Holiday – Page 6 – user's Blog!

August 26, 2016

4 Ways to Maximize Your Holiday Travel Budget

The holidays are coming up fast. First there’s wedding season, three-day weekends, then suddenly you’re booking last-minute plane tickets to Thanksgiving dinner and buying gifts for December. Before you know it, your travel budget is stretched to the limit.

But there’s still time to save money on airfare, cars and hotels. Here are some tips to make the most of your holiday travel budget.

1. Consider ridesharing. If you only have to travel from your hotel a couple of times a day, it may not be worth the expense to rent a car. Find out if a ride-booking service like Lyft or Uber is available at your destination and compare costs.

2. Strategize your stay. At fall weddings, you may end up in a block of hotel rooms booked by the newlyweds, which can limit the opportunity to save money, so try looking for ways to cut costs on other trips. If you’re traveling to be with your family for the holidays and need your own space, check out options such as Airbnb and HomeAway.

3. Travel light. Some airline travel cards include a free checked bag. If you must pay by the bag, go with a compact suitcase or backpack. Not only will bringing less save money, you’ll also spend less time at baggage claim.

4. Use travel credit cards strategically. You probably have a travel credit card if you travel frequently. And while it may be tempting to use those points for holiday travel, it may be better to accumulate points instead of spending them. Compare prices for flights at traditional travel sites like Priceline or Orbitz, or try newer options such as Skiplagged and Skyscanner. Check the exchange rate for your points to see if you’re getting the same or better value compared with buying a ticket. Don’t use the points just because you have them. Instead, save points for off-season travel, when points or miles will stretch further. If you belong to an airline’s rewards program, check out The Smart Shopper’s guide to making the most of your airline perks.

July 27, 2016

15 Free College Apps to Make You a Star Student This Fall

Whether you’re coming face to face with your first semester of college or you are a veteran academic, chances are you could use a little help getting in gear for all the long nights of cramming ahead of you. Not to mention, getting organized is a crucial element to surviving higher education. Check out this list of 15 completely free apps for school success including study apps and tools to manage the loads of information you will be taking in this fall. If you’re browsing through The App Store and find a paid version you can’t refuse, remember you can get it with Cash Back at Ebates!

1. Studious – Never use a planner book again. Studious has your class schedule, assignment due dates, notes, campus map and more all in one place. It even silences your phone automatically when you are in your scheduled classes. No more embarrassing rings!

2. myHomework Student Planner – Another one of our favorite organizational school apps for students is the myHomework Student Planner, which is similar to Studious and lets you sync across multiple devices and your desktop.

3. Voice Recorder – Recording a lecture in class to be sure you don’t miss a beat is what makes Voice Recorders one of the best apps for college courses. Don’t splurge on a fancy digital recorder and use your phone, then easily download to your PC or store recordings on your cloud accounts for easy access.

4. Assignment Planner – Similar to project management software, Assignment Planner lets you prioritize assignments and school projects by due date so you can manage your time effectively. You can also keep track of your grades so you always have a handle on your GPA, no surprises come report card day.

5. Pocket – Get a head start on researching for that next term paper and store all of your online sources with Pocket. Videos, articles and more are kept all in one place for you to pore over later.

6. Sparknotes – Sparknotes have long been a trusted resource of study guides for English students. Now there is finally an app where you can access helpful study guides on literature, poetry, drama, philosophy and the ever mind-scrambling works of Shakespeare.

7. My Class Schedule – Stay on top of your class schedule with a color-coated calendar, due date alerts and widgets to keep you informed with the slightest of glances to your phone.

8. Evernote – Those pesky team projects can be super hard to organize. Take the hassle out of keeping communication lines clear with the Evernote project management app. Create to-do lists, instant message with you team, sync to any device and clip images and text from anywhere on the Web.

9. Khan Academy – The Khan Academy app is, indeed, the ultimate study buddy. Math students can enjoy instant feedback and step-by-step instruction while tackling serious equations. Khan Academy also gives you access to videos and content on other fields of study including sciences and the humanities.

10. EasyBib – Everyone knows that one of the hardest and most tedious yet probably the harshest graded part of any term paper is the bibliography. Now you can easily generate citations in multiple formats including MLA, APA, Chicago and more. You can even scan a book’s barcode with your phone for all the information you need and send them directly to your email.

