Ibotta - The Best App For Free Cash In Store and Online

How are people still not using Ibotta?  I'm going to assume it's because you have never heard of it. Ibotta is an awesome app that gives me cash back for my in store and online purchases.  I used it as much as I can and have racked up a nice little chunk of cash.

Now what to spend it on... Shoes, shoes, shoes.  My mind is telling me no, but my boday, my boday...

When I first blogged about Ibotta in 2017 I had earned $67.95 in rebates.  The last time I blogged about Ibotta in 2019 I was up to $155.50.  Now as of writing this post, $274.33.  That's a lot of money for little effort.  My past posts have detailed instructions on how to claim in store cash back.  Feel free to check out my past posts on Ibotta by clicking here and here.  But for those of you who are new to my blog (welcome BTW) or need a refresher on how the Ibotta app works, I'll briefly show you how easy it is to get cash back on the purchases you already make.  I still recommend you check out my past posts for more detailed instruction on using the Ibotta app.

So one new thing Ibotta has been doing over the last few months is offering "free after rebate" offers on select items.   How on Earth can you say no to that?  The answer is you don't and I have all the (free) Cup Noodles aka "cup of noodles" to prove it.

On a recent trip to Walmart I saw that the Mystery Oreo was "free after offer."

Free Oreos?  And a mystery flavor?  There is nothing like frozen Oreos (you're welcome) so this purchase was a no brainer.

And it just so happened that Walmart had two packages left.  Probably since they were going to expire in March 2020, but that's besides the point.  So I bought them, followed the instructions for claiming a rebate on Ibotta, and got reimbursed more than what I purchased the Oreos for.

It's that easy.

And the flavor was graham cracker.  It was aight.

When I first started using Ibotta you had to scan a physical copy of your receipt to upload for rebate redemption and that is still true for many stores.  My main grocery store, however, no longer provides physical receipts and instead emails you a copy of your store receipt.  For these stores you can still claim cash rebates, but you must link your loyalty card in your Ibotta app.

After you have linked your loyalty card number with the easy to follow instructions, you need to  select all the rebates you are interested in.  I do it before shopping, but I imagine you could do it while you are shopping.  That's just not an option with a 2.5 year old.  Honestly I select almost everything I think I might purchase so if I end up purchasing an item on rebate I qualify for the cash back.  And make sure to include "free after offer items":

Didn't we already establish I have enough Cup Noodles to last a lifetime?  And the cash back on any item purchase, which varies from $0.10 to as much as $1.

Within 24 hours I'll receive a notification on my phone and through email letting me know that I've "got cash" and also alerting me to which items I purchased were eligible for cash back. 

While I encourage you to select items for cash back in the Ibotta app prior to shopping in stores with linked loyalty cards, I have been able to claim rebate on items if I select the rebates in the app immediately after shopping, but this is not a guarantee.  

And for stores where you have to scan a copy of your receipt, I would highly recommend following the steps to claim rebates within a day or two so you don't forget.  Receipts are not eligible for rebate if they are more than 7 days past the date of purchase.

If you're interested in Ibotta sign up with my referral code j6igsw or link here.  I'll receive a referral bonus (thank you!) and you will earn $20 just for using the app.  And then you can invite your friends who invite their friends and receive small dividend as your team grows.  Let's get that cash money!

Ebates for Holiday Shopping

The Holidays are coming and if you are like me than you probably do a lot of Holiday shopping.  So why not get a little something for yourself when getting things for others?  Enter Ebates.

I’ve talked about Ebates over and over again and if you have signed up for Ebates then you go girl (or boy… whatever).  But if you haven’t signed up yet, or if you have signed up, but “forget” to go to Ebates first before online shopping (hint, hint Mom) then shame on you!   So let me tell you about Ebates again. 

Ebates is a company that rewards you with cash back for shopping online.  Yes, it sounds too good to be true, but how it works per Ebates website is:

stores pay Ebates a commission for sending our members to shop at their websites.  Ebates then splits that commission with you, in the form of Cash Back.

