ebates - Stuff Parents Need

One Simple Trick to Save Extra Money Shopping Online (That You Don’t Already Know)

October 23, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 5 Comments

I’m an affiliate of Ebates and have been a member there since 2007. I only promote what I use and love!

I think most folks know that finding coupons for online purchases isn’t super hard to do. You simply do a quick Google search (for example: Toys R Us coupon code) and if such a coupon exists, you’ll find it in just a few seconds.

But did you know that there’s a site that simply offers a percentage back on your purchases to hundreds and hundreds of very popular stores ON TOP OF any coupons you might be using?

photo credit: leanforward_photos via photopin cc
It’s called Ebates, and I joined in 2007. Since that time, Ebates has sent me checks totaling $803.11. That averages out to saving $114.73 each year! If you are shopping online, you should absolutely be looking for coupon codes. But you should most definitely be going through Ebates in addition. Ebates often has the most up-to-date coupon codes right there on site, so you can take advantage of percentage off sales or free shipping offers AND earn cash back at the same time! I love Ebates because it puts a little cash back in my pocket for purchases I was already planning on making. My latest purchase from Kohls.com saved me $1 just for going through Ebates for an order that was just over $16. Is $1 life-changing? No, but look at my grand total to see how it really and truly adds up to make a big difference! I saved $1.35 on Layah’s Jasmine costume from the Disney store, and that $1.35 really mattered to me, because that darn costume was not on sale and there was no free shipping offer. Bu her heart was set on that costume. This mama was desperate to save at least a little bit, and Ebates made that happen for me. 🙂

And it is seriously effortless. You click on the link to the store where you want to shop (and you see the percentage cash back you will be offered so there are no surprises, and it does vary by store) and then you buy what you were already going to buy. Some stores have a low percentage (Walmart is 1%, though occasionally it goes up…especially around this time of year!) but other stores might get you 8-12% back, or even higher. Promotions are running all the time with increased percentages back, which is great!

I personally shop online a great deal (much more frequently than going to a brick-and-mortar store), and I use Ebates to help me cut the bill total as much as possible. It may only save me a few dollars each time, but the savings add up, and that makes it totally worth the 6 seconds it takes me to go to Ebates, click on the store name where I want to shop, and be on my merry way.

So many people I talk with about online shopping don’t know about Ebates. Let’s fix that for once and for all! You are already shopping online. You are probably already looking for coupons. Take the next leap and add additional savings on top of it all with Ebates. Maybe your checks back will be even bigger than mine!

My Curated “Before Christmas” Gift Suggestions

November 13, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 6 Comments

If you hunt around on Stuff Parents Need, you will find several hundred (likely approaching 1,000!) finds I have discovered over the past 4 years that could be great holiday gift suggestions for folks on your list.

But today I want to talk about the things I think you should consider getting BEFORE the holidays are here (and they are almost here, so hurry up!). Think of them as gifts to yourself! These are items that can help make the holidays more festive and fun, and prepare you for send out yearly family letters or make some fun crafts without costing you an arm and a leg. Here’s a list of the products and services that I’m loving RIGHT NOW:

1. The Elf on the Shelf. This has seriously got to be the best $30 I have ever spent. Darah is completely nuts about her elf, whom she named Owen. He moves around the house daily, and he is NOT a naughty elf (mama ain’t got time for that!). Darah talks to Owen, dances for Owen, brings Owen marshmallows, and sings for Owen. I almost die pretty much every single day from the cuteness of it. He has brought some serious Christmas joy to our house, and a feeling of magic. He has only been with us for a month (yes, he cam early) and he is already a family treasure that I know we will have for decades to come.

2. Tiny Prints cards. For today only you can get 25% off your entire order (no minimum!) AND free shipping, which is a smokin’ hot deal because these are some of the prettiest cards around, and they are already reasonably priced. The code to use at checkout is exclusive to affiliates of the store (that’s me!) and I’ve been told this is the very best deal they offer on holiday cards. The code to use at checkout is ~~HOLIDAY25FS~~. (Edit: new code is SW1119 for 25% off). I got mine ordered already and they will be here soon so that I can get all the holiday cards ready for the mail for the day after Thanksgiving.

3. Groovebook. I’ll be adding an additional printed photo to each of my holiday cards, and I can do that for SUPER DUPER CHEAP thanks to Groovebook! You can read all about Groovebook here, (and learn how you can get 100 prints 100% FREE!). Basically, for this month, I picked a photo on the phone that I really liked, and printed 30 copies of it into my Groovebook. The other 70 prints for the month are just other things I like. Now I’ve got an extra photo for my friends and family to enjoy, and got it printed and delievered to my doorstep, along with 70 other pictures I like, for $3! Groovebook is my favorite app of all time, hands down.

