Saving Star, Ibotta & Endorse - Earn Money While Shopping

Saving Star,  Ibotta & Endorse are apps that you can download on your phone. (For free, of course.)

They are a little bit different, so here is a breakdown...

Saving Star-
With Saving Star, you link your loyalty cards from certain stores to this program. You can do it from a computer, or they have an app you can use from your phone. Not all stores in your area will be available. For example, I have linked my Harris Teeter, Food Lion, CVS, Rite Aid & Walgreens loyalty cards to Saving Star.

Once you have done that, you will see coupons available for varying products. You go through and choose the ones you want. I usually just choose them all. **Please note, if you use coupons in the store, this does NOT affect your savings at the register.** I thought it did, so I was hesitant to sign up. Whenever you purchase any of the items that you clipped a coupon for at one of the stores with your loyalty card linked, you get that money deposited into your account! Once you get to $5, you can cash out - or you can let the amount get bigger. 

So, if you clip a coupon on Saving Star for .50 cents off a bag of Snyder's Pretzels, then you go to CVS and buy those pretzels there (make sure they scan your card), Saving Star will deposit .50 cents into your account!

Click Here to Join Saving Star

Ibotta-
Ok, so I must admit - I just signed up with Ibotta today! However, I have heard a lot about it, and the only reason I'm just signing up is because they just made this app available for Android phone users. 

This is basically the same thing as Saving Star, but you don't link your loyalty cards to Ibotta. Ibotta has a list of stores they accept. You would clip the coupons or offers that you want from Ibotta. Once you purchase the items, you would upload a picture of your receipt showing that you purchased that item, then you are credited the amount for the coupon. You can be paid via Paypal or donate the money you earn.

Update: I have now earned $6.00 with Ibotta. I haven't cashed them out yet because I want to save them up for a larger cash out! :)

Endorse-

Endorse is similar to Ibotta, The difference is, you don't earn a set amount on certain product. They give you a certain percentage of the price of the item. The percentage varies also, some items may be 10%, 30%, 50% or even 100%. 

For example, the item listed may be "Any brand frozen pizza," and they're offering 50% on it. If you paid $5.00 for a frozen pizza, they will credit your account $2.50. You just have to upload a picture of your receipt. 

Successful CVS Savings!

CVS

One of my new favorite stores is CVS. Since I started my money-saving adventures and using coupons, my eyes have been opened to the wonderful world of drugstores. I haven't delved into all of them yet, just CVS - and I must say, it's going well.

If you aren't familiar with CVS, let me tell you a little about them. Like most stores these days, they have a rewards program. Their program is the ExtraCare program, and you can get an ExtraCare card. There are weekly sales and promotions that ExtraCare card holders can receive, but on top of that, they give out ExtraCare Bucks. These are as good as money at CVS stores. Each week, they will have certain items that they will give you back ExtraCare Bucks on when you purchase them. You can then turn around and use those ExtraCare Bucks to purchase other items at CVS.

CVS also has a Red Machine in their store. When you go in, you scan your ExtraCare card and the machine will print you out coupons you can use. 

I was skeptical about shopping at CVS because I feel like they are over-priced, but now that I'm getting things for free and barely any money out of pocket, I shop there all the time!

I'll admit, my first trip there, I came out of pocket about $15-20, but since then, each trip has been giving me huge savings! I'm not an expert by any means, but I'll keep you posted on what I feel are successful CVS savings!
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12/30/12
Here's the latest transaction. :)

I used the following weekly deals:
-Buy 2 Aveeno Products and get back $6 ECBs.
-Aveeno was on sale for $4.99
-Spend $10 in Crest products, get back $5 ECBs.
-Buy qualifying candy bar at .75 cents, get back .75 cent ECB = FREE!

