Category Archives: Savings

Saving Basics

Are you looking for ways to save money? Or maybe you want to earn a few extra bucks. There’s lots of ways to do either of these. But, let’s just start with the basics. For example, saving on an order in general. In person versus online.

Before shopping anywhere, look for deals. Also, see if you can purchase a discounted gift card first. Then log into your account or loyalty app to get any deals possible. Click to activate all coupons, and offers in loyalty apps. Watch to make sure that discounts are applied at checkout. Also, always use a payment card that gives you cash back.

If it’s an in person order, be sure to get your receipt so you can submit it to different apps for more money back.

If you are ordering online, check to see if you can get another discount. You may be able to shop through a cash back app or shopping extension. Also look for coupon codes to use at checkout. Make sure your Amazon and email accounts are connected to your receipt scanning apps so you get all of your points.

For more information, see the Money Saving Tips page.


Get Paid For Receipts Updated

I haven’t talked about it for a while, but yes I’m still obsessed with receipts. For those that are not very familiar with this, you can actually get money back from your receipts. All you have to do is take a picture of them, then submit them on an app. Some apps let you connect your email or Amazon accounts, which will then be scanned for e-receipts. It may not seem like a lot of money at first, but it does add up. Especially when you use multiple apps. I have made about $650 so far by doing this. My family no longer makes fun of me for requesting receipts for everything.

I have updated the Submit Receipts page to include apps that:

  • have been successful
  • I’m currently testing
  • I stopped using and why

If you try out any of the apps, please use my referral links and codes so that we both may receive a bonus.

If there’s any that you use that I haven’t mentioned, please comment below. I love learning about new apps.

Thank you!

Telegram users, please also follow my SSS Telegram channel.


Penny Shopping

Did you know that your Dollar General store might actually have items for only one penny? It’s kind of like a treasure hunt though. It’s not advertised anywhere for the public.

There’s a few rules to this. Number one is that you don’t ever go into the store and ask where the penny items are. It’s an unspoken thing. There’s a few other things to know.

To learn more about this, visit the Dollar General Penny Shopping page.


Free Crayola Crayons

In celebration of National Crayon Day, Crayola is giving away one million crayons from March 31, 2022 through May 31, 2022. If you are nearby a participating location, you can register with the following link. You can download up to two vouchers for 32 crayons each, which will need to be presented at your scheduled pick up time. For additional information, visit their site.

https://www.crayolaexperience.com/national-crayon-day-giveaway


For more things like this, please see the Smile, Sparkle, Save section.


New Amazon Page

I may be addicted to Amazon. I definitely do a ton of shopping on and I realize that I talk about it often throughout my site. So, I just figured I would make a new page for All Things Amazon. It’s not yet complete. I have a bit more to add yet. Below is just an outline of what I have so far. Check out the new page for more information.

  • Discounts
    • Prime Discount
    • Coupons
    • Discount Codes
  • Cash Back
    • Late Delivery
    • Credit Cards
    • Scan Receipts
  • Gift Cards
    • Reload Promotion
    • Discounted
    • Free Gift Cards
  • Charity
  • Get Paid By Amazon

Go to the All Things Amazon page for more detailed information.


As I stated above, I plan to add some more information. Please check back anytime. Subscribe to get blog updates. Follow on social media for posts and more. I don’t always post the same information across all channels.


Let’s Talk About Receipts

Let me apologize ahead of time for the long post. As boring of a topic it may be for you, it’s actually profitable for me so I wanted to share a few points with you.

Let’s talk about receipts. You know that piece of paper that most of you either don’t take from the cashier or you just toss out right away. Do you know how bad I want to ask for your receipt? Seriously. It’s really awkward, so I don’t, but I’d like to.

If this is you, you’re literally throwing money away. Maybe not a lot, but it adds up. Eventually, it’s enough to pay for something you couldn’t afford before. Or maybe it will just be some extra pocket money. Either way, why not just take that receipt home and make some money off of it? Not to mention, with the cost of things going up these days, this helps to bring it back down. That’s how I think when I use my gas rewards points every month.

Okay, I got you take your receipt home. Now what? It depends on the type of person you are. I constantly change my routine. You can either just scan them right away, or place them somewhere till you have a few. Once you are ready, open the app and start scanning according to the instructions provided. They all seem to be slightly different.

