For a lot of our first time Smartphone users, upgrading from a basic push button flip phone to a smart device is a huge step and also a big investment. There are the obvious benefits of being able to connect with friends or family using things like video chat or sharing photos, but is there anything that the device can do to help recoup some of the increases in monthly and the upfront investment?
Many of our customers, especially those on a strict budget or fixed income are always happy to learn from us that there are several different ways they may be able to use their new Smartphone to not only save money, but in some cases to be earning money, by mostly doing some of the same things they already do or wanted to do to begin with.
Search for Information Online
Aside from using social media to connect with loved ones, one of the most requested topics from our store’s customized one-to-one tutorial sessions is how to search for information. Wouldn’t it be great to be able to not only find the information you need, but to also earn points and rewards for doing so?
Earn Points and Redeem for $ Gift Cards for Everyday Searches
Well, there’s an app for that! Everybody who is using a PC is likely familiar with Microsoft Windows, right? That same company created the Microsoft Bing Rewards app where you can earn points and redeem for gift cards and other merchandise by simply using it for things like your everyday searches.
You may use your existing email address to register for a Microsoft account if you don’t already have one, so don’t worry about setting up or dealing with a new email address when you get started.
Who knew that gaining new knowledge or finding your next favourite local restaurant or event could become profitable? To give you an idea, several people who started using this regularly have told us that they typically earn about $50 in gift cards every 3-6 months!
How much you could earn would depend on the number of searches and other activities that you do using the app, but the main thing for most people is that they are not going out of the way to do anything they don’t already want to be doing on their new device. So for those who perform fewer activities on the app, even getting $50 in gift cards at the end of each year or so, is still a pretty nice Christmas present.
Save Money on Food & Groceries
Finding information is something that many Smartphone users want to do, but did you know that you can use the same device to find savings for some of life’s necessities like buying food and groceries. Everybody’s got to eat, so spending less on nourishments would definitely help improve your family’s budget.
Well, what if we told you that you could not only save money, but you could also play a part in helping the environment and reducing carbon emissions & energy by reducing the amount of good food that may be otherwise be wasted?
Fresh produce and groceries & transported to your local store will have its carbon footprint regardless if it gets sold or not. Cooking and making prepared foods consumes energy and contributes to greenhouse gas emissions as well.
Today, we’ll share a couple of apps that could do good for your budget and also for the environment as well. Let’s start with one of my favourites, because as a busy city dweller, I often buy prepared foods to save time and minimize the stress of cleaning up.
Prepared Foods That’s Too Good To Go to Waste
The name of this app fits very well and it’s called Too Good To Go. Using this app, you’ll be able to find foods that are too good to go to waste and most items that are listed are worth 2-3 times the value that you pay. So if you spend $5, then you’ll likely be getting something that is normally worth about $15 at regular retail prices.
Browse this app to find baked goods, drinks, prepared foods, groceries and more that are available in stores in your local area. Most of the items are extra food made on the same day or the day before that are still quite fresh to enjoy. Some items may be expiring soon, so you’ll want to eat those quickly.
Especially for baked goods where most stores may give you larger amounts that may be more than what you can finish right away, you may consider storing any extra amounts in your freezer so they last even longer!
If you’re looking to stock up on food, check the app on days with bad weather (when it’s raining or snowing heavily) and you’ll likely find even more delicious food you can try out or get some to stock your fridge/freezer.
Grocery Items on Clearance
For those of you looking for deli, meats, fruits, vegetables, other grocery items or pet food that are on clearance, there’s another app called Flashfood that you’ll want to use. Many larger grocery chains or pet stores that you may find in your local neighbourhood are likely listing clearance items on this app, and very often you may find items that are 50% off or more!
It’s not often that you’ll see this, but there was one time where I was able to buy a bag of 6 bagels for only 25 cents! For most items you buy using this app, it’s best to cook and eat them the same day you buy them if it’s possible. Otherwise, use your best judgement to finish all the food before they spoil.
Save Money on Gas
Many of you may already know that gas prices often change after midnight, so there’s usually a difference in pricing from one day to another. However, did you also know that there may be differences in pricing on the same day between different gas stations in your local area?
There’s an app for that! GasBuddy is an app where users in your local areas are able to post prices available at gas stations they visit or pass by. All of the gas stations in your area can be viewed on a map with the most recent price that’s been shared, so you’ll be able to determine which gas station near you may have a cheaper price.
If you’re using this app, please make sure to share prices that you see as well to help more of your neighbours make better decisions when purchasing gas. It’s always a good idea to tap on the station to look at the “last updated” date/time before you head over there, because sometimes it might not be very current!
Gas Stations with Loyalty Programs
When you fill up at your usual gas station, it is a good idea to see if they have any type of loyalty programs where you may be able to earn points towards discounts on gas or car washes.
Some programs like the Journie Rewards program allow you to get discounts on gas when you get started, and additional discounts if you use certain credit cards to pay for your purchases. You may also earn points towards other rewards and treats, plus they may often have additional “Save X¢/L” discounts that may pop up from time to time.
I really like this particular app, because it tells me how much money I’ve saved on each transaction and also gives me an accumulated lifetime total, so that I can easily see how it helped my budget over time.
Earn $ Cashback for Shopping Online
For those of you who shop online, the Rakuten app allows you to shop at many of the places you may already be spending money at, but offers you a cashback $ or % just by using the links from the app to access the official websites you buy from.
Personally, I haven’t changed my habits where I make my purchases, but being able to earn some money back is definitely much appreciated. You can get your “Big Fat Cheque” paid out by Interac e-Transfer, cheque or even PayPal!
If you pivot to purchasing mostly at the online retailers you earn cashback from, then you may be able to earn even more money that can go back in to your bank account.
Save/Earn About $300-$500 Per Year
While working on this article, I did a quick tally and of the money I’ve saved (or earned) throughout the year simply by adapting my daily habits and using the few apps mentioned here, on average it’s about $300-$500 per year that I’ve been able to put back in to my pockets.
In one year where I spent more money, I was able to get back closer to $800 in savings, and another year was closer to $200 in earnings when I was very frugal.
How much can you save by using the apps and methods we’ve shared with you in this bulletin? If you’ve found this information useful, don’t forget to click the share buttons to send to your friends and family so that they may be able to learn more as well.
