dairy Queen

If you join the Blizzard Fan Club, you’ll get an extra-special coupon on your birthday. 

Even just for signing up, you’ll get a BOGO Blizzard coupon- a free dessert is perfect! 

Join Dairy Queen’s Fan Club today!

11. Denny’s

When you join Denny’s rewards program, you’ll get new and fresh deals sent straight to your inbox. And, you’ll get 20% off your next visit after you join!

On your birthday, you’ll get a free Grand Slam Breakfast for your big day! 

Join Denny’s for a free birthday reward this year.

12. Dunkin’

When you join the Dunkin’ rewards program, you’ll get a free drink on your birthday- so you can snag a free coffee to start your day off right!

Usually, other stores make it the smallest size, but Dunkin lets you choose whatever you want. Get your free birthday drink this year!

13. Firehouse Subs

Want a free meal for your birthday?

You can get a free medium sub for your birthday by signing up for Firehouse Rewards.

Now for Kelan, a free medium sub may not be a full meal, and he always wants some snacks with it, but I find it very filling and a great free lunch on my birthday!

14. Friendly’s

When you become a Friendly’s BFF, you get some amazing perks! 

You’ll automatically get 25% off your next purchase and a free medium sundae as your free birthday gift. 

Become a Friendly’s BFF today!

15. Grimaldi’s

Are you a fan of pizza? Then Grimaldi’s rewards are for you!

AS long as you get a pizza per year, you’ll be able to get a free 16″ pizza on your birthday.

16. IHOP

On your birthday AND on each anniversary of your sign-up, you’ll get free pancakes for a free meal. 

Sign up for MyHop today!

17. Jamba Juice

When you join the Jamba Juice Insider Rewards program, you’ll get exclusive offers delivered to your inbox. 

One of those is a free small smoothie on your birthday. 

Check out their rewards today!

18. Joe’s Crab Shack

Joe's crabshack apps

When you sign up for updates from Joe’s Crab Shack, you’ll get a free appetizer just for signing up. 

On your birthday, you’ll get a free treat. Sign up to get started!

19. Krispy Kreme

When you join the Krispy Kreme rewards program, you’ll get a free doughnut just for signing up!

You’ll get a free gift- maybe a free dessert?- with this program!

20. Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt

When you sign up for Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt rewards program, you’ll get access to many things, such as exclusive deals and flavors. 

They’ll give you $5 off on your birthday, as well!

Sign up for Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt today. 

21. Moe’s Southwest Grill

Sign up for their Rockin’ Rewards and you’ll get a lot of free appetizer nachos with a drink purchase.

On your birthday, you’ll get a coupon for a free burrito.

Sign up for Moe’s Southwest Grill today!

22. Nothing Bundt Cakes

The first I tried Nothin’ Bundt Cakes was actually for my birthday, and I was hooked! 

I was very happy to hear they have an eclub where you can earn rewards and get a free Bundtlet on your birthday.

23. Olive Garden

At Olive Garden, you’ll get a free appetizer or free dessert on your birthday by signing up for the eClub.

If you love endless pasta as much as we do, then you’ll have to save some room for these delicious treats. 

Sign up for their eClub today!

24. Orange Julius

When you sign up for Orange Julius, you’ll get a buy one, get one free coupon. 

You’ll get the latest news and handshakes, according to their website. 

Sign up for this deal now!

25. Outback Steak House

When you join Outback Steakhouse’s Dine Rewards program, you’ll get 50% off every 4th time you visit. 

That’s amazing! On your birthday, you’ll also get a free dessert. 

Sign up for the program today!

26. Panera Bread

Join MyPanera and get a bonus reward on your birthday, plus a reward just for signing up. 

The great news is that they send you personalized news based on the food you already love. You’ll also get a free pastry on your birthday. 

Sign up for MyPanera today!

27. Papa John’s

takeout pizza, people grabbing all the slices

When you join Papa John’s Papa Rewards program, you’ll get a birthday promo code sent to your account or a free dessert. 

The great news is that the code lasts 14 days, so you can go after your birthday and still get the reward. 

Sign up for Papa Rewards today!

28. Perkins

At Perkins, you’ll get 20% off just for signing up for the MyPerkins program.

On your birthday, you’ll get a free birthday treat delivered right to your inbox. 

Sign up for the MyPerkins program today!

29. P.F. Chang’s

When you join the P.F. Chang’s Rewards Program, you’ll get your first 1,000 points, which puts you halfway on your way to getting a free entree. 

On your birthday, you’ll get a free appetizer or free dessert. 

Sign up for rewards now!

30. Pinkberry

When you sign up for the Pinkberry PinkCard program, you’ll experience so many more deals on the app. 

You’ll get a free birthday gift-  plus free dessert rewards for visiting! You can get free frozen yogurt for every 10th visit. 

Sign up for Pinkberry today!

31. Pizza Hut

When you sign up for Pizza Hut’s Hut Rewards program, you get to earn pizza faster. 

You get points that you can exchange for pizza and breadsticks. You’ll get a free treat on your birthday, as well. 

Sign up for the Hut Rewards now!

32. Planet Smoothie

When you sign up for Planet Smoothie’s eClub, you’ll get exclusive offers and be the first on the block to know about new smoothies they’re rolling out. 

On your birthday, you’ll get a free smoothie. 

Sign up for the eClub now!

33. Pretzelmaker

When you sign up for Pretzelmaker Perks, you get a free pretzel up to $3.15. 

You can celebrate your birthday with a special pretzel treat and earn points as you go. 

Sign up for the perks today!

34. Red Lobster

When you dive into the My Red Lobster Rewards program, you can start earning points to a reward immediately. 

On your birthday, you’ll get a surprise- maybe a free meal? Who doesn’t love surprises?

Sign up for their rewards program today!

35. Red Robin

burger

When you sign up for the Red Robin Royalty program, you get every 10th item free and exclusive rewards. 

Not to mention, on your birthday, you get your choice of a free burger out of 24 gourmet burgers they have. 

Sign up for the Royalty program today and look forward to your free birthday burger!

36. Ruby Tuesday

When you sign up for the So Connected program at Ruby Tuesday, you’ll get a free appetizer. 

Then, on your birthday, you’ll get your choice of either a free burger or the garden bar. 

Sign up early to ensure your free birthday burger!

37. Sbarro

When you join the Slice Society at Sbarro, you’ll receive a free slice of their XL pizza with a purchase of a beverage. 

You’ll also get coupons sent to you and a birthday freebie surprise. 

Sign up for the Slice Society today!

38. SmashBurger

When you join the SmashClub at SmashBurger, you’ll get triple points and some juicy rewards. 

On your birthday, you’ll get a free side or shake with any purchase. BUT if you spend $100+ with the rewards program, you can earn a free burger or a free meal!

Sign up for the SmashClub today!

39. Sonic

When you sign up for the Sonic Drive-In app, you get to order ahead and be the first in line. You also get half prices on slushes and drinks.

On your birthday, you get a free birthday treat, which may be a free birthday drink like a slushie or free food, and I always hope it’s free tots!

Sign up for the Sonic app today! 

40. Spaghetti Warehouse

I love getting Italian food, so it was a no-brainer to sign up for Spaghetti Warehouse’s rewards.

You get a free appetizer when you join and buy your first entree, but on your birthday, you also get a free meal to enjoy.

41. Sprinkles

How does free dessert sound? If you join Sprinkles Rewards, you get 5 points for every dollar you spend, and 300 points gets you a freebie!

On your birthday, you also get a free cupcake to sweeten your special day.

42. Starbucks

Free Starbucks Gift Card

If you’re not already a member of Starbucks’ rewards program, then you definitely have to join!

On your birthday, you’ll receive a free drink of any size (free coffee!!. 

If getting a free Starbucks drink ) on your birthday isn’t enough, you can always earn free Starbucks gift cards year-round

Sign up for the rewards program today!

43. Steak ‘n Shake

When you sign up for the Steak ‘n Shake eClub, you’ll be the first to hear about special deals and new menu items. 

Members receive a free double ‘n cheese ‘n fries when joining and a free specialty milkshake on their birthdays. 

Sign up for their eClub today!

44. Texas Roadhouse

When you sign up for updates with Texas Roadhouse, you get birthday gifts and other free stuff throughout the year. 

On your birthday, you’ll get a free birthday treat. 

Sign up for updates with Texas Roadhouse today!

45. TGI Fridays

Just for starters, when you sign up for TGI Fridays’ rewards program, you’ll a free appetizer and free dessert. 

Not to mention, on your birthday AND half birthday, you’ll get a free treat. 

Join the rewards program today!

46. The Melting Pot

At The Melting Pot, when you join Club Fondue, you’ll get updates from the location nearest to you (that rhymes, by the way). 

They offer fantastic features for membership, including VIP events and beer and wine tasting. You’ll receive a complimentary box of chocolate-covered strawberries just for signing up and birthday vouchers. 

Sign up for Club Fondue today!

47. Uno’s Chicago Grill

When you sign up for the Uno Insider’s Club, you’ll get deep savings and delicious rewards. 

You’ll get a free welcome gift for signing up and a birthday gift on your special day. 

Join the Insider’s Club today!

48. Waffle House

waffle house

Are you a Waffle House Regular yet?

If not, time to join the club to get coupons, news, and other free stuff in your inbox. You’ll get a free birthday treat on your big day- maybe a free waffle is in your future! 

Sign up for the eClub today!

49. Wendy’s

When you sign up for an account at Wendy’s, you get to save time, save money, and save your favorites. 

You’ll get $1 off any premium combo as a special birthday gift. 

Sign up for a Wendy’s account today!

50. Zaxby 

Zaxby offers great treats with their rewards program , where you get rewards for every dollar you spend and a free treat for signing up!

And every year on your birthday, you get a surprise birthday offer.

Entertainment Birthday Freebies

51. AMC Theatres

When you join the AMC Stubs program, you get to enjoy a refill on your large popcorn and access to Tuesday ticket savings. 

On your birthday, you’ll get a free large popcorn order. 

Sign up for the Stubs program today!

52. Dave & Buster’s

When you sign up for Dave & Buster’s rewards program, you get monthly email savings and ways to earn rewards on your Power Card. 

On your birthday, you get free credits toward playing games. 

Sign up for the rewards program today!

53. Medieval Times

If you enjoy a taste of history, check out Medieval Times on your birthday!

You’ll get free admission with the purchase of a full-price adult. 

Join the birthday fellowship and be the first to know about special offers!

54. Regal Movie Theater

When you join the Regal Crown Club, you’ll receive special updates. 

On your birthday, you’ll get a free small popcorn order.

Sign up for the Crown Club today!

Retail Birthday Freebies- Free Stuff!

rainbow colored custom shirts

55. American Eagle

At American Eagle, you get exclusive rewards for signing up, such as jeans and bras after 5 purchases and points. 

When it’s your birthday, they give you 15% off. 

Sign up for American Eagle’s rewards program today!

56. Anthropologie

Anthropologie has a loyalty program, where you et special promos and early dibs on new merch.

During your whole birthday month, you get an extra 20% off your orders.

57. Banana Republic

Bana Republic’s rewards program is great because you get free shipping on orders over $5-, get bonus points on orders, and get exclusive offers in your email.

 You get a random extra perk on your birthday, which changes every year for us so far, like extra discounts or $15 towards a purchase of $50.

58. Charming Charlie

When you join the Charm Club at Charming Charlie, you earn points with every purchase and get exclusive offers. 

On your birthday, you get a birthday gift reward to use in-store. 

Join the Charm Club today!

59. Clothes Mentor

When you join Club CM, you earn style points on all your purchases, which turn into Club CM rewards!

You can even schedule a personal shopper service with their app. On your birthday, you get 20% off your purchase. 

Sign up for Club CM today!

60. CVS Pharmacy

At CVS Pharmacy, you can join the ExtraCare Beauty Club, where you can get your pretty party started and enjoy the perks. 

You’ll get $3 ExtraBucks rewards when you spend $30 and you get a free gift on your special day. 

Sign up for the ExtraCare Beauty Club today!

61. DSW Shoe Store

As a DSW VIP, you get offers, perks, and exclusives created just for you. 

You also get free shipping and points toward your purchases. On your birthday, they give you $5 off. 

Sign up to be a DSW VIP today!

62. Famous Footwear

At Famous Footwear, when you join the Famously You Rewards program, you get free shipping and rewards cash to earn, shop, and save!

On your birthday, $5 in birthday rewards cash and 2x the points on all your purchases during your birthday month. 

Sign up for the Famously You Rewards program now!

63. Godiva

godiva

When you join the Godiva Rewards Club, you get early access to exclusive items and free shipping for one order. 

On your birthday, you get a special chocolaty treat. 

Sign up for the Godiva Rewards Club today!

64. JCPenney

When you join the JCPenney Rewards program, you get access to an online account with rewards for you to use on the go. 

You also get a faster checkout process and the latest coupons and sales. 

Sign up for the JCPenney Rewards program today!

65. Kirkland’s

When you join the K Club at Kirkland’s, you get exclusive member-only deals and 20% off your next purchase. 

On your birthday, you get a free birthday surprise. 

Sign up for the K Club today!

66. Kmart

With the Shop Your Way program at Kmart, you get to shop, save, and get rewards with their point system. 

You’ll get a free birthday surprise on your big day. 

Sign up for the Shop Your Way program at Kmart!

67. Loft

When you sign up for the LoveLoft program, you get a $5 reward for every 500 points. 

You also get a birthday gift during your birthday month. 

Join the LoveLoft program today!

68. New York & Company

When you join the Runway Rewards program at New York & Company, you get 15% off each purchase. 

On your birthday, you get $10 off. 

Sign up for the Runway Rewards program today!

69. Payless Shoe Store

At Payless Shoe Store, you get deals and discounts delivered straight to your inbox. Great for all year round!

On your birthday, you get 20% off your purchase. 

Sign up for rewards today!

70. Sephora

When you join the Beauty Insiders program at Sephora, you get free beauty classes and, depending on your level, even a custom makeover!

You get a free birthday gift, which is usually makeup samples you can pick from. 

Sign up for the Beauty Insiders program today!

71. Target

Who isn’t a fan of Target??

You can join the Target Circle membership and get extra rewards every time you buy at Target.

And on your birthday, you’ll get an extra 5% off coupon to use during your birthday month.

72. The Body Shop

At the Body Shop, when you join the Love Your Body Club, you’ll get 10 points for every $100 you spend. 

On your birthday, you’ll get a $10 reward. 

Sign up for the Love Your Body club today!

73. Things Remembered

When you sign up for emails at Things Remembered, you’ll get $5. 

On your birthday, you’ll get a $10 reward as your free gift. 

Sign up for Things Remembered today!

74. Ulta

With the Ultamate Rewards program at Ulta, you shop, earn, get points galore, and redeem (in that order)!

They have different membership levels, but you get a free gift with each one. 

Sign up for the Ultamate Rewards program today!

75. Vera Bradley

At Vera Bradley, when you sign up for updates, you can enjoy extra savings on purses, wallets, and more. 