I’ve tried most of them out and have a few favorites. Some of the apps let you link some of your loyalty cards, your email, or your Amazon accounts. I love this feature! Some let you forward receipts. There’s an app that makes you scan every single item purchased, which can be a bit much for me. Everyone is different so you may prefer that more than I do.

Oh, I know, it’s all just a pain in the butt no matter what. Who wants to bother with all that for a few cents? If it helps at all for you to know this, I do the bare minimum. I have all of my accounts linked for automated savings. Otherwise, I miss deadlines, I forget, I get overwhelmed, and so on. I often don’t stick to things for very long. Yet, so far, I’ve made a few hundred dollars back and I still continue to obsess over receipts.

I don’t expect to go through any of what I did when I first started out. I’ve spent so much time and effort trying out apps to get my money back any way I can. Then I share all the information I can with you. Also, I don’t just submit my receipts. I also use cash back credit cards, shop through cash back apps, use promotional codes, and more. Subscribe to follow my adventures of saving money.


Here’s just three of the many apps that I use for my receipts, along with some basic info. The links provided to each site are my affiliate links. In most cases, we both may receive a bonus when you use them to sign up. For more information about these or the other apps that I use, go to the Scan Receipts page.

  • Coupons . com

A lot of people know of the site Coupons.com for printing coupons. Now you can also get cash back from your shopping trips. You would need to add the digital coupons for each store you shop at. If your store loyalty card is linked, you’ll automatically receive a payment via PayPal when you shop. Some stores you will need to submit a picture of your receipt.

  • Fetch Rewards

Fetch Rewards lets you scan receipts, and also checks your email for digital receipts. This has been great for getting cash back from my Amazon purchases. I just added Giant as well. If you want to try them out, please use my referral link. My code is E4HFT.

  • Pogo

You don’t need to actually scan your receipts with Pogo. You can just link your Amazon, Walmart, PayPal, Walgreens, Target, and others. Every time the app picks up purchases, you’ll get a notification to claim your points. You can also take surveys, get location rewards, and more. Try Pogo with my referral link or use my code 7ZWBV, and connect an account.

To see the rest of the apps that I’m using, visit the Scan Receipts page.


For more financial information, seeSmile, Sparkle, Save!Financial Basics, Money Saving Tips, Scan Receipts, Rebating, Savings Page, Extra Money Tips. Everything else can be found on the Site Map.


Stress Free Ink Refills

I’ve been seeing a lot of posts and comments out there recently about buying printer ink and all the stress that comes with it. Honestly, I didn’t realize that was still a thing. I haven’t dealt with this agony in several years. I never check my levels, I never run out, I never buy cartridges. I don’t do anything really, besides have a subscription. And, since I rarely print anything, it’s been FREE.

I have an HP Envy printer & use the HP Instant Ink subscription plan. They monitor my ink levels & send me new cartridges whenever I run low. They have a few different plans depending on how much you print and it can be changed as needed. I’m currently allowed up to 15 pages a month. If I go over that, I get charged $1 for each additional 10 pages, which is still less than the next price level.

* I haven’t checked their pricing recently, but for me its always been very affordable & helpful.


Rebates Me

Do you use RebatesMe to get cash back when shopping?

I created an account in February and received a $5 bonus. Then, I got a $1 bonus for installing the browser extension. Each time I place one of my Walmart orders, I click on RebatesMe to get 4.2% cash back. So far, I have accumulated $10.44.

Try them out with my referral link and you’ll get $5 too. My referral code is 4FTZTR. Thanks!



Amazon Treasure Truck

Did you know that Amazon has a Treasure Truck?

What is the Treasure Truck?

Honestly, I initially envisioned this as the Amazon version of an ice cream truck driving through daily with all sorts of deals. It’s not quite like that.

This is what I have gathered from their site. Each day they will text you a new item being offered at a discounted rate. You can click the link to see if it’s still available, then order it. It is then shipped according to if you have Prime or not.

I originally heard about it in 2019 and signed up right away, but it wasn’t available yet in my area. I actually forgot about it until last month when I started receiving texts with their offers.

I most likely will not partake in any of the deals myself, but they may be of use to you or someone you know.

Follow Smile, Sparkle, Shine: