Rebates, Rewards and Debt Reduction
I want to outline the ways I earn a little cash online. The current methods I employ require very little of my time, but also the rewards are not super high. I guess if I put more effort in, I could do better, but I will have to evaluate that when time permits.
In the past, I just took the cash or rewards and spent the money. Now that I am fully committed to getting out of credit card debt, I have decided to put all the incentives that I earn towards digging out of that debt.
Rebates:
I have been an Ebates member for 6 years now. In that time I have earned a little under $200. This averages out to about $33 per year. The problem with here is that I find that the best prices I get are at Amazon and there is not cash back from them.
I just start using them earlier this year, so don’t have much returns yet. I have earned $19 so far, including a signup bonus. I usually compare rebates between Ebates and FatWallet before making a purchase and find that they are pretty close in cash back offers.
Rewards
Currently this is the only rewards program that I use. I have been a member for about four years and have earned a little north of 10,000 point. This has translated to$75 in gift cards. Basically, you earn points there by reading emails and clicking on links. Points are also earned through shopping via their portal, surveys and referrals as well as off and on contests. I have only used the portal for shopping once and it was a very good deal as compared to the Ebates and FatWallet, but again, you have to compare all three to find the best deal.
Lately, I have reevaluated my MyPoints usage and decided to be more proactive. I have been checking my email several times a day and racked up as many points as I can get. Because of this, I have noticed that I have been getting many more offers, meaning more points. I have calculated that I can get over 7500 points in a year from the emails alone, which equates to at least $50 in gift cards.
There are other programs out there that I am looking into, but for now and with my time available, there are the ones I am sticking with. If you know of any other goods ones, I would be happy to hear about them. Also, with Ebates and FatWallet, all the payouts are sent directs to my PayPal account, which is now linked with the money market fund. As the funds grow, I will apply the dollars to my credit card bills. As for the MyPoints gift cards, I will be using the points to purchase gifts for others, it will be good for holiday time next year.
Filed under: Making Money
I use MyPoints too and I love it. I get the Walmart gift cards since that is my favorite place to shop.
I also get Red Lobster gift cards so my Honey and I can have a nice dinner there for special occasions.
I get all my points from the emails but i think I will be doing a few offers soon so I can get some more points.
I use MyPoints too. I actually responded to an offer in one of the emails, the Columbia House DVD club one. Two DVDs for $9.95 as a sign up bonus, plus 1000 points. I got Heroes (S1) and The Office (S1), two TV box sets I’ve wanted so much, and had planned on buying once I got the money. Heroes in the store is near $50, and I haven’t seen The Office (S1) in stores since its well into the 4th season on TV. I would have been super happy with Heroes for $9.95, but I also got The Office!
MyPoints rock.