June 2017 – user's Blog!

June 30, 2017

Fire It Up for the Fourth: Everything You Need for a Perfect Grill Day

Grilling truly is an artform. And, like any artist, you’re going to need some tools to get the job done. While everyone else is focused on the festivities, you’ll be crafting a masterpiece of a meal. Use these tools and tips to deliver a Fourth of July meal to remember. They’ll help you stay in the game and save a little dough by earning Cash Back at Ebates while shopping for all the best products.

Get the Party Started

If you have a charcoal grill and have never used a charcoal chimney, it’ll change everything you know about grilling. The simple and time-tested design creates airflow around the briquettes to help them get up to temperature. The best part? You can leave the lighter fluid on the shelf. All you need is an old newspaper to get things going. No more lighter-fluid-flavored food for you.

Bring On the Meats

If you’re going to go through the trouble of prepping your backyard for a grill day, you’d better have the right ingredients. Few things are more important than your meat selection. Sure, you could go fight in line at the local butcher with everyone else, or you could do all your shopping with a single click. Omaha Steaks is a trusted choice by many a grill-master thanks to its reputation for quality cuts. Take your pick from the many packages or build your own menu. I’d go for the premier selection.

Give Yourself Some Breathing Room

You have the fancy four-burner grill with all the bells and whistles, but there comes a time in every grill-master’s career when he or she just needs a little more room to practice the craft. A crowded grill isn’t the end of the world, but it’ll take a lot longer to cook your food and you’ll have hangry party guests to attend to. Say hello to the Blackstone griddle cooking station, a versatile cooktop built for odds and ends like veggies, rice and anything else you can grill up.

Deal With Difficult Delectables

When I graduated from tinfoil to a grill basket like this one from Broil King, I never looked back. This simple tool is perfect for anything that might fall through the grates while you flip, pick at and prod the contents of your grill. It’s especially good for chopped onions, peppers and mushrooms.

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Chill Out, Man

When you’re tending to the smoky throne, the last thing you want to do is go for an ice run. Spoiler alert: Neither do your guests. Make it easy on everyone and invest in a Yeti Tundra. This tank of a cooler will last you the rest of your life, and it keeps ice cold and intact for days.

Put Away the Knife and Pick Up a Thermometer

You’re going to work hard on this feast, so don’t blow it by slicing into the meat to check the temperature or taking it off the grill too soon. Upgrade to a digital thermometer with a sensor probe. The key is keeping the juices inside the meat where they belong, and this gadget will help you do just that because it’s fairly non-invasive. Plus, it’s wireless, so you can get a readout up to 300 feet away—perfect for that detour to the cooler or a trip inside to prep the rest of your meal.

June 27, 2017

How I Saved More Than $1,600 on My Wedding

My fiancé, Ryan, and I are planning a wedding in Healdsburg, California, in the heart of wine country. Like so many couples, we’re learning that planning a wedding means lots of shopping. Whether it’s paper for invitations or ties for your groomsmen, spending becomes second nature. So, as a bride with a budget she’d like to stick to, I’m obsessed with getting the best deals when I can. Thankfully, Ebates helped me save on so many wedding essentials, such as invitations, decor, attire — even our honeymoon. In this series of posts, you’ll get a chance to see exactly how much I was able to save and how.

According to The Knot, the average cost of a wedding in the U.S. in 2016 was $35,329. That’s the average, which means plenty of couples are shelling out more than that. Although it’s tough to fight the fun and adorable trend of enhancing the guest experience (we all want the most memorable wedding nowadays), that trend can throw your budget into a tailspin.

Thanks to some crazy, unheard of (but very real) savings through Ebates stores and incredibly easy Cash Back at Ebates, my fiancé and I were able to save more than $1,600 on our wedding.

During this series of posts, I’ve been through invitations, save-the-dates, honeymoon travel, wedding decor, attire and gifts for the bridal party — some of the unavoidable expenses that can really add up. But we did so much saving. Let’s break down the ways to save money on wedding details that matter:

Invitations

Our save-the-date cards and invitations were unique, personalized and so very us. They also ended up costing only about one-third of what we had budgeted for them.

