Money saving tips: How I make my phone work for me ~ Shrink

Shrink is another grocery app I have on my phone. 

There is a variety of products offered for receiving either points or cash back.  

Points can be accumulated redeemed for rebate offers. 

Money Saving Tips: Making my phone work for me ~ Retail Me Not

I recently reloaded this app on my phone. 

I have been pleasantly suprised and pleased. 

I have received alerts for great offers that have been perfectly timed for that moment. 

Been blessed beyond measure and said, "Thank you God for this added blessing!" 

The first was a suprise alert that I could receive cash back for purchasing a drink at Starbucks.  

I combined this offer with another offer on my phone and used my free gift cards to score a special treat for myself at a significant savings.  

Money Saving Tips: Making my phone work for me ~Receipt Hog

RECEIPT HOG!  Another free app I have on my phone.  

Load your receipts and earn points or spins.  

Spins may or may not earn you more points.  

Points can be redeemed for Amazon gift cards or Paypal deposit.

No special purchases.  Just do what you normally do and load your receipt through the camera on your phone.  

Money Saving Tips: Making my phone work for me ~ Checkout 51

Checkout 51 was one of the first 3 apps I started out with.  (Ibotta and Snap by Groupon were the other two.)  

I still faithfully use Checkout 51.  The frequency varies depending on sales and coupons. Not every app will offer rebates that fit normal purchasing patterns.  Sometimes, the deals while the rebate runs are just not that great.  What keeps me looking up the offers is the weekly "pick your own offer."  I love the produce options each week.  I get to pick one item that often pairs up with a sale or sometimes can be used in combination with an offer in another app.  My household goes through produce like crazy.  Coupons can be a rarity for produce so I love every chance to save here.  Each quarter dropped in the bucket adds up.  Believe it or not, at the end of the month, if I add up all my rebates submitted my total is enough to keep me going.  

This past week's "pick your own offer": 

Money Saving Tips: Making my phone work for me ~ Shopmium

The first time I tried Shopmium I received the most delightful suprise.  I didn't have to wait till I reached a minimum for cash back to happen.  My rebates were deposited immediately into my PayPal account!  Guaranteed it wasn't a huge amount.  It didn't matter, I am not in this to become a millionaire.  Just to create some breathing room in my budget.  To add a little to my savings.  To quote my dad, every pound starts with an ounce and every dollar starts with a penny.  It is a little thing to scan a barcode and/or photograph a receipt.  Over the months, I have redeemed offers for crayons, mints, juices, coconut water and frozen pre-cooked chicken and more.  Pair any of these rebates up with coupons and other app deals and the budget stretches.  I paired the crayon offer with back to school sales and scored some free crayons! 

Shopmium does have a referral program.  If you download the app, open it up to register and use my code when you register (pictured below in the screen shot:  KUKCUUFW), I will earn $2 for the referral and you will receive an offer for a FREE Lindt Chocolate bar.  

Money Saving Tips: Making My Phone work for me ~ Saving Star

Saving Star is another one of my favorite apps. 

You are able to link selected loyalty cards to the app.  

If you open up the app and have the register scan the bar code in the Saving Star app you will then receive your offers this way.  

But have no fear,  If your favorite starts are not in the "selected" grouping of loyalty cards to link up not all is lost.  Saving Star still recognizes a wide variety of stores in offering savings.  

I have only used Saving Star for redeeming their grocery offers.  (They do have online shopping offers.  I have yet to explore this option.)  Saving Star offers a lot of offers that combine very well with the latest coupons that are released in the Sunday paper.  They do have a disclaimer in their "fine print" that this may change at some point, but for now it is possible to coupon paper coupons with their offers.   In addition, they offer an occasional limited time only "freebie."  They have a new "Healthy Offer"  every Tuesday and seems to be normally about 20% back on some type of produce item.  Currently it is on apples.  

The redemption process is pretty simple.  Purchase the item, submit the receipt or use the loyalty link bar card and receive the full purchase price back!  When submitting receipts for the offers, items have to be scanned with some exceptions like produce and the receipt is also photographed using the phone.  It is possible to verify a product's eligibility before purchasing and I strongly recommend doing this when time and data allows you to do so.  A few times, I have grabbed the wrong thing and been a little disappointed once home.  

Once you have redeemed  and have $5 in your Saving Star account you can request a payout.  Payouts can be made to a bank account, PayPal account, UPromise account, Starbucks gift code, iTunes gift code or AMC theaters gift code.  

Redemption seems to happen fairly quickly with transactions on linked cards.  Filing via a receipt and scanning bar codes seems to take quite a bit longer than it did initially.  Partly, I believe due to growing pains and keeping up with the number of people taking advantage of the savings.  I haven't had an issue yet and it has been so far so good.  

The app works for Iphones and Androids. 

Money Saving Tips: Making my phone work for me ~ ibotta

Ibotta was my first money saving/rebate app I tried.

It has a wide variety of shopping options.
Clothing, Groceries, Sporting Goods, Restaurants, Gifts, etc.

