A GUIDE TO SAVING MONEY USING CASHBACK, REWARDS & COUPONS
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Saving money can feel impossible sometimes — especially when we’re tempted by things we don’t actually need (guilty!). It’s easy to overspend without realizing it. But thanks to modern apps and websites, saving money doesn’t have to be complicated or boring. I’m no financial expert, but I am a big fan of cashback, coupon codes, and catching a good deal when I see one. So if you're looking for real ways to save money without much effort, here are some of my go-to tools and money-saving apps that actually work.
Chase Freedom - Rewards
Reward programs might just be one of the best money-saving inventions ever. I mean, who wouldn’t want to earn cash or points on purchases they were going to make anyway? Now, heads up — this one comes with a small catch: it’s a credit card-based rewards program. Specifically, I’m talking about the Chase Freedom credit card, which was actually my first credit card — and honestly, it’s still one of my favorites. With this card, you earn at least 1% cashback on every purchase. That means every time you swipe, you’re literally earning money back. And it gets better: through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, you can redeem your points in tons of different ways — from travel to gift cards to statement credits.
Here are a few fun ways I’ve personally used my Chase reward points
Buying gift cards to my favorite stores (+ online stores)
Getting cashback (yes, you literally get cash back) based on points earned
Applying points as a credit card statement credit (meaning you can use the rewards to pay your credit card bill)
Bonus: Online shopping through the Chase Rewards store can help you earn extra reward points on purchases, simply because you shopped through the Chase Rewards store.
On top of the great rewards, and for new account openers, the Chase Freedom card has no interest for at least a year, which is especially great for college students and those on strict budgets. The Chase Freedom card has low monthly payments throughout the low interest period, giving your wallet plenty of wiggle room. This card can definitely help you save money as long as you use it responsibly. Remember that the reason for the card is to help you save money, not get in debt, so use it very wisely! I’d highly recommend it if you’re looking for a credit card with spending benefits.
To learn more, apply, and start earning points today, go here.
Qapital
Qapital is definitely one of my top three favorite apps of all time. Qapital helps you save money as you spend it. One way Qapital works is by taking money out of your account every single time you swipe your card and stashing it away in a seperate account. Qapital is basically a savings account, but way cooler. You can also get a Qapital debit card that is solely funded by the money you’ve saved over time. Based on your membership with Qapital, your saving options will vary. There’s three tiers of membership through Qapital. I downloaded the app in the early days, so I was grandfathered into the ‘Master’ membership, which is the highest membership you can get.
Qapital is unique in the way that it gives you complete freedom when saving money.
Qapital has “rules” or guidelines that you can personalize for your specific saving goals. For me, I took a trip to Miami last May and I set a $500 goal through Qapital about 3 months prior to the trip. My two rules were called “Round Up” and “Steps”. The “Round Up” rule meant that every time I swiped my card for a purchase over $2, I saved $2 automatically. The “Steps” rule is my favorite rule because I automatically saved $5 every time I reached 5000 steps in a 24 hour period. Multitasking anyone? There’s over 10 different rules you can apply to your specific saving goals, which you can cater to your liking. Qapital also implemented an investment option, where you can easily invest your savings into stocks, even if you’re a newbie to investing.
To download the amazing, free app and start saving (and investing) today, go here.
Ibotta
Last, but certainly not least is Ibotta (pronounced “I-bought-uh”). This app gives you cash back after you’ve purchased specific items. I’m now in the $500 club on Ibotta, meaning I’ve received over $500 cashback since I’ve started. The cool thing about Ibotta is that most of the items are things you would purchase anyway, so it’s great to get cashback on everyday items. Ibotta also remembers what you’ve purchased in the past and they will begin to show you offers for cashback based on that. Ibotta works with plenty of grocery and convenience stores, so you’ll have no trouble finding a store you regularly shop at. A few stores I usually use Ibotta with are Walmart, Target and my local grocery store, Rouses Market. Here’s the rundown on Ibotta in case you’ve never heard of it:
Find your favorite stores on Ibotta.
Scroll through each store and look for items that you need/normally purchase. Mark these items. The app will tell you how much cashback you will receive after purchasing the items.
Go shopping! Look specifically for the items you found in the Ibotta app. IMPORTANT: Save your receipt.
Scan your receipt with the Ibotta app. Ibotta will automatically find the items you marked and you’ll receive cash back via PayPal or Venmo (your choice)
Ibotta also gives you the option to turn your cashback into gift cards for plenty of popular stores!