Savings

Total saved on invitations and save-the-date cards: $124

To recap, we downloaded a PDF design for the save-the-date cards from Etsy, where we also purchased a personalized stamp with our return address. Then we printed the cards through Vistaprint and the envelopes at home (on our old-school printer) with cartridges from InkCartridges.com. To save ourselves the hassle, we decided to do a one-stop shop for our invitations by designing and printing them at Wedding Paper Divas.

Overall, we saved roughly $124 and spent just under $265 on invitations and our save-the-date cards. That’s about $200 less than the national average and $135 less than our budget. Check!

Honeymoon

Savings

Total saved on honeymoon: $502

Finding savings at Ebates on our honeymoon was one of the most rewarding wedding-planning tasks on our list. Not only could we plan an amazing adventure, but we could also see the dollar signs go down with each booking. Our Croatian adventure would take us from historic Dubrovnik and Split up the coast to the Istria peninsula and finally out to the island of Hvar. To start, we saved $300 on our round-trip flights at Expedia. We continued to save as we pre-booked hotels at Hotels.com and Expedia. Again, we purchased some amazing excursions — including a food and wine tour and a boat ride through naturally glowing caves — at Expedia and Orbitz. (Yes, Expedia nailed it on pretty much everything.)

In sum, we saved just over $500 on our honeymoon — all through Cash Back at Ebates.

Decor

Savings

Total saved on wedding decor: $205

Ah, decorations. Because Ryan and I are both busy but also shared a vision for a particular look for the big day, shopping at Ebates stores made our decor selection better than expected. It was also much easier to save money on wedding decor than we were expecting. We started with some romantic and rustic globe lights from Lighting Direct for our Northern California wedding. Then we lit up a few other tree trunks in the surrounding area with solar-powered string lights from Overstock. For centerpieces, we opted for simple candles, glass votive holders and adorable agate photo holders (which we used to display our table numbers) from Pier 1 Imports. The Container Store’s milk-glass bottles made perfectly rustic flower vases, and Ghirardelli chocolate squares and olive-oil-filled swing-top bottles from Michaels completed our place settings.

All in all, we saved more than $200 on our decor, and we were able to nail the look. (Did I mention it was rustic?)

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Attire

Savings

Total saved on wedding attire: $600

It was unbelievable to tally the actual savings from our attire shopping. We hosted an entire weekend of events for our semi destination wedding, and I was able to score my more casual white dress at JCPenney and fun floral shoes at Macy’s. We also were able to get some wedding-day attire at some Ebates stores. Ryan’s blue wedding-day suit came from Men’s Wearhouse, and his light brown leather oxfords and my sweet blush heels (so comfortable for the vineyard!) were from Macy’s. Our groomsmen looked dapper in their wine-colored bow ties and leather suspenders we purchased for them at Men’s Wearhouse and the Belt Outlet, respectively.

We saved $600 — a huge win for our wedding budget.

Bridal Party Gifts

Savings

Total saved on bridal party gifts: $470

Our bridal party was so special to us, and we loved every minute of the wedding day, including the time we spent getting ready with our bridesmaids and groomsmen. As a thank you, Ryan supplied the guys with awesome (and really handsome) bow ties and leather suspenders (see above). I gave my favorite ladies cute “Mornings Are for Mimosas” tank tops from Design by Humans, etched and personalized stemless wine glasses from Things Remembered (to hold said mimosas), prints from Minted with each person’s astrological sign over watercolor and a card from Greeting Card Universe. Our parents were also a huge part of the day, so we felt they deserved some great gifts too. We started with a classic picture frame from Things Remembered, personalized and framed with a sweet note, and also gave the moms 90-minute massages and the dads a round of golf — all from Groupon.

To sum it up, we were able to save $470 on gifts to show our bridal party and parents how grateful we were that they were there with us on our wedding day.

Total Savings

Total saved on wedding at Ebates: $1,650

Overall, our wedding saw some incredible savings, and we didn’t have to sacrifice anything to make it work within our budget. Thanks to coupons we found at Ebates stores and Cash Back at Ebates, we were able to put $1,650 back in our pockets. Now that’s a wedding savings plan.

June 25, 2017

Five Essential Summertime Shopping Hacks

From outdoor concerts to vacation wardrobes, it’s easy to blow through the bucks come summertime. But with a little know-how, summer can be a season of maximum savings. Take advantage of warm-weather fun and make the most out of your money with these five budget-friendly summertime shopping hacks.

