#WorthRevisit: Money Saving Phone Apps

The New Year is right around the corner! With that in mind, I have been focusing on what I want out of this new year and how I can accomplish it. Financial stability is something I have been attempting to achieve for the past several years and I have finally started making headway. These apps I have used for close to a year and I am very happy with the results of my savings adventure. You are still able to use coupons and capitalize on the great sales and then be rewarded with these cash-back options. You will hopefully be pleasantly surprised with some of the exciting plans I have for my blog this upcoming New Year. This is my post I am sharing with Reconciled to You and Theology is a Verb for the #WorthRevisit:

Money Saving Phone Apps

With the season of Lent, I often think back to New Years when I create New Years Resolutions. One of my New Years Resolutions was to save more money on my families budget... especially groceries, clothes and our entertainment. In my quest to become a savvy saver, I have found many phone apps that assist me with my goal!

SavingStar:  I love this app! It has many cash back options on not only grocery items for a family household but hygiene and cleaning products too. Sometimes it can take a while to get your receipts processed but SavingStar offers a weekly HEALTHY OFFER and FREEBIES! Once you reach a $5 balance you can have the money transferred into your PayPal account! Another cool aspect is that you can link your loyalty cards to your SavingStar account.

MobiSave: This is the easiest app to use because once you claim a cash back offer and it is approved, the money is automatically transferred into your PayPal account no matter how small the rebate! Instant gratification always makes me motivated...especially when it comes to saving money! Please use my Promo Code when you sign up! The Promo Code is: LOASXCTS

Ibotta: This app has the greatest assortment of cash back items available at a time. It also includes... WINE! One of the coolest ways to make money from this sight is to collect bonuses by referring friends and creating a team. The site has monthly team challenge bonuses that you receive when you claim a certain number of rebates or reach a set monetary amount for the month! If you click the link and join you will be joining my team and they offer a signup bonus too! You get a $10 bonus for joining my team! In addition to team bonuses, you can reach other bonuses with purchasing similar products or purchasing the same item several times throughout a period of time. This was one of the first Cash Back apps I tried and I am hooked!

Checkout 51: This is similar to MobiSave except you must reach a $20 savings balance before you can redeem your cash back. Although it is hard to wait, having an extra $20 to spend on whatever you want is really nice! You also have to save the products to your MobiSave account prior to purchasing them to be able to redeem the offers.

Receipt Hog: This is the easiest way to make some extra money! All you do is take a picture of your receipts from shopping, eating out, even getting gas! After you take a picture of your receipt you are given either coins or a chance to play the "Hog Slots". Once you reach a certain number of coins you can redeem either an Amazon or PayPal credit! Every receipt also enters you into a monthly drawing to win even more money!

Find&Save: This app I just found about a month ago and I already have received over $25 in "Cash Dash" Money! Look through the Cash Dash Offers and you will see that you get money just because you spent it! For example, I went grocery shopping at Safeway and I selected an offer for money back on my Safeway receipt. The requirements were that I needed to spend at least $75 and I could receive 3% of my total receipt back! This app does have a $25 cash out requirement but unlike several of the other money saving sites, they will automatically transfer the money into PayPal when you reach the finish line! My SHARE CODE for this site is 65JF

BerryCart: I highly recommend this site to those who have strict dietary needs or purchase grocery items that are Non-GMO, Vegan and Organic products! As I mentioned before, my family and I like to use "healthier" items when they are available and not too pricey, so this app helps me out a lot! My youngest son is also ADHD and products with red and blue dyes affect his behavior so sometimes these types of products are a necessity for me as well. 

Favado: I use this app to create my weekly meal plan and grocery list! It contains the weekly ads to all my favorite shopping locations and even tells me when there is a coupon available to help me save even more on the great deals that are being offered for the week. I am not a great coupons so having the app tell me there is one available, I can normally print it off coupons.com or from the store website. Knowing is half the battle!