On your birthday, you’ll get a free birthday coupon. 

Sign up for Vera Bradley rewards now!

76. Victoria’s Secret

When you become an Angel Card member at Victoria’s Secret, you get new benefits and all-new reasons to shop there!

On your birthday, you’ll get $10 off your purchase. 

Sign up for the Angel Card now!

Kids Birthday Freebies

toddler eating dinner at restaurant where kids eat free

If you have kids, you need to know where they’ll eat for free and where they’ll get freebies!

Here area  few places to get free birthday goodies for your kids this year:

77. AMF Bowl

When you become an MVB (Most Valuable Bowler), you earn rewards and receive $20 just for signing up!

On your kid’s birthday, they can have a special party, and bowling offers, and sometimes a surprise-free gift for your fun night. 

Sign up to be an MVB today!

78. Barnes & Noble

When you sign up for an account at Barnes & Noble, you get discounts and savings on books. 

And, on your kid’s birthday, they get a free cupcake as their sweet free gift. 

Sign up for Barnes & Noble rewards today!

79. Bob Evans

When you sign up for Bob Evans’ email club, you get delicious deals sent to your inbox. 

On your kid’s birthday, they get a free meal off the kid’s menu. 

Sign up for Bob Evans’ updates today!

80. Perkins

At Perkins, we already discussed the adult perks, but the kids get them, as well!

On their birthday, they get a free kid’s meal. 

Sign up for KidPerks today!

81. The Children’s Place

At The Children’s Place, with the My Place Rewards program, you get rewarded for shopping (and even more as a cardholder). 

Your kids will get 20% off on their birthdays. 

Sign up for the MyPlace Rewards program today!

Final Thoughts On Birthday Freebies

Wow, so many amazing deals you can use on and around your birthday. You could go around town and rack up the birthday freebies to sweeten your special day!

Free birthday stuff can include free dessert (free cupcake!) and free food, which means you could get a free meal in just a few stores.

Sign up for all types of programs to earn discounts, deals, and those sweet freebies!

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Honey App Review 2023: How To Save Automatically https://thesavvycouple.com/honey-app-review/ https://thesavvycouple.com/honey-app-review/#comments Wed, 25 Jan 2023 06:20:34 +0000 https://thesavvycouple.com/?p=10303 Have you ever been shopping online, go to check out, and be asked for a coupon code, but you don’t have one?

I certainly have, and as I try to be savvy and save money, I switch to Google and spend time scrolling through the search results to find a coupon code that will work.

But that takes time, and it’s not teh easiest or most successful. So I start using the Honey App and added the browser extension to automatically save on purchases.

Honey

Don't search for coupon codes again! Honey will automatically apply discounts to your cart– in seconds.

Save More Right Here!

Honey App Review

The Honey App coupon finder is a free extension of your browser that will search for the coupon codes for you when you are purchasing something, therefore saving you lots of time trying various codes trying to get them to work.

Is it just me who still tries my luck with expired ones?! FYI, that’s never worked, but hey, who needs to try when Honey checks coupons for you?

Honey automatically looks for coupons when you shop online and makes saving money a no-brainer with no effort!

You can also get cash back with their Honey Gold if you are making a purchase on a site whilst having the Honey browser extension installed.

It’s safe, free, and legal- plus, the Honey mobile app means you can save on the go while shopping too; just install it from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.

Getting The Honey App

Wow I have been searching for an automatic coupon finder for years! I am so excited to have found the Honey App. It automatically searches and applies the BEST coupons on the internet to help save you tons of money. Share this with everyone, pin it! #Honey #HoneyApp #Save #Coupon #Amazon #Shopping #SaveMoney #Frugal #OnlineShopping #Deals

Simply click here where the Honey browser extension is available for download, and you can then install it. It’s currently supported on all the major browsers like Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge, and Opera.

Honey

Don't search for coupon codes again! Honey will automatically apply discounts to your cart– in seconds.

Save More Right Here!

Once it’s installed, you can see that it is installed correctly because it will come up next to your search bar at the top of your browser – a small orange Honey icon with the letter ‘h’ on it will appear.

If you follow this link, you can download Honey onto whichever browser you are using (e.g. Chrome on Mac, Chrome on Windows, etc). Follow the instructions and you’re good to go!

You’ll know it’s working because as you shop online and add items to your cart, Honey will pop up letting you know if they found coupons or if you can get cash back.

How Honey Works

The Honey browser extension has a collection of coupons available for various websites (not every single one is eligible, but it will come up with the relevant icons as mentioned above if it works on that site).

When you shop online and have items in your cart, the Honey extension automatically asks if you want to apply the coupons to get a discount on your purchase.

Not every coupon is a guaranteed savings, but it goes through any other coupons users have used and tries it on your cart.

Wow I have been searching for an automatic coupon finder for years! I am so excited to have found the Honey App. It automatically searches and applies the BEST coupons on the internet to help save you tons of money. Share this with everyone, pin it! #Honey #HoneyApp #Save #Coupon #Amazon #Shopping #SaveMoney #Frugal #OnlineShopping #Deals

Once you have selected “Apply Coupons,” Honey will run through all of them for you and select the best one – it only takes a few seconds and could save you quite a lot of money over time.

Wow I have been searching for an automatic coupon finder for years! I am so excited to have found the Honey App. It automatically searches and applies the BEST coupons on the internet to help save you tons of money. Share this with everyone, pin it! #Honey #HoneyApp #Save #Coupon #Amazon #Shopping #SaveMoney #Frugal #OnlineShopping #Deals

And Honey isn’t just for online shopping! I downloaded the mobile app to take it to the next level IRL.

The app works just like the browser extension, and it’s great for when I’m shopping in-store. I can see a pair of shoes for the girls in a store, but check the Honey mobile app for better prices or coupons.

So if I’m at JCP, and the shoes aren’t on sale, I can put the shoes in the cart on my phone, and Honey will let me know I can save 15% with a coupon code they found.

What a win with quick savings!

Using Honey On Amazon

Wow I have been searching for an automatic coupon finder for years! I am so excited to have found the Honey App. It automatically searches and applies the BEST coupons on the internet to help save you tons of money. Share this with everyone, pin it! #Honey #HoneyApp #Save #Coupon #Amazon #Shopping #SaveMoney #Frugal #OnlineShopping #Deals

Droplist

Have you seen something you really want to buy when online shopping, but it’s just a bit too much out of your price range? 

This is where Honey can come in really handy. On Amazon, click on the item that you’re interested in, and there should be an ‘h+’ icon next to it.

I’ll then pop up with a little screen that says to add your item to the Droplist. Select the duration of time you want to wait it out for e.g. 60 days, and also the price that you are looking for it to drop to.

Price History

honey price drop

With Honey, you’re also able to check out an item’s price history.

When you are looking at the item you wish to buy on Amazon, it will have a box saying if there have been any price changes, which you can then click on and “View Price History.”

This will then take you to a place with all the various price changes on there, up to the last 120 days. This is great for seeing if you are actually getting a good deal on your purchase.

Best-Price Detection

Best Price is what it sounds like- Honey checks if the item you’re looking at offers the best price.

It’ll compare the shipping prices as well, and when you click on the box that says “Save $xx”, it will bring up a pop-up box that has the fee comparison on, including shipping.

If the item is the best price, instead of having the box that says about the money that you can save, it will have a box that says “Best Deal.”

Honey Gold Rewards ProgramWow I have been searching for an automatic coupon finder for years! I am so excited to have found the Honey App. It automatically searches and applies the BEST coupons on the internet to help save you tons of money. Share this with everyone, pin it! #Honey #HoneyApp #Save #Coupon #Amazon #Shopping #SaveMoney #Frugal #OnlineShopping #Deals

Honey Gold is available in the US, Canada, UK, and Australia. It’s a free Rewards program that offers cashback when you shop online, like how you can get cash back from the Ibotta app.

With Honey Gold, the cashback amounts vary, and are completely random, but will be between 1-5% and is on the item cost without any shipping or tax fees.

To see if the site that you are on is offering Honey Gold rewards, next to the site name at the top it will have an orange “G” Honey icon.

In order to claim your reward, you will need to click the “Activate” button next to it. When you are checking out, click on “Apply Coupons” which will get your discount, and then the Gold reward will get applied automatically.

Make sure that you check the Exclusions list though, as some stores may offer Honey Gold, but not on all of the items on their site.

The Reward amount will show in your Honey account (under Account Overview) under a pending status after a few days of your purchase.

As another perk, there are also Honey Gold bonuses, which are extra savings that have a limited time that you can use them.

Honey Travel

The savings don’t just stop with Honey Gold and coupon codes!

Honey Travel compares prices across various travel sites such as Expedia, Booking.com, and a bunch of other travel sites to find you the best deals on hotels.

When you use the Honey browser extension, you will collect Honey Keys. You can see how many keys you have in your account overview, and these keys will give you access to exclusive hotel deals, which you will find under Honey Travel.

Wow I have been searching for an automatic coupon finder for years! I am so excited to have found the Honey App. It automatically searches and applies the BEST coupons on the internet to help save you tons of money. Share this with everyone, pin it! #Honey #HoneyApp #Save #Coupon #Amazon #Shopping #SaveMoney #Frugal #OnlineShopping #Deals

Go to the Honey Travel section, search for the location, etc that you are after, and it will show you all of the discounts that are available. If you are outside of the US, please note that everything will be shown in US dollars still.

Wow I have been searching for an automatic coupon finder for years! I am so excited to have found the Honey App. It automatically searches and applies the BEST coupons on the internet to help save you tons of money. Share this with everyone, pin it! #Honey #HoneyApp #Save #Coupon #Amazon #Shopping #SaveMoney #Frugal #OnlineShopping #Deals

FAQS

Is Honey legit?

Honey is definitely legit! It is a free browser extension that saves you money and gives your cash back.

They don’t charge you anything, and they only pop up with coupon codes and other offers to save you money.

I wouldn’t be using it if it was sketchy folks!

Is there a catch with the Honey browser extension? Is it safe to use? 

Honey makes money from the retailers – not from you, and not from selling any of your data.

There is no catch – this isn’t a dodgy mobile app with fake reviews; it’s a legitimate browser extension that has been set up with the intention of helping shoppers easily find coupon codes for their purchases.

I have used the Honey extension myself, and keep coming back to it because it works!

Even today, I went to buy some things online this morning and didn’t have a coupon code but didn’t think anything of it (total mind-blank!).

When I went to check out, a Honey pop-up showed me that there were coupon codes available, and the browser extension saved the day again.

I clicked on it, it checked all the possible Honey coupon codes on my purchase ( in seconds!) and I saved more than $10 off my single purchase, so I was very happy!

I can personally confirm using the Honey App is going to save you a ton of money with your online shopping.

How can I redeem Honey Gold?

Once you have reached 1000 reward points in your Honey Gold account, you can redeem these for a $10 gift card.

Here are some of the most popular Honey Gold rewards available:

  • Amazon
  • eBay
  • Walmart
  • Target
  • Groupon
  • Nordstrom
  • Sephora
  • Sears
  • 1-800 Flowers

If you are outside of the US, you will need to speak to Customer Support at Honey, who will help you with your redemption process.

Does the Honey browser extension work in various countries?

Yes, Honey is currently available in the US, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and more.

If you are using Chrome, the correct currency will be shown on the coupons, however, if you are using any of the other browsers (Safari, Edge, Firefox, Opera) it will show the coupon currency with the $ still.

For users in the UK, it will show as the $ sign again, but the value will be correct – so if the coupon is showing as $10, it really means £10.

Honey

Don't search for coupon codes again! Honey will automatically apply discounts to your cart– in seconds.

Save More Right Here!

BONUS: Other Money-Saving Apps

(Please note:  Capital One compensates us when you sign up for the protection plan using the links provided.)

When it comes to saving money and savvy shopping no one does it better than us.

The Honey extension is great, and we use it all teh time! But it isn’t the only option for saving money when shopping online.

Here are a few more resources to help you save as much money as possible:

  • Ibotta: Like saving money at the grocery store? Ibotta is by far the best money-saving app for grocery shopping. Simply shop like you normally would. Once you get home, take a picture of your receipt, and Ibotta will get to work saving you money. We have earned well over $100 using this app for only a couple of months, and if you want to know more, read our in-depth Ibotta Review.
  • Rakuten: Start earning cash back on your everyday online purchases. It’s very similar to the Honey app but instead of finding coupons to help save you money, it helps you find deals on cashback items so you can get a nice big fat check in the mail. Check out why we like Rakuten in our honest Rakuten Review.
  • Capital One Shopping: Capital One Shopping helps you find savings when you buy online, looking for coupons automatically so you don’t have to dig around for them. Plus, you can shop through their website to get more rewards. Rewards can be cashed out in PayPal deposits or e-gift cards. Find out more by reading our Capital One Shopping Review!

Final Thoughts

Linus review black woman holding a piggy bank and bills

If you want an easy way to save, Honey is your best bet. Honey has changed how we save money, and I can’t stop recommending it!

The browser extension is automatic, something I don’t have to think about, which makes me worry less about overspending.

We’ve been able to get coupons for our kids back to school clothes, our new air fryer, gardening supplies, and so much more.

You can sign-up for Honey today to get easy access to coupons, plus their cash back program means you earn more money buying what you need.

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Drop App Review 2023: Shop & Game Your Way To Free Rewards https://thesavvycouple.com/drop-app-review/ Wed, 23 Nov 2022 20:23:59 +0000 https://thesavvycouple.com/?p=33010 Cash back apps have become increasingly popular, as they offer a simple way to get money back on the things you’re already buying.

It can be challenging to keep track of all the extra cashback offers and even more challenging to figure out which ones are worth your time.

The Drop App is among the most popular cashback apps on the market, but is Drop worth signing up for?

Our Drop App Review will show you how Drop is a legit way to make money on your everyday purchases.

$10 Sign Up Bonus
Drop

Get rewarded for shopping at the brands you love and more. Easy to earn, easier to redeem! Grab your $10 sign-up bonus now!


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Drop App Review 2023

Do you ever forget to use your loyalty cards when shopping? Or maybe you don’t have any loyalty cards at all?

The Drop app can help!

What Is The Drop App?

The Drop App is a free mobile app that allows users to earn rewards for debit and credit card purchases.

The app tracks your spending at specific merchants you’ve selected from their list and awards you Drop points for each purchase.

You can turn your points into gift cards when you have enough points. Some participating stores are Amazon, Dunkin Donuts, Apple, American Airlines, and many others.

How Does The Drop App Work?

Drop App earning

You shop, take surveys, play games, and more to earn points that you then use to earn rewards!

It’s as simple as can be, and many legit get-paid apps like Drop have been top-rated over the last decade.

Features

Drop Points

The number of points you earn varies, depending on the activity. Taking a short survey may pay a few Drop points, and shopping can pay more depending on your shopping store.

You can rack up points for free gift cards by purchasing the things you need daily, such as groceries, clothes, hygiene items, pet products, gadgets, and even financial services.

