Budgeting for the rest of us

Category: Bargains

  • Where to Sell Your Unwanted Gift Cards from the Holidays

    Where to Sell Your Unwanted Gift Cards from the Holidays

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    And just like that, Christmas season is officially over.  Most probably, you’re left with a stack of gift cards that may or may not be put to good use.

    Gift cards are always given with good intentions but sometimes, receiving cards that you can never see yourself using is inevitable.  I mean, your next-door neighbor had no idea that you’re not a coffee drinker.  And your boss probably didn’t know that you’re on a low-carb diet.

    As a result, it just ends up inside your drawer, collecting dust and eventually expiring.

    Whatever the reason is, these unwanted gift cards should not go to waste.  Instead of letting collect dust inside your drawer, why not make money out of it?  Yup, you can always sell those unwanted gift cards for cash through these trusted online portals.

    Cardpool 

    Get up to 92% cash back on Cardpool from those physical and online gift cards where you can choose between two payout options –  Amazon eGift cards that you can redeem from your email address within 1 business day or a paper check that will be mailed directly to your address after 5-10 business days.

    Once you accepted the offer presented to you, your payout will immediately be processed.  If you don’t want to make your transaction online, you can visit one of their physical stores and walk out with cash or credit.

    Cardkangaroo

    Just like the Cardpool, you can also receive up to 92% of your card value when you sell through this site. But aside from selling (and buying) gift cards, you can also opt to trade it for a gift card that you will surely use.

    As for payout options, you can get your money through Paypal or Check. Once your gift cards are verified by the company, your payment will be sent immediately if through Paypal, 3-7 days if you choose check via USPS First Class mail.

    For trade ins, you can choose between exchanging it for an electronic gift card (that will be sent to your email immediately) or be mailed as a physical card (which can take around 2-5 business days).

    And oh, if you have a stack of cards to sell or trade, make sure to contact them beforehand because they offer a different rate for Bulk Selling.

    Cardcash

    Next is Cardcash.com, a site that also offers up to 92% selling value, and much higher for trade ins. You can get your payments through check, ACH deposit and Paypal. Make sure your gift card doesn’t have an expiration date because they have restrictions around certain promotional gift cards that work only in certain locations or on specific products.

    If you don’t want to sell through these sites, there’s always Ebay or Craigslist to put your cards up for sale.

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  • 6 Free Apps to Maximize Savings on Grocery Shopping

    6 Free Apps to Maximize Savings on Grocery Shopping

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    According to a report from the United States Department of Agriculture, the average four-person American household spends around $140 to $300 on groceries per week.

    If you are one of the families who spend more than the national average, here 6 apps that will help increase your savings on your weekly grocery shopping – from apps that offer cash back rewards and coupons, to apps that will find you the lowest prices and best deals.

    And the best part? They are all FREE! Some even offer sign-up bonuses.

    Okay, let’s get started.

    1. Krazy Coupon Lady(iOS, Android)

    First on the list is a leading national money-saving source  that has a krazy amount of coupons offered – a hand-curated database of over 4,000 free grocery coupons both printable and not, from your favorite stores like Target, Walmart, Costco, Wholefoods and more.  With its search feature, you can just type in a keyword to easily find a coupon for a specific brand or item on your grocery list.

    2. Ebates (iOS, Android)

    This company has a long-standing reputation for giving cashback on your online purchases.  You don’t get discounts or deals upfront but if you shop through their site, you get up to 25% cash back.  Signing up is free and Ebates works with 2,000 retailers including Walmart, Target, Macy’s and so much more.

    3. Coupons (iOS)

    Here, you’ll find all sorts of savings options – printable coupons, coupon codes, cash back offers and loyalty coupons.  It’s a coupon service that isn’t just about groceries and household items, but also a source for all things savings, both online and on brick and mortar stores.

    4. SavingStar (iOS, Android)

    Here’s an online platform dedicated for users to find deals and earn rewards on grocery purchases.  It has over 70,000 participating stores and has a weekly “Healthy Offer” feature where you can save on fresh produce and other healthy grocery items.  To redeem offers, just scan your loyalty card at the grocery store upon checkout (which you will be linking to your SavingStar account after registration).  For stores without loyalty cards, don’t worry because you can simply take photos of your receipts and submit them to SavingStar.  All rewards are automatically added to your account which you can cash out to your Paypal or bank account, or in exchange for gift cards.

