Category: Personal Finance

Budgeting, managing your money, saving money, planning for future financial goals, and investing.

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Hello Fresh Review: Is it Worth it?

I have seen Hello Fresh ads for months but never had a reason to try it because my husband and I already love to cook. However, one day I was catching up with an old friend who wanted to break the cycle of eating out all the time. It was an unhealthy and expensive habit. I offered to share some of my easy, go-to recipes, but she said she did not know how to cook. So instead, I suggested she consider trying a meal prep program like Hello Fresh. When I saw Upromise had a $40 cash back offer on Hello Fresh, I decided to give it a try too and I am glad I did.

Jump To

Hello Fresh Discount Codes & Cash Back
My First Hello Fresh Order
Hello Fresh Would Be Good For…
Hello Fresh: Pros & Cons
Overall


One of our favorite Hello Fresh meals: White Cheddar Wonderburgers with caramelized onion, special sauce and old bay fries.

Hello Fresh Discount Codes & Cash Back

Hello Fresh has generous coupon codes and cash back rewards that makes it a no brainer to try out. My first order of Hello Fresh was less than what I would have spent on groceries, and they delivered the ingredients to me.

Upromise

Upromise has a $40 cash back on the first Hello Fresh order. If you have not heard of Upromise, it is a website that allows you a unique way to save up for a college fund. Basically, it allows you to earn cash back from purchases. It is 100% free to sign-up, and they give you a $30 bonus.*

Rakuten

Rakuten is currently offering $10 cash back.* Rakuten is another cash back rewards program. It is also 100% free to sign-up, and they give you a $30 bonus.*

Coupon Cabin

Coupon Cabin is currently offering $10.10 cash back.* Coupon Cabin is another cash back rewards program that is 100% free to sign-up.

Hello Fresh Discount Codes

14 free meals from HelloFresh when you buy a 4-week subscription, plus no shipping fees (new customers only): KX-299Y9B6WE Expires 9/29/21

My First Hello Fresh Order

How it Arrived

My first order arrived in two boxes. I loved that the fresh ingredients were organized by meal in labeled paper sacks. The meat was labeled and separated in portions. I was disappointed I only received 5 of the 6 recipe cards, but there was an easy fix. If this happens to you, you can go to their website and download a copy of the recipe card from your “My Menu” page. When you open up the recipe, click on the download icon (i.e., down arrow) that appears in the upper left corner of the recipe.

Remember to Freeze Your Proteins

Hello Fresh recommends freezing all proteins until a few hours before you want to cook them. Once the protein is thawed, you need to use meats within 5 hours and seafood within 2 days. To defrost the meats, I just placed them in the refrigerator the night before I wanted to cook the meal.

Szechuan Beef & Green Beans with Ginger Rice & Candied Peanuts

I chose to prepare Szechuan Beef & Green Beans with Ginger Rice & Candied Peanuts as our first meal, and it was delicious!!! The fresh ingredients were in good condition and everything came pre-measured. The Hello Fresh meal kits do not include sugar, salt, pepper, cooking oil or butter. They assume that people have those ingredients on hand, and we did. The directions were very clear.

I am not new to cooking so I did make changes to suit my preferences. For example, instead of steaming the green beans in the microwave, I chose to steam them in a pan. I just threw them in a pan with 1/4 cup of water, covered it up and heated them on the stove for a few minutes on medium heat until the green beans were tender.

I was excited to learn a new way to make candied peanuts. Normally, I would just toss a little sugar in a pan with the nuts and let the sugar caramelize and coat the nuts, but I prefer the directions in this recipe, which says to add a little water. Adding water allows the sugar to coat the nuts evenly.

Hello Fresh Would Be Good For…

People Who Are Constantly Dining Out – It is unhealthy to eat out all of the time and it gets very expensive. If you are dining out because you do not have the time to go grocery shopping and plan out meals, this is a good option for you.

Spouse or Significant Other – Let me specify, a spouse or significant other who has expressed a wish to learn how to cook. This might not go over well if they never mentioned wanting to learn how to cook in the first place.

