Many on here know about eBates, but I thought I'd start a thread detailing exactly how to save 8-20% on most online purchases we make on a regular basis.
1) Sign up for an eBates account. After that, the easiest thing to do is to install the eBates Chrome extension
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/ebates-the-free-cash-back/chhjbpecpncaggjpdakmflnfcopglcmi?hl=en-US and it will notify you if the store you are shopping at has cash back available. The cash back is at least
1% and for some stores can be as high as 10% or more.
2) Sign up for the eBates credit card (no annual fee)
https://www.ebates.com/credit-card.htm You'll get an additional
3% cash back on those purchases made on a site that offers eBates cash back.
So, eBates 1% (at least) + credit card 3% =
4% cash back minimum
3) Raise.com. There are others, but raise.com I've used maybe 30-40 times and have had the best service with them. If there was ever a problem, they took care of it. I get the gift card in about 2 minutes or less. With other sites I've had to wait about a day sometimes. Anywhoos, you buy discounted gift cards at the stores you are already shopping at. Most stores are at least
5% discounted, and sometimes up to 10-20% discounted. As well, Raise.com supports eBates so while you're saving money buying the gift card, you're also getting cash back!
So let's say I'm gonna buy a toy from Toys 'R Us for my kid for his birthday. I first go to
https://www.raise.com/buy-toys-r-us-gift-cards It says I can get a gift card for up to 7% off. I'll also activate my eBates chrome extension for an additional 1% cash back, and use my eBates credit card to buy the gift card (additional 3% cash back).
Then, when I buy the toy on toysrus.com, I'll activate the eBates extension AGAIN, and get another 1% cash back on the purchase, even when I used the gift card. It adds up to this:
Toys 'R Us
raise.com gift card: 7% off
eBates cash back on raise.com: 1%
eBates credit card on raise.com: 3%
eBates cash back on toysrus.com: 1%
Total we're looking at 12% cash back, just from buying intelligently. Works even better if you wait for a sale.