Category: b2c

How to get paid to play games: Money-making apps for techies

Posted on by shopkick

I’ve been playing games since I was just a little guy. My first home game console was the original Nintendo Entertainment System (yeah, that’s how old I am), and from there I graduated onto bigger and better things like the Super Nintendo, the Nintendo 64, the Sony PlayStation, and so on right up to modern day. I guess you could say I’m a gamer.

Recently, though, I’ve actually figured out how to get paid to play games through money-making apps for techies. These are apps that you can use to get that old gaming challenge, while also earning money, money that you can spend on even more games!

Anyway, that’s what I’d like to talk about today: how to get paid to play games with money-making apps for techies. There are a few different ways to do this, but for our purposes, I’m going to focus on the one I’ve found most useful, before giving you advice about my favorite.

Get Paid to Play Games with Shopping Apps

ways to get paid to play gamesAs any experienced gamer will tell you, the key to beating any game is to stick with it. It’s the same thing for apps that let you get paid to play games. You don’t want apps that feel short-term or like a fad, especially not if you’re a techie like me and you pride yourself on staying up on all the modern techie trends. Because of that, I tend to get tired of certain apps quickly.

That’s why I think the best way to get paid to play games is to find an app that pays you to go shopping. Let’s face it, no matter how much we may dislike shopping, we all have to do it. That’s why the ideal money-making app for techies, in my opinion, is one that turns shopping into a game you actually want to play!

How Shopping Apps Work

Now that we’ve determined the best way to get paid to play games is through apps that turn shopping into a challenge to find savings, it’s time to talk about how these apps work. The good news is that my personal favorites are perfect for techies, of course, but they also have a pretty simple step-by-step process that non-techies can figure out quickly as well:

  • Earn points just by walking into a participating store
  • Purchase certain items, use the app to take a picture of your receipt, and get even more points.
  • Trade those points in for gift cards to your favorite stores.
  • Savor the savings.

Before you know it, all your shopping turns into a hunt for the biggest savings. Anyway, this next part is probably more crucial for techies, but the best shopping apps you can use to get paid to play games also let you earn rewards while shopping online. The differences between how these apps work for online shopping versus in-person shopping is pretty small, though. Here’s how using one of these shopping apps online works:

  • Visit an online store and get points
  • View select products and get more points
  • Make mobile purchases and get even more points
  • Watch videos and score points yet again
  • Trade those points in for gift cards to some of your favorite stores
  • Savor the savings

The Best Shopping App You Can Use to Get Paid to Play Games

Of all of the shopping apps out there, my personal favorite is Shopkick. That’s because it has more ways to score points than most of the other apps I’ve tried, and it has the most fun social media channels, too, which as any techie will tell you is super important when it comes to staying engaged. It’s a guilty pleasure, but I actually have a ton of fun looking at Shopkick’s goofy Facebook posts. Oh, and I should note that Shopkick is available for both Android and iPhone too, so you can get in on the action regardless of your device’s operating system.

Shopkick gives you points for all the usual shopping things you do: walking into the store, going down aisles browsing products, and making purchases. There are other ways to use it to make money, too. In fact, there are tons of ways that Shopkick users can earn rewards right from the app without even physically going anywhere. These include kicks for watching videos and instant surprise kicks from going on Easter egg hunts in the app. Users can also get amazing deals where you can earn big points and rewards by shopping at stores like Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy, which is my personal favorite.

I know it’s a little unconventional, but I really do think the best method for how to get paid to play games is by using Shopkick, my personal favorite money-making app for techies. Like I said, it turns every trip to the store into a fun hunt for points. In fact, I like it so much that I’ve started to kind of look forward to my shopping trips—just a little bit.

The best part is trading in your Shopkick points for gift cards to your favorite stores, which for me usually means anywhere that sells all the latest and greatest technology.

The best part is trading in your Shopkick points for gift cards to your favorite stores, which for me usually means anywhere that sells all the latest and greatest technology. I know, I know, I probably spend a little too much time staying up to date with modern technology, but hey, it’s fun!

Ready to start having fun by getting paid to play games with a great money-making app for techies? Download Shopkick for free and join a community of loyal Shopkickers who’ve already discovered how rewarding—and fun—shopping can be!

And, if you love using your smartphone to stay up on social media, join us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for daily shopping inspiration.

Image courtesy artiemedvedev

3 money-stretching apps that give cash back

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One of the greatest feelings that you can feel happened to me yesterday: I put on a pair of jeans that I hadn’t worn in a long while and I found $20! I squealed so loud that my boys actually put down the video games they were playing in the other room to ask me what happened. After I told them, they asked if they could use the money to go get a new game from Redbox, but that’s beside the point. What I’d like to talk about today are money-stretching apps that give cash back, recreating this wonderful experience of finding money over again.

There really is nothing like finding money when you least expect it, and with the three apps on today’s list, you can get that feeling all the time. They’re all fairly different in nature. However, the one thing these all have in common is that they give you cash back for things you already do on the regular basis. Much like finding some cash in an old pair of pants, you don’t have to go out of your way to boost your budget with these!

I like some more than others, as you’ll see below, but I definitely recommend using them all, integrating them with your normal routines. That way the money will start to roll in without you even thinking about it. Jumping up and squealing like I did when I found that $20 is, of course, totally optional!

Apps That Give Cash Back No. 1: Walmart Savings Catcher App

The Walmart Savings Catcher App is a pretty great way to make sure you get the best possible price that you can when you shop at Walmart. Let’s face it, there are just some things that will be cheaper at Walmart, so if you’re anything like me, you find yourself there often. Once you get there, this app is easy to use. All you have to do is scan your receipt after you check out.

Then when you’re all finished, the app automatically checks the prices you paid against the prices that are currently being offered by other stores in the area. If there’s a case where you could have gotten a lower price somewhere else, Walmart gives you back that difference. Awesome, especially when you use it to shop for groceries!