Date Night – The exception to the above is if you present Hello Fresh as a way for both of you to learn a new skill. Couples cooking classes are a great bonding experience! This would be an easy, inexpensive and fun date night activity.

Seasoned Cooks Who Want to Try Something New – My husband and I cook all the time, but we enjoyed trying something new.

College Students – This would be a thoughtful gift to a college student who has access to a kitchen and is new to cooking. No one should have to eat ramen 24/7.

One of our favorite Hello Fresh dinners: One-Pot Longhorn Turkey & Black Bean Chili

Hello Fresh: Pros & Cons

PROSCONS
– Several easy to make recipes
– Delicious meals
– Cheaper than dining at a restaurant
– Meals are ready under an hour
– Generous portions
– You can skip weeks
– Hello Fresh gives back to the community
– They have a rewards program		– Only some of the ingredients are organic
– Meal kits do not include salt, pepper, sugar, oil and butter
-More expensive than the grocery store
– $8.99 shipping fee per delivery


Overall

Overall, Hello Fresh is a good value for those who tend to dine out. The meals have generous portions and are cheaper than dining out at a restaurant. This is also a good introduction for those who are new to cooking. Your meals are planned for the week, food is delivered straight to your door and they arrive in pre-portioned packages. This minimizes the stress in cooking and makes the process enjoyable. Even if you are a seasoned cook, this would be an easy and fun way to spice up a week of cooking with pre-planned, tasty recipes.

Want to get cash back on Hello Fresh and other stores? Make sure you check out the articles I wrote on Upromise and Rakuten.

*See program’s website for current offers and terms and conditions.

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Save Money for Your Kid’s College Fund While You Shop

Woman holding shopping bags over her shoulder with text Save Money for College While You Shop.

Save money for your kid’s college fund while you shop by using Upromise! It is completely free and easy to use! In less than one month, I earned $75.21 in rewards towards my child’s college fund. You get $30 free just for signing up (i.e., $5.29 just for sign-up + $25 for linking a 529 plan).*

Upromise schedules payments on a monthly basis. However, your account balance has to meet the minimum threshold to transfer funds. The amount of the minimum threshold varies. Mine happens to be $50.

You do not have to have a 529 College Savings Plan to use Upromise. However, if you do and choose to link it to your Upromise account, you will receive a $25 bonus (which is part of the $30 sign-up bonus).* You get the additional advantage of having funds directly deposited into your child’s 529 college savings plan. This is great because it is just one less transfer you will have to make.

Get cash back on shopping, travel, dining and even on your groceries! Upromise also has special offers where you can earn significant cash back rewards. For example, you can earn up to $200 with Stash.

After you sign-up, all you have to do is visit Upromise and click on the store or the offer you want to take advantage of. Then shop as normal or complete the offer. Simple, right? Just make sure you check their terms and conditions for each store or offer. For example, if you decide to make a purchase through their Walmart link, you will notice they will list certain categories that will be excluded from cash back earnings.

Saving for a college fund has never been easier. You are going to shop anyways so shop smart and get free cash back towards your kid’s college fund! If you find that Upromise does not have a store you wish to purchase from, consider checking other cash back programs to maximize your rewards. Two of my favorite cash back programs are Rakuten and Coupon Cabin, which are also free to sign-up. I have personally saved over $2,500 alone through Rakuten (f/k/a eBates). If you are interested in more information, read my post here.

Essential School Supplies!

*Note: Please check the programs directly for current terms and conditions. My earnings is just an example of what someone can earn on Upromise. Individual results will vary.

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Free Vacation Savings Challenge Printables

Vacation Savings Challenge with piggy bank and money savings challenge printables

Part of planning an amazing vacation involves saving money for it. I know it can be tough saving for something that seems months or maybe even years down the road especially when you are tempted to spend money on things that will give you instant gratification today. But if you think about it, those things do not usually bring you lasting happiness. They get old, worn and used up. So change it up, and spend money on experiences that will create memories that will last a lifetime! The more money you set aside upfront, the more options you will have for lodging, restaurants, activities and shopping.

