Online Shopping

I like online shopping, for a number of reasons. I'm a little lazy, it's hard to go to stores when you have a kid, and generally, I know what I want and I buy enough in one order to qualify for free shipping. But I am always looking for some sort of incentive when I shop, and I believe I have found it in click through websites. The two which I use most often are http://www.ebates.com/, and http://www.upromise.com/. 

Here's how it works. You know you want to buy something. You go through these websites to find the store you want to buy from, and these websites rebate you 1%-20% of the purchase. Upromise is a method of saving for higher education, and the money goes into high interest savings accounts, destined eventually for a 529 Account. Ebates refunds the money to you quarterly, through a check.

Past incarnations of this concept have provided less than stellar rewards (gift cards at undesirable stores) or sites where people didn't want to shop at. Ebates and Upromise both have a very large selection of stores. I have yet to meet someone who I have spoken with informally about these programs that could not benefit from them. My favorite stores on Ebates are Target.com (3% back), Groupon (3% back), Diapers.com (up to 4% back). Friends of mine have commented on their preference for Drugstore.com (12% back), J.Crew (1.5% back) ,and J.C. Penney (3% back). Take a look for yourself and see how much you could be rebated simply by clicking through a website when doing your online shopping. Plus, you get a ten dollar gift card just for signing up. Further, check out sites like http://www.retailmenot.com/ to make sure you are not missing out on any promotional codes for sales and free shipping. I've gotten about 50 bucks rebated to me in the last six months.

Upromise carries with it a few added benefits. There is a Upromise credit card which increases your deposit into the high interest account, and Upromise also has deals with a number of restaurants which will deposit a percentage of your purchase, provided you pay with a credit card registered on Upromise.com. They also provide rebates on gas and grocery purchases.

All in all, there are a number of benefits to doing your online shopping through these click-through websites. Also, both of these sites also can provide discount codes and coupons. All of these options should be considered to make sure that your money goes farthest when making your purchases.

Grocery Shopping

I've been cooking since I was 17, but only in the last few years have I taken responsibility for grocery shopping. I have friends that shop almost exclusively at Whole Foods or Trader Joes, and their bills reflect that. However, the bulk of my budget goes towards Harris Teeter and Safeway. Why? Weekly Sales.

I regularly save 20-35 percent on my shopping. It's very easy through http://www.redplum.com/ Now, I know a lot of people aren't into couponing, and most of my shopping doesn't involve coupons. Instead, Harris Teeter sends me their weekly sales every Wednesday, and most of my shopping list is made up of what's on sale (often at buy one get one free). Safeway also has sales which begin every Wednesday. I repeat, this is nothing like extreme couponing on TLC.

Many sources have talked about how one will save money by shopping with a grocery list. http://www.oprah.com/money/How-to-Save-Money-on-Groceries It is also common sense that if you buy groceries and eat at home, or make lunch to bring in to work or school, you will save a lot of money. You avoid sales taxes on food in restaurants (10% in DC), and the associated costs of everyone in restaurants who prepare your food (waiters, busboys, dishwashers, servers, janitors, etc.). But if you're not convinced, here are my top reasons to go grocery shopping more and use these weekly sales:

1: Preparing food at home tastes better (less salt, less fat)
2: Preparing food at home is romantic and sexy.
http://www.esquire.com/women/women-issue/funny-facts-about-women-0510 (339, 986, 144, 9)
http://www.womenshealthmag.com/sex-and-relationships/love?cat=10390&tip=10398
3: Last year, using this method, I saved over 1,000 dollars at Harris Teeter and a similarly large amount at Safeway. Teeter tabulates your year to date savings on your receipt. What could you do with an extra $1000?

Don't have a Teeter or Safeway? Check your local grocery store for their weekly specials on their website, or try to find it on Redplum. Chances are they have weekly sales, and by going grocery shopping with the discipline of a list based on what is on sale, you'll save a ton of money and have more fulfilling meals.

Coffee

I've spent a lot of money on coffee. There is a Starbucks across the street from my job, a Mcdonalds across the street from my house, a Keurig inside my office, and even some stray five hour energy drinks just in case. Where I live, in Washington DC, a cup of coffee at McDonalds costs $1. A cup at Starbucks costs $1.50. At least, it used to. http://www.smartmoney.com/news/on/?story=ON-20120103-000322&cid=951
On Amazon, I can get 50 K-cups for $30 ($0.60 per cup). Also on Amazon, I can get 5 hour energy drinks for $0.62 per serving. I buy Peet's Coffee, which is not the most expensive, nor the least, for 8 dollars per 12 oz bag. You are supposed to use one teaspoon per cup of coffee. 6 teaspoons to the ounce means there is about 72 servings of coffee in my bag of Peet's. So, at 8 bucks a bag, that's 11 cents a cup. In summary:

Starbucks: $1.50
McDonalds: $1.00
5 Hour Energy: $0.62
K-Cup: $0.60
Brewing at Home: $0.11

So, brewing at home is 5 times cheaper than the next best alternative. If you go to Starbucks once a day, 5 days a week, you are spending over $350 dollars more than you need to on coffee per year. Under the same conditions at McDonalds, you're spending over 200 dollars more than you need to. It gets worse if you order complicated or bigger drinks, or if you buy more than one cup a day. It gets to be a better deal if you buy store brand coffee, like Safeway Select or Trader Joe's coffee, which is generally cheaper than my Peet's.

I know there are excuses: I don't have the time to wait for coffee to brew. Buy a coffee maker with a timer. I don't like hot coffee. Brew it the night before and refrigerate it in a tumbler. I hate the taste. Milk and sugar. In the end, even buying coffee from Mcdonalds should be considered a luxury, given how much more money is spent on a yearly basis on coffee at Mcdonalds than would be spent brewing similar coffee at home.