Apps That Give Cash Back No. 2: App Trailers

3 apps that give cash back

App Trailers is free and fun. It’s also an app my boys and I enjoy together because it pays you to watch videos. I like it a lot, too, mostly because many of these videos are about something that’s very near and dear to my boys’ little hearts: video games. 

Now, normally when they watch videos about video games with me, they’re calling me over from whatever thing around the house I’m busy with. App Trailers is a game changer because now I get paid for those interruptions. We’ve watched videos about games from EA, Rovio (which makes Angry Birds), and plenty of other companies that my guys know far more about than I do. The more videos you watch, the more points you earn. You can eventually trade those points in and get paid via PayPal or in Amazon gift cards.  

Apps That Give Cash Back No. 3: Shopkick

I’ve saved my favorite of these apps that give cash back for last. It’s actually called Shopkick, and how it works is that it gives you money for an activity you do all the time, anyway: shopping. Yes, what Shopkick does is give you points for the things you do while you’re out shopping, things that range from simply walking into the store to going down aisles browsing products, and making purchases. I can then trade those points in for gift cards to all my favorite stores, which are as good as cash!

Another thing that I absolutely love about Shopkick is that it’s not just limited to in-person shopping at brick-and-mortar stores. There are tons of ways that Shopkickers can earn rewards right from the app—no need to go anywhere. These include kicks for watching videos and instant surprise kicks from going on Easter egg hunts in the app. Users can also get amazing deals where you can earn big points and rewards by shopping on your phone at stores like Amazon, Walmart, and more!

Another thing that I absolutely love about Shopkick is that it’s not just limited to in-person shopping at brick-and-mortar stores.

To be honest, these apps have all become such a regular part of my budget and my routine, that I don’t even remember how I used to get by without them. I recommend them all.

As I said above though, the one I like the most is Shopkick. With three growing boys at home, I find myself out shopping all the time. Luckily with apps like Shopkick, I can get a little boost that makes it just a bit easier! If that’s not something to squeal about, I don’t know what is!

Get to know one of the best money-stretching apps that gives cash back, as well as one of the all-around best shopping apps period. Download Shopkick’s free app today and join a community of loyal Shopkickers who’ve already discovered how much you can earn with the help of a shopping sidekick.

And, if you’re on social media catching up with friends, be sure to also join Shopkick on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for a little daily fun and inspiration.

Image courtesy Olivier

Make this summer epic and earn big kicks

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Get the most out of this summer! Explore the top activities near you on Groupon, or discover the best hotel for your next getaway on Booking.com with an epic 25 kicks per $1 spent.

Need to beat the heat? Stay cool with up to 15 kicks $1 spent on HSN and Fandango. You can also take advantage of AC in stores while earning kicks when you scan, buy, and submit receipts for select products.

Epic kicks online

get outside kayak beachGet Outside

25 kicks per $1

Get outside without breaking the bank and earn epic kicks on Groupon and Booking.com. Check out deals on top restaurants, getaways, or summer activities near you.

beat the heat kids on couch with popsiclesBeat the Heat

15 kicks per $1

Beat the heat with refreshingly big kicks on Fandango and HSN. Get to the movies to find respite from rising temps or try to stay cool by making your own popsicles or ice cream with the family.

Cool kicks in stores

Snag some AC time while earning kicks near you.

Teavana® Craft Iced Tea

Scan for 20 kicks and submit a receipt for 150 kicks at select stores.

 

Tyson® Chicken Nuggets or Strips

Scan for 10 kicks and submit a receipt for 100 kicks at Walmart.

 

Hillshire Farm® Lunch Meats

Scan for 10 kicks and submit a receipt for 100 kicks at Walmart.

 

Wasa Crispbread or Flatbread

Scan for 20 kicks and submit a receipt for 250 kicks at select stores.

 

Open the app to check out more kicks in stores near you!

Need to download the app?

Download Shopkick today to start earning your free gift card for the shopping you already do!

The best 2018 back to school deals on your smartphone

Posted on by shopkick

I don’t know about you, but after a long summer at home with my three boys, I tend to have a whole lot of emotions about back-to-school shopping—both good and bad. I’m excited for them to be advancing into new things: new classes, new teachers, new lessons, new friends, etc. And I’m excited for myself, too, because let’s just say that things are a bit quieter around my house when school is in session. If you have kids, I bet you know exactly what I mean. I’m also excited for the guys to get some spiffy new clothes. 

However, what I’m least excited about is all of the money we have to spend each year on new wardrobes plus, the mountain of school supplies that their exciting new classes require us to purchase. In recent years, I’ve found an exciting new way to make that cost a heck of a lot easier by using a shopping app. This helps to make sure I get the best back-to-school deals.  

By all means, enjoy your newfound free time that comes with having the kids go back to class. But don’t get too bummed out by all the money you’re going to have to spend. By the time we’re done here today, you’ll have all the know-how and expertise on how to get the best back-to-school deals.

How to Get Back to School Deals on Your Smartphone

how to get back to school dealsWhen I was a kid, we only got to shop for back-to-school clothes once the prices were discounted. I swear, my mom had an extra sense of knowing when the best back-to-school deals were and once she found them, she would swoop in like a hawk. We didn’t get to go to just any store we wanted—no—we got to go to the one my mom knew had the best prices!

Things are different nowadays, or at least for me, they are. I didn’t inherit my mom’s uncanny abilities to find the best back-to-school deals, but I do have newer technology that can help me generate those deals on my own. The concept I’m talking about is a shopping app that you can use to get rewards and deals for shopping that you do every day. Never heard of it? That’s okay, until recently neither had I. That’s why in the next section I’m going to explain what this concept is and how it works!

