BIC Mechanical Pencils 24 Pack $4 from Staples

Staples has a 24 Pack of BIC Mechanical Pencils for $4.

The same product is available for $12.68 at Amazon


Start your purchase from Top Cashback and get up to 5.5% back as well!  

Don't have Top Cashback?  Sign up here for free.   They usually have the best cashback percentages (even better than Ebates) although it take a little longer to get your money.

GoDaddy.com Groupon $30 Credit for $10

GoDaddy.com on Groupon - $30 credit for $10 or a $25 credit for $70


Start your purchase from Top Cashback and get up to 16% back as well!  

Don't have Top Cashback?  Sign up here for free.   They usually have the best cashback percentages (even better than Ebates) although it take a little longer to get your money.

Tips for Booking Flights

Disclaimer - I apologize in advance, this is an unusually long post for me, but there is a lot of good information here so I encourage you to keep reading :)

There are lots of tools out there for booking flights and many can save you time or money, but rarely both.  Here are a few tools I use to try to maximize savings when booking flights and try to avoid the process taking hours and hours - I've done that too ;)

Finding the Best price

No matter where you are flying to or from, there is one tool that is indispensable.  Google's ITA software matrix is the first and last place you should go to check the price of every flight.   The software can extremely fancy and helpful if you want to do advanced options like checking specific airports or airlines.  This post is about easy stuff.  More advanced users can check out this post for advanced codes.

Here is what you can do with the software

Let's say you want to fly from Buffalo to NY on January 14th and return to Buffalo on January 23rd.

Go to the ITA software matrix and put it your travel days and click search

If you aren't sure exact dates, you can change from "search exact dates" to "calendar of lowest fares" and you can search based on the start of your trip and how many days you ar planning to fly (ex 5-7 days).

Once you search, you wil get a menu that looks like this

There are more flights below (ie - Delta and others) that you can't see, but you get the point.

After you get the lowest price you can confirm it by going to jetblue.com or delta.com and every time I have done that, it has been the same price

You cannot buy the tickets through ITA Matrix, you can only check prices.  Now that you have the lowest prices, you know what you should be looking for on other travel websites.  If the flight is more than $128 rountrip, you are overpaying!

Booking the Ticket

The Simple Approach

Now that you know which price you are looking for, you are ready to book your ticket.  The most simple way to is to book the ticket directly from the airline.  This works just fine.  You won't save as much money, but you know you are getting a good price and you save a lot of time.

Even if you are booking directly from Jetblue, you still want to start with Ebates to save $1.50 ($3 if you book one direction at a time), but not such significant savings.

The Oren's Money Saver Approach  (Patent Pending)

What if I told you that you could find the exact same ticket, but get $18 back in return, 14% in savings. Well, you can!  All you need to do is send 4 small payments of $3.99 (+$15.99S&H) for your free informative DVD and I'll let you in on my secrets.  

Ok, obviously I'm just kidding about spending money, but not kidding about saving money (that's no laughing matter). I can't promise you will always save that much, but at least sometimes.  Here's how:

Domestic Travel

To get any extra savings, you will need to sign up for either Top Cashback, Ebates and most likely both.  I do get a referral fee (free for you( when you sign up and use them and I use them both all the time so they are well worth it.

We started with a domestic flight so let's finish that off.  Here is a comparison of prices through different travel search engines and how much cashback they give for using them through either Ebates or Top Cashback.

                         Airline Ticket       Top Cashback         Ebates

Vayama                    $128                     $15                     $9

cheaptickets.com       $149                      $9                      $4

lastminutetravel.com  $128                      4%                     $0

Expedia                     $128                    $2.25                $1.25

Priceline                    $128                     $5                       1%

BookIt                       $128                6% (hotels only?)      $2

Orbitz                        $128                     $4                    $1.80

Almost all of them came up with the best prices, but there a tremendous difference in how much you will get back.  If you booked today on Vayama through Top Cashback, you would get back $15.  Keep in mind that you can book each direction on separate transactions and get $15 for each for a total fo $30, or over 23%, back!   Not too shabby!

International Travel

The same system applies for international travel with one important difference.  International flights are significantly more expensive.  Therefore, percentage cashback is usually more money than how many dollars are given back per flight.

Let's take an examples.

Let's say you want to fly from NYC to Tel Aviv on January 14th and come Back to NYC on January 23rd and you want a maximum of 1 stop.

Go to the ITA Matrix Software and put in your flight details

The results are the following:

I find that changing from "complete trips" to "Time Bars (below the prices on the right side) helps me visualize layovers (gray) and times better.  Below is what that looks like

         

As you can see from the two pictures, if you don't want to fly through Moscow (very far East), your cheapest flights are going to be Via Delta (DL) at $915, Turkish Airlines (TK) at $926 or KLM at $968 (KL).  I then confirmed these prices by going directly to the airlines' websites.

Now, let's see what the same travel websites give us for international booking.

                            Delta      Turkish Airlines    KLM
Vayama                    $915             $926           $2,000+

cheaptickets.com       $936             $950           $990

lastminutetravel.com  $915             $926           None

Expedia                     None            None          $968

Priceline                    $915            $926            None 

BookIt                       None            $926           None

Orbitz                        $915            $926           $968


What you see is that many sites did not cover every airline option.  When an airline was covered, it was usually the quoted price, sometimes more, but never less.

The clear winner for this one itinerary is lastminutetravel.com.  They are the same price and give back 4% back on any booking through Top Cashback.  If each ticket is $915, that is $36.60 you get back for each ticket.

BookIt says they give back 6%, but it seems to me that it is only for hotel reservations.  If it is for flights too, please leave a comment and everyone can save even more money.

Assuming the price is the same, whenever your travel is more than $500 a ticket, it is worth it to do the whole thing on lastminutetravel.com through Top Cashback, when it is less than $500 a ticket, it is better to use Vayama through Ebates.

Summary

1. Start by researching price on Google's ITA Matrix Software
2. Confirm prices on Airline's website (optional)
3. For flights under $500 use Vayama after going to Ebates (Ideally breaking up the trip into two one way trips to get the bonus twice.  For flights over 4500 use lastminutetravel.com through Top Cashback.
4. Enjoy your extra savings

If anyone has anything they think gets you even more money back, please comment.

64GB Verbatim USB 2.0 Flashdrive $24 from Office Max

Disclaimer - The Discover offers are no longer valid.

64GB Verbatime USB 2.0 flashdrive for $24 with free site to store shipping.

Use coupon code FRIEND20 to take 20% off and knock the price down from $30 to $24.

Note - USB 2.0 is significantly slower, but also significantly cheaper than USB 3.0 technology. Here is just one example of the equivalent USB 3.0 flashdrive at $48


This is a great deal.  If you aren't in a rush to buy, you should never spend more than $0.50 per GB of storage when it is 16GB or below.  However, the more GBs the more difficult it will be to find something under that price.  If I didn't just buy a 32 GB flashdrive, I would buy this one for sure.

Start your purchase at from Ebates and get 3% cashback as well.  You will still get your normal cashback from your credit card as well. 

Don't have ebates?  Sign up here for free.  You also get a $10 gift card to Target, Barnes and Noble, Home Depot or Magazines.com after your first $25 purchase 

Use your Discover it™ and you will get 5% back for all your online purchases until the end of the year (max of $75 back), including this one.  A total of 12% back if you use both ebates and Discover More!

The Story of Bluebird, Vanilla Reload, Chase Freedom, Citi Dividend and the Scramble for Free Money

In the never ending cycle of trying to get easy (debatable) ways to get free money, I've already introduced the concept of the Bluebird prepaid card from American Express.  Check out that post here.  The basic idea is that you can buy a prepaid card with a credit card and pay your credit bill with that same money.  It's a little more complicated, but that is the gist.

In general, I do not think that Bluebird has widespread benefits that most people will take advantage of.  As I said in the other post, the best benefit is probably in meeting credit card spending minimums.  I am wary of "perk abuse" and credit cards shutting down my accounts, I just don't think it is worth it for a few bucks a month.

That being said, there is tremendous opportunity for free money starting this January:

Both the Citi Dividend and Chase Freedom card have rotating quarterly 5% categories.  From January until the end of March, drug stores are one of their categories.  Vanilla Reload cards are available at CVS that can be bought with credit cards (don't bother with Walgreens, their computer system automatically blocks credit card purchases for Vanilla reloads).  

Chase Freedom allows you to spend up to $1,500 and still receive 5% back ($75 or 7,500 points).  Citi Dividend, however, allows even more.  You can get a maximum of $300 of cashback a year in 5% categories, which is the same average of $75 a quarter, but you can max out your entire year in one quarter.  

Buying a $500 Vanilla reload incurs a fee of $3.95, about 0.8%.  Buying them at CVS will get you 5% so every $500 will net you 4.2%, or $21.  If you "buy" $1,500 on freedom and $6,000 on Citi Dividend from January until the end of March, you will net a total of $315 without spending anything, $63 on the Chase Freedom and $252 on the Citi Dividend.

You have 3 months to spend the money so even if you don't have these credit cards you have plenty of time.

Sign up for:

1) Bluebird Prepaid card by American Express (if you already have a serve account, you will need to close that first)

2) Citi Dividend - $100 signing bonus for spending $500 in the first 3 months

3) Chase Freedom - $100 signing bonus for spending $500 in the first 3 months 

You can sign up separately for you and your spouse and double your bonus and rewards!

P.S. - good luck finding them in NYC with everyone trying to buy them, thankfully I live in Buffalo and they are always in stock at my local CVS.  

100 Free TrueBlue Points

100 Free TrueBlue Points for liking Jetblue on facebook and the possibility of winning 100,000 points

Bluebird and Vanilla Reload Cards for Bill Pay Means Free Money

American Express has recently come out with a number of prepaid cards in the last year.  There is Serve ($25 of free money until the end of the year), AMEX Prepaid, and by the far the most exciting is Bluebird.

How is Bluebird different?

Bluebird has two differences that work together to separate it from all other prepaid cards.

• Bluebird has a bill pay feature
• You can pay bills that normally require a check with your Bluebird card.  This means that tuition, mortgage, rent, utilities, which all cannot be paid by a credit card can by paid through your bluebird account.

• You can add funds through the Vanilla Reload Card
• The Vanilla Reload card is another prepaid card.  A $500 Vanilla Reload card can be bought for $3.95 (let's call that 1% in fees).  The $500 can then be added to your Bluebird account here.  
• Once you are on the Vanilla Reload site, just add your bluebird account number as the card number and the pin on the back of your vanilla card as the pin.

Therefore, you can buy the Vanilla Card with a credit card, add the money from the Vanilla card onto your Bluebird account and use your Bluebird to pay whatever bills you want, including your original credit card.

Who Cares?

This is a valid question, but there are some major benefits that can be had.  In my opinion, the greatest usage of Bluebird is to meet spending thresholds for credit card bonuses.  Spending $10,000 can be daunting in 3 months, but if you can buy prepaid cards and cash them out, it is a lot easier.  Another usage is that even though you lose 1% in doing this, many credit cards will pay more than 1% in specific categories.  For instance, if you find a reload card at a:

• Grocery Store 
• Use the American Express Blue Preferred and get back 6% for grocery store purchases, even gift cards.  You will effectively get 5% cashback on payments with your bluebird.  If you pay your credit card bill, you will get back $25 without spending anything for buying just one card
• Office supply store (Office Depot)
• Some cards, like the Chase Ink Bold, Ink Plus, Ink Classic or Ink Cash give 5% back at office supply stores for a 4% net gain.
• There has been a major run at the vanilla reload cards at Office Depot for this very reason. They seem to be off the shelves and not coming back anytime soon.  Sorry
• Anywhere
• If you have a Fidelity AMEX, you get 2% cash back everywhere.  This means you can get back 1% after fees and effectively pay anyone or any company with a credit card.  

Here is a great tutorial on how to load money from your Vanilla Reload Card to a Bluebird card.  There are also some great pictures of what everything looks like.

A Word of Caution

Don't be an idiot.  This advice will solve many of life's problems, but it is very specific here.  There is such a thing as "perk abuse" which is using too much of your spending in one type of category.  There is nothing illegal about it, but it certainly does look fishy.  The credit card companies can, and will, shut down your account if they think you are taking advantage.  Don't buy $5,000 a month of Vanilla Prepaid cards at Office Depot on your 5% credit card.  I can't tell you how much is too much, just don't be an idiot.

I have found Vanilla Reload cards at both Walgreen's and CVS, but I have only been able to buy them with a credit card at CVS.

Coming Soon.... Using Vanilla and Bluebird to make $240 on your Citi Dividend and $60 on your Chase Freedom per account

Today's Exploits and New Info

Oren on Vacation is Bad News for Companies I like

• Best Buy Reward Zone gift cards can be used to buy Amazon gift cards!
• Back in November, I talked about getting some free money from American Express and Best Buy ($14 per American Express card).  Along with the free money, you also get a $5 Best Buy Gift Card for every $250 you spend.  The problem is that they expire and I have little interest in much of what Best Buy sells. 
•  I had one last American Express card to use at Best Buy and I already had $20 worth of gift card.  I found out that the Best Buy gift cards will work on Amazon gift cards, even though they don't work on Visa or non expiring Best Buy gift cards.  With my last credit card, I bought $225 worth of Amazon gift cards for $185 for a discount of 17.8%! $20 off from gift cards and $20 off from American Express.  I already got my email from American Express telling me that I will get $20 back.
• Amazon gift cards are disguised as Kindle gift cards in the computer section (at least in my store), but they work on any Amazon purchase

• Exchange your Soda stream carbonator at Bed Bath and Beyond 
• My Soda stream finally ran out of gas (pun intended).  I exchanged the carbonater at Bed Bath and Beyond for $15.  I used a $5 off $15 coupon for a total price of $10.  Not too shabby for 60L worth of carbonation :)
• Of course, I payed the $10 with a gift card I got for returning a bent knife 3 and a half years after I bought it in a different Bed Bath and Beyond (they don't even carry it in my local store) without any receipt.  They have one of best return policies of any store.
• I get $25 Bed Bath and Beyond gift certificates for $20 of Discover Card rewards, which is the equivalent of 25% off so a soda stream refill would normally cost a total of $7.50 instead of the full price fo $15!

• Top CashBack confirmed my $3.75 for "buying" the McAfee Virus protection, free after Rebate.  You know me, I like free money.

Jos. A. Bank Merino Wool Argyle Sweaters $23 Free Shipping

Jos. A. Bank Merino Wool Argyle Sweaters $23 Free Shipping

Update: Dead
Disclaimer - The Discover offers are no longer valid.

Jos. A. Bank Merino Wool Argyle Sweaters $23 with Free Shipping

If you spend $125, use coupon code SAVE25 and you will get another $25 off every $125 you spend.

Start your purchase at from Top CashBack and get 8.0% cashback as well (Ebates is 5%) You will still get your normal cashback from your credit card as well. 

Use your Discover it™ and you will get 5% back for all your online purchases until the end of the year (max of $75 back), including this one.  A total of 13% back if you use both topcashback and Discover More!  That would bring you total down to $20!

McAfee Total Protection 2013 (Windows) Free After Mail In Rebate

Disclaimer - The Discover offers are no longer valid.


McAfee Total Protection 2013 (Windows) Free After Mail In Rebate - Normally $79, now $68 and free after rebate



You can get the rebate here

Start your purchase at from Top CashBack and get 5.5% cashback as well (Ebates is only 2%) You will still get your normal cashback from your credit card as well. 

Use your Discover it™ and you will get 5% back for all your online purchases until the end of the year (max of $75 back), including this one.  A total of 10.5% back if you use both topcashback and Discover More! 

This is the equivalent of getting $7.14 for free and a good product if you use Top Cashback and Staples!

Credit Cards for Your Wallet Quarter 1 2013

Related Links

Best Credit Cards

Credit Card Sign Up Offers

Disclaimer - The Discover offers are no longer valid.

These are the Credit and Debit cards that will be in my wallet from January 2013 through the end of March.  

I will explain soon how best one can take advantage of the categories this quarter with Vanilla Visa Reload Cards and Bluebird Prepaid cards from American Express/Walmart.

Here is a preview - You should be able to get $60 for every Chase Freedom account you have and $240 for every Citi Dividend account you have without spending a penny!  If you don't have a Citi Dividend or Chase Freedom or if you don't have one for your spouse, sign up now.

• American Express Blue Preferred – 6% cash-back at groceries, 3% at gas and 1% everywhere else.  There is a $75 annual fee so it is only for those who spend a lot of money on groceries.
• $150 sign up bonus for spending $1,000 in the first 3 months
• You get 6% on a gift cards you buy at the grocery store as well.

• Chase Freedom – 5% cash-back on airlines, hotels, Best Buy and Kohls and I use it for 1% cash-back backup everywhere else when American Express is not accepted. You get extra cash-back on up to $1,500 of spending in that category ($75 maximum per quarter) so keep that in mind.
• Chase Freedom 2013 5% categories
• $100 sign up bonus for spending $500 in 90 days

• Citi Dividend - 5% cashback at zappos, drugstores and fitness clubs.
• $300 max per year.  This averages the same $75 per quarter as Freedom and Discover, but you can split up each quarter to your benefit
• $100 Sign up bonus for spending $500 within 3 months

• Discover it™ - 5% cash-back on movies and restaurants.  Pretty worthless to me, but others might enjoy.  $75 max per quarter
• 5% cashback for Discover is actually more than 5%
• Discover 2013 5% categories - they haven't fully released them so I'll wait and see

• Bank of America Cash Rewards - 3.3% cash back on gas, 2.2% groceries and 1.1% on everything else with a Bank of America Checking Account (3%, 2% and 1% without their checking account).
• $100 sign up bonus for spending $500 in the first 60 days 

• Fidelity American Express Investment Rewards – 2% cash-back everywhere else.
•  This card is always in my wallet

• Charles Schwab Check Card – Unlimited Free ATMs Withdrawals at every ATM in the world
• This card is always in my wallet

ZipCar $75 Credit for New Members

ZipCar $75 Credit for New Members

ZipCar $75 Credit for New Members

The site says $25 free, but use coupon code 75DEC12ZIP and you will get $75

Free Samples - Baby Talk and American Baby Magazines

Free Samples - Baby Talk and American Baby Magazines

They also have a free sample of citrucel.

Target - $10 Gift Card with $50 Purchase

Target - $10 Gift Card with $50 Purchase

update: alive again, with a new link

Printable coupon - 

Must make the purchase by 12/15/12.  You can print up to 2 coupons, but they must be used for separate transactions.

Hint: Much easier to work with on Windows than Mac

Peapod Groceries Delivery $30 off Your First Purchase

Peapod Groceries Delivery $30 off Your First Purchase

Peapod is service run by Stop & Shop to compete with Fresh Direct.  They deliver fresh groceries to your door.  You must purchase at least $60 worth of groceries

They are currently only in select markets

Right now, you can $30 off your first purchase.

Here's how to do it:

1. Start an account with Top Cashback 
1. More info on Top Cashback here
2. Go to Peapod from Top Cashback
3. Place Your Order (minimum $60)
4. Use coupon code DPLUS20
5. Checkout

Top Cashback will give you $10 back and the coupon code will take off $20 from the purchase price.

You still need to pay for shipping

$10 Walmart Gift Card with Purchase of $100 Walmart Gift Card

$10 Walmart Gift Card with Purchase of $100 Walmart Gift Card


Disclaimer - The Discover offers are no longer valid.

I can confirm that the gift cards can be used in store.  You will need to print out your email.

From the Walmart website:

Give a gift, get a gift! The Walmart eGift Card is the perfect gift... for them and for you! Add at least $100 onto this Walmart eGift Card and receive an additional $10 eGift Card for free.* *Terms and Conditions: Supply is limited; offer good on December 10th, 2012, only while supplies last. Bonus eGift Card will be sent separately to qualifying purchaser's email address within 3-5 days. Limit one bonus eGift Card per customer. Bonus eGift Card offer applies to this item only. Card amount of $100 or more must be loaded to single eGift Card to receive $10 bonus eGift Card. eGift Cards are sent via email, usually within minutes.

