Living on a tight budget can be challenging, but these 44 websites and apps can help you save money, find deals, and manage your finances more effectively.
Most of these websites and apps my family personally uses. Although there are a few sites on here I have not used, I shared the ones I haven’t used as I know that what is a good fit for one person might not be a great fit for another; because of that, I wanted to make sure to give you plenty of options. I want to see your thrifty family succeed.
44 Websites & Apps Thrifty People Use & Love
(Links in this post are affiliate links. I will be compensated when you make a purchase by clicking those links. See my disclosure page for more information)
This list is not in any rating order. I love all these sites equally for how they help my family and other families save money. I tried to put them into categories, but some websites or apps could go in more than one category.
The Best Money-Saving Apps Offering Multiple Ways To Save
You might be looking at the two brands below and thinking, “But those are point programs…” Yes, they are, but many of the ways they offer to earn points are also ways to save money.
Both Swagbucks and MyPoints offer
- Cash back for online purchases through their website, apps, and browser extensions.
- Magic Receipts that gives you points for specific grocery store items when you purchase them and upload your grocery receipts.
- MyGiftCardsPlus, which allows you to earn a percentage of your gift card purchase back in the form of points.
- Offers section where you can earn points for signing up for various subscriptions and services you might be signing up for already so why not earn points for it?
Both programs offer a wide selection of gift cards to cash out for starting at $3–and it doesn’t take long to earn enough points for that. I have been a member of BOTH of these companies for over a decade now and have never had issues with them.
1. Swagbucks
Go here to sign up for Swagbucks
2. MyPoints
Go here to sign up for MyPoints
Apps For Saving Money At The Gas Pump
3. GetUpside
GetUpside is an app that gives you cash back when you get gas.
The GetUpside app is simple to use; it takes less than a minute to find a gas station, claim the offer, and then enter the information needed to start processing the cash back. Generally, it takes less than 24 hours to receive your cash back in the “Cash Out” area of the app. You can opt to receive your cash out through PayPal, a mailed check, or a gift card (starting at $10).
Use my referral code YG5ZB during sign-up and you will receive a bonus. What that bonus is changes from time to time.
The app does require you to link either your debit card or credit card, and I know many people hesitate to sign up for those types of apps. For those people, I recommend using Checkout 51, which instead requires you to upload receipts.
4. Gas Buddy
There are two ways to use the Gas Buddy app. You can open it, click find gas, and see where gas is cheapest wherever you are. If you want to save more money, you can apply for their free card linked to your bank account. You can take advantage of lower prices at select stations using the card when you do so.
5. Checkout 51
You might know of Checkout 51 for grocery savings, but it has a gas-saving option, too. Click the “extras” tab, and a map of participating gas stations in your area will pop up. Hit the station where you wish to claim the offer and follow the directions. This program uses receipts, so click “yes” when the gas pump screen asks if you want a receipt.
6. Loyalty App For The Gas Station You Use Most Often
The best cash back apps are always the ones for the brands you use most often. So, if you constantly stop at Pilot because it is the gas station on your route, take advantage of their My Rewards Plus app to save a few cents a gallon on fuel. It all adds up!
Websites And Apps For Cash Back Offers
The best way to make sure you get cash back on your everyday purchases whenever you are shopping online is to download and enable browser extensions for at least two or more cash back companies.
7. MrRebates
MrRebates has a website, app, and a Chrome extension button, making earning cash back simple. You can request a cash back once your account hits $10. They offer cash back at thousands of stores.
Go here to sign up for MrRebates
8. TopCashBack
What I like about TopCashBack is that you can cash out once your cash back is complete, regardless of the total. Yep, at TopCashBack, there is no cash-back threshold you have to reach. You can also increase the amount you earn by cashing out for Amazon gift card codes.
Go here to sign up for TopCashBack.
9. Rakuten (Formerly Ebates)
If you frequently shop from your phone, get the Rakuten app. Rakuten has a $5 cash out threshold and only gives out payments each quarter, but it is well worth using. I have received as much as $15 in cash back from one order.
Go here to sign up for Rakuten.
Best Websites For Finding Out About The Latest Deals
10. Money Saving Mom
I have been reading Crystal Paine’s blog, Money Saving Mom, since its early beginnings. It is a great site for finding out information on thrifty and frugal things: coupon deals, free samples, and much more.
11. BeFrugal
BeFrugal is a cash back site, but what I like most about it is its email newsletter that shares amazingly discounted items. First, sign up for an account here, then click on email preferences and ensure you are signed up for their newsletter.
