Go on your normal grocery shopping trips. Scan your receipt after. Get points towards gift cards.No extra fuss. No digital coupons to pre-select or specific stores to go to. It’s perfect for the lazy but smart saver. And it’s called Fetch Rewards, an app where you can scan ANY grocery receipt to get rewards, aka cash.
Scan receipts from supermarkets, neighborhood corner shops, wholesale clubs, drugstores, convenience stores, and even liquor stores. Unlike other apps, you’re not restricted to specific stores. As long as your receipt has any of the thousands of participating products, you’ll earn points to redeem for gift cards. You can start redeeming points for rewards with as little as 3,000 points ($3).
Grab a 2,000 points bonus ($2!) when you enter this referral code: REWARD before you scan your first receipt.
Autopay can be both a blessing and a curse. No more late payments, woohoo! Wait, I’ve been paying for a service that I signed up as a free trial? Ouch. And you wouldn’t be alone. 84% of people forget they have some sort of recurring subscription. So stop letting money slip away and budget smarter with easy-to-use Truebill.
You’ll see all your current subs at a glance and then you can decide which to cancel, which the app does for you. Even that pesky gym membership that’s typically so hard to get out of.
Truebill also has a killer budgeting feature: it pulls your historical spending, organizes it, and allows you to clearly see your spending so you can set a target budget with context. (Aka you can see where you’re wasting money on). Already spending 74% of your dining budget and it’s not even mid-month? Time to cut back and the app will even alert you.
It’s simple but actionable money management that anyone can follow and it’s free to use!
The money is why we work, so getting your pay earlier could mean the difference between paid bills and not. Chime, a fee-free banking service, can process your employer’s direct deposit immediately instead of holding it until official payday. This means you could get your money up to two days faster than your co-workers. Score.
Chime has no monthly fees, no minimum balance requirement, no overdraft fees, and no foreign transaction fees either. It’s also FDIC-insured up to $250,000. Earlier payday and zero hidden fees are the way to go this new year.
Grocery shopping can be a drag. Between prepping a shopping list, cutting coupons to save, and trying not to spend your entire paycheck at the checkout line—it can be pretty stressful. People coupon to cut costs, but it’s time-consuming and frustrating with all the different places to look for them.
An app is here to change that though. It’s easy grocery planning and couponing with Flipp, an app that has all your weekly local store ads and coupons in one place.
Use Flipp to create a shopping list by tapping on the digital ads and clip coupons that match with the items you need. Long gone are the days of having a list in one hand and a stack of coupons in the other; all you need now is your phone. You can search by category, retailer, or item and then ‘clip’ the coupon or load to your store loyalty card – it’s that easy! Flipp also allows you to see trending nearby deals, so you never miss out on a chance to save a little extra dough.
Additionally, you can set reminders for expiring clips to ensure you use them in time. With 1,000+ weekly ads from local retailers and 100+ coupons from brands you love, Flipp has no shortage of saving options!
When you hear “life insurance” the first two things that might come to mind are “death” and “money.” Ultimately it’s “I love you” money to your family after you’ve passed away. So for most people, life insurance is logical, but the long process could be deterring. Some life insurance companies can take up to 2.5 months for the approval process to complete, including lots of paperwork and a comprehensive medical exam, which may not always be necessary
But one company is trying to change all that. Bestow’s mission is to offer affordable term life insurance in under five minutes without you having to talk to anyone. No exam needed either. You can get up to $1 million in coverage and they offer two years, 10 years, and 20 years term options.
All of Bestow’s policies are underwritten by North American Company for Life and Health Insurance, who’s been around for over 100 years and holds an A+ (Superior) rating with A.M. Best, a global credit rating agency for insurance companies.
In plain English terms, it means your policy is backed by dependable insurance giants who have been serving customers for many years. So if you’re between the ages of 21-55, here’s what they’ll ask:
- Your basic information (Name, Email, Address, SSN etc)
- Some Life questions (medical history, hobbies, lifestyle)
- Beneficiaries (who would receive the money after insured’s death)
- Policy and payment details (If approved, you choose the monthly payment and enter credit card info)
Each policy has a “free look” period (usually 30 days) which means you can cancel if it’s not right for you and get a full refund.