There are tons of different stores participating with Ebates with varying cash back options.  And these cash back percentages change throughout the year (I've seen up to 20% cash back, right now up to 15%).  For example, It Cosmetics is offering 4% cash back right now.  If you read my last post (here) and decided to become an It Girl and purchase some of my favorite It Cosmetics products for yourself, then you would get 4% cash back for any purchase made through the Ebates website.  Basic math here: if you spend $100 you get 4% cash back or $4.  $4 to some may not seem like enough of an incentive to sign up for Ebates, but every purchase you make online adds up and free is free!  So maybe you are a baller instead and want to purchase the $1190 Soho Leather Gucci Disco Bag I've been dreaming of from Saks Fifth Avenue, who is offering 8% cash back on Ebates right now.  That is essentially $95 off the purchase of this gorgeous Gucci Disco Bag.  But $95 cash back doesn't entice you?  I forgot you're a baller.  You see my point...

Additionally, Ebates has a mobile app for on the go shopping and offers in store cash back options, which I've personally never tried, but plan to do next time I go to Buy Buy Baby.  I'll let you know how that works out.

I plan to do all my Holiday shopping though Ebates so mama can have a little spending money.  When you have a new baby, every penny counts including this Big Fat Check for $12.57 that I just received for my recent purchases through Ebates.

So have I convinced you yet to sign up for Ebates?  Use my referral link here and when you sign up and make a purchase you will get $10 free for joining and I will get $25 plus a chance to win $50,000!  And then after you have joined Ebates start referring all your friends so you too can get referral commission.  Everyone wins here.  Plus, if you sign up by November 19, every purchase you make through Ebates gives you an entry into a chance to win $500.  Now that would pay some of my Holiday bills, probably yours too... Fingers crossed!

Last weeks goal was a fail, but Ebates...

Last week I failed my goal of eating all the veggies in my CSA box, but I didn't throw anything away.  So I will try, try, try to finish everything before it spoils.  Thank God family is coming to visit this week so I can have some help consuming these veggies.

On a side note, I recently received my "big fat check" from Ebates.

This is definitely not the biggest or fattest check I have ever received, but free money is free money.  I use Ebates every time I shop online and receive cash back.  There is literally no catch.  I have talked about Ebates a number of times and am still shocked that people don't use Ebates for all their online shopping.

Sign up today with my referral link here and receive $10 in addition to the advertised cash back after making a purchase through Ebates.  By signing up I also get a chance to win a vacation to Disney World and you know baby Della Favorite would love to go to Disney World.  Fine, I would love to go as I have never been.  Regardless sign up and let me know what you think of Ebates and how much money you have gotten back.  My friend has already surpassed by total earning by shopping for all his work purchases through Ebates.  Yes, I'm jelly, but love that he is getting to reap the benefits of this amazing site. 

Free Money

The number one way I get paid to shop is through Ebates, which I have talked about many times before.  To read my last post about Ebates and how I get free cash back when I shop online click here.  Yes, it really works.  I have currently received $916.55 from Ebates and no I don't shop that much online.  Sign up for Ebates here through my referral link and get $10 bonus cash when you make your first purchase.

Today I want to tell you about one way I get free money when I shop in stores with an app called Ibotta.  I mainly use this app when I shop at grocery stores, big box retailers, convenience stores, and pharmacy chains such as ShopRite, Target, Walmart, Costco, CVS, Wawa, 7-11, etc... you get the idea.  Each week participating stores offer different cash back incentives off various items they sell from fruits and veggies, to wine, to household cleaning supplies.  Additionally, most stores offer a $0.25 cash back rebate on any item.  Yep, that's $0.25 for simply shopping in a store.  As far as I'm concerned every quarter adds up.

The Ibotta app is super easy to use and I will give you a quick overview of how it works.  Normally I would recommend looking for rebates at participating stores before shopping, but let's be real... I often forget to do this.  Follow along to see how I redeem a receipt for cash back from my recent shopping trip to Costco.  I find it easiest to manually search for stores, but scroll through the long list if that is your thing.

Nothing I bought at Costco was on rebate and that's when I appreciate the $0.25 on any item cash back rebate!   To add the rebate to your account click the "+" and then "redeem."

This will take you to a new screen that makes you read or watch an advertisement or answer a survey question.  In this case it was an advertisement for Amazon.

After clicking the link for "Add $0.25 Cash Back" I was directed to a screen instructing me to take a picture of the recent Costco receipt and confirm which incentive I was redeeming.

Sometimes you have to scan the barcode to confirm that you bought a specific item, but not in this case.  So collect that money!

And within 24 hours your account will be credited with cash.  

Ibotta is literally the second easiest way to get free money for shopping.  If you can use a smartphone, shop in a store, and follow directions then you can use this app.  Before this current rebate I had $67.70 in my account.