1,000 points make $1. To cash out your points, you need 25,000 points ($25). So, if you use the Drop app regularly, you can easily earn some extra cash back.

Shopping with Drop

The quickest way to earn Drop points is by shopping with our partner brands. You can do this easily through the Drop app or a linked credit or debit card.

The Drop App provides a convenient way to purchase everything from apparel and beauty products to restaurant and grocery delivery, travel, and entertainment.

Once you’ve made your purchases, the Drop app and the store you purchased from have to verify your purchases which can take some time.

It may take as long as 60 days to verify your purchases, which you can track in the Drop app.

Earning Boosts

You’ll earn more points from certain retailers if you use Drop during special promotions. Boosts are a minimum of a few days and sometimes run for weeks.

Drop currently has boosted offers across well-known, household-name brands like Old Navy, Nike, GAP, Hotels.com, Expedia, Bestbuy, etc.

The boost rate is usually 2 – 4X more than the regular rate. So a deal that would generally be 20 points per $1 spent could become 40 – 80 points per $1 with the boost.

Security Encrypted

The Drop app has several security measures to ensure that all transactions are safe and secure. All credit and debit card information is never stored on the Drop servers.

They also use Transport Layer Security(TLS) to ensure your data is transmitted securely to Drop so that it cannot be intercepted.

Security questions can be directed to the Drop customer service, and check the Security page for FAQs and more details.

Earn Points

Earning points and Drop rewards is completely free and easy.

Here are the multiple ways you can earn points through the Drop App:

Shopping & In-App Purchases

self credit card review Female laptop finger table desk indoor

The shopping rewards program is the main part of the Drop app. You can earn Drop points quickly by shopping with partner brands.

The Drop app and browser extension let you shop with partner brands using a linked credit or debit card.

If you’re unsure what you want and want to browse, Drop organizes deals into specific groups, so it’s easy to find something that interests YOU.

The following are groups in the Drop app:

  • Categories like food, groceries, and clothes
  • Shop online with stores like Amazon and Walmart
  • New arrivals
  • Drop features like Boosts

You can search for what you need on the app or browser extension and click “Shop” or “Shop Now” to get started with the offer.

After you are taken to the website, you can finish your purchase to use the offer.

You have to activate the offer, though, by pressing the button before continuing with your order. Just having an extension or app doesn’t get you any points automatically.

Playing Games

The Drop app contains games in the Games tab that you can download and play to earn points.

There are many different types of games, including:

  • Cards
  • Strategy games
  • Simulators
  • Survival games

The Games section of the Drop app is similar to the games offered on Swagbucks. The games have a dollar value assigned to them. They also have requirements for playing games.

The requirements could be “Finish the game in 7 days” or “Reach level 17” to complete the offer. After you’ve read the game’s terms, download it and start playing it.

Weekly Spins

Another way you can earn points is with the Drop Weekly Spin. Once a week on Tuesday, you can spin and win a bonus.

To participate in the weekly spin, click on the app tab that says “Games.” Start the spin. You could win bonus points, a shop bonus, or a survey bonus.

Completing Surveys

To start, fill out the Profile survey. This will help Drop figure out what kind of surveys you should do. You answer some questions about yourself and then get matched to brand surveys.

They have a lot of different surveys from their partners, all of which are marketing research surveys that target certain demographics.

Each survey pays a different amount of points, but you have to qualify for the demographic.

The surveys are short, and Drop still rewards you with partial points even if you don’t qualify for one.

Longer surveys have been added to the paid survey section. The longer surveys pay 25 – 500 Drop points when you complete the surveys.

Drop Premium Points

binance vs. coinbase invest crypto Bitcoin. Crypto currency Bitcoin, BTC, Bit Coin. Macro shot of Bitcoins coins on laptop Blockchain technology, bitcoin mining concept

The Drop App also offers Premium opportunities to their users.

Members who link their debit or credit card to their Drop app account have the Premium offers opened up to them.

Several open offers allow you to earn premium points and gift card rewards.

  • Crypto Rewards: Invest your Drop rewards in Bitcoin or Ethereum
  • Drop Premium Offers: Extra rewards and offers with many name brands, including Amazon and more
  • Monthly Point Drop: Earn an extra 1,000 points on the first Wednesday of every month
  • Boosted Surveys: Double the points you earn on surveys every second week of the month
  • Hoops Replay: Play Drop Hoops again every day

Friend Referrals

The refer-a-friend program Drop is less generous than some other programs.

Your referral code can be found on the “My Drop” button on the lower right of the Drop app.

The Refer a Friend button is found near the middle of the screen. You can also access “My referrals” by tapping the app’s gear icon in the left-hand corner.

The referral link can be shared on social media, via email, and in text.

What’s excellent about Drop’s referral program is that you and the person you refer both get reward points.

The value of referrals changes with every Drop promotion, but in the past, each successful referral has earned me anywhere from $5 – $10.

There are some limitations to the referral program. Your referred friend must earn 1,000 points before you get any bonus credits. You can only refer ten people in total, and they can’t previously have been a member.

How To Get Started

1. Sign Up

drop app sign up

Signing up for a free Drop account is easy. You only need to download the mobile app o visit the Drop website and complete a few steps.

To become a member, you must be 18 years old or older and live in either Canada or the United States.

You can sign up in one of three ways:

  • Sign up with Google
  • Sign up with Apple
  • Sign up with Email

After you sign up, you will need to download the browser extension or the mobile shopping app from Google Play Store or Apple Store.

2. Hook Up Your Card Or Bank Account

You’ll need to hook up your credit card or bank account to your Drop account to unlock premium offers to shop online and play games.

When you hook up your card or bank account to the Drop app, it will find your purchases and reward you with points.

3. Select Your Stores

You used to have to select up to five of your favorite stores, but Drop has now removed the Power Offers from the Drop app.

Members who have joined Drop can now participate in unlimited Drops to earn more points.

4. Play Games, Take Surveys, & Select Shopping Offers

When it comes to making money fast, surveys are the best by far!

The survey and games are self-explanatory, where you visit the page and either answer questions or play a game.

However, here are the ways you can select Drop App shopping offers:

1. Pick an offer that is linked to a card.

Offers linked to a card can be found under the card tab. Make sure you read the terms of the offer before you accept the offer.

You’ll need to activate the offer to be able to complete the offer. Then do your shopping with a card linked to your Drop account.

2. Finish an in-app shopping offer.

In-app shopping offers can be found under the Shop tab of the Drop app.

Read the terms of the offer hen click through to the store from the offer in the app.

You automatically earn points when you shop through the app, which you can later redeem for rewards once you reach 25,000 points.

Each brand has a fixed point value assigned to the offer, so you will know how many points you will get when you spend a specific amount at the store.

5. Redeem Your Rewards

sell gift cards Credit card within shopping cart. Dollar background

When you’re ready to spend your Drop points, visit the Rewards tab in the app and choose something you want to redeem rewards for. You can get gift cards, crypto, donate to charity, or enter contests.

Currently, users can redeem a lot of rewards from the Drop App. Some popular gift cards that are available are:

  • Hotel.com
  • Old Navy
  • iTunes
  • Amazon
  • Dunkin Donuts
  • Starbucks

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • The app is entirely free to use
  • No scanning receipts- the app tracks the purchases on the cards you link to the app
  • Can link both debit and credit cards to the account
  • The Drop app can be used with other rewards programs or credit card rewards to earn rewards and gift cards
  • Available to download from the Google Play Store or Apple Play store

Cons

  • App is charged when unused- hey take a maintenance fee of 2,500 points if you don’t sign into the account every six months
  • No cash option (aka no PayPal cash), you can only redeem points for gift cards
  • $25 minimum cashout limit (25,000 points)

Other Money-Making Apps

Drop App is just one of many money-making apps out there.

Some popular money-making apps that we use are:

Survey Junkie

SurveyJunkie

Survey Junkie is a legitimate way to make money online by sharing your opinion. It is one of the oldest and most reliable survey-taking apps available.

With Survey Junkie, you can make money while helping companies shape the products and services of tomorrow.

All you have to do is sign up, fill out your profile and start taking surveys. You earn points for each survey you complete, which can then be redeemed for cash or gift cards from popular retailers like Amazon and Target.

Our Survey Junkie Review can tell you more about taking surveys for fast cash.

Swagbucks

Swagbucks is a site that allows members to earn points, or “SBs,” by completing surveys, watching videos, shopping online, and more. Points can then be redeemed for gift cards or other prizes.

I’ve been a member of Swagbucks for several years, and I’ve earned hundreds of dollars in gift cards from the site. It’s a great way to make extra money and easy to do! When you sign up for Swagbucks, you’ll get a $10 welcome bonus.

Check our Swagbucks Review to see how much money you can earn!

Fetch Rewards

Fetch Rewards is another shopping app that can be used to make free money. This rewards app works by scanning receipts from grocery stores and other retailers.

The app then gives rewards for the items that are purchased. These rewards can be redeemed for gift cards.

If you want to know more, read our in-depth Fetch Rewards Review.

Capital One Shopping

Capital One Shopping can help you save extra money on items you purchase online. The site offers discounts and rewards on purchases from a variety of retailers.

You can also use the site to find coupon codes for your favorite stores. Capital One Shopping is a great way to save money online.

Find out more in our Capital One Shopping Review.

Key Takeaways

phone money

Hopefully, our Drop App review has shown you how helpful the app is and how you can save money and earn rewards like cash back!

Whether you’re looking to save on your next shopping spree or want a little extra cash to help cover some bills, the Drop App has you covered.

Earn Drop points by shopping online at your favorite stores or by taking online surveys. You can also earn points when you play games on the Drop App.

And the best part? You can trade your Drop points for free gift cards from some of your favorite retailers.

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9 Genius Ways To Get Free Internet Access At Home in 2023 https://thesavvycouple.com/free-internet/ https://thesavvycouple.com/free-internet/#comments Sun, 04 Sep 2022 09:45:29 +0000 https://thesavvycouple.com/?p=11378 Sometimes you get free service for a month or two, but paying for internet racks up a lot after your freebie trial.

Then your bill increases to $60 per month when your promo is up. That’s over $700 a year, and many low-income families can’t afford that.

BUT you don’t have to pay for internet or other budget-breakers under our watch! We’re frugal and can help you save rather than spend more money.

That definitely involves reducing your expenses to as low as possible (as well as increasing your earning potential, of course).

There are a lot of great tools, like Drop, out there to help lower your bills and increase the money that stays in your pocket.

Let’s check out our top picks for free internet access that will help reduce your monthly bills.

KashKick

Cash is the Greatest Reward! They’ll deposit cash into your account for all the fun things you’re already doing online.

Start Earning Cash Now

9 Legitimate Ways to Get Free Internet & Wifi Near You

Who wouldn’t be happy finding some low-cost internet alternatives to reduce their bills?

We’ve got a few internet service providers and some other options for free service, so let’s get into it!

1. FreedomPop

If you haven’t heard of FreedomPop before, you are definitely missing out!

FreedomPop is a wireless internet service provider based in Los Angeles, California. They believe that everyone should have access to the internet in this modern age, and do their best to provide it.

They offer talk, text, and data plans, which start at $0.00 per month- even for your mobile device. Yes, you read that right!

There are different options available, based on which kind of service you require, and what you are after exactly.

You can purchase a phone, where you will sign up for a device and plan when you checkout. You will be mailed a phone, then you will have to download their Messaging application to begin the service.

They use a cellular service called VoIP, which is where you use a data connection to power the calls and texts that you use.

The devices receive their signals from network towers that are close to them, which are powered by other, larger networks.

For example, they piggyback off the Sprint network in the US for the data connection. All of this technology is why they are able to provide their services.

They also provide SIM cards for GSM customers, so long as you are using an unlocked GSM iOS or Android device.

With the CDMA device (bought directly from FreedomPop or activated as a BYOD), 500MB is offered a month.

With the GSM SIM card, you can get 200MB for free per month in internet access.

2. NetZero

NetZero started up in 1998, and you can kind of tell that, from the fact that they use dial-up connections.

You may not think of high-speed internet when you think of dial-up, but hey, just keep an open mind.

Am I showing my age here, remembering how you had to sit there waiting for the internet to connect for what seemed like forever, with it making some awful noises?! You couldn’t connect if someone was on a phone call, and you’d get kicked off when the phone rang!

What this means for internet service, though, is that you will need to have a phone line in your home. If you have one, you’re good to go.

NetZero isn’t as generous as FreedomPop with their internet access, sadly. You will only get 10 hours per month for free – with paid plans available if you wish to increase your usage.

Not a heavy user of the internet? This could be the perfect choice for you! Who wants to be spending loads of money on something that they barely use?

3. WifiMap

This tool is exactly what it sounds like – a map of wifi spots!

WifiMap is an app that you can download, which will give you access to millions of wifi spots.

Users upload the wifi spots so that other people can use them when they are in the area. It’s a crowdsourcing economy that will only grow as more people use it and share with their friends.

There are over 100 million free wifi locations available. It provides both map and list views with passwords that you will need to connect to it.

All you need to do is download the app, and search in the area that you want to have access to the internet. It will bring up the ones that are closest to you, and you can choose which one to use.

The beauty of it is if the Wifi you’re connected to isn’t that great, you can just disconnect and try another one!

If you are wondering if this is legit, they have been featured on Forbes, Lifehacker, CNN, The Wall Street Journal – just to name a few.

Just make sure you are using a secure network or a VPN to protect your data on public networks. We highly recommend using NordVPN.

4. Wifi Free Spot

Similar to WifiMap, Wifi Free Spot is another directory that will list all of the local free internet hotspots near you.

On this site, they list the hotspots on a state-by-state basis, but in addition to that, they have specialized listings:

  • Large companies (e.g. Barnes & Noble, Starbucks, McDonald’s)
  • Airports
  • Hotels, motels, inns, resorts
  • RV parks and campgrounds
  • Vacation rental properties

5. InstaBridge

InstaBridge is an internet service app for your smartphone to conveniently provide you with Wifi passwords and spots on the go. 

It was originally founded as a way to share your home Wifi with your friends on Facebook. But it quickly changed to become a larger Wifi sharing company.

It will show you the nearest places with free Wifi, as well as walking distance and performance.

The app knows which ones work, and will automatically connect you to the ones that work, and keep you off the ones that don’t.

A cool feature that they’ve kept from its earliest stages is that you can list your own home Wifi to share with family and friends.  

This saves you the trouble of having to dig out the Wifi password each time company asks!

6. Use Wifi at Coffee Shops

smiling woman stirring mug of coffee while holding her other hand on a laptop with colorful flowers nearby

I’ve seen people panicking because their internet has gone down, thinking that their productivity is dead in the water.

Really though, there’s a quick, easy, and pretty painless solution.

Most coffee shops are known for providing free internet access. It’s sometimes high-speed internet access and just as helpful as the stuff you’d pay for at home!

This is something that I’ve done when working from home but wanting to get out of the house to work.

There are other places that you can go to as well, such as your local library or an internet cafe.

