LET'S RECAP
So we've talked about in the other Journey Blogs: Organizing, familiarizing, utilizing, and Manufacturers. If you haven't already checked out my other blogs definitely do so or else you might miss out on something you didn't know!
Now, let's talk about FREE MONEY outside of Couponing!
FREE MONEY!.... OH YEAH, IT'S OUT THERE!!!!
So how can you turn nothing into something? Easy.
I'm currently awaiting $60 of FREE giftcards to come and line my pockets: ($25 AMC Theaters, $25 Applebees, and a $10 Target giftcard). They were sent by first class mail at NO COST TO ME. How did this happen??? Bank Rewards. THAT'S RIGHT. A lot of banks have a reward program... get 1 point for this... 2 for that... for using your card/credit etc. It ADDS up. PNC and WACHOVIA (Wells Fargo) definitely have these programs. So check with your bank about rewards programs. You can normally sign your card up online with your bank. By the time you check you have a good amount of points to get free money back JUST for using your card with them!!!!
STORE CARD REWARDS!
Some stores like CVS have a rewards program called Extra Care Bucks. Once you have a CVS card (which is FREE of course) you can rack up a certain amount of spending (and of course with coupons you will hit these marks at little cost to you) to get Extra Care Bucks which is just like free money towards their products. You normally see the Extra Care Bucks in their ads (circulars) – buy an item get a certain amount back in ECB (Extra Care Bucks or Register Rewards). We will talk more about this when we dive into the Stores Journey Blog!
JUST FOR STUDENTS – FREE MONEY!
I was lucky enough to find this out BEFORE graduating college, and was able to part take in this GREAT GREAT offer from Lexis Nexis in Fall 2010. As many of you students know Lexis Nexis is a database of educational articles, journals, etc privy to students at colleges. It's FREE for you during the school year due to your tuition fees covering it and many colleges use it SO MAKE THE MOST OF IT! I got $25 worth of giftcards JUST for answering a question every once in a while. HOW? It's called Lexis Nexis Academic Quiz. Personally I think it's an AMAZING treat for students! You use Lexis Nexis normally for your papers and assignments why not get treated?
So here's the deal with Lexis Nexis Academic Quiz:
I think it's every Fall semester that the quiz runs and you have to be a student during that time. You sign up once logged into their database (if at a school computer or using school wifi, you should be able to just click Lexis Nexis and access the database without restriction). Create a username and password and START! A question is asked every once in a while - typically every week, sometimes more in a week than one time so check back often! Each question has a point value attached to it: 50 pts, 100 pts, 250 pts. Questions range from the Stock Market to the leading phone of 2003. You are given about 4 answers and you have to select the correct one, if you get it right you get the points if not... you get ZIP. How do you find answers? SEARCH Lexis Nexis! You can also search the internet! Lexis Nexis Quiz is a way to get you to think outside of the box to find answers to tricky questions. It gives you the knowledge on how to search smartly! After about 6 weeks or so the quiz ends, your points are always available for you to view and you can get a prize anytime you want to “cash out” your points. If you are like me I wanted to get as many points as possible. This was hard due that I would forget to check the quiz for new questions, that's college life! It's called being busy and loaded with school work! Haha But for the times I did remember I racked up 1300 points, with that I got a $20 Target and $5 Starbucks card.
Here's the list of Fall 2010 Giftcard Prizes for points:
It took me about 4 months to receive the cards after the quiz was over but I DID receive them and have them ready to use :)
Here's the link to Lexis Nexis Academic & Library Quiz:
Again: think outside of the box other than coupons to get free things... even MONEY!
MORE FREE MONEY IDEAS!:
* Rewards1.com
* SnapDollars.com
* Swagbucks.com (my personal favorite)
These are all sites that just by taking a survey, click on a link from a email, play a game or even search the internet you can rack up points to get giftcards and items FOR FREE! Definitely check them out they are well worth it. There are other sites out there as well, I'm just naming a few! Search around! Make sure you have or make an email account that you wouldn't mind a lot of email/Spam from (due to surveys, and cash emails, etc).Over time your points add up fast and you can get free giftcards and items just for a little bit of your time!
