So why not use free cash back apps in order to make your shopping trips even more affordable?

With cash back apps, you shop and redeem your purchases. As soon as you reach the app’s threshold, you can deposit the money back into your bank account – and let’s be honest – who doesn’t love receiving cash back for their purchases?

Here are some of the best cash back apps available – the first five alone could get you $50 if you sign up using our links!.

1) Ibotta

 
Everyone needs to purchase groceries – but you can lower your grocery bill by using Ibotta.

Gone are the days of old school coupons at the grocery store. Ibotta now lets you “clip” virtual coupons, all from the convenience of your smartphone. All you have to do is open up the app before going to the grocery store, claim the offers you would like, and then go shopping. Once you’re finished with your purchasing, you can snap a picture of your receipt. The app will then tally what they owe you in cash back offers.

Ibotta has deals from most major supermarkets, including Kroger, Walmart, Target, Best Buy, Safeway, and more. Once you redeem $20 worth of offers, you can transfer the money to your bank.

2) Rakuten

 
One of the most popular cash back sites and apps is Rakuten, which used to be called Ebates. There are two ways to receive cash back through Rakuten. First, you can shop on your favorite websites online, and Rakuten will automatically search for discounts and coupon codes to apply – no extra work is required on your end. Or, you can log into the app, search for offers, and shop through the app.

Both methods are incredibly easy to use. Once you hit at least $5.01 in cash back offers, you can receive payment through Rakuten.

3) Swagbucks

 
Swagbucks is one of the original shopping websites. With the Swagbucks app, you get “swagbucks” for completing specific tasks through the app, such as taking surveys, playing games, and watching advertisements.

The “Swagbucks” you earn can be redeemed for gift cards or cash back. Each “swagbuck” equals about one cent, but they add up more quickly than you would realize.

4) BeFrugal

 
BeFrugal is one of the biggest cash back sites, and they have a great app to accompany it. BeFrugal works with over 5,000 retailers, so you can be sure you will find a coupon for whatever you are searching for.

With BeFrugal, you receive cash back whenever you make a purchase through one of the retailers through their app. You can redeem the cash back either by PayPal, check, direct deposit, or a gift card.

5) Acorns Found Money

 
You may be familiar with the popular investment website, Acorns, but you may not have heard of their newest app called Acorns Found Money.

Found Money is truly a one-of-a-kind app. Like many apps, you can shop through various retailers in order to receive cash in return. But instead of the typical cash back offers, instead, it will provide you with additional investment cash to be used with Acorns.

Truly, what could be better than automatically investing money you received in return for common, everyday purchases?

Note that this is within the Acorns app, not a separate app.

6) Mr. Rebates

 
Mr. Rebates is another one of the bigger cash back sites out there. Mr. Rebates has thousands of brands and retailers that it offers cash back rewards for.

Mr. Rebates isn’t complicated. Like other cash back sites, you click through their link to a specific retailer or brand’s website, and 1-3 days after the product ships the rebate is reported. But it’s not just physical products. They work with online retailers like Hotels.com to offer rebates for online purchases.

7) Dosh

 
Dosh is perhaps one of the simplest cash back apps available today. In order to use the app, all you have to do is download it to your smartphone, securely link it to a credit card, and start racking in the points.

Every time you use your linked credit cards, you have the potential to receive 1-10% cash back. There are no hoops to jump through, either – you simply swipe and check your app!

8) Checkout 51

 
Checkout 51 is another cash back app for grocery stores. But the best thing about the app? You can redeem offers from any grocery store.

Once a week, the app will list about 50 new offers for various food products. No matter where you purchase the product, you can redeem it for the cash back it offers on the app. In order to receive your cash, you must redeem at least $20 worth of offers.

9) Fetch Rewards

 
Fetch rewards is one of the newer apps on the market. They specialize in cash back offers from your favorite grocery stores. Instead of having to clip coupons, like you have to with apps like Ibotta, you simply redeem your receipt. After that, you will be rewarded with points.

No matter where you shop, you can snap a picture of your receipt. In turn, your points can be redeemed for gift cards.

