This post may contain affiliate links. That means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure for more information.
I am not a certified financial planner, accountant, or advisor. The content of this site are for information and entertainment purposes only and do not constitute financial, accounting, or legal advice. By using this site, you agree to hold me harmless from any ramifications that occurs to you as a result of acting on information found on this site.
Let’s talk about an easy way to earn cash back for your family on the everyday purchases you make. Upside is the up-and-coming cash back app on the market. It is like your Fetch or Ibotta apps.
With Upside you can earn cash back at participating gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants.
What I love most is that you get cash back on purchases that you frequently make. Gas for example is a frequent need and frequent purchase.
Let’s talk about how you can get cash back on your everyday purchases with only a few simple steps.
What is the Upside App?
The Upside app is a cash back program. You get cash back for making purchases at participating gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants.
What I love is that it does not make you spend more money than you typically would.
You are not making extra purchasing or doing unnecessary shopping. You send as you normally would and reap a bit of reward.
How does the Upside App Work?
Using the Upside app is quite simple. You just need to get the hang of it.
First, open the app and find the best offer near you. Claim the offer when you are ready to go make the purchase. When getting gas you can do this when you are at the pump. If you are at a restaurant or grocery store you can do it before going inside. Once you hit claim you have 4 hours to use it.
Now depending on the location you may check in or upload your receipt after payment.
Typically I do the check-in method. This is where when I get to the gas pump I click check-in. I then have 20 minutes to make the payment using my registered credit card.
Swipe your card to make the purchase. Earn cash back from your transaction directly in the app.
If you use the check-in method you do not need the receipt.
Cash out when you want to redeem what you have earned. You can cash out via your bank account, Paypal, or get an e-gift card.
Once you have done this a time or two you realize it is quite simple.
Pro-Tip: I recommend getting the receipt the first few times you use the app just in case you have any difficulties with any steps.
How Much Money Do You Get?
In only 4 months I have earned $17.02.
My husband was the first to join and after 5 months has earned $19.78.
This is way more than I have earned with the Fetch app!
Typically you are going to earn anywhere from 3-15 cents per gallon cash back. I usually get it around 10-12 cents per gallon cash back.
Most restaurants in my area show 6% cash back, but I’ve seen as high as 16%.
Unfortunately, there are not any grocery stores in my area that participate yet! Hopefully soon!
So let’s run through a little example. Say you find a gas station that currently has an offer for 10 cents cash back. You go and get 20 gallons of gas. That is going to earn you $2.00 cash back!
If you are a major commuter this is the app for you!
If you work for Uber or Grub Hub and spend serious time driving around this is the app for you!
If you are a person who grocery shops or eats out at restaurants this is the app for you!
Referrals
Upside has a great referral program. You can share your unique code with friends and family to earn extra cash back when they make purchases.
You can find your code in the “Earn more” section.
With the referral program, you get a first-purchase bonus as well as per-gallon earnings.
On top of the standard cash back you earn there are referral bonuses! When you share Upside with a friend they get an extra 15 cents per gallon cash back on their first time using the app. You also get a one-time 15-cent per gallon bonus. This means serious earnings! Plus when you refer a friend you get 1 cent cash back per gallon they buy in the future
Let me just give you a quick example. These numbers are examples only! I go by gas for myself and earn about $1 to $2 filling up gas for myself.
Now I decide to refer my sister to the program. This gave me a one-time first-purchase bonus. The next time I used the app I earned $5 cash back on my gas fill-up. This was awesome!
And moving forward when my sister gets cash I get a small portion. I get 1 cent per gallon when she buys gas. So typically I get about $0.14. This is not a crazy huge amount but it adds up. The more people you refer the better!
Give it a try, see if you like it, and then start referring your friends and family!
Is the App Safe?
Upside only takes the first 6 digits and last 4 digits of your card. They do not have full access to your credit or debit card number. This is a huge plus when it comes to keeping your information safe!
You can get paid out through your bank account or Paypal, but if you would rather not share that information you can simply get e-gift cards that you can then easily use.
A few of the current options for e-gift cards include Amazon, Apple Gift Card, Nike, Lowe’s, Starbucks, Wal-Mart, Applebee’s, and Target.
The money you get through Upside could be your coffee fund, help pay for diapers, or even go towards a future house project. The possibilities are endless.
What are the Downsides of Using the Upside App?
With anything in life, there are some negatives.
In order to use the app and get cash back your purchase must be made with a credit or debit card. This means no cash or gift cards are accepted.
The app is not everywhere. For example, I am able to find tons of gas station options in my area, but restaurants and grocery stores are quite limited. The app will hopefully continue to grow and partner with more businesses in the future. For now gas is my main use for the app.
There are some rules when it comes to cashing out. To cash out via your bank account the current minimum is $10 and Paypal’s minimum is $15. If you are under those amounts you are charged a $1 service fee.
When it comes to digital gift cards you have to cash out with a nice even number like $20, $50, or $100.
I do not think any of these negatives are a real problem. They definitely are not stopping me from using the Upside app.
What are the Benefits of Using Upside?
I have a few strong reasons why Upside is the best cash back app I have tried thus far.
First off the focus is on common types of purchases. Gas & Food
The other main reason is the referral program. It is crazy how much you can earn by referring others to use the app. This of course is icing on the cake for what you are already earning on your own purchases.
Do you know what is crazy?! At this point, I am making better money with the Upside app than I am with this blog! Upside requires no work, unlike the countless hours I have put into my blogging business.
Conclusion
I strongly recommend you give Upside a try!
It is a great way to earn cash back with purchases you are going to be making anyway.
Earn cash back for your family starting today!
Check Out My Articles
Save Money and Enjoy Life as a Stay-at-Home Mom with These 8 Tips
Take Baby Steps in Your Everyday Routines to Help Save Your Family Money
How to Put Your Money to the Best Use to Benefit Your Family Financially