Product Reviews/Houseparties

One of the many ways I save money is to join groups that provide free products in return for feedback or the hopes that you will tell your friends/family about the products.  I'm including some of my favorites today.  There are many more - and I'll try to tell you about all of them in future posts.

Purex Insiders
If you get accepted as an Insider - Purex will send you free full size products and/or free product coupons.  In return, they want your feedback (usually via a quick survey) and hope that you will tell your friends about the products.

Loreal Consumer Testing Group
They often send you full size products and often pay for your feedback.


Kraft First Taste
There's always something exciting happening at Kraft Foods! Kraft will send you free product coupons as well as give you a chance to send the free product coupons to your friends and family.  The most recent free product was for Philadelphia Cooking Creme - but past freebies have included Oreo Cakesters, Oscar Meyer products, crackers, etc.

HouseParty
A great website to sign up to learn about new products and potentially host a party. Each event is sponsored by a leading brand and focuses on something cool that the sponsor wants its best fans to experience firsthand and share with their friends.  An example of an upcoming party is:

DiGiorno Pizza & Hoops HouseParty
If selected as a host, your FREE party pack will contain:

• DIGIORNO Handbook with party tips and free pizza coupons for you and VIP coupons for your guests
• Pizza cutter
• Refrigerator magnet clip
• Pot holder
• Oven timer
• Spatula
• Wet wipes
• Plates
• Napkins
• Over-the-door basketball game
• Inflatable noisemakers

New Balance Shoes Product Test Group
If selected, they will send you shoes to try and give feedback on.


Camping World Product Test Group
 Manufacturers are often looking for people to provide feedback on their products (and reviews for the Camping World website).  By joining this group you may be selected to participate.  Note:  You must be a Camping World Presidents Club member to participate.

VocalPoint
VocalPoint is geared towards women and they often send you free products or coupons.

SheSpeaks
Another website geared toward women.  Companies want to get their products into the hands of customers who will hopefully tell their friends and family about how much they liked the products they try.  A recent example is the Johnsonville Sausage program.   Participants that were selected will get Three coupons for free Johnsonville Italian Sausage, Five additional pass-along coupons to share with friends and family and Five delicious recipes your family will love.

Save those boxtops!!!!

If you buy products like Cheerios, Ziploc, Kleenex, Hefty, Betty Crocker, Welch's, Pillsbury, Old El Paso, Green Giant, Totinos, etc. and aren't saving the BoxTops symbols from them - you're throwing out money.

Why?  Because those little BoxTops can bring good money on Ebay.  Usually 10 cents plus per Boxtop.   If there was a dime (or more) attached to that package would you just throw it out? 

To see what I'm talking about - look at the expired auctions on Ebay:
COMPLETED EBAY LISTINGS

Here's a link to the participating products:
Participating products

Many times you'll see products in stores that have multiple coupons on them.  Some paper towel multipacks will have one coupon per roll. Sometimes grocery stores run promos in their flyer that you can earn 50 or 100 bonus boxtops just for buying participating products.

Any time you purchase these products, just remember to cut off the boxtop coupon on the package and save it in an envelope or drawer.  Once you have enough of them (I aim for 100 or more), list them on Ebay! 

Why you should join Upromise

I've learned that every little bit helps when trying to save money.  Today I'll be discussing why you should join Upromise even if you don't have any children/grandchildren who need to save for college.

Most people don't know that you can actually just WITHDRAW any money earned at Upromise.  You don't have to put it in a savings plan for college.  Last year I earned over $105 and requested a check (which arrived in about 4 weeks).  I've seen many people make more than that per year - but I'm fairly conservative and stick to grocery savings, ecoupons, etc.  I've seen other people take advantage of more of their programs and save $350 or more per year.  I realize that my $105 savings doesn't seem like much by iteself - but once I show you the other easy ways to save money, you'll realize that by combining all these methods you can really make a difference.

First - sign up here:
Upromise - The Smart Way to Save for College

To start, once you've signed up, go to "My Account" and then on the left under "Build My Earnings" click on "Register My Cards".  Go to "Register Grocery and Drugstore Cards" and add as many as you have.

1.  eCoupons:  Once a month go to the "Coupons and Deals" Tab and select "Grocery eCoupons".  Select any products you think you MIGHT purchase during the next month (or select them all - it doesn't hurt to do that) and make sure you ACTIVATE them by clicking the button on the right.  Once you have activated them, any time you shop at a store where you have registered the card on Upromise, they track your purchases and credit you for the coupons when you buy the items.  It's so easy and you don't have to give any coupons or have any hassle at the checkout.  And the best part is - if you do have physical coupons to give at the register you still get credit for the eCoupons - so it's like saving twice!

2. Groceries: You can earn between 1-5% on selected brands automatically - just by having your store cards registered.  To see what brands are participating - go to the "Ways to Earn" tab and then click on "Grocery" in the menu on the left.  You can either print the list or click on "Participating Products" next to the print button. 

3.  Restaurants:  You can earn up to 8% back on your dining purchases.  From McDonalds to some of the fancier restaurants - they cover many places you probably visit.  In order to take advantage of this savings, you simply register your credit card, sign up for their program and they automatically track your savings.  If you're going to be eating out anyways you might as well be getting some cash back for it.

4.  Online Shopping:  Any time you shop online you should check and see if Upromise offers cash back and use their links first.  From eBay to Walmart.com - they offer cash back on your online purchases.

There are many more ways to save - but these are the top 4 that I use to easily save extra money without much effort at Upromise.