1. Shop Off-Season and On Certain Days

Timing your clothing purchases correctly can save you big bucks. For children, August is the hottest summer month to find steals. Experts also advise hitting stores before the weekend crowds. You can take advantage of off-season buys (winter coats and sweaters, for example) that may be heavily discounted during the summer months.

2. Browse Craigslist and Facebook for Block Sales, Sidewalk Sales and Flea Markets

Come summertime, take advantage of yard sales and neighborhood block sales to scoop up finds at cheap prices. Even people living in small towns can take advantage of flea markets and fairs. Here, many antiques dealers will hawk their wares on weekends for cheap prices. Make a day of it — gather the family, grab an outdoor brunch and arrive early to snag the best deals.

3. Take Advantage of Big Retailers’ Summer Blowouts

Many popular stores, such as Bath and Body Works, slash prices at big semi-annual sales. Take advantage by stocking up on a year’s worth of hand soaps or body washes.

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4. Watch for Deals After the Holidays

Shopping malls offer big sales after the Fourth of July. If you’re searching for big-time bargains, waiting until the first or second week of August is a smart move. During this time, it isn’t uncommon to find retailers such as American Eagle, Eddie Bauer and Rebecca Minkoff offering clothes at up to 60% off. Holiday sales also are a great choice to stock up on big-ticket outdoor goods such as tents and stoves as camping season starts winding down.

5. Jump on Flash Sales

Many online retailers (Gilt and eBay, for example) offer flash sales, at which you can find discounts on major brands during specific days and times. Stay on top of times by signing up for an email newsletter and special alerts. Start browsing a few days before the big day to scout out the biggest bargains.

June 23, 2017

How to Always Look Like You Got Enough Sleep

It has been more than a decade since I’ve had good sleep (#momlife). There are lots of things about parenting that are an exaggeration, but this no-sleep business is as real as it gets. I’ve been in the thick of it with three kids for a long time and, out of necessity, I have learned some tricks of the trade along the way (how not to look completely exhausted, for example). For the record, these tips are not just for moms, but also for anyone who knows they’re not getting enough Zs and wants to look rested and refreshed in the morning.

My 10-Minute Routine for Looking Well-Rested

Two Minutes Before Bed

After a long, busy day, you barely have enough energy to change out of your clothes. It’s rough. No judgement. Here is a trick that makes a huge difference and doesn’t take a lot of time: Wash your face with your daily cleanser, and then slather on this Overnight Mask from Origins. This mask will quench your skin’s thirst while you sleep, and you’ll wake up with hydrated skin.

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Eight Minutes In the Morning

I have a friend who gets up at 4:30 a.m. for Crossfit regardless of how many times her toddler got up in the middle of the night. If you have the stamina for that, then high five! I’m not a morning person, so exercising in the a.m. — especially after a short night of sleep — is out of the question. However, I have recently discovered a way to get a burst of energy in the morning without having to hit the gym. It’s called dry brushing.

At first I thought it was a silly fad, but once I started doing it I became a convert. It’s an easy way to get circulation going and feel more awake and alert when all you want to do is crawl back in bed. I dry brush and oleate my face with this Aveda kit, which takes only about two minutes. While the oil is on my face, I dry brush the rest of my body with a bamboo bristle brush for about three minutes. If you have never dry brushed before, you can find a lot of tutorials online.

After I dry brush, I take a minute to hydrate my skin with Plant Therapy peppermint body cream. The peppermint is cooling to the body and helps wake me up. After that, I go back to my face to remove the oil and give it a good, clean pampering. On rough nights when I don’t get a lot of sleep, I bust out the good stuff — Lancôme to the rescue! This Lancôme Visionnaire Starter Kit fits my budget and has all the essentials I need to finish off my routine so I can look well-rested for the rest of the day.

If I can’t treat myself to a good night’s sleep, I treat myself to 10 minutes of self-care so I can look and feel refreshed in the morning before tackling another busy day.

June 17, 2017

How to Add Summer Spice to Your Living Room

After wrapping up spring cleaning, I’m ready to jump into summer decorating. At our house, summer is a time when friends and family come to visit and we host dinner parties that extend way past our kids’ bedtimes. Summer is when our door is always open to welcome in both the ocean breeze and friends who stop by to drop off seasonal fruits or come for an extended stay. With simple changes to our living room decor that won’t break the bank, I can make my favorite room in the house inviting while keeping a summer vibe.

