The travel bug bites everyone differently, but for some of us, it's a constant itch. Friends constantly ask, "Kristi, how do you manage to travel so often?" The truth is, there's no magic bullet, but I've become a pro at finding creative ways to save money. In this post, I'll share some of my favorite apps/extensions that helped me build my travel fund and even some that work while I'm on the road! These are money saving apps in Canada but are also used in other parts of the world
Discounted Food: You can typically expect to save up to ⅓ or even ½ the original price on a bag of food. This translates to significant savings on groceries, restaurant meals, or bakery treats.
Reduced Grocery Bill: Using TooGoodToGo for some of your meals can significantly reduce your grocery bill, freeing up budget for other travel expenses or experiences.
Combats Food Waste: Their core mission is to reduce food waste. Restaurants and stores nearing closing often have surplus food that would otherwise be thrown away. TooGoodToGo allows them to sell these items at a discounted price, saving both money and the environment.
Surprise Bags: You won't know exactly what you'll get in your bag, but that's part of the fun! It adds an element of surprise and allows you to potentially discover new foods at a fraction of the cost.
Supporting Local Businesses: By using TooGoodToGo, you're not only saving money but also supporting local businesses by helping them reduce waste.
Overall, TooGoodToGo is a win-win situation. You save money on delicious food, and you contribute to a more sustainable food system. I have found it in multiple cities I have travelled to as well! My favourite was Rome!
2. Flashfood
Reduced Food Waste: Similar to TooGoodToGo, Flashfood tackles food waste by partnering with grocery stores to sell approaching-expiry items at significantly discounted prices. You can snag fresh produce, dairy products, meat, and even packaged goods for a fraction of their original cost. Savings typically range from 30% to 50% off, translating to major savings on your grocery bill.
Stretch Your Budget Further: Flashfood allows you to stock up on essentials and explore new food items without breaking the bank. This frees up budget for other needs or lets you enjoy a wider variety of groceries.
Browse Before You Shop: Unlike TooGoodToGo's surprise element, Flashfood lets you see what discounted items are available at participating stores near you. This allows you to plan your meals around the deals and potentially reduce food waste at home.
Last-Minute Deals: Flashfood is also great for grabbing last-minute deals on items that are nearing their best before date but are still perfectly safe to consume. This is a fantastic way to avoid impulse purchases and stick to your grocery list while scoring savings.
Quick In-Store Pickup: Once you've purchased your discounted items through the app, simply pick them up at the designated Flashfood counter in the store. This makes it a seamless addition to your regular shopping routine.
In essence, Flashfood helps you save money on groceries while reducing food waste. It's a win for your wallet and the environment! Use promo code KRIS4Z4DW for $5 your first purchase over $10!
3. Checkout 51
Cash Back on Everyday Purchases: Unlike traditional coupons that offer discounts at checkout, Checkout 51 rewards you with cash back after you purchase specific items. This allows you to use any coupons you might already have and still earn additional cashback.
Variety of Products: Checkout 51 offers cash back on a wide range of grocery items, including national brands, household products, and even occasionally gas purchases. This versatility allows you to maximize your savings across different categories.
Easy to Use: The app is user-friendly and straightforward. Simply browse current offers, purchase qualifying items at any store, and upload a photo of your receipt. Once your purchase is verified, you'll earn cashback that accumulates in your account.
Low Minimum Cash Out: Unlike some other apps, Checkout 51 boasts a low minimum cash out threshold (often around $20). This means you can reach the threshold and redeem your earnings quickly.
Flexibility: You can stack Checkout 51 cash back with other coupons and promotions, further amplifying your savings. Additionally, many offers can be claimed multiple times, allowing you to rack up cashback on your favorite products.
Overall, Checkout 51 is a convenient and flexible money saving app in Canada that lets you earn cash back on everyday purchases without being restricted to specific stores or checkout deals.
4. Rakuten
Effortless Cash Back: Earn cash back on your online and even in-store purchases with minimal effort. Simply make purchases through the Rakuten app or website at partnered retailers, and watch your cash back accumulate.
Wide Range of Retailers: Rakuten boasts partnerships with a vast network of retailers, including major brands like Amazon, Walmart, Target, and countless smaller online stores. This allows you to earn cash back on a significant portion of your online shopping.
Flexible Earning: Rakuten offers varying cash back percentages depending on the retailer and promotions. You can also score bonus cash back through special offers and by using Rakuten's browser extension to automatically track your shopping activity.
