Banana Republic Win Your Salary Sale - 40% off

Banana Republic Win Your Salary Sale - Up to 40% off Labor Day Sale

I was checking my Banana Republic credit card online and I noticed under "rewards and benefits" that you can click something that says "view available rewards."  When I clicked on it I noticed that I had a $10 reward available that I didn't know about and that expired pretty soon.

I decided to go to my local Banana Republic store and see if I could get anything that was close to $10. When I got there, I saw that they were having a "Win Your Salary" sale.  One person over the weekend would have their salary doubled, up to $100,000.  This is nice for the one person who wins, but obviously won't benefit the rest of us.

Inside the store, I was looking for my $10 item when an associate came over and asked if "I had gotten my coupon?" He handed me an unopened coupon.  In it could be the winning ticket for the promo or a coupon for 30 or 40% off that's available for everyone!

I found socks for $10.50 (who normally spends that much on socks? AH, if you do, that's ridiculous).  After the 40% off they came out to $12.60 and with my $10 rewards I didn't pay much more than $2.60.  Not bad.  Of course I used my Banana Republic credit card to get more $10 rewards in the future!



With the receipt I got an invitation to take a survey that will give you 20% off your next item.  The survey is at www.survey4br.com

It was on 8/30/2012.  Transaction 9419 store 07677 sales 9999 reg: 001 and cashier 2332376

Whoever wants it can have it.  Leave a comment or email me when you've used it so that no one does it a second time.

Chase Checking Account - $200 Bonus

Chase Checking Account - $200 Bonus - This is a great bonus if you qualify.  Usually you see it closer to $100

You need to sign up for direct deposit

New customers only (You need to have closed your account at least 90 days ago)


Once you have a chase checking account, you are automatically enrolled in Chase Exclusives.  This means that you will get a 10% bonus on any cashback from your Chase Freedom, plus an extra 10 cents for every transaction from your Chase Freedom.

This checking account is free if you either keep a $1,500 balance, have $5000 in all of your chase accounts (including savings) or have a direct deposit of $500 every month.



As always, take a screen shot of the promotion so that you have proof of it in case it is ever challenged by Chase.

Carters 50% off + 25% off $40

Disclaimer - The Discover offers are no longer valid.


Carters 50% off + 25% off 440

Use coupon code CARBTS12

Sale ends September 4th

Shop through ShopDiscover and use your Discover it™ and you will get another 5% cashback. Remember that Discover cashback can be used to get gift cards at even better rates!


If you don't have a Discover card (If you don't, you should get one) or if you have a credit card that gets better than 2.5% back on everything (or carters), (if that's true, we should talk) otherwise you should ebates for now.

Start your purchase at from Ebates and get up to 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 

30% off Banana Republic

update: dead

30% off Banana Republic today with coupon code BRFASHION

Free Shipping for orders over $50

Use your Banana Republic credit card and you will get an additional 5% back towards a banana republic purchases in the future.

Start your purchase at from Ebates and get up to 4% 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 

Kingsford Charcoal 40 lbs $9.99 at Lowes

Kingsford Charcoal 40 lbs half Price at Lowes - Normally $17.98, now $9.99 45% off

Compare to $20 at Amazon


Start your purchase at from Ebates and get up to 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 Serve Prepaid Card to Consolidate your Prepaid and Gift Cards

Serve prepaid card is currently running a promotion where if you load $25 onto you card, Serve will load another $25 instantly

In addition, serve can be used to consolidate your prepaid cards in your name or your nameless visa gift cards (I assume Mastercard works as well, but not confirmed.  Amex nameless cards do not work)

Here is how to do it:

1. There are many ways to load money onto your serve card, one is through a credit card.  
1. When you are on the main page of your Serve account, you will have to click on "additional ways to fund your account" to choose a credit card.
2. Serve's official rules are that after March 15, 2013, they will charge you 2.9% to load with a credit card.  When I loaded from my prepaid and gift cards, I was able to transfer my whole balance without incurring any fees from Serve or my card companies.
3. There is a limit of loading $100 a day from a credit card so depending on how much you are adding, it may take a few days.
4. This only works if the card is in your name.  Nameless visa gift cards work as well.  Nameless Amex gift card will not work.
5. After you have loaded all the money into your serve account, you will have one card with all of the money on it so you don't have to constantly check your balances on different cards.
6. If you and your wife have gift cards you can send money from one serve account to the other and consolidate even further.