And you can easily change your policy at any time based on life events like marriage, job loss, divorce etc. Life insurance talk isn’t fun but Bestow is attempting to make it as easy as possible for people to get covered quickly. Go ahead and see what your rates are in just under five minutes. It’s the biggest “I love you” you can give to your loved ones.
If at any point in your life, you used Uber and thought, “hey, maybe I can do this driving gig too” but didn’t research, you should read this because we’ll break it down for you. You’ll also need to complete certain qualifications to start driving but they’re fairly simple and common-sense. Minimum Driver-Partner qualifications include:
- Be 21 years or older
- Have at least 1 year of licensed driving experience in the U.S. (3 years if under 23 years old)
- Have a valid U.S. driver’s license (of course)
- Can show proof of vehicle registration and insurance
- Complete a background check after sign-up
Car qualifications:
- Be insured
- Have four doors
- Can seat at least four passengers (driver not included)
- (Other requirements exist and requirements vary by location)
Pretty logical, right? You’ll also be able to set your own schedule and work when you want. However, the most important question you might be thinking is: “How much money can I really make though?” The answer really depends on the city you live in, the demand, and how much you want to work as well as managing your time.
Sign up to drive with Uber. Uber Driver-Partners can register for Instant Pay with a debit card and get paid anytime up to 5x a day!
Prepare for those “oh $#@!” moments by letting this smart AI beef up your emergency savings for you. Or your vacation savings. Or your new pair of kicks savings. You won’t even notice it, but Digit will make it happen.
Just link a checking account and their smart algorithm will determine small but safe amounts to withdraw into your separate FDIC-Insured Digit savings account.
Regular savers will get a 1% bonus every three months, netting you some free money! It’s the perfect set-it-and-forget-it app where the AI will watch your savings back. You can withdraw your money at any time you need and it’s free to use for the first 30 days. After, it’s just $2.99 a month.
- Average savings in a month (varies): $144 or more
- What it could add up to in a year: $1,728 or more
- Quarterly bonus: 1% on your total savings amount
- Additional Referral Earnings: $5 per referral
Solitaire Cube is like regular Solitaire, except you get to play for real cash! Is there a catch? Yes, but not really. I tried playing for free when I first started but I realized it would take me forever to get the tickets I need to play for real cash. I gave up and deposited $25 last week and I’ve already won $120.
The game matches you with players of the same skill level, so you have a solid chance of winning. If you’re a good Solitaire player, you could win some serious cash—like Katie Nguyen, who took home $380,984 last year as one of the Top 10 Solitaire Cube players! So if you think you can handle playing some Solitaire Cube to win some legit cash, definitely download this game for free.
Not available in AZ, AR, CT, DE, FL, LA, ME, MD, MT, SC, SD, TN, IN
Anytime you feel the need to hydrate yourself with some strong refreshments, be sure to open this app, so you don’t miss out on free money. It’s simple. All you have to do is take a picture of your grocery/bar/restaurant receipt and Ibotta will pay you cash.
So before you go to the store or bar, search for your items in the Ibotta app. After your visit, take a photo of your receipt to get cash back. Ibotta is free to download and you’ll also get a $10 sign up bonus after uploading your first receipt!
On average, active Ibotta users get back up $240 a year. What would you do with that extra money?
Three minutes. Make as many 21s as you can within that time or until you run out of moves. That’s the basic gist of 21 Blitz, a modern take on Blackjack where you’re no longer just playing against the dealer but with actual people around the world. It’s fast-paced and it basically does all of the math for you. This game is great for killing time and earning cash all at once.
You can play for free against real people for prizes or switch over to cash games to win…well, cash! Cash game winners can win up to $7,000 or more in the mini-tournament. Stanley from The Smart Wallet deposited $25 into 21 Blitz and won $120 for his matches!
