Why spend more when you can spend less?
This question is not merely a thought to ponder but a fundamental principle that every practical and economical person follows. And it is pretty relevant in today’s society, where online shopping has become the new norm.
Unfortunately, online shopping has become so popular that many online shops and e-commerce sites would do anything – to the point of faking reviews – to sell more. Even online deals today are questionable.
So, how can you spend less when you shop online?
Thankfully, there are cashback and couponing apps that can help you save during online shopping. And here are the top six apps that we know will help you get a big bang for your buck and grow your wallet.
Upside
Upside is a legitimate cashback app that started in 2016. It allows users to save money mainly on gas purchases and, depending on your area, groceries, restaurants, and convenience stores.
Some of the best things about Upside is that it’s easy to use and doesn’t require any information about your credit card or bank account. You only need to download the app, create an account and start claiming offers. Once you claim an offer and make a purchase, you need to upload the receipt to get your cashback.
The app will notify you when the cashback is already in your account. Then, you can cash out through Paypal, directly to your bank account, or a digital gift card.
Pros: It’s an excellent option for local purchases on gas, restaurants, groceries, and convenience stores, where payouts are quick, easy, and on-demand. You also enjoy a fee-free payout on Paypal for a minimum of $15 or on your bank account for $10. Or you can build your cashback as a savings account and use it only when you’re ready.
Cons: Unfortunately, not all businesses participate in Upside. And those that do can rotate on and off, depending on your location.
Dosh
Dosh has been one of the most popular cashback apps since its launch in late 2017. With its “set it and forget it” process, users can set up an account and let the app do the work. All that’s left for you is to shop as you usually would. No more couponing, scanning or uploading receipts, and keying in promo codes.
However, when you set up your account, you need to link your credit card before you can start shopping. But don’t worry. The app doesn’t store your information, so it’s safe from being accessed by third parties.
Pros: It’s an easy way of enjoying cashback without the hassle of selecting offers, scanning receipts, and other usual procedures.
Cons: It doesn’t work with cash spending, so you must link your credit card first. But unfortunately, some cards don’t work with Dosh.
Target
If you want a more rewarding Target run, then it’s time you use Target Circle Rewards in the Target app. With the hundreds of deals offered through this platform, you’ll surely find one that will give you the savings you want.
And to search for the perfect deal, you can sort them by the discount amount. So, if you want to save as much as 50%, you can easily go through the different deals offering this discount value.
Of course, we’re not saying you should buy things just because of the huge savings you get. But when you stick to your shopping list, you’ll surely enjoy savings because Target offers 1% cashback on specific purchases. You can even earn as much as a 5% discount when you use the Target Debit Card or the RedCard.
But to earn these perks, you must first add coupons to your account before shopping.
Pros: You can get more savings using the RedCard and search through deals easily by sorting them by discount value.
Cons: It requires coupons, so you must add them to the app first.
Ibotta
It is one of the best apps for earning cashback for regular online and in-store purchases. And it works for gift cards, too. But do note that its cashback offers vary depending on the brand or store you buy from, and it can influence you into purchasing certain brands because of the significant discounts. So, stick to your budget if you want to save.
Aside from making money, you can also get welcome bonuses as perks using Ibotta. But of course, you need to download the app first, then add the offers you want to use before shopping. Once you purchase something, you must scan the receipt to receive your cashback.
Pros: You can get cash back from online, in-store purchases, and even gift cards.
Cons: It requires several steps, such as adding the offers of your choice and uploading receipts, before you earn cashback. Plus, you’ll see ads while using the app.
Rakuten
If you want to get as much as 10% cashback from stores you usually shop at, then Rakuten is the app for you. As long as you use its link for online shopping, the opportunity for savings is tremendous.
What’s even better about Rakuten is that it shows you cheaper options for things you’re already looking at. However, you need to use the browser extension to enjoy this feature. And it also offers an amazing sign-up bonus of $10 cashback when you spend $25 within three months.
But remember, you only get to cash out your savings every three months. After that, you can send it to your PayPal or ask for a paper check.
Pros: You can enjoy significant savings from cashback and sign-up bonuses. And you can see the cheapest deals for items you plan on buying.
Cons: Unfortunately, Rakuten only allows payouts every three months.
Honey
When the best deals for things you plan on buying are what you want, the app or browser extension Honey is the best tool. It’s easy to use since it’s the one that searches the web for discounts, promos, and deals for you. You can also use it on your iPhone as the Honey Mobile Safari Extension.
So, you get cashback with Honey Gold and enjoy an automatic coupon application to your shopping cart. What more do you want? It’s so easy to use that it even alerts you of cheaper options when browsing the app. On top of these, Honey tests coupons for you so you can see the actual savings you get.
And if you don’t want to buy something at full price, you can add it to the Droplist, and Honey will alert you if they’re on sale.
Pros: Honey does all the work, from automatically applying coupons and showing you the best deals to giving you cashback.
Cons: The cashback you get may not be as big as those from other apps.
Using the above apps will surely help you spend less when shopping online.
Of course, there are hundreds more apps to consider that you can explore today. And when you find the right one that suits your habits and lifestyle, there’s no stopping the significant savings you get from it.
And if you’re on the hunt for more ways to find “hidden money” in your budget, you can reach out to Carefree Bookkeeping.
We’ll provide an initial complimentary Discovery Call about your goals and then schedule a Discover Audit and Review of your accounts with a customized plan to help you reach your financial goals this year.
LOOKING FOR MORE GREAT WAYS TO SAVE?
Check out our recent article about reducing the pain at the pump!
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