Do not immediately try to take the money out to your checking account or from an ATM.  Many people have gotten their accounts closed and their bonuses taken away.  There is no problem as long as you then spend the money.  The idea is to make it more simple (who wants 20 gift cards that you need to keep track of), don't try to take it further.

You Know that Finance Blogging is Getting to You When....

You Know that Finance Blogging is Getting to You When....

The other day I went in to buy Sunoco Gift Cards to capitalize on the Chase Freedom 5% gas categories.  I said to the cashier, "Can I please have $300 of gift cards?"  As he was ringing it up, he realized that the system would only let him buy $125 at a time, so he said "multiple transactions okay?"  I said yes, but inside my head I thought, "of course multiple transactions are okay, with Chase Exclusives I get an extra 10 points for every transactions, you just gave me 20 cents!"  Really, I got super excited about 20 cents.

You know that finance blogging is getting to you when you get excited about getting an extra 20 cents.

Discover Credit Card Benefits Upgrade

Discover has upgraded the benefits on their credit card.  I got an email today that said:

We're proud to introduce two new complimentary benefits that come with your Discover card.

Your son gave your new smartphone a bath? Adorable! Items bought with your Discover card are automatically covered for up to $500 if damaged or stolen in the first 90 days after purchase.

Flat screen TV died? Warranty expired? No biggie.Buy with Discover card and your existing warranty can be extended for up to a full additional year

The benefits are not quite as good as American Express and Visa, but they are on the right track.

For a full list of benefits visit click here

5% Cashback on Gas All Year Round!

Disclaimer - The Discover offers are no longer valid.

Last month, I stopped in at my local Sunoco station and bought a $25 Sunoco gift card from inside the station with my Chase Freedom card.  I called Chase to see if my purchase qualified for the 5% gas card.  I mentioned that it was right near my house and I often go there so I just wanted to make sure that I will get the bonus.  To my surprise, she said "yes, you will be getting 5% cashback for that."


Chase Freedom allows you to spend up $1,500 on gas and get 5% back ($75 back).  I don't normally spend more than $200 a month on gas.  I can now stock up until September with gift cards and use those during the rest of the year and still get my 5%.

If you spend a lot on gas, you can use your Discover it™ as well and do the same thing.  Your buying power will be doubled.

Normally, you get 5% cashback for purchases at the pump, but not for any purchases inside the convenience store.  Before you buy a lot of gift cards, try it yourself and make sure it will work at any of your local gas stations.  Chances are, it won't work, but you can always come to Buffalo to come buy from my station ;)

If anyone finds any other gas stations where this works, please list them in the comments



You can also sign up for the Penfed Platinum Rewards Credit Card (no annual fee) which gives you 5 points for every dollar you spend at a grocery store and the points can be redeemed for visa gift cards.  They gave me a hard time trying to approved.  They kept wanting more documents.  If you already have the Chase Freedom, just stick with it and give this a shot.

Charles Tyrwhitt - $100 for $50 and $50 for $25

Charles Tyrwhitt - $100 for $50 and $50 for $25

Cannot be combined with any other offer.  Online purchases only.  1 per person.

Target - Great Customer Service

At this point, most companies will do just about anything to keep their good names and customers.

My family uses Target Up and Up Diapers and we couldn't be happier with the diapers (make sure to use your Target RED card to get 5% off and free shipping with no minimums).  They are cheaper than Pampers, just as good and come with free shipping so we never have to go to the store.

The other week, one of the diapers leaked.  It was the first time in a while, but it did leak so I thought I would let Target know.

 I sent an email saying that I am a repeat Target customer and one of the diapers seems to have been defective, is there any way Target could compensate me?  I never told them I wouldn't buy Target anymore because that isn't true, but I did ask for something.

I just got a reply that says:

hello Oren,

I'm sorry that up&up Baby Diapers - Bulk Pack you purchased from Target.com are defective.

We want to make sure that you enjoy your Target.com shopping experience and love the products you buy from us. If you’d like to return the item for a refund if they are unused, visit Target.com and click Return an Item in the Help menu near the bottom of the page to get started.