I created free Vacation Savings Challenge printables to help you reach your money savings goal. These printables will keep you motivated and help you stay on track. Keep reading for tips on how to make this challenge work for you.

Note: Just add the printables to your cart and check out. No credit card information is needed.

How to Make This Vacation Savings Challenge Work

Choose Your Travel Inspiration

Aerial view of Honolua Bay, Maui, Hawaii, USA

You need a compelling visual reminder of what you are saving for. Choose a gorgeous photo of the place you want to travel to. This photo should make you smile every time you look at it. If you do not know exactly where you are going to travel yet, just choose a photo of the type of vacation that you want to take.

I chose a tropical photo for my Vacation Savings Challenge because I love the ocean and beautiful beaches. You can cut out a photo from your favorite travel magazine or print it from the internet.

Place it Where You Can See it Daily

Place this in an area that you will see everyday like your bathroom or kitchen. This is important because it will remind you daily of what you are saving for, and remind you of what your priorities are.

Feeling a little lazy and want to eat out tonight? Nope, not today. I would much rather be relaxing in a hammock on the beach sipping a strawberry daquiri.

Laying in Hammock at Hyatt Maui Resort

Set Realistic Goals

Do not set yourself up for failure. The $3,000 in 6 Months Savings Challenge is not going to be realistic for everyone because we all have different levels of income and obligations. That is why I also created two different templates to help you meet your money savings challenge. The first one, is a 6-month challenge, and the second one is a one-year challenge.

How to Customize 6-Month Challenge

  1. Determine the amount you want to save for.
  2. Then divide that number by 6. This is the amount you need to save each month.
  3. Then divide the monthly amount by 4. This is the amount you will fill in each square.

Example:

Goal = $2,000

$2,000 / 6 = $333.33 (monthly goal)

$333.33 / 4 = $83.33 (per square)

How to Customize 12-Month Challenge

  1. Determine the amount you want to save for.
  2. Then divide that number by 12. This is the amount you need to save each month.
  3. Then divide the monthly amount by 4. This is the amount you will fill in each square.

Example:

Goal = $6,000

$6,000 / 12 = $500 (monthly goal)

$500 / 4 = $125 (per square)

Track Your Progress

Track your progress! Color in each box that you save for. It is important to see your progress. I get excited with each new box I fill in. It is a huge morale booster, and it is so much easier to stay on track. My mind is automatically finding ways to save money to achieve my goal.

Money Saving Tips

If you are struggling with ideas on how to save money, there is a wealth of information out there. There are free resources online, and several books on this subject. So far, The Cheapskate Next Door by Jeff Yeager is my favorite money saving book. It gives several actionable tips to help you save money. A copy may even be in your local library.



The Cheapskate Next Door: The Surprising Secrets of Americans Living Happily Below Their Means



I also share easy money saving tips or money making ideas on this blog. So make you check out those articles and subscribe for updates.

Get Inspired

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Save Money Without Feeling Deprived

How I saved over $2,500 with this 1 easy moved. Dollar bills arranged in a layer in the background.

Saving money might seem impossible without major lifestyle changes or getting a second job, but you can make several small lifestyle changes that can add up to huge savings. This one easy tip, will help you save money without feeling deprived!

In fact, this is one of my favorite tips for people starting their money-saving journey because it does not require any sacrifice at all.

Tip: Read the entire post to find out an additional quick, easy way to get extra cash.

Rakuten

Sign-up for Rakuten for FREE, and get cash back on purchases that you are already making! You might think this is too good to be true, but it is 100% legitimate and I only wished I had signed-up sooner.

I signed up for Rakuten (formerly known as Ebates) back in 2009, and I have saved over $2,500 on purchases I was already going to make anyways!

If you break this down, I was averaging a little over $200/year in Rakuten cash back alone. However, this number does not take in account my other shopping strategies, which I can share in another post if anyone is interested.

How do I get cash back?

