Blog, Budget Saver, Me in the Kitchen

How I Built a $150 Grocery Emergency Fund in Just 15 Minutes a Day

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As a busy mom, unexpected expenses can throw off your whole day, week, or even month. That’s why I decided to turn to Swagbucks to build a $150 emergency grocery fund. The best part? I did it with just 15 minutes a day. You can start with small, simple steps that fit easily into your routine.

Why I Chose Swagbucks

Swagbucks is a rewards platform where you can earn points, called SB, by doing things like taking surveys, watching videos, or even shopping online. It’s perfect for me because I can do it in short bursts without disrupting my day. You don’t need a ton of time to make progress, and those small rewards really add up. Plus, if you sign up through my referral link, you can start earning today!

My 15-Minute Routine: Quick Wins

I don’t have hours to spend on Swagbucks every day, but by combining these tasks, I maximize my time and points. Here’s how I fit it in:

  1. Quick Surveys: I do smaller, easy-to-qualify surveys. These only take a few minutes and help me earn points fast. I steer clear of long surveys because they take too much time and don’t always qualify me.
  2. Scan Receipts: I upload receipts for products I already buy. This means I don’t need to go out of my way for extra purchases.
  3. Microtasks: These are tiny, simple tasks that can be done quickly, like signing up for emails, downloading free eBooks, or visiting a website. They add up fast!
  4. Daily Goals: I make sure to complete my daily goals, like trivia and polls. These are quick and easy ways to earn a steady flow of points.
  5. Check Social Media for Bonuses: Swagbucks often posts bonus point opportunities on their social media accounts, and I make sure to check them out when I can.
  6. Use Their Search Engine: Instead of using my usual search engine, I use Swagbucks’ search to passively earn points as I search for things I need.

Turning My Points into an Emergency Fund

Here’s how I turned those Swagbucks points into a $150 emergency grocery fund. Once I reached $25 in SB (which seems to be the sweet spot for getting the best value), I redeemed it for a prepaid Visa or Mastercard gift card from Swagbucks’ rewards center. I always look for the highest discount—like saving 13% on a $25 card—because that gives me more bang for my points.

After redeeming the prepaid gift card, I add it to my PayPal account and then use PayPal to purchase a grocery store or Instacart gift card from their sister site, MyGiftCards.com. Here’s why this method works:

  • Maximizing Discounts: By using a prepaid gift card with a discount, I spend fewer points on each card, which helps me reach my next goal faster.
  • Earning More Points: When I buy gift cards through MyGiftCards.com, I often get extra Swagbucks for the purchase. This means I’m starting my next round of savings with a positive balance, not from zero.

Why It’s Worth It

Some might think it’s not worth the effort, but let me tell you—when you need it, it absolutely is. Even though it takes a little time to accumulate the points, I’ve found that those small, consistent efforts add up. And when you have that emergency fund ready, it’s a game-changer. Plus, it feels good knowing I earned that money without adding more stress to my day.

If you want to start building your own emergency fund with Swagbucks, it’s easy—just sign up here and start earning today!

Quick Tips to Maximize Your Earnings

  • Be consistent: A few minutes a day really add up over time.
  • Track your progress: Stay on top of your daily goals and bonus point opportunities.
  • Use PayPal: It’s the easiest way to make purchases on MyGiftCards.com.
  • Choose discounted gift cards: These stretch your points further and help you earn faster.

You don’t need hours to make progress. A few minutes here and there can help you build a solid fund for emergencies. If I can do it, you can too!

While parts of this post may have been dreamed up by an AI with an knack for all things food, rest assured that all ideas and opinions are 100% mine—no robots were harmed in the making of this content!