    5. Grocery IQ

    This app will not just help you out with your budget, but will organize your grocery list too.  Here, you can build your grocery list, including product quantity, package size, etc., by simply scanning the barcode of the product or using its predictive search feature.  After that, the app will locate you to the nearest store with the best price, including deals and coupons that you can use.  And that’s not all, GroceryIQ will organize the items on your list according to the arrangement of the aisle so you can easily navigate the store and do your grocery shopping efficiently.

    6. Favado (IOS, Android)

    Lastly, this app is similar to the one mentioned above.  Favado is a grocery savings resource to help you find the lowest grocery prices and best overall deals.  It’s also integrated with Cellfire to give you instant coupons that you can use for more savings on your purchases.

    These apps are definitely worth trying if you want find ways to save on your groceries.  I hope you found these useful. :)

     

  • The Best Coupon Sites to Save you Money

    The Best Coupon Sites to Save you Money

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    Couponing is one of the many ways to save on shopping, whether you’re buying groceries, clothing items, electronics, luxury brands, services, and so much more.

    Now that the holiday shopping season is already here, it’s time to put those couponing skills to good use.  But for those who have zero idea on where to get them, you can get coupons from a variety of sources – magazines, newspapers, online, a product’s packaging, etc.  But aint nobody got time for searching through magazine and newspaper pages. (more…)

  • How to Get the Most Out of your Black Friday Shopping

    How to Get the Most Out of your Black Friday Shopping

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    The BIGGEST shopping day is upon us and with tons of deals, special sale hours and door busters, it can get pretty overwhelming.  Yes, even for the seasoned shoppers.

    If you really want to make the most out of your shopping experience, you need to have a goal and a plan.

    To help you plan for this much-awaited shopping day, follow these helpful strategies and increase your savings. (more…)

  • 5 Daily Habits of Frugal People That We Can Learn From

    5 Daily Habits of Frugal People That We Can Learn From

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    Before anything else, let’s first acknowledge the fact that frugal people are not cheap.  According to an article on Investopedia, people who are labeled cheap only look at the price, and don’t believe in value.  Some cheap people wouldn’t even pay for the basics and necessities of life.

    A frugal person on the other hand, is someone who is simply wise with their money – he is all about looking for ways to increase savings but he knows when to pay up, understands that an item that has good quality doesn’t really come with a small cost and believes in giving to worthy causes. (more…)

  • 8 Money-Saving Tips for Back to School Shopping

    8 Money-Saving Tips for Back to School Shopping

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    Back to School season is upon us and that only means one thing – shopping!  Next to the holidays, back to school is the second biggest shopping season of the year.

    The National Retail Federation reports that this year, back to school spending is expected to hit an “all time high” this year.  According to their survey, parents plan to spend an average of $238.9 on clothing, $204.33 on electronics, $130.38 on shoes and $114.12 on school supplies. (more…)

  • How To: Honeymoon for Less

    How To: Honeymoon for Less

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    Your honeymoon is the perfect opportunity to celebrate your marriage, make new memories and get the much needed rest and relaxation.  After all the preparations and the wedding day itself, you both deserve it.

    However, some newlyweds opt to skip the honeymoon part because of money-issues.  Well, that is if you’re really aiming for a budget-blowing romantic vacation.  Sure, we all dream of a grand honeymoon but that can wait, at least for now. (more…)

  • 6 Smart Budget Moves for the Summer

    6 Smart Budget Moves for the Summer

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    Summer is the perfect time to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and get your much needed break from the day-to-day grind.  As much as you want to enjoy a fun and carefree summer, you have to make sure that your current financial situation is in order and that you won’t go broke once the season ends.

    To help you prepare and enjoy a relaxing and stress-free summer, here are 6 smart budget moves to follow. (more…)

  • 5 Ways to Save on Lodging When Traveling

    5 Ways to Save on Lodging When Traveling

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    On my previous blog entries, I’ve already talked about how to set up a budget for a vacation and hacks to fly for less.  Today, let me share with you some helpful ways that will save you money on lodging, as it also takes a big part of your budget, depending on where you would like to stay.

    Remember, finding the cheapest accommodation isn’t always the best option.  It’s about finding the best value without sacrificing comfort. (more…)

  • 5 Hacks to Fly for Less

    5 Hacks to Fly for Less

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    I’m sure you have a lot of getaways planned for spring and summer buy you know how airfare takes a big chunk out of your travel budget, right?

    Finding ways to save on accommodation, food and activities is easy but what’s challenging is to find cheap air tickets.

    So in order to help you feed the wanderlust in you without making a big damage on your bank account, here’s a list of helpful hacks to fly for less. (more…)