How I saved 1,225 AED with the Smiles App (and had some fun weekends)

Insider tips on Saving using your Smiles App

I opened my Smiles App today and got a big “Julia Roberts-like” grin -- and I think you would too if you saw a lifetime (!)  savings of 1,225 AED in just over three months. 

Yes, that is how much I have made off this deals and rewards app since it launched in April.  Thanks to my friend Aarthi who introduced me to this (and earned a nice gift for referring me!).

It is hands-down one of the best deals app that I use -- right up there with Entertainer or Groupon.  And unlike the other apps, this one is free to download, and free to use (yes, you read that right, no mobile data charges to use it). 

If you haven’t got this app already, you can download here and check it out.   Here are my top tips & tricks for getting maximum savings from this App  (plus one mistake I see my friends do while using this app and miss out on savings!)

1.     Tip 1:   Don’t miss out  the 500 complimentary Smiles points on download.  These 500 points can fetch you a nice buy 1 get 1 free deal from one of over hundreds of restaurants, or set you for a  good day of free calls or free data.

2.      Tip 2:   Who doesn't love free?  Check out the offers marked FREE in the  entertainment section. You can get 50% off on movie tickets from Novo /Reel cinemas.  You don’t need to shell out any points to get this offer.   

3.      Tip 3:   This is the one my friends often miss out.   Look out for brands that offer you free Smiles points for every purchase. Even if you don’t have enough points, you can use your credit card to buy vouchers from these brands and get a nice cashback.  
     Example:  You get 2 smiles points for every dirham spent at Carrefour!

4.      Tip 4:  Not enough points to buy vouchers?   Sort the offers by ‘discounts’ to get all the buy 1 get 1 free discounts.  These offers save you over a lot but start from just 200 points (or 2 AED).

5.      Tip 5:  Switch on location to check nearest deals – you don’t want to waste time going far to save more.

6.      Tip 6: Wondering where to go this weekend?  Check out the Trending and New offers sections –to get ideas.  There are usually a couple of new brands every time I’ve checked

7.      Tip 7:   Look for the ‘Deals for you’ section for the best deals – it changes every day with many new deals.  

8.      Tip 8:   Get ALL your mobile and landline numbers registered in the App.  You get Smiles points for every bill payment, recharge for all your numbers –don’t miss them out. 
     (If you’ve been in UAE for five years and spent 500 AED per month on your mobile and internet bills, you’ve missed out 30,000 points already!  Don't miss any more of it).

9.      Tip 9 :  Invite friends from the App – share your promo code on WhatsApp/ Facebook and you get a chance to win a fancy gift each time one of your friends enroll.  

     (Hint: They don’t need to be your friends, but they need to have an etisalat number. Now is make some use of those big WhatsApp groups that you don't know why you are a part of).

 

Try these tips, leave a comment on how you used this App!    Happy Savings !!