Let us face it – saving money can be challenging. You have bills to pay, and knowing all the shopping deals is almost impossible.
Thankfully, we live in a modern age where money-saving apps can do a lot of the hard work for us, and it turns out that some are nothing short of amazing!
Rakuten
Rakuten is our first app to list, and it is one of the most popular money-saving apps for a good reason – it works! Most of us shop online, which is where Rakuten works its magic.
Rakuten consists of two parts: an app and a browser extension that you can install, and once you have done so, it can interface with over 3500 online stores to get cash back on your purchases.
This can include making hotel or travel reservations, buying clothes, or getting groceries.
It can even be linked to your debit or credit card for qualifying purchases in various stores or dining out. Once you have made a qualifying purchase, it is noted in your account, and once you reach a total of $5 or more, you can set it to send you the cash via check or a quarterly PayPal.
It is a great app when you need to do a little shopping.
Upside
Gas is at a premium these days, and filling your tank can be somewhat depressing – if only there were a way to save. Upside answers the call with the app, allowing you to earn a little cash back on your gas, restaurant, convenience store, and grocery purchases with each call.
All you need to do is download the app and register, and Upside will sync with your location, showing you a map of offers at supported locations that will give you cash back on your purchases.
As a bonus, if you refer a friend, there is an icon that looks like a gift box, and when your friends make purchases with the app, thank you gifts from Upside will be sent to your own app. Not a bad deal at all.
ShopSavvy
Do you like to comparison shop? Unfortunately, doing it online or around town can take up much of your time. The folks at ShopSavvy understand that and have offered a solution in the form of a handy app.
To use ShopSavvy, you must install the app and scan the barcode of an item you want when you are out shopping. Then, the app will instantly tell you where to find the item locally and in online stores. In addition, you will get pricing information and information about the product, ratings, and reviews.
If you spend a lot of time comparing prices, this is a money-saving app you will want to try. Once installed, see if you can find a better deal than the app, but we do not think you will.
PayPal Honey
Have you ever purchased an item, only to find out five minutes later that you could have saved money with an easy-to-find coupon?
PayPal Honey is designed to help you avoid that mistake and is a sight to see.
It comes in the form of an app and a browser extension, and when you purchase an item, PayPal Honey will look for promotion codes and coupons to get you a discount immediately.
They also give you points when you shop at participating retailers, which you can redeem for gift cards.
You save money immediately on your purchase, and you will get some freebies after enough purchases. It is a good deal, in our opinion. So, give PayPal Honey a whirl and see what happens. You will be happy that you did.
GoodRx
Prescription drugs are EXPENSIVE and can make your wallet a lonely place, indeed. GoodRx earns its keep by helping you save on medications you need. It is also free to use and does not require registration. So, how does it work?
- Well, you download and install the GoodRx app on your smartphone and type in the name of a medication you are using.
- After that, GoodRx will search for that medication, providing you with a list of locations and the best deals available for what you need.
- Sometimes, it can even produce a coupon for you that you can print up or simply present on checkout from your app and discount medication!
The app is worthwhile considering that prescription drug prices can sometimes vary as much as $100, based on location.
If you have insurance, GoodRx coupons will not apply. However, it can still help you. This is because the app is good enough at its job that it often finds you medication that is even cheaper than your deductible and will also check for generics. So if you spend a lot on medication, this app can be a godsend.
Raise
Some of us have that friend who always likes to get us gift cards on special occasions, but they always seem to be for places we don’t like to use. This is where Raise shines by allowing you to use that card well.
What it does is that Raise acts as a broker for buying and selling gift cards, and you can list an unwanted card on the site and sell it.
Then, with your proceeds, you can purchase a gift card that you like at a discount. Fancy a $25 gift card from Amazon for only $20?
You can find them with discounts of 1% up to 30%.
They deduct a $1 fee to list your card and will take a 15% commission once it is sold, so you won’t get the total value of your card, but you can balance that out by exchanging the unwanted card and for one that you like.
Did we mention that you can also sell partially-used cards?
Raise allows you to sell cards with a remaining balance, just as you would with a brand-new card. Many of us have gift cards like these that we use once or twice, which tend to expire unused.
By utilizing Raise, you can sell new or used ones and save money by making purchases with gift cards that you like. Not a bad deal at all!
Some final words
There you have it – the cream of the crop. With Rakuten, you can get cash back online, Upside will save you money on gas, and ShopSavvy can save you both time and money by doing your comparison shopping for you.
PayPal Honey can help you get discounts at checkout, GoodRx helps put a dent in medical bills, and Raise will help you turn those unwanted gift cards into ones you will use. There is a wide assortment of money-saving apps, so try one or more and see what you think.
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