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Does the idea of saving money sound more like a punishment than a reasonable financial decision? If so, you’re really not alone.
A recent survey from GOBankingRates revealed that 58% of all U.S adults have less than $1,000 in savings, while only 10% have more than $50,000 stashed away. Oof.
You already know the importance of building a savings account, like having the ability to react to emergencies and make important investments, but you’re not sure how to start saving money while still paying all the bills and maintaining that lifestyle.
So use these painless tips to start saving money today, right now. “Now” is always a good time to improve your finances and make the right choices for your future! Some tips are as easy as making sure you’re not overpaying on common life essentials.
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2. Get Free Money Back on All Your Shopping Hauls
Check your pockets; check your purse. And keep receipts for your iPhone.
Just grab all your recent receipts from your coffee runs, grocery trips, restaurants, and gas station fill-ups, scan them into Fetch Rewards on iOS, and earn points for free money! Connect your email account, as well, to count DIGITAL receipts from Amazon, Instacart, and more.
Basically, snap a pic of your receipt from anywhere, and that’s it; you’ve got points for money. There’s no minimum spend, no need to select items manually, scan in any receipt from any store or gas station, and it’ll automatically reward you.
It’s free and easy to use and is a must-have iOS app for anyone who buys stuff!
3. The Streaming Service That’ll Actually Save You Money Over Time
Cable tv costs an average $60 a month which resulted in 40 million Americans* cutting the cord last year to save that chunk of money. No wonder streaming services that cost as low as $6.99 a month are so popular!
And for those that have kids or are just kids at heart (like me), renting/buying Disney property movies can add up too. Renting movies can cost up to $5 and buying can cost up to $20 each.
That’s why Disney+, the new streaming platform makes complete sense for Disney, Marvel, National Geographic, Star Wars, The Simpsons, and Disney Channel watchers.
Get access to new original shows, TV series (7,500+ episodes!), and movies (100 freshly released from the theaters and 400+ from the library).
And you can stream on up to 4 screens/devices simultaneously. No need to wrestle for the “remote.” Plus you can download shows to watch offline as much as you want. Check out Disney+ now for only $6.99/month and pull the plug on cable.
4. This Paid Survey Panel Gives Out 7,000 Gift Cards Daily
There are a lot of survey programs out there, but none as popular as Swagbucks, a free rewards program where you can earn cash for your time and opinion. Members can earn an average of $50 a month!
You get rewarded for doing surveys, searching the web, reading articles, watching videos, and playing fun games but the one activity that earns you the most points is completing surveys. (Don’t skip out on those!)
Points can then be redeemed for free gift cards, cash, and sweepstakes entries. All just by completing fun activities and giving your opinions.
New members can get a free $5 just for signing up, so join the other 10 million members already part of Swagbucks and start earning free rewards!
5. Stream Award-Winning Entertainment with Major Stars for the Price of a Coffee
Another streaming service may not be on your immediate radar, but you’d be missing out on a not-so-hidden gem.
Apple TV+ is Apple’s foray into the streaming business and they’re well-equipped with heavy hitter stars and directors like Steven Spielberg, Ron Howard, Chris Evans, Samuel L. Jackson, Oprah, Reese Witherspoon, Ewan McGregor, and more. Fans of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia would get a kick out of Rob McElhenney and Charlie Day’s new comedy series Mythic Quest airing exclusively on Apple TV+ too.
All current shows on the platform are Apple Originals and spans from award-winning series, dramas, groundbreaking documentaries, comedies, kids’ entertainment, the list goes on. As you can expect from Apple, quality is everything. Even their children’s programming got nominated for 17 Daytime Emmy Awards!
Watch anywhere online or on your favorite Apple device. Try their free 7-day trial, and when you continue, it’s just $4.99 a month shared with up to 5 family members.
Even more content is coming on the horizon too, including older shows, and new Apple Originals every month!
6. Please Spot Me Up to $2001, So I Don’t Get an Overdraft Fee!
We got you. Or, more specifically, Chime ® has your back; the award-winning mobile financial app and debit card will have you saying goodbye to overdraft fees!
That’s because their SpotMe®️ tool can literally spot you up to $2001 without charging a fee as long as you receive qualifying direct deposits.
You need qualifying direct deposits of at least $200 a month into your Chime Checking Account to qualify, and one of the easiest methods is to route your paycheck there so you don’t have to think about it.
Other perks:
- Get paid up to 2 days early3 with direct deposit
- Get 2.00% Annual Percentage Yield (APY)4 with the high-yield Chime Savings Account5
- Access to a new way to build credit history with the Secured Chime® Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card6
- FDIC-insured up to $250,000 through The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC.7 (it’s safe!)
- No minimum balance, no monthly fees, and no foreign transaction/transfer fees
Sign up for Chime and say goodbye to overdraft fees and other benefits!
7. Don’t Go Shopping Without This Free Money-Making App
Do you shop at brands like UberEats, Walmart Grocery, Old Navy, Groupon, Sephora, Lululemon, and Sam’s Club? You’re missing out on free gift cards for those purchases if you’re not using Drop as you shop online and in-stores at brands like these.
Drop, is a 100% free app that lets you earn reward points back on your normal shopping! All you have to remember is: Start with Drop before you shop. From there, it’s as simple as “Tap, Shop, Earn, Redeem.”
- Tap on the brand’s offer on Drop
- Shop through the brand’s app/website as you normally would. Drop will direct you there!
- Earn points back on your purchase.
- Redeem your points for a gift card of your choice – whenever and wherever you want!
Plus, when you link the debit/credit cards that you use most, you’ll get access to exclusive deals (like earning points back on every Postmates order) where purchases will automatically get tracked. You’ll even get personalized recommendations based on your shopping preferences.
And use Drop on top of your loyalty and credit card points to stack rewards!
The bottom line is: Not using this app would be like going to an all-inclusive resort, not knowing about all the free food/drinks/activities, and just staying in your room and eating crackers the whole time. No one wants that!
BONUS OFFER: Use promo code SMARTWALLET to unlock 10,000 points ($10!!) automatically when you earn your first 1,000 points.
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