10) Makeena

 
Makeena is a fairly new cash back app that specializes in healthy and eco-friendly products. For anyone who makes it a point to purchase mindful products, you won’t want to miss out on the deals offered by Makeena. Even if you don’t always buy eco-products, Makeena provides great deals that makes purchasing friendlier products more affordable.

Makeena can be used both in stores and online.

11) Trunow

 
Does anyone enjoy paying for fuel? Gas is pricey, but necessary, no matter how little you commute. Trunow is a unique app that gives you cash back on just fuel purchases. Every time you fill up at the pump, you will receive an automatic 1% cash back in your app.

Not only does Trunow provide cash back offers, but it is an excellent app to help you find the cheapest gas near you.

 
Too many to choose from? It can’t hurt to sign up for all of them. Then, whichever is offering the best rebate at any given time is the one you should use.

 
Read about DC’s hack to get the most cash back possible when shopping online.
 
 

Traditional coupons can certainly help to lower your expenses, but can be a hassle to use. Clipping coupons and planning out a shopping trip can take hours, causing some people to give up on coupons altogether.

Fortunately, there are easier ways to save without sorting through thousands of coupons each week. Nowadays, you can find digital coupons for products you actually need. These coupon sites are actually easy to use and can quickly save you money without much effort on your part.

1) Ebates

 
Instead of offering coupons, Ebates provides cash back on many online purchases you make. Their site partners with a large network of retailers, such as Amazon, Lowe’s, Nordstrom, Groupon, Walmart, Kohl’s, and many more.

The best part of Ebates is that consumers do not have to shop directly on the Ebates site. A shopper simply logs into Ebates, searches for retailers who are offering cash back, and is then directed to the retailer’s website. If shoppers make a purchase, they then will receive cash back through Ebates. Cash back ranges from 1 to 40 percent of the total purchase, depending on the retailer.

Ebates is free and easy to use. Currently, they are running a promotion for every new Ebates customer. When you sign up using this link you will receive a $10 Walmart gift card or $10 Ebates credit after you spend $25 or more at qualifying Ebates merchants within 90 days of becoming a member.

Related:

• Ebates Review: Earn Cash Back on Regular Purchases

2) Groupon

 
Instead of providing discounts on just products, Groupon is unique in that you can find discounts on vacations, activities, hotels, and more.

Personally, if I am looking to try something new, I always go to Groupon first. For instance, if I’m looking for a new hairstylist, I check to see what stylists advertise on Groupon. Many stylists will list their services on Groupon for up to 95% off their regular price for new customers only. If you’re uncertain about trying something new, Groupon provides an affordable introduction a new product or service.

3) BeFrugal

 
BeFrugal offers up to 40 percent cash back at thousands of popular stores. Some merchants commonly featured include Walmart, Best Buy, and even Groupon. With over 5,000 merchants, you’re sure to find a deal on whatever you are looking for.

If you sign up using this link you are eligible to receive a $10 bonus when you earn $10 in cash back. Within the site, Be Frugal offers additional coupons and feature deals to help you save even more money.

4) Coupons.com

 
If you are a traditionalist and enjoy clipping coupons, then check out Coupons.com. They are similar to a coupon circular, except that you can simply search for what product you are looking for, click to “clip” the coupon, and then print out the coupons at home. You can then take your coupons into any participating store and use like normal.

I appreciate how easy it is to search their website to find what you are looking for. They split all of their coupons into categories, so you don’t have to waste time shifting through coupons that are of no use to you. Best of all, Coupons.com is free to use. You just need to sign up to start printing coupons.

5) Raise.com

 
Raise isn’t exactly a coupon site, but it does go a long way to helping you save money. On Raise, you can buy (or sell) gift cards at a discounted price.

You don’t often see extraordinary deals on Raise, but if you can purchase a gift card for 5 percent less than it’s value then it’s worth it. Plus, using discounted gift cards in addition to regular couponing can in essence compound your savings.