What is a Shopping App?

Simply put, a third-party shopping app is an app that you download to your phone and it helps you save money when you’re out shopping. Believe it or not, there’s a pretty wide variety of these apps, and as a result, you’ll have some choices about how you can save money. It really behooves you, though, to find the type that works best for you.

Here are the different types of shopping apps I’ve used in the past:

  • Coupon Apps: Coupon apps are basically digital approximations of old-school paper coupons. You either use them at checkout, while you shop online or after making a purchase. There are a lot of different apps, and some of them take money off your bill in advance while others funnel your savings into an account you can cash out later.
  • Store-Branded Apps: Store-branded apps are apps offered by big stores like Target, Best Buy or Walmart. Some of them give you points that you can cash in for gift cards, while others alert you to new sales and deals or automatically scan prices in your area to match the lowest.
  • Third-Party Shopping Apps: This last category is my favorite. These are special third apps that give you points for the shopping that you do every day, points that you can then trade in later for gift cards. In the next section, I’ll tell you about my personal favorite!

The Best Third-Party Shopping Apps for Back to School Deals

Now that you know about the different ways to get back-to-school deals on your smartphone, as well as what a third-party shopping app is, it’s time to talk about my personal favorite: Shopkick. How it works is super easy. You just go out to do your back-to-school shopping like you normally do, making sure that you’re going to one of the many stores that partner with the app. Then the app gives you rewards—which it calls kicks—for the things you do while you’re out shopping already, things like walking into stores, going down aisles browsing products, and making purchases. Then you trade your points in for gift cards. It’s that easy.

There are tons of ways that Shopkickers can earn rewards right from the app—no need to go anywhere.

But I think my overall favorite thing about Shopkick is you don’t even have to technically go anywhere to use it. In fact, there are tons of ways that Shopkickers can earn rewards right from the app—no need to go anywhere. These include kicks for watching videos and instant surprise kicks from going on Easter egg hunts in the app. Users can also get amazing deals where you can earn big points and rewards by shopping on your phone at stores like Amazon and Walmart. If you’re a modern, online shopper like me, you are going to love Shopkick, both for back-to-school deals and for the shopping you do on the regular basis.

I hope you learned a lot today, especially when it comes to using Shopkick to save money. Back-to-school time is one of my favorite parts of the year. Don’t get me wrong, I love it when my boys are around the house all summer, but it’s nice to see them engaged and excited about something new.

Once you start earning back-to-school deals with an amazing app like Shopkick, trust me, you’ll find yourself enjoying it even more. You’ll go from worrying about your budget to being excited about all the free time that’s headed your own way in the fall.

Looking for a way to earn the best back-to-school deals on your smartphone? Download Shopkick for free and join a community of Shopkickers who love the rewards of shopping with us!

Or join us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and check in every day on your phone, no matter where you are, to learn about the hottest, newest deals.

Image courtesy Rido81

How To Save Money Back To School Shopping

Posted on by shopkick

In a few weeks, summer vacation will be coming to a close, ushering in the fresh start of the year that every mom knows too well: Back To School season. While this can be an exciting time for you and your child, it can also lead to certain stresses, including the dreaded expense of it all. The school supplies shopping list seems to get longer and more specific each year, and that’s all before you factor in clothes, lunch supplies and bulk items for your child’s classroom. Coming in as a new mom to the grade school system (my boy is starting Kindergarten this year), I plan on cutting all the stress and hassle out of the back to school shopping experience by using these methods to save money while having fun.

1. Check Out Sales

The easiest way to begin shopping for Back To School is by first searching for and identifying the biggest back to school deals from retailers. These sales are particularly great when you are looking for school supplies, backpacks and clothing. Some of the best online retailers to check out this season are Walmart.com, Kohls.com, etc.

For the majority of my school supplies products such as crayons, pencils, markers, etc., I relied on rollback prices from Walmart.com. For backpacks and clothing, I shopped Kohls.com deals. I saved a generous amount considering most of their products are on sale.

2. Buy in Bulk

I’ve personally found that one of the biggest ongoing costs of the school year has always been lunch foods and snacks. After going over my budget in the past, I plan on staying on top of my expenses by purchasing lunch supplies and snacks in bulk. My favorite retailers to buy in bulk are Jet and Boxed. Purchasing Ziplocs, chips, Tupperware, drinks and other snack foods in bulk will save a generous amount in the long run.

Another reason I love to buy in bulk is to help provide supplies for my son’s teacher. Teachers often have to pay for all classroom decorations, paper supplies, and cleaning supplies for the whole year! To really show my appreciation, I love to buy a few bulk items to donate to the classroom such as paper towels, paper plates, cleaning supplies, and even some fresh-smelling scents to make the classroom more relaxing. I generally use Boxed for all my bulk items, and it’s great because you can get 2-day shipping.

3. Earn Money Back Through Shopping Apps

The last way I love to save money for back to school shopping is by actually getting money back for my purchases. There are different mobile apps that allow you to scan your receipts to earn gift cards. My favorite shopping app to use is Shopkick because not only do I get points (called kicks) for scanning receipts, I can also get points for just walking into stores, scanning items, and purchasing through online retailers. I generally make my purchases through Walmart, eBay, and Kohl’s. My kicks accumulate while I shop, so I can redeem my points for a Starbucks gift card to refuel after all that shopping!

Back to School shopping doesn’t have to be hard on your bank account. It’s meant to be fun, especially because you’re able to bond with your kids while preparing them to step back into the classroom for another great year of learning. Take the stress out of shopping while saving money by shopping sales, buying in bulk, and using shopping apps to get money back. These money-saving hacks have helped me tremendously as I get ready for my son to start Kindergarten this year. Now, it’s time to relax and soak up these final days of summer vacation and anticipate the exciting school year ahead! I know with just a little prep, he and I will be ready to take on his first day of school together. And, by using these money-saving shopping tips for your children’s school year, you will be too.