Bring the Color Inside

One of my favorite things about summer is how colorful everything is. The flowers are in full bloom, the trees have fruit on them and our gardens are overflowing — not to mention all the trips to the ocean and amusement parks and, oh, the drawn-out pink-and-orange sunsets. If you have the stamina to paint a wall or two, we say, “Go for it!” But if you just want a pop of color, spray paint can turn old, boring objects into something great. For example, you can spray paint the base of an old lamp or a vase that hasn’t been used lately. Adding pops of color will make your living room design look fresh and modern.

Make Seasonal Curtains (Don’t Be Intimidated; I Promise It’s Easy!)

You may not want to have pineapple-print curtains all year round (although if you do, I won’t blame you), but, during the summer months, why not? We love this pineapple-print fabric from Jo-Ann Fabrics, and, with some Clip Rings, you can DIY your summer curtains with minimal sewing involved.

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Bust Out the Cookbooks

I love cooking. During the summer months, I have a few cookbooks I use constantly, such as my ice-pops, smoothies and ice-cream cookbooks. I take some of my summer cookbooks off of my bookshelf and put them in a picnic basket or on a bright serving tray on my coffee table. Making my cookbooks accessible to my guests makes for great conversations, and also gives me an idea of what people like to eat.

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Indulge in the Little Things

What are some things that remind you of summer? For me, it’s pools, fireflies and pineapples. When I see or smell a pineapple, I am often transported to some summer memory. I like to decorate with the things that evoke emotion. As you can tell by my DIY curtain print, I love pineapples so much that during summer I like to have pineapple-scented candles or pineapple votives around the house. They bring a smile to my face.

Summer is a time I can relax, when our house doesn’t have to be in perfect order to sustain the business of the school year. At the same time, I want our home to feel fresh and upbeat, and with a few little changes to our living room decorations I can make it happen!

June 16, 2017

Everything You Need to Know About In-Store Cash Back

This post has been updated to reflect minor changes in the In-Store Cash Back program.

Millions of Ebates members have discovered how easy it is to earn Cash Back for shopping online. But what if you’re shopping at your favorites stores in person? Maybe you need to try on a few sizes, swipe on some makeup swatches or pick up a last-minute gift on the way home from work. Great news: With In-Store Cash Back, you can start getting paid for those shopping trips you make in real life as well as online. Here’s how.

Step 1: Tap on the “In-Store” tab in the Ebates App.

No app? No problem! You can also do everything you need on the In-Store Cash Back page on Ebates.com. Or get the app here.

Step 2: Find the store you’re shopping at, and hit the “Link” button.

In much the same way that you activate Cash Back online, you can turn on your In-Store Cash Back offer by hitting the “Link” button in the Ebates app. If it’s the first time you’re linking an offer, you’ll need to add a credit or debit card to your account.

Rest assured, your private information is safely stored in a secure, encrypted environment. Learn more about that here. You’ll know Cash Back is turned on when the button now says “Linked.”

Step 3: Shop!

Shop with your linked card at the selected store and earn Cash Back. Boom! There’s no need to tell your salesperson and no forms to fill out — just the magic of Cash Back. Why can’t everything be this easy?

Now that you’ve got the hang of it, here are some more tips & tricks to shop like a boss with In-Store Cash Back:

Stick to Our Accepted Cards

We currently accept credit and debit cards from Visa or American Express. Add as many cards as you like to your account; there are no limits.

Use It Like a Credit Card

To unlock the magic of In-Store Cash Back, pay the credit way. Yep, that includes debit cards. If you pay with your debit card and use your PIN, we won’t be able to track it. So when you’re ready to check out, remember: “Credit, please!”

Link Before Shopping

Always link before you leap. If you shop at a store before linking an In-Store Cash Back offer to your card, you’ll miss out on that Cash Back. Don’t do this. We hate to see you upset.

Stand by for Confirmation

The suspense must be killing you, but never fear. The wheels to deliver that sweet Cash Back to your Ebates account are a-turnin’. We will email you or send you a push notification as soon as the store lets us know you shopped with an offer.

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Treat It Like a Secret

In-Store Cash Back offers are exclusive to Ebates members, so your savings secret is just between us. Store employees probably won’t know anything about these offers. Lucky for you, once you’ve linked an offer to your card you can just shop and pay. Everything happens behind the scenes, so you can just keep a look out for your confirmation email.

