Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Easy Ways To Save WITHOUT CLIPPING COUPONS

If you haven't heard of these ways to save when shopping, here are four of my favorites (these can be used with paper coupons and even with each other for the same item(s):

1st is Snap-


With snap, you download their app and when you purchase an item listed, you check the box by the pic, their app has you take a pic of your receipt, then the savings are added to your account and when you reach $20, they send you a check. You can also receive $1 per each referral.

2nd is Checkout 51-

https://www.checkout51.com/

Similar to Snap, when you purchase a product from their offers list, check the box, take a pic from their app of your receipt and when you reach $20, a check can be requested and mailed to you.

3rd is the WalMart Savings Catcher app.

https://savingscatcher.walmart.com/dashboard

Much like WalMarts admatch, this way to save by Downloading their app. or entering the receipt number online. After purchasing anything with a brandname at Walmart, Enter your your receipt number online or scan the barcode, the difference will automatically be added to your account on a WalMart egift card. It will not match up percent off sales, or store brands. The Holiday Season is a perfect time to start.

4th is ibotta-

https://ibotta.com/register?friend=yghkvgk

It’s a bit more involved, but the stores and offers are diverse. Even Sprouts, 7Eleven, and a couple of dollar stores are choices. Wherever you are going to shop, tap on that store and see what offers are there. You go to the offers page and start looking around for products you will buy.

First you must scroll through the offers four at a time to find what you want. Once you find something you are interested in, tap it to open it in it’s own window. Then, you complete the various actions to unlock your rewards.


After you have unlocked the rewards (coupon) you want, you go shopping at a participating store to buy the items. You can buy the items on sale, with coupons and even receive other instant savings and on your next shopping order offers and still submit for the IBOTTA reward and it won’t reduce what you earn.

After you have completed your purchase at the store, you go into the app. Select “Redeem” from the menu in the upper left, choose your store and go through the process. You snap a picture of your receipt and select the items you are redeeming and scan the barcode. If you purchased the correct item, it will tell you the offer matched and you can go on to any other items you purchased. I usually wait until I have purchased the item from a store, as then I know what store I purchased it from and have it in hand.

You need a Paypal account and when you hit $5.00 in your ibotta account, you can cash out. When you go to cash out you select “Get My Cash” or “Donate to Schools”. When cashing out to Paypal, you select Paypal, enter the amount up to your total, hit “Submit” and “Confirm” then enter your IBOTTA  password and submit. You will get a message telling you if it went through or not. If it did, it should show in your Paypal account within minutes.

Additional Tips.
If you don’t like the offers you have available, view the individual offer and then tap the image. It will take you to an additional screen that allows you to rate the offer. Let them know what you love or don’t so they can bring the right offers to you. Plus, keep your eye out for social sharing bonuses and special events bonuses. They have started rolling out fun offers that give you more money just for submitting certain deals on certain days.


Monday, October 27, 2014

ANNUITIES

I am a regular person, a finance novice, at best. Born in the 1960's I read and watch many resources that evolve around finances. How to save money, investing strategies, and even include coupon use. I love learning about how to make my money work for me, while saving as much as I can. Feel Free to pose questions, share your results and any financial ventures. We need to learn from each others real life experiences. (Negativity or profanity will not be allowed in any form).

Annuities are usually avoided from my past learning and reading experience. However, if you can know learn and understand which annuities to avoid, they are also those that are sought after.

Some of my favorite article links about annuities are below:

http://www.today.com/money/3-ways-make-money-last-through-retirement-jean-chatzky-1D80231089

http://www.thinkadvisor.com/2014/09/01/fixed-annuity-sales-rising-in-2014-but-why-now

http://online.barrons.com/articles/SB50001424052748704895304578495341390213604

http://www.kiplinger.com/article/investing/T041-C007-S001-finally-a-variable-annuity-worth-considering.html

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/7-reasons-not-to-buy-an-annuity-2014-01-07

http://www.irs.gov/publications/p571/ar01.html

In the past Prudential has had well performing Annuities. Annuities are not to be touched for all practicality until you are 59 1/2. 

However, more questions still arise for me. Are Annuities able to be easily transferred over to a loved one?