Guest Post--Kristyn from Red Carpet Closet

Hi, Everyone!  Elle is kindly letting me fill in today.  Since she has one of the best sites on the internet for quick and affordable tips, I thought I would share some of my best tips with you for online shopping!  One of my favorite ways to shop is via the internet.  The transactions are quick, I don’t have to be bothered by salespeople who hover while I shop, and if I do need assistance, many sites now have a Live Chat option for immediate customer service.  The amazing part about shopping online is the deals that are available.  I recently wrote about a pair of Jessica Simpson shoes that I bought and I was paid $1.80 to buy them.  Yep, you read that correctly, I was paid $1.80.  


Two of the best sites I use to shop are RetailMeNot and Ebates.  I know many of you know all about the coupon codes available at RetailMeNot, but I am still surprised that savvy shoppers are in the dark about Ebates.  Ebates is an online rebate site that gives you a percentage back on your purchase.  The percentage varies from retailer to retailer, but holiday weekends are often a great time to gear up and shop as the Ebates are often doubled for the shopper. Once you have signed up on the Ebates site, you will find major retailers like Piperlime, Nordstrom, Target, and Macys participating in this program. I know you are thinking, “What’s the catch?”.  There isn’t a catch; you are getting money back to shop at these sites. So, as we wind down the first long weekend of the summer, here’s how you can prepare for some Fourth of July shopping.  

1. Scour the internet on sites like RetailMeNot for coupon codes, money off, free shipping, or free gift with purchase.  These coupon codes can be used in conjunction with your Ebates account.

2. Make sure you have your Ebates account ready to go.  If you would like to sign up and receive $5 with your first purchase, click here.  Find the retailer you are looking for on the site, Ebates will automatically create a tracking ticket once you click on the retailer’s link, and then start shopping.  

3. Sit back, relax, and wait for your new purchases to arrive.  Ebates will keep track of your purchase with the retailer you shopped with.  Your check from Ebates will arrive once a quarter.  I received a check for $41,51 from my Christmas purchases and I was recently paid $26.46 for the first quarter of the year.  Not bad at all!

If you want to read more about my online shopping habits, you can check out my article on “How To Save Money Shopping Online” here.  I would love to hear from you about some of your online money saving strategies.  Thank you, Elle, for letting me share my tips with your readers!

Kristyn –Red Carpet Closet