The Internet can help you find freebies, earn gift cards and make money.
If you use sites like Ebates, Swagbucks, MyPoints and ShopAtHome, your purchases can earn you money. Here’s a rundown of each:
Ebates: My favorite site offers you up to 25 percent cash back on your purchases from participating stores. It doesn’t cost you anything to join, and they send you a check of your total cash-back rewards quarterly.
Swagbucks: This site offers rewards such as store gift cards for simple tasks like taking surveys, playing games, recycling old phones and much more. Many of my friends are saving their rewards for gift cards to purchase holiday presents.
MyPoints: The site offers different ways to earn points to redeem toward cash, gift cards or even travel miles. Just sign up and make purchases online, fill out surveys, play games, read emails, book travel or search the Web to add points to your account.
ShopAtHome: This site gives you cash back for your online purchases at participating sites, plus you are alerted to coupons for additional savings. Check out ShopAtHome’s daily deals; you can use the cash back to get products free after just paying shipping.
Two other social media sites that merit a sign-up are Vocalpoint.com and Bzzagent.com. When you sign up, all you have to do is fill out some surveys and they will start sending you great freebies in the mail.
All they ask of you is to try the freebies then report back on what you thought about them. It takes a little time, but you will be extremely excited to go to your mailbox and receive your goodies.
I highly recommend that you set up a freebie e-mail account at Gmail, Yahoo or Hotmail to use for all these sites.
Freebies
■ The Disney Store is hosting free in-store events at 2 p.m. daily from July 23 to Aug. 26. Attend four events and receive a special gift.
■ If you are a teacher, make sure you sign up for Staples Teacher Rewards program for opportunities to stock up on classroom supplies for free.
■ Download a coupon for a free soft drink at Waffle House.
Discounts and offers
■ Join the Hostess Sweet List to get a free treat on your birthday, plus special offers, coupons and other exclusives.
■ Buy specially marked $5 DVDs at Wal-Mart and you’ll receive a promotional code good for $5 off a ticket to see select specially-marked DVDs at Wal-Mart priced at just $5 and you’ll also score a promotional code which you can redeem for up to $5 off an admission ticket to see The Dark Knight Rises.
If you use sites like Ebates, Swagbucks, MyPoints and ShopAtHome, your purchases can earn you money. Here’s a rundown of each:
Ebates: My favorite site offers you up to 25 percent cash back on your purchases from participating stores. It doesn’t cost you anything to join, and they send you a check of your total cash-back rewards quarterly.
Swagbucks: This site offers rewards such as store gift cards for simple tasks like taking surveys, playing games, recycling old phones and much more. Many of my friends are saving their rewards for gift cards to purchase holiday presents.
MyPoints: The site offers different ways to earn points to redeem toward cash, gift cards or even travel miles. Just sign up and make purchases online, fill out surveys, play games, read emails, book travel or search the Web to add points to your account.
ShopAtHome: This site gives you cash back for your online purchases at participating sites, plus you are alerted to coupons for additional savings. Check out ShopAtHome’s daily deals; you can use the cash back to get products free after just paying shipping.
Two other social media sites that merit a sign-up are Vocalpoint.com and Bzzagent.com. When you sign up, all you have to do is fill out some surveys and they will start sending you great freebies in the mail.
All they ask of you is to try the freebies then report back on what you thought about them. It takes a little time, but you will be extremely excited to go to your mailbox and receive your goodies.
I highly recommend that you set up a freebie e-mail account at Gmail, Yahoo or Hotmail to use for all these sites.
Freebies
■ The Disney Store is hosting free in-store events at 2 p.m. daily from July 23 to Aug. 26. Attend four events and receive a special gift.
■ If you are a teacher, make sure you sign up for Staples Teacher Rewards program for opportunities to stock up on classroom supplies for free.
■ Download a coupon for a free soft drink at Waffle House.
Discounts and offers
■ Join the Hostess Sweet List to get a free treat on your birthday, plus special offers, coupons and other exclusives.
■ Buy specially marked $5 DVDs at Wal-Mart and you’ll receive a promotional code good for $5 off a ticket to see select specially-marked DVDs at Wal-Mart priced at just $5 and you’ll also score a promotional code which you can redeem for up to $5 off an admission ticket to see The Dark Knight Rises.