I can't promise that it will work, but I have gotten cash back from Staples through Ebates for buying gift cards, even though it says you aren't supposed to get cashback.  Give it a shot.  It will save you another 5%

Start your purchase at from Top CashBack and get 5% cashback as well (Ebates is only 4%) You will still get your normal cashback from your credit card as well. 

Use your Discover it™ and you will get 5% back for all your online purchases until the end of the year (max of $75 back), including this one.  A total of 10% back if you use both ebates and Discover More!

Diamond Accent Double Loop Necklace - $25 from Zale's

Diamond Accent Double Loop Necklace - $25 from Zale's

Disclaimer - The Discover offers are no longer valid.

What better way to excite your loved one than to say "Look at the fake diamond necklace I bought you.  It's normally $120, but I got it for $25 because of Oren's Money Saver.  Even better, I got another 8.5% back because of Ebates and our Discover More Credit Card!"


Seriously though, this actually is a great deal, especially if you live near a Zale's:

$25 for a diamond accent double loop necklace from Zale's.  Normally $119.

Use coupon code ZALESPECIAL

Free shipping to a Zale's store or $8 shipping

Start your purchase at from Ebates and get 3.5% cashback as well.  You will still get your normal cashback from your credit card as well. 

Don't have ebates?  Sign up here for free.  You also get a $10 gift card to Target, Barnes and Noble, Home Depot or Magazines.com after your first $25 purchase 

Use your Discover it™ and you will get 5% back for all your online purchases until the end of the year (max of $75 back), including this one.  A total of 8.5% back if you use both ebates and Discover More!

Philips Sonicare Essence 5600 Rechargeable Toothbrush $33 from Amazon

Philips Sonicare HX5610/30 Essence 5600 Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush, White

$32.97 after $5 (automatic at checkout before committing to pay) and eligible for super free shipping.

Comes with a free traveling case and charger base


This post has nothing to do with me being a dental student :)

LED MiniFlashlight $5 from Amazon

LED MiniFlashlight $5 from Amazon

LED MiniFlashlight from Amazon $5 - Free shipping with no minimums

Kirkland Diapers Free Sample

Kirkland Diapers Free Sample

open to non members as well

Amazon Spend $25 and Save $5

Save $5 when you spend $25 at Amazon after you share the answer to a question on Facebook.


The discount will automatically apply at checkout.  You must buy the item from Amazon (eligible for super free shipping) and must be redeemed by December 9th, 2012

MegaBus 200,000 Free Seats

MegaBus 200,000 Free Seats

Disclaimer - The Discover offers are no longer valid.

Update: 50 cent reservation fee applies once per purchase

If you need to go somewhere, book now and see if you can get one of the 200,000 free seats.

Use promo code TRYMEGABUS

Travel must be from 1/9-2/28

There are still some available.

Start your purchase at from Ebates and get 2.5% cashback as well.  You will still get your normal cashback from your credit card as well. 

Don't have ebates?  Sign up here for free.  You also get a $10 gift card to Target, Barnes and Noble, Home Depot or Magazines.com after your first $25 purchase 

Use your Discover it™ and you will get 5% back for all your online purchases until the end of the year (max of $75 back), including this one.  A total of 7.5% back if you use both ebates and Discover More!

$2 a Frame - Goggles4U 72 Hour Sale

$2 a Frame - Goggles4U 72 Hour Sale

Goggles4U is running a 72 Hours $2 a Frame Sale 

Their virtual try in can be difficult to use.  Try to get a picture that is close up.

- Additional features (ie - anti glare) are extra.

- Designer glasses start at $40

Shipping added $4.95 per pair of glasses when I tried it.

Thanks AH for the tip!

Alternatively, you can get your first pair of glasses free from Coastal.com or you can get your glasses from Zenni

Kosher Kouponz - Free Coupon for Jewish Press and 2 $25 Artscroll Gift Certificates

Kosher Kouponz - Free Coupon for Jewish Press and 2 $25 Artscroll Gift Certificates

Kosher Kouponz is running a nice special for those who have a subscription to the Jewish Press or are looking to start one.

Right now, you can buy a 1 year subscription for yourself for $49 and give someone else a subscription for a year for $25 and The Jewish Press will give you 2 $25 Artscroll Gift Certificates.

One of the subscriptions needs to be for a new customer but you can just tack on a year to your own subscription for the other one.

