App of the Week: GigWalk

May 16, 2013 · Filed Under · 2 Comments 

Our second app of the week is relatively new but I think it has a lot of potential to make consumers some extra money, and at the same time, help businesses provide better service. It is called GigWalk and is a free app created by three former Yahoo! employees, and essentially pays you to walk (or drive) around your local town and complete small “gigs” to earn cash. Pretty cool, right?

Here is how the GigWalk app works:

  1. Download the free app to your iPhone or Android device (Beta testing coming soon).
  2. Start searching for gigs to complete in your local area.
  3. Gigs include things like taking a picture of a restaurant street menu, mystery shopping trips, or completing a small survey about a local business.
  4. The app is great for businesses as it allows them to gather some very useful real-world data from potential customer which they can use to improve their business and overall customer experience.
  5. Expect to earn $2 to $15 per gig; generally the longer the gig takes, the more money you will make.
  6. You get paid via PayPal. Bonus Tip: Try to get high ratings from clients as an excellent way to gain access to higher-paying gigs.
  7. GigWalk uses your smartphone’s GPS location info to help you find nearby gigs, so if you are out shopping anyways, why not make some extra cash?
  8. The better you perform at your “Gigs” the more lucrative gigs will become available to you.
  9. The app is currently available in eight major markets: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Seattle.
  10. Don’t expect to make a living off the app. The biggest recorded monthly “salary” someone has made is $13,000 according to ABC Action News out of Tampa, Florida. But they must have never slept or had a huge team of workers performing gigs.

How the GigWalk app could be better:

  1. Would be better if it was available in more cities and rural towns. Hopefully this will happen as time goes on and the app grows in popularity.
  2. The app has the reputation of making the entry level Gigs the most boring and the least fun to do. As evidence, check out this Gigwalk Experiment from Desiree Brown from TheAwl.com.

Download the app and give it a try:

~ Download the app for your iPhone

~ Download the app for your Android device (Beta Version coming soon)

Here is a video that tells you more…

Source: Article I wrote for U.S. News & World Report about 5 Free Smartphone Apps That Will Earn You Money.

Share

Does Online Shopping Lead to Debt, Despair, and Ultimately…Suicide?

May 15, 2013 · Filed Under , · 1 Comment 

(The following is a guest article from Abby Kaplan, a writer for CityHits, a website offering frugal living solutions and the best ways to shop online. Kyle’s Note: You may be asking why an owner of an online coupon website would post a guest article about the downfalls of online shopping? I’m all about presenting both sides of the story I guess! Thanks Abby for doing just that.)

If you’re anything like me, you love the convenience and constant availability of online shopping. You can go shopping in your PJs on your couch and find some pretty sweet deals. But, as with everything wonderful, there’s always a bit of a catch…

As somebody enamored with shopping online, I get daily emails from loads of websites announcing their new inventory, sales, promotions, and so on. I have used the sites enough times that I have my account password saved on them, meaning I’m already logged into my account when I arrive at the URL. What’s more is that I’ve (securely) saved my credit card information to a lot of these sites, so I could literally purchase anything in their inventory with a single click.

Is Online Shopping a Double Edge Sword?

That’s all fine and dandy until you start buying things JUST because it’s easy. It’s really a double edged sword. I truly appreciate that I can buy the things that I actually need or want on the web quite quickly and without fussing about with getting to a physical store. Beyond that, there are often better sales, coupon codes, and overall prices than I find out and about. However, online shops know what they’re doing. And what they’re doing is making you quick to click and slow to think it through.

So, if you’re into online shopping and you’re prone to overspending, there are some tips and tricks to help you avoid more credit card debt. First of all, try not to think of shopping online as some separate act than regular shopping. While the store may be virtual, the money you’re spending is not. When you’re getting ready to buy something online, you should ask yourself if it’s something you’d buy at a brick and mortar store. If you wouldn’t, then it’s a clear sign that you’re being more lax in your decision-making on the web. Instead, try to picture every item you see in an e-commerce store as if it were on a real shelf. Only buy online what you think you’d buy in person.

1-Click Shopping Leads to Overspending?

Next, don’t make it too easy to spend money. For example, Amazon’s “One-Click Ordering” is super duper convenient. It’s also a sneaky way for the company to nab your thinking cap and get you to just buy, buy, buy! Honestly, if your purchase isn’t meaningful enough to you to warrant typing in your credit card number and your address, you might want to consider whether you’re buying something because you want or need it badly, or you’re just clicking your money away for the heck of it.

The Budgeting Challenge

Somehow, it seems that budgeting for online purchases can be more of a challenge than budgeting for things you buy in stores. However, a good way to counter the obstacle is to use Paypal, which is the most secure way to buy things online when you don’t want to share your credit card information. Since people with Paypal accounts can maintain a Paypal balance, it’s a nice way to limit your online spending. If you don’t want to do spend than $100/month online, for instance, simply add the money to your Paypal account at the beginning of the month, and only use your balance for your online shopping. If you’re not using a credit card online, you’re less likely to overspend and more likely to connect with the actual amount leaving your balance as you buy things on the web.

