We’re right smack in the middle of the year, and lots of people are already feeling unmotivated to stick to their New Year’s resolutions, including the good and healthy habits they’ve been trying to maintain. Count yours truly in with those people. My husband even got me a Fitbit in January so I can be on the move even when I’m working from home, especially since my glucose and cholesterol levels dictate that I should exercise more frequently.
Sadly, I still feel unmotivated to exercise for the most part. But after learning about apps and other means to earn on the side while wearing my trusty Fitbit, what do you know? I became motivated like you wouldn’t believe! Some of my fellow moms at our kids’ school let me in on the secret, so today I would like to pay it forward to you. Here are five ways to earn money and rewards with your Fitbit!
1) Walk with Walgreens and earn points
Since Walgreens has become part and parcel of our shopping lifestyle, I figured, why not use their Balance Rewards Program to motivate me into keeping fit? The site allows people like you and me to sync our Fitbits into the program, and just signing up can earn us 250 points right away! Setting a healthy goal is equal to 250 points, and achieving that goal is another 250 points! You can track your progress manually, as well as the number of points you’ve already racked up for a great variety of freebies in the catalog.
Website: https://www.walgreens.com/steps/appmarket.jsp
2) Win a bet with DietBet
This particular app involves a bit of gambling and risk-taking, but I understand the kind of impetus it offers for those who seriously want to lose some weight (me included). DietBet is pretty confident about the kind of success its users have met while using the app - it boasts that 96% of its challengers have already lost weight and made some cash while they’re at it!
But to achieve that, you’re going to have to wager some money that you’re going to lose a certain percentage of your body weight within a certain period. You are required to take clear photos of your weight loss and fitness journey to see how you’re doing with the challenge, and if you can earn (or lose) the money you deserve for your weight loss.
Website: https://www.dietbet.com/
iOS: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/dietbet-lose-weight.-make/id532353287?ls=1&mt=8
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dietbet.app
3) Stay active with Achievement
The site’s motto is simple but succinct: “We seriously pay you to track your steps.” Since I am all for people taking my fitness journey seriously, I decided to give this one a try. The app pays users via PayPal or direct deposit for the number of steps you take every day (125 steps is equal to a point). If that doesn’t motivate you to walk, walk, and walk some more, then I’m not sure what will!
Website: https://www.myachievement.com/
iOS: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/achievemint/id793039965
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.achievemint.android
4) Amp it up with AARP
Today, AARP makes it possible to connect your Fitbit with their Rewards for Good program so you can keep track of your fitness goals while earning points to be redeemed for gift cards, various merchandise, and other daily deals and rewards! There are different kinds of challenges you can take on, and of course, the harder they are, the more points you earn.
Website: https://www.aarp.org/rewards-for-good/fitness/?intcmp=BAC-R4G-DSO-FITBIT
iOS: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/aarp-now/id394286729?mt=8
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.aarp.discounts&hl=en
5) Make EveryMove count!
“Every step you take, every move you make…” goes that song by The Police, and it’s a fitting tune to the kind of motivation that the EveryMove fitness app offers. Employers, in particular, seem to like this app to incentivize employees and staff to become more fit and active via gift cards and other rewards. Of course, being a WAHM, I don’t think I can use this to motivate me to work out, but I really like the idea of a team effort and support structure that a fitness app encourages among its users.
Website: https://everymove.org/
iOS: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/everymove-fit-fitness-plans-goals-challenges/id563721483?mt=8
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.everymove.everymove2&hl=en
The verdict?
My husband teased me upon reading the draft for this article, saying there should be a sixth way to earn rewards with my Fitbit - that is, to sell it, since it’s hardly used anyway! But I’m going to show him - I will keep fit by walking my required number of steps a day, and I will have rewards and cash to show for it, too. Being healthy does have its rewards, but up until friends recommended these apps for me to try, I never thought that the rewards would be monetary!
Your turn!
Do you have a Fitbit, and would you use it as a way to earn while keeping healthy and active? If you have any other ways to walk towards health and an extra income, do comment about it below!
