Showing posts with label tips and tricks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tips and tricks. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Tips & Tricks #3: Online Rebates
Online rebate websites are a free and easy way to get cash back for your online purchases. I use Ebates.
Here's how it works: Register for an account, and go to the Ebates website first before making an online purchase. If Ebates is partnered with the site you want to purchase from, follow the link to the store from the Ebates page, and your rebate is automatic once you make the purchase. Cash back rates vary based on the store you buy from - there are hundreds of stores to choose from. They will often have periods of double cash back, too!
You can choose to get your cash back via a check in the mail or through paypal. They send the checks (or credit your paypal account) 4 times a year.
Diapers.com and Babies R Us are both partners with Ebates. I use Diapers.com for almost everything for my daughter, and I get cash back now for every purchase I make there, just by going through the Ebates website first! I just discovered Ebates in October, and I've already accrued $20!
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Tips + Tricks #2: Store Rewards
Another way to get the best deals for you dollars is make us of store rewards programs. Yes, this means you will have a LOT of plastic cards in your wallet, but it's worth it!
Here are some of the must-have reward programs.
CVS: Extra Care (extra bucks). I friggin love extra bucks. These things are like cash to be used on anything in the store. Certain items trigger extra bucks rewards, as well as total purchases over time. For example, for every $50 you spend on beauty products, you get $5 extra bucks. You can sign up for Extra Bucks emails and receive even MORE coupons that can be sent directly to your card. I've gotten several 25% off coupons this way. Most of the time extra bucks will be printed on your receipt so CHECK YOUR RECEIPT and do not throw away extra bucks!! There is also an Extra care coupon machine in each store where you can swipe your EC card and get random coupons.
CVS Extra Care Page
Rite Aid: Wellness Plus (+UP rewards). These are similar to CVS extra bucks, but no online bonuses.
Walgreens: Register Rewards. Walgreens does not have a rewards card, but gives register rewards (similar to extra bucks or +UP rewards) for certain items each week.
Items that trigger Extra Bucks, +UP Rewards or Register Rewards will be listed in the store circulars. CVS and Rite Aid will also have a sign next to the item in the store saying how many extra bucks are generated from that purchase. Walgreens, however, is sneaky and does not put any signs next to the items that generate register rewards. You have to look at their store circular to find this out, and match carefully to make sure you get the exact item they have listed.
Grocery store rewards cards usually don't give you any extra deals other than the best prices for that store, but they are definitely necessary to make sure you are paying the lowest price possible!
Here are some of the must-have reward programs.
CVS: Extra Care (extra bucks). I friggin love extra bucks. These things are like cash to be used on anything in the store. Certain items trigger extra bucks rewards, as well as total purchases over time. For example, for every $50 you spend on beauty products, you get $5 extra bucks. You can sign up for Extra Bucks emails and receive even MORE coupons that can be sent directly to your card. I've gotten several 25% off coupons this way. Most of the time extra bucks will be printed on your receipt so CHECK YOUR RECEIPT and do not throw away extra bucks!! There is also an Extra care coupon machine in each store where you can swipe your EC card and get random coupons.
CVS Extra Care Page
Rite Aid: Wellness Plus (+UP rewards). These are similar to CVS extra bucks, but no online bonuses.
Walgreens: Register Rewards. Walgreens does not have a rewards card, but gives register rewards (similar to extra bucks or +UP rewards) for certain items each week.
Items that trigger Extra Bucks, +UP Rewards or Register Rewards will be listed in the store circulars. CVS and Rite Aid will also have a sign next to the item in the store saying how many extra bucks are generated from that purchase. Walgreens, however, is sneaky and does not put any signs next to the items that generate register rewards. You have to look at their store circular to find this out, and match carefully to make sure you get the exact item they have listed.
Grocery store rewards cards usually don't give you any extra deals other than the best prices for that store, but they are definitely necessary to make sure you are paying the lowest price possible!
Tips + Tricks #1: Coupon Match-Ups 101
The basic idea of "extreme" couponing is matching up coupons with in-store sales to get the best prices possible.
How does one do this?
1. Get coupons.
Where does one find coupons?
2. Research store sales to find the best match-ups with existing coupons
There are tons of blogs out there that make this easy. You can use these blogs to find the best match-up deals (some will even let you print out a shopping list of the best match-ups on their blog), or do the research yourself by looking at the store circulars that come in your mail and in the newspaper.
I usually do both. I look at my usual blogs for the best deals that they've found, and then I also browse the store circulars to see if my local store is offering any additional sales or if there are certain items on sale that I need. If you don't want to look through paper circulars, you can go to your store's website and browse the circulars online.
My favorite coupon match-up blogs:
Southern Cali Saver
Save at Home Mommy
Krazy Koupon Lady
How does one do this?
1. Get coupons.
Where does one find coupons?
- The Sunday Paper (the LA Times has the best coupons - you can subscribe to the Sunday edition or just buy them weekly)The coupon inserts are usually "smartsource" or "red plum", and occasionally there are additional inserts.
- In your mail on Tuesdays.
- In the "free sample" of the SB News-Press left on your driveway once a week.
- ONLINE. There are so many coupons available to print online. I check the following websites weekly:
We Use Coupons Online Database
Coupons.com
Smartsource
Red Plum
2. Research store sales to find the best match-ups with existing coupons
There are tons of blogs out there that make this easy. You can use these blogs to find the best match-up deals (some will even let you print out a shopping list of the best match-ups on their blog), or do the research yourself by looking at the store circulars that come in your mail and in the newspaper.
I usually do both. I look at my usual blogs for the best deals that they've found, and then I also browse the store circulars to see if my local store is offering any additional sales or if there are certain items on sale that I need. If you don't want to look through paper circulars, you can go to your store's website and browse the circulars online.
My favorite coupon match-up blogs:
Southern Cali Saver
Save at Home Mommy
Krazy Koupon Lady
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