12. Newsletters From Your Favorite Brands
I don’t do this as often as I did when my kids were young, but when I did, it was a great way to save money. For instance, all three of my kids loved Old Navy jeans so I signed up for their email list so that I was notified when there was a great sale on jeans. You can do this with just about anything you want to buy, whether it be a one-time purchase item or something you purchase regularly. When you buy what you need, unsubscribe until you need the item again so you are not tempted to buy more.
Best Websites For Finding Coupon Codes
13. PayPal Honey
Honey has saved me so much money! On average, it saves me $10 for each website for which it can find a promo code. The best part is that it is instant savings–I don’t have to wait for cash back with Honey (unless you use the Honey Points cash back area, which I don’t tend to). Honey has a browser app as well, which makes applying a promo code a breeze; in fact, at a lot of sites, Honey can enter the promo code for you with just one click. Go here to sign up for Honey.
14. Capital One Shopping
Capital One offers mainly discount codes, but it also offers cash back. You can cash out your funds for gift cards once you reach $5. Go here to sign up for Capital One Shopping.
Best Cash Back Apps For Grocery Stores
15. Ibotta
Ibotta is an app that gives you cash back on groceries bought in-store plus other items sold by many different retailers. You do have to reach a total of $20 in your account before you can cash out. You can cash out for a direct deposit to your PayPal account or for an e-gift card to Amazon, Starbucks, Walmart, and more. I have cashed out numerous times without issues.
Use the code pgoydhr during sign-up for a sign-up bonus.
16. Fetch Rewards
Fetch Rewards offers points for every qualifying receipt you upload, and they don’t have to be grocery receipts. You earn additional points if you buy qualifying items (these change frequently).
Use my referral code RE9FU at sign-up and receive bonus points when you complete your first receipt.
17. Makeena
Makeena offers rebates on organic foods, including many “any brand” offers that include items like milk, eggs, and various organic vegetables and brand-specific deals.
Go here to sign up for Makeena and use my referral code TWNAVD during sign-up to earn 1000 points (equals $1) once you upload your first receipt.
18. Receipt Hog
Receipt Hog is another app that isn’t store or item-specific, meaning you can use it regardless of where you buy your groceries, fast food, or clothing. Depending on what you buy, you earn either coins or spins that can win you coins. You can cash in your coins for PayPal or Amazon gift cards.
Go here to sign up for Receipt Hog. Use the code YECT1667 during sign-up to earn free spins (The offer could change at any time).
19. Shopkick
Shopkick has a receipt option, but it is much more than a cash-back app. You earn “kicks” that you can exchange for gift cards by opening the app when you walk into a participating store, scanning items in the store, and watching short videos.
Use the code CARD147023 during sign-up for a 500 Kick bonus (offer could change at any time).
20. Grocery Store Apps
If the grocery store you shop at has a loyalty program with either an app or a card, sign up for it. They usually offer special member-only deals that are well worth adding yet another app to your smartphone or card to your wallet.
Daily Deal Sites
These sites now sell a lot of junk, but there are still great deals for local entertainment, food, and local services to be found within them.
21. Groupon
22. Living Social
Survey Programs And Point Programs That Are Worth Your Time
YES, I am mentioning MyPoints and Swagbucks yet again. The awesome thing about these two programs is not only can you use them to save money through cash back and grocery receipt uploads, but you can also earn more through actions like answering daily polls and filling out surveys.
23. MyPoints
My favorite no-brainer way to earn points through MyPoints is by clicking the emails they send you. Each one is only worth 5 points, but those few points slowly start to add up until they equal a cash out earned through very little time spent.
24. Swagbucks
I have their browser extension active on my laptop and am alerted to Swagcodes several times a week that are worth a few points each. I also open their app and take the one-question daily poll almost every day.
Go here to sign up for Swagbucks
25. PaidViewpoint
I am not a fan of many survey sites, finding them too long for little return. However, I like PaidViewpoint. Sure, their surveys don’t pay much, but they don’t take long, either. Most surveys are under 2 minutes and you can have your earnings paid to PayPal once your account reaches $15.
Go here to sign up for PaidViewpoint
26. InstaGC
Hidden in its name is the reason why I love InstaGC. You receive the gift cards you earn instantly.
Go here to sign up for InstaGC
27. PrizeRebel
PrizeRebel has a great mix of easy point-earning tasks and low cash out values. Cash outs begin at just 200 points for a $2 Amazon gift card code, and it doesn’t take long to earn 200 points.
Go here to sign up for PrizeRebel
28. Survey Junkie
I tried out Survey Junkie after a reader recommended it. Yes, there are surveys there with those irritating screening questions, but Survey Junkie usually gives you a few points for your troubles if you should get screened out. When I tried it out, I was able to reach the $10 cash out level within a few short sessions of working at the site.
