Recently
Make Your Own Sanitizing Wipes
Dear Mary: I would like to find a recipe to make hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes. Do you know of one? — Delores, e-mail
Dear Delores: I have been thinking about the same thing, now that we're learning that products like Purell are …Read more.
7 Simple Ways To Stretch Food Further
Buying groceries on sale and cooking meals at home are excellent ways to keep the cost of food under control, but there are other things we can do. Here, for your enjoyment, are simple ways other "Everyday Cheapskate" readers make food and …Read more.
Why You Can't Afford Credit Card Debt
Last year, the Federal Reserve Board announced new rules for banks that issue credit cards. The rules will remove unfair credit card practices. Months later, Congress passed into law the new Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure …Read more.
For You: A Few of My Favorite Things
Last year, a friend of mine had the best idea. She made gift baskets for her friends filled with her favorite things. Taking a nod from her, I'd like to give you a virtual basket filled with some of my personal favorite things.
—Real Salt. I'm …Read more.
more articles
|
Club Membership Has Its PrivilegesEvery fall, my husband and I sneak away for a vacation in New England. We fly into the same airport, drive the same routes, and stay at the same inns. It's become quite a tradition, a romantic getaway that we look forward to every year. Here's the remarkable thing: We pay for our fall trip almost completely with reward miles and loyalty points that we've earned throughout the year. How do we do that? We collect free points, rewards and miles wherever and whenever we can. Then we hoard them.
If you think we can do this because we are big spenders throughout the year, you're wrong. We're quite frugal. What makes the difference is that we capitalize on and fully exploit every possible opportunity to collect points and miles. You can, too. You just have to know what clubs to join and then remember to use these loyalty programs to their fullest potential. Even if you do not travel often, take the time to join airline clubs. There is no charge, and it takes only a few minutes at each company's Web site. While you're signing up, make note of the basic club rules. Some have limits on how long you can hold miles and points before they expire. These days, most retailers, restaurant chains, fast-food restaurants, supermarkets, drugstores, airlines, hotels and car rental companies offer some kind of program to encourage customer loyalty. As long as it's free to join, do it. Join all the birthday clubs, too. You can go to www.FreeBirthdayTreats.com to find all the retailers in your area that offer free stuff on your birthday. T.G.I. Friday's gives you a free appetizer after you join its E-Club. At Pick Up Stix, you'll get a free Wok Combo just for signing up. Red Lobster has this deal: Purchase two entrees and get a free appetizer or dessert after joining "The Club." Member perks change frequently, so check your favorite restaurant's Web site to learn about its current e-club offerings. One club you need to know about is Priority Club Rewards (www.PriorityClub.com), with which you can earn points toward free stays at InterContinental Hotels Group hotels. PCR also offers points toward everything from air miles to cruises to electronics and thousands of other items and services. The best thing about Priority Club Rewards is that, unlike other clubs and programs, PCR points never expire. Joining these clubs is going to generate a lot of e-mail. Sign up for a free Yahoo or Hotmail e-mail account to use only for your e-club accounts. Then it will be a cinch to manage your e-mail and keep the junk out of your regular inbox. After that, join Points.com, where you can track and manage your reward programs in one convenient location. Mary Hunt is the founder of DebtProofLiving.com and author of 17 books, including "Debt-Proof Living." You can e-mail her at mary@everydaycheapskate.com, or write to Everyday Cheapskate, P.O. Box 2135, Paramount, CA 90723. To find out more about Mary Hunt and read her past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
