Found Money
Simple ways to save and make money doing what you already do:
We all make purchases online, it's fast and convenient. Shopping online also makes it very easy to save and get cash back for purchases you were already going to make! It's like finding money and takes minutes or less. Here are some of my favorite "found money" tips for online purchases:
1. Rebate sites like www.Ebates.com are a must! Ebates is a site that will give you cash back in the form of checks or paypal payments when you shop through or refer people to their site.
Get started now:
Step 1: Go onto www.ebates.com and sign up for an account.
Step 2: Search for the retailer that you want to make a purchase from. Ebates will list the retailer and cash back deal offered. You can also add the Ebates button to your internet browser and it will prompt you to shop through Ebates when a participating retailers site is visited. I recommend this as its a great reminder and you won't have to go to the Ebates site each time. As long as the Ebates button is checked, you are set to go!
Step 3: Click on the link to be transferred to the retailers site and make your purchase. Remember: You must go through the Ebates site in order to receive the cash back!
Step 4: Ebates will verify your purchases with the retailer and keeping a running tab of all the money you are owed. Every quarter they pay out the amount owed in a check sent right to your doorstep. Wait for your "big fat check" to arrive in the mail!
2. Coupon sites like Retailmenot.com can save you money on online purchases. They collect online retailer coupon codes for you to apply to your orders. Retailmenot will even display the percentage of people that the coupon has worked for.
This is how it works:
Step 1: Shop as you would normally and add things to your cart. Do not check out.
Step 2: On a different browser tab or window do a google search for "the retailers name + coupon codes + the year". For example: If I was shopping at Macy's online today I would type in "Macy's.com coupon codes 2016". You will get a few different options for coupon sites and feel free to try them all but I seem to have the most success with Retailmenot.com.
Step 3: Go back to your cart at the online retailer and apply as many coupons as you possibly can. Sometimes they will let you apply 2 or 3 so go crazy!
Step 4: When you are satisfied with your discounts and giddy from all the money you've just saved, check out as you would normally!
3. To get the biggest bang for your buck:
Go to the retailer through Ebates.com, get a coupon from Retailmenot.com, and purchase the items on a cash back credit card! Not only will you save money but two different companies will be paying you to buy things you were going to buy anyway!
4. Ebates.com also rewards you in cash for referrals. You can have Ebates send your friends an email or share a referral code on social media. You get paid after the person you referred makes their first purchase through Ebates. Sometimes they have specials where they will give you up to $25 per person, usually for the first two people you refer. Help a friend get cash back and make some money of your own, what could be better!
Spread the wealth and stay tuned for more tips.
Next up: How to choose the bank accounts and credit cards that are perfect for you.
