Saving your hard-earned money with rebates

See a great deal online….maybe you can do better.  Many websites offer cash back, points (to be used for merchandise or gift cards), or frequent flier miles for online shopping.  You can get as much as 10% or even 20% back in some cases, and this is sometimes in addition to any special deals, free shipping, or other online coupon codes you may find.  The savings can add up (and when you get that rebate check, put it into your Grow Your Green savings account!)

Note that some of these websites require you to use a certain credit card to make purchases.  Most require that you shop through links you receive in email or through links on one of the rebate website itself.  A few allow rebates or points on registered credit cards (sometimes even for shopping in a store).  Some require that you allow certain cookies through the web browsers.   In some cases, you cannot use other coupons and still get the rebates/points/miles, so make sure that you really are getting the best deal (sometimes a coupon will save a lot more….maybe try both, you might get lucky and get the rebate even though the rebate site says that using a coupon is not allowed)

Be sure to follow the rules of each website, keep track of rebates/points until they credit to your account, and if you don’t get a credit you think you deserve, contact the rebate site to complain (I’ve usually gotten credited going this route)

One site which lists other sites that offer points, frequent flyer miles, and/or rebates is www.evreward.com.  Just enter the website you want to shop, and evreward.com will show you many of the shopping websites that offer cash back, frequent flyer miles, and points.

Some of my favorite sites for points/cash back/miles are:

• www.evreward.com – type in name of site you want to shop, presents many of the rebates available, along with some coupon codes
• www.discovercard.com/shopdiscover – 5% – 20% cash back for using Discover Card
• www.upromise.com – shopping rewards for college savings plans, or can request a check
• www.mypoints.com – accumulate points from shopping/reading email to redeem for gift cards
• www.escrip.com – donations towards local schools for shopping/dining
• www.chase.com/rewardsplus – bonus rewards for online shopping
• www.thankyou.com – associated with Citicards; points towards gift cards and merchandise
• www.bing.com/cashback – Microsoft’s cash back program for shopping
• www.aa.com/aadvantageshopping – American Airlines frequent flyer miles for shopping (all of the other major airlines and some hotel chain sites have equivalent shopping portals)

Just remember, spending to save money sometimes means you are just spending too much, so be sure to spend only on things you truly need, and keep to your budget!