6) Honey

 
Honey is a relatively new coupon site, but it’s definitely worth checking out. Once you sign up for Honey, it will install in the toolbar of your web browser. Every time you are shopping online, Honey will automatically browse for coupons for anything in your shopping cart. Before you check out, Honey will do a final scan to see if there are any additional coupons or discounts available to use. They will automatically add the best available discount, so you don’t have to do anything else.

I love Honey because I know I will always get the best deals, even when I forget to look for a coupon. It really is that simple.

7) RetailMeNot

 
Before you purchase anything online, be sure to search RetailMeNot first to see if there are any coupons available. RetailMeNot has been around for awhile (since 2006) and was one of the original coupon websites. Today, they have coupons from thousands of retailers, including limited-time coupons.

8) Ibotta

 
With Ibotta, you utilize their app to receive cash back on groceries. While they do occasionally offer cash back on dining and traveling, groceries are the bread and butter of their business (no pun intended).

Ibotta works with most major supermarkets to offer discounts and cash back on every day items. Not only do they partner with most regional grocery stores, but they also partner with box name stores such as Walmart, Target, eBay, Walgreen, Best Buy, Sams Club, and more.

Ibotta lets you “clip” coupons and cash back incentives. One small con of Ibotta is that they require you to answer a brief survey question or watch a short clip in order to claim most coupons. While this doesn’t add much time, it can slow down your progress slightly.

On the other hand, a big pro of Ibotta is their bonus system. If you connect your app to Facebook, you’ll automatically be in a “team” with your Facebook friends who also use the app. You and your team can work together to redeem cash back purchases. As you work together, you will receive bonuses as you reach preset goals. While the bonuses aren’t much, you can occasionally receive a dollar extra here and there for no additional work.

Ibotta is available for both iOS and Android. Once you redeem your first rebate, you will receive a $10 bonus by signing up with this link.

 
Related:

• 5 Best Cash Back Sites to Earn Extra Money

• 10 Bills You Can Lower to Save Money

• 10 Easy Ways to Improve Your Finances Today

• 10 Ways to Save Money on Groceries

 
 

Do you use coupon sites? Why or why not? If you do, what sites are your favorite?
 
 

We thought it would be helpful to share an Ebates review explaining what it is, how it works, and the pros and cons.

Ebates offers cash back for online shopping. They have a large network of retailers who offer you cash back, such as Amazon, Lowe’s, Nordstrom, Groupon, Walmart, Kohl’s, and many more.

What is Ebates?

 
Ebates is essentially an online shopping portal that offers cash back to customers who shop through their site.

But the best part of Ebates is that consumers do not have to shop directly on the Ebates site. A shopper simply logs into Ebates, searches for retailers who are offering cash back, and is then directed to the retailer’s website. If shoppers make a purchase, they then will receive cash back through Ebates.

How Does Ebates Work?

 
Ebates partners with thousands of brands. Anytime customers go to a retailer’s site and purchases a product, Ebates receives commission. Ebates filters that commission back down to you by offering you cash back incentives to shop through their site.

The amount of cash back you receive varies from 1% to 40%, depending on the retailer. Average purchases give between 4-7% cash back.

 
To get started with Ebates, you can simply sign up here for a free Ebates account. You then log in, search for different stores and cash back offers, and begin shopping.

Ebates is currently running a promotion that you will receive a $10 Walmart gift card or $10 Ebates credit after you spend $25 or more at qualifying Ebates merchants within 90 days of becoming a member.

Once you have created your account, you can browse all of the retailers participating in Ebates rebates. Ebates highlights offers that are considered “hot deals,” or retailers who are offering a higher cash back rate for a period of time. And if you are looking for a particular retailer, you can simply search for them and read about their current promotions. You then can click the link and follow through to the retailer’s website to make your purchase.

After you make a purchase, you typically should see your cash back amount in your Ebates account within 48 hours.

How Does Ebates Pay Its Users?

 
Ebates gives you your cash back once a quarter, and 45 days after the end of your earning period.

Ebates pays on the following schedule:

 
In order to be paid, you need to have at least accumulated the minimum payout, which is $5.01 every quarter.

