Bargains to Bounty

How to live a bountiful life on a budget

Bargains to Bounty: How to Live a Bountiful Life on a Budget
Oct
17
2016

Reader Question: What are the Best Shopping Rewards Apps?

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Reader Question

Reader Question:
I just got a smartphone, and would love to get some saving apps. I have heard that there is one you scan the bar codes at the store and earn cash, and things like that. I would like to know which ones are worth it.

It seems there are new rewards apps appearing all the time – and a few have disappeared already. It’s difficult to keep up with all of them, so I’ve listed mobile apps that I know and trust. Many of these (especially Ibotta, Checkout 51, and SavingStar) are featured in weekly Meijer and Kroger match-ups here on Bargains to Bounty because their offers line up well with the ads.

All of the apps listed below are FREE. You can use them as little or as much as you’d like, but I’d recommend finding a few you love and using them often (as you can sometimes benefit from bonuses or higher offers).

BerryCart

berrycart appHIGHLIGHTS: BerryCart features natural and organic products, gluten-free, nonGMO, etc.
WHERE to SHOP: Any store with a valid receipt
PAYOUT: Any amount for PayPal, $5-20 for select gift cards
Sign up for BerryCart.

Checkout 51

checkout 51 appHIGHLIGHTS: Weekly “pick your own” produce offer, name brands + new offers every week. Deals are new on Thursday.
WHERE to SHOP: Any store with a valid receipt
PAYOUT: $20 check mailed to your address
Learn more about Checkout 51 and sign up.

Ibotta

ibotta appHIGHLIGHTS: Ibotta was the first major cash back grocery app. “Any brand” offers allow you to earn a rebate on any brand milk, produce, etc. Bonuses allow you to earn more by completing multiple rebates. Earn rebates at movie theaters and retail stores as well.
WHERE to SHOP: Select stores (major chain grocery, drugstores and retail locations), select online retailers
PAYOUT: PayPal or Venmo ($20+) , select gift cards ($25+)
Learn more about Ibotta (it’s my personal favorite).

MobiSave

mobisave appHIGHLIGHTS: No need to scan bar codes – just shop, take a picture of your receipt and send.
WHERE to SHOP: Any store with a valid receipt
PAYOUT: PayPal with no minimum amount
Sign up for MobiSave.

SavingStar

savingstar appHIGHLIGHTS: SavingStar cash back offers usually last for one month. Save on individual products or with larger amounts valid across multiple orders.
WHERE to SHOP: Select stores (major chain grocery and drugstores)
PAYOUT: $5
Learn more about SavingStar.

 

Shoparoo

shoparoo appHIGHLIGHTS: A school fundraiser app. Submit your store receipts using the Shoparoo app to support your school. Parents raised $400 last year for our school simply by snapping pictures of receipts. Easy to do and costs you nothing but time.
Note: The ReceiptHog app is related (and will benefit you, not a school) but it’s extremely slow-earning. You aren’t allowed to use both ReceiptHog and Shoparoo, so choose accordingly.

Shopkick

shopkick appHIGHLIGHTS: Earn “kicks” (like points) for walking into stores and turning on the Shopkick app, scanning items in the store and more.
WHERE to SHOP: Select stores (major chain grocery, drugstores and retail)
PAYOUT: Select gift cards
Sign up for Shopkick. 

 

More Money-Saving Apps

Don’t forget about apps for the stores you shop: Meijer, Kroger, Fresh Thyme, Whole Foods, Target, Walmart – most stores have their own apps with digital coupons or rewards of some kind.

Other Apps that B2B readers recommend:

  • BevRAGE – Earn cash back on cocktails at stores or restaurants.
  • ReceiptPal – Submit receipts, including online receipts, by forwarding them to RP.
  • Yaarlo – Another snap and earn app, this one allows online receipts, including those from Amazon!
Did I miss an app that you love? Tell us about it in the comments!
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Jul
28
2015

What you should know about the MICHIGAN SCANNER LAW

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michigan scanner law

(also known as The 2011 Shopping Reform and Modernization Act)

The scanner law is often discussed when shoppers are overcharged for any reason. The terms of the law, however, are not quite that simple. As a Michigan shopper, it can make a difference to be educated in what this law means for you – and the bonus it can bring you for your trouble.