Not available in AZ, AR, CT, DE, FL, LA, ME, MD, MT, SC, SD, TN, IN
You already know that women make less than men—20% less actually(*) So while women make up almost half the workforce, earn more college and graduate degrees than men, there is still a gender pay gap to this day. Also? Women’s salaries tend to peak earlier than men and their earnings drop significantly after having a child.(*)
That’s why it’s even more important to save for retirement, especially if you’re female. With women living at least five years longer than men(*), we have a very unique set of obstacles to overcome with our financials and to make sure we have enough money when we most need it.
That’s why Ellevest exists. It’s an investment service created by and designed for women. Men are welcome to join as well, but it’s the first company to take on the gender pay gap, different lifetime earnings, and longevity into account when constructing a portfolio. It’s great for women who are just beginning to invest, want a more hands-off approach or those interested in goal-based investing (like Home, Retirement, Emergency Fund etc).
So while fewer women tend to invest vs men, studies show that when they do, they outperform men because they don’t overtrade, don’t panic in down markets, or pay too much in fees.(*)
When you start with Ellevest, you’ll choose some goals and then rank them in importance. You’ll then fill in some details on your current financial standings and then their system will analyze what you’ll need to achieve your goals. All the while, taking into account your current savings contributions, inflations, salary growth projects and other variables unique to females. With a $0 minimum and low fees, you could be taking control of your retirement in a few minutes when you set up a customized investment plan. Review first then commit later. Your future mature you will be thanking you.
Bonus: For a limited time, The Smart Wallet readers get a free $25 toward their first funded goal with no minimum balance!
How much time do you think you spend online? Most likely more than you think. The average American spends 24 hours online a week(*), but for me, I know I definitely surpass this since I have to be online for work. Along with post-office hours shopping, browsing, reading, it’s rare that I’m not online. If it’s the same for you, capitalize on all that online time by earning points you can redeem towards gift cards, and even better, cash.
You can do it with Swagbucks, a free rewards program for the everyday things you do online. Earn points by:
- Watching entertaining videos
- Shopping at your favorite retailers
- Searching the web Participating in surveys
- Playing fun trivia games
Then you can redeem for a large variety of gift cards (Amazon, Target, Walmart, Starbucks are popular) or my favorite, Paypal Cash and Visa Gift Cards. Cash out in as little as $3!
You’ll even get a $5 bonus when you earn 2,500 SB points within your first 30 days. The best way to earn SB? Surveys. You can get up to 300 SB for each qualified one you participate in. While you obviously won’t get rich doing this, you can nab an extra $10-$20 a month on them.
Keeping your profile updated and doing the Daily To-Do List will also earn you extra SB. There are a lot of opportunities so you can cash out early and often!
If you have room for one more app on your phone, then it needs to be this. Actually, delete another app to make room for this one. It’s that good. It’s called Drop, a free app that gives you gift cards on stuff you already buy from your favorite stores and brands.
Your everyday purchases from Amazon, Target, Trader Joe’s, and Walmart? You’ll get points for that. Points translate to gift cards so the more you collect, the more you can redeem!
The only thing you need to do is link any credit or debit card you usually use for buying stuff and that’s it! Drop will automatically recognize when you buy from your activated offers to reward. There’s literally no downside to using this free app to get more gift cards. Use it on top of your loyalty points and credit card points for even more rewards!
LIMITED TIME OFFER: Use promo code SMARTWALLET to unlock 5,000 points ($5) automatically when you link your first card on Drop!
You’re sharing the same roads with a lot of different people. Distracted people, oblivious people, road-rage people, etc. It’s best to cover yourself with insurance when everyone is operating a giant motor vehicle. That’s why car insurance exists and is mandatory. You might be overpaying on your current insurance premium since it can be a hassle finding another provider.
However, you can search for quotes easily on EverQuote. They help match you among dozens of regional agencies and insurance carriers to filter the best matches to save on your car insurance. It takes about four minutes to fill out the form and you’ll see a list of matches that show potential online quotes, email, and potential phone quotes.