Pros and Cons of Using Ebates

 
For anyone who frequently shops online, Ebates helps you get a few dollars back for most purchases. But, like with anything, Ebates has some drawbacks as well, so here are the pros and cons of Ebates.

• Pro: It’s free to sign up and you get a $10 gift for doing so.

• Con: You have to make at least a $25 within the first 90 days to be eligible for the signup gift.

• Pro: Ebates is easy to use, and even has an extension for Google Chrome, so you can shop and find deals at the same time.

• Con: They only pay you quarterly, so you have to wait for 3 months before you can receive a check.

• Pro: You can use coupons with Ebates cash back offers, resulting in even more money saved.

• Con: There is a minimum balance of $5.01 in order to get paid every quarter.

• Pro: Ebates is secure, safe, and legitimate.

• Con: It can be a challenge to always remember to login to Ebates before you purchase, but that is where the Google Chrome extension really helps.

Even if you are not a huge shopper, it doesn’t hurt to sign up, download the Google Chrome extension, and use it when you need to make an online purchase.

Is Ebates Worth It?

 
Since Ebates is free to use, it is completely worth it to use it anytime you are shopping online.

You can earn as much as 40% back on some purchases, so you should take advantage of it whenever you want to buy something online. You can get started with Ebates right now by clicking here.

Ebates has been around for many years, and is considered by many to be one of the first affiliate networks. While Ebates won’t make you rich, it certainly doesn’t hurt to get a few dollars back from a purchase you would have made anyway. After all, it’s money you otherwise wouldn’t have.

Sign up for Ebates using this link and receive a $10 welcome bonus after you spend $25 or more at qualifying Ebates merchants (Amazon, Kohl’s, Walmart, and many more) within 90 days of becoming a member.

 
 
Have you ever used Ebates? If so, what are your thoughts? Where are your favorite retailers to shop online?d
 
 

There are months when I look back on grocery spending and I’m shocked by the number. So, I did some digging into what the average American spends on groceries, to hopefully make myself feel better….

What did I find out? Turns out groceries are a spendy pain-in-the side for many people, accounting for the second highest household expense, according to gobankingrates.com. In their survey of How Americans Budget for Groceries, they found that men spend around $290 per month, and women spend $323 per month on groceries.

So, it sounds like many of my fellow readers are in the same boat, and looking for ways to keep healthy food on the table while saving some money. I’ve compiled ten of my favorite tips to save money on groceries.

1) Understand Store Psychology

 
You may think that the signage, food placement and colors you see in a grocery store are happenstance, but there’s something else going on underneath the surface. Grocery stores are using psychology and behavioral science to influence your shopping experience.

Ever wonder why fragrant fruits, flowers and baked goods are placed at the front of the store when you walk in? These smells not only put you in a better mood, but they trigger your salivary glands, making you more prone to buy more.

A few other tricks include:

• Placing staples (like bread and milk) at opposite ends of the store, to encourage you to walk through the store

• Putting the most expensive items at eye-level so you see them first

• Placing impulse purchases like candy and gum at the check-out lane

2) Plan Your Meals and Make a List

 
One of the best ways to avoid spending traps is to be prepared and stick to a plan. Try to plan at least a few big meals in advance so you know exactly what to shop for. I like to plan at least one or two big meals that I can make on the weekend and have for lunch during the week. I’ve found crockpot recipes to be the easiest and cheapest way to save on food.

Make sure you check your pantry before you leave so that you don’t buy things you already have. Try using an app like Out of Milk, to help you sync up shopping lists with your partner.

3) Buy In-Season Produce

 
There’s a reason why strawberry prices double in the winter – they’re out of season. Try to choose recipes that use seasonal ingredients to save on money. Not only will they cost less, but in-season produce is typically more flavorful.

Some examples of in-season produce include:

• Winter – Apples, Oranges, Grapefruit, and Root Vegetables

• Spring – Asparagus, apricots, broccoli, lettuce, strawberries

• Summer – Bell peppers, berries, cantaloupe, corn, peaches, tomatoes

• Fall – Cabbage, cranberries, grapes, kale, onions, pears, potatoes

4) Look at Unit Price

 
My dad, who has worked in a grocery warehouse for many years, actually taught me this one! Don’t be fooled by sales signs – sometimes the best deal isn’t actually advertised. To really see which option has the lowest price, look at the unit price on the label.