Right now I'm able to get a $50 giftcard to restaurants just for downloading the Swagbucks toolbar and searching the net! You can also get Swagbucks for buying already great deals, doing surveys, and trading in books, cell phones, etc!!!
Sign up and get 30 Swagbucks to get you started!
MONEY SAVING SITES!
These sites are free but they've got some mind blowing deals you should keep an eye out for! AND 9 times out of 10 if you buy from these sites through swagbucks you will even get points toward swagbucks store items and giftcards! DOUBLE SAVINGS!
Definitely check them out!
COMPANIES YOU WORK FOR MIGHT HAVE A REWARDS PROGRAM TOO!!!!!
My mother works for an great company called Bayada Nurses which specialize in home care. [Insert free advertisement here! Hahaha] But seriously, it is a good company with a rewards program called Bayada Bucks. For things you do well, you get Bayada Bucks as a reward! My mom just cashed in her Bayada Bucks, and she's bringing home some company swagger like an AMAZINGLY big umbrella that will shield you from the rain on ANY given day (hehehe), she got a folding comb with a mirror, two image keychains, and our two prize possessions: a Coach wristlet and a Dooney & Burke wristlet!
Another place that I know rewards their employees from time to time with a Free meal entree or $6 off their next purchase is Wegmans. Typically, these rewards are given for showing amazing service to their customers or even when they want to show appreciation to their employees.
Check with your job!
HERE'S MY GIFTCARD AND FREE REWARD ITEM LOOT!
So to sum up all the “free giftcards and items” my mother and I received outside of couponing goes a little something like this:
$20 giftcard to Target (an earlier gift given to me and my mother)
$20 giftcard to Target (Lexis Nexis Academic Quiz)
$10 giftcard to Target (Bank Rewards)
TOTAL = $50 to Target!
$30 giftcard to Applebees (an earlier Bank reward we saved)
$25 giftcard to Applebees (latest Bank Rewards)
TOTAL = $55 to Applebees!
$25 giftcard to AMC Theaters (Bank Rewards)
TOTAL = $25 to AMC Theaters
$5 giftcard to Starbucks (Lexis Nexis Academic Quiz)
TOTAL = $5 to Starbucks
2x $25 redemption to Restaurant.com (Swagbucks.com)
TOTAL = $50 to local restaurants of my choosing from a very large list!
*******Grand total of FREE MONEY $185 – YEAH WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!! NOT to mention the company swagger AND! AND! AND: the Coach wristlet and Dooney & Burke wristlet!
Talk about being blessed! Like I said, my mother and I have always lived day by day and made the most of what we had. With this economy I can't say we are 100% clear of worry and struggle, BUT we are in pretty great standing with a lot of things compared to our past! Thanks to smart shopping, couponing, and a bunch of great souls who helped mom and me during difficult times. So to have all of this now is by far shocking, amazing, and exciting! So all I can wish to do now is PASS IT ON! One way I thought I could do this is blog for all of you to help YOUR lives get better with what I'm learning, and the second way is to stockpile items (get a good amount of items by couponing) and giving them to friends, families, and shelters!
Smart saving of giftcards and buying items, planning, couponing, and sites that give rewards, etc have gotten us to a pretty nice rewards in free money and items!!! Who ever said “nothing in this life is free” or “money doesn't grow on trees”? There are PLENTY of things for free! AND money doesn't grow on trees but it sure comes in plastic! Plastic giftcards that is! AND THEY ARE FREE!
Again, ANYONE can do this. Think outside the box! REWARDS are everywhere from Airline rewards, to hotel rewards, train rewards, membership rewards, and the list goes on! LOOK at the things you frequently use and know of, you could have had rewards all along and not used them! You have to give a little time to make some extra moolah! SO WHY NOT?????
FREE THINGS! FREE SAMPLES!
Remember when I said there's plenty of places to find coupons outside of newspapers? Here's another! Requesting a free sample will almost ALWAYS (9.8 times out of 10 if not 10/10) come with COUPONS of that product you got a sample of! Not only can you TRY the product free at no cost to you, you can get MORE coupons to score little to no out of pocket deals on the item or even get the item free later by couponing! Isn't life grand?
