Frugal Menu Mamas

I wrote this post on rebates at the beginning of my blogging journey.  Since writing it, I have filled out even more rebates.  However, I have become unorganized and I really needed to read my own post this week to keep me getting the most for my money.  Right now, there are a lot of great rebates out there.  I don’t post them all on here because this is not a “deal” blog…this is more of a “food” or “meal planning” or “money saving” blog….not sure how to categorize it.  Anyway, many of the deal blogs I subscribe to shout out rebate offers and link to the forms.  All I do is print them and use them. I especially love when the deal blogs give me purchasing scenarios for getting the most for my money!

So, here are some examples of deals I got the past few weeks because of combining sales + coupons + rebates.

-Glade Scented Oil Candles and Refills-I used the scenarios from Streching a Buck blog to guide me.  I didn’t get it quite exactly the way she suggested, but for me it will be a $3 money maker!

-Nabisco Crackers are on sale at Kroger this week for $1.99.  I got 4 coupon booklets at Kroger a week ago from a display that each had $1/2 boxes of Ritz, Wheat Thins, or Triscuits.  With the current Nabisco/Kraft rebate, I am getting 10 boxes of crackers for $.50 each!

Here are the rebates I used:

-SC Johnson

-Nabisco/Kraft

I searched the web and I had a hard time finding a site that lists current grocery rebates.  I did however, discover a forum about it at Hot Coupon World.

If using rebates still intimidates you, then check out these two articles on saving with rebates.

Save with Easy Grocery Rebates

How to Use Grocery Rebates for Extra Money

Now get saving!

Do you ever use rebates?

We use them all the time.

**My husband uses rebates for almost all the electronics we buy.  These are printed out on the receipts in store or when he purchases online he gets printable rebates.

**I get them at Rite Aide sometimes and submit them online or by mail for FREE products.  Look through their ad and they mention “single check rebates”.  You can ask for that month’s rebate directory and purchase the items.  All the directions are on the directory.  I have gotten kids Tylenol, Chapstick, and other items FREE through this.

**I find rebates in the coupon sections of the newspaper.  A few weeks ago there was a $10 rebate for some vitamins and medications.  I stocked up on the kids’ Flintstone vitamins and my Women’s One a Day and will get them for FREE after submitting the rebate (by mail).

**I find rebates online.  Mommysavers.com mentions rebates sometimes in their forums.  (look under “forums”, “deals & shopping”, and then “samples, freebies, & offers”)  This is how I have gotten FREE brownies, Post-Its, and I’m getting FREE Pepsi coupons soon!  I am not sure of other ways to locate them online, so if you know, PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT!

I am really starting to love rebates.  Here are a DO’s and DON’Ts I’ve learned so far:

–DO read ALL instructions before buying items.  Make sure you know exactly which items qualify for the rebate.

–DO still use coupons and sales when you buy the items.  This way you can possibly make a profit off a rebate, not just get a FREE item.

–DON’T waste your time on rebates for other products unless you really want them.  I only spend my time on cash rebates.

–DO save all receipts and UPC symbols.

–DON’T wait too long…rebates also have expiration dates!

–DO be organized about it.  I started a receipt file and plop all the receipts from each month behind the appropriate  tab.  I also started a folder for all rebate forms.  Put rebate to-do’s on your calendar or to-do list.

So, what are you waiting for?  Get rebating!

If this post was helpful to you or you have other tips, please leave a comment!