Rebates VS couponing?
By Jekca
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
Centralia, Missouri
September 8, 2015 12:50pm CST
Ok, so money is tight (for more than just me, I know, I know). I have recently taken a short class on couponing tips (and I don't mean those people on tv with fourteen carts at the checkout). I simply mean, learning to take advantage of what's there, like store perks, and such. I am not doing the best, yet, I still have much to learn. For example did you know that the stores often put things on sale that will have coupons that week? So if you learn to watch both you can stack a sale with coupons. (Oh, don't get papers either? Got a smart phone? Try Flipp, for me I can see all my ads, on a free app, for free!)
Honestly though, I like rebates better. I like the fact that I don't have to stand at the checkout and try to remember what coupon went with what, and get the poor cashier to scan everything and then verify it actually processed.
There are apps that do coupons, like restaurant specific apps, and apps that do rebates. I found ibotta, and on my first run spent 18 on stuff I HAD to get, like milk and bacon...and have over 5 dollars back from the rebates! If you do decide to try it out, use "tyncyht" to link up with me so we can team up, and help each other save more.
I like this last bit better, maybe it is silly of me, but I don't like carrying a ton of coupons around, I can't remember what I have, and I hate all of the paper and the mess....but money is tight and so you do what you have to do, right?
13 people like this
13 responses
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
8 Sep 15
The best coupon I came across was when I was booking my website domain (about 4 years back). It would have cost me about 60 USD for 5 years but a friend from Mylot had sent me to another website from where I got a coupon code. And I got 90% off. I wonder how this works but then, there are times when you should enjoy your luck.
2 people like this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
8 Sep 15
nice! I dont have anything that big. Best thing I've had was a tablet no one really uses anymore, I run it on Perks with random movie trailers, a couple times a year it builds up enough credit I can turn in for a 50 gift card (on our wifi, and I don't have data caps, so all good there). I turned that in last month and got a memory foam matress topper, which has kept us from having to go ahead and replace that mattress. It wasn't saggy, just old and uncomfortable in places. Feels like a whole new mattress now.
1 person likes this
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
8 Sep 15
@Jessicalynnt Ah yes, the ones on the today's gadgets. Here in India too we have something called PayTM - which serves a similar thing. I have known people who would use PayTM to make points - by viewing adverts, videos and other things and then redeem them for gifts and even online purchases.
It is good to know that you could get a good mattress by using the gift card. I had a bad shopping experience with ebay in 2008-9 and since then I am a little skeptical about buying stuff online.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
8 Sep 15
@thesids Yeah.... I do NOT use ebay. I use Amazon. I have always had good experiences with them, even when I had to return or replace. I don't buy from sellers on Amazon, but from them themselves. People sometimes sell to amazon who turns around and sells for them, and that's fine, as long as the company itself backs it, I am ok with it. And yes, the gadgets are helping, sad but true.
1 person likes this
@TiarasOceanView (70020)
• United States
8 Sep 15
I dont care how it goes as long as it saves me money. Mostly not spending money is the easiest option to save.
1 person likes this
@TiarasOceanView (70020)
• United States
8 Sep 15
@Jessicalynnt Yes things that we have to get usually dont offer deals at all, because they know people need them.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
8 Sep 15
@TiarasOceanView I have noticed that too. I have had some luck though with ibatta, I even got a dollar off any brand of milk! That one surprised me, and since walmart has a super cheap brand I dont mind, I got it for 98cents!
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
8 Sep 15
Very true. I am trying to make this about the things I HAVE to get, like eggs and milk and such.
1 person likes this
@kevin1877uk (36987)
•
8 Jan 16
We don't do as much here as there but if think it could given time.
1 person likes this
@kevin1877uk (36987)
•
9 Jan 16
@Jessicalynnt Oh dear could you pick it back up again, I know sometime I slack off things and I should know better.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
9 Jan 16
I have seriously gotten lazy about using ibotta, with money the way it is atm will deff be doing more of this kind of thing
1 person likes this
@besweet (9831)
• Ireland
9 Sep 15
I wish coupons for super market were more popular here. People don't use them so there is only one brand with coupons I think.
I used to buy services from a site called groupon, they offered great deals on restaurants, gym or activity classes etc. Unfortunately, the company wasn't very popular in my country so it stopped offering services last month. I wad very dissapointed.
