Apps That Give Back

I will keep this list updated as I find more apps.

Apps That Pay You To Shop

Checkout 51 - I love finding new ways to save, and this one was a great find!  This app is easy and fun to use.  Every week they change the offers, so you have from Thursday - Wednesday every week to claim the current offers, then they're gone and new ones come out.  It's very simple.  Check out what offers they have, buy the items AT ANY STORE, submit your receipt and you're done!  Once they verify your receipt, they add the money to your account.  Currently the cash out option is once you have $20 they will send you a check.

CheckPoints - (use code texasmom32 when signing up for an extra 50 points!) Whether you're grocery shopping, hanging out at the mall, or at a café, or even at home you can have fun collecting easy rewards every day in millions of places.  (Available for Android or iPhone)
COLLECT POINTS: When you’re out shopping, use CheckPoints in your favorite stores to scan barcodes on products like Coca-Cola, Vick's and Olay, and earn points toward great prizes and rewards. When you’re anywhere else, you can try new Apps, watch videos, play games for even more chances to earn points. With CheckPoints, you can pick up points no matter where you are on the map!
GET REWARDED: Redeem your points for fabulous FREE rewards like Amazon.com and Walmart gift cards, American Airlines miles, cool gadgets like popular tablets and gaming systems, and even donations to charities!

Google Express - Making online shopping and saving even easier!  Right now get a $10 credit when you use my referral link!  Get free shipping on a $15 order when you sign up for the free trial (just cancel before 90 days is up if you don't want to continue).  That means you pay just $5 for $15 worth of stuff SHIPPED to your house!

Ibotta - Ibotta is a fantastic app.  It gives you cash back (to your PayPal account or via a Gift Card) for shopping.  Check out what offers they have, they update all the time.  Complete the offers, buy the product, scan the receipt and barcode in the app and send to Ibotta.  Once it's approved, you get money back!  Once you have $20 from Ibotta you can have them send it to your PayPal account or redeem for a giftcard.

MobiSave - Another Rebate app.  Make sure to choose your offers before shopping, or you wont be able to redeem them.

Receipt Hog - Get money for scanning your receipts.  That's it.  Scan your receipts, earn points to trade in for cash or an Amazon Gift card!

Receipt Pal - If you're already using Checkout 51, Ibotta and Receipt Hog, add this one to your list!  Very similar to Receipt Hog (Except that it accepts MORE receipts).  Just scan your receipt and bam, you earn points.

SavingStar - Scan in your receipt or add your loyalty card for instant savings.  Just load offers to your account and go shopping!

Shopkick - Similar to Checkpoints, you get kicks for walking into a store and then scanning specific items around the store.  Super easy to earn Gift Cards!

Apps That Give You Coupons

7-Eleven - Get Freebies, Coupons and more at your local 7-Eleven store

Cartwheel - Target Cartwheel saves you even more when shopping at Target.  Stack with coupons to save even more.

More Apps

Mileup -  GET PAID TO DRIVE!  Yes!  Download and install app, sign up for an account and you're done!  Let the app do the rest!  Get paid for every mile you drive.  Join weekly challenges to earn even more!  

PerkTV - This is probably the EASIEST way to earn money online.  Get paid to watch ads on your phone or other mobile device.  You can install this app on up to 5 devices her account (and have 5 accounts per household) and sit back and watch the rewards stack up!  For every two ads you watch, you will earn points which can be redeemed for gift cards or PayPal.

Also, another great way to earn money is by testing apps!  I get $5-$10 an app at www.thebetafamily.com.

Plink - Another Great Way To Earn Gift Cards!

9/18/13 (keep reading for updated post)

So, I've had my Plink account for awhile but have just recently decided to start using it.  I'm not sure why I waiting so long, it's actually a pretty sweet deal.  You sign up with Plink and link your bank account.  Then you choose which stores to put in your "wallet" (Dollar General, Sears, 7-Eleven, Dunkin Donuts, Burger King, etc) and when you shop at those stores, using that linked bank account to pay, you will earn points!  Pretty simple!  Once you have 500 points (which is easy to do), then you can get a $5 gift card for Amazon, Walmart, iTunes, and more.  I recently received an email from them and got 50 points just for downloading the Dunkin Donuts app.  That much closer to a gift card.  :)

Sign up here and start earning those gift cards today!

10/16/13 (keep reading for updated post)

I've been using Plink now for about a month and I've earned $15 in gift cards.  I haven't gone anywhere special or anywhere I wasn't already planning on going.  So, an extra $15 back just for my regular shopping??  Totally awesome in my book!  If we dined out more, I would have earned a lot more points!  They have some great restaurants where you can earn points (Outback Steakhouse, Red Robin, Quiznos and even Burger King if you do fast food!).  But, I earned most of my points at Dollar General (where I coupon), 7-Eleven (we frequent there for drinks and gas), Sears (did some online shopping) and Staples (needed some ink and printer paper).

Sign up for Plink today and get a FREE $5 Gift Card just for signing up!

Using Plink couldn't be easier.  You just link it to your checking account and go shopping.  I like this because it isn't linked to a specific card but the bank account itself (so my husband or I can earn points with our own debit cards).  Plink uses the same level of security that your bank does, so your information is safe.

Updated 11/22/13

Still loving Plink!  I now am one small purchase away from having enough for a $25 Gift Card.  It seems they are no longer doing the $5 promotion when you join, but I still highly recommend giving them a shot!  Every little bit ads up.  I think my favorite thing about Plink is that you can use it with other promotions (Like MrRebates, Ebates, MyPoints, Ibotta, etc) and double up on your savings!