1 3 Musketeers Bar - .75
1 Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion - $4.99
1 Aveeno Intense Relief - $4.99
1 Green Bag Tag (See below for explanation) - .99
2 Crest Complete Fresh Mint Mouthwash - $5.49 each ($10.98)
2 Vitamin Waters - $1.57 each ($3.14)

Total before taxes/coupons - $25.84

I used:
- 1 $4 off of $20 CVS Coupon
- 1 $3 off of 2 Aveeno Coupon (Internet Printable)
- 1 $2 off 2 Vitamin Water CVS Coupon
- 1 $1.50 off Crest Manufacturer Coupon
- $16 Extra Care Bucks from previous transactions.

I just had to pay tax. I got back $11.75 worth of ECBs.

Green Bag Tags - There is a little card that looks like a loyalty card that you buy for .99 cents at CVS. It looks kind of like a green leaf. Every time you come into CVS (on a different day) and bring in a reusable bag, they will scan your green bag tag. Every 4th time it is scanned, you will get a $1 ECB. 




12/16/12
I had some coupons that were about to expire and I wanted to use them before they did. So, I went with a friend of mine (This is who I will refer to as the Coupon Queen. She is the person that motivated me to save money and has helped me along the way. She's awesome!)
Anyways, here's what I got and how much I spent. I should note that I went into this trip with $15 ECBs from previous transactions.

4 Revlon Nail Polishes @ $1.49 each (They were on Clearance)
1 Revlon Nail Polish @ $4.99
1 Colgate Total Advance Toothpaste @ $3.99
1 Got2B Oil-licious Styling Oil @ $3.24 (On Clearance)
1 Clear Shampoo @ $4.99
1 Clear Conditioner @ $4.99
1 Essence of Beauty Japanese Garden Lotion @ $1.99
2 packs of Elastic Hairbands @ $3.19 each
1 Conair Brush Set @ $4.99
1 Axe Gift Box Set @ $9.99
1 Right Guard Deodorant @ $2.99

Total before tax-  $54.50

I used $15 ECBs
1 coupon for 25% off purchase from CVS
2 $3 off  Clear Shampoo/Conditioner (From CVS Red Machine)
*There was also a promotion going on - Buy 1 Clear Shampoo, get 1 Clear Conditioner Free. So, that knocked off the price of the Conditioner.
1 Manufacturer Coupon - $3.75 off an Axe Gift Box Set
1 $4 off $20 Coupon from CVS Red Machine
1 $2 off $5 Beauty Coupon from CVS Red Machine
There were also $5.99 worth of CVS Coupons that I can't remember what they were for that I used. Lol

So, total out of pocket after ECBs and coupons was $8.11, and I got back $14 more in ECBs for my next trip! Not too bad, in my opinion. Next time I'll try to remember what my coupons were for!

If It's Free, It's For Me!

Alright, let's be honest... Who doesn't like freebies? I mean, even if it's something that you don't need or have never heard of, chances are if it's free, you'll take advantage of the offer.

I'll post offers that I come across that are completely FREE to you, so check back often!

12/17/12

Free Nivea Lip Care Product -
"Like" Nivea's Facebook page and watch a short one minute video. At the end of the video, you can sign up to receive a FREE Nivea lip care product.
Nivea's Facebook Page

Free Sample of Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream -
Target is giving away a free sample... Click Here to get it! 

*Legit* Work From Home Opportunities...

Ok, here it is... a compilation of all the sites that I have come across that are truly, legit work from home opportunities. Check back often, because as I will update as I learn about new opportunities. 

Some of these I have worked for myself and been paid. Others, I have read reviews on and those reviews state that they are legit. I'll let you know which ones I have personally used and which ones I have not worked for. 

I encourage you to do the research for yourself, Google reviews and see what others have to say. You don't have to take my word for it. =) Please let me know if you have any questions, I'll help as much as I am able to.

These are in no particular order...

1. Cha-Cha - ChaCha - Become A Guide

I worked for ChaCha as a guide a few years ago. So, I know this is legit.
I haven't looked into it  much recently, so I'm not sure how much they pay now,
or how things work with them, but you can  make money with ChaCha.
When I worked for them, this is how being a Guide worked... people would text questions in, and you would answer them for them. A lot of times, these questions have already been answered, so there was a simple way to send the reply. Sometimes you can get some crazy questions, but for the most part, it was interesting learning all the different things. Pay wasn't great. It was like .02 cents per query. But, they did add up quickly. There were other positions available, besides being a Guide, but I don't have any experience with those.

