So, you've done your holiday shopping (or in some cases, other shopping) and you've got a pile of receipts. Some from the grocery store, some from shopping here and there. Most likely, you are just gonna toss them in the trash as soon as you can (unless you don't use the standard deduction come tax season). Why not get PAID for those receipts? It just takes a little time and you can still end up tossing them in the trash. How?...I hear you ask? It's quite simple, and I'm here to show you how simple it can be...
First off, lets start with the things you're going to need in order to profit a little from Receipt Hog:
- A smartphone with a working camera
- The Receipt Hog App - New users, please use the code gog18846 when prompted
- A receipt from almost any store. Honestly, as long as it isn't a receipt from a restaurant, send it in.
The process is simple. Open the app, take a picture of the receipt, tell them who made the trip (Adult Boy/Girl, Child Boy/Girl, or some combination of the 4) and rate the experience from 1 star to 5 stars and hit send. They do the rest. Your account will be credited based on how much you spent, up to a certain amount.
- Receipts totaling less that $10.00 = 5 coins
- Receipts totaling between $10.01 and $50.00 = 10 coins
- Receipts totaling between $50.01 and $100.00 = 15 coins
- Receipt totaling greater than $100.01 = 20 coins
Once you accumulate 100 coins in any given week (Monday through Sunday) you will continue to earn coins at a rate of 5 per receipt, regardless of the total amount.
There are some "mini-games" and a referral system too that can help you earn more coins. The first qualifying receipt you enter every week will earn you a "spin." There is a mini-game that resembles a slot machine that you can spin and earn more prizes. Common prizes range from 5-15 coins if you win anything at all. However, some of the bigger prizes available are 100 coins, "last trip" (meaning enough coins to cover the cost of whatever the last receipt entered was), and $100 cash (which I'm assuming is credited to your account in the form of coins equal to the cashout amount of 100 dollars. I've not won it, so I'm not sure how the app pays that out.) More recently, Receipt Hog has added product scans and surveys. The product scan is pretty simple. After your receipt has been submitted, you can look to see if a scan is available (there will be a green symbol beside the total under the receipts tab). If available, you find the produce and use your camera to take a picture of the UPC symbol. You will be reward 2 coins for each successful scan. Occasionally you will have the opportunity fill out surveys based on your recent shopping experiences. Most are short and pay between 20 and 40 coins per survey, so its worth it.
This app rewards loyalty, to a certain extent. At first earning coins with this app is a slow go for a while. However, once you go "hog wild" the earning potential really picks up. After inputting a qualifying receipt for five weeks in a row, you go "hog wild." You begin to earn spins for each receipt you enter in addition to the one spin you earn for your first receipt of the week. Being able to spin more frequently will help you earn anywhere between 10-50 coins per week consistently, which will help out as you earn your way toward the payout tiers.
The payout tiers themselves also reward loyalty. The minimum transfer you can make is a trade of 1000 coins for $5.00, which can be paid either directly by via PayPal or in the form of e-gift certificates for Amazon. However, the longer you stick around and earn coins, the more you are rewarded. The next tier allows you trade 1800 coins for a $10.00 payout. Care to keep going? Tier 3 allows you to trade 3200 coins for a $20.00 payout. And if you choose to keep going (or if you are just lucky enough to win something awesome from one of the spins) the maximum payout nets you $30.00 for 4500 coins ("25% Better Value" according to the app).
And don't forget to invite friends! For each new person who signs up, you'll get 10 spins and they will get 5 (up to 20 friends).
So there's Receipt Hog. Remember, this is a grinding game, and it doesn't get any grindier than this. So what are you waiting for, get out there and bring home the bacon!
What's that? Can't afford to buy anything? Well then, next time I'll show you just how far piracy can really go...