EverQuote can save drivers up to $610 a year compared to their current insurance premiums. Once you see your list of potential matches, choose the online ones you want or wait for more information via email or phone. It’s a pretty simple process, so try it out to see how much you could be saving on the road and using those savings for your mortgage instead.
Saving money and getting cash back on purchases always sounds like a great idea—until you completely forget to take the steps to get the savings. There are SO many ways to save money while shopping, who can remember if it’s not automatic?
Ebates can help you get cash back on everyday shopping as well as apparel, beauty, and more, automatically. With Ebates, you don’t even have to upload your receipts after your purchases. They’ll send you simple push notifications when your favorite stores increase their cash back deals or have a good sale.
Offering simple one-tap savings with no points or fees helps ensure that you get the most out of your purchases. So, before buying anything, hop into the app to see if you can get up to 40% cash back at over 2,500 stores.
Ibotta also has an amazing referral program where you can earn $25 for each eligible friend. New members get a $10 bonus too!
Everyone uses ride-sharing services nowadays, primarily Uber and Lyft. It’s made going out for dinner and drinks so much easier now that you can rely on a phone app to get you home safely after a night out. But Freebird is another phone app you’ll want because it can recoup some of your social life money, which we all know can get pretty expensive. It also gives you points (redeemable for cash) on every ride you take anywhere!
Use Freebird to request your next Uber or Lyft to the bar, restaurant, movies, shopping, airport, (basically anywhere!) and get cash back and points for your ride. Here’s how it works:
- Download Freebird
- Connect your Uber or Lyft account
- Connect the card(s) you want to get cash back on
- Ride anywhere to participating locations to get cashback
- Ride anywhere else to get points that turn into cash rewards
To earn cash rewards, just visit a participating location that has a cash offer and make a purchase there with your connected card. Once the transaction clears, you’ll see the cash reward in your Freebird account!
You’ll also earn points just for taking an Uber or Lyft anywhere which can be redeemed for cash rewards. However, to get the cash back and points rewards you have to request your Uber or Lyft through the Freebird app. You still earn Uber rewards through the Freebird app though, so there are no losses!
BONUS: For our readers only, use promo code SMARTWALLET to get $5 off your first three rides.
True story: My cousin was on a cruise to Canada, and while coming down the stairs, she missed a step and tumbled down. She later found out that she broke several bones in her left foot, and was unable to go to work for three weeks because of a massive cast.
Unfortunately, accidents like this can happen and it could be disastrous to your wallet and potentially your career. Sure, you can always prepare by having a savings account devoted to “what if” moments, but if you find yourself in a tight spot, there are options that can help, like Opploans.
Even if you have a poor credit score, you could still get a personal loan for short-term financial needs such as six to 24 months—which is definitely useful for unexpected situations. Submitting an application doesn’t affect your FICO credit score, so check if there’s a short-term personal loan that you may need for a medical emergency, major purchases, life events, and more.
Here’s who can qualify:
- Residents of AL, AR, AZ, CA, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, KY, KS, LA, ME, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, ND, NE, NV, NM, OH, OK, OR, RI, SD, TN, TX, UT, SC, WA, WI, WY, VA
- Have a minimum monthly income of $1,500 for the states listed above except AL is $3,500, and GA & ID is $3,000
- Employed at your current job for at least 3 months
- 18+ years old (19 if from AL or NE) and cannot be an active duty service member
- A traditional bank account in your name that’s been open for at least 90 days
- You get your paychecks via direct deposit
Qualified borrowers will be able to borrow up to $4,000 depending on their state and eligibility. And when monthly payments are made back on the loan, Opploans will notify the three credit bureaus to build up your payment history and in turn, build your credit history!
If investing sounds complicated and expensive for you, it doesn’t have to be. You know you should start, but where to begin? You don’t want to just pick randomly as you want to invest in an industry you believe in. Something that can really take off and make money.