Happy shopkicking!

Download Shopkick today to start earning rewards towards a free gift card for the shopping you already do!

The 8 best cash back shopping apps to make every penny count

Posted on by shopkick

The 8 best cash back shopping apps to make every penny count

It sounds cliche, but when it comes to maximizing your budget and making sure that you’re saving all the money you can, every penny counts. I realized the truth about this recently because of my youngest son. He’s obsessed with video games (aren’t all kids these days?) and he wanted a Nintendo Switch, which is priced at about $300. That’s a lot of birthday money for a nine-year-old boy to save up, but I told him if he saved his money, maybe we could help him out.

Well, to my surprise he already had been saving his money, dating back to when we first got him a little novelty piggy bank when he was a kid. Honestly, I don’t know where it all came from, but he must have been saving change in it for a while because that thing was filled to the brim with quarters, dimes, nickels, a few silver dollars, and a good deal of pennies. When we counted it all out, our nine-year-old had more than $100! While we counted, he made sure we didn’t miss a penny and with cash back shopping apps, you can make all of your pennies count, too.

These shopping apps work through your phone and other mobile devices and they’re a lot more efficient and complex than stuffing actual pennies into a piggy bank like my son. Let’s take a look at the eight best cash back shopping apps to make every penny count!

The Best Cash Back Shopping Apps for Brick-and-Mortar Stores

CheckOut51

Of all the various apps here on our list today, I think CheckOut51 might be one of the simplest to use. See, with this app you just go out and do your grocery shopping as you normally would, and then once you’re finished, you use Checkout 51 to upload a photograph of your receipt. I like to make sure I do this in the front seat of my car before even leaving the parking lot at the store—that way I don’t forget.

Once you’re done scanning your receipt, Checkout 51 gives you rebates in the form of credit for any eligible items that you may have purchased. The money adds up quickly, which is good because you need to have $20 worth of saved credit in order to cash out. Once you decide to cash out, Checkout 51 will then go ahead and mail you a receipt. See! I told you it was simple.

SavingStar

SavingStar is also a fairly simple cash back shopping app. How it works is that it’s a digital coupon app that pays users to shop at grocery and drugstores. More than 60,000 participating stores are part of SavingStar, and within their ranks you will find more than 100 retail chains.

Most of the time, this app is free to use, but beware. If you get busy and leave your account inactive for 180 straight days, SavingStar will actually charge you a fee of $3.99. To take advantage of SavingStar, all you have to do is either link the app to an existing store loyalty card or submit receipts after you make purchases just like you do with CheckOut51. Again, these savings add up until you can eventually cash out through PayPal, Upromise, or in the form of Starbucks, iTunes, or AMC Theater gift codes.

SnipSnap

The way this one works is slightly different, in that it lets its users take pictures of printed coupons, which it transforms into digital, mobile-ready ones, thereby making them far more convenient to carry around and use. Users can also browse online directories and take advantage of coupons their friends have “snipped” as well.

This app doesn’t exactly pay, though. Instead, users save money like a traditional coupon. The idea is that coupons can all be easily kept in one digital space, instead of having an overflowing little billfold stuffed with paper cutouts.

The Best Cash Back Shopping Apps for Online Stores

CamelCamelCamel

If you’re anything like me, the online store that you frequent most is Amazon. I highly recommend familiarizing yourself with this app, which is called CamelCamelCamel. It doesn’t have much to do with riding through deserts, though. It’s actually a website and browser extension that shoppers can use to save money by tracking prices on Amazon. It’s really a pretty incredible resource, given the changing nature of prices on Amazon.

With CamelCamelCamel, you get access to charts and details for extensive price histories to almost every product listed for sale on Amazon. You can see the fluctuations and know when you should buy an item or when you should hold off until the price is reduced in the future. I’ve never tracked it enough to be able to tabulate an exact amount, but I know that over a long enough timeline, I’ve saved quite a bit of money shopping online at Amazon with the help of information from CamelCamelCamel. Just be warned that you can find yourself spending way more time than you expected looking through the charts!

Coupon Cactus

With Coupon Cactus, you can get discounts on certain items when you shop online. Your savings sometimes add up to a percentage of the total price, generally up to 30% or as a flat discount, such as $2 off a featured product. Once your savings balance hits $10 or more, you can then make a decision to cash out the money you’ve earned through PayPal or even to have a check issued to you on a quarterly basis.

Coupon Cactus also does this cool thing that I find really helpful where you can sort the savings offers on the site by the most popular or the newest, making it easy to find the deals that people like the most or the ones that have been added to the app since your last visit.

Ebates

You’d be crazy not to download this coupon app for groceries because of how much you can save with it through rebates. Ebates is a cash back shopping app that lets you save by giving you shopping rewards. Full disclosure, this one actually has a special place in my heart because it was the first one I used when I first started using apps that give you rewards.

Ebates is a centralized platform where shoppers can search for deals and coupons that are offered by nearly 2,000 retailers. It’s pretty awesome when it comes to shopping online, which is something I’d guess that we have all done much more of in recent years. To be totally honest, I haven’t used Ebates as much as of late because I’ve moved on to more comprehensive apps to bolster my budget. I’ve actually ended up seeking out newer apps, many of which are way more fun to use!

Pennyful

With three growing boys at home, I shop a lot. Between getting things for the kids, my husband, and on rare occasions even for myself, I’m always out shopping. Plus, I have to admit, I’ve always been one for a good sale. That’s why I use Pennyful, which requires that you hit a certain amount of savings or cash back before you can get paid. With my shopping habits, it’s easy to hit the mark. But, I’m also well aware that not everyone shops online as much as I do. For those who don’t, it’s possible to earn money shopping online with mobile apps that let you cash your total out without meeting a certain minimum threshold.

