Fetch, formerly known as Fetch Rewards, is a smartphone app that allows you to scan and upload receipts in exchange for gift cards. All you have to do is upload qualifying receipts of various stores you shop at, and then the app will reward you with points that you can eventually redeem for free gift cards. Sound too good to be true? Read on to learn if Fetch Rewards is a safe and legit app that can be used to earn free gift cards as a clever side hustle.

How Does the Fetch App Work?

Fetch is an app that allows you to scan any receipt to earn points that you can then redeem for things like free gift cards.

Here is a specific breakdown of how the Fetch app works:

1. Download the Fetch app.

2. Scan Receipts to Earn Rewards.

3. Redeem Your Fetch points for gift cards, sweepstakes entries, and pre-paid Visa cards.

BONUS 1,000 Points:

Get 1,000 Free Bonus Points when you first open the app and sign-up and use our referral code.

Simply enter the Exclusive Code RATHER and get your free 1,000 points immediately after you scan your first receipt.

When uploading receipts, here’s a list of stores that Fetch accepts receipts from:

– Grocery store

– Fast-food restaurant

– Clothing retailers

– Convenience Stores

– Drugstores

– Big-Box Retailers

– Department stores

See Also: Fetch FULL Review: Is It an Ibotta Killer?

Does Fetch Collect My Bank Information?

No.

The Fetch app does NOT collect any of your bank OR credit card information.

However, when you sign-up on the app, you’re required to provide the following personal details:

– Full Name

– Birth Date

– Email Address

– Home Address

– Phone Number

So…Is Fetch Legit and Safe?

Yes.

The app is 100% legitimate and can help you earn gift cards by “snapping” your grocery receipts.

First, as mentioned above, the Fetch app doesn’t collect any bank or credit card information so you don’t have to worry about that being stolen.

Also, the app has a security measure where you have to verify your phone, or device, to be able to use the app.

Fetch stresses the importance of using a high-quality password to keep hackers from getting into your account.

They recommend creating a VERY strong password with at least 12 characters, including at least one capital letter, one number and one special character.

See Also: The 12 Best Cashback Sites and Apps You Should Be Using

Does Fetch Sell My Information?

Yes.

Fetch does collect and sell data/ information; however, this is done safely and ethically by ensuring your identity is anonymous.

Fetch then compensates you for the data you share (i.e. your uploaded receipts) in the form of gift cards.

What Information Do They Collect?

Fetch collects and sells all the data from the scanned receipts you upload.

However, the personal information that you provide is ABSOLUTELY kept private.

This includes your name, email address, phone number, and mailing address.

So by using the Fetch app, you essentially agree to trade your receipt data for rewards.

The data is then used by companies to figure out consumer buying habits and what types of promotions shoppers would like to see in the future.

Be aware that you’re also giving up the following information when you sign-up:

– IP Address

– Unique Device ID

– Details about the products you’ve purchased

– Time spent on the app

– Location of your App use

– Discounts and coupons you’ve used via the App

Best Practices to Keep Hackers Out?

With virtually anything online these days, hackers are always an ever-present threat.

This includes when it comes to gaining access to your Fetch account.

Luckily, there are ways to keep your Fetch account safe from hackers.

This includes practicing the following TWO important measures:

1. Create a Strong Password: Try to create a longer password (12+ characters) with at least one number, special character, and capital letter.

And, always make sure your passwords are unique.

2. Delete and NEVER Click On Suspicious Emails: Never click on suspicious emails that appear to be from Fetch.

An easy way to spot spam emails is if they contain a suspicious linking, odd phrasing, spelling errors, or come from an email that doesn’t end with @fetch.com.

Also, Fetch will never email you to verify your password or mailing address.

So NEVER click on an email from Fetch, instead visit the app directly and see if you have any notifications that you need to take care of.

Ask the Reader: Are you a longtime Fetch user? How many reward points have you redeemed over the years?

By Kyle James

Even if you don’t have a Costco membership, you’re still likely familiar with the buy-in-bulk approach. However, Costco isn’t just a great place to buy large quantities of your favorite grocery items at discounted prices. Costco also offers catering services. So, if you’re planning to host a large event and need to feed lots of people, consider using Costco as a way to provide a delicious meal on a budget. In this article, you’ll learn everything you need to know about Costco’s catering so you can make the most of their service.

