Our Favorite Duo of Apps for Maximizing Gas Savings

Many of us live in areas where driving is a necessity because public transportation options might not meet our needs. As a result, paying for gas can be quite expensive, especially if you have a long commute or frequently drive your kids around. I often find myself in that situation, and luckily, I’ve found two fantastic apps that have helped me save a ton on gas. I’ve used them for a few years now and can’t imagine not having them in my life.

GET UPSIDE APP
One app I regularly use is Get Upside. It’s a relatively new app, so it’s not available everywhere yet, but it’s been great for getting cash back on gas, groceries, and meals at certain restaurants. Right now, I can only get gas rebates where I live, but I’m hoping to see rebates for groceries and restaurants soon.

This app is really easy to use. When I open it, I see a map showing my location and nearby gas stations that participate in the program. It shows the price of gas after the rebate and how much cash back I’ll get at each station. This helps me decide where to fill up. Sometimes, paying a bit more up front means getting a bigger rebate later, adding more money to my Get Upside account.

Before I start filling up, I make sure to click “Claim” at the selected station. Skipping this step means no rewards. After filling up, I keep the receipt and click “Upload Receipt”. If I don’t upload the receipt, I can’t claim the reward. Sometimes, getting a receipt is tricky, especially if the machines aren’t working properly, but it’s worth the effort. After uploading the receipt, I click “Confirm” and usually see the credit in my account the next day.

I can cash out through PayPal, or I can choose a gift card from popular stores like Amazon, Target, Home Depot, and more. I usually go for an Amazon gift card since I shop there often. New gift card options are always being added, making the app appealing to more users. The rewards are always prompt, and this app has really been a game-changer for me.

RECEIPT HOG
I’ve also been using the Receipt Hog app, which started off just for gas, but now I use it for shopping at different places. The app doesn’t care where you shop, though some places might not earn you credit until you upload a receipt. But that’s part of the fun—you win some, you lose some.

Using the app is straightforward. You snap a picture of your receipt, rate your shopping experience, and get rewards. Rewards are tiered depending on where you shop, like at big box, grocery, or specialty stores. As long as you take a picture of the receipt within two weeks, you’ll get credit. Once you earn 1000 coins, you can swap them for a $5 Amazon gift card or get the money through PayPal. Higher coin amounts yield larger rewards, like 2900 coins for $15, 4300 coins for $25, and 6500 coins for $40. I’ve cashed in my points mostly at the 4300 level and once at 6500, always opting for the Amazon gift card to take care of household needs. It’s entirely free and feels great to get something worthwhile out of it!

Together, these two apps have significantly cut down my gas expenses. Overall, using these apps to save on gas and other expenses is really exciting. Nobody likes spending too much on fuel, but apps like Get Upside and Receipt Hog make it a bit easier. By saving more, I can spend on other things that my family and I need and want—a win-win for sure!

Have you tried these gas-saving apps? Or maybe there are other apps you’ve found helpful for saving money?