If you’re anything like me, you love a good shopping trip, whether that be in person or online. As college students, it’s obvious that most of us are on a budget. Sometimes it’s hard to balance spending without breaking the bank. Over this past year, I’ve found a few ways to help me spend the least amount of money possible!
Here are 5 money saving hacks I swear by:
Rakuten
I first discovered Rakuten, in the midst of the pandemic last year, I 100% thought there was no way this was real. However, I’m really happy I decided to take a chance on it and try it out! Since then, I’ve saved a total of $176.20 from all my purchases through the browser extension/app! Here is a little about how it works:
Cash Back & Discount Codes:
- Rakuten is a browser extension and app that allows you to get cash back from shopping through them. With a wide range of stores offering a wide range of cash back, from 1-50%. To earn your cash back, shop through the extension, wait until your order is processed, and either a check will be mailed to you or sent directly to your PayPal! You can also earn more cash back by shopping in person at select stores by linking your card via the app and referring family & friends too!
- In addition to cash back, Ratuken also offers discount codes to use in your purchase.
UniDAYS/ Student Beans
Throughout high school, I’d always heard that college students get so many perks and discounts through apps like UniDAYS or Student Beans. So, of course I knew it was essential to get these apps. After getting the apps, I was so surprised just how many stores offered discounts, from H&M to Hulu, there is something on there for everyone. Here is a little about how it works:
Discount Codes for Students:
- UniDAYS & Student Beans offer a range of discounts, deals, and offers for students through their apps. By signing up with your school email, you are eligible to receive all these offers!
Fetch Rewards
Fetch is another app I found during the pandemic. (can you tell I was bored?) Similar to my experience with Rakuten, I had my doubts about the validity of this app too. However, I’m happy to report that I’ve earned a total of $50 in gift cards since downloading it! Here is a little about how it works:
Receipts = Gift Cards:
- Fetch Rewards is a receipt scanning app that rewards you points for scanning digital or paper receipts. You are guaranteed a minimum of 25 points per receipt. These points can then be converted into money gift cards for a range of different stores, restaurants, and charities. You can connect your email, Amazon account, and GoodRx account to earn points from your online purchases. You can also refer the app to family and friends to earn even more points!
Honey
If you’re an avid YouTube watcher, you probably remember when Honey was sponsoring a load of YouTubers. Honey is something I’ve been using for years now. It is a really helpful and easy way to save a few extra dollars, especially if you download it as a browser extension! For example, I was able to save $20 on a $100 purchase! Here is a little about how it works:
Coupon Codes:
- Honey is an app/browser extension that automatically searches for the best coupon codes applicable to your online purchase, saving you as much money as possible!
Price Watch:
- Honey also offers a price watch, allowing you to track the price of a certain item. This can be helpful to figure out the best time to purchase!
I hope these tips help with all your retail therapy. Happy Shopping!