If you'd rather keep the item as is, respond to this e-mail to let me know and I'll process a 10% of item price credit back to your credit card.

Thanks for getting in touch. Please let me know if there's anything else I can do to help work this out.

The diapers don't cost that much to begin with so I will only be a getting a few dollars back, but it is more than nothing and only took me a minute to write the email.  

Remember, if you don't ask, you won't get anything.

30% off Gap Purchase

30% off your order in Gap

Use coupon code GAPLIST



Start your purchase at from Ebates and get up to 2.0% 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 

$10 CVS Gift Card for $5 from Geico Privileges

$10 CVS Gift Card for $5 from Geico Privileges 

Limit of 1 per person.  You need to sign up for Geico Privileges, but that is a free service.

Wireless Printer - $50 from Best Buy

Wireless Printer - $50 from Best Buy - Normally $99



Start your purchase at from Ebates and get up to 3.6% 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 

Office Depot - $25 off $75 Purchase

Office Depot - $25 off $75 Purchase

Use coupon code 683550516


Start your purchase at from Ebates and get 2.0% 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 

Free 10X30 Portrait at Sears - No Session Fee

Free 10X30 Portrait at Sears - No Session Fee

Printable coupon  - Expires August 31st

ESPN Magazine - Free for One Year

ESPN Magazine - Free for One Year

You need to answer a short survey.  They never ask for a credit card so you can't possibly be billed.

The magazine should come in 8-10 weeks.

Twitter and American Express - Small Business in Provincetown, MA $20 Credit for a $20 Purchase

Update 2: Tomorrow is the last day! I just bought parsho.  It is basically racko with parshas.  You have to put the parshas in the right order.  With shipping, it will cost $6.  I got an email immediately that I will get a $20 credit! (compare to Eichler's for $14.99 before shipping)

You can have multiple American Express cards synced to twitter if you make multiple accounts. You can use the same email for gmail, but just add a period somewhere (anywhere, it will go to your regular email).  Keep track of which twitter account has which card synced!

Update: I made a purchase at www.puzzlemethis.com and within 10 seconds I got the following email from American Express.  The $20 includes shipping so look for something in the $13-$15 range to spend the least amount of money

Congratulations! By using your synced American Express^® Card ending in xxxxx, you saved $20.00 on your purchase at PUZZLE ME THIS. Expect a statement credit in 3-5 days.

Sync your American Express Card to Twitter and tweet #AmexPtown 

Spend $20 in a store in Provincetown, MA  (zip code must be 02657) and get a $20 credit.

Terms and Conditions

In the past, there have been ways to get the great even on online purchases, but I haven't confirmed anything yet.  Please comment any confirmed purchases for the $20 credit.

64 GB USB for $25 from Tiger Direct

Centon DataStick Pro 64GB USB Flash Drive for $24.99 - Normally $40 from tigerdirect.com


Start your purchase at from Ebates and get 2% 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 so this deal will really work out well for you

ebates 2.5%

Starbucks Card and Visa - Reload $25 and get $10 Free

Thank you MW - This may be a targeted email.  Offer has not been confirmed to work without an email yet so stay tuned.


Get $10 when auto-reloading your Starbucks Card on your phone with a Visa card. 

That's right: Set your Starbucks Card to auto-reload, on your Visa®(R) card and Starbucks app, for at least $25, and we'll give you an extra $10 once you've reloaded. 

This offer ends August 24, 2012. 

*To be eligible for the $10 offer, you must (i) be a new Auto-reload customer, (ii) sign up for Auto-reload using a valid Visa Card on your Starbucks mobile application by 11:59 p.m. PST on August 24, 2012 and (iii) complete at least one Auto-reload transaction for a minimum of $25 by 11:59 p.m. PST on September 24, 2012. Bonus load will be applied to the reloaded Starbucks Card within 10 business days of your first completed Auto-reload transaction. Only one $10 bonus load per Visa account allowed. Limited time offer. If you go to Starbucks regularly, you should a starbucks card and register it. Here are the benefits: - Free drink on your Birthday after your first purchase After 5 purchases in a year (no minimum per purchase) - Green Status - Get syrup or soy milk substitute - great if you're flaishig or cholov yisrael) free - Free Refills while you are in the store - great if you're shidduch dating ;) After 30 purchases in a year - Gold Status - A free drink after 15 purchases - Your name is on the card -

Staples - Starbucks Gift Cards 12.8% Discount

Update:  I received my gift cards and $7.96 back from ebates!

