Maximizing EBATES Cash Back Offers

November 26, 2018 by mommy Leave a Comment

I have been a loyal Ebates user for the past 5 years. I was super skeptical at first but after I got my first check, I was sold! Here are a few strategies I’ve used to get the best bang for my buck – so to speak!

Ebates Add On Icon

If you’ve never used Ebates before, its really easy to sign up and just as easy to use. Click here to sign up. To earn money, click through from the Ebates website or mobile app and make a purchase. You must click through the app in order to get the “Ebate”, but its super easy. You can also download the google chrome add on button. When you go to a website that’s on Ebates, it notifies you so you can be sure to get your “ebates”. Once you’ve added it, you’ll see the E in the add on bar, then a little box will pop up in the right side of the browser, once you click Activate all you have to do is shop and earn. Super easy.

In Store Cash Back

Go to In-Store Cash Back, then add your credit card(s) and debit card to Ebates and click link. If you’re worried about security, its safe. As safe as shopping on any other website out there. They’ve got their security (SSL) bases covered, thankfully. The most important thing is to remember to log back in to re-link the offers as they reset about every month or so. Once linked, all you have to do it shop (well, drive there, park, then shop with one of the cards you’ve linked.) Bed Bath and Beyond has a year round in store cash back offer, and I make $15-20/year. There are several others that pop up occasionally, like Petco and World Market that are great as well. I don’t live in a highly populated area but if you do you’ll see lots of stores listed that you may already be shopping at regularly.

Keep an Eye Out for Store Promotions

Amazon and a few other stores don’t always have a high % Ebates offers, but 3-4 times a year they do. So if you are an avid Amazon shopper be sure to check back often to make sure you’re making purchases through Ebates. You’d be buying it anyway, why not get 10% back!

Magazine Subscriptions

Do NOT purchase a magazine subscriptions anywhere else! I repeat DO NOT PURCHASE A MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTION ANYWHERE ELSE. Phew, sorry for the yelling, but seriously don’t do it. I have purchased all my magazines through Ebates for the past 5 years. I won’t even renew then – I always purchase through Ebates because of this! I love Magazines.com mostly because its simple up update my address and payment there, but 25% cash back! Its one of the most lucrative Ebates offers.

Check out the past two years of magazine subscriptions for me; $25 back in 2018!

Flowers and Gifts

Using Ebates encouraged me to send my in laws flowers and gifts more often, which gives me brownie points. Its also a great way to send a gift you know someone will love. Flowers.com and a few other sites always have pretty high Ebates cash back offers.

This is just a few of the flower stores that offer Ebates offers, but holy moly! 46% cash back?? That’s amazing.

Travel Sites

Most of the popular travel sites are on Ebates. So be sure to click through when booking directly. You’ll find both hotel sites like Marriott and Holiday Inn, as well as travel booking sites like Expedia and even Home Away. I have made a lot of cash from travel booking. Especially if you’re traveling for work and book your own travel. Be sure to book through an Ebates site and make a little extra cash.

Here is an example of an Ebates check that had a lot of travel related Ebates. The last column is my cash back amount.

Cash Out Options

Last year Ebates started offering a deal where you get 3-8% more cash back when you opt for a gift card instead of a check. (Yes, they actually mail you a check!) So if there is a store you shop at often, you can earn even more by opting for an e-certificate from that store. The past two “Big Fat Check” periods, I’ve opted for Kohls, but I’ve also done Petco in the past. Bam – all my dogs food was paid for from my Ebates money. When its getting time for the check to be sent, they will email to ask you if you want the check or if you want to opt for an eGift Card. They will show you the options, and what percentage more you’ll get for choosing that instead of the check. Its simple. In January of last year I got almost $15 more just by opting for an eGift card.

You can see how they add the adjustment to your account;

Have I convinced you? Ebates is the real deal.

My Exploration Educational Kit – Flash to the Past- Review

November 5, 2018 by mommy Leave a Comment

This post contains affiliate links.

I am obsessed with these monthly kids craft kits. I just love the concept and wish I’d thought of it (and had the finances to fund a start up!) because its really genius. We were early subscribers to the original Kiwi Crate, but recently my kiddo has been underwhelmed by those. So I started searching for a few new ones. We’ve tried two of the Kiwico kits, the kiwi crate and then also the tinker crate for older kids. I even thought I’d start making my own – but alas time doesn’t allow me to be that creative.