Definitely search around for sites you like best!
To get $35 worth of savings in coupons from one of my FAVORITE brand makers: P&G please go here! (It's FREE!):
FREE SAMPLES, GIFTCARDS, COUPONS = FREE TO MAIL TOO!
PLEASE remember samples are free and so are coupons, which means that it will be mailed to you at NO COST. Do not spend money for a sample/coupon to be sent (unless you are purchasing an item and the sample/coupon happens to come with it)! Otherwise out of pocket money exchanging should not happen!
MEMBERSHIP DISCOUNTS
You know that AAA card you have for towing your car? How many of you honestly knew that's a discount card? I will admit I at first didn't realize it! I thought it was for traveling discounts alone! I found out though it was much much more than that through my mother's co-worker Betsy Gardner. I can get 10% off Payless Shoes whenever I buy there. Not much of a discount right? WRONG. That adds up! Remember every little bit counts! For instance if Payless has a 75% off sale that 75% turns into 85% off with my discount! See? Think outside the box!
Other savings with AAA include but are NOT limited to:
Playdrome Bowling & Entertainment Center
Buy 2 games of bowling, Get 3rd FREE. Valid anytime at Cherry Hill Location.
Smucker's Stars on Ice
AAA members receive 25% discount on all seats except on-ice seating at all venues.
And it's all LOCAL things according to where you are a member at, so you don't have to worry about being an AAA member and not having something close by!
AAA is not the only membership with benefits, for our "wise through time" adults there's AARP, and of course many other memberships that offer discounts! CHECK around!
GOODWILL, YES I'M A PROUD SHOPPER THERE! THERE'S NO SHAME IN THAT!
If you are a student and have a student ID you can usually get discounts too! One of my absolute favorite vices include the Goodwill! The place offers really great items for low prices and you can find gems there too!!!! Don't believe me? I bought a BRAND NEW COACH purse... AUTHENTIC, with leather tag and leather label inside for...... a whopping..... $3.99! THAT'S right, you can find amazing deals! Not to mention students with ID get 10% off your entire purchase so my purse was actually $3.60! I also found a AUTHENTIC NEW Italian Ripani Purse with all of the correct markings (the Ripani print inside and tag, on the outside of the SOFT LEATHER, the name is imprinted) (I'm a purse feen so I can usually spot fakes a mile away hahaha). From research on my bag... my bag's price store retail and online retail sells for OVER $200. My price at Goodwill? $1.99 ($1.60 with my discount). Yes... a DOLLAR and 60 cents for a 200 + dollar bag. I also got a HomeGood Harlequin Ballroom type mask that was meant for decoration for $4.50 at Goodwill. It still had a retail sticker, and was in pristine condition - the price of retail read: $50.Just like couponing when I tell people I'm a Goodwill fanatic I get weird looks a good amount of times, and I just SMILE. Alot of items at the Goodwill aren't even USED, some still have tags and others you couldn't even tell they were used! MANY of you have seen me sporting Goodwill items and have NEVER noticed, and never will. You can never tell! Just to name a few: I've gotten brand name clothes such as Rocawear, Tripp, and BabyPhat ALL for less than you'd think: LESS than $5 a piece at Goodwill. IMAGINE. Besides bags and clothes, I'm a fanatic of books especially cooking books and paranormal books most of which I've paid at MOST a dollar for each! So it's a great place to find good reads without paying retail! And don't get me started on houseware items that are still NEW in boxes! Being a baker at home I found some AMAZING baking kits brand new with spatulas, cooling trays, yolk separators and the list goes ON AND ON! So remember THRIFT STORES are your friends! If you are a senior or student don't forget that extra 10% off your purchase any time. Military also has discounts of course! And seniors I believe your discount is %15!
The Goodwill also has 50% off sales! Each day there are two different color tags that are 50% off for the day so ANY and ALL items with that tag color are 50% off ALREADY AMAZING prices! Never-the-less tack on an extra 10% discount for students, etc. It's a REAL BARGAIN!