This will show you how the product is priced per ounce. That way, you can easily see the cost comparison against different sized products and really get the best deal.

5) Know Which Organic Items are Worth the Money

 
While you should try to buy organic whenever possible for a number of reasons, I know it’s not always feasible with the price tag. So, educate yourself on the items that are worth the splurge. Here are the so-called “Dirty Dozen” that carry the highest pesticide residue, according to the Environmental Working Group:

• Strawberries

• Apples

• Nectarines

• Peaches

• Celery

• Grapes

• Cherries

• Spinach

• Tomatoes

• Sweet bell peppers

• Cherry tomatoes

• Cucumbers

6) Buy These Items in Bulk

 
Some items like apples, spices, canned goods and nuts are best bought in bulk because of their long shelf life and cheaper price per pound. Other good items to buy in bulk include: cheese, dry pasta, oats, and basically any produce that freezes well.

Other items? Not so much. Before buying items in bulk, ask yourself a few questions. Do you have enough storage or freezer space? Do you have recipes in mind that will use the ingredients? Are you really saving money?

7) Use Coupons

 
I personally go back-and-forth with coupons. Sometimes they seem like a great deal and other times I think they just convince me to buy something I don’t really need because of the “deal.”

On the other hand, our editor, David swears by using coupons, and says it has saved him and his wife thousands of dollars on groceries. So, if you’re interested in using this tactic, start with looking at the Sunday newspaper for deals. Or, find coupons online at sites like coupons.com. You can even organize all of your coupons in this awesome Excel download.

8) Beware Convenience Packaging

 
There have been countless times when I’ve walked into the grocery store, tired and hungry after a long day of work and just looking for something fast to whip up for dinner. I usually turn to stir-fry as my go-to quick meal. Just cut up some bell peppers, broccoli and onion and stir-fry with some chicken and teriyaki sauce over a packet of rice. Voila!

On those nights, I’m so so tempted to just grab the pre-cut packages of vegetables, but then I think of 1) the wasted plastic ending up in our oceans and, 2) the extraordinary price mark-up. Is that really worth it for 5 minutes worth of elbow-grease?

9) Eat all of your food

 
According to USA Today, the average U.S. household trashes about $640 worth of groceries per year. That’s not chump-change! And, it has a much bigger affect on the environment. Food waste makes up more than 20% of what’s in landfills and is a significant source of methane gas as it rots, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to Earth’s warming.

Do the earth a solid, and don’t waste your money. Try to buy the appropriate amount of food and get creative with using left-overs. If you don’t think you’ll be able to use your left-overs right away, freeze them!

10) Don’t Shop Hungry

 
We’ve all heard this common piece of advice, but did you know there’s scientific research to back it up? Being hungry amps up your desire to acquire things, according to new research from the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management.

Try having a snack before you hit the grocery store. You may end up spending a lot less money … and successfully backing away from the donut case.

 
I hope you found this post on grocery savings tips helpful! Do you have any that you would add to the list? Which tip is your favorite
 
 

And it’s true. In theory, the idea of spending less leaves you with more money in savings at the end of the month.

But is frugality really worth it?

In many, if not most instances, being frugal requires a significant amount of time to really make a positive impact on your finances. Is the time spent practicing frugality really going to improve your budget?

Considering Opportunity Cost

 
One prime example of frugality vs. time is couponing. Most of the time, in order to save any notable amount of money through couponing, people spend hours scouring ads for the latest deals and coupons. Some even take it to the extreme and purchase coupons and spend hours a day clipping, organizing, and planning out their shopping trip.

And often times, these trips result in scoring hundreds of dollars of groceries for nearly free. Was it worth it? Maybe.

To consider if frugality is really worth the time involved, you can estimate what you earn per hour of working to obtain frugality by doing simple math. To demonstrate, say you spent an hour clipping coupons and saved $5 at the store. That’s an average hourly rate of $5 per hour, which is significantly below minimum wage.

