Best Rewards Programs

I'm amazed that I don't hear more about this program. I learned about it a few years aog at a money saving website. At first, I wondered how could it be possible for Ebates to offer this deal, but the more I learn about internet marketing the more sense it makes.

Here's how they sum it up, "People often ask: "This sounds too good to be true, how are you able to do it?" It really is quite simple. Just like almost every other online shopping center, we get a commission from the stores when you make a purchase. Instead of keeping that money - like almost all other sites do - we share it with you!"

And it is true. Thankfully, I learned about Ebates BEFORE Christmas last year. I made as many purchases as possible by clicking through their website. That is the KEY - you MUST click through Ebates to get to your intended website and THEN make your purchase. But that is all you have to do. Your purchase will not be affected in any other way. And yes, you can still use coupon codes, redeem gift cards etc. Ebates offers links to over 1000 stores including ebay at a 3% (update - ebay is temporarily not participating) of your purchase, Barnes & Noble at 4%, DisneyStore at 3%, Wal-Mart at 1% and others. At Christmas time last year one of the magazine links was up to 23% and then for Black Friday they doubled it!

Every quarter "Big Fat Checks" are mailed to members who have accumlated $5.01 or more in rewards. You also get $5 for signing up (your bonus sign-up rewards won't count toward your $5.01 though) *Update: the sign up reward may vary between an option for gift cards or cash back into your account. I don't mind showing you the details of my first Big Fat Check which totaled $16.27.

Update!: Groupon is now on Ebates! If you already save money with Groupon - save even more with Ebates. Click on the Ebates link below, sign up, find Groupon and explore the deals.

Ebates has a Tell-A-Friend program,
and that is why I'm telling you!

If you sign up through this Ebates link
I'll earn a small reward...and so will you.

These are the purchases I made right before
Christmas 2008 and the amounts I earned back.

*Alert: Only 20% of people who sign up with Ebates remember to use it.
I told a friend about Ebates (she didn't sign up) and a couple of months later she told me she bought a $600 large screen TV online. I cringed because she didn't click through Ebates! What was she thinking and why didn't she? I don't know, but PLEASE don't forget that you can earn cash back on almost ANY online purchase. At least go and look and see if your store is one listed - it's worth looking and clicking through!

Update: If you want to learn more about Ebates, check out this Ebates Review with lots more information.

The best thing: Getting rewards back in cash.

The worst thing: Ebates doesn't have a link to Amazon.

I finally crossed the $5 threshhold again. Believe it or not I was at $4.99 for months! Here is my second Big Fat Check for $6.19. I can't think of any reason to put off joining Ebates. Get rewarded, no mountain of emails, it's easy etc. etc.

Another update: WooooooHoooooo!!! I just received another check from Ebates from my Christmas 2009 spending. My biggest check yet at $44.23. My secret? I waited and made all online purchases on Black Friday and got double cash back. You can do it too. Don't miss Ebates!!!

There are two ways to earn rewards with this program.

Buy Disney DVD's and Blu-Ray Movies
1. Buy your favorite Disney movies on DVD and Blu-Ray HiDef
2. Go online to enter the Magic Code inside
3. Earn your way to exciting rewards

Go to the movies
1. Enjoy eligible Disney movies in theatres
2. Complete and mail the movie ticket form with your ticket stubs
3. Earn your way to exciting rewards

On the inside of Disney DVD's there is a code at the bottom of an insert. Here's a picture of what it will look like. I just rounded up all of our Disney Movies and was able to enter codes equaling 400 points.

Points can be redeemed for: posters, games, collectibles, more movies and more. Since I just joined, I haven't redeemed my points for any rewards. But looking at the website, for the 400 points I've earned, I could redeem them for a Jiminy Cricket Puzzle Cube, Pirates Of The Caribbean Watch and others.

The best thing: Getting classic kid-safe movies for free.

The worst thing: Multiple codes for the same movie are not allowed. For example, if you enter your code from the movie Cars, and your friend gives you their code from the movie Cars, you will not be able redeem it for points. One movie-one code.

I had to remove this program from the list. This one hurts! I hope they start another program some day. For now, if you like Eight O'clock coffee, you can get a coupon at their website. It's better than nothing! Click on the image to go to their website and look in the upper right corner. Nice!

I'm replacing this top 10 program with the new Target REDcard listed below.

OK, so this one isn't really a rewards program, it is simply a discount at the time of checkout. This is NOT a credit card!!!! This is only a free debit card associated with your bank account (like any other debit card) and when you use it to pay for purchases at Target, you get a 5% discount on your total purchase right at the checkout. Sweet! Especially if you shop at Target for everyday items. It's also called a REDcard. Regular exclusions apply, like alcohol and gift cards etc. Read more here at Target REDcards. Oh, one more thing, REDcard can't be used online. Bummer. So enjoy your 5% off in the store.