Stay Tuned for New Stores

If you love a store with all your heart and it’s not on this list, just wait. It could be soon! Make sure to check back as we continue to add more top stores. Trust us: Love is worth waiting for. Stack Your Rewards Link In-Store Cash Back offers to your store-branded credit cards to get both credit-card rewards and Cash Back!

Get an Extra 3% Cash Back

What’s better than In-Store Cash Back? An additional 3% Cash Back when you shop with the Ebates Visa Credit Card! Here’s a little math to break it down: If a store is offering 5% In-Store Cash Back, you’ll earn 8% Cash Back when you use the Ebates Credit Card. Learn more.

See the Deets

Click the “See Details” dropdown under each store to see the offer limits, exclusions and all the fine print. You must link and use the offer before it expires, or else the chance for In-Store Cash Back will disappear like a stealth ninja.

Make Sure to Relink Those Offers

Shopaholics, this one’s for you. Once you’ve earned your In-Store Cash Back, you can relink the offer from the store and shop again.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this crash course on earning Cash Back in stores. Check out our video to see how easy it is to earn In-Store Cash Back. Now go forth and turn window shopping into Cash Back shopping!

June 15, 2017

Save on Makeup: Affordable Alternatives to Hot Brands

A bold lip can improve your life. Not only is it an instant pick-me-up, but it’s also an easy, commitment-free way to change up your look without spending a fortune. And you don’t even have to splurge on department-store lines. Our favorite under-the-radar brands offer cosmetics that cost less than a latte. Here, five new companies to consider.

1. If you love MAC, you’ll appreciate NYX Cosmetics

MAC Cosmetics has a cult following, and it’s easy to see why. The edgy makeup company delivers on both classics (just ask fans of their cult-classic red lipstick, Ruby Woo) and trends (like their Good Luck Trolls, RiRi Hearts and Barbie collections) in a fun, spirited way. Get your fix the cheap way with NYX Cosmetics. This line, available at CVS and Walgreens, features slick packaging and amazingly bold shades of super-pigmented matte lipsticks. Smart swap: NYX Professional Makeup Dose of Dew Face Gloss ($9) instead of MAC Extra Dimension Skinfinish Highlighter ($33).

2. If you love Stila Cosmetics, you’ll love e.l.f. Cosmetics

Stila is the reigning favorite for gorgeous shimmers, metallics and sheer eye shadows. Kitten, a soft, pretty pink, is a makeup-artist staple. The packaging is simple yet pretty, and the quality is makeup-artist worthy. For a more affordable fix, check out e.l.f. Cosmetics. Everything is less than $30, including the fan-favorite glimmering eye shadows. Smart swap: e.l.f. Cosmetics Baked Eye Shadow Trio ($1.60) instead of Stila Eye Shadow Trio in Gold Glow ($12).

3. If you love NARS, you’ll love Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics

From orange-red Heat Wave to shocking pink Schiap, NARS Cosmetics consistently creates the best bold lipsticks. However, at almost $30 a pop, they aren’t exactly a cheap thrill. Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics (OCC) is well-known for its Lip Tar. The super-pigmented tubes are available in intense shades and mini sizes. Smart swap: Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Stained Gloss in New Wave ($9.50) instead of NARS Larger Than Life Lip Gloss in Place Vendome ($26).

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4. If you love Too Faced, you’ll love Barry M

If you’re addicted to palettes, chances are you know about Too Faced. The Peach Glow compact is super popular, and the adorable packaging (Sweethearts Bronzer, Chocolate Soleil) is a step up from your basic bronzers. A line you might not already know is Barry M. Popular in the United Kingdom, the brand specializes in neutral palettes. It also sells fun swivel-up blush sticks, glitter pots and cheap lipsticks. Smart swap: Try Barry M’s Contour Kit ($11.50) instead of Too Faced’s Cocoa Contour Chiseled to Perfection ($42).

5. If you love Clinique, you’ll love Physicians Formula

Clinique is a classic for simple packaging and products perfect for sensitive skin. Its Dramatically Different Foundation is one of the most beloved beauty products of all time. Drugstore line Physicians Formula has a similar mission statement, but offers products that are a fraction of Clinique’s prices. Physician’s Formula specializes in cosmetics for people with allergies. Find eye shadow palettes for less than $12 and glosses for less than $10. Smart swap: Try Physicians Formula Nude Wear Touch of Glow Foundation ($15) instead of Clinique’s Even Better Makeup SPF 15 ($28).

