Ibotta, the best way to turn grocery shopping into vacation savings

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You’ve probably heard of this one already as I’ve even seen it advertised in Walmart. It is by far the most lucrative of the grocery rebate apps I’ve tried as it offers rebates on items I buy already.

I joined a little over a year ago and some months have been better than others.

But it contributed over $400 to my recent vacation.

Earning with ibotta is quite simple. When you set up your account, you will be given the opportunity to save your favorite stores. After that, you can find offers by tapping on one your stores.

Once you’ve selected your store, you will see something similar to this.

The options at the top allow you to sort by category, but I usually just leave it on “All” to be sure not to miss anything. You will then tap the + on each item you plan to buy. You may be asked to answer a question or watch a video but they are always very short.

Once you’ve completed your shopping, you will open the app and select the “Redeem” option. Some stores, like Walmart, have a QR code at the bottom of the receipt. If you scan the QR code, any rebate items you purchased should be added automatically, but it is always a good idea to double check. If anything was missed or you have a receipt without a QR code, then you will need to add them by scanning the product bar code. For receipts without a QR code, you will first be prompted to take a picture of the receipt.

While ibotta does add a few extra steps to the already tedious job of grocery shopping, the savings are well worth the extra steps. And if you use other grocery rebate apps, you can scan the same receipt into multiple apps for even more savings.

A few things to remember:

1. Always check the app before you shop as it might be beneficial to buy a different size/brand/quantity in order to receive a rebate.

2. Always read the small print. Some rebates are only for specified quantities or varieties.

3. Pay attention to the bonuses. You can really rack up savings if you meet certain goals. There’s always a monthly goal with multiple levels that increase in value and difficulty. Be sure to read the small print as not all rebates count towards your goal.

You will also find a page of brand-specific bonuses and occasional holiday bonuses. You may find it worthwhile to stock up on certain items you would have bought eventually anyway.

4. Spread the word. Every month, ibotta offers a reward for referring your friends. Keep in mind, you get nothing unless they redeem their first eligible rebate within their first month.

5. Cash back for mobile shopping is also available. However, keep in mind that there is no double dipping with mobile shopping. In order to receive credit, you must go through the app to get to the site on which you plan to shop. My advice would be to check any other apps/websites which offer cash back for mobile/online shopping, read the fine print, and choose the one with the best offer. Also, keep in mind that you may not receive your cash back for several months as these transactions often show as pending for up to 90 days.