And after my Costco shopping trip I had $67.95.  Get it!

I am on a mission to get to $100 so I can buy groceries without having to spend anything other than cash from my Ibotta rebates.  That would be awesome and I hope to reach this goal by the end of the year.

This is honestly an extremely user friendly app and I would encourage you to sign up for Ibotta.  If you sign up by my referral link here you will receive a $10 welcome bonus for free after you redeem your first rebate.  So what do you have to lose?  Get that money!

Ebates

I've talked about this time and time again.  I have no idea how people are still not using Ebates.  It is a no-brainer and is so easy to use that even an *gasp* adult can use the website.  If you can use a cell phone you can use Ebates!  No excuse people!

Ebates is a website that provides a cash back percentage of your purchase when you shop at various different stores online.  For reference, there are over 2,000 stores that participate with Ebates.  When you go to Ebates you select the store that you want to shop at and click the link that takes you from Ebates to said store.  Then you just wait for your email confirming your cash back and every few months get a check or gift card with the earrings.

Ebates also provides coupon codes similar to RetailMeNot.  So not only are they giving you cash back, but they are helping you to save more money!  Who doesn't like to save money? #Exactly

So what are you waiting for?  Sign up for Ebates today here.  When you sign up I am eligible for a referral bonus and you get free $10 cash once you make your first purchase through Ebates.  Happy shopping!

And if you are looking for another good deal Macys has an awesome Lancome Gift With Purchase and is offering 10% cash back through Ebates.  I would snag it before it's gone.

Ebates

Most people know about Ebates by now, but I still meet people who don't know about Ebates or use it for ALL their online shopping.

So for those of you who don't know Ebates offers cash back for all most of your online shopping.  I can't say all because there are still times that I will purchase something online and the site is not participating with Ebates (I'm talking specifically about Joyus...come on Ebates that site is the bomb!).

Ebates is super simple once you sign up here.  
1.  Click the link for the site you want to shop at.  Clearly today it's all about Nordies.

2. Once you click the desired shopping site a new tab will pop open and take you to Nordstrom's website.

3.  Shop as you usually would and get a percent back off your purchase.  In this case 6%.  

I swear it is that easy.  And then you get a big, fat check or money transferred to your PayPal account.

Right now when you sign up for Ebates you get $10 cash back and a chance to win a 2016 Toyota Highlander for doing nothing more then one extra click of your mouse before doing what you already did best.  Now you can do it better.  Seriously if you are not using Ebates to get cash back you are missing out on free money.  And while a $22.31 check may not seem like much, those checks add up.

Do you shop?

I love to shop.  But I'm still a bargain shopper.  If I am going to shop I want the best deal and I want a little something something in return.

Shopping online is a no-brainer.  You can easily compare prices and find promo or coupon codes so you know you are getting the best bang for your buck.  I like the best bang.

I've talked about Ebates before and I will say it again: If you are not using Ebates before you make an online purchase you are loosing free money.  

Every time I know I am going to make an online purchase I first check to see if the retailer is on Ebates.  Let's use Sephora as an example:

Each retailer has a different percent cash back offer for your purchases and the only catch is you have to shop through the Ebates link.

As you can see in the above picture, Ebates will give you 4% cash back on any purchase you make at Sephora through the Sephora Ebates link.  These percentages are not fixed.  I've seen cash back offers as high as 20% for retailers that I like and purchase from (I.e. Joyus).

Once you click the retailer link you are taken to Sephora, or whichever website you desire, where you can shop around, complete your purchase as usual, and then you just wait for your big, fat check.

Get it girl!

And if you don't want a check Ebates will deposit your quarterly payout into your PayPal account.  Ebates you are so good to me.

$125 may not seem like a lot of money to some, but every little bit adds up.  This is money that I can take on my upcoming vacation and I didn't do anything for it, but shop like I normally do.  I don't get spammed.  I haven't encountered any weird viruses.  I've just gotten paid.

Ebates offers referral perks.  Sometimes it's cash, sometimes it is entries into a free trip, sometimes it is both.  Right now the referral perk is $5 for every person who signs up with my unique link and an entry into a free trip to Hawaii.

If you enjoyed this post please show me some love and sign up for Ebates using my referral link here.


Today is the last day to enter to win one of my free bracelets.  Click here for the original post with details.