June 13, 2017

How I Saved More Than $1,600 on My Wedding: Bridal Party Gifts

My fiance, Ryan, and I are planning a wedding in Healdsburg, California, in the heart of wine country. Like so many couples, we’re learning that planning a wedding means lots of shopping. Whether it’s paper for your invitations or ties for your groomsmen, spending becomes second nature. So, as a bride with a budget she’d like to stick to, I’m obsessed with getting the best deals when I can. Thankfully, Ebates helped me save on so many wedding essentials, such as invitations, decor, attire — even our honeymoon. In this series of posts, you’ll get a chance to see exactly how much I was able to save and how.

Weddings can be expensive for brides and grooms. This we know.

The cost for the bridal party to be in a wedding, though not nearly as much, is also high. Asking someone to be in your wedding is a commitment, which is why thanking them for making that commitment (and doing it with a huge smile) is essential.

Giving groomsmen and bridesmaids gifts is one of the best ways to show your gratitude to some of your favorite people. We also wanted to give our parents something special to thank them for all their help (not to mention years of support).

Ryan and I were able to save almost $500 on some really meaningful and fun gifts. Here’s how:

Bridesmaids Gifts

With a bridal party filled with sisters and friends, I wanted to make sure every one of them understood they were special to me. Standing up for someone at their wedding isn’t the cheapest of endeavors, nor the most convenient. But they were all there for me during the planning process and on the wedding day. It was so fun to spend the early part of the day with my best friends, getting our hair done and telling stupid jokes.

This camaraderie was even more fun when I presented them with a few little gifts. First, these “Mornings Are for Mimosas” racer-back tanks from Design by Humans were perfect for getting ready. They were loose enough to slip over our heads without messing up our gorgeous wedding hair, and they inspired a sort of pride in our pre-noon cocktails. Since the wedding was taking place at a winery, some wine-themed bridesmaids gift ideas were in order. I purchased these etched stemless wine glasses, personalized for each bridesmaid. The wine glasses were 20% off and even more discounted thanks to a BOGO coupon at Things Remembered, which also offers 6.5% Cash Back at Ebates. The savings on the wine glasses was huge, and they turned out to be as adorable as they were useful that day.

I also wanted a gift that was somewhat nicer and reflected something that was personal to me. I opted for these astrology art prints from Minted.com, which was offering 10% Cash Back at the time I purchased them.

And to top it off, I wrote each bridesmaid a very simple thank-you note with adorable greeting cards from Greeting Card Universe. I thought that, plus all my thanks during the big day, would come close to showing them each how much it meant to have them standing up there with me.

Savings

Ebates Cash Back savings: $30

Total saved on bridesmaids gifts: $100

Groomsmen Gifts

Ryan decided our gift to the groomsmen would be part of their attire for the day. It was also a great way, Ryan pointed out, to make sure they wore the same thing and looked snappy (they did). In the end, the groomsmen’s look was one of my favorite visuals of the entire day. The bow ties and leather suspenders came together perfectly for a sophisticated but wine-country-chic look. Plus, going jacketless was the casual touch that helped Ryan’s baller suit stand out so well.

Our Cash Back button told us there was a buy-one-get-one-free coupon available at Men’s Wearhouse for ties and an additional 50% off additional items — plus free shipping and 4% Cash Back — so we scooped up some classy bow ties for the guys that were perfect for our winery wedding. The tan leather suspenders we purchased from the Belt Outlet — where we enjoyed 5% Cash Back at Ebates — were 25% off and included free shipping, saving us a ton.

Savings:

Ebates Cash Back savings: $15

Total saved at Men’s Wearhouse: $140

Total saved at Belt Outlet: $65

Total saved on groomsmen gifts: $220

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Parents

Although they weren’t technically part of the bridal party, our parents were an important part of the day for us. We believed they deserved a little special recognition, and decided to shower them with a couple gifts to show our love and appreciation.

For both sets of parents, we landed on etched frames from Things Remembered, personalized with a picture of the three of us and a sweet note. The frames were on sale, thanks to a buy-one-get-one-half-off deal at Things Remembered and a 20% off coupon for personalized items I discovered with the handy Ebates Cash Back button in my browser. Then, of course, the store’s 6.5% Cash Back saved us even more.

