Before I knew of these following smartphone apps, I wasted money thoughtlessly. I never imagined that I could get cashback for my purchases or amass rewards for items I buy nearly every day. Now, I'm not one to go extreme couponing or take hours to plan out my shopping trips, so if you're like me and want to save money without thinking much about it then these apps are a must.
1. Retail store coupons.
There are two coupon apps that I always check before making a purchase. Those are RetailMeNot and SnipSnap. Both are easy to navigate and are accepted at nearly every store.
RetailMeNot allows you to select your favorite stores upon opening the app, so you'll always know when your favorite place has a coupon, both in-store and online. You can add your favorite coupons, search nearby offers, categorize... And so much more! RetailMeNot uses real coupons that are added by the retail store, so you always know that a coupon will work.
SnipSnap allows anyone to upload coupons which is both good and bad. Most coupons work and you can see which ones do by checking the coupon's rating, but some are one time use. There are more coupons on SnipSnap but they may not always work. But the app's best feature is that your coupons can be organized by when they expire, and the app lets you know when a coupon's expiration date is coming. You also have the option to "Bundle" coupons into a shopping trip or save other user's Bundles that they've created.
Both coupon apps have a lot to offer, so I suggest downloading and using both to maximize your chances of having a coupon available for the stores you go to.
2. Save on your morning coffee.
Both Dunkin' Donuts and Starbucks have their own apps that allow you to buy gift cards, pay on the app, and get great savings!
The Dunkin' Donuts app is easy to navigate and use to your advantage. Simply sign up for an account, add a gift card (or not), and get DD Perks that will help save money. Perks can be free food or drink offers or discounted prices, both are awesome and hassle free, simply show the cashier the coupon on your app and they apply it. In addition to that, there are rotating coupons on the app that vary from a large beverage for only $1.99, half off on a dozen donuts, or discounts on their mugs and more. The app also allows you to buy and send gift cards, find locations nearest you, and even check the menu! If you love Dunkin' Donuts, then you'll love this app.
The Starbucks app is a little different. The more you purchase, the more rewards you receive. There are seldom coupons that you can use at any time but there are plenty of ways to rack up points. Definitely turn your notifications on for this app to be alerted when there's a 'Star Dash' occurring. Stars are what allow you to level up your rewards tier and get more free food or drink rewards. When a 'Star Dash' happens, you typically have to visit Starbucks a number of times in a specific date range. An example would be to visit three times within one week to earn double stars on your purchases.
Both of these apps allow you to pay quickly, order your beverage ahead, and earn points on something that may be already a part of your routine. Might as well get freebies out of it!
3. Grocery shopping savings.
There are two great apps that I use every grocery shopping trip and they have saved me a lot of money by giving me cashback on the groceries I buy. Those apps are SavingStar and Ibotta, both are pretty much the same except Ibotta includes more ways to save.
The SavingStar app makes it easy to save in any store by selecting coupon offers on the main page and then adding your store rewards cards or by submitting receipts. It's easy to use and easy to get cashback. Offers change daily so keep an eye out!
The Ibotta app is similar except you aren't limited to grocery shopping. On this app you'll find deals for much more depending on your location and availability. Some examples include cashback for; online shopping, liquor stores, and retail stores. With Ibotta, you have to unlock the savings by reading a quick fact or two or answering a question, but don't let that keep you from downloading the app. The savings are huge!
4. Cartwheel by Target.
If you shop at Target, or even if you don't, you have to download this app! To sum it up, on Cartwheel you can find a discount for many items at Target and the offers rotate weekly. Including groceries, clothing, electronics, and even specific popular items. You can search coupons by category or scan the barcode of the item you're buying. When starting out you can add 10 coupons at a time to a purchase but the number of coupon slots expands the more you use the app.
On top of the coupons, Target already has amazing hidden deals in their clearance and in all departments, you just have to search. The offers vary from upwards of 80% off all the way down to 5% off, but even if you're savings 5% on something you buy frequently... It's still saving you money! You have the ability to add these offers before heading into the store and begin planning what you might want to purchase.
Personally, I check this app all the time and sort the discount from highest to lowest. Once I found an all natural, calorie free sugar for 60% off and I tried it, now I buy it all the time.
You never know what offers you may find! That goes for all of these apps. The next time you go to purchase an item, check these apps because you may find a coupon for exactly the thing you needed plus something you want.
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