These Money-Making Apps Can Help You Recover From Buying the New iPhone

We’re sure you’ve heard: Apple’s new iPhone 8 recently hit the market, with the much-anticipated iPhone X soon to follow in November.

Unfortunately, the gadgets come with some hefty price tags, some with four digits.

But people seem willing to splurge.

If you’re one of those Americans who just can’t live without the newest smartphone, we’ve rounded up some of the best money-making apps to download on that shiny new device of yours to help you make some money back.

1. Start By Selling Your Old Phone

Chances are, your cell phone provider will offer to buy back your old phone from you. But we recommend doing some research first, so you can get the most money back.

Don’t worry; we did some of that research already. We compared eight buyback sites to see which would pay more for an old phone.

The winner in most cases? Decluttr.

Download the Decluttr app, type in your old, forgotten phone’s information and see how much you could bank. All you’ll have to do is ship it in (for free), and Decluttr promises next-day payments.

While you’re at it, use the app to scan your old CDs, DVDs, Blurays, video games and any other old phones or game consoles you have collecting dust. Decluttr takes those, too.

2. Earn Money Back After Each Grocery Haul

We find ourselves in the grocery store entirely too much — and spending entirely too much. But the good news is, in addition to couponing, you can earn money back with an app called Ibotta.

Before or after each grocery run, check the app to see what rebates you might find. Right now, for example, you can earn 50 cents back on any brand of ground beef, $3 back on a case of Bud Light or $1.50 back on Trop50 orange juice. Note: These rebates are always changing.

Select your rebates, then redeem them by taking a photo of your receipt and scanning the items’ barcodes, if applicable.

When you cash out on your first offer, you’ll snag a $5 welcome bonus.

3. Set Up an Automated Micro-Investing Account

One of the easiest ways to start saving is to set up an automated account so you don’t even have to think about it.

Consider starting with the micro-investing app, Stash.

You can start investing in the least intimidating way possible. Automate your investments by allocating, say, $5 per week. No handing over big chunks of change to men in stuffy suits required.

There is a $1 monthly fee for balances under $5,000. Sign up now, and you’ll get a $5 bonus.

4. Get Paid for Walking Into Certain Stores

Yup, you don’t even have to buy anything, though you can get paid for that, too.

Shopkick is an app that rewards you in “kicks” for venturing into stores (think: Target, Walmart, T.J. Maxx and others). “Kicks” (no physical activity required) can then be redeemed for gift cards to a number of retailers, including Amazon, Target Starbucks and Sephora.

You’ll earn even more kicks when you scan items in a store, purchase something with a connected credit or debit card or scan your receipts.

The app is free; you can download it here.

5. Bank Money “Auto-Magically” on Your Purchases

Dosh is a new cash-back app that pays you for making purchases at more than 100,000 hotels, online stores, and restaurants — including Starwood Properties, Marriott, Cost Plus World Market, Nike, Target, Chuck E. Cheese’s, and many more.

Here’s all you have to do:

• Download the app and sign up.
• Securely connect a debit or credit card.
• Live your life and watch the cash back roll in.

In addition to cash back, you can also collect a $25 bonus for booking your first hotel through the app, as well bonuses for referring friends and local businesses.

Carson Kohler (@CarsonKohler) is a junior writer at The Penny Hoarder. She’s opting out of the new iPhone, mostly because she just threw down $1,000 towards one in May and is still cringing about it.