Online Purchases

Getting cash back is very simple! You just need to log in to your Rakuten account, and see if the store you are going to make your purchase from is listed on the website. Click on the store and find out how much cash back you can earn. They may even list extra coupon codes or discount codes that are available which will help you save money immediately on your purchases.

They have tons of stores on their website and many of them are stores you likely already shop at. You can even mark your favorite stores so that they show up on the main page.

Rakuten Chrome Browser Extension

If you are worried about remembering this step, you can install the Rakuten chrome browser extension. The Rakuten chrome browser extension will make earning cash back a no-brainer. This extension automatically notifies you if a store or vendor is eligible for cash back when you visit that store’s website. Then it will give you an option to “activate” cash back on your purchase.

Link Your Card for In-Store Purchases

Get cash back when you shop in the store too!

First, link your credit card to your Rakuten account. Then visit Rakuten’s website and look at their “In-Store Cash Back Offers.” Look at the stores available and click on “See Details” to review the terms and conditions. Type in your zip code to find the store’s location near you. If you want to get cash back, click “Link Offer” to link that offer with your credit card. Now, when you shop in that store and use your linked credit card, you can get cash back on those purchases.

As you can see, there are several ways for you to get cash back on your purchases. All of these options are simpler than the traditional rebate system. So if you are not already using Rakuten, start today.

How Do I Get Paid?

If you want your payment in the form of cash, just choose to receive your payment by check or by PayPal. You can choose your preferred payment by going to your account Wallet.

How Often Will I Get Paid?

Rakuten Payment Schedule

Rakuten sends funds quarterly as long as the balance is more than $5.00!*

Refer Friends for an Extra Bonus

Do you want to get some quick extra cash and help out your family and friends?

Currently, Rakuten is offering a $30 bonus for you, and $30 bonus for your friend for new sign-ups. Invite your friends through your own custom link from Rakuten. Your friend has to complete a qualifying purchase within 90 days of signing up for the referral bonus to be qualified, but that should not be difficult if they use the tips in this post.

If you found this post helpful, please sign up through my link so that we can both earn our bonuses too!

If you have a lot of friends and family members this could potentially be a quick and easy way for you to boost up your savings and get some extra cash.

Level Up Your Savings

You might be happy with just saving money on purchases, but why stop there? Why not put your money to work or start an emergency fund?

Stocks

Let me start by saying that I am not a broker, financial advisor or a tax professional. I am just sharing what I have personally done for myself. If this is something that interests you, I encourage you to seek out a qualified professional and do your own research.

I started putting my Rakuten savings into my stock brokerage account and chose stocks that have a good history of paying dividends. Dividends are payments paid regularly (typically quarterly) by a company to its shareholders (a/k/a stockholder) out of its profits or reserves.

If your stocks increase in value, you can also sell those stocks for a profit. Keep in mind that you will pay taxes on your profit, and the amount you pay will depend on how long you have held the stock.

Of course, there is always the risk of losing money. Stocks can lose value or stop paying dividends. That is a risk I am personally willing to take with my Rakuten savings because I consider it “bonus money” anyways.

If the idea of dealing with finances stresses you out, consider reading Tony Robbin’s book Money Master the Game: 7 Simple Steps to Financial Freedom. This book is truly liberating, and gives several practical tips that can help you reach financial independence.

Emergency Fund

If you do not have an emergency fund, I encourage you to start one today.

An emergency fund is money that you have set aside for some unexpected surprises like your car breaking down, medical and dental emergencies, etc. Sometimes people have no choice but to put these expenses on their credit card, but unless they pay off those expenses within a month, the credit card interest can quickly put that person into a terrible financial bind.

When you have an emergency fund, you can avoid being in this situation. It also gives you the added comfort of knowing that you have something to fall back on.

Ideally, you will want to have quick access to your emergency fund. Consider keeping your emergency fund in a savings account. It will earn a very small interest (rates varies by bank), but it is better than letting it sit in your house or your checking account where you may be tempted to spend it.

I hope you found these painless money saving tips helpful. Until next time, Happy Saving!

*Check Rakuten’s website for the current terms and conditions and also the length of the program.