If this sounds like something that would work well for you, I highly recommend checking out Pennyful. Like Coupon Cactus, you just go online, make purchases at certain stores that are offering online coupons, and then you start to accumulate savings in an account that you can later cash out. And, they make it easy and fun to discover new products by dividing their offerings up into categories!

The Best Cash Back Shopping Apps for Both Online and Brick-and-Mortar Stores

Shopkick

I don’t know about you, but in 2018 my shopping habits have become a hybrid of both online and in-store shopping. There are some items that I just need to be able to get anywhere at any time with a quick click at my computer or mobile device, and there are others that I like to browse or see in person before making a final decision. That’s really where this last app comes in handy.

The beauty of Shopkick is that you can use it to get cash back on both your online and in-store shopping. You can even pair it with some of the other apps on my list because Shopkick rewards you for shopping through points (called kicks) for making purchases—or even watching product videos online. When I save up enough of these points, I can cash them in for gift cards. Shopkick even pays you to grocery shop, which is something I’m yet to figure out how to do online. Of all the mobile apps that allow you to earn money shopping online, Shopkick is the one you must have to take your shopping game to new levels.

So, there you have it, the eight best cash back shopping apps that you should use to make every single penny count. While you’re probably not saving up all the change you can find to get a Nintendo Switch, a few dollars of savings both online and in-store really does add up and make a significant difference in your budget.

I think that’s why my favorite on the list is Shopkick. You can use it when you go out shopping, or anywhere else for that matter. Simply put, there are tons of ways that Shopkickers can earn rewards right from the app—no need to go anywhere. These include kicks for watching videos and instant surprise kicks from going on Easter egg hunts in the app. Users can also get amazing deals where you can earn big points and rewards by shopping on your phone at stores like Amazon and Walmart. I highly recommend it!

Get one of the best cash back shopping apps that can help you make every last penny count. Download Shopkick’s free app today and join a community of loyal Shopkickers who’ve already discovered the rewards of shopping with a free, smartphone app sidekick.

And, if you love social media as much as you love your smartphone, join Shopkick on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for a little daily shopping inspiration.

Mom-approved cash back apps for groceries

Posted on by shopkick

For most of my life, I’ve considered shopping to be one of my favorite hobbies, although I think it’s important to note that not all shopping is created equal. There are, as far as I’m concerned, two main types of shopping. There’s the shopping I love to do for fun, which includes trips to boutiques, gallerias, and malls. Then there’s the shopping that I’m obligated to do for what I like to call life reasons. This involves trips to places like Walmart, Target, and, of course, out for groceries.

As a mom these days, I’ve found myself having to make far more of the second type of shopping trips than I get to of the first. And I’m happy to do it. I love my kids, and it actually makes the time I do get to spend shopping for clothes and the finer things all the more enjoyable. One battle I continually find myself having to wage, however, is with my budget. I just don’t have the money to spend on fancy shoes that I once did. I have, however, recently found a great ally in this fight, and today I want to share my new ally with you. That’s why today I want to tell you all about some mom-approved cash back apps for groceries.

With these apps, I’ve been able to earn quite a bit of cash back on my grocery shopping. That’s extra money that I’ve been able to put toward my old shopping hobby, making the most of my trips out searching for clothes. There are three main apps I use to do this, and I can’t wait to share them with you!

Mom-Approved Cash Back Apps for Groceries

#1: Checkout 51

Checkout 51 is a cash back app for groceries that you can use to plan your shopping trip before you ever set foot in the store. You just download the app and you can start to browse hundreds of listed offers. When you find one for a product you plan to buy, you simply select that offer, head out shopping, upload your receipt when you’re done, and enjoy your cash back! It really is that simple.

I especially like Checkout 51 because I’m able to have a nice little grocery shopping routine each Friday morning. Checkout 51 updates the offers it lists every Thursday night. This has made it easy for me to include the app into my weekly schedule. I just take a few moments before I get in my Jeep and head out to the store to find the best deals. The only catch is that with Checkout 51 you have to earn at least $20 before you can redeem your savings for cash back.

three cash back apps for groceries#2: SnipSnap

Do you remember those old-school paper coupons that we used to have to use if we ever wanted to save some money when we were shopping for groceries? I sure do. In fact, I still get them fairly regularly through junk mail and my Sunday newspaper, and with this app called SnipSnap, I’ve also found a way to start using them to get cash back on my shopping. SnipSnap is what’s known as a mobile coupon app, and you basically just use it to take pictures of printed coupons. SnipSnap then goes ahead and transforms them into digital, mobile-ready coupons that you can use when you go out to the store.

Like with Checkout 51, I’ve made SnipSnap part of my regular shopping routine. Every Sunday, I sit down with the advertisements that came during the week as well as with the stack from my Sunday paper, and I use SnipSnap to start scanning and storing coupons. It’s such an easy and efficient way to store coupons. I don’t know if I’d turn to coupons nearly as often if I still had to stuff the actual paper copies in my purse.

#3: Shopkick

The last mom-approved cash back app for groceries on our list today is called Shopkick, and it just so happens to be my favorite. How it works is that when you go out shopping for groceries, it gives you points for your normal shopping trip activities, including going down aisles browsing products, making purchases, and even just walking into the store. You can then trade those points in for gift cards to your favorite stores, which are just as good as cash back to me.

What’s especially great about Shopkick is that you can easily use it in tandem with the other two apps on our list. Basically, every week I get my deals from Checkout 51 and I scan my coupons with SnipSnap, and then I use Shopkick to get points on all my purchases. That kind of triple savings really adds up to a nice amount of extra money.

What’s especially great about Shopkick is that you can easily use it in tandem with the other two apps on our list.

