Who would have thought that you can make money for shopping? Well, you can if you use cash back apps. Sounds a little counter-intuitive though, doesn’t it? To earn money, you need to spend money. The thing is you need to buy groceries at least bi-weekly, new clothing, and various household items, so why not earn free money for purchasing the things you need.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cash Back Apps
What are cash back apps?
Cash back apps are phone applications or browser extensions that pay you for purchasing specific products, shopping at certain stores, or just scanning receipts.
How are the apps able to give cash back?
Most of the cash back apps work by having a partnership with companies and merchants to help drive traffic to their businesses. By encouraging you to shop there, the app receives a commission which they then share a portion with you.
Can I use multiple apps at the same time?
It depends on the purchase you are making. Some apps require you to make purchases through their specific portal and that can make it difficult to combine with other offers. Other apps that require scanning receipts may have similar deals that can be redeemed on multiple platforms. You will have to do your research when it comes to the specific purchases you and your family typically make.
Can I use coupons and cash back together?
Yes definitely! I am always a fan of combining deals together to get the most bang for your buck. Use coupons while you are at your local grocery store and then scan your receipts after to possibly save even more money.
How do I get paid for using cash back apps?
This varies between each of the apps. Some will award you points that can be redeemed for gift cards or PayPal credits. Others will give you rebates that can be deposited directly in your bank account or mailed to you as a check.
How long does it take to get paid?
Each app is unique depending on how they choose to payout rewards. Some require a minimum threshold before you can receive a payment, and other payout on a quarterly basis. Check into the help center for the specifics of the apps you choose to use.
5 Cash Back Apps You Can You Start Today
Ibotta
Ibotta is an app that connects you with grocery rebates for items you already buy! Before heading to the store check your grocery list for items that may have rebates in the store and add them to your account by clicking the check mark. Then just complete your shopping trip like normal. After finishing your transaction, scan your receipt into the app and the rebates will automatically apply. Cashback usually posts to your account within about 24 hours.
Be sure to check for extra rebates that let you try products for free! There have even been a few times the rebate value was more than the cost of the item, and I used this extra change to help cover the cost of other groceries such as fresh fruits and vegetables. Ibotta also has a great referral program so be sure to tell all your friends about it! Sign up now with my referral link for a bonus $10 when you join today.
Fetch Rewards
Fetch rewards is a phone app that allows you to scan your receipts from any store or restaurant and earn points towards gifts and other rewards. What is unique about this app is you can really scan any receipt, even if it is not one of their brand partners. You will receive 25 points for every receipt scanned plus bonus points for any items listed on the app. They also run promotions frequently to help you earn rewards faster, so check back often. In just my first week of using it I had already earned a $3 gift card for scanning my regular receipts! This app is quick and easy to use, especially for those wanting a simple cash back app. Sign up here or on your phone and use the code R62Q9 to receive 2,000 bonus points to get you close to your first reward!
Shopkick
Shopkick is a great cash back app that rewards you for shopping in-store and online. The app works like other cashback phone apps by giving you money back when your purchases through a linked card or scanning a receipt in the form of what are called “kicks”. Through the app you can see how many kicks you will earn for each purchase and then redeem your kicks for e-gift cards to various merchants.
The best part is you don’t have to make purchases to earn kicks! The app credits you for simply walking in the store (make sure your location is enabled) and then scanning various items throughout the store during your shopping trip. This is a great way to make some money without having to spend anything. Just take a few extra minutes to find items with kicks near your shopping list items or turn it in to a scavenger hunt for your kids! Either way you can have a blast while earning gift cards to spend in the future.
Shopkick states most users earn enough for a free gift card in just one week. If you sign up using this link you will earn 250 kicks to start you off on the right track!
Honey
Honey is one of my favorite browser extensions to use when trying to save money on online purchases. And it is so easy to use! It automatically searches for and tests the best available coupon codes at checkout on more than 30,000 online shopping sites and can help you earn cash back on qualifying purchases.
Simply download the extension on to your most frequently used internet browser and forget about it. Currently Honey is compatible with Chrome, Firefox, Opera, and Edge internet browsers. Each time you enter the cart portion of an online website affiliated with Honey, a small window will appear in the top right corner. If it does not automatically appear you can click on the orange Honey icon to manually show the window. If any are found it will ask you if you want to try to apply all recently used coupons codes to your purchase. Click apply coupons and the bot will do its magic! It will attempt each coupon code and decide which gives you the best deal. So simple right? If none of the codes apply to your specific purchase it will let you know as well.
Honey also launched a reward system called Honey Gold. This is a free rewards program that lets you earn Gold points towards cash back or gift cards on your eligible purchases. When you shop at participating Honey partners, you get the chance to earn these rewards. Similar to the coupon codes, if there is a potential for Gold rewards the window will alert you. Simple click the box to activate the rewards and the rewards will be posted to your account as pending points within 2-14 days of the purchase. These points will remain as pending for approximately 60-90 days until your purchase is confirmed by the merchant. This accounts for potential returns or refunds made for the transaction.
Once you have earned enough gold rewards, you can redeem it for an e-gift card, a PayPal shopping credit, or cash through PayPal. You typically will need at least 1,000 Gold Rewards points or $10 worth to start the redemption process.
While it may take some time to earn the rewards, you can start saving money almost immediately with the Honey Rewards program. Click this link to start saving today!
Rakuten
Formerly known as Ebates, Rakuten is another browser extension that allows you to receive exclusive discounts and cash back using their applications. It also will alert you to coupon codes and addition discounts through a drop-down menu. Just download the extension, start shopping, and earn cash back! Different from Honey, Rakuten pays you quarterly if your balance is more than $5. You can receive this payment either through PayPal or a check in the mail. If you sign up now with this link you can earn a $30 New Member Bonus by making $25 worth of qualifying purchases in the first 90 days of membership. You can even link your credit or debit card to continue earning rewards when shopping in-store. It is so easy and great way to earn some spare money!
If you want a further break down of all the perks and benefits of Rakuten, check out my guide here.
These cash back apps are a great way to earn money and save a lot while shopping for the things you would normally purchase. Earning cash back is definitely not a get rich quick scheme, but it can help lower you monthly expensive if you take the time. How much you earn depends on how much time you have and the effort you can put into it. Pick and choose what best fits with your family! Soon enough you will see how easy it can be to save a little here and there to get you one step closer to your financial goals.