Tips & Tricks – Page 2

January 8, 2016

How to Save Money in the New Year

A new year is upon us and that means new resolutions! Spending less and saving more is one of the most popular New Year’s resolutions around. But keeping your wallet full and learning how to save money without a plan of attack can be a challenge. Check out our favorite tips for saving big this year.

1. Set Goals

Before you kick off your plan on how to save money this year, you’ll need to set some realistic goals. Review your budget to determine where you are and where you want to be by the end of 2016. Give yourself a weekly or monthly figure and set that money aside in a savings account. At the end of the year, you could have a chunk of change that you may have spent without a precise plan! And if you need help, ask a professional. See if you can reduce or cut out your banking and 401(k) fees and learn how to utilize your HSA to the fullest, if you have one. While getting professional help isn’t free, it will certainly pay off in the long run to learn how to save money with your insurance and retirement planning.

2. Get Cookin’

Ditch the drive-thru and kick up your kitchen skills to save some serious dough. Pick up the weekly ads from your favorite local grocery store and scope out the best prices on all your essentials in order to plan affordable meals throughout the week. Portion everything out so you can grab and go in the mornings and skip those tempting lunches out. Keep your fridge stocked with prepped snacks and sides for healthy and affordable food options that beat eating out during the busy week. If you have a large family, opt for bulk grocery stores for the best values. If you’re cooking for a couple or snacking solo, freezing meals can be a great money-saving option, too. Whether you go into full-on chef mode or just cut out a few restaurant trips a week, you’ll get big savings in the end.

3. Go DIY

Conjure your inner crafter and save easy money all year long. Try making heartfelt handmade gifts for occasions throughout the year and skip those pricey presents. Say hello to your handy side and learn how to patch up clothing or fix things around the house rather than automatically replacing them with something shiny and new. You’ll enjoy the creative outlet, feel accomplished and save money all at the same time. Priceless.

4. Ditch Daily Habits

Breaking the bank on your morning brew? Hitting up the vending machine midday? Those costly little habits and treats can add up quickly. If caffeine is your cup of tea, why not invest in a good coffee maker and save money every day? You’ll definitely see the difference in your bank account by breaking these little daily indulgences.

5. Change Things Up

Pennies and dimes and quarters, on my! Coins can seriously weigh down your purse or wallet. Repurpose an old jar and keep it on your counter for an easy way to store all that spare change. It’ll add up faster than you think! Cash it in and use it towards groceries, essential supplies and more. Plus, kids love counting the coins and keeping track – make it a fun family goal!

6. Ridesharing Rules

Easily save money on gas and costly wear and tear on your car by creating a carpooling system. Chat with coworkers who live in your neck of the woods to see if they’d be interested in commuting together. Ridesharing even a couple days a week can add up to quick savings. Determine your gas costs and see if it makes more fiscal sense to take other affordable public transportation options if they’re available to you. Explore your area for simple ways to save easy money with buses, bikes and trains.

7. Recycle & Reuse

Save money and be a pal to our planet by recycling and reusing! Skip those expensive disposable plastic water bottles and opt for something reusable. You’ll save money at the grocery store every week just by making one simple change! Leave those budget-blasting paper plates and plastic utensils behind as well and save money instantly.

8. Vacay on a Budget

Saving money doesn’t mean you have to cut out all the fun! Head out on your family vacation or weekend getaway, but do your research in advance. Scope out sites like Groupon Getaways and LivingSocial for amazing travel deals and save big with Cash Back at Ebates. Comparison shop for discount hotels and get insider tips on the best food and drink deals at your destination. Two words: happy hour.

9. Shop Smart with Cash Back at Ebates

Why spend more if you don’t have to? When you shop through Ebates.com, you’ll earn Cash Back at tons of the most popular online retailers. It’s such as easy way to save big on the items you were going to buy anyway! From food and entertainment to apparel and so much more, get Cash Back at Ebates when you sign up for a free account. You can easily see your Cash Back activity and sign up for emails on all the hottest sales and specials. Now that’s easy money!

Now that you have our top tips on how to save money and get plumper pockets this year, go forth and save big. Wishing you a wonderful 2016!

Prices and Cash Back percentages are subject to change.

December 21, 2015

These Browser Plugins Will Take Your eBay Game to the Next Level

eBay is a great resource for both buying and selling, but you can only go so far without a little help. Luckily, there are a ton of browser plugins to assist you in your quest for online auction awesomeness. From price comparison to sniping assistants, these are the best browser plugins to up your eBay game.

eBay (Chrome, Firefox, Safari)

eBay, naturally, has its own browser plugin. This plugin lets you keep track of items you’re selling and bidding on, as well as keep up with eBay’s daily deals. It also lets you save searches and keep up with your saved sellers.

