This week we are going to jump into rebates, which is a great way to maximize savings when paired with coupons.
For instance, you may buy a bottle of medicine that was on sale for $4, used a $2 off coupon and then sent in the rebate to receive the $4 purchase price back. This nets a profit of $2.
Sometimes you get the item for free by sending in the rebate form and telling manufacturers why you didn't think it was the best product you have tried. Again, you probably used a coupon to buy it in the first place.
When going through coupons for the week and matching them up with the sales flyers, take a quick look through the rebate file to see if anything that you are buying has a rebate to match.
If yes, then make a note to pull the item and pay for it separately. This seems like a lot of extra work but it really helps in the long run if you need the receipt for another rebate that will surface in a few weeks or months.
If you have a separate receipt you can just put it right in the envelope along with the other needed items and mail it off without missing out on another rebate down the road.
Make sure that you look closely at the rebate forms to make sure that you are purchasing the right amount of items to get the rebate. Make sure to include all the necessary items to receive the rebate. It helps you to do this if you are writing down your rebates that you send and writing down what was mailed to receive the rebate. Good record-keeping is the key when keeping up with rebates.
Make sure to keep a file with receipts. I have a file for every store that I can request a rebate.
Sometimes you can send in your proof of purchase for an electronics purchase that you have made for a refund. Do this right away, as soon as you get home, so that you don't miss out. Most of the time, the rebate is for $20 or more.
Most rebates will tell you that it will take 6-8 weeks to receive, but I have found that most of the time it is more like 8-10 weeks. If after 12 weeks you have not received your rebate you may need to contact the company.
First try to contact them at the address of where the rebate was mailed. If this doesn't work, then you can go online and find the contact information for the company itself and contact them directly. Write a letter or call and explain the situation.
Write down, next to the refund information, what happens and what needs to be done to resolve the issue. Never wait to send in a rebate or to resolve a rebate conflict. As they say, time is money.
That free money can be used for a variety of things, including paying down debt.
Even if you only get $100 in rebates a year, that is still $100 less debt that you owe. Rebates can also go toward savings or a vacation. You can also use it for charity, whether it is food for the food pantry or clothes and toys for underprivileged children.
Use your imagination to figure out what to do with your rebates. The possibilities are limitless. Just make sure that if you can get money back for a purchase that you have made, take that opportunity. Consider it free money.
Karen Green is a member of Chicks University at the Family Y in North Augusta.