When researching, I stumbled upon My Explorations. Its a neat concept. There are two “tracks”; science and history. I decided to try the history “track”, because my daughter is really into history and social studies at school. (I love that about her.) They call is “Flash to the Past.” Each month it covers a different place in time, from modern to ancient history. My daughter is pretty picky and pretty antsy. Its hard to get her to sit in one place for more than a few minutes, unless she’s really interested in something, like a lego set. But she actually sat and did this. She did get bored before the last activity was complete, but came back to it in about 10 minutes, and finished it up. I call this a big accomplishment.

This would be the perfect Christmas gift or Hanukkah gift for a kid who is looking for something a little different. The website says its for kids 6-12 years old.

For the first shipment, they send you some introductory supplies, I assumed she’ll need in order to do next kit. Its very well made, and the graphics are bright. The paper is good quality. I’m considering getting this for my nephews, and I have pretty high gift giving standards. This is definitely up to the quality standard needed to gift to a family member or friend.

Adorable lunch box for storage.
Magnets, that will be used in later kits.
A note card with ring to hold cards in future kits.
A poster sized map of the world.
a few fun activity sheets to get you started.

My daughter really liked the crossword puzzle and code break activity sheet and she’s excited about the next shipment. I know she’ll be stalking the mailbox for the next few weeks.

Monthly Craft Subscription about history – My Explorations

Butcher Box – Bone-In Pork Shoulder

November 5, 2018 by mommy 1 Comment

This post contains affiliate links.

A few months ago a friend suggested that I try Butcher Box. She raved about it. I was skeptical because, well, I am usually not a fan of “grass fed” beef. It has a gamey flavor that just doesn’t taste good to me. However, I am all for humanely raised and cleaner ingredients, so I decided to order their basic box. O.M.G. She was RIGHT! The family, who really doesn’t care as much as I do where our meat comes from, absolutely raves about quality of the protein at dinner.

I opted for the box that has beef, chicken and pork, but if you don’t eat one or more of those you can customize what you get. When I ordered, there was a deal to get free ground beef for life, but now its Free Bacon for Life. Which in my opinion, is better. The bacon they send is Whole30 approved (in fact the only bacon I’ve found that is 100% Whole30 approved) and is super good.

Going on Now – Get $40 Off & Free Bacon at ButcherBox

Each month, I get something different. But in every box so far, its been 3 months, I’ve gotten chicken and ground beef. I also add on bacon (which is why the free bacon deal is so great.) I have also gotten, a bone-in pork shoulder, chicken breasts, ground beef, baby back ribs, beef rips, beef sirloin tips, sirloin steaks, ribeye steaks, pork breakfast sausage, and bacon.

Right now, I have a 5 lb bone in pork shoulder in the oven. This pork is good on a roll or served by itself. Depending on preference. Its also one of the easiest recipes I’ve ever cooked. Literally, you season the meat, then pop it in the oven, and walk away! Its also Whole30 approved. However, its definitely not just for Whole30ers. Its a great Sunday dinner. It does slow roast for a long time, so you’ll need to make sure you make it on a day when you’ll be home. I roasted my for 6 hours. I made some homemade baked potato chips and warm brussel sprout slaw (a variation of this My Clean Kitchen Recipe) without the cranberries and balsamic. Dinner was excellent. My dad joined us for dinner, and he is kind of picky. He cleaned his plate.

Butcher Box – Bone-In Pork Shoulder

Yield: 6

Butcher Box – Bone-In Pork Shoulder

5-6 lb Bone In Pork Shoulder
Salt and Pepper, to taste

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F. Be sure rack is in middle position.
Line a rimmed baking sheet with heavy duty aluminum foil
Season the Pork Shoulder with salt and pepper on all sides.
Please fat side up on the lined baking sheet.
Score the fat cap diagonally with a sharp knife.
Slow roast in preheated oven for 6-7 hours, or until the pork is very firm when poked with a fork. Be sure its on the the middle rack.
Remove from oven, and tent with aluminium foil, for 15 minutes, or until almost ready to serve.
Raise oven temperature to 500 degrees F.
Remove foil tent and place Pork Shoulder back in 500 degree oven. This will crisp the outside and fat.
Rotate every 5-6 minutes, until fat is blistered.
Remove from oven and allow to rest another 15 minutes.
Slice and serve.

http://wecookwecraft.com/butcher-box-bone-in-pork-shoulder/