2. Lifebushido - Click Here to Apply at Lifebushido

This has been my favorite so far. I currently work with Lifebushido and love it! It can be tough to get in, and they require a lot out of you, but in my opinion, it's worth it. Pay is $10/hr. You can work between 5-25 hours/week. A lot of what you do is work, kind of like virtual assistance, for real estate agents. It's not all real estate agents, but that's a majority. You don't have to have any experience in that area... I didn't. I applied for the Calling team. You can do Sales...which isn't really sales or calls for clients, basically following up on property searches. There are a ton of teams at Lifebushido, but I only have experience with Calling. I've been with them for a year now, and love it.

3. Lionbridge -Click Here to Apply at Lionbridge

This is another one I've worked for. I wish I still did, because this was one of the better paying jobs I've come across. The best way I know how to explain this, is you check the accuracy of search results. Pay for this job is $13-14/hour. The reason I'm not still with them is because I didn't do my required number of hours per week. Still kickin' myself over that one...

4. Leapforce - Click Here to Apply at Leapforce

I haven't worked for them, but my friend did. He was paid and I know this is legit. He doesn't work for them anymore for the same reason I'm not with Lionbridge - didn't work his hours. This job is pretty much exactly like Lionbridge. Pay is about the same also. 

5. Quicktate - Click Here to Apply at Quicktate

Technically, I still work for Quicktate, but I haven't done any work for them in a while. This is a transcription job. You are paid to transcribe voicemails. Pay isn't great, but it is legit. You are paid cents for every word you type. I don't do it because the pay isn't so great.

Why Am I Here?

Why Am I Here? Excellent questions!

I've been searching for years for ways to make money from home and save money. I started shortly after my first child was born. I won't lie -  I've hit a few snags along the way. I've actually paid money to work from home. I know, I know... that's like the #1 Rule - Never pay to work from home!! I fell for it, and it was a $25 lesson that I quickly learned. 

Since then, I've found some legit ways to generate income from home. Some of them are pennies at a time, and some are a little more substantial. These are not "get rich quick" scams or pyramid schemes, so if that's what you're looking for, look elsewhere. 

Not only have I been searching for ways to make money, I have been looking for ways to save money and to get things free. Who doesn't like freebies? If you don't, again - my page isn't for you!

So, I'll be posting things I've found along the way.... ways to earn money, ways to save money and ways to get a few things for free. 

I would have loved to come across something like this 9 years ago, could have saved me a lot of time and energy, and lets not forget - that $25!

Influenster!

So, I'm always looking for ways to try new things for free! I haven't found many sites worthy of talking about, but I think that has changed.

A friend from church recently told me about Influenster. She said that sometimes they will send her boxes of goodies to try out and give her opinion on that. Well, I'm an opinionated kind girl and I love receiving free things, so I decided to give it a go.

I created an account and forgot about it.

About 2 weeks later, I got an email telling me I was getting a Voxbox. (That's what they send the products in.) It came in the mail today! I got a Venus Razor, 2 pens, some perfume from Bath & Body works and some Ghiradelli chocolate. Oh heck yeah!

Excited to try my new products out!

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1/13/13 - Palmolive - and lots of it!

Today, I received my 2nd VoxBox - Palmolive Fresh Infusions.
I opened the box to find 3 colorful, full-sized bottles of dish soap.
The bottles are cute, doesn't look like your regular bottle of dish soap
and each scent has a different color. I can't remember the scents off the
top of my head, but I'm excited to try them out and see which one I like best!

Product Update - 12/17/12
One of the items I received was a Ghiradelli Gourmet Milk Seasalt Escape.
Let me tell you - it was yummy.

Another item was the new scent from Bath & Body Works - Forever Red. Although the scent was a little more bold than I usually wear, I like it. As a matter of fact, I've been wearing it this past week.

That's all for now! There are more items to review and I'll post soon!