We also wanted to give the moms and dads separate experiences that would relax them and make them feel special. For the moms, we landed on massages. In hindsight, maybe we were thinking more about what we wanted after the wedding. They both loved their local Groupon massage, which we booked for them and scheduled into their visit. Not only were we able to give them the perfect gift, but we also saved a ton. Groupon’s deals are no joke, and we saved about half off the regular price of each massage, plus an extra 25% off coupon that was valid for a few days around the time of our purchase and 6% Cash Back.

While the moms were getting pampered, the dads and Ryan and I put their gift to good use: a foursome at the beautiful Napa Golf Course. They couldn’t have been happier, and we were happy to get some quality time with them — a gift for us as much as for them. Again, Groupon’s amazing built-in discounts gave us an incredible deal on the round, and an extra 20% off.

Savings

Ebates Cash Back savings: $20

Total saved at Groupon: $45

Total saved at Things Remembered: $40

Total saved on parents’ gifts: $85

Total saved on bridal party gifts: $470

To sum up all these incredible deals, we saved $470 on bridal party and parents’ gifts. These gifts came close to expressing our thanks to some of the most important people that made the day so wonderful.

Next up, I’ll recap all my wedding deals. Stay tuned to learn how much I was able to save on our wedding overall.

June 8, 2017

5 Gifts New Dads Would Never Buy for Themselves But Totally Need

Do you have a friend who just ventured into the life-altering journey otherwise known as fatherhood? He’s probably received plenty of gifts from friends and family — all of which are for the baby, of course — but new dads need some love too. If you want to get him something memorable, skip the diapers and wipes and get him something unexpected. Something he’d never buy for himself, especially since he’s saving up for that first month of daycare. You’ll be helping yourself, too, by earning Cash Back at Ebates while shopping for all the best products.

Help Him Keep Up Appearances

Most dads have to get back to work shortly after their little one is delivered. That means sleepless nights followed by eight-hour workdays. He may feel like a zombie, but he doesn’t have to look like one. Pick up this grooming kit from Kiehl’s to help in that department. By now, he’s had no time to shop — even for the essentials — so it’ll be a welcome change from digging for that travel-size bottle of shaving cream he swears is somewhere in the depths of the bathroom cabinet.

Give Him Back His Dignity

If a new dad is going to be hauling around all of the baby gear, he should at least be able to do it with something stylish, right? No man ever thought about buying himself a diaper bag before those two lines appeared on the pregnancy test. Help a dude out and give him something respectable like this rugged tote from Brooks Brothers. It has a large compartment and is built like a tank, so he can lug around the goods without having to cut up his man card.

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Hand Him a Gift That Keeps on Giving

His life may have changed forever, but it doesn’t mean it’s over — although it might feel like it right now. Babies are expensive, so it’s going to be a long time before he can indulge in something for himself. That’s where you come in. If you can swing it, a Yeti cooler is the ultimate gesture. It will be much appreciated, especially down the road when he’s taking the family on a road trip. If it’s out of your budget, a Yeti Rambler Lowball will do the trick. He can fill it with whatever takes the edge off on a particularly hard day.

Make Mealtime a Breeze

Remember what I said earlier about leaving the house? New parents have a lot to think about. Take mealtime out of the equation with Home Chef’s meal delivery service. He’ll still need to prepare everything, but the fact that there are directions to follow and everything is portioned out is enough to save his sanity.

Build a Survival Kit

Last but not least, if you really want to make your mark, build your friend a new dad survival kit. Walgreens has everything you need to make it happen. Here’s what I suggest:

A boatload of snacks like jerky, chips and a favorite candy.
Earplugs. Don’t skimp on these. Get the good stuff.
Emergen-C, so he can stay in the game.
Tylenol. The big bottle.
A six pack of his favorite brew or a bottle of his favorite spirit.
More snacks.
A gift card to a local restaurant, Amazon or even Netflix. You know your buddy best. Get something he and his partner can put to good use.

June 7, 2017

How I Saved More Than $1,600 on My Wedding: Attire

Shopping for our wedding attire was one of the most fun tasks on our pre-wedding to-do list. Attire fell under multiple categories in our budget, so we were able to cover a few bases at once. We wore some of the attire on our wedding day, some of it was for the rest of the weekend’s festivities and some we wanted to give as gifts to our groomsmen.

