College students are always looking for ways to make some extra cash, but balancing a job with coursework can be stressful and doesn’t always cut it.
Luckily, we live in a world where our phones are constantly in close proximity. Countless apps have been created to save shoppers money just by shopping at places you would normally shop at. Spending money in order to save money seems counterintuitive, but when you can save money by buying essential items you’d use regardless, it makes sense.
The next three apps are game changers for students looking to keep as much in their pockets as possible.
Flok
What it is: Flok is basically a punch card in your pocket. Local hotspots like Izzo’s Illegal Burritos, LIT Pizza and District Donuts use the app as a digital customer loyalty program.
How to use it: Each time you visit a participating business and check in from your device, you receive a punch. Once you receive the amount of punches needed you get a reward, usually a free item or discount. To add stores, search them in the app and join.
Why it’s cool: It eliminates the need to carry around multiple punch cards and the odd “can you scan this please” conversation where it feels like they’re secretly judging you for pinching pennies.
Shopkick
What it is: Shopkick is a tedious app, but it does pay off in a short amount of time. You collect ‘kicks’ for going into stores, like Target or Walmart, and scanning certain items in the store. The kicks add up and you can redeem them for gift cards.
How to use it: You sign up through the app and find scans available in a certain store through the app. You have to keep your location on when using the app so you can get walk-in kicks. You can submit your receipt to earn more kicks as well.
Why it’s cool: Ideally, you scan the items you later purchase, but if you had time to kill you could walk around scanning things, thus getting more points for doing nothing. You redeem your kicks for gift cards to places like Walmart, Target, Sephora, Amazon, Starbucks and more.
Ibotta
What it is: Ibotta is an app that earns users money by purchasing items you would already buy anyways, such as hygiene products, all kinds of food items and even pet supplies. You can turn in your credits for cash through PayPal or Venmo, or turn it in for gift cards to stores.
How to use it: Peruse the app for rebates at the store you’re shopping at and submit your receipt after shopping to get money back. There are no in-app purchases, everything is bought at the store. It is incredibly easy to use and equally as easy to rack up on rebates. In only a couple weeks of using it, I reached $34 in cash back.
Why it’s cool: You don’t have to have your location on for the app to work and you can redeem the rebates for cash through Venmo.
In addition to the three aforementioned apps, you can also download store-specific apps to save money. On Target’s Cartwheel app, you can search discounts on tons of items, then scan your barcode on your phone at checkout and save; Whole Foods has a similar app.
Adulting is expensive, so be smart and use your phone for something other than taking Snapchats.
