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Grocery prices have been climbing for years, leaving most of us searching for creative ways to stretch our weekly household budgets. One of the easiest ways to fight back against inflation is by using receipt-scanning apps like Fetch Rewards. Instead of clipping annoying paper coupons or hunting down specific promo codes, you simply snap a photo of your receipt to earn points that translate into gift cards. It is a fantastic system, but you need a solid strategy. Here are eight tips to help you maximize your Fetch account and start getting groceries for free.
1. Scan Absolutely Every Receipt
The biggest mistake new Fetch users make is assuming the app only accepts receipts from major supermarkets or big box grocery stores. You can actually scan receipts from gas stations, fast food restaurants, pet stores, and even the local hardware shops. Every physical receipt you upload is guaranteed to give you a minimum of twenty-five points, regardless of what you purchased. When you get into the habit of keeping every slip of paper handed to you, those small minimums add up incredibly fast. Make it a daily routine to empty your pockets and scan your haul before throwing the paper away.
2. Connect Your Email and Amazon Accounts
In our modern world, a huge portion of our shopping is done online, which means you might not have a physical piece of paper to scan. Thankfully, Fetch allows you to securely link your email address and your Amazon account directly within the application settings. Once connected, the app will automatically search for digital e-receipts from places like Instacart, Walmart online, and Amazon Fresh. You just click the blue e-receipt button in the app, and it passively pulls in all your eligible online purchases for instant points. It is completely effortless and ensures you never miss out on rewards from your late-night online shopping sprees.
3. Shop the Special Brand Offers
While scanning random receipts is great, the real money is made by paying attention to the specific brand offers listed on the app’s discover page. Fetch partners with major household brands to offer massive point bonuses when you buy their specific products during a set promotional window. Before you head to the grocery store, take exactly two minutes to scroll through these special offers and adjust your shopping list accordingly. Buying a featured brand of cereal or paper towels can easily net you thousands of bonus points in a single trip. Letting the app dictate your brand choices is the fastest track to a gift card.
4. Take Advantage of the Referral Program
You don’t have to spend your own money to earn thousands of points if you know how to use the referral system correctly. When you invite a friend or family member to download the app using your unique code, you both get a massive point bonus after their first scan. Fetch frequently runs special promotions where this referral bonus is temporarily doubled or even tripled for a holiday weekend. Wait for those high-value promotional periods to text your link to your coworkers, neighbors, and extended family members. It is a win for everybody involved and requires zero actual grocery shopping on your part.
5. Pay Attention to the 14 Day Rule
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Fetch is incredibly generous the types of receipts it accepts, but there is a strict time limit on when you can claim them. You have exactly fourteen days from the date printed on the receipt to scan it into the application for your points. If you find a crumpled grocery receipt at the bottom of your purse from three weeks ago, the app will simply reject it completely. To avoid losing out on free money, try to make a habit of scanning your receipts the minute you put your groceries away in the kitchen. Staying organized ensures that none of your valuable purchases age out of the system.
6. Correct the App When It Makes a Mistake
The scanning technology in the app is highly advanced, but it is not perfect. Sometimes miss a high-value featured item. If you bought a promotional product but didn’t receive the massive point bonus you expected, you can easily fix the error. Just scroll down to the bottom of the digital receipt on your screen and tap the option to correct the item manually. You can scan the actual barcode of the product right in your kitchen to prove you bought it. The app will instantly credit your account. Being proactive and checking your digital hauls ensures you always get exactly what you earned.
7. Play the Daily Reward Game
Fetch recently introduced a fun new feature that allows you to spin a digital wheel or play a quick game for extra points once every twenty-four hours. You get access to this daily reward spin immediately after you snap a valid receipt for the day. While you might only win a handful of points on some days, there is always a chance to hit a much larger jackpot. It takes only three seconds to tap the screen, making it a completely frictionless way to boost your balance. Over the course of a year, those tiny daily spins can easily pay for a week’s worth of fresh produce.
8. Save Your Points for High Value Cards
It can be incredibly tempting to cash out your points the minute you reach the minimum threshold. However, the best strategy is to exhibit a little patience and let your balance grow. Cashing out for a fifty-dollar Walmart or Target gift card feels like a genuine financial victory and makes a real dent in your grocery budget. Plus, saving up prevents you from wasting small cards on impulse purchases at the checkout lane. Treat your Fetch points like a digital savings account and let them compound.
Turning Receipts Into Real Savings
Using the Fetch Rewards app is one of the smartest and most passive ways to shave dollars off your monthly grocery expenditures. It essentially turns your everyday necessary spending into a fun game that pays you back in free food. Stop throwing your receipts in the trash and start treating them like the digital currency they actually are. With a little consistency, you will be checking out with a free cart of groceries in no time at all.
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