SavingStar - Grocery Savings

When I first started using the SavingStar app, I loved it!!!! I still like it, but the love is gone. I have had to write to customer service a few times and up until this last time, they have always been very responsive. But it’s been over 2 weeks and I still haven’t received a reply on my latest issue. Also, the rebates available are no longer a good match for things I buy. I realize this is by chance and they may be wonderfully matched for some people. I’m just speaking on my personal experience. They used to have a Purex one or many offer quite often, but I haven’t seen it for a long time. Again, I don’t know the entire process but I’m sure this has something to do with what the manufacturer themselves are willing to offer/cover and so forth. All in all, I still use the app but I rarely use it as compared to years ago.. I used it in a weekly basis back then. So great and not horrible. But it’s ok.. just depends on what u buy.. I’ll continue to keep it in my phone and check the offers out from time to time.

When starting a rebate app you need to be organized in your shopping, coupon redemption and rebates available. I started doing rebates in about March 2018. I started with Savings Star, but I can't remember how I found it. Just like anything else it takes time to learn the system of how it works, expiration dates, stores available and what I can redeem. The first big item I scored on was Butterball products...I was already buying it so they paid me to eat the turkey bacon I love!!! I'm an accountant so figures come to me easily and just a little advise start small and don't feel over whelmed...couponing has become a hobby and in like so I enjoy it. First, I made myself a coupon binder...just a simple school binder and bought one pack of plastic sleeves then divided into 3 sections...food, personal and household. Then I did subcategories from there...so I know what coupons I have. Using Savings Star is so easy...I look to see products that I normally buy and also go outside of my comfort zone and buy some things to try. I go to Kroger and Walmart mostly so I look at there ads to see what all matches up...sometimes I get such a great deal my products are free...I have a pantry that's not over whelming but is stocked so that the college kids can come and get things they need and then I get to go shopping again for that thrill of accomplishment. I appreciate that Savings Star helps me stretch out my funds!!!!

Saving Star has never had a ton of offers, but their $5 payout limit made up for that fact. In fact, I used to recommended the app to friends just starting out in the rebate app game; the quicker payout was encouragement to keep at it (I have many friends who earned a few bucks on other apps but then gave up because $20 seemed unattainable). It would still take me a little time to reach the point where I could cash out on Saving Star, but it was doable. Now it’s $20?!! That’s acceptable for an app like Ibotta that has hundreds of offers and monetary bonuses, but really not cool from a smaller app. And jumping from $5 to $20? How about go to $10 first? Granted, Saving Star Has increased the number of offers as time has gone on. So that helps. But a lot of them are variations on the same product. And there’s frequently quite a few products/brands I’ve never heard of and can’t find. And the local chain store I do the majority of my shopping at (Raley’s) isn’t on their list, though they’ve told me they hope to add it soon. I generally have to send an email with pics if I hope to earn from my Raley’s purchases, which is kind of a pain (though I Will say I have always received pleasant customer service, so I will give them a star for that). The jump to $20 just strikes me as a way to avoid paying out (hoping people will give up and walk away from what they have Earned), which is disappointing and kind of sleazy.