Free to Use: Signing up and using Rakuten is completely free. There are no hidden fees or subscriptions, so you can maximize your savings without any additional cost.
Multiple Cash Out Options: Once you reach the minimum cash out threshold (usually around $5), you can redeem your earnings via various options. Rakuten allows you to transfer your cash back to your bank account, request a check, or even redeem it for gift cards.
Rakuten is a low-effort, high-reward extension that seamlessly integrates with your online shopping habits, letting you earn cash back on purchases you might already be making. I've earned a total of $165.20 in cash back with Rakuten!
5. Honey
Effortless Savings at Checkout: Honey automates coupon hunting for you. As you browse online stores, Honey automatically searches for and applies the best available coupon codes at checkout, potentially saving you money without any manual searching.
Price Tracking and Drop Alerts: Honey goes beyond coupons! It can track the price history of items you're interested in and notify you when the price drops, allowing you to snag the best deal. This is particularly valuable for big-ticket purchases or seasonal sales.
Seamless Browser Integration: Honey offers a user-friendly browser extension that integrates seamlessly with your online shopping experience. It works in the background, searching for coupons and price drops without interrupting your browsing flow.
Wide Range of Stores Supported: Honey works with a vast network of online stores, encompassing major retailers, smaller businesses, and travel booking sites. This increases your chances of finding savings across a broad spectrum of online purchases. Overall, Honey is a versatile extension that simplifies online shopping by automating coupon searches, price tracking, and even rewarding you for using it. It's a convenient way to potentially save money on everyday purchases and larger online transactions.
6. Omio
Omio isn't exactly a "money-saving app" in the traditional sense like coupon apps or cash back rewards. However, it can be a great tool for travelers to save money on their trips in a few key ways:
Price Comparison & Booking Convenience: Omio acts as a travel search engine, allowing you to compare prices and book transportation options (flights, trains, buses) across numerous providers in one place. This eliminates the need to visit individual websites and manually compare prices, saving you time and potentially finding the most affordable option for your journey.
Transparent Pricing & Fees: Omio displays the total price upfront, including any applicable taxes and fees. This allows you to make informed decisions without hidden surprises at checkout, helping you stick to your travel budget.
Multi-Modal Journey Planning: Traveling long distances often involves combining different transportation methods (e.g., flight + train). Omio allows you to plan these multi-modal journeys and potentially find cheaper combinations compared to booking each leg separately.
Mobile Booking & E-Tickets: With Omio's user-friendly app, you can search, compare, and book your travel options on the go. You'll receive e-tickets directly through the app, eliminating the need for physical tickets and simplifying your travel management.
Last-Minute Deals & Flexibility: Omio sometimes features last-minute deals or flexible booking options that allow you to change your travel plans for a fee. This can be helpful if you have some flexibility in your travel dates or are looking for a spontaneous getaway.
While Omio may not directly offer discounts, it excels at saving you time and money through its comprehensive search, transparent pricing, and convenient booking features. It empowers you to compare prices effectively, find the best deals for your specific travel needs, and streamline your travel planning process.
Avoid Hefty ATM Fees: Traveling often means using ATMs to access cash. ATM fees, including those charged by your bank and the foreign ATM itself, can quickly eat into your travel budget. ATM Fee Saver helps you locate ATMs with no fees or lower fees, saving you significant money on cash withdrawals abroad.
Global Coverage: The app boasts a wide range of coverage, offering information on ATM fees and withdrawal limits in over 50 countries. This makes it a valuable resource for travelers venturing to diverse destinations.
More Than Just Fees: ATM Fee Saver goes beyond simply locating ATMs with low fees. It also provides information on withdrawal limits for different card types, helping you plan your cash needs and avoid exceeding limits that might incur additional charges.
Offline Functionality: A valuable feature for travelers is the app's ability to function offline. Once you download the information for a specific location, you can access it even without an internet connection. This ensures you can find ATMs with low fees even in areas with limited internet access.
I hate spending money to get MY money. This is why I love ATM Fee Saver as a travel companion for saving money on ATM withdrawals abroad. It helps avoid hefty fees by locating ATMs with lower or no charges, and provides valuable information on withdrawal limits.
8. Facebook Marketplace
Great Deals on Used Items: The platform is brimming with people selling pre-owned items, from furniture and clothing to electronics and household goods. You can find gently used items at a fraction of their retail price, saving significant money compared to buying new.
Local Focus & Direct Communication: Marketplace listings tend to be geographically focused, allowing you to find items in your area. You can communicate directly with sellers to negotiate prices or inquire about the item's condition.