You could even make money whilst you’re on the internet, such as using it to get paid watching videos, answering questions on some survey sites, or going on some money-making apps.

7. Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)

Some options aren’t necessarily just internet service providers. You can also get government assistance for cheaper or free internet.

If you live in the states, the government also has the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) for eligible households. 

With this program, you get $30 per month towards your internet bill- and if you live in some high-cost areas, you could get up to $75 per month.

That means you could get internet for $0 – $20- huge savings! 

To qualify for the Affordable Connectivity Program, you need to have at least 1 person in your home that meets these criteria:

  • Qualifies for the Lifeline Program
  • Received a Pell Grant the current academic year
  • Qualifies for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or WIC assistance
  • Qualifies for National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or School Breakfast Program (SBP)

It only counts for one monthly service discount, however, so even if more than one person qualifies for the programs above, it’s only one discount per home.

However, if you or someone qualifies in your household, some internet providers also offer other savings on top of the government aid. 

For example, if you’re on SNAP or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) already, you may qualify for the AT&T Access Program. AT&T is a participating provider where you can get another $5 – $10 off your bill.

8. Ask Your Neighbours

This is one depends on the relationship you have with your neighbors, but it doesn’t have to be an awkward exchange!

Many low-income families will split costs or exchange services to snag things for the house- why not try to bargain for some free internet access?

You could ask if you can have a neighbor’s Wifi password in exchange for something else that you could offer them.

Never forget simple things, like helping run errands, helping with the kids, or even doing some lawn care.

Could you do something that they don’t want to do, or perhaps pay money for (saving them money too)?

I saw an episode of Extreme Cheapskates recently where the guy asked his neighbor this, but unfortunately, they said no! I think they were a bit shocked by it, so it’s worth thinking about how you’d ask the question.

Offering cost-sharing instead of just point-blank asking for free internet use would probably go over much better!

9. Using Your Phone As a Hotspot

So many people have phones, and pay plenty for them anyway, so why not put that phone plan to use?

I saw someone using this the other day because their home internet wasn’t working, but they needed to get online for work.

Using your phone as a hotspot is essentially using it as a mobile router. You can turn on the hotspot feature, and use it to connect to other devices nearby.

If you use this, you will be using the data that is available on your phone.

But low-income families need to be careful about using data if you all want to stay within budget! Don’t go over your data allowance, or it won’t be free!

Bonus – Create your own free internet device

Ever wonder if it’s possible to pick up some free wifi signals with your very own DIY free internet device? 

It absolutely is! Just check out the video below to teach you how to get free internet. 

FAQs

Is free internet access worth it?

Short answer? Yes!

For many low-income families, every bit of free money makes a difference, so free internet access and one less bill can create so much leeway on their things.

When you create a budget, the goal is to have as much money left after paying bills as possible, as this money will go towards things that you really want or into savings.

If you are spending $60 or more a month on your internet, this adds up to $720 per year.

For some low-income folks, that’s a huge difference in their spending!

Can you imagine what you could do with that $720 instead of spending it on your internet? 

Our mission here at The Savvy Couple is to help you manage your money as best you can, and use your money to create the life that you dream of.

If you’re wondering how to get free high-speed internet illegally, we won’t be sharing any of those ways, unfortunately. But you really can get some free internet service at home without paying, legally.

(And as you probably already guessed, yes — if it’s free, it’s worth it!)

Can you legally get internet for free?

Yes, finding free internet is totally legal!

These are all legit ways to get your Wifi fix without doing sketchy stuff.

The U.S. government offers the free internet program plus other providers like FreedomPop and Wifi Free Spot.

We wouldn’t share anything on this site that could get you in any trouble or we wouldn’t be happy to use ourselves. 

How can free internet improve your life?

There are lots of programs available that can get you free internet service, and hopefully, this article will have helped you with how to get free internet at home without paying.

Make sure that you keep your information safe when using free Wifi, as open hotspots won’t usually be as secure, so keep this in mind when doing things online such as online banking.

If you are looking for more ways of saving money by getting things for free, take a look at how to get free gift cards and birthday freebies

Key Takeaways

We have many ways to help you get free money, free gift cards, and even free coffee– no doubt we have your back to get you some free Wifi! 

It’s totally possible- and totally legal- to get free internet wherever you can. 

There’s no need for your to overpay and wreck your budget on something you’re not even home to use every day.

Save some money and find free internet to use at home and spend that $700/year elsewhere.

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How to Save Money on Gas: 27 Ways To Spend Less Today https://thesavvycouple.com/how-to-save-money-on-gas/ Fri, 08 Jul 2022 01:22:22 +0000 https://thesavvycouple.com/?p=29566 We’ve searched high and low for how to save money on gas for our family, and know this problem is high on your list too!

From finding a gas station with the cheapest gas price to keeping your car properly maintained to getting the best gas mileage, a little can go a long way in saving money on gas.

Read on for some helpful advice on saving more money on gas and keeping more cash in your pocket next time you hit the open road.

App Quick Picks: How to Save Money on Gas

We’ve got something on our list to give you ideas for how to save on gas, but here are our top picks of apps that can find you savings and provide you with some extra money for gas and more:

Savings At The Pump

pump gas

Let’s start with direct savings you can get at the pump:

1. Upside App

The Upside app is worth checking out if you’re looking for ways to save money at the gas pump.

The app offers cash back rewards at participating gas stations, restaurants, and grocery stores, which means you can save money on gas just by using the app when you fill up your gas tank.

Upside is free to download and use. You simply link the app to your credit card to automatically track your gas purchases and earn cash back rewards.

Upside

Earn on what you need, spend on what you love. Earn on every gas fill-up, grocery store visit, and more!

Use Code: SAVVY25 for $0.25 sign up bonus.

Get Cash Back On Gas & More

2. Find Cheap Gas

Want to know a trick so you don’t waste gas driving around looking for the cheapest gas stations?

GasGuru is a popular app that shows real-time gas prices so that you can find the best deal. It has a map feature so you can easily find the cheapest gas station near you.

Waze is a navigation app that can also help you save money. Gas prices can vary all over town, and Waze uses real-time data to show you a cheap gas price on/near your route.

3. Early Bird Fill Ups

GasBuddy says the perfect time to fill up is on Monday, when the average price is typically at its lowest for the week.

Of course, gas prices vary widely from one gas station to the next, so it’s always worth checking a gas app before heading to the pump.

4. Rewards Credit Card

A rewards credit card can come in handy when you spend money on gas. Some credit card companies offer cash back percentages for gas purchases.

When looking for a gas credit card to use at a gas station, you want to see what card offers the most cash back (sometimes 2% – 5%!) and try to avoid cards with annual memberships.

Membership fees can be worth it if you’d get that money back in cash back, but shop smart when picking a credit card.

5. Join Fuel Rewards Programs

Fuel rewards programs are another great way to save money when buying gas. You can receive gas discounts at participating gas stations.

Plus, many programs offer other perks besides saving on fuel costs, such as cash back or points that can be redeemed for merchandise or services.

6. Get Free Gift Cards

free gift cards

Gas gift cards can help take the sting out of gas prices, and surveys are our go-to for getting free gift cards.

Survey sites give you points for completing surveys and other activities, and you can often redeem those points or rewards for gas gift cards (and more!).

Some of our favorite survey sites are:

7. Use Cash For Discounts

Have you ever noticed that the price of gas seems higher when you pay with a credit or debit card? That’s because there are fees associated with processing those payments.

Some gas stations will offer a small cash payment discount, so it’s worth buying your gas with cold hard cash.

However, if you get cash back on your card, figure out which gets you more money in the end: saving with cash or cash back with cards!

8. Skip Premium If You Don’t Need It

Unless your car owner’s manual specifically requires premium gas, you may not see better gas mileage from using it- so why buy?

You may even notice a decrease in performance, so ask your mechanic if premium gas improves your fuel economy or wrecks your gas tank.

Savings With Car Usage

Besides spending less money directly at the gas station, the way you use your car can make your tank last longer between pit stops.

9. Use Cruise Control

When cruise control is engaged, your car will maintain a consistent speed, which can help to improve your gas mileage.

Also, cruise control can help you avoid sudden stops and starts, reducing fuel consumption. Of course, cruise control is not a magic bullet to save on gas, but it can be a helpful tool if used wisely.

If you know there’s a long stretch of road ahead with no stop signs or traffic lights, make it one of your driving habits to use cruise control to avoid wasting gas.

10. Plan Around Traffic

car traffic

Anyone who’s ever been stuck in stop-and-go traffic knows that it’s not only frustrating but it can also be a waste of gas and time. If you’re trying to save gas, you need to do everything you can to avoid stop-and-go traffic.

One way to do this is to plan your route and avoid areas where stop-and-go traffic is likely to occur. You can also use a GPS to find the most fuel-efficient route to your destination.

11. Don’t Use Your AC/Heater

Riding down the highway with the windows down and the radio turned up may feel great, but the wind resistance may create an aerodynamic drag on the car and cause it to use more fuel.

A good solution is to lower your car windows if driving at lower speeds. If you are driving on a roadway at speeds above 30 miles per hour, it is better to use your car’s air conditioning.

Another way to avoid using your car’s air conditioning or heater is to dress for the weather. If it’s cold outside, dress in layers to stay warm without turning on the heat. Similarly, if it’s hot outside, dress in light clothing and avoid using the air conditioner if possible.

12. Check Your Tires

Under-inflated tires are less fuel-efficient, so you can increase fuel efficiency and save on gas by keeping your tires inflated to the proper level.

You can find the recommended tire pressure for your vehicle in the owner’s manual, and most stations have an air pump that you can use to inflate your tires if needed.

If your tires aren’t cutting it, you can sell them or donate them online and replace them with a better pair.

13. Have Less Idle Time

One of the best ways to get fuel savings is to have less idle time. When your car is idling, it’s using more gas than it needs to. Idling can use up to a half gallon of fuel depending on your car’s engine size and air conditioner use.

So, if you can reduce the time your car spends idling, you’ll see a significant improvement in your fuel economy.

14. Watch Your Speed

Many people don’t realize how much their driving habits can reduce fuel efficiency. The faster highway speeds you drive, the more fuel your car will use.

Driving the speed limit is safer, but maintaining a steady speed generally reduces fuel consumption.

Similarly, starting and stopping frequently can also reduce your mileage, so again a steady speed and gradual breaking will save money on gas.

15. Get Motor Oil Changes On-Time

Regularly changing your motor oil is one of the most important things you can do to keep your car running well.

The right motor oil can help your engine run more efficiently, which means better gas mileage. In addition, a clean air filter can also help improve your gas mileage.

And if you keep an eye on your check engine light, you can avoid costly repairs down the road. Regular maintenance is the key to keeping your car running smoothly and saving money at the pump.

16. Avoid A Low Tank

empty tank no gas

Driving around with a low tank of gas is not only stressful, but it can also be expensive. When the tank is low, the pump has to work harder to move the gas, leading to higher fuel consumption.

In addition, dirt and debris are more likely to get into the fuel system when the tank is low, which can clog injectors and cause engine problems.

17. Check Your Gas Cap

If your car’s gas cap is loose or missing, be sure to replace it as soon as possible, because believe it or not, it can cause your car to lose gas.

In fact, it’s estimated that a loose gas cap can cause you to lose up to 30 gallons of gasoline per year.

Other Tips For Savings

There’s no doubt that gas prices can take a toll on your wallet, but there are even more ways to mitigate the cost of filling up your tank.

Now that we’ve talked about cash back/gas savings and car efficiency to save more money on gas, let’s talk about other general savings that can go the extra mile.

18. Buy Fuel-Efficient Cars

If you’re in the market for a new car, consider choosing a fuel-efficient option as they have become more affordable and can save you at the gas station!

These days, there are plenty of options for an electric vehicle, a plug-in hybrid, and even some traditional gasoline cars that are more fuel-efficient and save you money on gas.

19. Carpool With Others

driving carpool

One of the best ways to save gas is to carpool with others. When you share a ride with someone, you can split the cost of gas between you.

You can use driving apps like Uber or Lyft to carpool with others and save money on your commute.

Besides carpooling with people, you can deliver people or food using gig apps to make money while you run errands for yourself.

20. Have A Lighter Load

We don’t think about it often, but the more weight your car has to carry, the more it will reduce the fuel economy.

According to the EPA, every 100 pounds of excess weight in a vehicle can result in a 1% – 2% decrease in fuel economy. That may not sound like much, but it can add up quickly- especially if you’re carrying around 500 pounds or more of excess vehicle weight!

Here are some simple ways to reduce the amount of weight in your vehicle and improve fuel economy:

  • Clear out any excess clutter from your trunk or backseat.
  • Ditch any sports equipment or other gear that you don’t need regularly.
  • Remove the roof rack to increase the vehicle’s wind resistance.

21. Park At A Distance

Not only does driving around looking for a parking spot feel frustrating, but it can also be a waste of gas.

A straightforward way to do this is to park at a distance wherever you are. Walking may take a few extra minutes, but it can save you money on gas plus give you some good exercise!

22. Work From Home

With the price of gas always on the rise, it’s no wonder that more and more people are looking to work from home.

Working from home means less time in the car, which means less gas used overall. And, since you’re not commuting, you can take your time and work at your own pace, which can help you get more done in less time.

23. Make Passive Income

Making passive income is another great idea to bring in and save money on expenses like gas because you don’t have to drive or actively work to earn money!

For example, you could earn interest on a high-yield savings account or stocks, which means you can earn more money on the income you already earned.

Or you could sell printables online or create YouTube videos to entertain the masses.

The possibilities for passive income are endless, so find options that work best for you and get started today!

24. Take The Bus Whenever Possible

Taking the bus is one of the easiest ways to save on gas. Public transportation is fuel-efficient, so you can conserve fuel by taking the bus instead of driving.

In addition, public transportation is often less expensive than gas for a car (plus insurance and upkeep!).

25. Get Cash Back Elsewhere

While the high gas price can damper anyone’s budget, there are a few easy ways to offset the cost. 

Using cash back apps can also help save more money, which can then be used to pay for a gas fill-up:

  • Use the Honey extension for your browser to automatically apply coupons to your online shopping carts or find better prices elsewhere. Want to know more? Here’s our Honey Review so you can see all the ways you can save.
  • Capital One Shopping is a free web browser extension that can be used to find coupons and promo codes for online stores and get rewards for shopping online. Read our Capital One Shopping Review to find out about more savings.
  • Rakuten is another app where you can earn cash back on any purchase you make online. Check out our Rakuten Review to see what other perks the app offers!

26. Find Grocery Store Perks

With these apps, you can easily earn money back on your groceries, which can then be used to help pay for gas.

Ibotta allows you to earn money back on specific items that you purchase at the store. For example, if you buy a particular type of cereal, you may be able to get $0.50 back.

You simply have the app, check for savings and coupons, shop in-store, and then scan your receipt to get your cash back.

27. Earn Free Money

Besides cash back apps and survey sites, there are other ways to get free money, and put it towards your gas bill.