Like I said at the start, I really do believe there are two specific types of shopping: utilitarian shopping and fun shopping. They don’t have to be mutually exclusive though. In fact, as I’ve seen in my life, money that you save on your groceries can be put to good use later when you go out shopping for fun.

You just have to have the right apps, apps like Checkout 51, SnipSnap, and—my personal favorite—Shopkick. They fit so easily into your daily routine, that if you’re anything like me, you’ll soon have trouble remembering what it was like before you started to use them!  

Ready to start shopping with one of the best mom-approved cash back apps for groceries? Download Shopkick for free and join a community of loyal Shopkickers who’ve already discovered how rewarding—and fun—shopping with us can be!

And, if you love using your smartphone to stay up on social media, join us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for daily shopping inspiration.

Image courtesy GeorgeRudy

Prime Day starts now!

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The biggest shopping event of the year for Amazon Prime members is here! Prime Day starts now and runs through 7/17/18. Get amazing kicks on eligible Amazon purchases made through the Shopkick app, and discover incredible deals on hundreds of thousands of items.

Don’t have an Amazon Prime membership yet? It’s not too late to sign up and take advantage of these instant savings!

Prime Day Starts Now

Get AMAZING kicks through 7/17

Amazon Fashion
25 kicks per $1
was 5 kicks

Amazon Devices
25 kicks per $1
was 5 kicks

Amazon Home
25 kicks per $1
was 7 kicks

Check out the deals and big kicks now!

 

Happy shopkicking!

Don’t have Shopkick yet? Download and start earning your free gift card today!

How to save money on groceries: Apps that milk your budget

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As you probably know by now, I’m the mother of three rambunctious but awesome young boys. They live life at a pretty fast pace, whether they’re running around our backyard or going from this month’s hot new video game to whatever the big fad at school is next month. My little guys are almost always in a big hurry for something. Lately, they’ve all been in a major rush to grow up. Not to take on adult responsibilities (none of them are at all interested in that, not yet, anyway), but to get taller.

In fact, I recently went down into our basement and found them trying to stretch to make themselves taller. It was so cute, but it also got me thinking about how fast they’d be growing up, which then got me thinking about their increasingly gigantic appetites, which then got me thinking about something else: ways to save money on groceries, and more specifically to save money on groceries with an app. These days there so many great shopping rewards apps out there, some of which are offered by the stores themselves, others that modernize the old coupon clipping experience, and—my personal favorite—those that give you gift cards for shopping habits you already have.

All of this can be a little overwhelming to the uninitiated shopper who’s trying to stretch her budget, which is why today I want to talk about my own strategies for how to save money on groceries with an app. Hopefully, you’ll find them to be just as helpful as I do!

How to Save Money on Groceries with an App

Tip No. 1: Consistency is Key

One of my most important tips for how to save money on groceries with an app is to find a way to do it that is consistent. This ties into a lesson I’m always trying to teach my boys. They’re always in such a hurry to do new things, to try out for the basketball team, to advance to the next grade, or even to beat this month’s hot new video game as soon as possible. Sometimes they get frustrated when these things take longer than they expect. 

So, what I preach to them is to remain consistent. The same is true for stretching your budget with a great shopping app. If you don’t use it consistently, you won’t maximize the amount of rewards that you can earn with it. It’s as simple as that.

ways to Save money on groceries appTip No. 2: Online and Offline Points Are a Must

Another little tip when trying to save money on groceries with an app that I’ve learned from my boys is to make sure you find an app that helps you save money both online and off. My little guys get lost in their digital worlds so easily, that it always makes me think about how in 20 years even more of our lives will start to be lived online, and that includes grocery shopping.

I’ve started to do even more of my grocery shopping online, using programs like Amazon Pantry. This is especially the case when there are three soccer practices in a week, and I just can’t eke out the time I need to run to the store. A few clicks on Amazon and I can have chips for their lunches, Clif bars or breakfast cereals sent straight to our door. That’s why I need an app that also helps me save money when I’m shopping online. It’s absolutely vital.

Tip No. 3: Find the Perfect App

The last tip that I have for you today is also maybe the most obvious, but you simply must make sure that you find the perfect app. For me, that app is called Shopkick, and how it works is that it gives you points for the shopping activities that you already do every day, things like looking at products online, going down the aisle browsing products, and making purchases. You can then trade those points in for free gift cards.

What’s great about Shopkick is that it’s super easy to use, which makes it no problem to use it consistently.

What’s great about Shopkick is that it’s super easy to use, which makes it no problem to use it consistently. It also turns every trip to the grocery store into a fun little scavenger hunt for points. In other words, I enjoy using Shopkick so much, that it’s not even a chore to make sure I use it consistently. Oh, and it’s one of the best shopping apps out there for rewarding you for the grocery shopping that you do online. It’s just so versatile and fun! I highly recommend it!

With three growing boys at home, correctly managing my grocery shopping budget tends to be a never-ending battle, much like satisfying their appetites. However, with a great app like Shopkick, it all becomes so much easier.

The guys can’t wait to be taller, and I get that. I also know that there are going to be so many more grocery bills between where they are now and the day they reach their maximum heights. This can bring on a bit of anxiety sometimes, but with an app like Shopkick to help me save money, you know what? I think I’m ready to handle it.

Ready to start finding your own ways to save money on groceries with an app? Download Shopkick for free and join a community of loyal Shopkickers who’ve already discovered how rewarding—and fun—shopping with us can be!

And, if you love using your smartphone to stay up on social media, join us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for daily shopping inspiration.

 

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Dollar store coupon apps: Is it possible to save even more?

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There are things you expect as a parent and things you have absolutely no idea about. This sounds kind of obvious, but it’s true. For example, my husband and I definitely expected to spend some sleepless nights rocking babies back to sleep when our boys were born, and, let me tell you, did we ever. However, there were other changes to our lifestyle of which we didn’t have the foggiest notion. For example, the stores that we find ourselves shopping at these days have literally changed a good deal.

We used to get all our groceries and household goods from our local grocery store. This, however, isn’t entirely necessary with three growing boys at home. There are things that we can get from dollar stores now that satisfy them just fine, like brown paper bags for their school lunches, snacks for when they’re home during the summer, and tons of other items. The fact is, we can save quite a bit of money these days. Though, if you’re like me, no matter where you shop, you wonder if it’s possible to save even more. Well, I’m here to tell you it is and that’s where dollar store coupon apps come in.

what are dollar store coupon appsThat’s what we’re going to talk about today, dollar store coupon apps, why you should make sure that you have one, and my favorite shopping app that you’ll love if you like extra savings. Dollar stores are a great way to save money when you have a growing family like we do, but why stop there? There are apps out there that can save you even more!

What are Dollar Store Coupon Apps?

Remember when you were a kid, and your parents used to literally take a pair of scissors and clip coupons out of newspaper ads? Well, I certainly do, and so the easiest way for me to explain what dollar store coupon apps are is to draw a comparison to that, except obviously this time around there aren’t messy things involved like stacks of newspapers, scissors, and paper cuts (ouch!).

Two of the major dollar store companies—Dollar General and Family Dollar—have coupon apps that allow you to use digital coupons in-store. These dollar store coupon apps are loaded with digital coupons, weekly ads, and all types of money-saving information. Who knew there was a way to get even greater dollar store deals?

Why You Need a Dollar Store Coupon App

If you’re asking yourself why you need a dollar store coupon app, the answer is pretty simple: to earn more savings, duh! Let’s face it, those of us who run out to the dollar store for things like cleaning spray, garbage bags, and little snacks aren’t doing it for the glamor. Obviously, we’re doing it to save. So, why not compound your savings even further?

Simply put, with a dollar store coupon app you can rack up even more savings each time you set foot in the dollar store.

If You Love Dollar Store Coupon Apps, You’ll Love This App

So, now that you’re familiar with dollar store coupon apps and why it makes all kinds of sense for you to have one, let’s take a look at another app that can help you save in a similar way at some of your favorite stores.

When it comes to taking my overall shopping game to the next level, I like to use a shopping rewards app called Shopkick. How it works is pretty simple. You just go do the things you do whenever you go out shopping, things like walking into stores, going down aisles browsing products, and making purchases. Then, Shopkick gives you points, which it calls kicks.

And if you don’t feel like going anywhere, there are also tons of ways to earn kicks right from the app. These include kicks for watching videos and instant surprise kicks from going on Easter egg hunts in the app. Users can also get amazing deals where you can earn big points and rewards by shopping on your phone.

What’s really great about Shopkick is that it gives you points for the shopping you do at such a wide variety of stores. Once you’ve saved up enough of these points, you can trade them in for gift cards. For example, let’s say you go out shopping for groceries, you can earn points that eventually turn into the equivalent of cash.

It’s a pretty simple concept, every time you shop, the app gives you points.

I love my kids and I also love that I’ve had to get creative in finding new ways to shop for them while also racking up the savings. One of my favorites of those ways, as I noted above is Shopkick. I just can’t say enough good things about it and I really hope that you also give it a try.

It’s a pretty simple concept, every time you shop, the app gives you points. Earn enough points and you can trade them in for gift cards and receive cash back—cash that can be used at the dollar store, of course! You don’t even have to thank me when you’re done!

Ready to take your savings game to the next level by? Start using Shopkick today to earn gift cards for free. Just download Shopkick and join a community of loyal Shopkickers who’ve already discovered the rewards of shopping with us!

And, if you love using your smartphone to stay up on social media, join us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for daily shopping inspiration.

Image courtesy JohnKwan

2 fun shopping apps that save money and rack up rewards

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My boys don’t really have the most expensive tastes. I mean, they like somewhat pricey things like video games and movies. What kids don’t? But they can also have tons and tons of fun just playing hide-and-seek with each other at the park. One of their favorite games to play is capture the flag, which in our house is more like capture the old t-shirt, and how it works is that one of them will hide a t-shirt and the other two will have to hunt around to find it. Whoever finds it first is the winner.

It’s simple, but they really do seem to have a blast playing it. It makes me happy because it’s totally free and keeps them busy for hours. It’s a win-win situation! It got me thinking recently how nice it would be if I could have the same amount of fun as an adult and also save money, too. Well, it turns out there is actually a way to do this with shopping apps that save money while also giving you a way to have fun at the same time.

shopping apps save moneySome of them do this by turning trips to the store into scavenger hunts for rewards points and others by letting you create a wish list for the items you’re most hoping to save money on. Whatever the means, the end is more or less the same: major savings while also having a whole lot more fun each time you go out shopping. I’m a huge fan, and I sincerely hope you like these apps as much as I do!

Fun Shopping Apps That Save Money

#1: Flipp

The first shopping app that saves money is called Flipp, which right off the bat even has a fun name…and also reminds me of the last time one of my boys got injured, but that’s a story for another time. The way Flipp works is great for those of us who like to make wishlists. Basically, with Flipp you make a list of all the items out there that you’re hoping to buy and the app uses that list to show you what stores you can find those items at and for the best prices.

It’s really fun to use because this app helps you find things like clothes and electronics that you’ve been coveting for a while at prices you never expected to find them. It’s a great way to essentially alert yourself to when items on your own personal wishlist have become more attainable with better prices. At least, that’s how I use it, and I’ve had quite a bit of luck saving money with Flipp while also racking up major rewards!

#2: Shopkick

This app on my list is the most fun. It’s a shopping rewards app called Shopkick, and how it works is that it gives you points for many of the activities you do each time you go shopping. These activities include scanning the barcodes of certain items to get more information, making purchases, and even just walking into the store. You can then trade those points that you earn through Shopkick in for gift cards to all of your favorite stores.