Is Window Shopping Online Dangerous?

Lastly, window shopping, whether in person or via computer, is a dangerous habit. Can’t think of a single thing you need to buy? Great. Don’t buy anything, then! If you open every shopping email you get, browse all the stellar deals and shiny inventory, there’s no way you’re closing your browser empty-handed. When you spend enough time browsing, you’re sure to find a deal you just have to have, even when you really don’t need what they’re pushing.

Overall, when it comes to keeping your cool in the world of online shopping, the main point is to remember that spending online is in no way different than spending at the store. No matter how easy they make it to throw money at e-commerce shops (and it’s only getting easier!), always keep your budget in mind and your wits about you, and look for the things you truly want or need.

Ask the Readers: Abby brings up some great points. Do you agree, disagree, or could care less?

Share

The Psychology of Shopping: JCPenney Coupon Case

May 10, 2013 · Filed Under , · 6 Comments 

If you are a JCPenney shopper you are already aware that the company has been in turmoil lately. New CEO, old CEO, yes to coupons, no to coupons. Their recent strategies have left a lot of shoppers scratching their heads and wondering what the heck is going on. Long story short, they are back to offering coupons and what they learned through the entire process about the psychology of shopping is really interesting.

The Rush of Using [...] Continue Reading…

Share

App of the Week: Ibotta

May 8, 2013 · Filed Under · 4 Comments 

Proud to add a new feature to our blog that highlights a new smartphone app every week that will make your life a little bit better and often times will help you save money. If you know of any great apps that should be featured be sure to Contact Me.

The first app that we are proud to feature is one that I became familiar with earlier this year when I wrote a piece for [...] Continue Reading…

Share

The Most Frugal Man in America?

April 30, 2013 · Filed Under , · 5 Comments 

(The following is a guest article from Bill Fay, a staff writer and blogger for Debt.org. In his spare time, he enjoys not spending money. Kyle’s Note: Love this guest article, thanks Bill! I’m not sure if any of these guys could beat out my Dad for most frugal guy in America but it would be a close battle for sure.)

“Nobody ever got rich spending money.”

That is my economic mantra. I stole it from [...] Continue Reading…

Share

Saving Money for Your First Car Purchase

April 26, 2013 · Filed Under , · 6 Comments 

There comes a time in most people’s lives when they want to buy a car. Most first cars are purchased by people in their late teens or early twenties. Most people this age typically have a lot of expenses and a tight budget because of tuition and/or low-paying jobs. If you’re looking to buy a car, check out the following tips to save money on your first purchase.
Make Sure You Can Afford a Car

Image [...] Continue Reading…

Share

Infographic: Sex, Money, and Infidelity on Mother’s Day 2013

April 25, 2013 · Filed Under · 4 Comments 

Our newest infographic answers all of your burning Mother’s Day questions that you were either too embarrassed to ask or too lazy to look up on Google! Topics covered include sex, infidelity, gifts Moms hate to receive, and how much money is typically spent on Mother’s Day and on what. I think you’ll find it educational, shocking, hilarious, perplexing, and many other adjectives I can’t say here! In case you were wondering, Mother’s Day [...] Continue Reading…

Share

Giveaway Time: $100 Amazon.com Gift Card

April 19, 2013 · Filed Under · 401 Comments 

We have a WINNER! Congratulations to Gina F. on winning the $100 Amazon gift card! She has been emailed and has 24 hours to respond before we pick another winner. Thanks to all who entered, look for another giveaway coming soon!

Here is all you have to do to enter:
1- Just leave a comment to this giveaway post at the bottom telling us what you might buy if you won and you’re entered! Giveaway ends [...] Continue Reading…

Share

How “Coupon Crazy” Can You Go Before You’re Considered Too Cheap?

April 18, 2013 · Filed Under , , · 2 Comments 

(The following is a guest article by Gina Jennings. I think she makes some great points, some of which you might strongly disagree with. Feel free to leave a comment, thanks!)

With the popularity of shows like TLC’s Extreme Couponing and the struggling economy faced by most Americans, it is completely understandable why many people have turned to couponing as a way to lower their bills. Coupons offer excellent opportunities for savings. A dollar here and fifty [...] Continue Reading…

Share

Infographic: The New Online Coupon Strategy

April 17, 2013 · Filed Under · 5 Comments 

As retailers use new technology to interact with potential customers, the strategies of finding and using online coupons has fundamentally changed. This infographic is designed to help consumers understand these changes so you’ll never be forced to pay full price on purchases. Please feel free to share this graphic via your blog or social media.

Embed this Infographic on your Site!

<img src=http://www.rather-be-shopping.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/coupon_strategy.png />

<br>

Infographic brought to you by: <a href=http://www.rather-be-shopping.com/ title=”Rather-Be-Shopping.com” style=”color:#0000FF;text-align:left”> Rather-Be-Shopping.com</a>

Share

Next Page »

Bad Behavior has blocked 528 access attempts in the last 7 days.