Checkout 51 is a mobile app that provides you with a list of offers (coupons) each week and then gives you cash back when you upload a photo of a receipt that proves you purchased products on the list! It’s like a mail-in rebate program except it’s all done on your smartphone! The Checkout 51 app makes it quick and easy to save on everyday products!
Currently Checkout 51 is only available for iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch but they’re working on getting something available for all smartphone users.
How it works
1. Open the Checkout 51 app to see this week’s offers (new every Thursday)
2. Buy any of the products on offer from any store in Canada and keep the receipt
3. In the app, tap “Upload Receipt” and snap photos of the receipt
4. When your account reaches $20, we send you a cheque!
Here’s a screenshot to give you an idea:
Check out the help section for more details on how the program works.
I think Checkout 51 is going to be fantastic for those of us that aren’t extreme couponers, but still enjoy saving on basic grocery purchases! This week, I even noticed a couple of offers that have manufacturer coupons available for extra savings!
Give Checkout 51 a try, I think you’ll really like it!
Christmas is usually a tough time to stay in check financially. With all the extra activities occurring, parties and of course the gifts, we could all use some help with keeping ourselves in check. Here are three tips that will help you resist holiday overspending!
Use Cash
Along with creating a budget for holiday spending, when you're limited to using only cash, you're way less likely to spend more than you have. When you're out of cash, you're out of excuses to spend.
Give homemade
Whether it's knit, baked, or glued, any gift you make not only feels meaningful to the recipient, it can also help keep you away from the major stores and malls. In turn, keeping you away from a lot of temptation to spend!
Take a look at your calendar for the weeks leading up to Christmas and figure out all the activities, parties and gift exchanges you'll be attending that require you to bring something along. Think of everything you could do to prepare ahead of time so you’re not rushing and making unnecessary stops at the store, which could lead to unnecessary spending. Freeze some sugar cookie dough so it’s ready for that cookie decorating party or available to bring to a neighborhood party. Dig through your closet to find an outfit for the office party. Buy or make hostess gifts to have on hand for last-minute party invitations.
The more you put your cold hard cash to good use, have fun creating and plan ahead for the Christmas season, the less likely you are to feel the effects of your overspending in January when your credit card statements will be due to arrive! After all, now is the time to focus on celebrating the season for it's true meaning.
What are your tips for resisting holiday overspending?
I mentioned in an earlier post that Simply Frugal was featured in the November issue of Canadian Living magazine. I thought that the only way you were able to read the article was through the magazine itself.
But, my amazing Mom used her super search skills and found the article online at the Canadian Living website!
If you check out November’s issue of Canadian Living magazine (on page 98) you’ll find a little article with some details about ME and some of MY favourite ways to save money!! Crazy!
I had the privilege of talking with Patricia (months ago!) over the phone, about the website, how I started living the frugal lifestyle, my favourite ways to save money and so much more. It’s quite surreal to see this article in the magazine finally! It would really be great if you could check out the article next time you’re standing in the checkout line or if you happen to purchase the magazine!
In case you’re wondering, here are a few links that relate to the article:
The following post is a guest post by Ruth. Enjoy!
I love saving money, using coupons and getting freebies. My husband Mark and I have always lived a frugal life since we’ve been married while we were both in university. We have always cooked mostly from scratch, since my husband cannot have artificial colours, flavors or salicylic acids (these are found in tomatoes and in varying amounts in many fruits.) Mark has followed the Feingold Diet since he was fourteen and found out about these food sensitivities. Consuming foods with these ingredients do not cause an allergic reaction, they cause a metabolic reaction. He becomes hyperactive!
Our lives became a bit more complicated when I began following a gluten free, dairy free, no refined sugars diet that was necessary to manage a chronic health problem. This diet has done wonders for my health. But it has not been easy on the check book. Many of the items I need are only available at Organic Markets.
However, I have picked up some tips and tricks since I started following this diet in July 2011. If you also follow a special diet, maybe these tips can help you!
Check the Supermarkets for Organic Products
Many major supermarkets have started carrying organic products. You may be getting a better deal, but make sure to do your homework, because often you aren’t. This really surprised me until I realized that the Organic Markets buy many items in bulk, therefore they can offer a better price. Also, the Organic Markets always have month long specials going on. I use unsweetened Vanilla Blue Diamond Almond Milk as an alternative to Cow’s milk. This is a very popular brand. I can find some sort of special on this milk (usually buy 2 for a reduced price) every month.
Shop at Bulk Barn
If there is a Bulk Barn in your city, go there first! They have a great selection of gluten free pasta, flours, crackers, and packaged food.
Buy in Bulk
Buy in bulk whenever possible, regardless of where you’re buying.
Visit Costco
Costco has started carrying things like Organic Agave Nectar (A sweetener I use in baking) and Amy’s Organic Soups (The Lentil Soups are a great source of protein and don’t contain sugar). I am on the lookout every time we do a Costco run because I believe they will continue to offer more organic and specialty items
Make as much from Scratch as Possible
If you have a special diet that requires you to spend more on groceries, make as much from scratch as possible. This may involve taking a cooking class. In my case I learned by trial and error and eventually discovered some good blogs, where I get many of my recipes. The best blogs I found are Hope for Healing, Chocolate covered Katie and Oh She Glows. I have also become more adept at adapting regular recipes, but that takes time and depends on how comfortable you are experimenting in the kitchen.
Look for Coupons for Organic products
There are actually some coupons to be found for organic products. Go to the website The Healthy Shopper Canada. You just need to register and you will be able to print out e-coupons and use them again and again. They don’t expire until March 2014. You can also find their coupon book in stores at around February each year. Last year I only discovered about their coupon book in May. They also give you the option of paying $4.50 (through pay pal) to have their coupon book mailed to you. I did this last year, but found I didn’t make my money back in terms of money saved. This year, you can actually flip through the coupon book on the website, and if you look through the coupon book, it is almost identical to the e-coupons, you just save a little bit more with the coupon book. On their website you can click on a link to find out where to find their coupon book in your city. In 2013 I plan to contact them and find out exactly when their coupon book is coming out, so I have a better chance of finding one in Edmonton.
For those of you that follow a special diet, what are some of your money saving tips?