1 person likes this
@besweet (9831)
• Ireland
9 Sep 15
@Jessicalynnt Same here, it had lots of offers in the largest cities, I am lucky to live in one. I did many activities from this site, and purhased some beauty coupons for massage, manicure etc in half price. I am sad it's gone. 
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
9 Sep 15
@besweet keep looking, there might be another one that is more locally based. I have found a couple but had to do some digging on my app stores/online
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
9 Sep 15
That one rocks for certain areas. Groupon works in america too, BUT not in the rural areas, sadly
1 person likes this
@Hate2Iron (15724)
• Canada
9 Sep 15
I have been stung a few times with rebates so I tend to ignore them... but maybe it was just a fluke?? We do use coupons and we do use more than one supermarket for different items.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
9 Sep 15
I have an app that makes me scan the barcode of what I got, then the receipt, and boom rebate done, none of that having to mail off thing, which with the price of stamps isn't cost effective anyways much of the time, but you gotta have a smart phone on that one
@mom210 (9170)
• United States
10 Sep 15
I have been studying up on it too, we are living on a part time income while my husband finishes his degree and it is not easy. I have very little left over to spend on food. I have to use as many coupons and rebates as possible. I am finding the rebates really hard to come by, how about you?
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
11 Sep 15
@mom210 yeah. I would love to do that but have not ever figured that out
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
11 Sep 15
I got lucky with a smart phone app. A few things that might help you out, compare your coupons to the sales adds (which you can see free online if you can't afford the papers). The first paper of the month (first sunday I believe) has the most coupons for the most part. And find out if any stores in your area do anything special. One store in ours doubles coupons on sundays, up to 70 cents.
@mom210 (9170)
• United States
11 Sep 15
@Jessicalynnt We do have one that doubles and I have heard that you can do really good things with coupons there. I want to plan a trip, I know that I am not going to walk out with 15 carts for $10 but I would like to see how I can do.
1 person likes this
@patgalca (18481)
• Orangeville, Ontario
9 Sep 15
I got tired of the coupons, trying to remember what I had, coupons expiring before I used them, etc. I am happy that I found Checkout51 where I submit my receipt and check off the items on their list that week. I cashed out $20 once and am over that again now. Also, our grocery store switched from their own points card to Air Miles. Not only do they have special earning you Air Miles (which I cash in for $), they also send me an email to download specials onto my Air Miles card. They can be for Air Miles or for discounts on items. I still use some paper coupons but only when the item is on sale. Saving .50c is not much, but it is a lot when the item is already at 50% off.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
9 Sep 15
Yeah while I like the savings you have hit on several issues I have with coupons. Ones i can load on a store card and print off when I get to the store aren't as bad, but still
@Rosekitty (19368)
• San Marcos, Texas
8 Sep 15
I don't do any rebates but i do coupons..not as much as i did when i was younger
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
8 Sep 15
I am to the point where if i can find a penny saved, I need, really wish I had been doing this all along.
1 person likes this
@Shellyann36 (11383)
• United States
8 Sep 15
I use Checkout51 and SavingStar as well. I clip coupons online at Swagbucks and at MyPoints and earn SBs and Points for each one I print and use. Triple threat for money savings.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
8 Sep 15
I haven't heard of those, will deff have to check out!
@iamshane487 (1138)
• Manila, Philippines
9 Sep 15
I have heard rebates many times but this app is not applicable in my country, unfortunately.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
9 Sep 15
I have heard there are equivalents in other places, but I don't know what they might be
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
9 Sep 15
Ive heard that is the way to go, but I am so not that organized yet
@seren3 (387)
• Los Angeles, California
9 Sep 15
Coupons and sales can be tricky.Recently I found out at Kohl's that I paid more ( a lot) using my 30% off mailer coupon than if I had just paid the daily discount on the items. I also got foiled by Bed N Bath with a mail in rebate document that I somehow filled out wrong - I got a post card back telling me to try again but I mailed it away already didn't I? That ticked me off! But, I'll keep trying!
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
9 Sep 15
yeah, I have noticed there are some tricks to things. I'm still learning for sure!
@farbuoloxusy (1164)
• United States
20 Dec 15
I prefer using both! I have 3 rebate apps I use regularly. I always use coupons in the store then come home and submit my receipts for my rebates. There have been many times I will get an item free at the store using a coupon, come home submit it for a rebate and it makes the item a moneymaker. The last item I did that with was Jose Ole Taquitos, they were $3.49 a box I had a $2 coupon I used in store and then submitted the rebate for $2 making the box a .51 money maker. Happy savings!
