I could teach you how to be an extreme couponer. I've had a lot of experience, including the time I demonstrated how to do it on location at a large supermarket, live on TV.
It's a great way to save money, but it's a lot of work and mostly limited to grocery and drug stores.
Imagine a world where you have a big stack of coupons for all the other places you spend money — like Target, Amazon, Kohl's, Groupon, Old Navy, even LifeLock.
You do, and it's called Ebates.
WHAT IT IS
As a member of Ebates, an online rebate site, instead of presenting a coupon, you have a digital account that earns you cash. Think of it as the grocery store clerk handing you that 25 cents when you bought the can of soup with a 25-cent coupon and you put that quarter straight into an online savings account.
With Ebates, you earn those small cash-back amounts by using the online shopping portal. It is so easy. You don't have to search and clip. You don't pay any fees. You don't have to mail in forms or keep track of points to get your money.
SIGN UP
First, you sign up at Ebates.com with an email address or by logging into Facebook or Google. Two seconds later you're a member.
It's free, so no one will ask for a credit card number. You don't give your Social Security number or any other personal information either.
Next you can choose your sign-up bonus.
Last, you need to add a mailing address to your account so Ebates knows where to send your big fat check — love that! Or you can opt to get your cash sent to your Paypal account. Personally, I'm old-school and I love to get a check in the mail. I like cash.
HOW IT WORKS
Instead of going directly to Amazon or Old Navy or the store where you want to shop, go to Ebates and type the name of that store in the search bar. Or just click on a shopping category. Hit the "shop now" button and you'll be at that site in a flash. When you check out, a percentage of your purchase will go to your Ebates account — the percentage that retailer is offering that day.
As I write, Macy's is 3 percent cash back; Sephora is 8 percent and — hold on to your hat — LifeLock is offering 40 percent cash back (not a typo — 40 percent). That means, by way of example, if you spend $50 at Macy's, $1.50 will be funneled into your Ebates account. You don't have to do a thing.
WHERE'S MY MONEY?
You can watch your account grow because you can see your current balance right there on the Ebates site. That's kinda fun!
Once each quarter, in February, May, August, and November, Ebates sends you the entire balance with no fees deducted. (Did I say that already?) Coolest thing ever.
WHAT'S THE CATCH?
It doesn't take a genius to wonder how Ebates makes its money. Lots of people (OK, I was one) assume it's a big fat scam to get our personal information and do harm. We're wary of stuff like that because we've been warned for so many years to maintain our personal privacy, right? Trust me, I steered clear of Ebates for many years for that very reason. Dumb.
You can relax. I've done my due diligence, and I am fully convinced that Ebates is legit. Ebates is huge and has a great reputation. Retailers spend much of their advertising dollars with Ebates.
SHOULD YOU?
I can't be certain that Ebates is right for you. I can assure you it is not a scam. Just be careful. It's so much fun to earn a commission you could find yourself buying things just because you'll get that cash-back rebate. Don't do that. Buy only what you would buy normally.
SIGN UP NOW
You can go ahead and sign up now. There's a quick link for you at (EverydayCheapskate.com/ebates).
Mary invites questions, comments and tips at [email protected], or c/o Everyday Cheapskate, 12340 Seal Beach Blvd., Suite B-416, Seal Beach, CA 90740. This column will answer questions of general interest, but letters cannot be answered individually. Mary Hunt is the founder of www.DebtProofLiving.com, a personal finance member website and the author of "Debt-Proof Living," released in 2014. To find out more about Mary and read her past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.
View Comments