Here are a few ways to get free money:

Key Takeaways

gas pump

There’s no doubt recent gas prices are a big financial burden and add to household expenses for many families.

Hopefully, you can take these suggestions to heart and use them to save money on gas. We have found them very helpful, and every dollar counts when it comes to saving money!

Over time those savings can add up if you use our tips on how to save money on gas.

Start making small changes today, like working from home a few days a week or using gas apps like GetUpside, and you’ll see the difference in your wallet as soon as tomorrow!

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GetUpside Review 2023: Rack Up Real Savings At The Pump https://thesavvycouple.com/getupside-review/ Thu, 30 Jun 2022 20:13:09 +0000 https://thesavvycouple.com/?p=29421 Our GetUpside Review will look at a free app that can help you save money on gas purchases.

We personally use the Upside app all the time and love earning cash back on things we need to buy anyways.

We’ve found many offers available at participating merchants near us, and the gas cash rewards have been consistent.

Using Upside can help get you free money which will help save money each month on the rising cost of gas- so let’s talk about the app’s details plus the significant savings you’ll earn using it!

Upside

Earn on what you need, spend on what you love. Earn on every gas fill-up, grocery store visit, and more!

Use Code: SAVVY25 for $0.25 sign up bonus.

Get Cash Back On Gas & More

Getupside Review: Key Takeaways

Here is some quick info on GetUpside you should know about:

  • GetUpside is a cash-back app that helps you earn money back on purchases at participating gas stations, supermarkets, and restaurants.
  • Cashback = free money!
  • The app is easy-to-use and free to install.
  • Cashback is available for participating merchants’ gas stations in 40 states.
  • You can get a bonus for signing up – and an extra $0.25 per gallon in cash back!
  • Earn cash through PayPal, bank accounts, mailed checks, or gift cards

What is GetUpside?

getupside

Upside has a simple concept: you use the app to find nearby savings at grocery stores, gas stations, and restaurants. When you use the app at the gas station, you will get a cash-back reward for every gallon of gas you purchase.

It connects the app users with participating companies like gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants or fast-food chains.

Getupside was founded in 2015 as a cash-back software. After a successful test in Washington, D.C., restaurants and supermarkets were quickly added to the app.

GetUpside recently changed its name to Upside. You can still find the GetUpside app in your app store, but the Upside app will soon replace it.

The GetUpside app is available on the Google Play and Apple App Store. The app gets 4.4 stars on the Google Play Store and 4.8 stars on the Apple App Store. 

Gas Cash Back

When you use the GetUpside app, you earn back $0.25 per gallon for buying gas at a participating gas station.

There are usually several offers available each day at different gas stations. Plus, the eligible gas stations are nationwide, so you can use GetUpside wherever you go.

Gasoline discounts or a gas rewards credit card from the same business, for example, may be used in conjunction with Upside’s cash-back offer. Double dipping, on the other hand, might reduce how much cash you make using the Upside app.

Upside offers are only valid for up to 50 gallons of gas. However, you can claim as many receipts and check-in options as you like each month.

Restaurant Cash Back

If you’re looking to save money on your restaurant purchases, then the GetUpside app can help.

You can get 35% cash back on your meal, which can add up over time and give you more money to eat out or save for other fun.

It’s also important to note that not all restaurants are on the Upside app, and some offers have limitations. However, there are still plenty of participating restaurants to choose from.

So if you’re looking for a way to save money on your restaurant bills, then the GetUpside app is worth checking out!

Groceries Cash Back

grocery shopping

GetUpside is a great way to be frugal when buying your groceries, and they offer 15% cash back at participating grocery stores.

Stacking other coupons, discounts, and loyalty programs on top of using the GetUpside app allows you to save more than a few bucks on your purchase!

See what stores are nearby and see if they’ve joined the app. That way, you can save more money and get cash rewards without shopping out of your way.

Partner Promotions

If you’re looking for a way to save more money, check out the Partner Promotions page on the GetUpside website.

For example, a promotion with Shell gives you $0.50 back on every gallon of gas you purchase.

There are also partner promotions with other gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants, so check before you shop and see where you can get more savings.

How Does Getupside Work?

GetUpside is a different cash back app than other ones since you use it in real-time while at the store or gas pump instead of on a shopping site.

All you have to do is bring your phone with you to use the GetUpside app.

After signing up for a free GetUpside account, open the app on your phone. Look for cash back offers on gasoline, groceries, and restaurants in your area, and start shopping to rack up savings.

Here are the steps laid out for getting started on the app:

Step 1: Sign Up

getupside sign up

To use Getupside, you’ll need to sign up for a GetUpside account and provide your information.

You can earn additional cash back if you use our link to sign up!

Step 2: Hook Up Your Cards

Once you have a Getupside account, open the app and link your credit or debit card to your account.

This may seem strange to you, but it’s just to verify when you use an offer.

The app checks your transactions for participating stores to give you the cash back on your purchases quickly.

To hook up your credit card:

  1. Click the Upside menu in the top left- the gray circle with three lines on it.
  2. Look down the menu and find “My Wallet.”
  3. Click “Add a New Card.” It’ll bring up a screen to input your credit or debit card information.
  4. Once you have entered your card information, click “Done” to save the card information.

Once that’s done, you can check for offers and start claiming savings through the Upside app!

Step 3: Claim Offers

 

After entering your card information, look for offers at gas stations, grocery or convenience stores, and restaurants.

Click the participating merchants’ offers when you find one you are interested in. You can find the offer’s details by clicking the “More Info.”

The Upside app will tell you in detailed steps how to earn the cash back on the offer. Be sure to read the fine print at the bottom of the offer.

Enable location services in the app to see a map with gas offers on the main screen. The Upside will show you the deals closest to you.

To claim an offer:

Click “Claim Offer” on your Upside app to activate the claim and save your rewards.

A pop-up message will remind you to use your linked card and make your purchase within the allowed time for the claimed deal.

Step 4: Fill Up Your Tank Or Buy Food

pump gas

After you claim the Upside offer, you’ll need to purchase your gas or buy food within the allowed time for the offer.

You have four hours for gas stations and restaurants and 24 hours for grocery stores.

Head to the same gas station for the offer you claimed and make your gas purchase, or head to the grocery store or convenience store to make your food purchase.

Be sure to use the credit or debit card linked to your account to get cash back on the purchase!

Step 5: Check-In & Get Cash Back

Upside App Earnings

As of 2021, you no longer need a debit card or credit card receipt to earn cash back from Upside.

The app verifies your purchase through your card linked to your account, as we mentioned before.

After making your purchase at the gas station, grocery store, or restaurant, check the GetUpside app to confirm your purchase.

We have personally earned over $50 using the app for just a couple of months. 

Simply sit back and wait for GetUpside to confirm your purchase and deposit cash back into your Upside account.

Our Getupside Promo

Customers who sign up for the first time are eligible for a $0.20 per gallon cash back bonus on their next gas purchase when using a partner link.

This way, you can save up to $0.45 per gallon in one trip, which is a true blessing when you visit the gas pump next.

Here’s our GetUpside link for more gas savings! Sign up now and see what offerings you can get today.

Getting Paid

Upside Cashout

You can cash out the money in your GetUpside account to your Paypal, a bank account, or to gift cards after they have processed your purchase.

Unlike other cash-back apps, GetUpside doesn’t have a minimum balance you must meet to withdraw your savings to a Paypal account or bank account, but some fees may apply for fast cashouts.

Gift cards do have a $10 minimum requirement to cash out via cards.

Redeem Cash Back

It takes Upside anywhere from 4 – 24 hours to process your purchase. When your purchase is completed, Upside will send you an email letting you know your rewards total.

You’ll see how much you’ve earned in the top right corner of the GetUpside app. Click on the amount, which will show you the options for cashing out your Upside earnings.

Payments Options

You can have your GetUpside cash back deposited into your PayPal account or bank account, receive a check mailed directly to you, or convert your cash to a digital gift card for select online shops.

You can use your rewards for a digital gift card to:

  • Amazon
  • Lowe’s
  • Steak ‘n Shake
  • Starbucks
  • CVS Pharmacy
  • Texas Roadhouse
  • Dunkin’
  • AMC Theaters
  • Cold Stone Creamery
  • Kohl’s
  • Chili’s Grill & Bar
  • Taco Bell
  • Cabela’s
  • IHOP
  • Red Robin
  • Target
  • Walmart
  • Apple Gift Card
  • Nike
  • Home Depot
  • Google Play
  • HGM
  • Papa John’s
  • Applebee’s
  • Panera Bread
  • Bed Bath & Beyond
  • Maggiano’s Little Italy
  • Bloomin’ Brands

Fees & Restrictions

While the GetUpside app is free, some fees may be charged in certain situations.

A $1 fee for cashing out small amounts on the Get Upside app is charged.

The fee is waived if you wait to cash out your balance or if you refer a friend that is actively using the app.

Here is a breakdown of the fees per GetUpside:

  • Bank: $1 for cash-outs that are less than $10
  • PayPal: $1 fee for a cash-out under $15
  • Gift card: $0 in fees, but cards may have a $10 minimum

Other Cash Back Apps

Your savings at the pump and cash back from groceries and stores can go further than just the GetUpside app!

We have used many cash back apps to get savings, and here are 5 apps that you can use to rack up more savings shopping:

Honey

Honey side hustle app homepage

Honey is a free browser plugin (and phone app) that helps you save money automatically. It searches for discount codes at checkout when you shop online.

The Honey app works with the following web browsers:

  • Chrome
  • Firefox
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer
  • Opera

You can use Honey Gold points to redeem as gift cards for popular retailers like Amazon, eBay, and Target. You’ll need at least 1,000 Honey Gold points to exchange them for gift cards.

Learn more about using the app in our Honey review!

Capital One Shopping

Capital One Shopping logo

The Capital One Shopping browser extension looks for coupons, promo codes, and savings while you shop to try and save you money.

Customers have saved over $70 million using Capital One Shopping! It’s free to install and has a 5-star rating on the Google Chrome Web Store.

If you’re looking for a way to save money while shopping online, then the Capital One Shopping extension is worth checking out.

Ibotta

earn cash for shopping with ibotta infographic

The Ibotta app can save you money on your grocery bill with cash back on items you regularly purchase, like milk, eggs, and bread.

And, there is often some cash back bonus for purchasing specific items or completing certain tasks. For example, you might earn an extra $0.25 for buying a quart of milk or $1.00 for buying two loaves of bread.

You can use the Ibotta app on Android or Apple phones, or you can use it on your computer. We have the app installed on both, so we can use the Ibotta app when shopping online.

Check out our Ibotta review for more info on this cash-back app!

Rakuten

rakuten

Rakuten (formerly eBates app) is a user-friendly cash-back program that’s one of our favorites. You can use Rakuten to get rewards, coupons, and promo codes.

You’ll receive discounts on most items when you use the Rakuten app. Although the may be small, they build up quickly over time.

So far, Rakuten has paid over $1 billion in cash back to its members, and we are happy to have saved a good chunk of change using them for the last decade!

The Rakuten app is definitely worth checking out if you’re looking for a way to save money while shopping online or in-store.

Tada

tada homepage

Another cash-back app that will save you money is the Tada app. You may have heard of it before under its former name, Shoply.

Tada’s prominent feature is its cash-back shopping platform, enabling customers to earn money back on purchases.

With cash-back rates usually ranging from 2% – 10%, you may save a lot of money on your regular purchases.

Tada also makes it simple to locate and take advantage of featured deals in the Featured Offers section.

FAQs

Is Getupside legit?

Yes, GetUpside is a legitimate cash-back rewards program. You can earn rewards for buying gas and food at participating locations near you.

We personally use the app and have cashed out our rewards with no problems. Several offers are usually available each day, and you can earn up to 35% cash back on your purchases.

Plus, the participating restaurants and gas stations are nationwide with some local brick-and-mortar businesses.

So if you’re looking for an easy way to earn some extra cash, we recommend signing up for Getupside.

How do I sign up for Getupside?

Upside

GetUpside is a free app that offers cash back rewards for buying gas and food at participating locations. You can sign up for it right here to get a discount on your first gas purchase!

Just create an account and link your payment information, and you’re good to go.

If I claim an offer, how long do I have to use it?

Each offer will have the details of how long you have to use the offer after you claim it.

Once you claim an offer, you usually have four hours to buy gas at the gas station, four hours to claim food purchases at restaurants, and 24 hours to claim purchases for grocery stores.

How do I cash out my earnings?

Cashing your earnings out on the GetUpside App is relatively straightforward.

Just go to the ‘Cash Out’ section in your account and choose the method you want to use to cash out.

You can have your money sent to your PayPal account, through your bank, get a check straight to you, or convert your cash into digital gift cards for online retailers.

There are $1 fees for cashing out your money if your account has less than $10 (bank deposit) or $15 (Paypal deposit). You’ll need a $10 for digital gift cards as well.

Do I have to hook up a card/bank account to Getupside?

Yes, you need to connect a payment method (debit card or credit card), so Getupside can verify when you have purchased a claimed offer.

Upside does not collect or store any of your financial information. They have partnered with Plaid, a 3rd party service.

Plaid specializes in providing secure linking of banking information. Find out more about Plaid and the security and privacy measures on their website.

Can I use cash for my purchases?

No, cash isn’t eligible for cash back through GetUpside. You can only use a debit or credit card linked to your app.

How long will I be waiting for my cash back?

clock time money

According to Upside, it can take up to 3 business days for your Upside cash to be deposited into your bank account. It can take longer if you request the cash out on the weekend or on a bank holiday.

Are there surprise fees?

There can be fees when you cash out, but they aren’t surprises if you read the info on the app.

Upside will charge a $1 fee for a small amount; however, they will waive it if you are cashing out a larger amount.

The fee is also waived if someone you referred is an active user on the app too.

The breakdown of the fees is:

  • Bank: Cash-outs less than $10 will be charged a $1 fee
  • PayPal: Cash-outs under $15 will be charged a $1 fee
  • Gift card: No fee for cashing out a gift card, but some gift cards may have certain minimum thresholds

Are there limits to using Getupside?

There is a limit to how much gas you can purchase using the Upside gas station offer. Your gas fill-up amount is limited to the first 50 gallons of gas at the participating gas station.

Grocery stores will offer you cash back of up to 15% on your purchases.

There are no restrictions on the items you can acquire. Every product and brand will earn you money back.

Our Thoughts

family budget piggy bank save money Kid earning money for future

GetUpside is a free app that offers cash back rewards for buying gas and food at participating locations. It can help with your household grocery budget and also help with the gas expense.

It’s easy to use and offers rewards for buying gas and food at a gas station locally and nationwide. There is sure to be an offer at a nearby gas station or grocery store that you can claim and use to earn cash.

Overall, we would recommend using GetUpside to help with your household expenses. It is easy to use, and you can find offers at participating locations nearby. Plus, who doesn’t love to earn cash back?

Check out Upside here and start saving!

Upside

Earn on what you need, spend on what you love. Earn on every gas fill-up, grocery store visit, and more!

