I’m usually confounded by all the options for money management programs. I think it’s because I don’t want to think about my debt. There’s no joy in it; I’d much rather avoid the terrible specter of paying bills.
However, this week I tried SaveUp.com and it was the first time that I actually didn’t cringe when I looked at my finances. It’s a free rewards program where anytime I do anything fiscally smart, I get “credits” to play games and win prizes.
The custom link that SaveUp created for GoGirl Finance readers (www.saveup.com/gogirlfinance) granted me a lot of perks. By registering with GGF, I automatically received 100 credits. It was easy to link my Chase account to the site, which promises bank level security. I’m usually dubious about linking my bank accounts to money management programs but I spoke to a representative who assured me that they would not sell my information. Linking my bank account afforded me another 200 credits. It’s as if I received a virtual pat on the back every time I made a smart decision. I also signed up for a 7-day challenge, where I’ll receive 150 more credits if I don’t use my credit card this week. I’m up for the challenge!
Now that I’d accumulated all those credits, it was time to play the games! I played a card game titled “3 of a Kind” and won $50. There is another game which is similar to “Deal or No Deal” called “Mystery Pick.” Tomorrow I will probably try playing “Prize Pitch,” a game in which I will win a prize if I can hit three targets with a baseball.
In addition to cars, prizes include a Paris Getaway, gift cards, and even a two million dollar jackpot. If a GGF reader wins a prize, we’ll spotlight you on this website as a saving maven.
Most of us tend to ignore our debt woes, but that doesn’t make them disappear. I found that using SaveUp forced me to think about my finances on a daily basis. It created positive change in my spending habits and I now have a fun incentive to pay off my credit card bill and student loans.
My only scruple about joining this site is that I wish I could play more than three games per day. But I guess by limiting the number of games, SaveUp is also gratutiously teaching me a lesson in self-control and balance. Many lessons to be learned.
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What a great site– so excited to start playing
Thanks for sharing this. What a great way to make something not so fun, more entertaining. Pay off debt and save a little more then you think is possible. While the rewards for savers these days may not seem great…this shall pass and you will find yourself rewarded for it.