My favorite frugal/money making apps
By maezee
@maezee (41988)
United States
January 20, 2022 3:17pm CST
Great apps:
*GetUpside gas app. I heard about this one on a radio commercial and I'm super glad I did. I've made $65 in the last year using this app. Not a heck of a lot, but I will deinfitely take it. This app basically gives you cash back into your Getupside account per gallon of gas you pump at one of their participating locations - for me, this is Holiday Gas Stations around the metro area. The rate changes but right now they seem to be offering 5-12 cents per gallon back, which adds up! Supposedly they also offer cash back for certain restaurants and grocery stores, but I haven't tested those out yet.
*FetchRewards. This is my favorite grocery receipt app I've found. This one takes all receipts, gives you 25 points per receipt. You get extra points for certain promotions they have going on-for particular items or brands. Once you reach 10,000 points - you can cash out for $10 in gift card form. I scan just about every receipt I get and I've made probably $50-$60 last year, but I also participate in some of their promos. I would defnitely suggest this one.
Meh apps:
*Receipt Hog. This is an app where you scan all of your grocery receipts and get coins that you can eventually convert to gift cards or Paypal cash. When I say eventually, I mean EVENTUALLY....I make maybe $10-15 per year with this app. They occasionally offer surveys too, although not very often. I am thinking about dropping this one but haven't done so yet.
*iBotta: This is an app that pays you in cash back for SPECIFIC items you buy at popular grocery stores like Target, Walmart,
Cub, etc. Usually it's X amount of cents/dollars back for a specific item. So, unless you were INTENDING to buy that item, sometimes it can lead to buying extra or unnecessary items. But, occasionally they have some really good deals, or "free after cash back" items. During the beginning of the school year, I got the following items free: 2 cans of Rockstar energy drinks, 1 big box of Cheerios, 1 large Jiffy peanut butter, and a 5 subject notebook, all FREE after cash back. The cashback goes to your account where you cash out once it reaches $20 I believe (and cash can go straight in your bank account). They also have Thanksgiving and Christmas free offers usually, too.
Apps I will be trying next:
*Checkout 51 - supposedly a receipt app, have no other info.
*Gas Buddy - don't know anything about this one, but would like to check it out.
I am not quite ready to start "budgeting" per say - but once I do, I will probably find an app for that, too. (Do you use a budgeting app?)
What apps do you use to either make money or help your frugal pursuits?
9 people like this
10 responses
@Iqbaleee (125)
• Tangerang, Indonesia
20 Jan 22
There is an application called shopback in my country whether in other countries there is or not, this application gives cashback every time we buy in the marketplace, the amount is small but it's ok for me who buys a lot of things in the marketplace
2 people like this
@snowy22315 (180678)
• United States
20 Jan 22
I have used Get Upside and made some money on it. I usually forget about it though...the station in this area that is part of it, I don't usually get gas there so I have to make a special trip and remember to use the right card. I have Checkout51 on my phone, but never find anything on it I want. Gas Buddy supposedly sends you a 25 dollar card to use on gas if you verify your account. I think that is how that works. I agree with you about receipt hog, not too exciting. I have been on it a long time and haven't even cashed out yet, which is annoying. Try Amazon Shoppers Panel, that is much better.
2 people like this
@snowy22315 (180678)
• United States
1 Feb 22
@maezee I use that, also, I forgot I did cash out on Recipet Hog in September. There is also Coin Out, which alot of people like as well.
@maezee (41988)
• United States
1 Feb 22
Do you use Fetch Rewards? I’ve made a lot more on that then the Receipt Hog for sure. I am lucky with the GetUpside as almost all of the Holiday gas stations in my area offer 10 cents back per gallon for the last couple years. If I go out of the way, it’s like a few blocks only!
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (178568)
• United States
21 Jan 22
We don't have smartphones; but I use BeFrugal to get cash back on purchases.
2 people like this
@Kouponkaren (5503)
• United States
26 Jan 22
Wow, these are great tips. Thanks so much. I am not really an app person. I do surveys and do online shopping through Mypoints and earn e-gift cards there. I do have the Kroger app and can get coupons from that (grocery store) and I get a free coffee from Dunkin Donuts on my birthday every year. That's about it for me.
1 person likes this
@kixsh101 (2105)
• Philippines
23 Jan 22
You've got a long list out there. It's nice.
It reminds me of my old self. I also tried taking pictures of my receipts, but I forgot what app was that. Eventually, I got busy and forgot about it. I remember I always get soo excited when I see receipts then. But yeah, I think I never cashed out on that app.
@kaylachan (69671)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
20 Jan 22
I have getupside, too but we don't go to the places it recommends. I haven't tried the restaurants yet, either. I don't dine out. However, you're right, once you reach twenty on ibotta, you can cash out. I chose to have it deposited to pay pal instead.
1 person likes this
@flapiz (23148)
• United Kingdom
2 Feb 22
I'm using apps that give me points for my shopping. I use two of them. So I'm earning a bit.
