Money-Saving Apps: Ibotta

*Disclaimer: Links provided include my referral code. All opinions expressed are my own. 

One frugal tip I have for anyone with a smart phone is to find apps that help pay YOU to use them. The good thing about such apps, is that there are many that help you earn some money by scanning receipts, getting your steps in, or get rebates back on items you'd normally purchase.

An app I use often is called Ibotta.


To use Ibotta, you open the app and select the store you're going to shop at. You can also use it for online purchase by using the app to go to the store's website.

Check through the list of things you can get a rebate on, many times there are "any brand" items that include produce, meat, or dairy products! Every so often there's an "any item" rebate for 25 cents, that adds up if you use it for each shopping trip!

Sometimes after I'm done shopping I check the app to see if anything I bought would be matched fro a rebate, but I suggest checking beforehand while you make your list if you're not brand-loyal. You can make a note to check and see if the brand available for the rebate is the better price or not. Then you scan your apps, select the rebates you've qualified for, and wait on getting that money back.

You'll be able to transfer that money back to gift cards to retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and more.

My only complaint is that in my area I can't use Ibotta for Aldi. I do most of my shopping at Aldi because of their amazing products and prices, so my Ibotta rewards come from trips to Walmart, Kroger, or other stores to pick up the few things Aldi doesn't carry. If you shop at those stores normally, you would probably get even more money back from Ibotta.

Save it Saturday- Endorse

One of the best ways to save money, is to earn it back on things you'd buy anyway. That's what Endorse does. It is an app that you download to your smartphone, and upload pictures of your receipts to after you're done shopping. New offers are available on Thursdays and you have 6 days from when you make a purchase to upload your receipt (though I do it the day of since it is just easier that way for me).

I was able to try Endorse as a BzzAgent, but have kept using it since the campaign ended. I haven't earned a lot back, but everything I have earned has been on products I was going to buy already- so to me it is worthwhile to use it. Every little bit I save (or earn back) helps! The link above is my referral link, if you refer people you earn $1 if they download the app, so once you've tried it you can refer friends and earn even more :)

Homework with Technology.

One struggle we face each day is homework. I have a 3rd grader and 1st grader and the homework they have varies. It can be hard to help both at the same time and I feel like I'm constantly bouncing back and forth.

One solution I've had for this is to let one of them use my iPod Touch while I work with the other. I've downloaded a few educational games for them so that this time is productive, and so far it has made it easier to focus on one child without having the other lose time that could be spend practicing needed skills.

I'm struggling with good apps for my 3rd grader though. I want to keep it to the free apps, so I guess for now it'll be trial and error until we find the ones that work best for us.

Have you found any great educational apps? I'd love to hear about them (especially if they are free!).