dcsimg
DebtHelp.com, One site, one solution
July 30th, 2008

Those Little Rebate Checks Add Up Over Time

Comments

1 Comment »

Adjust text size
smallmediumbig
Article Tools

Print This Post Print This Post

add bookmark

digg this

reddit

save to del.icio.us

The other day I got a rebate check in the mail for a whopping $4.99 for buying the mouthwash and toothpaste that I normally use. While that one rebate may not seem like a lot, I’ve found that over time those little checks do add up. Many people don’t think rebates are worth their time. But it only takes a few minutes to fill out a form, copy receipts, and put them in an envelope. And these days you can save on postage by applying for rebates online.

Not only have I gotten money back for things like Advil, makeup, and detergent, but I’ve also gotten rebates worth hundreds of dollars for big ticket items like kitchen cabinets, appliances, and storm doors.

Keep an eye out for rebates

You wouldn’t know it but most things you buy offer rebates. I’ve gotten rebates that paid for:

  • cell phones
  • gas
  • books
  • and gift cards

I often check the bulletin board or customer service center at drugs stores, supermarkets, and other places I shop to see which products are eligible for rebates. The Sunday circulars of retailers also may list rebates. I’ve visited rebate Web sites to look for deals, but don’t really believe in paying a fee to sign up when I can get the same information for free.

About the Author
Francine L. Huff is a freelance journalist and the author of The 25-Day Money Makeover for Women. She has appeared on a variety of TV and radio shows.

1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (2 votes, average: 5 out of 5)
Loading ... Loading ...
July 23rd, 2008

Four Ways I’ve Cut My Grocery Bill

Comments

2 Comments »

Adjust text size
smallmediumbig
Article Tools

Print This Post Print This Post

add bookmark

digg this

reddit

save to del.icio.us

It’s no secret that food is getting more expensive these days. The average price for a gallon of milk is $3.50 and the price could jump as high as $5 by the end of the summer. And the overall price of groceries in June was 6.4% higher than a year earlier, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Stretch your food budget

Here are four ways I’ve changed my shopping habits to make my family’s food budget stretch further:

  • I stocked up on canned goods at my local grocer’s “can-can” sale, which offers huge discounts on canned goods a couple times a year.
  • I read all the circulars that come in my Sunday paper to decide if it’s worth it to shop at more than one store. While I don’t recommend burning up gas running around to a bunch of stores, there are times when it’s worth it to make a detour to more than one supermarket.
  • I’ve started buying items that are marked down because the expiration date is near. Recently I was able to buy some steaks and chicken at about a 60% discount because the buy-by date was near. There was nothing wrong with the food, but most supermarkets toss out items that have expired.
  • I no longer pass up ugly produce. I picked up a dozen limes last week for 79 cents that weren’t the prettiest, but they sure made a tasty pitcher of limeade.

Sources
Bureau of Labor Statistics

About the Author
Francine L. Huff is a freelance journalist and the author of The 25-Day Money Makeover for Women. She has appeared on a variety of TV and radio shows.

1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (2 votes, average: 5 out of 5)
Loading ... Loading ...
Welcome to the DebtHelp Blog
  • This blog covers a wide variety of debt consolidation and loan topics.

    We rely on a large network of financial experts and leading authors to write the content for the DebtHelp.com Blog.
Recent Posts
Like our Blog?
Get the widget!

Archives
Our Authors

  • Chris Rocks is the Regional Director of the National Credit Federation (NCF). NCF is a nationwide membership-based organization that assists consumers recovering from a financial difficulty and those who need a significant increase in their credit score. Chris began his financial services career as a Financial Advisor helping young families with risk management and asset accumulation strategies. It was during that time that Chris realized that many of these young families also needed someone to guide their choices with regards to debt management. He made the transition into the mortgage industry where he first worked as a loan originator and later the Vice President of a small mortgage company. As Chris came across clients who had suffered through financial challenges and saw the difficulty they had in re-entering our credit driven economy, he discovered there was a real opportunity to leverage his unique background and help others. He can be contacted by visiting his personal site, GoodCreditLiving.com.

  • Francine L. Huff is the Publisher and Editorial Director of Super Savvy Publishing, LLC, which provides editorial and publishing services. She is a gifted author, freelance journalist, and motivational speaker who has entertained and motivated a variety of audiences through workshops, panels and keynote addresses. Francine is the author of The 25-Day Money Makeover for Women, which has inspired and motivated many readers to rein in poor financial habits, become good stewards over their money and work toward a debt-free life. She has appeared on a variety of TV and radio shows. Francine previously worked for the Wall Street Journal, where she was the spot news bureau chief, a news editor and a copy editor. She has interviewed a variety of financial professionals about financial issues and strives to present information about managing money in an easy-to-understand format that is accessible to people of all backgrounds and income levels.

  • Karen Lawson is a freelance writer with more than 15 years of experience working in mortgage banking and loan servicing. She holds BA and MA degrees in English from the University of Nevada, Reno. She enjoys writing informative articles about debt management and personal finance.

Category