Who knew that those little slips of paper tucked away in your wallet or crammed into your glove compartment could help bulk up your wallet? Yes, we’re talking about your receipts! In the world of smart saving, every little bit helps, and thanks to some cool apps, those little bits can come from just snapping quick photos of your receipts. Are you ready to turn your next shopping trip into a mini payday? Here’s a rundown of some of the apps that’ll pay you just for uploading your receipts.

1. Ibotta: the grocery chain go-to receipt app

Ibotta has carved out a reputation as a powerhouse in the receipt-scanning app game. Before you hit the stores, fire up the app and look for cash-back offers on the products on your shopping list. Shop at your favorite stores, keep your receipts, and take a picture of them with the Ibotta app. It’ll scan your receipt, match the items you bought to the offers you selected, and bam—you get cash back. But wait, there’s more—you can cash out your earnings directly to PayPal or turn them into gift cards. It’s user-friendly, and the offers update regularly, making it easy to save whenever you go shopping.

2. Fetch Rewards: scan anything, anywhere

Fetch Rewards makes the process even more straightforward: buy your groceries, scan your receipt, earn points. It doesn’t matter where you shop or what you buy, as long as your receipt has promoted products. Once you’ve accumulated enough points, you can exchange them for gift cards from major stores like Amazon and Walmart. Fetch is great for those who don’t want to be bogged down by having to shop at certain stores or purchase exact items.

3. Receipt Hog: make every receipt worth it

Receipt Hog turns your receipts into cash, coins, or Amazon gift cards. The app accepts just about any type of receipt, from supermarkets to cafes and even gas stations. Upload your receipt, earn rewards, and if you’re feeling lucky, take a spin on the Hog Slots (yes, hog slots. A digital slot machine in the app) to win extra prizes. Every once in a while, the app even offers short surveys to bump up your balance.

4. CoinOut: as seen on TV

You might recognize CoinOut from its appearance on ‘Shark Tank’. This app is as straightforward as they come: snap a photo of any receipt, earn a random cash reward. You don’t need to buy specific products or visit particular stores. When you’re ready to cash out you can choose between direct bank transfer, PayPal, or Amazon gift cards. The unpredictability of the reward amount adds a fun twist to your regular shopping routine.

5. Shopkick: more than just receipts

Shopkick offers a unique twist on the typical receipt-scanning formula. You can earn ‘kicks’ (points) by scanning receipts like with the other apps, and by walking into stores, scanning product barcodes, and making credit card purchases. Shopkick is perfect for the active shopper who likes to make shopping a bit of a treasure hunt. You can redeem your kicks for gift cards to a variety of retailers, making it a versatile option for people who want a little more from their shopping experiences.

Receipt apps: tapping into their potential

While these apps aren’t going to make you rich overnight (or ever), they can bring in a small, steady stream of cash or gift cards just for buying the things you need and are going to buy anyway. It’s a way to recover some of the money you spend regularly, with a very minimal amount of effort. Using these apps also encourages smarter shopping habits, making you more aware of where and how you spend you’re spending money.

Pro tips

– Keep your receipts in good shape. Crumpled or faded receipts might not scan properly.

– You can use all of these apps at once, so scan those receipts into each one for multiple rewards!

– Be prompt with your uploads. Some apps have a time limit on how old your receipts can be to qualify for rewards.

– Check offers before you shop. Planning ahead can help you maximize your earnings.