Frugality may be worth it if you have no opportunity cost. If you have no other means of earning money and have unlimited time, then frugality could be a great option.

But as we know, there are a plethora of ways you can side hustle and earn extra money. Is saving $5 for an hour of work clipping coupons worth it when you could be spending that time earning an extra $10, $20, or even $50 an hour by side hustling or finding a higher paying job?

When Frugality is Worth It

 
All of this isn’t to say that frugality can be worth it, even for people who are extremely busy. There are some instances of frugality that can pay off significantly over a course of time. For example, calling to ask for a discount on your cell phone or internet bill could be well worth it. Sure, it it can require a long phone conversation with your provider, but the monthly savings could be worth it. For example, say you were on the phone with your cellular provider for an hour but could talk them into giving you a $10 a month discount. That adds up to a $120 a year savings, all for one hour of work.

You can also exercise frugality by choosing to cook at home instead of going out to eat. Each takes about the same amount of time. Instead of spending $30 by going out to eat for two people, you can cook at home for $5 or so total. That decision earns you $25 per hour or so.

There are also a number of ways you can practice frugality that take very little time. You can turn off the lights when you leave a room. You can eat lunch at work instead of driving home and save on gas. You can sign up for grocery store membership cards in order to save money. These little decisions might not save you a lot of money in the long-run, but they also don’t require much time or thought. The best thing we can do to practice frugality is to tune into our everyday habits.

Constantly auditing your expenses takes very little time, but it can keep your lifestyle at as small of a cost as possible. This is true frugality.

Are there alternatives to frugality?

 
One of the biggest issues with frugality is that it is limited. There is only so much money you can save by trying to be frugal. Some extreme couponers might argue this concept, but in most cases, extreme couponers aren’t purchasing simply what they need for nearly free. They have to purchase mass quantities of a product and stock up in order for couponing to be effective. Many times, they have to buy products they didn’t even want or need in order to utilize the coupon.

On the other hand, earning extra money is limitless. Instead of focusing on saving every penny you can, you can spend your time trying to earn as much extra money as you can. The best part about earning more money versus saving money through frugality is that earning money empowers you and your finances instead of restricting it.

As someone who has tried both frugality and earning more, I can personally attest to this. I certainly don’t think couponing is bad. If I happen to have a coupon for a product I use, I will clip it and use it. But I also know that I can earn significantly more money through side hustles than I could save through extreme frugality. And it’s much more fun to focus on earning more instead of penny-pinching.

Anyone can make extra money through side hustles. You can start a blog or start your own freelance writing, lawn care, babysitting, photography, or other type of business. The possibilities and income potential are limitless.

The Point of Frugality

 
This post isn’t to dismiss frugality in its entirety. In fact, adopting a frugal lifestyle is one of the best ways to take control of your finances and live a secure life for the long-term. But frugality is only one factor in the equation.

Yes, we can control our spending, but we can also control our income. And growing income can offer more stability and financial advancement than extreme frugality can. Plus, working a side hustle offers many additional benefits, such as increased skill, developing a community of people you work alongside, and more.

Consider how you are spending your time. Frugality may be of some benefit to you, but it may also be time to evaluate how your time is used most effectively in order to achieve wealth.

 
 
What are your thoughts on frugality? Is it worth the time required? What other tactics do you use to build wealth (ie side hustles, investing, etc)?
 
 

You check it dozens of times per day for messages, emails, and using apps. We like being in the know at all times of the day and viewing in on things when it’s convenient.

When it comes to managing our money, we hold the same state of mind. We want tools made for simplicity, usefulness, and being able to manage our money on our own schedules. Managing your money doesn’t have be time consuming or involve lots of paperwork.

There are plenty of personal finance apps to help you actually improve your life, on your own schedule. Here is a list of some of the best apps to improve your finances.