And if you don’t feel like going anywhere, there are also tons of ways to earn kicks right from the app. These include kicks for watching videos and instant surprise kicks from going on Easter egg hunts in the app. Users can also get amazing deals where you can earn big points and rewards by shopping on your phone.

And if you don’t feel like going anywhere, there are also tons of ways to earn kicks right from the app.

This is a whole lot of fun because it basically turns every trip out shopping into a scavenger hunt for points. If you’ve ever felt like shopping is a boring chore, say goodbye to that. With Shopkick, you’ll instead find yourself looking forward to going shopping so that you can hunt down all the best deals while also having a ton of fun!

So, there you have it. As a mother of three imaginative boys, I think I’m a pretty good resource for finding ways to have fun. The ways I talked about above are among my favorites because they also help me save money while I’m out shopping too, which for obvious reasons is another thing I’ve become quite good at, especially when it comes to groceries.

One last piece of advice: Shopkick is easily combined with the other app I mentioned here. You just simply use them both at the same time, thereby doubling your savings. While both of these apps are great, I just don’t know if I could live without Shopkick. Or, at least how I could shop without it. It’s become that vital to my budget and the fun I have with it has become equally as vital to my shopping routine!

Ready to start using fun shopping apps that save money while at the same time racking up the rewards? Start using Shopkick today to earn free gift cards to all of your favorite stores. Just download Shopkick and join a community of loyal Shopkickers who’ve already discovered the rewards of shopping with us!

And, if you love using your smartphone to stay up on social media, join us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for daily shopping inspiration.

Image courtesy Dean Drobot

How to get Walmart gift cards for free: Tips for clever shoppers

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I don’t tend to think of myself as a good shopper. Now, I don’t necessarily think of myself as a bad shopper, either. I just don’t think of shopping in those terms at all. To me, shopping has always been something that I enjoy doing, and, even more than that, something I enjoy being good at, which I often measure by my ability to find deals and save money. However, recently, I was telling a friend of mine at spin class about some of the tips I have for getting the best prices and she remarked that I sound like a clever shopper.

I’ve never thought of myself this way, but I have to admit that it felt like a bit of a compliment. That’s why today I want to share with you one of the big pieces of advice that earned me this respect: how to get Walmart gift cards for free. I don’t know about you, but when I shop at Walmart I’m almost always there in search of the absolute best savings. I think this is why some of my most frequently used tips for so-called clever shoppers have to do with shopping at Walmart.

tips for how to get walmart gift cards for free

Either way, I think there is quite a bit of useful information I’ve accrued over the years while searching for these tips and it’s my pleasure to share them with you. Who knows? Maybe you will eventually find yourself using these tips after a particularly intense spin class and having a friend call you a clever shopper.

How to Get Walmart Gift Cards for Free Tip #1: Take Surveys

Let’s start with one of the simplest ways to get Walmart gift cards for free: taking surveys. We’ve talked about this before, but there is a boatload of apps that give you rewards for taking free surveys, and while there are some slight differences, the vast majority of them tend to work the same.

You just download these apps (Ipsos is a good one) and then you enter a bit of information about yourself. Based on that, it sends you surveys and you’re rewarded for completing them with gift cards, oftentimes to Walmart. The real beauty of these apps is that you can do these surveys from your mobile device. I personally like to do them to kill time.

How to Get Walmart Gift Cards for Free Tip #2: Savings Catcher

Another great way to get Walmart gift cards for free is by using the store’s own Savings Catcher app. What the Savings Catcher rewards app does is cross-references the purchases you make at Walmart with the advertised prices for those same items at other retailers in your area. If the app manages to find any other stores that happen to be offering a lower price than what you paid, Walmart delivers the difference back to you.

This is great for a couple of reasons. The first is that it saves you money and funnels those savings back to you via a Walmart gift card. The second is that you can go home and rest easy, knowing that you were able to find the absolute best deal. Believe me, as much as I enjoy shopping, I enjoy knowing that I did the best I could even more!

How to Get Walmart Gift Cards for Free Tip #3: Shopkick

The third tip to get Walmart gift cards for free just so happens to also be my favorite. It’s through a shopping rewards app called Shopkick. How it works is that Shopkick gives you rewards points for activities you do each time you go to the store, activities such as scanning the barcodes on certain products to learn more about them, making purchases, and even just for walking through the doors of featured stores.

And if you don’t feel like going anywhere, there are also tons of ways to earn kicks right from the app. These include kicks for watching videos and instant surprise kicks from going on Easter egg hunts in the app. Users can also get amazing deals where you can earn big points and rewards by shopping on your phone.

Once you save up enough of these points, you can trade them in for free Walmart gift cards, which is really a beautiful thing.

Once you save up enough of these points, you can trade them in for free Walmart gift cards, which is really a beautiful thing. Put simply, Shopkick really is the best savings app for Walmart, and it’s definitely the one that I use the most. I guess my friend would probably call it a clever trick for shopping, but I just think of it as a way to save even more money when I got to Walmart to buy my groceries. How you think of it is entirely up to you!

If you decide to go with any of these, I highly recommend that you choose Shopkick. In addition to helping you earn free Walmart gift cards, Shopkick is also a ton of fun to use. It turns every trip to Walmart into a fun scavenger hunt to get as many points as you can while you’re there. It’s fun like that that keeps you coming back to use Shopkick at Walmart again and again, at least in my experience!

Learn how to get Walmart gift cards for free by using this fantastic app called Shopkick. Download Shopkick now and get ready to be wowed. Welcome to the fun, Shopkicker!

If you’re as social media savvy as you are shopping savvy, join us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for daily fun and inspiration.

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