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Use one shopping app to make money at your favorite stores

When I was little, my mom had a bright red plastic case filled with coupons she clipped from the newspaper. It looked like a tiny file cabinet, complete with tabs labeled for all the stores we frequented. At checkout, she’d pull out her glasses, flip through each tab, and hunt for the perfect deal to match our purchases.

Even as a kid, I remember thinking, “There has to be a better way.”

Thankfully, there is.

Today, if you’re a tech-savvy shopper like me, you’ve likely ditched the scissors and paper coupons in favor of shopping apps. And while many retailers offer their own apps or loyalty programs, I’ve found something better — a single app that works at all my favorite stores.

Let me show you how I save (and earn!) with just one app.

Why I Ditched Store-Specific Apps

Store apps are fine — they often come with coupons, loyalty points, or member perks. But the problem? You have to juggle a different app for every store. It’s too much to manage, and they only reward you for shopping at one place.

That’s why I started using shopping rewards apps instead. These let you earn rewards across multiple retailers by doing things you already do — like walking into a store, browsing, scanning barcodes, shopping online, or watching videos.

The trick is finding one that fits your routine.

What I Look For in a Shopping Rewards App

If you’re going to use an app regularly (which is key to earning the most rewards), it has to check a few boxes:

  • Works on both Android and Apple devices: I use an iPhone, but I love sharing finds with my mom who’s team Samsung.

  • Supports in-store and online shopping: I’m about 50/50 with how I shop — so I need an app that covers both.

  • Fun to use: If an app feels like a chore, I won’t use it consistently. I want something that adds a little fun to my routine.

Why Shopkick Is My Go-To App

My absolute favorite? Shopkick.

Shopkick rewards you with points — called kicks — for doing everyday shopping activities, like:

  • Walking into stores

  • Scanning product barcodes

  • Making purchases (in-store and online)

  • Watching videos or discovering new products in the app

Once you collect enough kicks, you can redeem them for gift cards to popular retailers — like Target, Walmart, Amazon, and more. I’ve personally used mine to stock up on groceries, grab new household essentials, and even treat myself.

Shopping Feels Like a Game — and That’s the Best Part

What I love most about Shopkick is that it turns every trip into a mini scavenger hunt. Suddenly, I’m excited to check store aisles and discover new products. Even when I’m at home, I can earn kicks just by watching videos or browsing deals in the app.

The “Discover” tab is also great for quick recipes or learning about trending items — especially when I’m in a cooking rut or looking for a little inspiration.

And yes — you can use Shopkick alongside other store apps. That way, you earn rewards from multiple places at once. Win-win.

Ready to Start Earning While You Shop?

If you want to simplify your shopping routine and get rewarded for what you’re already doing, download Shopkick. It’s free, available on both Android and iPhone, and works whether you shop online or in stores.

So ditch the coupon clutter and make every shopping trip more rewarding. Trust me — your future self (and your wallet) will thank you.

Get your kicks. Download Shopkick and start earning today.

5 Easy At-Home Craft Ideas for Kids

If you’re like us, you’re suddenly spending a lot more time at home. And, you’ve likely had more than one moment in which you (or your kids) asked what to do next. So, we thought we would launch a new series of five easy things you and your kids can do together. From crafting to cooking and even outdoor fun, we think there’s something for everyone in our top five ideas for each category.

First up: let’s dive into five easy crafts to do at home!

5 Easy At-Home Crafts for Kids:

Homemade Play Dough:

For an added layer of creative fun, try your hand at making Play Dough at home! With flour, salt, water, and food coloring or paint, Play Dough proves to be a simple and easy thing to make at home. With 1.7+ million views, we recommend following the recipe and instructions found in this YouTube video by Sea Lemon.

Shaving Cream Marble Art:

Marble art is abstract, so it’s impossible to create pieces a “right” or “wrong” way! Whether you have young kids who enjoy sensory play or older kids happy to try any craft, creating marble art with help from shaving cream and food coloring is sure to please. Simply add white shaving cream to a tray, spread evenly, add drops of food coloring, swirl together with a toothpick or stirring stick, and place your paper on top to create your masterpiece. Here’s a great tutorial with more information from Alice and Lois.

Friendship Bracelets:

Did you grow up making friendship bracelets every summer? Teach your kids this vintage and fun art! Rather than explaining all of the different designs you can make, we recommend checking out this blog by DIY Projects for Teens or this video by A Girl and a Glue Gun. Both have step-by-step instructions with visuals. Purchase thread and enjoy! P.S: While kids can’t see friends, making bracelets for them and dropping off finished creations in mailboxes is a wonderful way to still feel connected.

Cool Whip Bath Painting:

Think about making bath time more fun with painting! Cool Whip acts as a great base for paint. Simply separate Cool Whip into cups, add a few drops of food coloring, and mix together. In minutes, your kids have paint they can use in the tub that’s completely washable. Busy Toddler mentioned this has provided many minutes of fun for toddlers who can sometimes be hard to keep entertained!

Coloring:

Don’t forget about coloring! Markers, colored pencils, and crayons can provide hours of entertainment, and there have also been studies done that suggest coloring helps to lower anxiety (adults: we’re looking at you!). If you type “coloring book pages” into your search bar, plenty of free printables will pop up if you don’t have coloring books on hand. You can also color freeform on computer paper. Think about hanging up your pages on your front door and windows to help to brighten the sights your neighbors can see while walking through your community.

Let us know what you and your family are doing together on Facebook! Don’t forget: we’re all in this together!

P.S.: We think our schedules will resume again soon, so save these ideas for a rainy or snowy day when you’re back inside once more.