This one is pretty simple. CVS rewards it's Extra CareCard customers with 2% back on purchases per quarter in the form of Extra Bucks Rewards. Here are the basics from their website:

How Do I Earn Extra Bucks Rewards?
Earn 2% back with every purchase in-store and online at CVS/pharmacy. *
Earn 1 Extra Buck for every 2 prescriptions purchased in-store and online at CVS/pharmacy. **

How Do I Get My Extra Bucks Rewards?
3 Ways: Every 3 months your Extra Bucks will print on your store register receipt or swipe your card at the CVS machine (looks like an ATM) and it will spit out your rewards receipt or visit CVS/pharmacy online to print your Extra Bucks. Spend your Extra Bucks at any CVS/pharmacy location or online the next time you shop!

This screen shot shows my spending for the spring quarter. My rewards (Extra Bucks) this quarter will be 2% of $214.72 = $4.29. I'll use the Extra Bucks like cash the next time I check out at CVS.

Learn more about the CVS ExtraCare Program at CVS.com

The best thing: Rewards are used like cash at CVS.

The worst thing: Non-sale prices at CVS are really high.

My use of this program fluctuates with the quality of the rewards. I think the program was its best a couple of years ago. The rewards were great and limitations were few. Things have changed some, but great rewards are still to be found.

How it works:
1. Collect Coke codes from Coke products
2. Enter codes online at My Coke Rewards
3. Pick out your rewards

There are limits on how many points you can enter per week so read up on the FAQ's. I've redeemed my Coke points for Visa gift cards, beach towels, flip flops, Subway gift cards and my favorite was calendars from Snapfish. Rewards come and go so you have to check back often to see what's available.

A good thing about this program is that your friends and family can collect points for you too. My mom and uncle save their points for me. A bad thing is that the codes can be hard to read. The letters "K" and "H" look similar etc.

Update 5/7/11: The best thing I see right now is a free 12 pack of coke for 240 points. I've redeemed this 4 times. Sometimes the coupons come quickly in the mail, sometimes they take weeks and weeks to come in the mail. They USED to have an instant print option, but people started gaming the system and now they mail them out.

The best thing:
Friends and family can save points for you.

The worst thing: Well, there's two worst things.
Quality of rewards offered fluctuates.
Amount of points entered is limited.

I hold a rewards card for each of these stores. Each for different reasons (listed below). All of them offer a certain percentage back on purchases and will mail you that reward in the form of a gift card or gift certificate to use at their store. And all of them offer 2 different categories in which to participate. One for regular customers and one for teachers (this includes homeschool teachers!). There's way too much information to list here, so I'm just listing the advantages of each program and store.



MaxPerks: OfficeMax regularly sends $10 off $30 purchase and $15 off $50 purchase coupons. They offer amazing deals on printers and other items. Recently they reduced the price of a printer to $89 and also offered $40 back in rewards for the purchase. I could have also combined the $15 off $50 coupon with this amazing deal. Unfortunately I had just purchased that same printer for $129.00.

Breaking news about OfficeMax/January 2010: I just received a letter from OfficeMax that states it has changed the terms of it's Ink and Toner Recycling Program!!! Here's how the letter reads: You will earn $3 in rewards for each qualifying* ink or toner cartridge that you recycle. The * denotes: Qualifying cartridges are any visibly undamaged HP, Dell, Lexmark, Brother, Epson, Samsung, Kodak, Sharp or Canon Ink or toner cartridges. But not INK TANK STYLES - see below.

New update: HUGE disappointment with this "new" program. I've just learned that even though OfficeMax now accepts all brands for ink recycling, they DO NOT in fact, offer the $3 back on "ink tank" styles. That is the kind I use! Personally I think this was a little bit of a sneaky fine print issue.

Staples Rewards: The number one reason I use Staples Rewards is that they are the only office supply store who offers $2 (was $3) rebates for ANY brand ink or toner cartridge in their recycling program. Here's their blurb about it: "You can recycle ANY ink cartridge - no matter which brand! This includes Brother®, Epson® and Canon ink or toner cartridges, up to 10 per calendar month per customer and receive $2 back in Staples Rewards per cartridge. Your ink recycling reward will arrive each month, separately from your standard Staples Rewards statement." Other office supply stores accept ONLY CERTAIN BRANDS - and none of the brands I use. My last ink recycling reward was $21 (7 cartridges@ $3).

OfficeDepot WorkLife Rewards and Star Teacher: If I need something fast I always use OfficeDepot. They deliver THE NEXT DAY for free as long as my order is more than $50. You can't beat next day delivery. I've used OfficeDepot many times for this very reason. And at Thanksgiving last year they offered a coupon for a free Butterball Turkey with online purchase.

