iPhone/iPad: FREE Alphabet App

For any iphone/ipad users who happen to be like us (as in, your kids maybe get more use out of the device than you do), there's an app available that is FREE for a limited time and is perfect for their budding minds!  I just discovered Endless Alphabet - made by the creators of "There's a Monster at the End of This Book" (one of my daughter's favorites!) - which gives kids words like "cooperate" and "exercise" in their alphabet book.  They get to build the words using interactive letters and watch fun animations that act out the definitions.  It's awfully cute - I enjoyed hearing my kids work together to build words while I made breakfast this morning!  Head on over to itunes to check it out and grab it while it's FREE!

*I receive no compensation for this post - I was just really impressed with this app!

Old Navy: Check Your App for $10 Off!

Just a reminder, check your Old Navy Snap Appy app for new coupons!  I "snapped" multiple times and snagged four different coupons: FREE Flip Flops, $5 off ANY purchase, $5 off a purchase of $25 or more and $15 off a purchase of $75 or more!  You can "Save" each "Surprise" and keep snapping for more deals!  Remember, you can "snap" up to 10 times a day!

Viggle: FREE Movie Tickets!

I have blogged previously about an app called Viggle, but wanted to re-emphasize it, because I just love it!  As previously mentioned, they have frequent "deals" on rewards and their current deal is any movie ticket (up to $13 in value) for only 8,000 points (regularly 15,000 points)!  To give you an idea, I got 5,000 points last night alone between "checking in" to two featured shows and "watching" a ton of ads.  It took some time, but I clicked on the ads while doing some other things, so it was no big deal at all.  Also, you get an automatic 1,500 points just for signing up!

If you don't know what I'm talking about, read my post here!

Please keep in mind this app is relatively new and they are still working out some kinks, some features and rewards may disappear and re-appear at whim - but your points will be safe!  Just be patient!

Viggle App: Earn Points for Watching TV (And Other Activities)!

At the beginning of this week, I learned of a new (or new to me) app available on iTunes called Viggle.  Currently this app is only available for the iPhone, iPad or iPod, but I have heard it should be available for the Android market within a month or so (which is very exciting!).

The primary premise behind the app is to reward you for watching television.  Frankly, we don't watch much TV around here, so I wasn't sure how relevant it would be, but I tried it out.  In the past five days I have earned enough points for a $10 gift card - I would say it is worth it!

Here's how it works:

1. Download the app from iTunes.
2. Use the app to "check in" when watching Live TV (for now DVR'd or downloaded content will not work, only Live TV).  You will earn 2 points for each minute of the show and many popular prime-time shows offer bonus points (up to 400!) just for checking in.  The check-in process uses the microphone on your device to "listen" to the show to verify you are watching it, but it only listens for about 10 seconds, checks you in and the app can then be turned off - it does not "listen" for the entire show!  I have "checked in" while watching PBS with my kids in the mornings (which we do a lot!) and while catching The Voice (one of very few shows I actually watch if I'm home).
3. You can also browse the app for opportunities to watch ads or previews or answer trivia questions to rack up more points (just look for the white banner that offers +100 or +30, etc. for various activities).  I'll admit, I've become kind of addicted, but it's SO easy and the points add up FAST.
4. Cash in for rewards!  There are various levels, such as 9000 points for a $5 Starbucks gift card or 18000 for a $10 Gap/Old Navy gift card.

So, if you have an Apple device, I highly recommend at least checking it out to see if it's your kind of thing!  You can head here to read the FAQ's to learn more!

Snap Appy: FREE Photo Wall Calendar from Kodak!

If you've downloaded the Old Navy Snap Appy app (or haven't yet, but have been thinking about it), you should go scan an Old Navy logo now (just visit their website to scan the logo there if you have no others on-hand!).  Right now they're giving away free photo calendars courtesy of Kodak Gallery.  So, find your logo, snap a photo and grab your code for a FREE wall calendar.  You'll have 20 days to redeem your code!  Also, you can start the calendar on any month, so don't fret over the fact that January is almost over!

More info on the Snap Appy App here.

Shopping Apps: Checkpoints + Shopkick

I received a great response about the Old Navy app I posted about yesterday, so I thought I'd share a couple others with you that I have heard of (though, be aware, my experience as a smartphone owner is about four days old - so my app experience is extremely limited - but these apps come recommended by a few bloggers I trust, so I'm giving them a shot and hope you will, too!).

The two apps I wanted to share today are called Checkpoints and Shopkick (thanks, Ruth, for reminding me about this one!).  From what I gather, these apps are relatively similar.  You earn points (or kicks, depending on the app) for simply "Checking In" at a store (as in, walking into the store and clicking the appropriate button in the app) and also for finding various products on the shelves and scanning the barcodes.  You can then trade these points for tangible rewards - such as gift cards!

A few differences:
Checkpoints also gives you the ability to earn "coins" for different tasks.  You then turn in these coins to play games (quick, slot machine/scratcher-type games) to earn more points toward your reward.  From what I've seen, it may take awhile to earn rewards with this app, but if you like a scavenger hunt, you might just enjoy scouring the store to find the products to scan!

*Note, if you sign up for Checkpoints, I would really appreciate it if you use my username (Arow97) as your "Bonus Code" when registering so you can count as my referral.  If you'd prefer not to, though, that's fine :)

Shopkick awards "kicks" not only for Checking In or Scanning products, but also based on spending (in certain stores) if linked with your credit card.  Now, I'm not familiar enough with the App yet to feel comfortable linking it to my card, but it's an option, still.  Also, if you watch the CW, you can earn kicks for clicking on the app when you see commercials for certain stores.  Another primary difference for Shopkick is that they also offer deals (such as coupons for $10 off a $40 purchase or 15% off your purchase) at various stores when you check in.  So, it might be worth it to check in just for a great deal!  (Again, I just downloaded the app today so I can't give you any personal testimonies, but I'm interested to see what happens!)

*Note, this is my referral link for Shopkick, which will start you out with 50 Kicks, but if you'd rather not be a referral, you can download the App independently!

I hope you find these apps helpful or fun and let me know what you think!

Old Navy App: FREE Coupons + FREE Clothes!

If you're a smartphone user and a fan of Old Navy, you may want to check out your phone's App Marketplace for the Old Navy Snap Appy app (available for iPhone and Android).  Once downloaded, you can use this app to snap a photo of any Old Navy logo (I generally just pull it up on their website and take a photo of my computer screen with the logo there).  After snapping a photo of their app, a slot-machine type slider will randomly select a "Surprise" for you.  These surprises include coupons for $10 off ANY purchase or even, at times, FREE merchandise - simply pull the "Surprise" up on your phone when you're ready to use it and present it to your cashier as you would a coupon.

My sis has used her Snap Appy app to snag FREE jeans, FREE boots, and FREE cozy socks!  I have used my Snap Ten "Surprise" ($10 off ANY purchase) to snag tons of great clothes for practically nothing!

Go check it out!

PS You can snap up to ten times a day, so if you don't get a Deal on the first try, keep trying until you get one.  And the only "Surprises" that actually gets you a coupon is the pink one with an icon of a shopping bag - usually labeled "Deal" or "Snap Ten" or something similar  or the Green "Goody Bag"- so if you get something else, you can just click "No Thanks" and try again.