Five Frugal Things | Cashing out

I got on a roll of cashing out all my credits and rewards. 😉

1. I ordered a Panera gift card on sale

You've seen me do this lots of times before! I have a Citi credit card that I use exclusively for groceries because it gives me 5% back.

Then I use my points to buy gift cards when they are marked down. This week, I got a $50 Panera eGift card and immediately added it to my Panera app so that I won't lose track of it.

So now when Zoe and I have a hankering for some sandwiches, they won't cost me anything out of pocket.

2. I cashed out my GetUpside money

I don't use this app very often, preferring to stick with my Royal Farms station. But when I'm not near a Royal Farms, I use the app to find less expensive gas near me.

They give you your savings as a credit in your account, and so I opted to just put that money right into my checking account.

I'm not sure I've ever cashed out my money there, and I had $50 waiting for me. But now it's in my bank account. 😉

If you download the app, you can type in my referral code (97N2J), and we both will get an extra $0.15 back per gallon on our next purchase. It's not a special blogger code; just the usual one any GetUpside member has. 🙂

3. I redeemed my YourTurn rewards

This is the safe driving app my insurance company offers, and I used my points for a $25 Starbucks eGift card, which I promptly loaded into the app.

4. I redeemed my Fetch points

I spent a little too long trying to figure out the best deal for these points, since the point value varies depending on what merchant you select.

I ended up opting for an Ulta gift card because I need a new tube of mascara. Once my gift card gets here, I'll hopefully also have an Ulta coupon to use, and that way I can maximize my savings. 😉

Fetch is like Ibotta; you scan your grocery receipts and earn points. Click here to download the app.

5. I used my CVS CarePass

For the CarePass, I pay $4/month (paid annually), and I get a $10 credit to spend each month. That's a pretty sweet deal if you use their sales and coupons in conjunction with the reward.

I did just that and got a Maui Moisture shampoo and conditioner, so now I have a pretty nice stash of backups in my linen closet.

Doing it this way means I never have to pay full price! When I finish a bottle, I just grab one from my stash. 🙂

Your turn! What frugal things have you been up to lately?

P.S. Reward apps are not going to singlehandedly enable you to retire early; they're kinda small beans. But as I know from my low-income days, small beans are actually big beans when your budget is super tight. Also, they're a nice way to get some little treats without actually spending money out of pocket.