My Side-Hustle: The Top Ten Money Making Apps I've Used This Year

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Last year I tried to get a part-time job. It didn't exactly pan out the way I hoped it would.

My full-time job as a marketing analyst got in the way and I knew it wasn't going to work out. I'm a salary employee  also so when work needs to get done, it needs to get fucking done regardless of how long it takes you. All I had left were part of my nights and the weekends, which was basically the time I spent with my husband, family, and procrastinating going to the gym.

So I was sorta stuck. But last November, just in time for the holidays, my mother told me about the app Ibotta and the rest is history. I found the solution to my problem and a slippery slope to a few other great apps. Pennyhoarder and other bloggers helped guide me to other apps and I can honestly say I will never go back.

However...

All Money Making Apps Are Not The Same!! 

&

Don't Buy Things Just to Receive the Money Back!! 

 The key to making it work is not going out of your way to buy something you won't use! Keep track of daily shopping habits and use the apps where applicable. Plain and simple. Some take time, others are more instant gratification with little planning. It's up to you and your personal discipline to use them at your own discretion. 

Now for the Fun Part...

THE TOP TEN MONEY MAKING APPS

 I'VE USED THIS YEAR

1. Ibotta - Best & Easiest

• I've earned almost $600 in 8 months
• Purchase products listed - earn real cash back $.25 and up with photo of receipt
• I've found has the MOST VARIETY of products/stores with rebates than other apps
• Overall Weekend/Monthly Bonuses - $1 to $10 for redeeming multiple offer
• Not exclusive to Grocery/Drug Stores - Multiple Shopping/Dining Options to Earn Cash
• Transfer to Paypal or direct to a bank account or earn gift cards
• Ibotta does not penalize you for using store & manufacturer coupons for the items selected.
 

2. Checkout 51

• I've earned $30 in 6 months
• Same concept as Ibotta - Less variety of Products & limited # of rebates
• Purchase products listed - earn real cash back $.10 and up with photo of receipt. 
• Grocery/Drug Stores Only
• Sometimes the same product is on Checkout 51 & Ibotta so you can stack cash back! 
• List of Items eligible for rebate change every Wednesday
• Takes more time to reach $20 than Ibotta

3. Ebates

• I've earned $200 in 8 months since November
• Ebates offers rebates from 1% to $20 on retail online shopping
• All the Big Box Stores are Listed - Target/Loft/Old Navy/GAP/Amazon (limited)
• Open Ebates first, locate retail store on website, click on the store and be redirected to the store's website. Simply continue your shopping from there. Ebates does all the rest behind the scenes. 

4. Fetch Rewards

• I've earned $10 in Barnes and Noble gifts cards
• Purchase items Grocery/Drug Stores/Target accceptable - scan reciept for reward points 
• Bonus items
• Little to no effort, simply take a photo of receipt and get points
 

5. Reciept Hog

• Earn points/sweeptakes entries per photo of receipt from almost all stores 
• Retail/Grocery/Dinning/Gas/Dollar Stores
• Retail Stores earn Slot Machine pulls within the app for a chance at more points
• Drawback: I've had this app 6 months and only have earned about 3,000 points. This is equivalent to about $15. It take a long while, but almost all receipts earn something. 
 

6. Dosh

•  In 6 months I've earned $15.86 - Cash out at $20
• Dine or Shop at the participating stores and use linked up credit card to earn cash rewards
• Very easy to use - Percentage back on final totals varies per place
• Perfect example of an app I use only when I can. I don't go out of my way to use this app, but I will look to see if I'm near any participating stores.

 7. Drop

• I've earned about $10 in gift cards in 6 months - Cast out at multiple levels
• Make a purchase in 5 pre-selected stores  with linked credit card that cannot be changed once decided upon, earn reward points - i.e. Walgreens, Chiptotle, Sephora, Target...etc
• Chances for Bonuses each week at a new retailer
• Again, I don't go out of my way to use this app but it's calculating points without a receipt picture or my additional input.
 

8.  Inbox Dollars

• I've earned $50 in 1 month
• Complete surveys to earn real cash - $.10 to $4.00 surveys
• Refreshes with new surveys several times an hour
• You will not qualify for every survey but just try again
• For each not qualified survey you earn a spin on a wheel for a chance to win more cash
• Watch videos & earn cents for paid emails
• Multiple bonus offers to complete to earn additional money

 9. Coupons.com

• Link your grocery savings card or simply select the manufacturer coupons you will use and print them out. 
• Great if you do not receive the newspaper. 
• Very easy unless you leave your printed coupons at home. 
• If you use with Inbox Dollars, you will get additionally money back for coupons redeemed. 
 

10. Saving Star 

•  I've earned $5.00 in 2 months
• Similar to ibotta. Buy selected products, scan receipt, and earn cash back. 
• Limited range of products
• Grocery Stores only

In just a few months I've almost hit a $1,000 in side hustle income.  I will definitely be using some of this supplemental income to help me finance what I need to get my book published and hopefully pay for some much needed vacation time without dipping into my full-time's job paycheck.  

What Money Making Apps Do You Use? 

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