E-Mail Promotional Programs

Now, the programs I will tell you about today are not money savers, they're money makers. So, here I go shaking my money maker :).

I participate in 2 e-mail programs that pay me with cash or gift cards. They are called BonusMail (sometimes called MyPoints) and InBoxDollars.

I have been a member of BonusMail/MyPoints since before I was married. You go to their website, fill out your profile, and are sent e-mail offers related to your interests. Then you receive points for reading the e-mails and additional points for participating in the offers they advertise. You can also make purchases through their website and gain points that way as well (I will say, though, that I believe I get more bang for my buck SHOPPING through UPromise.com than MyPoints.com.). Over the years I have earned thousands of points that I have been able to redeem for hundreds of dollars in gift cards for retailers such as: Starbucks, Target, Sports Authority, and Macaroni Grill. Here is a promotional offer than you can participate in to begin your membership with MyPoints.

The second program I participate in is called InBoxDollars. I started this program (based upon a recommendation from Brandi...thanks!) on October 15, and, as of today, I have earned $8.52. Yes, that's about 6 weeks and only $8.52, but all I have had to do for those dollars is click on links sent to me in an e-mail. Once I "bank" $30 in earnings, I can request a check.

I receive compensation for both programs if you enroll based on a referral from me. So, if you intend to join either program, I would really appreciate it if you would send me an e-mail first so I can refer you.

Competitive? Who, me? YOU BET!!

Did you know that Publix lets you use coupons from competitors? Meaning other local supermarkets. That includes Whole Foods, Albertsons, Winn Dixie, etc. So, if you have an Entertainment Guide, pull out those Whole Foods coupons and start saving.

AND...Did you know that the Publix pharmacy honors coupons from other pharmacies. I recently got a lot of CVS coupons good for a free $25 gift card if you transfer your Rx to CVS. Well, I took that CVS coupon to my Publix and transferred my prescriptions from Target and have made $125 SO FAR! Can you say "Free groceries!!"? Yee Haw!

Ok, one more little thing. Did you know that you can get Upromise donations from McDonald's? And who doesn't indulge in some Mickey D's? It's ok to admit it...just get something out of it besides a burgeoning waistline. Make your kids college fund fat, too. Follow this link for more info: https://lty.s.upromise.com/prepaid-gift-cards.do?partnerName=mcd

Buy your local Sunday paper!

Since there is SO MUCH that can be gleaned from the Sunday paper, today's post will only detail a few key benefits. At another time, I will address other benefits to receiving the Sunday paper.

First of all, call your local paper's subscription office and request home delivery of the Sunday paper only. ASK THEM FOR A PROMOTIONAL DEAL!! The paper that is delivered where I live is usually delivered for $1.50 per Sunday. However, they willingly offer an incentive to get new subscribers and will deliver the Sunday paper to them for just $0.75. If you ask them for the new subscribers deal, they will give it to you. I have asked for it upon renewal EVERY YEAR for more than 8 years and we still are getting our paper delivered at that rate. Another reason to request home delivery is to ensure that you actually get the paper. Who can remember every week to stop while they are out? And who wants to make a special stop just for that?

Once your paper arrives on Sunday morning, immediately go through it and pull out all the coupon flyers. In our paper, we get at least 2 coupon sections...usually more (except for holidays). Go through these page by page, clipping every coupon for products you MAY use before their expiration date.

I also pull out other related sales flyers so that I can know what sales are running at other establishments I frequent (office supply stores, Target, etc.). If our local grocery store doesn't have our preferred soda on sale, Target will, and vice-versa.

Start clipping. I'll give you more reasons to soon.

UPromise? Yes, I do!

Some of you may have heard of UPromise before, or seen signs advertising for it at your local grocery store or drugstore, but I consider it to be the first step in savings for our family. UPromise isn't the easiest program to learn your way around, but it's the BEST kind of budget enhancer because you earn FREE MONEY while purchasing things you would normally be purchasing.

UPromise is a free service. More than 7 million families have joined Upromise to save for college. That's right...save for college. Who couldn't use a little extra help starting a college fund for your children, especially when somebody else is the one making the contributions? There are 8 major ways to generate savings through the UPromise program:

1. Make Upromise.com your online shopping destination (Gap, ebay, REI, Staples, and MANY more)
2. Grocery store and drug store shopping
3. Dining through UPromise
4. Travel (Travelocity, Priceline, Expedia and others participate)
5. Do the real estate thing
6. Get a Citi Upromise Card (credit card by Citi Bank)
7. Purchase services Through Upromise (such as Terminix or ADT)
8. Sign Up Family and Friends

You will receive company contributions in the form of rebates and other cash rewards from the companies with whom you spend. Contributions may be a fixed amount or a percentage of your transaction, depending on the contributing company.

You will be required to register your credit cards and your loyalty progam cards (CVS Extra Care, Publix grocery card, etc.) with UPromise to receive contributions, but it is a secure website.

With gas prices the way they are and our lives as busy as they are, online shopping has become a way of life. Why not start your purchase via the Online Shopping link at UPromise's website and get a little more for your purchase than the items you are buying? Visit UPromise's website at www.UPromise.com today and start saving!

We started saving with UPromise when I was pregnant with our oldest son and, so far, our 2 big kids each have a few THOUSAND dollars in a 529 account!

How I got my start in the exciting world of coupons

When I was very young, we didn't have much money. I remember, from a very early age, watching my mother clip coupons. When I was a teenager, she turned the job of clipping coupons for our family's grocery trip over to me. When I started out on my own in my early 20s, it didn't even enter my mind to not clip the coupons from the Sunday paper. Since my early days of clipping, the world of coupons, and savings in general, has opened up tremendously.

With this blog, I hope to be able to share what I have learned with you so that stretching your finances becomes a part of your life, nearly effortlessly. I have been doing this for years and the ways to save money are never far from my mind. It is something you have to train yourself to be devoted to, but it comes fairly easily if you will take the steps to be considerate of what options are available. Just like any other discipline, you have to train yourself to be successful.

I will do my best to post at least one money saving tip each week. So, check back regularly!