So how about investing in the legal cannabis industry? It’s big business as retail sales are projected to hit $10 billion this year and is expected to grow to $24.5 billion by 2021.*
You can do it with Stash, a micro-investing app that lets you invest for as little as $5 and it takes less than two minutes to get started. We’ll even give you $5 to get started. They curate from over 150 investments, which include stocks and Exchange Traded Funds. Plus, you’ll get to choose an investment blend that meets your goals and interests.
Take the $5 that we’re giving you and start investing with Stash.
Investing sounds complicated, but it doesn’t have to be. And you don’t have to be rich either to play the investment game. That’s why Acorns is a popular choice amongst millennials and anyone new to investing because they make it so easy.
For every purchase you make, Acorns automatically rounds it up to the nearest dollar and then saves and invests the difference into your Acorns account. So, for instance, if you bought lunch for $10.50, Acorns will round it up and deposit $0.50 to the app’s savings account. Pretty simple, right? It can do this for every purchase.
Just connect Acorns to your credit or debit card and it’ll save automatically; or you can manually choose which transactions to round up if you prefer. Because roundups are less than $1, you’ll barely notice the impact initially, but over time it’ll grow to make a big difference. Acorns will continue to round up and save for you, while at the same time, investing those savings so that your portfolio can grow. T
he very minor catch? It only costs $1 a month for accounts that have under $5,000. It’s way cheaper than an investment advisor.
The numbers don’t lie. Three out of four millennials are in debt* and around 44.5 million** Americans are drowning in student loans. While it’s comforting to know that you’re not alone, it’s what comes next that will set you apart: The process of paying it down. But if the thought of all those payments stresses you out, an option to consider is student loan refinancing with LendingTree, an easy-to-use loan marketplace.
Refinancing just means you’re combining your federal student and private loans that have multiple interest rates into one new loan from a private lender. This new loan makes it easier to manage with one monthly payment and one interest rate. With LendingTree, your new interest rate is based off your credit score, so the higher your score, the better rate you can get, bringing down your monthly payments.
You can easily start browsing through refinancing options and click Apply Now to learn more about each lender. If you have a bachelor’s, master’s, or PhD, you’re eligible to refinance. Don’t get swamped in student loan debt anymore and view your options!
While in college and preparing for the business world, Alex Lieberman and Austin Rief realized their classmates all felt the same way: traditional business news was dry, dense, and boring. Their fellow millennials wanted to keep up with what was happening but didn’t have a news source that spoke to them.
That’s why they started Morning Brew—the free daily email that delivers the latest news from Wall Street to Silicon Valley. Written in a conversational tone and sprinkled with punchy humor, it makes reading the news actually enjoyable.
From Elon Musk’s latest move to the stock market’s highs and lows, Morning Brew covers the top news shaping the business world. With a touch of culture and lifestyle stories, you’ll get up-to-speed on what you need to know in just five minutes. Find out why more than one million people start their day with Morning Brew—sign up for free here.
*OppLoans APR ranges from 59%-199% depending on your state of residence (Rates and Terms here). Credit reporting not available for Texas residents.
*80% world’s energy statistic source: EDF (Environmental Defense Fund)
*Entrepreneur Magazine: “Starting a Business? Here Are the Most and Least Profitable Industries.”
*Fluent is a paid Affiliate/ partner of Stash. Investment advisory services offered by Stash Investments LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser.
*Stash does not endorse the illegal use of Narcotics. This material has been distributed for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment, legal, accounting, or tax advice. Investing involves risk.
*Information was obtained from third-party sources, which we believe to be reliable but not guaranteed for accuracy or completeness. The information provided should not be relied upon as investment advice or recommendations, does not constitute a solicitation to buy or sell securities and should not be considered specific legal, investment or tax advice. The information provided does not take into account the specific objectives, financial situation or particular needs of any specific person. Investing entails risk including the possible loss of principal and there is no assurance that the investment will provide positive performance over any period of time.
Article originally appeared on The Smart Wallet.
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