Holiday Shopping - Ebates

With less than four weeks to shop before Christmas, I wanted to encourage you, again, to check out Ebates, a website that awards you cash back for purchases made at hundreds of online retailers.

Begin your online shopping through the Ebates website. Search for your desired store, and Ebates will present you with any available coupon codes for that store, then track any purchases you make using a tracking ID number. You will never give any credit card information to Ebates. Within a few days, a percentage of your purchase amount will be credited to your Ebates account, say 10% back for shopping at Barnes & Noble. Cash back is paid quarterly, in the form of a check or Pay Pal payment.

I have to admit, that I was first skeptical about the concept, but I've quickly become an Ebates believer. I received the promised $10 gift card for making my first $25 purchase (available to all new users), and I've already accumulated almost $8.00 in cash back. So, for making purchases I was going to make anyway, buying gifts for Christmas, I've earned back $18. Not bad.

Interested? Check it out.

Holiday Shopping - Ebates

This is a reminder, that as you're shopping online for holidays, be sure to check out Ebates, which is a site that offers money back for online purchases made at major retailers. For Black Friday, Ebates is offering double cash back at over 500 stores. For example, you can earn 10% back from Barnes and Noble and Kohl's.

As a bonus, you will earn a $10 gift card to a store of your choice after signing up and completing your first $25 purchase.

Holiday Shopping - Ebates Cash Back

When it comes time for holiday gift giving, I love shopping online.

Internet shopping has come a long way in the past ten years or so...a very long way. Nearly every major retailer now offers an online shopping option, and such sites are secure and safe for credit cards. I laugh thinking about a gift Alex and I received the Christmas of our engagement year (2004), purchased online.

Way back in the early 2000s (haha), many shopping sites were not reliable or legit, and I'm pretty sure the wireless speakers we were given were either refurbished or hot, and by hot, I mean stolen goods. We had the speakers for less than a week, when one night, they literally became hot, burning to the touch. They began to crackle and pop. As smoke puffed out of the speaker casing, a green foam began to ooze from every opening on the speaker - battery acid - battery acid foam, leaking all over not just the speaker, but the desk and carpet.

I share this story to suggest that you use a little discernment when shopping online. And look for a store that offers a good return policy (which the speakers did not), perhaps free return shipping.

Now, back to the original intent of this post - EBATES.

If you're like me, you plan to do at least some of your holiday shopping online. If that's the case, why not grow your money in an easy way? Sign up for an Ebates account.

Ebates is a website that offers cash back on your online purchases. Simply log in to your account, search for your desired retailer, and click to visit their website. Ebates will track your purchase using a tracking number. You never enter any credit card information on the Ebates site. Once you have made an online purchase, the retailer confirms it with Ebates, using the tracking number, and your account will be credited with a certain percentage of your purchase amount, say 5% or 8%. Once your account has accumulated at least $5.00 in cash back, you will receive payment from Ebates, your choice of a check or paypal payment.

Now, I made a $25 purchase at Nordstrom.com a week or two ago. I will receive $0.66 back from that purchase. That isn't a lot, but when combined with the online purchases I still plan to make, it will add up. It's certainly more than I received without Ebates. AND, I received a $10 Target gift card for making my first purchase of $25 or more. The gift card has already arrived, so I can tell you that the gift card promo is legitimate.

Some other Ebates perks: The site gives you available coupon codes for each retailer you visit, like codes for a percent off purchase or free shipping. By using Ebates, you won't have to seek these out on your own. Also, during the holiday shopping season, many retailers are offering double cash back (or more) through Ebates. For example, instead of 2%, Old Navy is currently offering 7% cash back. Snapfish is offering 20% instead of 10%.

If you've managed to read through my rambling and story telling, I invite you to check out Ebates, and let me know what you think!

Holiday Shopping - Grouponicus

As you're finishing (or starting) your holiday shopping, be sure to check out Groupon for money saving gift ideas. Though not all areas have started local deals, Groupon is offering daily national deals, which they've named 'Grouponicus,"with significant discounts on items great for holiday giving.

I looked at the site today, and a few deals caught my eye. Right now, you can purchase a $50 American Apparel or Sharper Image voucher for just $25. They are also offering Flip Cameras for $69, regularly priced at $135.

Want a real Christmas tree but don't feel like going to pick one out? Grouponicus is selling real fir Christmas trees, delivered directly to your door for $59, about what you would pay at a tree lot.

Keep checking the site throughout shopping season, as new deals are added daily.

For an added bonus, shop for your Groupon deals through Ebates and earn 3% cash back on every purchase. You'll also receive a $10 gift card from a store of your choice after making your first $25 purchase. My Target gift card from Ebates just arrived in the mail!

Deal for Clinique Users

It's Clinique Bonus Days at Nordstrom. Don't have one near you? Definitely not a problem because this time around, ordering online will actually be to your advantage!

For regular Clinique users, or those looking to try out some high quality makeup, this is a great opportunity. With a $25 Clinique purchase, you will receive a gift valued at $75 (see picture above), which includes two cosmetic cases, lipstick, mascara, eye shadow, eye liner, and more! AND shipping is FREE.

I am nearly out of my foundation, which I've been buying from Clinique for years. It's priced at $23, which put me shy of the $25 needed to earn the gift. I didn't want to purchase another expensive item, so I added two makeup sponges for $2 each, bringing my total to $26.

If you'd like to spend exactly $25, you could buy the Chubby Stick Lip Color Balm or Quickliner for Eyes for $15 and Mascara for $10. Keep in mind, a purchase just shy of $25, like $24.50, WILL NOT qualify for the free gift.

I live just down the street from Nordstrom, so why was online ordering a better idea for me? Well, you can place your order through Ebates, which is a site that offers cash back on online purchases. For those of you familiar with the concept, it's just like Shop at Home. All Nordstrom purchases made through Ebates earn 3% cash back. Following your first $25 purchase, which this purchase would be, you will also earn a $10 gift card to a store of your choice, including Target, Barnes & Noble, and Home Depot.

OR...shop through Shopathome.com and earn 10% cash back, but no bonus gift card.

That means, for $25 + tax, I will receive the makeup I had needed, $75 gift, 3% cash back, and a $10 gift card!