Saving money can seem impossible sometimes. We all want things we don’t necessarily need, so we end up spending money when we don’t even have to (I know I do). Luckily, thanks to technology, there’s plenty of ways to save money without too much conscious effort. While this is not financial advice and I’m no expert, I amall about grabbing a deal and snatching a sale, so, here’s a few ways I save my precious coins.
Reward programs are probably one of the best inventions of all time. Who wouldn’t want rewards for the purchases they would make regardless of any incentive? Now I will warn you, this particular reward program does have a catch—it’s a credit card-based reward program. This reward program gives you at least 1% cash back on all purchases. So, this means every time you swipe your card, you’re literally getting rewarded with cash. The Chase Freedom credit card was my very first credit card and by far one of my favorites. There’s even a Chase Rewards online store where you can spend your hard-earned reward points in various ways. Here’s a few snazzy examples:
Buying gift cards to your favorite stores (+ online stores)
Getting cash-back (yes, you literally get cashback) based on points earned
Applying points as a credit card statement credit (meaning you can use the rewards to pay your credit card bill)
Bonus: Online shopping through the Chase Rewards store can help you earn extra reward points on purchases, simply because you shopped through the Chase Rewards store.
On top of the great rewards, and for new account openers, the Chase Freedom card has no interest for at least a year, which is especially great for college students and those on strict budgets. The Chase Freedom card has low monthly payments throughout the low interest period, giving your wallet plenty of wiggle room. This card can definitely help you save money as long as you use it responsibly. Remember that the reason for the card is to help you save money, not get in debt, so use it very wisely! I’d highly recommend it if you’re looking for a credit card with spending benefits.
To learn more, apply, and start earning points today, go here.
Qapital is definitely one of my top three favorite apps of all time. Qapital helps you save money as you spend it. One way Qapital works is by taking money out of your account every single time you swipe your card and stashing it away in a seperate account. Qapital is basically a savings account, but way cooler. You can also get a Qapital debit card that is solely funded by the money you’ve saved over time. Based on your membership with Qapital, your saving options will vary. There’s three tiers of membership through Qapital. I downloaded the app in the early days, so I was grandfathered into the ‘Master’ membership, which is the highest membership you can get.
Qapital is unique in the way that it gives you complete freedom when saving money.
Qapital has “rules” or guidelines that you can personalize for your specific saving goals. For me, I took a trip to Miami last May and I set a $500 goal through Qapital about 3 months prior to the trip. My two rules were called “Round Up” and “Steps”. The “Round Up” rule meant that every time I swiped my card for a purchase over $2, I saved $2 automatically. The “Steps” rule is my favorite rule because I automatically saved $5 every time I reached 5000 steps in a 24 hour period. Multitasking anyone? There’s over 10 different rules you can apply to your specific saving goals, which you can cater to your liking. Qapital also implemented an investment option, where you can easily invest your savings into stocks, even if you’re a newbie to investing.
To download the amazing, free app and start saving (and investing) today, go here.
Last, but certainly not least is Ibotta (pronounced “I-bought-uh”). This app gives you cash back after you’ve purchased specific items. The cool thing about Ibotta is that most of the items are things you would purchase anyway, so it’s great to get cash back on everyday items. Ibotta also remembers what you’ve purchased in the past and they will show you offers for cash back based on that. Ibotta works with plenty of grocery and convenience stores, so you’ll have no trouble finding a store you regularly shop at. A few stores I usually use Ibotta with are Walmart, Target and my local grocery store, Rouses Market. Here’s the rundown on Ibotta in case you’ve never heard of it:
Find your favorite stores on Ibotta.
Scroll through each store and look for items that you need/normally purchase. Mark these items. The app will tell you how much cash back you will receive after purchasing the items.
Go shopping! Look specifically for the items you found in the Ibotta app. IMPORTANT: Save your receipt.
Scan your receipt with the Ibotta app. Ibotta will automatically find the items you marked and you’ll receive cash back via PayPal or Venmo (your choice)
Ibotta also gives you the option to turn your cash back into gift cards for plenty of popular stores!
Ibotta also started a new campaign called “Pay with Ibotta” where you can upload your debit or credit card and checkout using just your phone. With “Pay with Ibotta” you can use your cash-back as a means to make future purchases.
To save money on future, everyday purchases, go here.
Saving can be super easy with these apps and websites. What are some ways you save money without actually budgeting? Share below!