1) TILLER

 
If you’re a lover of spreadsheet budgeting, then you’ll love Tiller. Tiller is an online tool that securely links to your bank account and automatically pulls your transactions into a Google sheet, which is Google’s version of an excel spreadsheet. Tiller has a selection of templates including a simple to use budgeting template, net worth tracker, values driven budgeting, family budgeting and more.

After signing up for a 30-day free trial, you choose a template and can add spending categories. Tiller will automatically import all of your transactions into a template to give you a clear picture of where your money is going. A weekly expense trackers allows you to keep a closer eye on your weekly spending.

Availability: Web-based

Cost: $5/month; free 30-day trial

2) QAPITAL

 
Qapital is a goal based savings automation app. When you first set up an account, you open a Qapital savings account and link your other current bank accounts. With your accounts linked, the app analyzes your spending patterns and starts making small automatic transfers to your savings account.

Qapital rounds up your purchases to the nearest dollar and deposits the spare change into your savings account. This isn’t the only feature. Qapital allows you to create several different savings goals and make anything into a savings trigger.

You can create savings goals for anything you want like saving for a vacation or to pay off debt. To hit your savings goals, you create rules, which are based on hitting a certain amount in your account or depositing a certain amount.

To help get impulsive spending under control, the app has a “guilty pleasure rule”. With this feature, you’re able to create a rule to save whenever you give in for a guilty pleasure. Is McDonald’s your guilty pleasure? Create a rule to save a few bucks every time you make a purchase there.

Cost: FREE

Availability: iOS and Android

3) Debitize

 
Debitize is a payment automation tool that allows you to combine the benefits of credit cards and debit cards. It monitors your credit cards for any purchases, then deducts the amount from your checking account each day. When your credit card payment is due, Debitize automatically pulls money from your account to pay for it, on time.

Debitize allows you to reap the benefits of credit card rewards without the temptation to go into credit card debt. The credit optimization feature keeps your credit utilization low, an important factor in your FICO credit score.

Cost: Free

Availability: Web-based

4) Ebates

 
Ebates is a website where you can earn cash back for shopping online. You can shop through the Ebates portal at many different stores like Amazon, Walmart, Macy’s, and more.

When you shop at a store through Ebates and make a purchase, you earn cash back. When you sign up, you receive a $10 cash back bonus. You can have your cash back paid out via a check or paypal payment.

Cost: Free

Availability: Web-based, iOS, and Android

5) Venmo

 
Splitting bills no longer has to be a long complicated process. Venmo is a money transfer app that allows people to transfer money from one another for things like charging for services, splitting bills, or anything else.

It combines your personal contacts and bank information so you can easily send or charge payments to friends or someone else. Did you split a $20 Uber ride with your friend over the weekend? You can send them a payment for $10 using Venmo.

All transactions made on Vemno are public, seen by your personal contacts via your Venmo newsfeed The newsfeed item shows who sent the payment, who received the payment and what it was for. If you prefer to send money privately, you can disable the feature.

Cost: Free

Availability: iOS and Android

BONUS: Retail Me Not

 
You don’t have to go crazy clipping coupons or opening a dozen browser tabs in order to find the best deals. Retail Me Not is a website that compiles coupon offers from around web and makes them more easily accessible by shoppers. Through the website, you can browse for coupon offers, product deals, and cashback offers.

Shopping is simple and easy with the Retail Me Not app. Download the app and search for items you are looking for to uncover any deals or offers.

Cost: Free

Availability: Web-based, iOS, and Android

Improving your finances doesn’t have to be a time consuming process. Several finance apps integrate with things you’re probably already doing like shopping online. Rather than the old school pen and paper, you can use finance apps on the go and at your convenience. Money management has never been easier.

 
 
What personal finance apps have helped improve your finances? Have you tried any of the ones listed?
 
 

When it comes to maximizing your cash back earnings, you have two options: use a cash back credit card, or try a cash back website. Mind you, you could also try both.

An issue some people have with using cash back credit cards is that they can tempt you to overspend in the hopes of earning more cash back. For cards that have rotating cash back categories, you may feel pressured to spend more money on Amazon or at restaurants during one-quarter just so you can earn more rewards.