With the wedding set in wine country, we were looking for simple and rustic, but sweet. Thanks to some of the deals you’ll read about below and Cash Back at Ebates, we were able to achieve that and save more on wedding attire than we could have dreamed.

Overall, we were able to save $600 on our wedding attire. Here’s how:

Welcome Party

Ryan and I had wedding guests coming in from all over the U.S., and some from overseas. One of our objectives was to bring everyone together to meet and get all the niceties out of the way on Friday night so that by Saturday they could just party. So we hosted a welcome party at a bar near our venue.

I wanted to wear something to the welcome party that was bridal enough to look celebratory without overdoing it. I certainly didn’t want to outshine my own wedding dress, so I opted for a more casual white ruffled shirt dress, glammed up with killer shoes.

The dress was on sale at JCPenney, where we had the benefit of 6% Cash Back at Ebates and in-store pickup, which saved us on shipping. The shoes were on sale, and we discovered an extra 25% off coupon for Macy’s shoes through the Ebates button. All in all, we saved $55 on my welcome party outfit.

Savings:

Ebates Cash Back savings: $10

Total saved at JCPenney: $25

Total saved at Macy’s: $20

Total saved on welcome party attire: $55

Groom’s Suit

Ryan decided that purchasing his wedding suit online was the best choice for him, and we found a great deal at Men’s Wearhouse for a cool suit that fit his style perfectly. It was cool blue and complemented nicely by a light bow tie and leather suspenders. Thankfully, we had great deals and Cash Back at Ebates working for us, and the suit was on sale for 50% off. We saved $260 on Ryan’s wedding-day attire. Seriously.

A quick aside: Although Ryan found his suit online, I decided that purchasing my wedding dress in person was the best choice for me. I did, however, do some pre-shopping online and found some stunning dresses at Saks Fifth Avenue, which has a selection that’s especially appealing if you’re going for something beautiful and nontraditional.

Savings:

Ebates Cash Back savings: $10

Total saved at Men’s Wearhouse: $250

Total saved on groom’s wedding suit: $260

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Wedding Shoes

Our big day was set on a ridge overlooking a vineyard, which meant comfortable shoes were in order. I really wanted to avoid kicking off my pretty shoes for flip-flops at the end of the night (which I did anyway, because the bumping dance floor required it!). Comfort and style were my main criteria, and I found the perfect block heel pumps at Macy’s that were sweet and summery without too many frills.

For his wedding footwear, Ryan opted for a pair of classic leather oxfords, also from Macy’s. They were — you guessed it — on sale, which meant that we saved $30 right off the bat. At the time we purchased them, we learned through our Ebates Cash Back button that there was a 30% off coupon available for purchasing two pairs of shoes, saving us even more. Tack on the 6% Cash Back at Ebates and we were ready to dance the night away.

Savings:

Ebates Cash Back savings: $8

Total saved at Macy’s: $57

Total saved on wedding shoes: $65

Groom’s Accessories

To complete the groom’s look, we decided that bow ties and leather suspenders would come together perfectly for the sophistication and wine-country-chic style he was going for. We also thought it would work well to purchase the same bow ties and suspenders for the groomsmen as gifts to ensure they all matched.

Our Cash Back button told us there was a buy-one-get-one-free coupon available at Men’s Wearhouse for ties and an additional 50% off additional items — plus free shipping and 4% Cash Back — so we scooped up some classy bow ties for Ryan and the groomsmen that were perfect for our winery wedding. The tan leather suspenders we purchased from the Belt Outlet — where we enjoyed 5% Cash Back through Ebates — were 25% off and included free shipping, saving us a ton.

Savings:

Ebates Cash Back savings: $15

Total saved at Men’s Wearhouse: $140

Total saved at Belt Outlet: $65

Total saved on groomsmen outfits: $220

Total Saved on Wedding Attire: $600

Overall, we saved $600 on wedding attire thanks to deals and Cash Back at Ebates, which was quite the pleasant surprise. It opened up our budget for other incredible experiences, and put more money than expected back into our pockets.

Next up, I’ll share even more wedding deals. Stay tuned to learn how I was able to save big on gifts for our wedding party.