$150 Gift cards for $130.80


Staples is now offering $15 off a purchase of $150 until August 18th

Use coupon code 99618 - can only be used once.

- Put in any gift cards from staples that equal $150, for example 3 Starbucks gift cards and the final cost will be $135.  After 4% back from Ebates, the total becomes $130.80, which is a return of 12.8%.  If you use your American Express Fidelity Card, you will get another 2% for a 14.8% return.

 - Put in 2 $100 Visa gift cards and the total will come out to $198.90 (extra fee with Visa) after the $15 coupon.

If you start your purchase at ebates, you will get another 4% cash back which is $7.95 so your final total is $190.94 or a 4% return on your money.  If you use your American Express Fidelity Card, you can get another 2% off, so you will get a 6% return.




Your savings will only show up after you hit "begin secure checkout" even though you have already entered the coupon code so don't be afraid that it won't work.

You can use your American Express Prepaid Card and you will get a 4%, or 12.8% return while exchanging your current prepaid card for a Visa or Starbucks gift cards.

$5 Babies R Us In Store Coupon

$5 off a $5 purchase at Babies R Us In Store Coupon

Just go to BabiesRUs.com and there will be a link there.

Expires 8/16

Fandango - Buy 1 Get 1 Free Visa Signature

On Fridays, get 2 for 1 movie tickets when you use your Visa Signature card

The deal is around for Today and a week from Today.

5000 Sheets of Staples Paper for $6.95 (Normally $41.99)!

5000 Sheets (20 lbs) of Staples Paper for $2.13!

Here is how to do it:

1. Staples is offering a free case of paper if you spend $100 or more
2. Put a $100 visa gift card into your cart (costs $106.95)
3. Put a case of paper in your cart
4. Got to your shopping cart and click on add/edit coupons
5. use coupon code 65788 and your total should go down to $106.95 with free shipping and you also have a $100 gift card

- Limit of 1 per customer

I used my AMEX prepaid card to pay for it so I essentially was trading an AMEX prepaid for a Visa Prepaid

Start your purchase at from Ebates and get 4.5% 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 so this deal will really work out well for you

BIC Pens 1 Cent for a Package (Limit 2)

Update: Dead!

BIC Pens for 1 Cent (Limit 2) - Shipping is free.

If you have a Chase Freedom card with chase exclusives, you get 10 cents for every purchase, so you actually are making money!

Buy it before they run out.

It says you need to spend $15, but you get the price without spending $15!

Start your purchase at from Ebates and get 1.0% 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 

Chase United Visa Mileage Plus Credit Card

Edit: The Chase United Visa Mileage Plus Credit Card rules say that you will two get two free passes  a year to the United Club at the airport starting in the second year (after you have paid the annual fee). I received my two free passes this past week and it has been less than a year so I can cancel my card without paying the annual fee and still get my Club passes (they expire at the end of next year).

I can't promise that this will be true for everyone, but this was my experience

Chase Visa Unite Airlines Mileage Plus Credit Card

I normally am not a fan of cards that have an annual fee but this is a card that has signup bonus that is  hard to beat.

The card is the Chase Visa United Airlines Mileage Plus Credit Card

Keep in mind that I have just applied for this card so I haven't used the benefits and I can't verify it from personal experience.  As with everything else, please read the terms and conditions carefully from their website.

Advantages -


1) $1,500 of Gift Cards at Restaurant.com -You get 30,000 miles just for signing up, making one purchase and adding an authorized user within two months of signing up.  If you can't add an authorized user you can still get 25,000 miles for signing up and making one purchase.  You can redeem 2,000 points for 4 separate $25 gift cards at restaurant.com for a total of $100.  30,000/2,000 = 15.  This means that you can redeem 2,000 points 15 times for a total of $1,500 at restaurant.com!  For those who eat kosher they do have a few kosher restaurants in Manhattan, like Wolf and Lamb.