If you were familiar with the Michigan Scanner Law in the past, the terms were updated in 2011. The most notable change is that stores are required to display the price of items offered for sale in the store at the place where the item is located, but are no longer required to individually mark the price on the item itself (no price tags).

TIP: Print a Scanner Error Bill of Rights card to keep in your wallet or coupon organizer for reference. It’s also available in large print.

In Michigan, most items on store shelves must be clearly displayed with a price (by signage, electronic reader, price sticker, etc.). Another method of price display can be used, as long as it “clearly and reasonably” shows the price of the item and it’s at the place where the item is located.

MICHIGAN SCANNER LAW

IF an automatic checkout system (scanner) charges you more than the displayed price of an item, AND:

  1. The transaction has been completed AND
  2. You have a receipt clearly showing the item purchased and the price charged for it.

THEN, you have 30 days to contact the store (either in person or in writing). If you have found an error and have your receipt, the store may refund you the difference in pricing plus a “bonus” of ten times the difference. The bonus must be at least $1.00, but may not be more than $5.00.

  • If you purchase several identical items at once and were overcharged on each, you may collect the bonus only once, but you are entitled to the refund of the difference for each identical item.
  • If the seller does not pay you both the refund and the bonus, you may bring a lawsuit to recover your actual damages or $250.00, whichever is greater, plus reasonable attorney fees up to $300.00.
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Oct
24
2013

Reader Q&A: How can I find a good freezer alarm?

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ReaderQuestion2

Reader Question:

We just lost most of our freezer because the door was left open at some point in the last week. Even though I know I didn’t pay anywhere near full price for the stuff in there, it still really hurts. There was a Facebook discussion not all that long ago about freezer alarms. I’m hoping that someone would be willing to share the information again to help me find a good freezer alarm.

Answer:

Between unexpected power outages, freezers accidentally unplugged or doors left open, it seems that all of us have been through this before. Losing the food in your freezer is no fun at all – not only is it a mess, but it means the loss of a considerable investment.

In recent years, freezer alarms have been introduced as an option for reducing the chance that your freezer will will start warming without you knowing it. They’re not perfect, but they do provide an alert so that you won’t be caught off guard. At least that’s the hope!

There are plenty of freezer alarm models to choose from. Take a close look at the customer ratings to see which might be the best fit for you. These two get the best ratings of the models I’ve seen: AcuRite Refrigerator/Freezer Wireless Digital Thermometer or Chaney Instrument Wireless Refrigerator Freezer Thermometer Alarm Set. The wireless models don’t require you to have a wire snaking out of your door seal – and you can mount the digital display on your fridge or freezer door with magnets.


FreezCube Freezer Alert Frozen Food Safety Monitor is another tool you can use if your freezer has already started to thaw. Just by looking at the FreezCube, you’ll know the recommended time left to safely eat your foods (or if you should immediately throw away everything). No batteries required!

  1. Shake the FreezCube then place it upside-down (numbers on top) in your freezer for a minimum of 24 hours.
  2. After 24 hours, flip the FreezCube over and leave it in your freezer: Your frozen foods are being monitored.
  3. In the event of an incident (freezer door not properly closed, power outage or anything affecting your freezer), the 4 liquids will separately melt into lower chambers. Depending on the color of the liquids that have melted, you will know the recommended time you have left to safely consume your frozen foods. They’ll melt in the following order:
    • Blue = 14 days to consume your frozen food
    • Blue and Green = 3 days to consume your frozen food
    • Blue, Green and Yellow = 1 day to consume your frozen food
    • All 4 liquids: Blue, Green, Yellow and Red = Discard all frozen food

Do you have any freezer tool tips?

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Oct
14
2013

Reader Q&A: How can I see your updates in my Facebook feed?

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Reader QuestionReader Question:

I have been using your site for about 5 months and all of a sudden your Facebook posts are gone off my feed. I depend on Bargains to Bounty and all your hard work that goes into this to help me keep my costs low. But I’m curious what happened to your posts?

Any guidance on how I can get your posts back into my Facebook feed is appreciated. Do I need to change a setting or something?