The best thing:
Redeeming gift cards for...well...other gift cards such as Starbucks. *This may no longer be true or varies store to store.

The worst thing:
Expiration dates on some gift cards
don't allow quite enough time for my taste.

I turned in 9 ink cartridges of different varieties over the last quarter. Remember - Staples gives $2 (was $3) rebates for ANY brand and no one else does. I just received my reward of $27 (9 cartridges x $3). I wanted to use the reward to purchase a gift card, but the back of the reward check says it cannot be used for gift cards. Hummm. I KNOW Office Depot allows this transaction (at least they used to) so I'm going to ask just to make sure. I'll post their answer here.
Update: Staples WILL NOT in fact redeem rewards for other gift cards. Rats. Oh well, I purchased a couple of Christmas presents with it. Sweet.

*I've been notified that Staples will no longer be *mailing* ink rewards. They will be available online only. Log into your Staples Rewards account for more information.

This is probably the easiest and "Most Rewarding" rewards program in the list. Most rewarding because no matter what other deals I take advantage of, any time I use my Visa card I am earning rewards on top of the other rewards. For example, if I make a purchase through Ebates (first program listed up top) I will earn a percentage back from Ebates AND when I pay for my purchase with my Visa card, I'm earning even more rewards on top of the Ebates rewards.

*Update: My personal rewards program has changed and therefore some of the exact info listed below may have changed. I'm investigating the changes and will post them here asap.

It's important to note here that my Visa card is NOT a credit card, only a debit card (with a Visa logo) connected with my checking account. It is issued through my bank, and it's rewards program is named Wachovia Possibilities *Wells Fargo Rewards. Different banks have different credit card rewards programs. For example, Bank of America has a WorldPoints Program. Chances are your bank has one too. But if your Visa card is not through your bank...no worries! You can also sign up your VISA credit card directly with Visa Extras. And it's not just Visa, other major credit cards have rewards programs too.

Here's the blurb (from my Visa rewards site) about how it works: "Get rewards for doing what you normally do. Just enroll and register all your Wachovia Check and Credit Cards in Wachovia Possibilities Rewards® and sign for your purchases." What they mean by "sign for your purchases" is that I must select "credit" as opposed to "debit" on the credit card swiping machine when I check out. I always thought this was kind of strange since my card has never been a credit card, but I don't pretend to understand it all. I simply always choose "credit" when I check out. Rewards are also earned for any purchases made online. Basically any time I DON'T enter my PIN number, I earn rewards. A small bonus perk: Anytime I pay a bill online, I get DOUBLE POINTS. For example, our cell phone bill was $150.00 last month. Because I paid it online, I earned 300 points.


Points can be redeemed for: Too many things to list here, but the best deal is to redeem points for gift cards to stores like Barnes & Noble and Starbucks (and many others). The screen shot to the right shows how I can narrow my search by point range. This Starbucks card is available in $10 and $25 amounts.

The best thing:
Points from multiple cards can be combined for redemptions.
*New rule: Only if the accounts use the same SS#.

The worst thing:
Figuring out how to choose "credit"
on some credit card swiping machines.

When I redeemed points for the first $50 Wal-Mart card above, I didn't keep up with how long it took to come by mail. This time I wrote it down so I could share it with you. I ordered the card online on 9/10/09 and it came by mail on 9/19/09. When I ordered it, I received a message that delivery would take 4-6 weeks. As you can see it came much quicker and I'm thankful for it.

Rant: Wachovia Possibilities was not offering a $100 Wal-Mart giftcard at the time of my redemptions. If they HAD, I could have saved a few hundred points as the points required for two $50 giftcards is more than for one $100 giftcard.

Firehouse Subs has become our favorite sub sandwich shop over the last few years - I can thank my husband for that. And I AM thankful for it. A sub sandwich with fresh lettuce, tomato, onions and deli meat has GOT to rank higher on the health-o-meter than some other fast foods.

How it works: "Buy 6 combos, and your 7th medium combo is FREE."

Have your Firehouse Subs card punched (with a cool fire hydrant shaped punch) each time you purchase a combo meal. After 6 meals, your card can be redeemed for a free combo meal. This isn't a rewards program in the true sense of the word, just a good deal.

When possible, hubby treats friends and workers for lunch. He is sure to go on Tuesdays because our local Firehouse Subs gives double punches on Tuesdays (ask your local store if they offer this deal). Somedays he'll take 2-3 friends along and will fill up a card in one visit.

I used one of our filled cards and I'm happy to report no hassels...no questions. Just a good meal for FREE.

Note: Firehouse Subs does not have locations in every state. So if you have one close and can hear "WELCOME TO FIREHOUSE!" when you walk in, consider yourself lucky.

The best thing: Free lunches and no hassle redemptions.

The worst thing: Hummm. Can't think of one.