4. Stitch Fix. If you have some festive parties to attend and you need an updated outfit or two, leave the work to the stylists at Stitch Fix. They will hook you up with something gorgeous that suits your taste and your budget. You’ll save time and you’ll look great! Here’s a link to all my past fixes to give you a sense for what it is like!

5. Kiwi Crate. This is one of my very favorite subscriptions, as it helps busy and/or non-crafty parents like me put together truly awesome crafts and activities for the kiddos. We adore our Kiwi Crates, and plan to order more in the near future. Right now they have special holiday-themed crates that you definitely need to check out. How much fun would it be for your kids to get to make some of the decorations for Thanksgiving, Hannukah or Christmas?

6. Amazon Prime. I’ve been a member of Amazon Prime since January of this year, and I’m planning on renewing when my membership expires. The ability to ship SO many things from the site without meeting the minimum shipping amount (which I heard has gone up to $35…can anyone confirm that?), and the 2 day shipping is SOOOOO nice! You get to try it out free of charge for 30 days, and if ever there was a time to give it a whirl, it is during the holiday shopping season!

7. Ebates. This is the time of year when I make sure I’m checking in regularly with Ebates, as well. You can read all about how Ebates works to get the full scoop. It is a totally free service that will give you cash back on the online purchases you are already making. So far they have sent me over $215. For real. Yes, the checks cleared. This is legit! 🙂

Your turn: what are some of the things you are buying to get ready for the holidays?

How To Get A Gorgeous Backyard at a Discount

June 11, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 2 Comments

What are you lovelies doing today? I’m just hanging out in my backyard, enjoying the weather.

to build a bench on the back deck. And we’ll be saving 5-6% on our purchases at Home Depot and Lowe’s. Not by using a credit card, either! Just by shopping through Ebates, a site I mentioned last week that I absolutely adore. It has saved me well over $100 since I joined, and I LOVE that it can help me save a little bit at the places like Home Depot and Lowe’s where I’m already shopping (and these places are also notoriously hard to find coupons for!).

If you are planning any outdoor improvements to your home this year, be sure to use Ebates to help you save even more. And if you achieve a back yard that looks like the one above, please invite me over. You provide the ambiance, and I’ll bring the drinks!

Do you have any landscaping improvement plans for the summer? Any inspirations you are finding online? Send them my way. I want to drool over them!

This post contains affiliate links. I only promote what I love!

How I Save Money When I Shop Online With Zero Effort!

June 6, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 5 Comments

I’ve been a member of Ebates since 2007. In that time I have been sent checks totaling over $130. For what, you ask? For doing online shopping that I was going to be doing, anyway. It has been awesome! And honestly, I could have earned at least double that amount back if only I’d remembered to use Ebates every time I shopped. But now Ebates has a cash back app you can download that automatically alerts you and activates Ebates any time you are browsing a site that is an Ebates partner. They are making it pretty much effortless for you to save money! Woo hoo!!!

If you haven’t’ signed up for Ebates and you shop online (who doesn’t?!), you really need to get on this site! They have TONS of stores that you probably already frequent and they offer you cash back on your purchase, anywhere from 1-35% back, just depending on the store! They also have other store coupon offers for you to be sure to take advantage of, so that you don’t miss any extra percentage savings or free shipping offers while you are shopping. And of course, it is totally free to join. They don’t need any credit card information, or bank account information. Just a mailing address to send you your money! I’ve even been able to stack the Ebates cash back offer with online coupon codes to get really incredible savings. Ebates even has a list of currently available coupons at stores to help you stop hunting and start saving faster! Here’s a sampling of the stores I shop at and have saved big bucks from in the past:

Other offerings include popular sites like Diapers.com, Walmart, select sections of Amazon.com and Sephora. Oh heck yes, my friends, I know you are shopping online, so PLEASE let me help you save some extra money. Ebates makes is SO easy (especially with that new web app, which yours truly has already downloaded!).

Do yourself a favor and get signed up if you haven’t already. Look at all the money I’ve saved that I would have missed out on if I hadn’t joined Ebates!

This post contains an affiliate link. But I wouldn’t recommend this site if I didn’t know from experience that you really do get sent checks in the mail for your savings! I got my most recent check 2 weeks ago, which is what reminded me that I needed to spread the word!