Apps and Websites
Rakuten – cost- and commitment-free; typically about 2% to 10% returned in cash.
Sign Up Now and get $30 cash back to start!
SocialNature – one of my favorite websites for savings is being a product tester on SocialNature. It takes 2 minutes to sign-up, and then you are on your way to choosing free products you would like to test. These are mostly (healthy) food items. They promptly send coupons in the mail to try the product for free. The coupons typically have a long expiration date of 6 months – year+. I collect them and every 3 months or so redeem them all at once. My husband laughs, as I return from stores like Whole Foods and Target with multiple shopping bags with a $0 receipt.
Fetch – take pictures of every receipt you have (print and online) to collect points redeemable for gift cards, merchandise and sweepstakes. Also, on a daily basis, with a receipt scan, a slot machine game pops up to earn extra points!
You can choose to link store accounts such as Amazon and Walmart e-receipts , and email accounts, for automatic earnings.
I’ve been using Fetch for a few months now, and already have almost 53,000 points, which is enough for a $50 eGift card!
Sign up for free with my referral code (W2P3F) and we’ll each earn points when you snap your first receipt.
Amazon Shopper Panel App – upload 10 receipts per month for a max of $10 and take eligible surveys when they pop up in the app. I complete this the first of each month so I don’t forget. I save receipts in a file folder the month prior, paperclip them, and label “[Month Name] – AmzShopper”.
You can join the panel by downloading the app from either the App Store or the Google Play Store. You can check if space is currently available, and if not, you can join the waitlist and will be notified.
ShopSmart – get 10% back from more than 1,000 online stores for $10 a month
FreeShipping.com – earn 10% cash back plus rebates on shipping, returns and price adjustments for a mere $13 per month
Get Paid to Watch TV! – this is my favorite side hustle so far.
I’ve made money off watching TV shows such as the Golden Bachelor and Republican debates. It’s all random shows and you get to pick your sessions. So easy!
If you are interested in joining, this one is a referral-only program, so just send me and email at MommyLifeSimplified@gmail.com , and I’ll send you the panel link!
Savings Tips
Need to purchase a big-ticket item like a sofa or mattress? Wait for super sales over Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, LaborDay or Black Friday for the best discounts and rebates.
Utilize Upromise for a $30 bonus – Simply sign-up for an account for free and claim a $30 in instant welcome bonuses. They have a 4.4 Trustpilot score, and if you want to use the account after the bonus, it’s a great way to save on everyday purchases.
Take Customer Service Surveys – After shopping, check your receipt or email for a survey that often reward participants with a discount or a freebie.
Ask for a Price Adjustment – Bought something right before a big sale? Retailers Nordstrom and Gap will often pay the difference for items marked down within 14 days of your purchase.
Ask for a Price Match – Before you buy anything in a store, check the pricing online. If a competitor or the store’s website has a it listed for less, show a sales associate. Most retailers will match the cheaper price rather than risk you walking out.
Ask for a Floor Model – Save 25% or more on opened or slightly scuffed appliances or furniture.
Search Online for Coupons – Before you check out, do a quick web search for “discount code” or “promo code” and retailer name. You can use deal aggregators like SlickDeals or RetailMeNot or browser extensions like Honey or CapitalOne Shopping to automatically scan savings for you.
So far I’ve saved $247 with CapitalOne Shopping in 2 months, it’s so easy!
I would love to hear from you in the comments! Which of these saving(s) tips and apps are your favorite?
Become a Member – Take advantage of being part of a special club. For example, with Target Redcard, you get 5% off all purchases plus free shipping.
Store-specific reward programs like J.Crew, Starbucks and Nordstrom are free, and you accrue store credits with each transaction.
Opt for White Appliances -Stainless steel or high-end finishes can add $100 or more to the cost.
Amazon Savings
Shop the Warehouse – At amazon.com/warehousedeals, you can get steep discounts on like-new, open-box and pre-owned merch and new products with damaged packaging.
I bought my son’s Amazon Tablet and Toni this way, and he’s had them for over a year, and they work great.
Clip Amazon coupons – Head to amazon.com/coupons for applicable savings organized nicely by category.
Visit the Amazon Outlet – At amazon.com/outlet, you can get markdowns on overstock or clearance, beauty, clothing, home items and furniture. They even have an under $10 section.
Subscribe & Save – For monthly staples, schedule automatic shipments. After a designated amount of items scheduled on the same day, you get 15% off and free shipping.
For example, I have all of my cat’s cat food flavors and her litter come this way, and save 15% off all of them each month.
Have any additions or comments to add?
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Mommy Life Simplified 