I get the Jewish Press and was planning on continuing my subscription anyway.

My plan is to buy a year for myself and gives someone a year for free (anyone who is interested, contact me by usual channels) and take my 2 Artscroll Gift Certificates.

In the end I will pay $25 for the $50 of Artscroll Gift Certificates and someone else will get a year of The Jewish Press for free.  I think that is a great deal

Even if you aren't sure yet, the koupon is free - "buy" it now and give yourself the opportunity to take advantage of it before the deadline of December 31st before they run out of koupons.  Thanks for the referral :)

TopCashBack.com - "Better Than Ebates" - A Review

TopCashBack.com - "Better Than Ebates" - A Review

My consistent readers know that I love Ebates and whenever I post a deal, I point out when you save even more money by starting your purchase through Ebates.

I still find it pretty amazing that not everyone uses Ebates.  If you take an extra 30 seconds, and I know I'm asking for a lot, to start your shopping there you can save anywhere from 1-30% off your order (most often in the 2-5% range) from huge companies that people shop at every day online.

So, sign up for Ebates and go there before you start shopping and enjoy your extra money.

I've saved over $100 so far!

Don't have ebates?  Sign up here for free.  You also get a $10 gift card to Target, Barnes and Noble, Home Depot or Magazines.com after your first $25 purchase 

Enter TopCashback.com

TopCashback.com has a very similar business model as Ebates, but with one important difference.  

TopCashback.com almost always gives you a higher percentage back than Ebates.  

Here are just a couple of examples.  

Company                 Ebates               TopCashback

CheapOAir Flights    $2.50                $8.00  

Peapod                      $0                      $10

T.M. Lewin               4.5%                 9%

Walmart                     4%                    5%

It isn't always better, but I will be sure to check both for you and let you know what will be better whenever I post a deal.

In addition, they aren't as comprehensive, but when they have a store they are usually better.   

What's the catch?

There is a catch, but I imagine most people won't care too much.  TopCashback gives over any money they get from the company to you, but they wait until they are paid so that they don't lose out.  It can take a while, ~ a couple of months, before you get your money but you do eventually get it.  

They will send you an email within a week confirming that you will be getting your money eventually and you can track it from their website.

So sign up for Top CashBack as well!

Important:  You end up paying for your order with your regular credit card so you will still get your credit card cashback in addition to anything you get from Ebates or from Top Cashback.

Free Vitamin Water 6 Pack with $10 In Store Purchase at CVS

Free Vitamin Water 6 Pack with $10 In Store Purchase at CVS

Credit Sesame - Free Credit Score and Monitoring

Update2: After under 13 minutes on the phone with Banana Republic I was able to remove the delinquency from my history and it will be taken off from the credit bureaus' report within 24 hours, after that I will call to cancel my citibank account.


Update: The email told me that I was late on one of my accounts, but didn't say which one so I signed up for Citibank Credit Monitoring for a 30 day $1 trial and I will call  1-866-279-9637 before the 30 days are over to cancel so that I only pay $1 instead of the regular $12.95 a month fee.

I found out that I had a bill for $2 on my Banana Republic card that I didn't pay! $2!  I quickly paid it and I will have to call them up to make sure they remove it from my credit history.



If you have multiple credit cards, it can be difficult to keep on top of all of them all.  I try to put all of my cards on automatic payments so that I am never late and I don't have to think about it.

Every once in a while something slips past the goalie.

Today was one of those days.  I got an email that said the following:

We found the following change on your TransUnion credit report on November 29, 2012:

PAYMENTS You have become delinquent on 1 of your accounts. Details

Once you know about this, find out which card it is and call them.  You can almost always avoid any fees and dings on your credit just by asking them to take it off.  As long as you take care of it right away, you'll be fine.


I had no idea that I was late on a credit card so I am really happy I signed up for Credit Sesame.  I wouldn't have known about it otherwise!

Credit Sesame is completely free.  They only make money if you use their partners, which you are under no obligation to sign up for.



You can get also a free yearly credit report (without a credit score) from annualcreditreport.com  They give you a free report every year from each of the three credit agencies so you can get one every quarter as long as you get a different one.