11. Fast Scanner – Sharing class and lecture notes is now easier than ever. Simply use your phone’s camera to scan notes and convert into a PDF for easy sharing. Image editing tools can help you make documents easy to read so nothing will get lost in translation.

12. Scholarships.com – Finding college scholarships can be tough since the information on them is so widespread and hard to filter by your needs and qualifications. This app makes things a little easier with a sophisticated search function and a database containing more than 2.6 million scholarships and grants.

13. PhotoMath – Another great resource for math students, PhotoMath lets you scan and instantly calculate complicated math problems using your phone’s camera. This is not just a cheat sheet, however. The app gives you step-by-step instruction on how to solve the problem in real time like a normal human being.

14. Gojimo – Test prep can be stressful. Study up for a variety of entrance exams, SATs and more with Gojimo. Take practice tests and see where you need to brush up on your studies before the big day.

15. Dropbox – Dropbox is file sharing made simple. Share anything on your phone or mobile device easily with other user classmates or teachers or simply store it for easy syncing to your desktop.

July 19, 2016

The Ultimate Guide to Teacher Discounts With Cash Back

Teachers, it goes without saying that you have one of the most important jobs in the entire world. You reward our kids with the endless gift of knowledge so it’s only fair that you get a few rewards yourself. Teacher discounts can be found at many stores, not only for school essentials and supplies, but also clothing and accessories so you can build your Back to School wardrobe for less. Check out this list of stores offering generous online discounts for teachers and Cash Back at Ebates.

Staples

Staples has a phenomenal reward program that offers up to 2% cash back (directly from Staples) on all of your purchases, free shipping with minimum purchase from staples.com and ink recycling rewards. Teachers score big with additional savings – including earning 10% back on teaching and art supplies – and bonuses that allow you to meet all of your classroom needs.

LOFT

Look your best at the front of the class with LOFT and shop with confidence that you’re saving money. LOFT gives back to educators by offering an additional 15% off every full-price purchase.

FedEx Office

The National Educators Discount Program allows teachers, faculty, professors and staff to take 15% off most FedEx Office services and products. Order online and save on the materials you need the most.

Jo-Ann

The free Teacher Rewards Discount Card offered by Jo-Ann’s offers educators 15% off all purchases.

Barnes & Noble

The B&N Educator Program allows teachers to save 20% off the publisher’s list price on all purchases for classroom use. On Educator Appreciation Days, the savings goes up to 25%.

Karen Kane

Stay stylish and comfortable this school year by shopping for the newest designer apparel at Karen Kane. Teachers receive 20% off all purchases.

STA Travel

One perk of being a teacher is having the summer off. Why not take that time to travel? STA Travel offers travel deals and products including discount flights on top airlines to teachers.

Lenovo

With the Academic Purchase Program, teachers can score discount laptops, tablets and desktops at Lenovo. Select your state and school for a list of eligible deals.

Prices and Cash Back Percentages are subject to change.

July 3, 2016

10 Thoughts on Hosting a 4th of July Party (In GIFs)

So you’re gonna go for it this year. You’re going to throw a 4th of July party and invite friends, family, coworkers, kids, basically a boat-load of people to your home to enjoy good eats and good times. You might even arrange an amateur fireworks show to top off the evening. It’s going to be great!

You’re ready to party like a patriot.

First, you tackle that long-overdue barbecue pit project.

With a little help, you get it done. Now to plan the menu and panic as you realize you invited vegetarians and vegans. What happens to tofu when it hits the grill?

You just want to make sure no one gets hangry on you. That is never pretty.

Then you remembered you invited your spinster aunt and consider making this a spirit-free occasion.

In fact, there are a few people on your guest list who are likely to get a little rowdy in…creative ways.

Also, does drinking and fireworks ever mix? Hopefully nothing like this happens…

Or worse, this…

And what about all those babies you invited? Do babies like fireworks?!

On second thought, maybe you’ll just watch fireworks on TV alone. That sounds fun. And safe.

Happy 4th of July everyone!

