The Easiest Way to Cut Your U.S. Living Costs

💸 The Easiest Way to Cut Your U.S. Living Costs — The 3 Cashback Apps Everyone Should Use (Rakuten · Ibotta · Fetch)

With rising living costs across the U.S., students, families, and busy professionals are all looking for practical ways to save money every day.
Among all money-saving strategies, one of the simplest yet most effective methods is using coupon and cashback apps.

📘 Table of Contents

1️⃣ Rakuten — The Best for Online Shopping
2️⃣ Ibotta — The Most Savings for Groceries & Big Box Stores
3️⃣ Fetch — Earn Points From Any Receipt
4️⃣ Real Savings Examples
5️⃣ EA Tax Tip — Are Cashback Rewards Taxable?
6️⃣ Final Recommendation — The Best App Combination

1️⃣ Rakuten — The Best App for Online Shopping

Rakuten is one of the largest and longest-running cashback platforms in the U.S.
It offers up to 10% or more cashback at major retailers such as Macy’s, Kohl’s, Nike, Sephora, Sam’s Club, and many more.
During big sale events like Black Friday and Cyber Monday, rates frequently jump to 15–20%.

📌 Pros
• Exceptional for online shopping — the more you buy, the more you save
• Browser extension automatically detects cashback offers
• Referral bonus offers up to $30 for inviting friends

⚠️ Cons
• Limited cashback on Amazon purchases
• Cashback is cancelled if the purchase is returned or exchanged

2️⃣ Ibotta — The #1 App for Grocery and Big Box Store Savings

Ibotta is ideal for everyday shoppers, especially those who frequently visit Walmart, Target, Costco, CVS, and Walgreens.
Savings are unlocked by selecting offers in advance, making purchases, and uploading your receipt.
If connected to Walmart or Target online accounts, Ibotta can even track purchases automatically without scanning receipts.

📌 Best Categories to Save On
🥛 Basic groceries — $0.25–$2
🍿 Snacks & packaged goods — $0.50–$3
🧴 Household products (shampoo, detergent, cleaners) — $1–$5

Because groceries take up a large portion of monthly expenses, Ibotta can produce some of the most meaningful savings for families.

3️⃣ Fetch — Get Points From Any Receipt

Fetch rewards you simply for uploading receipts — regardless of where you shop.
Restaurant receipts, gas station receipts, grocery receipts… they all count.
Certain brands like Pepsi, Dove, and Kleenex earn bonus points and help you reach rewards faster.

📌 Why Fetch Is a Must-Have
• Works at virtually all stores and restaurants
• Extremely easy — just upload and earn
• Points convert to Amazon, Target, and Visa reward cards

4️⃣ Real Savings Examples — How Much Can You Actually Save?

💡 Example: Family of 4, living in New York

📌 Grocery savings via Ibotta: $18–$40 per month
📌 Online shopping cashback via Rakuten: $10–$25 per month
📌 Fetch points converted to Amazon gift cards: $5–$10 per month

👉 Average total savings: $33–$75 monthly ($400–$900 annually)

Actual savings vary by household size and spending habits, but most users fall within this range.

5️⃣ EA Tax Tip — Are Cashback Rewards Taxable?

📌 Quick Answer: Most cashback rewards are NOT taxable.
The IRS generally views cashback as a purchase rebate, not income.
Therefore, Rakuten, Ibotta, and Fetch rewards are typically not reported on your tax return.

⚠️ Exceptions:
• Bonuses earned without a qualifying purchase (e.g., account opening bonuses)
• Investment or banking rewards may be considered taxable income

For everyday cashback and shopping rewards, you can safely assume they are non-taxable.

6️⃣ Final Recommendation — Which Apps Should You Use Together?

Each app excels in a different spending category, so combining all three offers the highest savings:

🔥 Best Combination for Maximum Savings
1) Online shopping: Rakuten
2) Groceries & big box stores: Ibotta
3) All receipts: Fetch

👉 Use all three to consistently save money with minimal effort.

For newcomers to the U.S., especially immigrants, international students, or families,
these apps provide one of the easiest ways to lower everyday costs and stretch your budget further.

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