Use Code: SAVVY25 for $0.25 sign up bonus.

Get Cash Back On Gas & More
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Fetch Rewards Review 2023: Sign Up For Better Cash Back https://thesavvycouple.com/fetch-rewards-review/ Tue, 28 Jun 2022 16:50:02 +0000 https://thesavvycouple.com/?p=29372 Let’s start our Fetch Rewards Review by saying that if you aren’t using cash-back apps, you need to jump on the bandwagon!

By offering shoppers the opportunity to earn points for every purchase, these apps help you earn rewards for your regular shopping and keep more money in your pocket.

Fetch has helped us live frugally and save as much money through cash back as we possibly can.

In this post, we’ll take an in-depth look at Fetch and how it can help you save money on your online shopping.

Earn Cash Back
Fetch Rewards

Use your receipts and purchases to earn rewards that lead to FREE gift cards!

Earn Free Gift Cards Now

Fetch Rewards Review

fetch rewards homepage

Fetch Rewards is a great rewards app that offers users rewards from some of the most popular retailers in the United States. With over 13 million active users, Fetch Rewards is one of the most popular rewards apps available today.

In 2021, over one billion receipts were scanned for eligible purchases by Fetch users. It awarded $73.3 million in rewards, which is a testament to the app’s popularity.

With Fetch Rewards, you can earn a gift card from major retailers like Apple, Target, Amazon, Starbucks, and Ulta. Plus, the best part is that the app is totally free to use, and it’s better than clipping coupons!

Who Is Fetch Rewards For?

Fetch Rewards is a legitimate shopping app for anyone who shops regularly, both online and offline. Whether you’re a stay-at-home mom or a busy professional, if you shop frequently, then Fetch Rewards is an app worth considering.

What separates Fetch Rewards from other cash-back apps is that it offers rewards points on a wide range of products, not just specific brands or stores. As long as you have a receipt from a qualifying store, you’ll be able to earn points.

This makes Fetch Rewards an ideal app for people who want to earn a shopping reward without changing their shopping habits.

Point System

earning points fetch rewards

The point system for the Fetch app is pretty straightforward. You earn a specific number of points each time you scan your grocery receipt, and the amount of points you get is determined by the discounts on your bill.

For every 1,000 points you earn, you get $1. If you want a $5 gift card, you’ll have to save up to 5,000 points.

Reward Options

There are a variety of Fetch rewards you can snag with the app, including gift cards, free products, and more. You can earn points by referring friends and family members to the app.

Some of the gift cards include Amazon, Starbucks, and Target, plus you have plenty of other options.

Other Fetch Features

Fetch Clubs

Fetch Rewards is a company that offers club memberships for products like PepsiCo, Tasty Rewards, and Huggies Rewards+.

The PepsiCo Tasty Rewards club offers members a variety of benefits, including discounts on PepsiCo products, free shipping, and extra points.

Members also have the chance to win prizes like gift cards and merchandise. The Huggies Rewards+ club offers members a variety of benefits, including discounts on Huggies products, free shipping, and extra points.

Fetch Pay

Fetch Rewards has teamed up with ONE to develop an actual physical debit card that may be used at any Mastercard-accepting store. The Fetch Pay debit card operates similarly to traditional debit cards, but you earn Fetch Points on every transaction instead of money.

Good RX

fetch goodrx

Fetch Rewards is one of the many companies that partners with GoodRx to offer prescription discounts.

You can find the GoodRx feature under the “Me” tab. Scroll down on the options under the “Me” tab until you find GoodRx. Click the feature. It will bring up a card you can show your pharmacist when you pick up your prescription.

The card is accepted at most major pharmacies, including CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart. You can also use the card for pet prescriptions.

It will help you save money on prescriptions at participating pharmacies and earn Fetch Rewards points.

Activity Dashboard

Another great feature of the Fetch Rewards app is the activity dashboard. This is a place where you can see all of your recent activities and transactions.

You can also see a breakdown of your points and how you earn them. It is a great way to stay on top of your progress and see where you need to improve.

Maybe you want to see how much you spend at a particular store each week. Fetch can take the scanned receipts and put the totals in pretty neat graphs and monthly breakdowns. You can see how much you spent, what you spent, and when you bought it.

Having this information is helpful if you are working on a tight family budget or want to be more mindful of your spending in general. It’s also helpful if you are trying to figure out where all your money goes each month!

Finding the Activity Dashboard

To find the activity dashboard on the Fetch Rewards app, go to the “Discover” page and click the yellow points tab in the right corner of the screen. It will bring up the Activity Dashboard. From there, you can view your Receipts by year or by store.

Getting Started With Fetch Rewards

Getting started with Fetch Rewards is quick and easy. Simply download the app from the Apple App Store or Google Store.

Sign Up

It’s easy to sign up for Fetch Rewards. Download the app and create an account with your email address or phone number. You can also sign up with Facebook if you prefer.

fetch rewards signup

Enter Your Personal Information

After you’ve signed up, you’ll need to enter your personal information, like your name, address, and date of birth. You’ll also need to create a password for your account.

Check Out The Offers

After creating your Fetch account, you’ll want to check out the offers. There are several ways to see what offers are available and how many points you will earn for completing them.

  1. At the top of the Discover screen, you can search by product, brand, or category.
  2. You can also browse through the “Brands” section to find offers.
  3. Finally, you can check out the “Special Offers” section to see a list of all available offers. There are tabs for For you, Most recent, Category, High to low, and Expiring first.

To view the details of an offer, just click on it. Here, you’ll be able to see how many points you earn, the offer expiration date, and any other requirements.

Shop & Scan Receipts

shopping receipts

Once you have found the offers you want to complete, you’ll need to shop for them. Before shopping for them, make sure you have read the requirements for each offer.

Be sure to buy the item that is listed in the offer. You don’t want to buy a 24 oz bottle of dishwashing liquid if the offer requires a 48 oz bottle.

When you’re ready to shop, head to your favorite store (grocery stores, convenience stores, markets, liquor stores, etc.) and purchase the items. Be sure to save your paper receipt or online receipt!

You can scan your receipts in two ways:

  1. In-app scanner
  2. eReceipts (for digital receipts)

When scanning the receipt, choose “Snap” and line the receipt up within the receipt edge lines in the “Snap” screen. If you’ve got the receipt lined up correctly with the store, date, and total showing on the receipt, the app will give you the green light for each on the right side of the screen. Then you can submit the receipt.

Earn Points

Once you scan your receipts for your eligible purchases, the app will let you know how many Fetch Rewards points you have earned.

The least amount you can earn from each receipt is 25 points, and as we said before, 1,000 points = $1, so some time and a little effort can get you to those points quickly.

Use Your Rewards!

shopping online

When you have enough Fetch Rewards to cash out, it’s time to use them! You can redeem your points for a gift card through the Fetch app. The process of redeeming your Fetch Rewards is simple.

First, open the Fetch app and go to the “Rewards” section. Here, you’ll see all the gift cards available for redemption. Choose the gift card you want, and then hit the “Redeem” button.

You’ll be taken to a confirmation page, where you can review your selection.

Once you’re sure you want to redeem your rewards for the gift card, just hit the “Confirm” button.

The app will send you a text or an email with a 4-digit security code. Enter it to validate the request for cashing out.

The gift card will be delivered to your email within a few minutes. It’s that easy to redeem your hard-earned Fetch Rewards!

How To Earn Rewards

Once you’ve downloaded the app and signed up, you’ll be able to start earning rewards right away. But how do you earn them?

Grocery Hauls

Our step by step process on how to eat healthy with a frugal grocery budget. Learn how to save money, budget meals, meal prep, and enjoy good healthy food!

The receipts for our grocery hauls are probably some of the most common receipts that we get. And Fetch Rewards makes it easy to turn them into points without claiming a reward before shopping or clipping a coupon to save money.

You don’t have to buy national brands to get points for each grocery shopping trip. Any grocery receipt from any store will work. And you can scan as many receipts as you want in a single day.

What stores does Fetch Rewards work with? Be sure to get the receipts for your shopping trips from any of these and scan them.

  • Grocery stores
  • Supermarkets
  • Gas station receipts
  • Convenience stores
  • Home improvement stores
  • Club stores
  • Pet supply stores
  • Liquor stores

Shopping Receipts

The shopping receipts you scan can either be a paper receipt or a digital receipt. There is a limit of 35 receipts within a 7-day period.

If you scan the paper receipt, you need to make sure that you scan the entire receipt. It needs to include the Store Information, Date, and Total.

You can also get points for your shopping receipts if you’re an online shopper. All you have to do is connect your email address to your Fetch Rewards account. Then, have the Fetch Rewards app scan your inbox for receipts from any store.

Your Amazon account can also be connected to Fetch Rewards to get points for every Amazon purchase. Go to the “My Account” tab in the app and tap on the “eReceipts” tile. Then, scroll down to “Amazon” and click “Connect.”

Bonus Points

You may earn bonus points when you complete certain actions within the Fetch Rewards app, such as scanning receipts from accepted retailers or redeeming a reward.

Depending on the action taken and other factors of your application usage, these extra Fetch Rewards points can range from 1 point to 100+ points.

So be sure to take advantage of all the opportunities available to earn points and rack up those rewards!

Special Offers

If you’re looking to earn rewards through Fetch Rewards, you’ll want to focus on completing Special Offers. These offers can range from a few hundred points to several thousand points.

To complete a Special Offer, you’ll need to purchase a product within the time frame for the Special Offer to earn points. You also have to meet the requirements that have been set for the special offer.

Participating Brands

drinking starbucks coffee

With Fetch Rewards, you will get points for making purchases from the companies featured in the “Brands” section of the app. Points are given at a base rate of 1% of the final purchase price, although this may be higher in certain circumstances.

Referral Program

You can get referral bonus points if you refer friends and family to the app. When someone you referred enters your referral code and successfully scans their first receipt, they will reward you with points.

Look under the “Me” section of the app to find your Referral Code and the value of the points you’ll get for referring people. You can also see the list of people you referred that used your referral code in the “My Referrals” tab.

Point Redemption

free stocks Portrait of a smiling young girl holding jar

Redeeming points is a great way to get something back for being a loyal customer, and with so many different options available, there are sure to be some free gift cards that appeal to everyone.

The options where you can redeem points include:

  • Fetch Merch
  • Retail
  • Sweepstakes
  • Restaurants
  • Entertainment
  • Magazine Subscriptions
  • Cash cards
  • Health & Beauty
  • Home & Office
  • Fashion
  • Charity
  • Travel
  • Pets
  • Recreation
  • Specialty

Retail Gift Cards

One of our favorite ways to cash in our Fetch points is by redeeming them for retail gift cards.

Many big-box retailers exist, including Amazon, Walmart, Target, and many more. Most offer redemption amounts for $10, $25, and $50.

It’s like getting free cash to help you save money on your next shopping trip. And with retailers like Amazon and Walmart, you can pretty much buy anything you need.

You can even get gift cards for automotive retail stores like Advance Auto Parts and AutoZone. It’s a great way to save when your car needs a little TLC.

Cash Cards

visa card

Another great card to cash out your points is the Visa Cash Card. These free gift cards can be used anywhere that Visa is accepted and as a debit card.

There are two different ways to receive a Visa Debit Card. You can choose to receive a virtual card that can be used for shopping online only.

A physical card can be sent to your home but will take 5-10 business days to arrive. The physical card can be used anywhere Visa is accepted, including major retailers, online purchases, and over the phone.

The drawback to choosing this option is that they will deduct a $3.00 shipping and handling fee from your point total.

Either way, you’re getting an excellent value for your points, and the choice is up to you.

Sweepstakes

You can also enter your points into various sweepstakes to win great prizes. The number of entries you can choose is 1, 7, 30, 50, or 100. Each amount takes Fetch points (up to 2,500 points) off your total.

Fetch Rewards partners with different brands to bring you opportunities to win things like free vacations, shopping sprees, and much more.

It’s a great way to use your points if you’re not quite ready to cash them in yet. And who knows, you might just get lucky and win something unique!

Charity

You can also redeem points for charity donations. Some of the charities you can choose to donate your points to include:

  • American Cancer Society
  • America Scores
  • Habitat for Humanity
  • Hope for Ukraine
  • and more!

FAQs

Can you really earn free money and gift cards from rewards apps?

free gift cards

Yes, you can earn free money and gift cards from rewards apps like Fetch Rewards.

Fetch Rewards is one of the best rewards programs available. It’s easy to use, has no surveys, and you can earn points for the grocery receipts you scan.

You can then redeem your points for free Amazon, Walmart, or Visa gift cards or choose from various other rewards.

Is Fetch Rewards legit or a scam?

We use Fetch Rewards and can tell you that the Fetch Rewards app is a legitimate rewards program. You can earn points for more than just the grocery receipts you scan.

You can earn points when you shop online and snap the e Receipts to the Fetch app. You can redeem your points for free Amazon, Walmart, or Visa gift cards or choose from various other rewards.

How much can I earn from Fetch Rewards?

It depends on how much you spend on groceries and how many receipts you scan. You can earn a few hundred points per week if you’re a regular grocery shopper or online shopper.

For every 1,000 points, you’ll earn $1.00. You can cash out for a gift card when you get 3,000 points or $3.

Fetch Rewards Review – Is It Worth It?

If you shop regularly and are looking for a way to earn some extra cash, Fetch Rewards is worth checking out.

Not only is it easy to use, but it’s also convenient and fun to scan receipts. Plus, there’s no limit to how many points you can earn.

It doesn’t take much time to scan paper receipts into your account. Plus, there is a way to add the electronic receipts you receive via email.

Can I scan the same receipt more than once on the Fetch app?

No, Fetch only allows you to scan each receipt once. You may have a paper and an electronic receipt for the same trip. You can only scan one receipt for the same checkout.

If you accidentally scan the same receipt more than once, contact the Fetch Rewards customer service team, and they can remove the duplicate points (if awarded) from your account.

The receipt can be used on multiple apps besides Fetch to earn cash back or points.

For example, you can submit a grocery receipt to cash back apps like Ibotta, Rakuten, and more. You’ll just need to follow their instructions for submitting the receipt.

Can I have multiple items on a single receipt?

Yes, you can! For example, if you buy three different items from the grocery store and they’re all on the same receipt, you’ll earn points for all three items.

Other Cash Back & Reward Apps

Several other excellent cash back, savings, and rewards apps are available, including Honey, Capital One Shopping, Ibotta, and Rakuten.

Honey

money hands laptop hands coming out of laptops to exchange money for bag

Honey is another excellent shopping app, and rewards browser extension. Like Fetch Rewards, it’s easy to use, and you can earn points for every grocery receipt you scan.

You can then redeem your Honey Gold points for Amazon, Walmart, or Visa gift cards or choose from various other cash back rewards.

Capital One Shopping

woman shopping online and using cash back app to get the money she needs now

Capital One Shopping is another helpful app and browser extension to find coupons and save money on some purchases.

It’s a free app that helps you find discounts on your online shopping purchases. You can use the extension to search for available coupons, or you can search for deals on the Capital One Shopping website.

