Money Saving Apps for Broke College Students

Allie Folcik September 21, 2016

The things they don’t tell you: about saving money.

If you asked any of my friends, they’d tell you that I am the queen at finding ways to save money. So, for my first post of the new school year, I thought it might be helpful to share a list of some of my little known money saving/earning apps.

Here’s a list of my six favorites which I find pretty important for a college student:

Ibotta – Ibotta is an app that gives you money back on a variety of different things, though mostly on groceries. To use, after you have gone shopping, you look on the app for the store you were shopping at and then unlock deals for things you purchased. After unlocking your items, just scan your receipt. After you have earned $20 you can redeem the money on PayPal or as a gift card. Pretty simple, and by far my favorite money saving app. I recently got back $50 dollars on this app! (To get an extra $10 on signup, use referral code emjodlt.)
Walmart Savings Catcher – So this one is only for shopping at Walmart, but there’s one right next door to campus so that’s not hard to do. If you download the Walmart app, there is a section called “savings catcher” that allows you to scan the QR code at the bottom of your receipt. The app will then compare anything you purchased with prices at other stores in the area. If the item is cheaper somewhere else, they refund you the difference. This is another great way to earn some effortless money. The only catch is the money you earned has to be used at Walmart.
Receipt Hog – This app takes a bit longer to earn money, but it’s easy to use. All you do is take a picture of your receipt (any receipt counts, even gas stations!). Depending on the amount spent, you receive coins. Once you reach a certain amount, the coins can be cashed in for money through PayPal or Amazon. The best part is, there’s a pig on the home screen that oinks at you haha.
UNiDAYS – This app is pretty cool. Specifically for students, UNiDAYS will generate codes for stores that have student discounts so you can use them online. Some stores rotate, so before making a purchase, be sure to look up the store on the app to see if they are running any deals.
Ebates – I’m sure a lot of people have heard of this one already, but Ebates is a website (and app) that gives you cash back on your online shopping. Simply open a “shopping trip” by clicking on the store your shopping at on the Ebates site and once you make a purchase, a certain percent will be given back to you. If you’re forgetful of opening the Ebates site before you buy, Google Chrome has an extension that alerts you when you’re on a site that’s offering cash back. (Click here for an extra $10)
RetailMeNot – Last but not least, RetailMeNot is a coupon site/app that can be used both in stores and online. All you have to do is look up the store you plan to shop at to see if there are any sales going on. While there are quite a few coupon-ing sites, I’ve found this to have the most deals.