Shopmium: I actually just found this app by a referral and I have not had a chance to use the app yet so I will have to come back with my observations a little later. If you are interested in trying this out please use the REFERRAL CODE: KMCCCYMU to receive a FREE LINDT CHOCOLATE BAR :)

Shrink: This is similar to BerryCart but is offers a larger variety of healthy and unique product rebates! They offer a signup bonus that is equivalent to $1 (1,000 Shrink points). This app works like Receipt Hog, except you gain Shrink points instead of coins, and they are redeemed for cash back or you can claim cash back with the listed products as well! Please use the REFERRAL CODE: MXJXMX to receive your first 1,000 Shrink points!

I know there is A LOT of information here but I hope it helps you put a little more money back into your pockets :) There are other ways I use my phone to help me save and earn money but I'll save that for another time. 

Transform Your Life Thursday Challenge

Normally on Thursdays I participate in an amazing linkup called {pretty, happy, funny, real}. I learned today that the linkup may be discontinued, which makes me a little sad but I understand the importance of having a balance within your life and I am sure that hosting linkups on a weekly basis can take up a lot of time. I loved having a day to sit and contemplate the blessings I received everyday through my friends, family and experiences. The realization that there may not be anymore {pretty, happy, funny, real} made me rethink what I wanted to share today. 

I am a planner. I like to have my workouts, meals, prayer time and anything else important written down so I am accountable and don't make the mistake of overbooking my day. I honestly believe that you have to plan to succeed, otherwise you are planning to fail. Let's make us all accountable for our goals. I am challenging myself and anyone else who would like to join me in a Transform Your Life Thursday Challenge. I might even turn this into a linkup if I have enough interest. I am working on some printable now. For now let's discuss the rules so that this can be used as a tool for you to reach the life you want.

Rules for Transform Your Life Thursday:

1. Set Short Term Goals

Pick one area of your life you would like to transform. I suggest picking one because you do not want to overwhelm yourself and as time progresses you can make other goals. Here are a few suggestions:

Faith: Weekly/Daily Mass, Prayer Journal, Daily Prayers, Etc.

Family: Daily Dinner, Weekly Outings, Game Nights, Etc. 

Fitness: Meals, Completing Workouts, Measurements, Before/After Pictures Etc.

Financial: Savings Plan, Credit Card/ Bill Repayment, Vacation Fund Etc.

**You don't have to share these unless you want to; Goals are important but can be very personal.**

2. Create A Plan

What are you changing in your everyday life to make progress?

How are you going to bridge the gap between meeting goals?

How will you keep yourself accountable?

What do you need to succeed?

Do you need help?

3. Follow Through Each Week

Stick to your Faith, Family, Fitness, Financial Plans.

Do not be discouraged if you have a bad day or don't reach your goals right away. 

Everyday is a new day and a fresh start! If you keep trying, you will reach your goals.

If part of your process isn't working, try something else until you find what works for you.

4. Start Your Plan This Upcoming Monday

Planning for the future gives you time to gather what you need to be successful: prayer journal, planner, healthy recipes, a piggy bank or whatever you need to succeed and you have the entire weekend to be productive and get ready!

Write everything down in your planner, journal or in a place that you can reference often.

It has been proven that if you keep your goals within eyesight, it will help you overcome obstacles that can slow your progress. 

5. Celebrate Your Success

You deserve a reward when you reach a goal! Find something to reward yourself with at the end of your challenge and be accountable; if you don't stay consistent, wait on rewarding yourself.

My goal for this Transform Your Life Thursday Challenge is to be consistent with my workouts. 

I will go to the gym at least 4 times this upcoming week.

I will weight lift each visit to the gym.

I will run at least 2 miles each workout and must be added to Nike Plus.

I will take pictures at the end of each workout to hold myself accountable.

When I reach my goal, my reward will be a yummy dessert of my choosing!

Next week I will post about my progress and whether I succeeded in reaching my goal. If I was unsuccessful I will repeat my same goal. I will choose another goal next week (only if I am successful) and follow the same process. I would suggest picking a new goal from a different aspect of your life. I know this process will create a healthy routine and help me transform my life one Thursday at a time. I would really love some feedback and see who wants to be a part of Transform Your Life Thursday Challenge. If you want to share your goals or anything please add them in the comments and I will see about a linkup!

God Bless!