Will Costco Actually Cater My Event In-Person?

No.

Costco does provide catering; however, you are expected to pickup the food to bring to your event.

Therefore, Costco does not deliver any catering items, you the customer are responsible for pickup and delivery to your event.

What Are My Catering Options at Costco?

Costco offers a wide range of catering options from party trays and platters to their sushi platter, and more.

Here’s a list of Costco’s catering options:

– Costco Sandwich Platter

– Costco Croissant Sandwich Platter

– Prawn (Shrimp) Platter

– Sushi Platter

– Buffalo Wings Platter

– Costco Vegetable tray

– Assorted Hye Roller Platter

– Turkey & Swiss Roller Wraps

– Decorated Sponge Cake

– Costco Fruit Platter

As you can see, Costco offers quite the variety of delicious catering options for anyone and virtually any occasion.

See Also: Costco Food Court Menu: Here’s Everything On It w/ Prices

What Are the Party Tray Prices and How Big are They?

Costco catering offers a variety of party platters giving you large quantities of delicious food at affordable prices.

Below are the different party platters Costco offers and their prices:

– Croissant Sandwich Platter (serves about 16-20 people): Priced at $39.99

– Chicken & Swiss Rollers (serves about 20-24 people): Priced at $39.99

– Shrimp Platter (serves about 20-24 people): Priced at $39.99

– Meat & Cheese Platter (serves about 16-20 people): Priced at $26.99

If you break down the Costco party platter prices by person, you are only spending between $1-$3 per person to feed at your party.

From this Reddit forum, the “feeds 16-20 people” is only if folks take half a sandwich, so be sure to have plenty of side dishes.

Where in Costco Do I Go to Submit My Order?

Near the deli department OR bakery section there will be a small kiosk to place your catering order.

You’ll first have to fill out your catering order form in-person (forms will be provided at the kiosk).

You CANNOT fill out your Costco catering order online.

You must go in-person and have a Costco membership to successfully submit a catering order.

On the catering order form, you’ll have to fill out the following essential information:

– What catering options you’d like to order.

– How much of each option you’d like.

– The date you’ll need your order.

– Your contact information along with your Costco membership number.

Once you’ve completed the catering order form, you then submit/drop off the form in the slot at the kiosk.

See Also: 5 Smart Savings Hacks for Buying Costco Meats

How Many Days Ahead Does Costco Require?

At least 24 hours in advance.

You’ll need to give Costco at least 1 day’s notice or longer to be able to fulfill your catering order.

On the catering order form that you have to fill out, you’ll have to provide the date you need your order.

Costco seems very accommodation, from this Reddit forum, you can place an order as late as 8:20 pm and have it ready the following day at opening.

Do I Need a Costco Membership?

Yes.

You will need a Costco membership to use Costco’s catering services.

You’ll need your membership card and you’ll also need to provide your membership number when filling out the order form.

See Also: 7 Costco Bakery Hacks That Will Blow Your Mind

Any Affordable Add-on Items that Would be Great for Events?

Yes.

There are some add-on Costco food items you can get when you pick up your catering order.

Below are some favorite Costco add-on food items you should consider picking up for your next event:

– Rotisserie Chicken – Buy some bags of the hand pulled breast meat and use it for tacos, fajitas, or sandwiches.

– Caesar Salad – It’s big and is a great filler.

– Chicken Salad – Great side dish that is really filling.

– Mac and Cheese – Oh my gosh, it’s SO good and makes for a great side.

– Ribs – Haven’t tried the pre-cooked ribs at Costco, have you?

– Spinach Salad – Haven’t tried this one yet.

Ask the Reader: Have you ever you used Costco when catering a large event or party? How did the process go and how did the food taste?

By Kyle James

My wife is an incredibly brave (or crazy) kindergarten teacher and we’ve been getting the Verizon teacher discount for years now. As we all know, teachers don’t make a ton of money so every little teacher discount helps and Verizon’s is no exception. The cool thing about the Verizon teacher discount is it’s VERY easy to apply, took me maybe 5 minutes total. So, if you’re a teacher and curious how it all works, keep reading and you’ll get all your questions answered.

What is the Verizon Discount for Teachers?

Verizon offers a monthly discount to teachers with their Verizon teachers discount program.