Unique Finds & Hidden Gems: You never know what treasures you might discover on Facebook Marketplace. With a diverse range of sellers, you can find vintage items, collectibles, or locally-made crafts that may not be available in traditional stores.
Selling Unwanted Items for Extra Cash: Decluttering your home can be financially rewarding on Facebook Marketplace. Instead of throwing away unwanted items, you can list them for sale and earn some extra cash.
By being mindful and taking safety precautions, Facebook Marketplace can be a fantastic platform to save money on a variety of items and declutter your home for some extra cash.
9. Flipp
Digital Version of Weekly Ads: Flipp eliminates the need to rummage through stacks of paper flyers. It compiles weekly ads from local stores you frequent, delivering all the deals in one convenient app. This saves time and reduces paper clutter.
Targeted Savings & Easy Browsing: Select your favorite stores so you only see deals from the places you shop. This allows for a more focused approach to finding savings and avoids information overload.
Deal Clipping & Shopping List Integration: "Clip" the deals you like to save them for later. This creates a virtual shopping list with all the discounted items you want to purchase, ensuring you don't miss out on any offers.
Price Comparison & Strategic Shopping: Compare prices on similar items across different stores featured in the app. This allows you to plan your shopping trip strategically and snag the best deals wherever they might be.
While Flipp doesn't directly offer coupons or cash back, it empowers you to be a smarter shopper by centralizing deals, facilitating price comparison, and helping you plan your purchases strategically.
10. GasBuddy
Real-Time Price Updates: GasBuddy boasts a vast network of users who update gas prices at stations near them in real-time. This allows you to find the cheapest gas stations in your area, potentially saving you significant money on every fill-up.
Search by Location or Along Route: The app allows you to search for gas prices by your current location or plan your route and see gas station prices along the way. This empowers you to make informed decisions and refuel at the most affordable station, especially during road trips.
User Reviews & Station Amenities: Read reviews from other users about gas station cleanliness, customer service, and amenities like restrooms or convenience stores. This helps you choose stations that go beyond just offering low gas prices.
Fuel Log Tracking: Keep track of your gas mileage and fuel efficiency over time. This can help you identify areas for improvement in your driving habits or car maintenance, potentially leading to fuel savings in the long run.
Let's be real, gas prices are outrageous right now. Filling up your tank feel like emptying your wallet. This is why I love GasBuddy, it has been a life saver for road trips. It is a valuable tool for drivers to save money on gas. This is why it is one of my favourite money saving apps in Canada and the USA!
Bonus. Skyscanner
Let's face it, expensive flights can put a damper on any travel dream. Skyscanner is my little secret for finding crazy-good deals. This app lets you search by pretty much ANYTHING - month, destination, you name it! Skyscanner helps me snag the cheapest flights so I can spend more on the actual fun stuff, like exploring new places or trying exotic foods.
Flexibility is Your Friend: Skyscanner understands travel isn't always set in stone. Their flexible search options empower you to find the best deal. You can:
Search by Month: Find the cheapest travel days within your desired month, perfect for flexible travelers.
Filter by Preferences: Narrow down your search by preferred airlines, alliances (like OneWorld or Star Alliance), non-stop vs. connecting flights, and even baggage allowance.
Explore the Unexpected: Feeling adventurous? Use the "Show Everywhere" feature. Enter your budget and explore destinations with flights that fit your spending limit. This is a fantastic way to discover new places and potentially find incredible travel deals.
Stay Informed and Book with Ease:
Price Alerts: Set alerts for specific routes you're interested in and get notified when prices fluctuate. This allows you to snag a flight when the price drops, maximizing your savings.
In-App Booking: Skyscanner integrates with many airlines and travel agents, allowing you to book your flight directly within the app. This streamlines the booking process and saves you time hopping between websites.
Overall, Skyscanner empowers you to be a savvy travel shopper. Its extensive price comparison engine, flexible search options, and valuable features like price alerts make it an exceptional tool for finding the best deals on flights and maximizing your travel savings.
So, there you have it! My top 10 money-saving apps that fuel my full-time travel addiction. Remember, these apps cover both home and abroad. You can save on groceries while you're prepping for your trip, then snag the cheapest flights and deals once you're on the road. Basically, don't pay full price for anything unless you absolutely have to! There's always a way to save with a little research and the right tools. Now get creative, find those deals, and get out there and explore the world! Happy travels!
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