Travel

6 Apps That Make You Money

Everyone loves extra cash. Either to travel or for everyday expenses. Especially at the current moment when many people are still unemployed or making little income. What if you could supplement your income doing tasks you do every day? Here is a list of apps that provide passive income.

1. Achievement

Do you have an Apple Watch or a Fitbit? Maybe, you track your food with MyFitnessPal

You can connect over 20 apps that you probably already use to the Achievement app and earn money. The app will pay you money for the number of steps you take, the amount of sleep you get, every time you weigh yourself, etc. For every 10,000 points, you get $10. 

You can also earn points by taking surveys and participating in research studies. I participated in an influenza study. Every day I answered simple questions, and then I did a five-minute survey once a month. At the end of the study, I made a total of $71. 

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2. Diet Bet

6 Apps That Make You Money

We have all dieted at some point. The ups and downs of weight loss are a vicious cycle. Personally, I need an incentive. Sometimes that beach vacation isn’t enough. With DietBet, you can join a game with other people pledging money to lose a percentage of body weight over a specific length of time. If you succeed, then you split the pot with the other winners.

I know if my own money is on the line, I am going to complete the challenge. There is also a StepBet and a RunBet that work similarly. 

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3. Rakuten

We all love to shop online. Rakuten gives cashback on stores we already shop at, including Amazon and Postmates. Connect to your favorite store through their app and start earning money. Plus, you will get $30 after spending $30 through the website if you use my referral link.

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4. Safe 2 Save

Safe 2 Save rewards you for paying attention to the road instead of your phone while driving. After downloading the app, you get points for every minute of safe driving. Safe driving is defined as not using your phone while going over 10 mph. If you touch your phone while driving over 10 mph, the app will stop adding points to your account.

Although this app does not actually reward cash, the reward points can be redeemed at local restaurants and retail stores.

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5. Receipt Hog

Do you know that insanely long receipt you get at the grocery store, even when you buy two things? 

Scan it with Receipt Hog. By scanning receipts and answering simple quizzes, you collect coins that equal cash. It’s that easy. 

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6. Paribus

Do you hate when you order something online, and then it goes on sale the next day? 

Or when you buy something on Amazon Prime for that party in 2 days and it doesn’t show up in time? 

Paribus will track items you buy from over 25 online stores. They will alert you if any price drops and contact the merchant to get a refund. 

I have an Amazon addiction. Every time Paribus notifies me of a late delivery, I contact Amazon, and they usually offer me a $5 gift card. 

The app is not available on Google Play but Android users can sign up through their website.

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Now that you have all this extra money, why not go on a roadtrip?

6 Essential Road Trip Planning Apps of 2021

Download these apps to help plan your ultimate summer road trip.

1. GasBuddy

I want to save money wherever I can when I travel, and I love any tool that helps with this goal. Gas prices can add up quickly during a road trip. GasBuddy allows people to search for the lowest fuel prices in the area. It also helps calculate the estimated fuel charges for your road trip before you even get in the car.

Additionally, there is a free option to save up to $0.25/gallon. You need to connect your checking account, and they will mail you a card to swipe at the pump for a discount. For $9.99/month, you can save up to $0.40/gallon and get roadside assistance. Available for Android and iOS.

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2. HipCamp

I wish I knew about HipCamp years ago. The user interface resembles Airbnbs, but it is only for booking campsites, cabins, RV parks, public parks, and more. Landowners can advertise their private land as camp sites, much like homeowners can rent out their homes. HipCamp appears to be geared towards “glamping,” and many rentals are more expensive than your typical campsite, but there are cheaper options.

Since HipCamp mainly focuses on private landowners, it is a great alternative during the pandemic when many state campsites are closed. Get $10 in HipCamp credit by signing up with this link. Available for Android and iOS.

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3. My Maps (by Google Maps)

Remember having to write down directions on PAPER to drive anywhere? Sadly, I bet many of you don’t. Trust me. It was a tough time.

You can use Google Maps for more than trying to beat the estimated time of arrival when driving. My Maps gives you the ability to create a custom map with your own landmarks, routes, and even the ability to add shapes and drawings. The best part is you can share the map with other people and give them the ability to add to the map if you want.