This means eligible teachers who have a Verizon account and at least 1 smartphone or basic phone on at least 1 or more specific Verizon plans (listed below) can receive a monthly discount.

Eligible plans for the Verizon teacher discount include:

– Currently available plans: Unlimited Ultimate, Unlimited Plus, Unlimited Welcome

– Other plans NOT available: Play More Unlimited, Do More Unlimited, Get More Unlimited, Just Kids

PRO TIP: YOU MUST REVALIDATE EVERY YEAR

Don’t put your Verizon bill on autopay and just ignore it. Open up your bill every couple months and make sure you’re still getting your teacher discount. Unfortunately, you will have to revalidate your discount annually, so by paying attention to your bill, you’ll know when it’s time to do that.

Also, some teachers have complained that once their discount disappeared, Verizon added twice the charges back to their monthly bill. So it definitely pays to keep a close eye on your bill.

See Also: Verizon Military Discount: Who’s Eligible and How Much You Can Save

How Much Can I Save With the Discount?

Here is the monthly breakdown of how much you can save with the teacher discount:

– $10 per month with 1 line

– $25 per month with 2 lines ($12.50/line)

– $25 per month with 3 lines ($8.33/line)

– $20 per month with 4 plus lines ($5/line)

How Do Teachers Prove Their Eligibility?

To be a part of the teachers discount program you must first qualify for the discount.

The following is a list of qualifications straight from Verizon’s website that tells you what you need to do to get the teacher discount.

– Have at least 1 smartphone or basic phone on a qualifying Verizon monthly Unlimited plan.

– Be the Account Owner or Account Manager.

– Be a currently-employed teacher (kindergarten to grade 12 or post-secondary instructor).

– Apply online through our Teachers discounts page.

– Validate your teaching employment as part of the discount registration.

– Re-validate your teaching employment about once a year.

See Also: 5 Relatively Painless Ways to Save Money on Your Verizon Bill

PRO TIP: SOME LOYALTY DISCOUNTS AREN’T STACKABLE

Be aware that an “account level” loyalty discount from Verizon is not stackable with their teacher discount. But a “line level” discount is indeed stackable. So let’s say you have 3 line level discounts and one of the lines also has the teacher discount on it, make sure you’re getting both discounts on that particular line.

So…How Do I Make It Happen?

To get started with signing-up for the teacher’s discount, simply visit this page and click on the “Get Started” button.

You’ll be redirected to ID.me and start the verification process.

Once verified, you’ll get an email confirmation and start to see your discount on your Verizon bill in 1-2 billing cycles.

Is the Discount Good for All Teachers?

No.

You must be an “eligible” teacher to get the Verizon teacher discount.

Here are a few things teachers must have/be to be eligible:

– Be an active teacher currently employed.

– Be a K – 12th grade teacher, or a post-secondary instructor (i.e. college professor).

– Some states require you to provide your teaching certificate when applying.

Therefore, you will not be eligible for the Verizon teacher discount if you don’t meet the above requirements.

What About Daycare or Pre-School Workers?

No.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear that daycare or pre-school workers qualify.

On Verizon’s website, they state that only currently-employed teachers from kindergarten to 12th-grade teachers, plus post-secondary teachers qualify for the discount.

Can College Professors Also Get the Discount?

Yes.

All college professors, or any post-secondary instructors for that matter, can qualify to get the Verizon teacher discount.

Do Spouses of Teachers Also Qualify?

Technically no, spouses of teachers don’t qualify for the discount which is a major bummer for me personally.

However, there is a CLEVER workaround for this.

If you put the teacher’s name on the internet or cell phone bill, rather than in the spouse’s name, then you can ALL qualify.

What About Retired Teachers?

No.

Unfortunately, retired teachers do not qualify for the discount, so you should learn how to negotiate a lower Verizon bill instead in order to save.

Only active, currently-employed teachers qualify for the discount.

See Also: Verizon Employee Discount: We Cut Thru the Confusion

Do Other Wireless Carriers Offer Similar Discounts?

Yes.

Fortunately, Verizon is not the only wireless carrier that offers teacher discounts.

Some wireless carriers that offer teacher discounts include Sprint, AT&T, and Boost Mobile.

Ask the Reader: How long did it take you to apply for the Verizon teacher discount? Any other discounts that I need to be aware of? Let me know.

By Kyle James