Make it, Save it, Spend it. Today's Moves

The Gas App Giving Drivers $290 a Year

Most people fill up and drive off. A few tap one button first — and pocket real cash.

The Upside app gives you cash back every time you fill up — real dollars, straight to your bank account or PayPal. No points. No gimmicks.

The average frequent user pockets about $290 a year, and it stacks on top of whatever your credit card already earns. Over 100,000 gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants participate.

All you do is claim an offer in the app before you pump. It takes about 10 seconds. Then the cash shows up:

Book the Hotel. Then Check the Price Again.

One habit can quietly put hundreds back in your pocket on trips you've already planned.

Hotel prices change constantly — often dropping after you book. If you reserved a refundable room, you can cancel and rebook at the lower rate and keep the difference.

One writer at The Points Guy checked her upcoming reservations in 30 minutes and saved 7,000 points plus $31 — without changing a single plan.

Most loyalty programs — Marriott, Hilton, IHG — let you cancel award stays for a full refund until a day or two before arrival. Here's exactly how it works:

You're Shopping There Anyway. Get Paid.

Thousands of stores will give you money back on purchases you're already making. Most people just don't know to ask.

Rakuten partners with 3,500+ stores — Walmart, Target, Nike, Petsmart, and hundreds more. When you click through before you buy, the store pays a small commission and Rakuten splits it with you. Cash back runs 1% to 20% depending on the store.

One FinanceBuzz writer earned over $991 in cash back since 2018, just from shopping like normal. The browser extension makes it automatic — a popup appears whenever you're on a participating site.

It's free to join, and it doesn't change how or where you shop: