Updates on two previous posts-Lip Ink and EvReward

Updates:

On a previous post FREE: Semi Permanent Lip Color-Lip Ink!! I posted about a free sample of a lip color that boasts a guarantee that it will not smear off. I have now received my free sample. Four separate times I used the sample color Rosewood as directed. The first time I used three coats which I personally found to be too dark so the following three times I used only two coats which was still almost too dark for my liking. The color did not smear off but came off a little bit with my lip skin which had dried out by the end of the day. I was very disappointed because it sounded like a great product and I was hoping it wouldn’t dry my lips out. It is similar in staying power to the Almay brand I use now so I will stay with Almay since e it is cheaper. I will finish my sample of Lip Ink since it was free (or semi-free since I traded in a old lipstick for the sample). Hope this helps for anyone who is considering buying it.

Also, on a previous post UPDATE: Cash Back/Reward Points!! I posted about a new program called EvReward that searches for the best rate on cash back or reward points for purchases and the site also listed coupons. I told you I would update to let you know if it really worked and it did. If you refer to my post I told you how much my purchase was, the coupon I used and how much the site said I would get back using Ebates. I was semi-skeptical about whether I would actually get my 4% cash back since I was not going directly through Ebates but I did-$1.92, approximately two days after my initial purchase. So, I encourage everyone to use EvReward to get the best possible amount of cash back or reward points for a purchase you will make online-and to save money for coupons they also list.

Don't forget to sign up for free at http://www.agloco.com/r/BBBS4943 (refer to post A New-Internet Craze?...or Just Hype in January)

UPDATE: Cash Back/Reward Points!!

Happy and Blessed Easter-Jesus is ALIVE!

First off, I apologize for my delay in posting. For the past two weeks I have been working late on a big project at the firm I work at-9, 10, 11pm or even 2am (that was last night or should I say this morning). Today I took off to go to the opening day baseball game for the Texas Rangers-it was so fun but quite cold at 52 degrees F-at least for a born and raised Floridian like me =). Now to business and pleasure.

Here is an update to my post Ebates/Upromise, etc...Comparing Reward Programs! Check this out-this new site offers a great system that does all the reward/cash back site comparisons for you. Just to sum up-on my previous post I listed a website and a well-drawn out chart that listed the top sites that offered the top percentage in cash back/rewards. I also briefly mentioned the differences for 4 top programs.

So now for the great and oh so helpful time and money saving website (drum roll please...): www.evreward.com!! First you type in the store you want to shop from. Then it brings up a screen listing four categories and the programs in which you can get money back or earn reward points. Not only does it show the programs with the top rewards, it also displays (at the top, above the percentages) current coupon codes or deals such as $10 off when you spend $150 at Target.

Yesterday I went online to purchase a wedding gift for a friend of mine and here are the details:

Item(s) Subtotal: $47.89
Shipping: $5.58
Promotion Applied: $4.79
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Total Before Tax: $48.68
Sales Tax: $2.59
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Total for This Shipment: $51.27


The promotion was the 10% coupon code provided on evreward, so I saved a little less than the cost of shipping and got 4% cash back using their link to Ebates. It may take awhile to show up in my Ebates account but I look forward to when it does so I know that evreward is legitimate (I will post my update in red on this post so check back in a month or so). I chose Ebates because I already use them for other purchases and I don't like my rewards/cash back to be in a bunch of different programs-that just means more for me to keep track of. That is my personal preference but that could change.

Below is a list of the categories and the programs evreward show comparisons for (these are the programs that came up for Target):

CASH BACK REBATES:
-Big Crumbs
-Bounty Zoo (you have to pay a fee so I wouldn’t recommend it)
-Cashbaq
-Citi Dividend
-Coupon Cactus
-Ebates
-Fat Wallet
-Mr. Rebates

FREQUENT FLYER MILES & HOTEL REWARDS
-AirMiles Mart
-Alaska Airlines
-Aloha Airlines
-American Airlines
-Amtrak
-Continental
-Delta SkyMiles
-Hawaiian Airlines
-Priority Club
-Marriott Rewards
-Midwest Airlines
-Northwest
-Goldpoints
-United Airlines
-US Airways

POINTS PROGRAMS
-AMEX Rewards
-Citi ThankYou
-ClubMom
-MyPoints

COLLEGE AND OTHER SAVINGS
-BabyMint
-NestEggz
-Stockback
-Upromise

Here's to saving money while shopping online!!

Happy and Blessed Easter-Jesus is ALIVE!


Don't forget to sign up for free at http://www.agloco.com/r/BBBS4943 (refer to post A New-Internet Craze?...or Just Hype in January)

EXTRA cash back with UPromise

So Upromise is having EXTRA savings for all of March. Go on and sign up and shop through their website. Here is just a sample of the types of increase in cash back:

Target- 4%, Now 5% through 3/31/07
Overstock.com - 3%, Now 5% through 3/31/07
Brookstone - 4%, Now 8% through 3/31/07
Dell - 2%, Now 3% through 3/31/07
1-800-FLOWERS.COM - 10%, now 12% through 3/31/07

For more info on rebate programs and information on UPromise, please refer to my previous blog here.


Don't forget to sign up for free at http://www.agloco.com/r/BBBS4943 (refer to post A New-Internet Craze?...or Just Hype in January)

Ebates/Upromise, etc...Comparing Reward Programs

Through the years I have heard of numerous reward programs from UPromise and Ebates (coupons offered on their site in addition to cash back) to Jellyfish (the cool thing is it is a search engine so you can compare a product’s price from different stores and then get your cash back on top of that lower price and the referral system allows you to earn cash back when your friend purchases) and MyPoints. Currently I am only using UPromise (you can cash out with them as well but only up to 4 times a year and you have to send a letter and it is a little more trouble than Ebates). I was beginning to wonder which ones were the best so I began to do research, however, I have been saved numerous hours of reading and comparing online by finding this chart that compares reward programs. It even shows the percentage of cash back (or points) for the store you shop from. You need to note that this is from October 31, 2006 so the information will be somewhat different. The analysis is also discussed here. I encourage you to compare when you are about to purchase something online. I would compare the top three on her chart for the store you are shopping through and then look at the site online and compare for the most recent listed cash/points back percentage. It looks like Ebates, FatWallet , and Jellyfish are the top ones! If you have questions you can personally write to Becky Ford (writes for the Chicago Tribune) at comparerewards@yahoo.com.

Not sure you want to trust one person’s comparison, then check out www.probargainhunter.com.

Here is a cool program too: www.mytroops.com. It is like all the other reward programs but you can sponsor a person in the military and they are the ones that receive the rewards like gift certificates to online toy stores or flower shops. There is also an ongoing blog www.mytroops.com/blog/. Or for moms (and dads too) there is ClubMom in which you can earn points as well and share stories and pictures and advice with other moms-a whole network!

Since reading this, it looks like I am going to most of my shoppinng through Ebates (plus the fact that you get $5 bonus for signing up and I do too!) or Jellyfish but I will compare before hand. However, UPromise is good for shopping in person at stores. It is so easy to redeem cash back at certain restaurants, traveling (like booking a flight or cruise or rental car), grocery and drug stores. It is great because I don’t even have to think about it to get money. The reason is because on their site I register my credit and debit cards along with those grocery savings cards you get to put on your keychain. So when you use those cards at participating stores (which are a lot by the way!) then a certain percentage gets put back in your account. The list goes on for the things you can get money back on-moving services (Atlas and Allied Van Lines), mortgage (CitiMortgage), gas stations (Exxon, Mobile), food (McDonalds, Schlotzsky’s Deli), etc.
Good luck and have fun saving money while you shop!

Don't forget to sign up for free at http://www.agloco.com/r/BBBS4943 (refer to post A New-Internet Craze?...or Just Hype in January)