For example, I used My Maps to plan my Route 66 road trip. I added layers for accommodations and attractions. I shared it with my boyfriend, who was able to add attractions he was interested in, too. We used this map to navigate our whole trip. For an in-depth tutorial on how to make a custom map, check out this article. (Apple does not make a specific My Maps app, but the feature is available on the Google Maps app.)

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4. Road Side America

Do you want to see the largest rocking chair or the tallest totem pole? Roadside America is a database of “Offbeat Tourist Attractions.” Anyone can add an attraction or update an existing one. The website is free to use. An app is available for iOS starting at $2.99, allowing you to download the maps to your phone. Personally, I check the website when I plan my road trip and then add the stops to my custom google map.

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5. Flush

This is probably the most important road trip app on this list. Flush will locate any restroom in your area. It also gives you information on which ones provide accessibility access, charge a fee for usage, or require a key. Did you find a bathroom not on the list? Add it to Flush’s database. Available for Android and iOS.

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6. TripIt

TripIt is my favorite road trip planning app. I hate searching through my email to find my car rental reservation number? Or the contact information for my Airbnb? TripIt helps me stay organized for any vacation. I can manually input reservations, but the best feature is TripIt will scan your emails and automatically import any travel-related information to its website. The entire trip itinerary is available in one place with minimal effort. TripIt also makes it easy to share/edit travel plans with your whole group. Available for Android and iOS.

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What should you bring on your road trip? 15 Road Trip Packing List Essentials

The Club Las Vegas COVID

The Club LAS Airport Lounge Reopens Amid COVID

The Club LAS airport lounge at Las Vegas’s McCarran Airport has re-opened and is implementing new COVID-19 precautions. The Club opened on June 29, 2020, and overall the experience felt more similar to its pre-COVID state than I imagined it would.

What does The Club LAS look like amid COVID?

Location

The Club LAS has two airport locations. Currently, only the Terminal 1 location is open. The lounge is located airside at D Gates. The lounge is situated between Brooks Brother and Tumi near gate D33.

Hours of Operation

Due to COVID-19, The Club LAS restricted it’s hours of operation to 6 am-3 pm. I wish they would expand the hours to 5 pm. I feel 3 pm is too early and is inconvenient for many travelers. Although, maybe that is the point.

Access

The arrival process is the same. I used my Priority Pass that I get through the Chase Sapphire Reserve or American Express Platinum Credit Card.  The attendant at the desk requested my ID, boarding pass, and Priority Pass membership card. A pass holder can still bring two companions into the lounge for free. The only difference was a hand sanitizer station and a plastic divider between you and the desk attendant.

Amenities

The restrooms were open and clean. The only difference is that the showers are unavailable.

Layout

The main change at The Club LAS since reopening is the seating and food service. In the lounge, every other seat, including enclosed booths, were blocked off. I arrived at 11 am, and there were only about ten people in the lounge. The bar area was the only section of the lounge that was closed, but there were plenty of other options, and it was easy to spread out. 

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Limited Food and Amenity Options

Food and Beverage

The most significant change came in the foodservice. A buffet was available with the standard options, but the area was roped off. If you wanted a particular item, you ordered it from the attendant standing behind the rope. This included juice, water, and coffee. All of the food options were covered with saran wrap or prepackaged except for the cereal, which was still in a glass dispenser. Options included yogurt parfaits, grapes, hard-boiled eggs, and danishes.

Of course, I left the most important information for the end. Does the lounge still serve alcohol? Yes, they do. I originally ordered from the attendant behind the buffet, but there was a waitress circulating the lounge floor taking drink orders and clearing tables. The bar area was closed.

The Club LAS and COVID-19

All of the employees were wearing masks and gloves and they are required to have their temperature checked before their shift. There were hand sanitizer stations throughout the facility. Patrons cannot get their own food or beverages. And of course, masks are required for all patrons.

Conclusion

Yes, I understand the word is changing, and there is a new normal, but I haven’t been looking forward to the changes in the travel industry. I am one of the few travelers that purposely arrives at the airport early. My experience at The Club LAS reassured me that airport lounges would make a return.