June 9, 2016

Father’s Day Gifts for Every Special Type of Dad

Father’s Day is coming up! For Father’s Day gift ideas that go beyond the expected, we are covering nine gift ideas for dad that are all about him. When you select a gift for the father figure in your life, don’t just think about the man he is today. Consider the guy who spent all those decades growing into the dad you know. Here are our top nine Father’s Day gifts, specially selected by dad type. Search for a gift promo code at Ebates and you can get the best gifts for dad with big savings.

The Gift: Subscription to the New Yorker

Why He Will Love It: For a dad who has never been afraid to tell people what he thinks, we recommend a subscription to a news and politics magazine from Magazines.com. Subscriptions are great gifts for men who say what they mean because they last all year and every new issue brings new topics of conversation. Give your dad something to talk about and you can earn Cash Back at Ebates, too.

The Gift: Flat Pouch Satchel

Why He Will Love It: This guy has been everywhere and done everything. Some of his stories are unbelievable. Like really, not believable. For a dad who’s a living legend, we recommend this stylish and sturdy satchel.This burly yet butter-soft, 100% leather pouch is small enough to fit in the glove compartment but big enough to hold all the absolute essentials for a life of adventure.

The Gift: The ESQ by Movado Watch

Why He Will Love It: If you can keep pace, he will show you how to get more out of a weekend than you thought possible. This is a guy with goals and a will of steel, a guy with a great resume. For a dad who works hard and plays hard, we recommend the stainless steel and silicon ESQ watch by Movado. The ESQ keeps perfect track of hour, day and month all inside a sleek face. Plus it’s both durable and stylish so dad can keep track and keep up, from the boardroom to the boat.

The Gift: Personal Organizer Set

Why He Will Love It: His favorite saying is, “If you’re not early, you’re late.” For the guy who never misses an appointment, knows the birthdays of all the neighbors and wants to keep track of all the local events and happenings, we recommend this classic leather planner. He can make notes about all the local happenings with this stylish ledger.

The Gift: Wolverine 7-in-1 Film to Digital Converter

Why He Will Love It: In every family, there’s a record keeper. For the dad who knows where everything is because that’s where it belongs (and for heaven’s sake, don’t move it!) we recommend this incredible gadget that converts most films into digital files and automatically archives them. Preserving the past has never been so futuristic nor so compact.

The Gift: Cutlery Block

Why He Will Love It: Has your father ever made a dish that had the word “surprise” in the name? That’s the hallmark of a man with a passion for food. For dads who could give Gordon Ramsay a run for his money, we recommend this 13-slot Cutlery Block by KitchenAid. This cutlery storage block helps keep his most frequently used knives sharp and close at hand.

The Gift: Milky Way Wall Map

Why He Will Love It: For a dad who never really got over not becoming an astronaut, we recommend this laminated wall map of the Milky Way from National Geographic Store. Every possibility is open to you when you find the right perspective. This computer-generated model incorporates the positions of hundreds of thousands of stars and nebulae within the galaxy. Who says Father’s Day gifts can’t blow your mind?

The Gift: Personalized Sports Whistle Set

Why He Will Love It: He wore a jersey to your graduation. He wore a jersey at Thanksgiving dinner. Whether he’s a fan or a fanatic, for a dad that has always kept score, we recommend this personalized coach whistle. Every sports lover knows that the man with the whistle is king.

The Gift: Leatherman Crunch Multi-Tool

Why He Will Love It: If your dad loves to fix things up instead of throw them out, we recommend the only multi-tool on the market with locking pliers from the trusted Leatherman brand. It has every tool a tinkerer could ever want in one pocket-sized package. Plus, it looks like something Chuck Norris would use.

The Gift: Bootlegger Bourbon Gift Box

Why He Will Love It: His idea of unwinding at the end of a long day might include a comfy chair, the remote control, a libation and a tasty snack. That’s all the man needs for a recharge. He probably already has the chair and remote covered so fill in the blanks with this scrumptious gift box, complete with roasted cashews, toffee peanuts and mocha lentils. Sometimes the best Father’s Day gifts are simply delicious.

June 2, 2016

Where to Shop Gifts for Dad With Cash Back

Dads don’t get nearly enough credit. They’re more than just a baseball in the backyard or a socket wrench in the garage. While no greeting card on the rack may be able to accurately depict the love you have for the man, that doesn’t mean you won’t spend this Father’s Day making every attempt to harness your love and appreciation into the perfect gifts for dad. If you have no idea where to shop for Father’s Day gifts, allow us to point you in the right direction.

