Welcome to Ask the Couponing Pros, our recurring column featuring Heather and Joanie from The Krazy Coupon Lady. Have a question for the ladies? Post them with the hashtag #aycouponquestions and they might get featured here!
QUESTION: What are your favorite couponing or savings apps?
ANSWER: I love to save money. Who doesn’t, right? As an avid couponer, I was really happy to discover that now I can save even more on my grocery and household purchases by using rebate apps on my smartphone. What’s even better is that they are super quick and easy to use.
My favorite apps for money-saving opportunities are Checkout 51 and Ibotta. I use these apps to not only earn cash back on my everyday grocery purchases, but as a way to combine their rebate offers with coupons for extra savings.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
The first time I heard about rebate apps, my mind went to what most people think of when they hear the word “rebate” — a form to fill out, a receipt to mail and four to six weeks worth of waiting for the money. I’m already a busy person, so I don’t want to go through a lot of steps in order save $1 or less. My immediate thought was that these apps aren’t worth my time or effort. I thought wrong.
Rebate apps like Checkout 51 and Ibotta allow you to earn cash by purchasing certain products. With Checkout 51, you simply access the app, find products you already buy, purchase them then scan the receipt. Voila, money is added to your account! Ibotta is similar in that you find the products you want to buy, “discover” the product to unlock the value of the offer, purchase it, scan your receipt and AGAIN — money is added to your account.
Another bonus to using rebate apps is that you don’t have to cut or print coupons! Talk about convenience! New items are offered on a weekly basis and they’re typically brands that we know and trust.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Here’s where it gets good. Last week, I bought a bottle of Wish-Bone Italian Dressing— normally priced at $1.98 — for only $0.23! I used a $1 printable coupon and purchased the dressing for $0.98 at checkout. After my purchase, I accessed the Ibotta app, selected the product I just paid for, read a quick description of it (which unlocked my savings), and then took a picture of my receipt. In less than a minute after clicking submit, I was shown a credit for $0.75, which means that I paid a total of only $0.23 for dressing my family loves.
Show me the money. You;re probably wondering where the rebate is and how fast you’ll get it. Simple. With each app there is a set amount that you must accumulate before you’re eligible for payout. Most often it’s $5. Once that amount is met, you can request that your money be deposited into your PayPal or bank account. I use my rebate apps as a savings account and let my cash-back amounts reach up to $20 before requesting payment. It’s like having a secret savings account! To date, I have $27.50 in my Checkout 51 account — and that’s in just four weeks of using the app. Earning $27.50 for only having to complete a few steps is clearly well worth it.
Today, it seems like there’s an app for everything and yes, it can get overwhelming. However, these two apps are incredibly simple to use and are my favorites when it comes to couponing. With user-friendly technology like this, saving money on everyday purchases just got easier.
— Heather and Joanie, The Krazy Coupon Lady
You Might Also Like:
New! Checkout 51: Earn Cash Back on Groceries, No Smartphone Necessary! »
Earn Cash for Buying Groceries In-Store at Major Retailers Using the iBotta Mobile App! »
Use Your PayPal Account as a Savings Account with These 3 Cash Back Apps »
Photo credit: Sam Edwards/Getty Images
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
