guest post | make money | mobee | shopping
How I Turn Everyday Errands Into Extra Cash
This is a guest article by Caryn Purdy, one of our Mobee users
I am not a professional “couponer” by any means, but I do know it’s never enough for me to just save money on groceries and household goods. I’m a self-employed, single mom and I have a few favorite apps that have made shopping a pleasant and profitable experience.
First of all, there is Ibotta which gives you cash back on your purchases. Most of those purchases are brand and store specific, but sometimes there are even cash back offers for “any item.” Now I’ll admit that one of the reasons I do not consider myself a “couponer” is because I often prefer choosing offers that fit my shopping list rather than catering a shopping list to the offers available. Ibotta has always been a favorite of mine because it’s easy to find cash back offers for groceries that I already intend to buy. For example, earning 10% cash back for any purchase at Joann Fabrics allows me to stack those cash back offers on top of coupons for even more savings.
With that being said, Ibotta is somewhat like a couponing app because the cash back offers do require a purchase. When you sit down at the end of the day to crunch numbers and see the money you saved (the value acquired) it’s a good feeling. I’m an even bigger fan of the apps that give you “free” money without requiring a purchase, however.
Mobee
Topping the list is my personal favorite, Mobee. I’ve been a loyal Mobee user for a few years now and have introduced a few friends to this app. Sometimes we’ll even plan days to go out and tackle as many Mobee missions together as possible.
The missions do vary, but they often involve visiting a specific business and discreetly taking some photographs of a specific display and answering some questions about it. It takes 5-10 minutes of your time, and you’re compensated with points that can be redeemed for rewards.
I usually opt for a $50 gift card to either Dunkin Donuts (I love my lattes!) or Amazon. You can also request a prepaid debit card if you prefer “cold, hard cash.” The best part of Mobee and the reason it’s my personal favorite is that you will earn your rewards very quickly. Completing just a few missions a month (while I’m already out shopping) with Mobee, I’ve managed to completely fund my latte addiction and several shopping sprees on Amazon.
Other apps I recommend checking out include:
- FieldAgent: This app offers a variety of missions, closer to mystery shopping, and pays cash via direct deposit. Each mission averages $2-15.
- ShopKick: This is another must-have. You’ll earn points by “checking in” to stores and scanning specific products. You can redeem these points for gift cards. This app can be a fun scavenger hunt to locate and scan the products and, again, it’s an easy way to make extra cash on the side.
- FetchRewards: This is another app where you earn rewards by scanning receipts, similar to Ibotta, and can be used to layer savings and cash back.
Now don’t start planning to quit your day job! None of these apps are a source of steady, significant income, but they are a fast and easy way to earn extra cash (or gift cards) on the side.
Author Note
Caryn Purdy is a part-time copywriter, website manager, part-time Etsy shop owner, and full-time single mom of two boys. She enjoys using Mobee and other apps to turn everyday errands into extra cash. She uses her rewards for coffee and shopping for supplies on Amazon. To learn more about her handmade journals, visit Purdy Creative Things on Etsy.
Do you want to make money from your phone? Mobee pays you in rewards to shop at your favorite stores and retailers. Check us out on our website, the iTunes Store and the Google Play store today!