They have trending deals to check out and they can search around online to compare pricing on the items in your cart- that way you can try and get the lower price possible

Ibotta

groceries and the receipt

Ibotta is one of the most popular rewards programs. You can earn cash back without waiting for points or anything else- you simply get money back on what you spend.

Ibotta is easy to scan and earn cash back on your receipts, and you get a free $10 bonus for signing up.

Rakuten

january snow winter shopping

Rakuten (formerly Ebates) is one of the most popular rewards programs. You can earn cash back on groceries, clothes, home goods, electronics, and more.

Plus, they’re offering you a $10 bonus sign-up through our link!

Our Thoughts

We hope our Fetch Rewards review has helped you see why we highly recommend giving Fetch Rewards a try!

Fetch is worth using if you’re looking for an easy way to earn extra cash back on your grocery shopping and household expenses. It can be worthwhile for frequent grocery shoppers to use the app.

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29 Genius Frugal Living Tips That Will Save You Money Now https://thesavvycouple.com/frugal-living/ https://thesavvycouple.com/frugal-living/#comments Sat, 14 May 2022 05:30:28 +0000 https://thesavvycouple.com/?p=2683 We’ve collected 29 of the best frugal living tips that will help you save money on everything from groceries to utilities.

Frugality is being intentional with your money and belongings, similar to minimalist living.

These tips are easy to follow so you can be frugal, enjoy your life, and make a big difference in your monthly budget. 

Plus, here’s a video of our top 15 frugal living tips you can start today:

Quick Hits For Frugal Living

Now before we get into the habits of frugal living, I’m sure you want some ideas for quick things and apps you could use now to get started ASAP!

Here are some of the best ideas for increasing your income, saving cash, and more:

  • Steady App: Find side hustles that fit your skills and that you can work into your busy schedule
  • Empower (formerly Personal Capital): Manage your money on the go easier than ever before
  • Capital One Shopping: Let this app help you find more savings and coupons so you can try and spend less on every purchase
  • Proofreading: This is our #1 side hustle besides blogging, and you can make $20+ an hour from home easily if you become a proofreader.
  • Bookkeeping: If you can use Excel and have some math skills, you could become a bookkeeper and earn $50 per hour!

What Does Frugal Living Mean?

Frugal living can be different from person to person, but it basically means living within your means and not spending money unnecessarily. 

We think of words like economically conscious, having the right money mindset, and being a thrifty person who knows how to live well while they save time and money. 

3 Basic Rules to Living a Frugal Life

Before we move on to our tried and true frugal living tips, let’s talk about our Savvy basic rules for living a frugal lifestyle successfully:

  1. Minimize the waste you create. People tend to buy and toss things out when they realize they don’t need it. You should buy things wisely and reuse them whenever possible. 
  2. Maximize the value of every single item you spend money on. Buying something inexpensive can just make your life harder or break/crap out without doing the job. You may spend more replacing cheap items! Frugal means you spend on some things that matter and you don’t spend money on a bad investment. 
  3. Let go of the idea that money = happiness. Money being the center of your happiness can create more problems and may encourage you to spend more money and potentially be more miserable in the end. We do know that money can make things easier in life and some people struggle to make ends meet, but it is also possible to be frugal and still find your life full-filling. There are great things you can do that are inexpensive. 

If you live frugally, you’re making smart choices with your money and getting the most out of every penny spent.

On the other hand, if you’re living stingy, well, I hate to say it but you’re actually not being very smart with your money.

You might buy shoes that only cost a few dollars while you’re training for a marathon, and I doubt you’ll make it to marathon day before they’re worn out entirely.

I have running shoes I bought 3 years ago, and they have held up! Even though I spent $70 on them, which seems like a lot, they have lasted me longer than cheaper options and could be around for years still.

What Shopping Problems Should You Look For?

Bustle recommends looking for “lifestyle creeping”– what purchases were a luxury to you before, but now you claim are necessities? You may be buying a “necessity” you could do without!

First and foremost, think about your spending and shopping habits- and get ready to revamp them with the best frugal living tips!

What Benefits Come From Frugal Living?

family taking a bike ride in a park for frugal living

The benefits of frugal living are vast, so let’s talk about how a new lifestyle can be another great way to better yourself and simplify your life.

Now we aren’t trying to talk you into an extremely tight economical or minimalist living style, where you reuse bath water with your entire family to save on your water bill or something!

Yeah, that’s one way to save extra money, but we have some easier frugal living tips to integrate into your life.

But there are several benefits to being thrifty:

  • Improved mental health and more relaxation. If you can live within your means and stop worrying about how your life compares to others, you’ll feel much less stress and less desire to “keep up” with those around you. 
  • Increased wealth and extra money in the bank. Who isn’t looking to save money these days? Quickly it over time, you’ll spend less money on things that don’t matter, which increases your financial wealth. You may also start spending money on things that do matter, such as memorable family vacations. Wealth isn’t just measured in dollars, after all. 
  • More satisfying family life with less things to worry about. With monthly savings filling your wallet, you’ll very likely be able to right your finances to finally get out of debt, not need to work as many hours (as you were when trying to pay off debts), and have more time to relax and enjoy your family without feeling stressed that you aren’t at work. 
  •  More freedom for your future. You may find that frugal living is the key to being able to minimize costs to such an extent that you can reach financial freedom. Maybe it simply allows you to have a comfortable disposable income each month. 

29 Frugal Living Habits That’ll Change Your Life

1. Plan Long-Term Purchases That Will LAST

Frugal people are always looking for a long-term solution, not just getting something quick and cheap to save money in the moment.

A thrifty shopper won’t be afraid to spend a little bit more money on something they know will last them longer.

Like buying a more expensive cell phone because it will stay useful for several years when a less expensive option will be obsolete soon enough.

Things like appliances, vehicles, and houses are long-haul investments that you want to get the most value out of- but don’t forget about little stuff from silverware to clothes.

When you do need to buy things, be sure to do your research so you save more with every purchase- for example, do you know the best time to buy appliances?

2. Clip Some Coupons & Avoid Paying Full Price

Buy smarter by only buying when savings are highest! And don’t forget to look for coupons and deals to never pay full price on items that cost more.

Use Capital One Shopping to automatically find savings and make it easier to live frugally.

3. Start A Budget ASAP To Stop Overspending Habits

Knowing how much you spend every month can be truly eye-opening. People get close to spending almost as much as they make and get into a lot of financial hardship because of it.

So a very essential step to becoming frugal is to track your spending and make a budget. You need to limit your spending, not necessarily going bare-bones, but enough that you can put extra money towards savings or retirement.

This is all about living comfortably now, but also settings aside money for your future to live on. 

Use Empower (formerly Personal Capital) to track your spending and make sure you start building your savings.

4. Reduce Monthly Bills Where You Can

watch tv sports

This may seem like a no-brainer to you, but many people don’t know to start spending less at home.

Some people think bills are impossible to shrink, but we’re here to tell you it can be easy to save on monthly bills!

There are programs like Trim and Truebill that are paid services that will negotiate your bills and even cut out subscriptions you don’t need anymore so you spend less on bills.

You can also try it by hand, we have plenty of the best frugal tips that may also reduce your monthly bills naturally.

I say start with the nonessentials like cable- do you need a lot of channels you don’t even watch? Think about alternatives to cable that can save you so much money!

5. Seek Better Value From All Purchases

Whether it’s a new pair of sneakers or a meal from the grocery store, people who live frugal life seek the most value even when they want to save money.

Frugal living is all about getting the most out of your money- a.k.a. more bang for your buck!

Instead of looking for cheaper options, think about quality as well as price with whatever you buy.

You want your purchases to continue working and provide good usage years down the road, like a great laptop or cell phone.

If you buy the $50 sneakers instead of buying the $20 pair, it’s because they will last you 3 years and are high quality.

Cheap sneakers may only last you 1 year, so you’ll spend $60 over 3 years on cheap pairs rather than just $50 on a high-quality pair.

6. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle All Your Things

Now, this is more than just a catch-phrase so people can save the planet- it’s also a way to help you be frugal and spend less on stuff.

What other use can you get out of old stuff? You can upcycle those items and give them new life.

You have stuff that you could donate, and that’s great! But don’t forget to make that spent money work harder for you and go the extra mile.

That old shirt that’s too big? Make it into a pillowcase, a reusable grocery bag, a dog toy, or any number of endless possibilities.

7. Keep Receipts & Actually Make Returns Happen

Whenever you buy items you’ll use, like utensils, clothes, shoes, or whatever else, make sure you keep the receipt.

You don’t need the receipt forever, but it’s important for the next step: return things you don’t need!

You may buy a shirt and realize it’s too small or too big, or you may realize you already own 3 potato mashers and no one needs that many- but you can’t get that money back without a receipt.

We also find that many people regret an impulse buy the next day but don’t return the stuff because they can’t find the receipt or they tossed it.

I suggest using one of these little accordion guys– keep it in your car, and as soon as you sit down, put it in there, so you can always find it later.

8. Start a Money-Making Side Hustle 

Living frugally means understanding the importance of saving money but also understanding that you can only save so much before you cut into your happiness. 

Saving a ton of money is possible with apps like Honey and Capital One Shopping, but making more income can make a bigger impact on your life.

Create a life you love by finding ways to increase your income, and one of the most powerful tools you can use to find side hustles is Steady.

Figure out the skills, experience, and passions you already have and find a way to make money with them.

Here are a few options for side income that we’ve done over the year:

9. Put Savings First- Save For Your Future

Have you heard of the saying “always pay yourself first”? This means that you should put money into your savings/investment accounts before spending your money on other things.

A good habit is to automate your savings. Not only do you want your savings right in your budget every month, but setting them on autopilot makes it easy and effortless.

We use Mint and Empower to manage our money electronically and automate our savings.

10. Pay Off Debts & Avoid Interest

This may be the most important and best frugal living tip for people to change their lives and improve their finances.

Make it a point to tackle any and all debts you’ve got against you BEFORE you get heavy into saving and investing.

The sooner credit card debt or student loan debt are off your shoulders, the sooner you’ll have more cash available to put into savings! 

If you’re currently struggling to get out from under your debts because your income just doesn’t stretch far enough, take a look at this list of side hustle ideas.  

11. Keep Yourself Out Of Debt

Now that you’ve paid down debt, it’s time to keep more from happening!

It’s fine to keep using credit cards, but you need to budget and make sure you have a balance you can easily pay off month to month.

Credit card debt can happen quickly and make it harder to save for your retirement or for a rainy day.

There are plenty of ideas to avoid more credit card debt, and we say to focus on all of the best frugal living tips to naturally start saving plus always make a plan for your money to avoid overspending.

12. Reconsider Your House Purchase 

Homeownership is a big deal and a big cost! You need to think of the best option for you.

Banks will often approve you for a mortgage much higher than you can comfortably handle. A home is the largest purchase in your life and it’s not a liquid asset (meaning you can’t sell quickly).

Purchase a small modest house as your first home that you can easily afford or consider renting a home if it’ll better fit your budget.

A good rule of thumb for knowing how much your mortgage should only cost is 25%-30% of your monthly take-home, which may sway your frugal decision!

13. Make Use Of Everything Until It’s Donzo

reuse plastic utensils

If you want to save money fast, simply don’t spend much money as often or at all. 

Thrifty people have this quirk of using everything to the very last drop.  The more you can use something, the more money you save by not buying it again soon.

If you truly want to start living frugally, get into the routine of using everything until it’s not usable and needs replacing. This includes vehicles, clothing, tools, disposables, machines, appliances, and more.

We save whatever plastic silverware we get from takeout for camping and wash what ones we have so we don’t just toss them after one use.

14. Think About Shopping Using Ultimatums

When you’re going to buy something, think of it in terms like this- can you live without it? Do you really need it right now or have a plan for it?

Going out with friends and being social is one thing- you don’t want to give up on a good time, but buying a new swimsuit for summer or a cute top may not really matter in the grand scheme of your life right now.

Look at what you’re buying, maybe talk a picture, and walk away. You can check it out again a day or two later- but if you forget to, well, then it may not have been so important, right?

15. Be Your Own Handyman

Learning how to repair your own items can save you thousands of dollars every year. You may have some easy-to-fix house problems you could fix yourself!

Maintaining your vehicle is a great example of this.

Learning how to replace your own brakes and complete your own oil changes can save you hundreds of dollars by itself. Add in some drywall repairs, driveway sealing, roof patching, electrical work, and plumbing and you are now a money-saving savage.

The saying “knowledge is power” is so true. Most basic handyman/repair skills can be learned by a simple search on YouTube, Google, or Pinterest.

16. Entertain Yourself More At Home

Someone holding a fire stick enjoying tv entertainment for frugal living

Going out for entertainment is not a bad thing, but doing so in moderation is better for your wallet.

Learn how to stay entertained at your house and spend less cash while still enjoying yourselves.

Buying a device like an Amazon Fire Stick is a great way to stay entertained at home!

Some great at-home entertainment ideas include a campfire, dinner with friends, game night, DIY projects, and movie nights.

Even better why not make some extra money in your spare time? We took our free time and started a money-making blog for fun that turned into profit! 

17. Buy Smart Appliances & Other Items

There are so many gadgets out there that use less energy and make life easier.

We have a few examples to share, but my favorite one is smart bulbs. You can use your phone or Alexa to control when they turn on and off, plus they save you money by using less power.

I love being able to crawl into bed and tell Alexa to turn off all the lights! 

Not only are there smart bulbs, but you can get better washers, dryers, thermostats, and more.

18. Eat Out Less- Become A Good Chef

We honestly don’t eat out much at all. We cook and eat at home and save thousands each year by not doing so. 

Eating out is EXPENSIVE! You may drink water and avoid dessert to save a few bucks, but meal costs add up.

Learn how to cook for yourself and any meal you make could be cheaper- and maybe even better tasing!

There are a plethora of cheap recipe ideas and monthly meal planners to get you started. Your grocery store has so much to offer with premade meals and even just fresh produce and fun sauces.

Start with some basic meals and work your way up- no shame in starting simple. Plus, you can get easy and cheap meal plans from others- try out $5 Meal Plan to see if they make your meals easier.

19. Bring Food On The Go

Whenever you go out with your friends, do you typically go to a restaurant or bar? 

Well, like we said, eating out can be so fun and delicious, but also a money pit!

You can bring your own coffee or own lunch when you’re out on the town or hanging out.

You should make plans to go out and do it potluck style- bring your food with you so you spend less while you’re out.

We recently tried ax-throwing- may I say, wow!- but the cool thing is you can bring food with you to share with friends.

A group near us bought a pizza, but we wound up doing an easy charcuterie board on the go plus some homemade finger sandwiches.

So, you can take a hike, go walking at the park, or make it a beach day- but you can make it cheaper and more frugal by bringing your food with you.

20. Grow Your Own Food

someone holder seedlings for gardening

Now we understand not everyone has a green thumb, but it can be worth it to try and grow your own produce. 

