I don't know about you, but for me, I'm always trying to find ways to save a dollar or earn a dollar. With a family as large as ours it can be challenging at times. Over the years I've learned to become better at this skill and utilize as many resources as possible. I've done everything from surveys to secret shopper and to be honest, these things just didn't work out for me. What has worked are the five things I'm going to show you below.
Keep in mind, these are not ways to supplement an income.
Just some simple, effortless tips on how to make a little extra cash OVERTIME from doing you're everyday shopping. The keyword here is overtime. Ultimately how much you earn depends on your shopping or spending habits. You'd be surprised how fast things add up, especially when you're not keeping track. The list below contains apps that I personally use, along with some other strategies that work and can really help you earn some extra cash or gift cards.
1.Ibotta
One quick and easy way to make a few extra dollars is by using the Ibotta app on your phone. This application works by selecting products from a list of things you already plan on buying. Each item has a cashback reward. When you buy those particular items, you scan your receipt and get cash added to your account instantly. The items can be worth as little as a few cents up to dollar amounts. They also run specials on certain purchases where you can earn more! And...... if you refer your friends you can earn additional points.
I was a little skeptical about it at first but when my friend sent me a picture of her earnings I was blown away. She had earned over $100 from this app. It really does work!
I know the amount shown may not look like much money but it was free and there was little work on my part. I earned this over a period of six months and I didn't scan every receipt. When you need to scan your receipt you just open the app and press scan and it takes a picture of your receipt. Once you reach $20 you can request a withdrawal or you can keep saving until you reach an amount that is desirable for you. Consistency is the key! Sometimes I forget to browse the eligible items before I go grocery shopping so I'm sure that has affected my potential earnings. Download this free app and start earning some extra cash!!!
2.Rakuten
You may already be familiar with this website. It was once known as Ebates but is now Rakuten. If you enjoy shopping online you can utilize this site to help you gain a small percentage of cashback by purchasing items from companies such as Nike, Game Stop, Best Buy, Kohl's, The Children's Place, and many more. There's no extra work on your part. No scanning receipts. All you have to do is sign up for an account and then purchase products from companies through their website. Easy Peasy. Another great feature is that you can earn $25 for referring a friend.
3. DISCOVER BANK
Like many banks, Discover Bank offers debit card that gives you cash back on purchases. You can earn 1% cash back for every purchase you make up to $3,000 a month. 1% doesn't sound like much but when you're using it for purchases that you already make each month it can add up fast. The good thing about this bank is that you don't have to have great credit to open an account. It's actually a perfect starter card for anyone trying to build or repair their credit. Discover also has a ZERO dollar monthly maintenance fee. Sign up for an account and use your card to purchase groceries, gas, etc, and see the rewards grow!
4.Fetch
This phone app is similar to the Ibotta app above. Fetch Rewards is another Scan Your Receipt App that allows you to collect points from your purchases. The points can then be used to purchase a gift card from selected retailers or if you're feeling generous you can donate your earnings to a charity.
3,000 pt gets you a $3 gift card.
5,000 pts = $5
10,000 pts = $10
25,000 pts = $25
50,000 pts = $50
Like I said above, Consistently is the key. If you make it a habit to scan all of your receipts after purchases you will have a nice chunk of extra change. You can then use that to buy gift cards for friends or family members when the holidays roll around. Oh! AND if you sign up using my referral code not only will you help me earn extra points you will also gain 2,000 of your own points to start off with, AFTER you scan your first receipt.
5. Bank Rewards Programs
Another thing you can do is check to see if your bank uses a rewards program for debit purchases. Every month I earn points from my debit card purchases and once I get a minimum of 100 points I'm able to redeem those points to use in the companies rewards catalog. Their catalog also has $25 gift cards when you earn 350 points. !!! I'm not too fond of some of the items in the catalog but I sure do enjoy a free gift card. They make great gifts for friends and family.
So there you have it! Five legit ways to earn some extra cash or gift cards from simply shopping. The key to all of these methods is to buy things that you need every month and earn the rewards or cash from the items you would have bought anyway. Thanks for reading, now go earn some extra cash!