J.Crew

Dads aren’t the easiest to shop for but what dad couldn’t use some stylish new threads? So for easy Father’s Day gifts, the classic styling at J.Crew appeals to dads, plus they’re known to be incredibly soft. Their modern yet traditional plaid is great for casual work attire but also does well when you’re running about on the weekends together, catching a car show or hanging out on the boardwalk.

Savings Tips:
• Save up to 50% on your gifts for him with select sale items.
• Get 15% off your first purchase with a J.Crew credit card and earn a $25 Rewards Card for every $500 you spend.
• Get $5 flat rate shipping or spend $150 or more and get free shipping.

Cabela’s

If your fondest memories of dear old dad exist while you were hunting game or reeling in fish, Cabela’s has you covered. What better way to show your appreciation than with some upgraded gear? Cabela’s has a great variety of Father’s Day presents, including the latest in reel technology and the hottest new turkey calls.

Savings Tips:
• Get up to $75 in mail-in rebates in Cabela’s Coupons, Promo Codes and Special Offers section.
• Save up to 70% off when you shop from the Bargain Cave section. Hunting clothing, fishing gear and camping equipment are all on sale.
• Sign up for the Club Visa and earn $20 after approval.

Best Buy

If your dad loves to fly his nerd flag, Best Buy is your best bet. They feature the best in Father’s Day gift ideas for technophiles. Share in his enthusiasm with the latest and greatest in smartphones, headphones, wearables and even those stylish 2-in-1 laptops. Shop their Father’s Day sales events and get the best deals on the items he’ll love the most.

Savings Tips:
• Save 50% or more on hundreds of sale and clearance items. Appliances, cameras, computers and more are all on sale.
• Get 5% back in rewards with the Best Buy credit card. You’ll gain access to exclusive deals and sales and get rewarded for your purchases.
• Check out their Deal of the Day to find the best price on a select item for that day only.
• Their price match guarantee means you’ll always save the most by shopping at Best Buy, plus you’ll earn Cash Back at Ebates while you’re at it.

Moosejaw

While you’re out enjoying the great outdoors with dad, make sure you come prepared. Moosejaw has all of the gear you need for hiking, camping, cycling, rock climbing and more. Take in nature with dad by your side and get the perfect gift to pair with your new memories.

Savings Tips:
• Earn 10% on every purchase with Moosejaw Rewards. Your points can be used towards all kinds of goods in Moosejaw’s rewards system.
• Get volume pricing for group sales. Moosejaw offers special pricing for bulk orders to sports teams, businesses, universities and government entities. So if your local basketball team needs more than 10 shirts or shorts, email them for a quote and everyone can save a bundle.

May 2, 2016

Subscription Boxes That Make Awesome Gifts

Looking for a last-minute gift for her that keeps on giving? Give the gift of a monthly subscription box and she will be thinking of you every time she receives a new package in the mail. From must-have makeup items to healthy snacks that will keep her fueled so she can keep being the Superwoman she is, subscription boxes have it all with zero elbow grease on your end. Plus, they get you Cash Back at Ebates. What’s not to love? Check out our top subscription boxes below and let us know which ones you think your BFF, sister, mother, whoever can’t live without.

Birchbox

If she is a makeup maven, then trying new cosmetics samples will be right up her alley. Sign her up for Birchbox and she’ll get a monthly delivery of personalized beauty samples. Think of all the fun she’ll have discovering new favorites!

Price: $10/month or get the annual subscription for $110 (that’s one month free!)

Shop Now with 4% Cash Back>

POPSUGAR Must Have

With POPSUGAR Must Have, she’ll get full-sized items including the best in fashion, beauty, and home with a total value of $100+ in each package. It’s everything a fashion-forward woman could possibly want.

Price: $39.95/month. Save $10 off a 3-month subscription or $25 off a 6-month subscription.

Shop Now with 3% Cash Back>

Cate & Chloe VIP Jewelry Box

Accessorize a little or a lot! Choose between receiving 1-3 jewelry pieces per month to keep her look on-trend for less.

Price: $19.99/month for the Starter Package, $29.99/month for the Double the Fun Package or $39.99 for the Full VIP Package.