2) Annual Fee ($95) is waived the first year - I sent Chase an email regarding how long you have to keep the card open and they said that if you keep it open for 6 months they won't take your points away for closing the account.  This means that you can cancel the account between 6 months and the end of the first year without incurring any penalties.

Downsides


1) There is an annual fee after the first year that is pretty expensive ($95) so make sure to cancel the card after 6 months (set up a reminder on your calender for 7 months after you officially have the card).

Best Buy and American Express - $20 off a $200 Purchase

Best Buy, American Express and Twitter - $20 off a $200 Purchase

Update - Alive again but with tweet #AmexBestBuyOffer.  I have done this a few times and every time I add the money to my serve account.  I haven't spent much money outside of prepaid cards in a little while.  
Twitter allows pseduonyms so feel free to start multiple twitter accounts and sync one Amex card per account to get $14 for ever Amex card you have! 

In addition, this will work with your synced American Express on Facebook.  I don't know what happens when the same card is synced for both deals, but I assume you won't get the credit twice.
Edit: Dead - maximum number of people have signed up

Spend $200 at Best Buy with an American Express card and get a $20 credit!  This can mean more free money!  If you want more free money ;) make sure you get your $25 serve promotion.

Here's how to do it:

1. Sync your American Express card with your twitter account (no need to do it twice).
2. Tweet #AmexBestBuy20
3. Wait for your confirmation tweet from American Express that you will be getting the credit
4. Spend $200 at Best Buy (In store or online) and you will immediately get an email from American Express confirming the credit

-   Gift cards count for this!  I bought two $200 Best Buy Visa gift cards (I have two twitter accounts).  Each has a $6 activation fee and I got my confirmation email.  I ended up spending $186 for $200 for each of the visa gift cards for a return of 7% on each card or $14 for free on each card.  Did I mention that I love free money ;)

-   Alternatively, you can buy Amazon gift cards at cost if you use Amazon a lot for a return of 10% on each card.

Join Best Buy Rewards and get a $5 gift card for every $250 you spend at Best Buy (2% back). This purchase will qualify and get you $200 closer to your next rewards card!

Expires 9/16

If you actually want something from the store and you are buying online, start your purchase from Ebates and get up to 3.6% cashback as well.  You will still get your normal cashback from your credit card as well.   Ebates says it won't work on gift cards, but try it, sometimes it works anyway.  If someone tries it, please leave a comment on whether it worked.

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 

JFK to Tel Aviv - $336.80 Roundtrip including Taxes

Edit: Deal seems to be done :(

Edit:  go here to figure out good dates
http://www.fly.com/FlyWidgets/LowFareCalendar.aspx?Origin=NYC&Destination=TLV&StartDate=11/01/2012&EndDate=02/28/2013&amt=337&cur=USD 



http://www.dansdeals.com/archives/23210

Book it as soon as possible because this will be gone soon!

If you can't get it to work through Expedia, try it through priceline.com or kayak.com - both were still working at last look.

I know that 11/5 - 11/18 works through priceline.com - if you go to Kayak and you put in your destination and your start date, a chart should pop up giving your prices for different dates.  Good luck everyone!

Credit Cards for Your Wallet Q3 2012

Disclaimer - The Discover offers are no longer valid.

Related Links

Best Credit Cards

Credit Card Sign Up Offers

Credit Cards for Groceries 

Credit Cards For Gas 

Extra Credit Cards 

Sign up for Discover and Chase Freedom 5% Categories

These are the Credit and Debit cards that should be in your wallet from July until September.  

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

Discover it™ - 5% cash-back on gas, theme parks and movie theaters.
   - 5% cashback is actually more than 5%

Chase Freedom – 5% cash-back on gas and movie theaters and 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.

    -$100 sign up bonus for spending $500 in 90 days
    - Save even more with Chase Exclusives (You need a Chase Checking Account)
         - 10% bonus on all cashback and get 10 cents for every purchase, even if the              purchase is one penny

Fidelity American Express Investment Rewards – 2% cash-back everywhere else.

   - This card is always in my wallet - although it has now been replaced by AMEX prepaid cards until I use them up.

Charles Schwab Check Card – Free ATMs at every ATM in the world

   - This card is always in my wallet