I primarily use the grocery offerings.  However, I have taken advantage of the other offerings periodically.  Especially during holiday shopping and back to school.

I try to "unlock" rebate offers while at home and my phone is on wi-fi.  I don't sweat it too much if I am out and need to "unlock" one for that trip because I do try to do as many as possible when at home.  Unlocking offers is as simple as clicking on the offer or letting it play a 15 sec. video, or answering a question.  It just depends.

While in the store, I have learned to use the "check product's barcode."  This will do 2 things.  It will let you know that you are selecting the correct item for earning the rebate. A few times, I tried to redeem at home and released I grabbed the wrong variety or size. It also, marks it as "bought".  After you have shopped and purchased your items, you will have to scan/photograph your receipt with your phone.  You will also have to scan bar codes for some items.  If this is already done in store, you need to only make sure each item is selected before continuing on with the submission.

The best part about Ibotta are the offerings of "any brand" items.  Dairy products including milk, cheese, eggs, yogurt.  Bread.  Produce.  Meat.  Standard dry goods: pasta, sauce, etc.  Occassionally if you purchase a branded item that has a rebate being offered and there is an any brand offering, you will be rewarded both.  My favorite example is Ragu sauce and any brand pasta sauce!

Bonuses are offered each month.   Some bonuses are for the number of times you redeem a specific rebate.  Additional savings above and beyond!  There are team bonuses as well.  Your team is based on whether you link your Ibotta account with Facebook and if you have any friend on Facebook using Ibotta or referrals. Bonuses are awarded based on the number of redemptions and/or the dollar amount earned in redemptions.  Depending on how active you and/or your team are in redeeming offerings, these bonuses can quickly add up.

Even better, Ibotta rebates are based on the actual purchase of the item. Presently, it is possible to purchase the item with the use of manufacturer deals/coupons and still receive the rebate.  So it is just another way to maximize savings.

Please consider using my referral links (through out this posting) and here.
Ibotta's referral program :  Get $5 when you invite friends using your referral code!  Each person who signs up and redeems their first rebate will get $10, and you'll get $5.

The app is free.
Earnings can be deposited into Paypal or Venmo or redeemed as gift cards.
There is a minimum $20 for deposits and a $25 minimum for gift cards.
Again, the great part is there is a tremendous flexibility in what you do with your earnings.

Happy Saving!

108 days till Christmas!!

Yep!  I am already thinking about Christmas.
108 days, just over 3 months. That isn't very many paydays between now and then!
Between now and then we also have 2 kid birthdays and who knows how many "extra" birthdays...

Sticking to a budget and keeping things affordable sometimes means anticipating the future.
There are a whole lot of great deals happening these days.

So these are some things that are happening and I am considering in anticipation of Christmas.

This past weekend, our local grocery store, Dillons was offering quadruple fuel points on gift cards.
This can be a huge savings.  If your gift card purchase is $250, that is equal to 1,000 fuel points and that translates to $1.00 off a gallon of gas up to 35 gallons.  A savings of $35.  (Or think of it as some "free" Christmas presents bought!)

This isn't a great deal if you have to charge your gift cards to a credit card and pay interest.
However,  if you have some wiggle room in the budget and can stock up on some gift cards for future purchases it was a great time to do so.  Whenever, Dillons offer quadruple points I evaluate our calendar.  Birthdays that are coming up, crazy schedules that may require eating out, Christmas, etc.  If there is nothing in these categories, I just evaluate where I will be shopping for normal everyday stuff.  If I am going to spend the money, anyhow, it doesn't matter if it is cash, debit card or gift card and I might as well maximize the buying power of my dollar.

There are Kohl's cash events, Old Navy Super Cash events and countless other rewards and savings opportunities.  An app called Find and Save is offering all sorts of cash back opportunities that match up with some of these sale events.  To redeem some of these offers is as simple as just taking a picture of your receipt with your phone and submitting!  It is quickly becoming ONE of my favorite apps to use for in-store shopping! While there is always a sale happening, some happen to be better deals at certain times of the year. I love to layer the savings with in-store deals, coupons, rebates and gift cards/fuel points.  

So I have been challenging my kids to think ahead.  I have asked them to not share with me the things they kinda like, but the things that they "love."  Share with me the things that make each of them smile.  Point out needs.  Let me know which wants would truly be a blessing and bring a smile to your face and heart and get used.  So we have been hitting the stores a little bit more.  Collecting ideas.  Smart phones are great for taking pictures of items with prices for future reference.  Or taking "notes" on the app provided.  I have been utitilizing rewards and rebates to put aside what I can as I am able.

Something I figured out years ago, is this is the perfect time to start collecting various snacks and treats for stockings.  Gum and candy sales, hair accessories, art supplies.  Between coupons, back to school and the start of Halloween candy deals/coupons lots of these items can be tucked away for a much lower cost.