You can grow your own salad greens, spices, and veggies that you’d otherwise buy at the store at a much higher price.

You can buy cheap starter kits, buy plants that have already sprouted, or even use your food scraps to grow new produce.

Some plants like parsley, chives, and simple spices can grow inside well, whereas veggies like carrots and potatoes need a bit more space and sunshine to grow.

21. Visit The Market

If you’re not about the gardening life, we get it. You have local farms and farmers’ markets you can visit to get produce much cheaper than the grocery store.

I went to the local city market last summer and got 12 ears of corn for only $3, whereas our grocery store had 5 ears for $4- what a bargain I can get behind!

You can often skip a grocery store trip if you get fresh produce from a farmer during the spring and summer and freeze it until you need it.

If you haven’t yet, also think about buying a deep freezer. It’s an investment, but it’s one that’ll last you a long time and save your food from being wasted.

22. Don’t Waste Food

On that note, you should find ways to use up everything in your fridge and pantry as much as possible- waste not, want not, am I right? 

You may be throwing out food because you didn’t meal plan or get to it quick enough, and you have to toss it because it gets gross.

That’s just tossing out your hard-earned cash!

Before you think about grocery shopping, use up what you have at home or buy a few things to work with what you have in the pantry.

23. Buy Supplies In Bulk

It may be an upfront investment, but in the long run, buying food and things in bulk can save you money.

You can use shopping apps to price compare, but oftentimes, per unit, you’ll be saving on everything you buy, plus taking fewer trips to the store.

You do have to consider storage ideas for all the food and house stuff you buy, but having a stacked supply for the kids is never a bad thing in our house!

I especially recommend buying meat in bulk- the meat counter can cut the big pieces of meat into whatever cuts you need, and you can freeze and use them as needed.

Plus, we buy things like rice and bread in bulk because we can store rice airtight and freeze bread to keep it all fresh.

24. Set Aside An Emergency Fund

Coins in glass container with EMERGENCY label on wooden surface against white background.Financial concept.Selective focus.

Now you may have a great savings account started, but is it enough to cover some problems you may run into?

One of the most important aspects of personal finance is having your emergency fund set up. This is money reserved and specifically put away for unforeseen expenses such as car repairs, deaths, and surgeries.

The last thing you want to deal with during a crisis is where the money is coming from. Take the stress off an already stressful situation and have your “crunch-time” fund set up.

This will also prevent you from going into debt when something comes up and you don’t have the money to pay for it.

Normally $1,000 set to the side is more than enough for an emergency fund, but everyone’s situation is different.

25. Get A Smart Credit Card

If you are responsible with your money, then using a credit card with great rewards is a no-brainer.

But you’ve got to be wise about your credit cards and pick the one or ones that give you perks when you buy stuff.

The right credit cards can give you travel points, cash back, gift cards, and so much more.

We personally treasure our travel so we use the Capital One Venture travel rewards credit card to earn miles and save up for free vacations, plus we’ve found other ways to travel cheap!

If you are using credit cards it’s always important to keep track of your credit score. So many people over-use their credit cards and accrue debt that drops their scores.

26. Travel Cheap

Again, we don’t want you cutting out fun from your life to save money. Being frugal isn’t about living a shadow of a life and putting off any joy!

We have money saving tips so you can travel cheap and enjoy yourself, including finding cheap places to stay and how to get there for less.

Your budget will affect how often or how far you can travel, but there are many fun staycations you can try too to save money and enjoy time as a family.

27. Buy A Reliable Used Car

This is a very debated topic for some reason- cars are expensive, and not everyone knows how much to spend on a car.

Buying a used car should be your only option when it comes to frugal living.

Cars are a depreciating asset so “investing” in a new one- or even worse financing a vehicle- can kill your financial future.

Use a website like Kelly Blue Book or Edmunds to research, compare, and find the worth of vehicles you’re thinking about. We also use Consumer Reports when purchasing a car.

After completing your research, go on a site like Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace and start a search for what’s available to you right now. 

Buying a reliable car is important in steering clear of large expensive repairs. Brands like Honda and Toyota are rated top-notch when it comes to reliability.

28. Never Gamble Your Money Away

Did you know the average American spends $300 a year playing the lotto? What a waste of money! You have better odds of getting struck by lightning twice in the same day.

Although casinos and playing the lotto can be very enjoyable for the rush of winning it big, it’s not a good thing to get used to doing.

Save your money and put it elsewhere that’s more important in your life. Better yet invest that money. 

29. Declutter Your Home

Less around the house is less to clean and less to deal with.

If you don’t need it anymore, don’t like it, don’t fit it, never use it, etc., send it straight to the donation pile and wish it good riddance!

Better yet, have a garage sale and earn a few extra bucks, that you can put towards paying off those debts or building up your savings.  

We sell our used books, old clothes, even kids’ toys, using websites like Delcuttr to make money and get more space to ourselves.

While you’re on your decluttering mission, make sure your home is super well organized so you can eliminate the risk of buying duplicates because you forgot you had something or, worse, couldn’t find it! 

Frugal Living Frequently Asked Questions

how to rollover 401(k) man putting money into a piggy bank, rows of coins and a clock

How Do I Live a Frugal Lifestyle?

You can start living a frugal life by making more intentional life decisions, being more active in how you buy things. 

Become selective about your spending habits and make sure that your purchases align with your budget goals.

And of course, look up great frugal living tips to get you going!

How Can I Become Very Frugal?

The amount of money you spend should balance out with how long it lasts. 

You can become very frugal by becoming informed of your spending choices and learning to use a budget.

Understand the difference between spending less money and money-making, and make sure that you get good, lasting use out of everything you purchase. 

Is Frugal Being Cheap?

No, most people would say they are two different things.

Cheap is seen as stingy, like it’s spending as little as possible at every turn, even if the item may break or not last long.

Frugal living tips will tell you that spending your money isn’t bad if you buy something that’ll last.

Plus, being frugal doesn’t mean you’re likely to skip out on fun things like dinner with friends or parties!

Those things every now and again won’t break the bank and are important in life, and people that live frugally get that.

Is Being Thrifty Bad?

Being frugal usually is not a bad thing unless you’re allowing it to control all of your spending decisions and you start going into “super cheap” territory.

Saving money is essential, but you’re allowed to buy things you want or that bring you joy!

Don’t worry about splurging on a nice cup of coffee from time to time, just make your own coffee more often and don’t get a coffee every day of the year.

And don’t feel bad about being truly frugal and checking out the goods at thrift stores for hidden treasures.

Final Thoughts: Frugal Living 

family mom cooking

When you save money, you may find yourself hitting a brick wall at times, and we aim to help you surpass them with these frugal living tips.

There are many ways to save money living frugally, without becoming cheap and lowering your quality of life. 

That’s why it’s important to live a frugal life focusing on the quality you receive from your purchases. 

If you have already worked on cutting back your expenses and living on less, it’s a good idea to shift your focus onto making more money

There are plenty of side hustle ideas, legitimate online jobs, and unique ways to make extra money in your life. 

Focus on the skills and passions you already have and learn how to monetize them to create some extra breathing room financially in your life. 

Join the free Steady app to find more money-making opportunities and use Chime to start growing your savings today.

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The Best Time to Buy Appliances On Sale In 2023 https://thesavvycouple.com/best-time-to-buy-appliances/ Tue, 19 Apr 2022 13:33:00 +0000 https://thesavvycouple.com/?p=27551 You need to know the best time to buy appliances this year so you don’t overspend on what you need.

Appliances make life so convenient, and I certainly can’t live without my dishwasher now! But that doesn’t mean I want to spend a fortune getting a new appliance.

We’ve done the research and found out when the best time to buy an appliance is so you can save money.

Armed with this information, you can confidently shop for appliances without feeling like you’re overspending or missing out on a good deal.

Best Time To Buy Appliances

1. Shopping Online

happy woman holding tablet and credit card while shopping online for cash back to keep her christmas on a budget

You can save money if you buy appliances online most months of the year. You can find sales, comparison shop (compare prices without going to several stores!), and more just by checking around your favorite sites.

Using a cash back or rewards app will save even more money, plus you can get alerts on price drops for items you want.

Savvy tip: Don’t forget to add shipping to the final cost when planning to order the appliance online.

2. End Of The Month

The end of the month is one of the best times to go appliance shopping. Most retailers are trying to meet their sale quotas, and they’re willing to offer price reductions and discounts to move inventory.

As a result, shoppers can often find markdowns if they wait until the end of the month to make a large appliance purchase.

3. Buy Floor Models Or Open Box Items

One frugal living tip we love is to save money by buying a floor model or open box item!

These items may have been returned by customers or used for store display purposes. Because they can’t be sold as new, they often offer a good sale and deeply discount the appliances.

You’ll get appliances or other items at lower prices, and everything will still work as expected.

4. Right Before New Models Release

A good rule of thumb is to buy last year’s models right before the new models are released in September, October, November, and December.

Retailers will be looking to clear out inventory to add the new inventory, and you can take advantage of this and save money by negotiating for a lower price.

5. Major Holidays

Experts say the best time to buy home appliances is around major holiday weekends like Memorial Day and Labor Day.

Many retailers give significant discounts on appliance purchases during these times, so you can save a lot of money if you plan your purchase.

6. Back-To-School Time

school supplies

Typically, retailers reduce prices on appliances around back-to-school time to attract shoppers looking for the best discounts.

The Back-to-School sales are an excellent time to buy large appliances, such as refrigerators and washing machines, and smaller items, such as toasters and microwaves.

7. Sales Events

Many stores have a sales event on major appliances several times a year, so it’s worth keeping an eye on the ads to see when the next one is.

Small appliances like blenders, coffee makers, and toasters are also less expensive, but they are a household expense that can add up if you’re buying multiple items.

The best time to buy small appliances is during a room sale. Room sales are typically held once or twice a year, and they offer discounts on all the items in a particular room.

8. Buying Off-Season

Seasonal appliances like air conditioners and gas grills are often heavily discounted during the off-season. The demand is low, and they need to clear out inventory to clear some space for new appliances.

As a result, you can find steep discounts on seasonal items if you’re willing to wait to make your purchase.

Best Months For Buying Appliances

If you want to get the best savings possible, buying an appliance depends on several factors.

The type of appliance you’re looking for and when retailers are running significant discounts are the main factors- besides how soon you need your appliance in the door!

Let’s talk about the best months to buy different appliances to get savings on whatever you need year-round.

Savvy Tip: Don’t spend money on an appliance if you don’t need it right now. Stores offer discounts throughout the year!

January

january snow winter shopping

January is when you may be able to get a major appliance at a lower price. Many stores offer clearance sales on items that have been in stock for a while, so you don’t have to pay full price.

Manufacturers roll back prices on brands like Maytag, Frigidaire, and Whirlpool in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day at stores like Lowe’s and Home Depot.

February

The appliances you want to be on the lookout for during February are refrigerators, washing machines, and smaller kitchen appliances like blenders and air fryers.

Many stores offer significant discounts on large appliances during the long President’s Day weekend, making it an ideal time to upgrade!

Brands like Samsung, Whirlpool, Bosch, KitchenAid, and Kenmore are usually marked way down during the Presidents Day weekend.

March

March is the month to buy a new small appliance, like a vacuum or carpet shampooer. Look for deals on brands like Dyson, Shark, and iRobot.

Also, keep an eye out for discounts on washers and dryers. Many stores offer discounts on these large appliances during the spring cleaning events.

April

April is not the month to buy appliances for the kitchen! There will be plenty of chances to save money on those around Memorial Day. Instead, keep focusing on other select appliances like vacuums.

You can find discounts on vacuums during the April sale events. Look for big discounts on vacuums and other cleaning appliances in anticipation of spring cleaning.

May

open washing machine with towels hanging out

May is a great time to buy just about any appliance you need for your home. This is because many retailers offer Memorial Day discounts. Be prepared for the weekend rush and shop early for the best selection.

Look for discounts on big-ticket items like refrigerators, stoves, dryers, and dishwashers. You can also find select appliances like vacuums, air conditioners, and dehumidifiers on sale.

May is also Maytag month! You can expect to find incredible discounts on all Maytag appliances during May.

June

Many people start thinking about grilling- which means the demand for grills goes up, and so will the prices!

If you’re in the market for a new grill and looking for price markdowns, June is probably not the best time to buy a new grill!

You might be able to find a few retailers with some decent prices, but it’s more likely that you’ll find better prices for things like a grill or air conditioner when the temperatures are cooling down.

July

As the Fourth of July approaches, retailers start rolling out their summer savings events. You can find significant markdowns on grills, dishwashers, and other items.

Back to College sales usually start near the end of July. Some stores reduce the prices. You may be able to find some good savings on blenders, microwaves, and toasters.

Another event is Amazon Prime Day! Amazon Prime Day has good prices on just about anything. Combine the discounts on small appliances like the Instant Pot or KitchenAid mixer with Amazon hacks to save even more money.

August

Most stores start clearing out their inventory in August to clear space for the new versions released in September, October, November, and December.

Some colleges also start in mid-August, and college students will be moving in. Look for Back to College sales with discounts on microwaves, toasters, and coffee makers.

September

grillling

Summer is winding down, the kids are headed back to school, and Labor Day sales will be starting!

Many people begin to think about home projects they want to complete before the winter months. Home improvement stores respond by offering huge discounts!

The best deals, however, will be on gas grills. A lot of stores offer significant discounts on gas grills during the holiday weekend.

October

During the Columbus Day sale events, you can often find good deals on last year’s washers, dryers, and dishwashers. You can also find good deals on small appliances like vacuums and air conditioners.

Manufacturers unveil new models of appliances in October. Newer versions will have a higher price, but the older models will be discounted. I

Many stores also start running holiday savings in October. Good deals on things like slow cookers and stand mixers usually can be found.

November

Most stores offer Black Friday discounts on various appliances like air fryers, electric pressure cookers, and toasters can also be found.

Cyber Monday is also a great time to find deals on appliances. You can often find deals by shopping for the identical item online.

Brands are still releasing new models of their appliances, and stores want to eliminate the excess inventory of the older models to make the space for the latest models, so you’ll find some great markdowns off the original price to help you save money in November!

December

Appliance discounts slow down during the holiday season as people focus on buying gifts for their loved ones. However, you can still find great deals if you know where to look.

Some stores offer 12 Days of Christmas events with discounts on a different item each day. Others have end-of-year clearance with markdowns on all appliances, regardless of their type.

Key Takeaways

how much should i save each month Savings concept. Hands holding piggy bank and pile of coins, close up

Major appliances are a significant purchase for most people, so it’s essential to find a good sale to get the best price possible.

You can budget for these expenses and use cash back apps to save more money, but finding the right sale time is a big money saver.

The good news is that there are a few times of the year when appliance prices are at their lowest. You don’t have to wait for just one best time to buy appliances!

Some of the best times to buy appliances for the best deal include August for extra clearance days, September and October for those great long-weekend sales, and November for Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and some deals all the week of Thanksgiving.

So plan your purchases wisely and spend less all year on what you need!

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