Fast Search for eBay (Chrome, Firefox)

This extension does exactly what it promises: helps you search, fast. Its features include: the ability to search eBay international sites, search suggest, follow search configurations, watch listings and dozens of sorting options. Fast Search for eBay is very customizable and is a great tool for the eBay power user.

Snipe It (a.k.a. Myibidder Auction Bid Sniper) (Chrome, Firefox, Android, iOS)

Snipe It lets you automatically “snipe” an item, meaning place a bid in the last few seconds of the item’s auction. This extension installs a “snipe it” button on every eBay auction page for easy sniping. Just tell it which products to snipe, then sit back and let it do the rest for you.

What’s It Worth? (Chrome, Firefox, Android, iOS)

This super-helpful browser plugin gives you an idea of how much your stuff will sell for on eBay. It uses the average eBay value of similar items successfully sold on eBay in the previous few weeks. What’s It Worth? is a great tool to help you determine if it’s worth your time to sell an item on eBay, as well as to see how much you should be paying for a given item.

eBay Amazon Price Comparison (Chrome, Firefox)

Use this extension for an easy side-by-side comparison of a given item’s price on eBay and Amazon. Just search for your item and the extension shows you both marketplaces at the same time. This plugin is super helpful for the savvy, price-conscious shopper who wants to make sure he or she is getting the best deal.

My eBay Manager (Chrome, Safari, Firefox)

Super-organized eBay users will love this plugin, which helps you keep track of all your eBay activity at any given time. Because you’re always signed in, you can check on your eBay listings and purchases at any time, all in one easily accessible place.

SellerTab (Chrome, Safari, Firefox)

SellerTab gives you an easy way to track all your eBay seller activity from one homepage. Install the extension to be able to view all of your seller highlights each time you open your browser. You can also track new purchases and see how many items need to be shipped out at any given time. This is a great organizational tool for the active eBay seller.

eBay Live (Firefox)

This cool extension is basically a miniature version of eBay’s site. You can quickly view your watched items, sold items, etc., in one pop-up sidebar. This is a great way to stay on top of all your eBay activity quickly and easily.

eBay Negs! (Firefox)

We all want to give people the benefit of the doubt, but sometimes you just need to get the dirt on an eBayer. eBay Negs! lets you easily view all a seller’s negative feedback with just a right-click. This is a great tool for deciding which eBay sellers are trustworthy enough to buy from.

eBay Worldwide Currency Converter (Firefox, Chrome)

Looking to buy an item from another country? This handy extension basically lets you shop eBay in your own country and currency. The tool makes international shopping a lot less painless, as you won’t have to constantly calculate currency conversions yourself.

Now you’re armed with the best eBay tools out there. Buy, sell, conquer eBay!

Prices and Cash Back percentages are subject to change.

February 19, 2015

Tips on Filing Taxes

It’s that time of year again, the time to file your taxes. Whether you’re a veteran expert, a loophole whiz, or a first time filer, we can all use a little refresher on the best ways to maximize our returns and minimize our liabilities. It might not be the most fun thing in the world, but filing your taxes doesn’t need to be a total drag. We’ve got you covered with tips for filing your taxes this year as well as where to get Cash Back while doing so.

1. Don’t put it off until the last minute.
While taxpayers don’t need to file their 2014 taxes until April 15, 2015, it’s never a good idea to wait until the final days to do it. Aside from running the risk of penalties, you might not leave yourself enough time to look into all of your possible deductions and credits thoroughly. And if you’re eligible for a tax return, who wants to wait for that check? Once you’ve finished filling your taxes, it’ll be a huge relief, and you can look forward to spending those returns on Amazon using Ebates cash back and coupons!

2. Hunt for deductions.
Filing your taxes might seem exhausting, but hunting for the deductions you’re eligible to receive can be fun in its own way. Things like moving more than 50 miles for a new job, donating clothes and household items to charity, or even job hunting can help you save money on your taxes, so it’s worth tracking your expenses and holding onto those receipts.

3. Determine whether to file jointly or separately.
While the vast majority of married couples chose to file their taxes jointly to save time, it’s not always the best strategy to maximize your savings. Try calculating your taxes both ways to determine which will be more financially advisable. It might take more time, but the savings are totally worth the extra elbow grease.

4. Use TurboTax.
Around four out of five taxpayers file their taxes electronically, and have done so for the past three years. One of the most common ways they’re doing it? TurboTax. The super user-friendly tax filing service is clear, efficient with your time, and directs you to potential deductions.

5. Use TurboTax coupons & coupon codes.
While the basic TurboTax service is free of charge, additional features and premium services are charged accordingly. But fear not, TurboTax coupons and coupon codes from Ebates can give you substantial savings on your filing fees, so you don’t have to cut into your return before it even arrives.

Filing your taxes might take a while to wrap up, but you’ll feel great once it’s done!

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Prices and Cash Back Percentages are subject to change.