Shop Now with 7.5% Cash Back>

Scentbird

If her favorite thing about a trip to the mall includes free scent samples, this is for her. Give her a 30-day supply (4 sprays/day) of a designer fragrance every month.

Price: $14.95/month

Shop Now with up to $5.00 Cash Back>

Graze

Snacking healthy can be hard for someone on the go. Make life just a little easier (and tastier) with eight hearty snacks each month. Customize a box with over 100 snack options and find the things that make her taste buds sing.

Price: Snack boxes cost just $11.99 including delivery. Choose from weekly, every two weeks, or once a month.

Shop Now with $1.50 Cash Back>

Beauty Box 5

With Beauty Box 5, she will get five monthly samples of her favorite beauty brands so she can play with her MOTD without spending a dime.

Price: $12/month for regular subscription or get 3 boxes for $30, 6 boxes for $60, or 12 boxes for $99.

Shop Now with $4.00 Cash Back>

Julep

Got a gal pal who never skips a trip to the nail salon or is passionate about keeping her skin glowing? Let her experiment fearlessly with Julep’s monthly beauty box. She’ll get on-trend, full-size beauty or skincare products each month — curated just for her!

Price: $24.99 for a monthly subscription or $19.99 for a 3-month subscription. Gift Options: 6 Boxes, $119.94. 4 Boxes, $79.96. 2 Boxes, $39.98.

Shop Now with 5% Cash Back>

Wantable

Give her the best in style, fitness, accessories, makeup or intimates. Wantable curates personalized collections to fit each woman perfectly. Each collection contains premium, full-size items handpicked by their stylists. You send the gift and she gets to select a category, take Wantable’s style quiz, and receive a gorgeous collection tailored to her individual preferences.

Price: If she selects Makeup or Accessories, you’ll be billed $40. If she selects Intimates, you’ll be billed $50.

Shop Now with 10% Cash Back>

April 29, 2016

Our Complete Mother’s Day Coupons Roundup

Spoiling mom this Mother’s Day doesn’t have to put a huge dent in your wallet. We know hunting for coupons or a promo code can be a tedious task, so we’ve made it easier for you to save big with Mother’s Day deals! Check out our complete list of Mother’s Day coupons from top stores offering Cash Back at Ebates. You can search my store name or even sort the list by merchant, offer or expiration date. All Mother’s Day promo codes below are now active so you can start shopping right now. Have a wonderful Mother’s Day!

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Be sure to stay tuned to The Smart Shopper! We’re always discovering new trends, adding new stores and coupons, and rounding up more ways to get paid to shop for the things you love. Whether you’re into fashion, tech, home and garden, travel or sports, we have the inside scoop on the best products and deals online and in-store. Check out our Lifestyle section on the blog for in-depth tips on party planning, travel, DIY, parenting and more. The Smart Shopper isn’t all about spending or saving money. It’s about how the things we buy create the life we love for ourselves and our families.

If you’re not an Ebates member, join today to free for access to thousands of coupons and promo codes in addition to Cash Back. Did you know there are more ways to get Cash Back than visiting us online? Download the Ebates App for iPhone or Android and add the Cash Back Button (available for Chrome) to your browser so you never miss out on Cash Back again. Getting Cash Back has never been easier. Once you try us, we know you’ll be hooked. Don’t forget to tell your friends! They’ll get a welcome bonus and you’ll get extra Cash Back once they complete their first purchase. Ebates is where it pays to shop!

April 26, 2016

Where to Find the Best Gifts for Mom

Mother’s Day is the big day to celebrate the mothers in your life and to let them know how much they mean to you. Being a mama is tough work so it’s important that your gift thanks her for the many years of being there for you, particularly if you were an exceptionally difficult teenager. You don’t have to break the bank to get an extraordinary gift though, especially if you check out some of these awesome Mother’s Day offers and deals from stores you know mom loves. Plus, your budget will go even further thanks to Mother’s Day offers and fabulous Cash Back at Ebates when you shop online at any of these stores.

Saks Fifth Avenue

Being a mom requires a lot of selfless days and nights so why not spoil mom on her day to say thanks for all of her hard work? Saks Fifth Avenue is the perfect place to get deals on great gifts for mom that are sure to wow her.

