Do you Upromise?

February 3, 2011

I use credit a lot. For work. For my husband’s business. For gas. For online shopping. I use my plastic. It isn’t about not having the cash as much as it is being able to track what I am spending. We pay the card in full at the end of the month, so I could care less about the interest rate. I want to earn points.

I also have a store member’s card for almost every store in America. It seems every store wants to track your every movement. And we are worried about the government…retail America has us willing telling them.

If this sounds like you and you have a child in your life, you should be Upromising.

Upromise.com pays your for your every day shopping. By connecting your credit cards and store member cards, they give you points for thins you buy everyday. Things like Nestle Toll House refrigerator cookies and Florida’s Natural Orange Juice can earn you 1-2% of the value at the grocery store. If you do any online shopping, chances are a few of the stores have coupons and earnings through Upromise.com as well.

The great thing about Upromise is that you could possibly link your 529 account to the earnings you get from joining their site. Let’s remember, it is at the sites you shop at anyway.

For example…at Christmas I bought a few gift cards, somethings from Leapfrog, some Crocs all online. Last fall we also bought a new stove and went on this little wine adventure. Below you will see the earnings I got from simply beginning my shopping or travel reservations at upromise.com.

You will notice the savings are all various amounts. From pennies on the dollar to $41.94 for the stove that I bought at Lowes.com.

Since I am Chrome user, I don’t get a handy dandy toolbar, but if you use explorer or firefox, I highly recommend downloading the toolbar. It saves you one step by automatically applying upromise savings when you go directly to the page you want to shop from.

But I just normally go here:

The advantage to going to shop.upromise.com is that you can see extra earnings or coupons exclusive to you for being a Upromise member. So sometimes you might be looking for a book, well there might be a 50% coupon just for Upromise shoppers at a store that wouldn’t be your normal stop.

For years, I had GM card. Earning points to transfer to cash for my next new car. Well, I currently drive a Toyota and Dodge. The chances of me getting a new car in the next 48 years are slim to none. So, I decided why not earn dollars for my kids education and got the Upromise credit card. After all, I am using a credit card anyway. Please, don’t Dave Ramsey me or Suze Orman me about why I shouldn’t be doing it. It keeps my financial record keeping easier, and I am lazy.

So, now I am earning at least 1% on every purchase if not more! My earnings to date are just over $900. And all of them have been split evenly between two 529 accounts.

Now, if I could get my friends and family to Upromise for me!

What are your tips for saving in the things you do everyday?

The thoughts and opinions expressed her all mine. Upromise had no idea I was going to write a post nor did any of the stores or companies I mentioned. This is just something I felt like I should share with all my fellow penny savers.

Comments

Megan says:

February 3, 2011 at 2:30 am

I Upromise and I don't have kids! I need to link them to my nephew's 529. Decided that I'm going to give mine to the nephew who's my godchild…there has to be some reward for having to care of me when I get old (he doesn't know this yet, so shhhh).

Jenny says:

February 3, 2011 at 2:47 am

I have used upromise for years and I love it. Right now I am saving money for my wedding with discounts from upromise. The best part is the money is still helping Tyler for his college fund. I like that grandparents, aunts, and uncles are able to shop and contribute also.

Leontien says:

February 3, 2011 at 1:29 pm

hmmm i think in need another couple of years before i'm up to speed with the American custom of having AT LEAST 5 to 10 credit/gift/debit/whatever cards….

Maybe you can post this post again in 5 years and i'll be up to speed…?

Thanks
Leontien