10 Life Hacks Every Cash App User Should Know
Along with Venmo , Cash App is among the most popular peer-to-peer payment platforms, though it does much more than just transfer money. You can use Cash App for things like automated investing, filing taxes, and managing family bills. If you use the app, here are 10 tips for optimizing your finances.
Turn on the Round Up feature to automatically save or invest your change.
If you have a Cash App card , you can set up rounding of transactions to the nearest dollar and add the difference to your savings or invest it in stocks or Bitcoin. In exchange for a few cents, you can gradually accumulate savings and investments. If your overall balance is too low, Cash App will also stop rounding. In the Money tab, tap your Cash App card and enable rounding . Select Stocks, Bitcoin, or your savings balance, select the destination, add your Cash App PIN, and follow the instructions.
Deposit cash directly into Cash App at select stores.
If you’ve got cash literally burning a hole in your pocket, you can deposit it into your Cash App balance instead of a bank account. Cash App accepts cash deposits at dozens of participating retailers , including grocery and convenience stores, as well as CVS and Walgreens. Please note that there’s a $1 fee for each deposit unless you qualify for the Cash App Green program (the platform’s banking program).
Add an offer to get discounts on your purchases.
Cash App Card users can add offers (formerly known as “Boosts”) to their card to save money on frequent purchases at select retailers, such as coffee shops and restaurants. Once an offer is added to the card, you receive a discount at the point of sale (though there may be restrictions, such as a minimum purchase amount or maximum discount). You can activate up to three offers at a time and change them at any time. Go to the “Money” tab in the app, select your card, and tap “Explore Offers” to see what’s available.
Enable security lock to require confirmation of every transaction.
To prevent unauthorized access to your device from opening Cash App or transferring money from your account, enable Security Lock. This feature requires biometric authentication (such as facial recognition or fingerprint) or a PIN every time you open the app or make a payment. Tap your profile icon and select Security > Security Lock . Select “Open Cash App” or “Send Payments” (or both) and create your 4-digit code. You can also save your biometric data if your device supports it.
Hide your profile to prevent scammers from discovering your account or demanding money.
In Cash App, you need to provide your full first and last name to create an account, and by default, your profile name appears in search results. However, you can disable this feature to prevent anyone from finding you—whether it’s a friend you don’t want to show your profile to or scammers trying to trick you into sending them money. Go to your profile, tap “Privacy” > “How Others Find You,” and disable “Profile Name.”
Enable real-time alerts to quickly identify suspicious activity.
Cash App has an instant alerts feature that sends you push notifications, SMS messages, or emails whenever your account sends, requests, or receives money. If a transaction is suspicious—for example, someone has gained unauthorized access—you’ll be notified immediately. Cash App also sends alerts when it detects unusual activity. You can update your notification settings by going to your profile > Notifications.
Create a general fund to pay for common expenses.
Cash App’s Pools feature lets you pool funds for shared purchases, such as a vacation or a group gift. Anyone added to the pool can contribute toward the target amount. Instead of one person paying out of pocket and waiting for reimbursement, groups can raise money in advance and use it to fund the purchase once the target amount is reached. In the Money tab, tap Pool , enter a name, and set the target amount. You can invite participants, and if they don’t have Cash App, they can still participate via Apple Pay or Google Pay.
Create family accounts to teach children about money management.
With a managed account (available for children ages 6 to 12), parents can contribute pocket money that children can spend through Cash App, with controls such as card locks, spending limits, and transaction alerts. Children can also set savings goals and earn interest on their balance. Accounts for teens (ages 13–17) include access to the Cash App card and investment tools, although the “sponsor” parent can still manage permissions and view account activity. Parents can create managed accounts for children via the “Money” > “Family” section in the app, and teens can request permission from a parent or guardian to unlock the sponsored account.
Use your Cash App card to access pre-sale concert tickets.
If you’ve bought concert tickets in recent years, you’ve likely encountered long lines, high prices, and a lot of stress. Cash App can’t make tickets cheaper, but you may have the opportunity to get into popular shows through partner presale programs. Upcoming presales are announced on Instagram—to get into a concert, top up your Cash App balance, use the first nine digits of your Cash App card as a presale code on the ticketing website, and pay with your Cash App card. However, it’s worth noting that only a limited number of tickets are reserved for Cash App users, so this doesn’t guarantee success.
Use Cash App to file your taxes for free.
There are only a few options for free tax filing , and Cash App is one of them. Formerly known as Credit Karma Tax, Cash App Taxes is an authorized IRS e-filing provider, allowing you to complete and submit federal and state tax returns for free. The filing process, with step-by-step instructions, is integrated into the main Cash App interface, so you don’t need a separate app or account. You can also file your return through your browser . Cash App Taxes can also handle more complex tax situations, such as income from freelancing and cryptocurrency sales.