This is for the Let's Get Real Party 

Money Saving Phone Apps

With the season of Lent, I often think back to New Years when I create New Years Resolutions. One of my New Years Resolutions was to save more money on my families budget... especially groceries, clothes and our entertainment. In my quest to become a save saver, I have found many phone apps that assist me with my goal!

SavingStar:  I love this app! It has many cash back options on not only grocery items for a family household but hygiene and cleaning products too. Sometimes it can take a while to get your receipts processed but SavingStar offers a weekly HEALTHY OFFER and FREEBIES! Once you reach a $5 balance you can have the money transferred into your PayPal account! Another cool aspect is that you can link your loyalty cards to your SavingStar account.

MobiSave: This is the easiest app to use because once you claim a cash back offer and it is approved, the money is automatically transferred into your PayPal account no matter how small the rebate! Instant gratification always makes me motivated...especially when it comes to saving money!

Ibotta: This app has the greatest assortment of cash back items available at a time. It also includes... WINE! One of the coolest ways to make money from this sight is to collect bonuses by referring friends and creating a team. The site has monthly team challenge bonuses that you receive when you claim a certain number of rebates or reach a set monetary amount for the month! If you click the link and join you will be joining my team and they offer a signup bonus too! You get a $10 bonus for joining my team! In addition to team bonuses, you can reach other bonuses with purchasing similar products or purchasing the same item several times throughout a period of time. This was one of the first Cash Back apps I tried and I am hooked!

Checkout 51: This is similar to MobiSave except you must reach a $20 savings balance before you can redeem your cash back. Although it is hard to wait, having an extra $20 to spend on whatever you want is really nice!

Snap: Just like Checkout 51, Snap by groupon needs a $20 savings balance to redeem your cash back. However, on March 1, 2016 the app will be updated and to be honest I am not sure how it will work other than it will incorporate retail specific discounts versus product specific. Either way Groupon is a great company and I am sure this will still be a great app to use as a money-saver!

Receipt Hog: This is the easiest way to make some extra money! All you do is take a picture of your receipts from shopping, eating out, even getting gas! After you take a picture of your receipt you are given either coins or a chance to play the "Hog Slots". Once you reach a certain number of coins you can redeem either an Amazon or PayPal credit! Every receipt also enters you into a monthly drawing to win even more money!

Find&Save: This app I just found about a month ago and I already have received over $25 in "Cash Dash" Money! Look through the Cash Dash Offers and you will see that you get money just because you spent it! For example, I went grocery shopping at Safeway and I selected an offer for money back on my Safeway receipt. The requirements were that I needed to spend at least $75 and I could receive 3% of my total receipt back! This app does have a $25 cash out requirement but unlike several of the other money saving sites, they will automatically transfer the money into PayPal when you reach the finish line! My SHARE CODE for this site is 65JF

BerryCart: I highly recommend this site to those who have strict dietary needs or purchase grocery items that are Non-GMO, Vegan and Organic products! As I mentioned before, my family and I like to use "healthier" items when they are available and not too pricey, so this app helps me out a lot! My youngest son is also ADHD and products with red and blue dyes affect his behavior so sometimes these types of products are a necessity for me as well. 

Favado: I use this app to create my weekly meal plan and grocery list! It contains the weekly ads to all my favorite shopping locations and even tells me when there is a coupon available to help me save even more on the great deals that are being offered for the week. I am not a great coupons so having the app tell me there is one available, I can normally print it off coupons.com or from the store website. Knowing is half the battle!

Shopmium: I actually just found this app by a referral and I have not had a chance to use the app yet so I will have to come back with my observations a little later. If you are interested in trying this out please use the REFERRAL CODE: KMCCCYMU to receive a FREE LINDT CHOCOLATE BAR :)

Shrink: This is similar to BerryCart but is offers a larger variety of healthy and unique product rebates! They offer a signup bonus that is equivalent to $1 (1,000 Shrink points). This app works like Receipt Hog, except you gain Shrink points instead of coins, and they are redeemed for cash back or you can claim cash back with the listed products as well! Please use the REFERRAL CODE: MXJXMX to receive your first 1,000 Shrink points!

I know there is A LOT of information here but I hope it helps you put a little more money back into your pockets :) There are other ways I use my phone to help me save and earn money but I'll save that for another time.