Frugal Shopping Made Easy with These Must-Have Cashback Apps
Trust me, these are actually worth it!
With the back-to-school season upon us and the holidays just around the corner, many of us moms are feeling the pressure to stretch our budgets. Inflation and economic uncertainty only add to the challenge these past couple of years!
But don't worry; there are ways to be savvy with your spending and still provide everything your family needs. After searching high and low on how to save on all of the essentials (and gifts during the holidays!), one of the best strategies I have found is to use cashback and savings apps.
In this post, we'll review three fantastic apps that we personally use and have seen great success with! Because here is the thing: I am not about to have you waste more of your time on things that are just not worth it! There are plenty out there that are not, but I can say these three are amazing! They have helped us save money on school supplies, groceries, and holiday shopping!
Plus, I am including some timeless, frugal tips from our grandparents to help you get the most out of every dollar.
RAKUTEN — Your Cash-back BFF
Rakuten is a fantastic cashback app that earns you money back on purchases from thousands of retailers. Whether you're shopping for school supplies, clothes, or groceries, Rakuten partners with popular stores like Walmart, Target, and Old Navy to give you a percentage of your purchase back in cash.
How it works:
Sign Up for Free here: Create an account on Rakuten’s website or download the app.
Shop Through Rakuten: Use the Rakuten portal to shop at your favorite stores.
Earn Cashback: Get a percentage of your purchase amount back in your Rakuten account.
Receive Payment: Cash out via PayPal or receive a check in the mail.
My Experience:
I will admit I heard about this and signed up, but I never used it. I finally decided it was worth giving it a try this past year, and I am so glad I did! For back-to-school shopping, I used Rakuten to buy school supplies and clothes, earning cashback that I later used for grocery shopping. Over a few months, the cashback accumulated should be enough to help with holiday shopping, giving our budget a nice boost. So, if you are like me and have heard about this app and then never used it, trust me, just go set up the account and give it a try…you won’t be disappointed!
And…speaking of boost, Rakuten does these cash boosts too! With Old Navy this year I got more than 20 dollars back on just one purchase! If you sign up now with my link you will get a 10% cash-back boost on most retailers! Who doesn't need more cash in their pockets right now!?
BONUS: Download the Rakuten Chrome Extension so that each time you go to shop on a website, it automatically pops up and tells you how much you can get back this month! It is such a perfect extension to use because you know how mom brain is! We can easily forget to go through Rakuten and then go to the website we want to shop at, but this makes it super easy to NEVER miss out on savings and cash-back!
FLIPP — Your Digital Flyer
Photo Credit: Flipp Website
Flipp is an excellent app for comparing prices and finding the best deals on groceries and household items. It aggregates flyers from various stores, so you can quickly see where the best deals are.
How it works:
Download the App: Available on iOS and Android; you can also just view ads on their website
Browse Flyers: Look through weekly ads from your favorite stores.
Create Shopping Lists: Add items to your list, and Flipp will show you where to find the best prices.
Price Match: Use the app to price match at stores that offer this feature.
My Experience:
Flipp has been a game-changer for grocery shopping. By comparing prices and price matching, I've saved a significant amount each month. I am not a big fan of running around to a 100 different stores, I am guessing you aren't either, to save on our items. This saves time (and obviously money) by showing you where to get what you need.
FETCH — Your Receipt Scanner
Fetch is an easy-to-use app that rewards you for scanning your receipts. Simply snap a picture of your receipt, and Fetch gives you points that can be redeemed for gift cards.
How it works:
Download the App: Available on iOS and Android. USE MY CODE FOR EXTRA POINTS: YBT71R
Scan Receipts: Take a picture of your receipts from any store.
Earn Points: Receive points for every receipt scanned.
Redeem Rewards: Exchange points for gift cards to your favorite stores.
My Experience:
I’ve been using Fetch to scan all my grocery, school supplies, and household item receipts from everyday places like Target, Walmart, and Dollar Store (you name it, I have scanned it!). The points add up quickly; I’ve already earned a few gift cards! It’s a simple way to get rewarded for purchases you’re already making, so it is really a no-brainer to download and start using it!
Bonus: You can connect Fetch to your Amazon account, and it will scan your digital receipts and give you points back for your Amazon purchases! I don't know a mom who doesn't use Amazon these days, so this alone is worth racking up those points!
SCAN THE QR CODE TO DOWNLOAD
Enter the code YBT71R and scan your first reciept to get 1000 points (approximately $1.00 in value!)
When you see those points load, you will be excited and never forget to scan your reciepts going forward! =)
Timeless Frugal Tips from Our Grandparents
Buy in Bulk
Purchasing items in bulk, especially non-perishables can save money in the long run. We love Costco for our everyday items we use from meats to pantry, it saves us a lot and we can do a stock up 1-2x a month without having to go to a bunch of places which saves time, and gas money!
Use What You Have
Before buying new items, check your home for supplies you already have. This applies to food, clothing, and school supplies. I recently thought I needed to buy a new household cleaner when I searched through our cabinet and saw I had one already stocked in the back! It is easy to forget we have already purchased things, so always do a quick look around. You might surprise yourself, too!
DIY When Possible
From homemade cleaning products to simple home repairs, doing it yourself can save a lot of money. There are countless tutorials online to help you get started. We love making a lot of our own cleaners using a base concentrate, then adding vinegar for a window spray or changing up the scent for the seasons!
Embrace Hand-Me-Downs
Clothes, toys, and books can be passed down between siblings or friends. Always be sure to check out places like Facebook Marketplace (okay, so that is more modern than out grandparents had, but you better bet your bottom dollar that grandma would be stalking that place out if she was still around!) or your local consignment and thrift shops. Be on the lookout for neighborhood garage sales, too! It’s a sustainable way to save money and reduce waste. BONUS: Sell your old clothing at consignment shops. Most places give you cash the day of, too!
Plan and Budget
Creating a budget and planning your purchases can prevent overspending. Track your expenses and see where you might need to pull back or where you might want (or need) to save for extra money. With prices constantly changing in our current economy, we must always revise and see where we can save and cut out so we are getting the most for our hard-earned money!
By incorporating these apps and tips into your routine, you can maximize your spending, especially during challenging economic times. Happy saving!