Mail In RebatesRebates can be mailed-in, submitted online or even be an instant rebate. Mail In Rebates require you to mail in the sales receipt along with any additional items such as a box top or UPC code. This type of rebate takes the longest time to get back. Online Rebates requires you to go to the store or manufacturer's site, register, sign in and and enter information from your sales receipt and perhaps from the item also. This rebate process takes less time to get back & saves you the cost of a postage stamp. With both of these, mail in rebates or online rebates, always remember to keep a copy of everything you sent/submitted until you get your rebate back. And if you mailed it in make sure you write down on your copy & calendar what date you mailed it. Instant rebates, of course are the best but, may require other purchases along with the item to get the instant rebate. Check the fine print and compare, compare, compare. This year I needed to pick up a couple of items at my local office supply store, one of the items I picked up had a $20 mail-in rebate with the purchase of a shredder (which I also needed) and the shredder just happened to be on sale also with a $40 mail-in rebate, making the shredder only $20. But wait, while I was comparing the 1st item I needed, I found another item that offered even more for only $10 more, but that item had a $30 instant rebate, but it still required the shredder purchase. So was this a better buy even though the item cost more?? Yes, and double yes. Not only did the item wind up costing the same as the 1st item, with of course the instant savings, it was a better item also!!! I didn't have to mail-in anything, saving me the money instantly, but I still had to purchase and prepare the rebate for the shredder. I checked the sales slip & guess what it said, I had a choice, mail it in or submit it online. As soon as I got home I submitted it online, pretty cool, and my rebate is on its way. My saving was $30 instant & $40 online for a total of $70 savings. Remember I only bought these items because they were items I needed. Another thing I'll be doing for the next two weeks is I'll be watching the ads. Because if either items go on sale I'll be able to return to the store and get a credit on my purchase. So remember to watch your weekly ads, check for in-store specials and even online specials that offer any of these rebates. But as always, only buy the item if it is something you use & make sure you get that rebate mailed in with all the requirements before it expires. Drug Stores are normally the stores that offer the item as free with mail-in rebate. But I have also utilized our local office supply store with these rebates. Last year we purchased digital cameras for our children for Christmas. One of the offers was a free printer (with mail-in rebate) with the purchase of each camera. Then within 14 days of the camera purchase an ad came out & the cameras were on sale saving us even more. When we purchased the camera we made sure to ask the sales clerk about getting a refund if the cameras went on sale and what their policies were. Again don't buy an item just because it's free with a mail-in rebate unless you will use the item. You can save even more with these rebates by checking to see if you have a coupon to use on those items also. By using a coupon with these rebates I have actually made money. It doesn't happen often but when it does... even more savings. Remember, look at your mail in rebate forms as soon as you get home & see what all you need from the item you bought to go with the rebate. You don't want to throw away the packaging only to find out you needed the UPC code or box top off the package. Sometimes you don't need anything but the receipt & rebate form, but double check and make sure. Follow the instructions carefully, because if you don't it may cancel out the rebate. Sometimes they say to circle the item price and/or write in a rebate number next to the item on your sales receipt. Make sure you double check everything and double check again. Make a copy of everything you mail in, if you can. Yes all of this takes time but consider it a part-time job, a few minutes preparing everything carefully, will give you a paycheck (rebate) later. It may only take about 15 minutes or less to prepare a rebate & well worth it if you're getting back $5, $10, $15, $20 or more.Another thing to remember, is these are mail-in rebates, so that means paying for the item now & getting the money back later, up to several weeks later. Get in the habit of setting aside one day a week or month to assemble all items requested and mail in those rebates. Don't forget the due date of these rebates. A while back I had $23 worth of rebates for one month and on the last day to send it in I remembered. My darling husband helped me get everything together for the rebate & out to the mailbox just as the mailman was pulling up. What are you going to do with those rebate checks??? How about putting them in your
Holiday Club Savings
or what about using them to save for a
vacation.... Saving with Coupons
|