Answer:

Facebook is a great way to connect with Bargains to Bounty updates and other shoppers in the community. You’ll find a number of extra deals, reminders, time-sensitive offers, reader questions and money-saving conversation there (and that’s what I love about it). However, Facebook changes the way things work often – and you may not be seeing every update. Here’s how to change that:

Facebook Feed

  1. Visit the Bargains to Bounty Facebook page. LIKE the page, if you haven’t already. 🙂
  2. Hover over the Liked button until a menu drops down. Click on “Show in News Feed” to make a check mark appear next to it.
  3. Click on “Settings…” to see another menu appear. You’ll see “See which updates?” Choose from “All Updates, Most Updates or Only Important updates” and click on your choice to make a check mark appear.
  4. That’s it! If you selected “All Updates” you should be seeing every post and deal update from Bargains to Bounty in your Facebook feed. If you ever feel you’re missing something, try adjusting the settings again (sometimes Facebook changes your settings with an update).

For those of you who haven’t joined us on Facebook yet, come on over and chat a bit! I’ll try to make sure you don’t miss a deal!

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Aug
19
2013

Reader Q&A: Have you used a voucher deal for travel?

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Reader Question

Reader Question:

Has anyone bought any of the TRAVEL vouchers from Groupon, LivingSocial, or other daily deal sites? What was your experience?

Answer:

Many people (including Bargains to Bounty readers) have purchased vouchers successfully from daily deal sites like Groupon and LivingSocial. However, there are some guidelines to keep in mind:

Tips for Buying a Travel Deal or Voucher Online

  1. Always check reviews on the hotel/resort first, especially if you’re not familiar with the accommodations. Try searching on Trip Advisor, Hotels.com, Oyster.com or Virtual Tourist to get the inside scoop.

    We bought a 7 day trip to Ireland from LivingSocial last year. It included air and 5 star hotels, some of which included breakfast. Having never been to Ireland it was risky but we researched the areas and hotels that were included before we purchased. In the end, we got an incredible trip for an amazing price. It was toward the end of tourist season (probably why it was a deal) so it was a bit chilly in October. But we had many castles and other touristy places almost to ourselves, which meant private tours at some places! I would highly recommend buying a voucher and we will probably do it again for our next vacation! (Joanne)

  2. Research whether the price is a good one. Check the hotel or resort’s website and see what it would cost if you booked directly.

    I went to buy [a voucher] for Ireland last year but found a better deal directly from the company. We got all the same stuff plus 2 days extra for a few hundred dollars less. Since it was the same company I would definitely do it again if Groupon offered one at a good deal. (Susie)

  3. Buy the voucher, then follow instructions carefully. In many cases, you need to call the destination directly to book your specific dates. It’s always best to book as soon as possible, since dates can fill up quickly.

    My sister-in-law bought one for a rented house in Orlando. There was a slight hiccup in that her husband was supposed to call right after purchase to book their dates and he didn’t. He assumed he could call a few weeks later without a problem. Many of these places only save X amount of rooms/houses per date for the deal and have others they try to rent for full price. My brother in law managed to get them to make an exception for their family and it all worked out. They said the place was wonderful.  (Julie)

  4. Read the fine print and watch for the catch. Most travel deals have select dates for availability, along with blackout dates. Others may require you to attend a time share sales pitch or you may be pressured to purchase expensive extras not included in your package.

    I purchased a resort in Orlando last winter and it turned out to be a time share. It was a nice place but the cheap rate was based on attending a meeting to pressure you to purchase the time share. Later I stayed at another hotel on the gulf side which turned out fine. Just investigate and check reviews before purchasing. (Karen)

    We bought a cruise voucher from Groupon. It was totally fine! The travel company knew about how it worked and what it included so there were no surprises. But they do try to upsell you stuff that’s not included in the Groupon. (Jenn)

  5. Enjoy your trip! If you’ve done your research before buying, you can relax and enjoy a getaway knowing you grabbed a great price.

    We bought a Groupon for a cabin in North Carolina last year. It was gorgeous and we can’t wait to go back. (Alecia)

    I bought a LivingSocial deal for a hotel in Gatlinburg, TN. Worked out great! (Stephanie)

    I used LivingSocial for a hotel in Niagara Falls, Ontario. Great deal and experience! (Michele)

Thanks to all the readers who shared their experiences! You can read all of their comments on the Bargains to Bounty Facebook page here.

Find the latest travel deals and packages:

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And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19