This type of mindset can easily backfire and even put you in debt. If you want less risk and more reward, you should consider using a cash back website especially if the rewards rate is better.

Here are 5 of the best cash back websites to try out.

1) Ebates

 
Ebates rewards you with cash back for everyday online shopping. Currently, they offer cash back at more than 1,200 online stores. The cash back rate can vary but usually averages around 2% – 8%. Sometimes, they have promotions that provide double or triple cash back at certain stores.

To start earning cash back, you just need to sign up for Ebates then search for stores you wish to shop at to see if they have a cash back offer. Once you click on the offer, you’ll be redirected to the site and you can shop as you normally would and earn cash back through Ebates.

Sometimes it’s hard to remember to use Ebates when you’re shopping online, which is why I’d recommend downloading the browser extension on your computer so Ebates can notify you when you’re visiting a website that has a cash back offer. Then, all you have to do it opt in.

Ebates pays out cash quarterly via check, PayPal deposit or gift to a charity or family member as long as you have at least $5 in your account.

When you sign up for Ebates under their current promotion (ending on 3/31/2017), you’ll get a $10.

2) Swagbucks

 
I’ve been mentioning Swagbucks a lot lately so I won’t dwell too much on it this time, but if you haven’t tried it yet, you’re really missing out. Swagbucks is one of the best sites to use to earn extra money without contributing a ton of time and effort on your end.

When it comes to their cash back offers, you can earn rewards from regular online shopping you do just like with Ebates. I’d even recommend comparing the two to see which one will give you more cash back before you place an online order.

Swagbucks will reward you in either points per dollar spent or a flat cash back rate. You can redeem your points on Swagbucks for gift cards or for cash via PayPal.

Unlike Ebates which pays you quarterly, you can redeem Swagbucks earnings whenever you have enough points to purchase one of their gift cards.

3) Be Frugal

 
Be Frugal is another cash back site that offers cash back on over 5,000 stores. Be Frugal guarantees to provide the highest rate for cash back and also allows you to stack coupons with their offers to save more.

Be Frugal tends to have a higher cash back rate than other websites for certain stores, but it does vary throughout their offerings. Once you earn at least $25 in cash back with Be Frugal, you can request a payment via PayPal, gift card, or by check (as long as you live in the U.S.).

4) Ibotta

 
Ibotta is another shopping cash back website that lets you earn money back on in-person purchases you make as opposed to solely online purchases. Ibotta also claims to have better deals than clipping coupons will get you.

To start earning cash back, you need to download the app and search for rebates that are useful to you. To unlock the rebate, you may be asked to complete a simple task. Once you’ve done that, the rebate will be applied to your account.

All you need to do next is go shopping as you normally would, save your receipt, and upload it to Ibotta to verify your purchase. Ibotta pays out quickly and sends you the value of your rebates in cash 24-hours later via PayPal or Venmo or you can choose to receive a gift card.

5) Shop At Home

 
Shop at Home allows you to earn cash back for shopping online at more than 55,000 different stores. On their site, they claim to offer up to 70% cash back but the average is more around 5-8%. Shop at Home also identifies coupons that stores are currently offering so you can take advantage of the savings when you shop.

Cash back earnings tend to post to your account within a few hours but could take up to 30 days depending on the verification process.

Once you reach an account balance of at least $20, you can request payment via check, Amazon gift card, or PayPal. Payments are submitted at the end of the month so you could receive a payment monthly from this site if you use it consistently.

Summary

 
Cash back sites are a great way to earn money back on purchases you normally make without having to take too much time out of your day to manually look through coupons or research deals. Whenever you shop online or at a participating store (for Ibotta) you can enjoy the same cash back benefits that many rewards credit card holders receive.

If you already have a cash back credit card, you can certainly use it to make your online purchases through one of these sites and maximize your cash back earnings.

To ensure you’re receiving cash back, be sure to sign into one of the websites mentioned above and make sure you are either redirected to the online store of your choice or opt in online to earn cash back so your purchase will count.

 
 
How often do you shop online? Have you ever used any of these websites? Do you prefer to use cash back sites, cash back credit cards, or a combination of both?