Go here to sign up for Survey Junkie.
Websites for Thrifty Bookworms
29. My Reader Rewards
Receive free, hold-in-your-hand books from My Reader Rewards. To earn points you answer short surveys, review books, and more.
Use my referral link to sign up and start your account out with 25 points.
30. Kindle App
You don’t need a Kindle to enjoy the free Kindle titles offered on Amazon Kindle. You can go to the app store for your phone or tablet, download the Kindle app for free, and start downloading free titles to enjoy. I find out about most of mine through the Money Saving Mom website I mentioned earlier.
31. Whatever Apps Your Local Library Offers
My local library offers both the Hoopla app and the Libby app, which I use to enjoy free audiobooks.
32. Little Free Library App
Use this app to find Little Library Boxes in your area where you can take a book and leave one you have already read behind for someone else to enjoy.
33. BookishFirst
At BookishFirst, you can win books through their weekly raffle or earn points by submitting reviews and cash them out for books.
Use my code: da2f3c2fddc817b1b when creating your account to earn bonus points toward a book.
For more ways to save money on books, check out this post.
Websites Where You Can Find Printable Coupons
Printable coupon sites are an excellent way to save money on groceries, toys, and more.
34. Coupons.com
35. MySavings.com
Websites Where You Can Buy Stuff You Need & Sell Stuff You Don’t
36. Craigslist
Craigslist gets forgotten now that Facebook Marketplace exists, but it is still a good place to buy and sell things.
37. Facebook But Not Just Marketplace
Facebook Marketplace works, but here are a few more ways to use Facebook to save money.
- When you need something you are only going to use once, make a status update asking your friends if they have the item you need and are willing to let you borrow it.
- Search for a “buy nothing” group in your area. Don’t just take the free stuff, but list free stuff for others, too.
- Join “garage sale” groups in your area so that you know when and where garage sales in your area are taking place.
38. eBay
There are still great deals to be found on eBay and good money to be made from your items, too.
Website That Will Save You Money On Prescription Glasses
40. Zenni Optical
All three of our kids wear glasses and my husband wears readers. Now, readers can be purchased for just $1.25 at Dollar Tree, but our children’s prescriptions are way stronger than readers so I headed to Zenni Optical for them.
How much can you save by shopping at Zenni? Well, I purchased my son a pair of scratch-resistant, blue light-blocking glasses for just $80 at Zenni and I was quoted over $300 on a similar pair at our eye doctor’s–that is a savings of $220!
Websites That Will Save You Money On Campgrounds
41. HarvestHost
You can purchase a HarvestHost plus Boondockers Welcome Membership for less than you can purchase both memberships separately, but that might not be a good fit for everyone so I am listing them separately.
A HarvestHost membership lets you spend the night in your RV at over 5,000 farms, breweries, wineries, attractions, and more. The yearly fee is equal to around two to three nights of camping at a state park, but you get access to these places for an entire year.
Use my referral link and save on your HarvestHost Membership (or the combo membership).
42. Boondockers Welcome
A Boondockers Welcome membership lets you stay at over 3,000 different hosts. These hosts are private property owners who allow Boondockers Welcome members to stay on their property for free. Many offer hookups for a small cost (usually $5 to $10). The membership is a bit less than HarvestHost.
Use my referral link and save on your Boondockers Welcome Membership
Budget Apps
If you don’t have good spending habits, then all the money-saving tips in the world won’t help you reach your financial goals. These apps have both free and paid premium membership options. We are a pen-and-paper budget type of family, so I have not used them, but I have read good reviews about them.
If you want a copy of the printable I created to keep track of our spending, you can grab it here.
These apps are available for both Android and iOS.
43. EveryDollar
This is Dave Ramsey’s budgeting app. With the free version, you get the ability to create a customizable budget and a savings fund –which is enough to get on a budget and stick to it. However, you will need the premium membership if you want more bells and whistles, such as automatic connectivity to your checking account.
44. Honeydue
This app allows couples to work together on their finances. It allows you to set reminders for bills so that you can avoid late fees. You can track the balances of your accounts to avoid overdraft fees and communicate with your partner about charges.
Don’t Forget About Store Loyalty Cards
There are still a few stores out there that use a loyalty card instead of an app, especially locally-owned businesses. For instance, on my key chain is a punch card for where I get my car’s oil changed. For every ten oil changes, I get one free with that card! And that one free is worth $50 or more. I can buy a lot of groceries for $50.
I hope this list saves your family some money and gets you closer to your financial goals. If I missed a money-saving website or app you like, leave a comment telling me what it is.
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