Savings Tip:

Looking for inspiration? Check out the Saks Fifth Avenue Mother’s Day gift guide for dazzling gift ideas for mom in a wide range of prices so you can find the gift that works with your budget. Also shop from the Gift category in the Sale section for more great deals for mom.

magazines.com

Treating mom to a magazine subscription is always a great idea. Browse magazines.com to find great gifts for mom or get a gift card and let her pick out her own new favorite read.

Savings Tip:

Shop mom’s favorite magazines and save up to 94% when you order her a subscription during their Celebrate Mom sales event.

LivingSocial

LivingSocial is a great source for Mother’s Day gift ideas that will get mom out and about doing the stuff she loves best. Pick out gifts, getaways and local activities like massages and manicures when you shop Mother’s Day deals online at LivingSocial.

Savings Tip:

Shop the incredible bargains online at LivingSocial in the Coupons section to save up to 80% and earn Cash Back at Ebates.

Groupon

Get awesome Mother’s Day deals when you check out the incredible assortment of presents at Groupon! Book her a spa appointment, a weekend getaway or find tons of other great gifts for mom online at Groupon.

Savings Tip:

Check out Groupon the Clearance section to save up to 85% on jewelry, fancy new sheets or other fantastic presents for mom.

Lands’ End

At Lands’ End, finding great gifts for mom is a piece of cake. Check out Mother’s Day offers when you shop for clothing and accessories in luxurious fabrics and prints.

Savings Tip:

Save up to 60% when you shop the Women’s Sale section online at Lands’ End and get a great deal on a beautiful flowery cardigan and bright accessories for mom.

Sears

Make Mother’s Day extra special when you shop the great gifts for mom available at Sears. Get mom a new outfit or surprise her with a new appliance that’ll make her life easier with the great deals available online at Sears.

Savings Tip:

Shop the Mother’s Day deals online at Sears and find hundreds of gifts for mom that she’s sure to love!

Teavana

Help your mom relax with a fabulous new tea or tea set when you shop Mother’s Day deals at Teavana.

Savings Tip:

Shop the Teavana Sale section and get up to 50% off great Mother’s Day gift ideas like tea collections, mugs and more.

1800Flowers

For the quintessential gift for mom, shop Mother’s Day offers at 1800Flowers and pick out a gorgeous bouquet of her favorite flowers.

Savings Tip:

Take advantage of Mother’s Day sales and get a 25% off flowers promo code at 1800Flowers when you order early delivery.

March 22, 2016

Luxurious Easter Baskets for Grown Ups

We all know kids go crazy for Easter baskets. Who doesn’t love a rainbow basket full of plastic toys and sweet treats? Adults, that’s who. So if you’re ready to take this spring celebration back to the big kids’ table this year, we’ve got some recommendations on how to build some grown up Easter baskets anyone over the legal drinking age will absolutely adore. As an added bonus, these Easter treat ideas for adults all come with Cash Back at Ebates!

Beauty Gifts

From must-have makeup palettes to best-selling hair care, you can treat your family and gal pals to a whatever makes them feel beautiful without breaking the bank. All of these items are under $15! Easily find affordable beauty gifts to fill Easter baskets for grown ups with Cash Back from Sephora, The Body Shop, ULTA Beauty and more.

Pretty Plants

Mini succulents are not only easy to take care of, they are just too darn adorable. Your bestie may be no green thumb but she can still enjoy a little taste of nature at her office or home thanks to your thoughtful gift. Lowe’s has a great selection of cacti and succulents with Cash Back.

Finishing Touches

Help your BFFs top off their spring style with a few lovely baubles on a budget. Score simple jewelry pieces and accessories at stores like Old Navy and Claire’s in the spring colors and styles they need to stay on trend.

Fancy Feasts

Ditch the empty calories of candy and treat your main ladies to artisanal foods like cheeses, caviars, cured meats and more. Check out our gourmet foods section to find stores that offer high-end nibbles with Cash Back.

Spirited Away

If your friends appreciate a good bottle of wine, why not add that to your grown up Easter basket ideas? Find great selections at Wine Insiders, Direct Wines or Wine Library. Or you can give them a cute way to sneak a sip during the hubbub of family festivities with this adorable bunny flask from Etsy.