TAKE YOUR TIME TOO! There are real gems to be found at these stores but you need TIME to find them AND you need to have somewhat of an idea of what are AMAZING bargains are! At a Goodwill it's not uncommon to find deals upon deals, but sometimes it IS cheaper at a retail store. SO use your past experiences to guide you on these "sales"!
By shopping at the Goodwill you are ALSO helping others benefit through your purchases by helping people with disabilities or disadvantages go to work!!!! From the Goodwill site directly:
Who does Goodwill help?
Goodwill serves those with barriers to employment. This includes individuals with disabilities, people with limited work history, those who have experienced corporate downsizing and recipients of government support programs. Goodwill’s services are designed to meet the training and placement needs of the individual.
So what a great way to save and help!!!!!!!!! Here goes my mantra again!
AND in the summer don't forget Yard Sales! Again one of my FAVORITE past times!!! There's TONS of great items people are selling, brand new or even slightly used! Always keep an open mind!
UPDATE ON MANUFACTURERS I CONTACTED!
I recently emailed a few company's about certain products and will say: a bunch of “high money-saving” coupons are coming my way according to the customer service reps for my compliments, AND I will be getting a replacement coupon for an item that I was disappointed in. :) One=Power. Go get em!
AMETHYST SUEDED COMFORTER BARGAIN!!!!!!
So if you are like me: love being warm especially with something fluffy or soft like fleece or suede, and/or you just LOVE a bargain - here's a GREAT deal you might like! I just bought one! :) Amethyst Sueded Comforter for only $3.84! (It measures 50 X 60)
Originally the retail price is: $39.99!!!!!
Enter the below PROMO code to get your $3.15 discount off of the $6.99 asking price, bringing it down to $3.84!
Just enter this PROMO code at checkout!: RDSUNDAY45 (Unknown Expiration!)
So act fast to get your 50x60 suede amethyst comforter for $3.84 free shipping!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Happy shopping!!!!
http://www.onestopplus.com/product.aspx?Pfid=199411&DeptId=17636&ProductTypeId=1&PurchaseType=G
ONLY $3.84 - FREE shipping!
Originally the retail price is: $39.99!!!!!
Enter the below PROMO code to get your $3.15 discount off of the $6.99 asking price, bringing it down to $3.84!
Just enter this PROMO code at checkout!: RDSUNDAY45 (Unknown Expiration!)
So act fast to get your 50x60 suede amethyst comforter for $3.84 free shipping!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Happy shopping!!!!
http://www.onestopplus.com/product.aspx?Pfid=199411&DeptId=17636&ProductTypeId=1&PurchaseType=G
SO... UNTIL NEXT TIME...
Now, with all you've gathered from this Journey Blog go and be free! No seriously, go get free things! I hope you can line your pockets with some extra rewards you never had to start off with. I'd love to hear how you guys are doing with this so feel free to leave any comments or questions here, if you have any - I'd gladly respond! Soon I will be touching base with Stores and how to go about dealing with them when it comes to coupons and what not! Definitely don't forget to check back in.
So with that, I will leave you with what I have personally gathered from everything so far:
The amazing thing about being wise with money and couponing is the idea behind them both!
With couponing the idea behind it is: how can I get things for LITTLE to NO cost?
And with giftcards/rewards the idea is: how can I turn NOTHING into SOMETHING?
Always think on ways to make more money/profit off of what you have. For instance restaurant.com: you can get a $25 giftcard for ONLY $10! Some even have $100 giftcards but you only pay $40! That's a STEAL!
Always think on ways to make more money/profit off of what you have. For instance restaurant.com: you can get a $25 giftcard for ONLY $10! Some even have $100 giftcards but you only pay $40! That's a STEAL!
Both couponing, and giftcards (rewards) go hand in hand with saving, free items, and MONEY in your pocket! MOSTLY money you didn't have to begin with! It's a win/win situation for you.USE them both!
CLIP IT, USE IT, LOVE IT... GOOD LUCK! <3
CLIP IT, USE IT, LOVE IT... GOOD LUCK! <3
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