Unfortunately, I can't share all my great finds... my kids KNOW about this blog and well, I think they would ruin some of their suprises.  Sometimes, especially the teenagers, they already know I have put something aside because they picked it out.  Other times, I am able to score the deal without them ever knowing!!  And that is just whip cream and a cherry on the top knowing how suprised they will be!

What are some of the ways you save and anticipate for Christmas and other special occassions?

Things I am learning:

Psalm 146:3-5
Do not trust in princes,
In mortal man, in whom there is no salvation.
His spirit departs, he returns to the earth;
In that very day his thoughts perish.
How blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
Whose hope is in the Lord his God,

On my phone I scheduled these reminders:

• "Don't put trust in mortals, in them there is no salvation"
• "Happy are those whose help is God"
• "Whose hope is in the Lord" PS146:5

Walmart Savings!

Did you know that Walmart Price Matches?

I did.

But did you know that Walmart Price Matches produce in the grocery department?!?

I do now.
The last several weeks life has been hectic and my normal schedule has been disrupted and going to the military commissary has not been a feasible option.  It is a 20 minute drive for us one way and is something I tend to tack onto a day with appointments closer to the base.  While 20 minutes doesn't seem that long to some, it is a chunk of time and when life is full 40 minutes for a round trip doesn't work well, especially when there are 6 Dillons and Walmarts all within 10 minutes of your home and one of those surely aligns with one of the many routes taken throughout the week.

So this past month I have been taking in the Aldi's and Dillon's ad into Wal-mart and learning the ropes of price matching produce and pairing up with the rebates on my phone apps.  Life is changing and this option is so encouraging in this season of so much change and busy-ness.  To be able to stay closer to home and shop and save money is a luxury I could not imagine but my Heavenly Father knew and is teaching me.  I am so grateful for all the ways He shows me in my quest to be a good steward of the funds He provides my family.

The produce has to be packaged similarly and similar in type.  Red grapes - Red grapes.  4 pack corn cob in packaging, has to be pre-packed, can't be in the shuck yourself bin.  Red delicious apples - Red delicious apples and so forth.  Mango-Mango.  Oh what fun it can be!  Turned into a treasure hunt of matching up and comparing the price, because the store ads don't always show the same items.  My kids are super motivated because they are all big produce eaters.  I think it is their favorite aisle, maybe second only to the meat department or the ice cream freezer section.

My other discovery has been the Wal-mart app for my phone.  There is a tab within the app called "savings catcher".  I just scan the code at the bottom of my receipt and within a few days I find out if there were better prices elsewhere.  Walmart actually scans and compares for me.  If there was a better price, I am "refunded" the difference.  I can load the difference onto a gift card to use.  So when life gets hectic, I don't have to franticly worry about chasing the best deal down all over town.  Price Matching and Savings Catcher is helping me save, save and stay in budget.

Favorite Money Saving/Earning Apps

I have been learning how to make my Smart Phone earn its place in my life!

     Ibotta ~ a rebate app.  Shop as you normally do, submit a picture of your receipt, confirm purchase of items by sometimes scanning the barcode.  I have earned rebates on greeting cards, Christmas presents, groceries and clothing.  It is a great way to replenish the grocery budget.  Plus there are bonuses that can be earned and each month, I use my bonuses to add to my emergency fund!  **

Checkout51 ~ a rebate app.  Shop for your groceries as you normally do, confirm your purchases to earn.  

Snap ~ a rebate app.  Shop as you normally do, confirm your purchases to earn.  **

 Saving Star ~ a coupon app

Cartwheel ~ load discounts to be used in Target stores. 

 Starbucks ~ I load my gift cards on to make paying easier.  The BEST part is earning the stars per drink.  12 stars and I get a free drink!  Yum!  Plus, if I buy when they are offering promos, I may earn extra stars per drink.  Just one way I splurge and save in the process.  

  Shop and earn.  Complete special activities and earn, I won't be a millionaire at the end of the year, but little steps through out the year and I earn enough to put some breathing room in the budget. **

  I scan my receipts.  The savings catcher checks to see if there is a better deal elsewhere and pays me the difference!  

SHOPKICK   Earn for shopping as usual.  In my first month, I earned 3 gift cards!!  I am not sure if that will be the norm for me, but was exciting nonetheless! **

 ~ rebate app.  Would you like to receive a Lindt chocolate bar… for FREE?!? Just download Shopmium on your iPhone or Android and sign up with my referral code KUKCUUFW **

 Shrink ~ a rebate app.  Earn money and/or points.  **

 Great app for price comparison and looking up the area ads.  Opportunities to earn money as well.  Recently there were rebate/cash back offers made available for buying hot dogs, and another for purchasing a dozen eggs.  

Load receipts and earn points that can be redeemed for cash/gift cards.  Plus, if you use this referral code, we’ll both get extra spins at the Hog Slots when you submit your first receipt: tud99013  **


Onavo extend  An app that helps maximize the amount of data I have each month.  With all this shopping and saving, it helps to keep me on track with my data usage.

My data manager  Another app that helps me keep track of data usage.


** If you feel inclined, please sign up through my links.  I receive referral incentives for sharing the news.  **