Oct. 5, 2015
Taylor Garcia
[email protected]
A college kid’s favorite word is the f-word: “free.” This word is especially loved when used with another f-word: “food.”
Now, there is an app that gets you both “free” and “food” and is clearly made for college students.
Called Pocket Points, the free app is available on the app store and is also available for Android users. The app encourages time off your phone, as users gain “points” for time they are not on their phone while on campus.
The points you earn can then be redeemed at local or online businesses for deals or discounts.
If you haven’t heard from other students about this app, I’m here to help you start earning points for free food.
When you open the app, there is an empty present with a clock counting down below the present. At the top of your phone, a banner will pop up saying “Lock Phone.”
You don’t have to lock your phone for the present to start to slowly fill up with the time counting down, but it is easier to pay attention. Plus, it is frustrating to watch how long it takes for the present to fill up.
On average it takes about 20 to 30 minutes for the present to fill up and get a point. Certain days, like Two Point Tuesday, you can get two points within that time. On Tuesdays, the countdown clock starts at nine minutes instead of the normal 20 or 30 minutes.
An important feature of the app is that the more people in your class using it, the more points everyone gets.
You automatically start with 15 points.
On the rewards page there is a “Near By” banner that you can scroll through to see the different businesses close by.
Local businesses include Domino’s, Max Muscle Sports Nutrition, Keva Juice, Il Vicino, Pita Pit, Dunkin Donuts, Puff the Magic Smoke Shop, Tan Your Hide, The Cupcake Doctor, Wild Wings ‘N Things, Shotz Lazer Tag and Old Chicago.
There is also an online section of rewards that you can select from. The online rewards focus mainly on clothing discounts.
Some of the most popular rewards are the buy-one-get-one-free from Keva Juice (25 points), BOGO large pizza from Domino’s (30 points), free medium two topping pizza from Domino’s (35 points), BOGO donuts from Dunkin Donuts (20 points), BOGO on any drink from Dunkin Donuts (10 points), BOGO 30 percent off anything in-store from Max Muscle Sports Nutrition (10 points) and a free pita from Pita Pit (35 points).
When you decide to redeem a reward, all you have to do is click on the specific reward and the screen will ask you if you want to purchase now. You hit purchase, show it to the cashier and they will redeem it.
That’s all it takes.