Ebates, Upromise, Etc...Comparing Reward Programs

Through the years I have heard of numerous reward programs from UPromise and Ebates (coupons offered on their site in addition to cash back) to Jellyfish (the cool thing is it is a search engine so you can compare a product's price from different stores and then get your cash back on top of that lower price and the referral system allows you to earn cash back when your friend purchases) and MyPoints. Currently I am only using UPromise (you can cash out with them as well but only up to 4 times a year and you have to send a letter and it is a little more trouble than Ebates). I was beginning to wonder which ones were the best so I began to do research, however, I have been saved numerous hours of reading and comparing online by finding this chart that compares reward programs. It even shows the percentage of cash back (or points) for the store you shop from. You need to note that this is from October 31, 2006 so the information will be somewhat difference. The analysis is also discussed here. I encourage you to compare when you are about to purchase something online. I would compare the top three on her chart for the store you are shopping through and then look at the site online and compare for the most recent listed cash/points back percentage. It looks like Ebates, FatWallet , and Jellyfish are the top ones! If you have questions you can personally write to Becky Ford (writes for the Chicago Tribune) at comparerewards@yahoo.com.

Not sure you want to trust one person's comparison, then check out www.probargainhunter.com.

Here is a cool program too: www.mytroops.com. It is like all the other reward programs but you can sponsor a person in the military and they are the ones that receive the rewards like gift certificates to online toy stores or flower shops. There is also an ongoing blog www.mytroops.com/blog/. Or for moms (and dads too) there is ClubMom in which you can earn points as well and share stories and pictures and advice with other moms-a whole network!

Since reading this, it looks like I am going to most of my shoppinng through Ebates (plus the fact that you get $5 bonus for signing up and I do too!) or Jellyfish but I will compare before hand. However, UPromise is good for shopping in person at stores. It is so easy to redeem cash back at certain restaurants, traveling (like booking a flight or cruise or rental car), grocery and drug stores. It is great because I don't even have to think about it to get money. The reason is because on their site I register my credit and debit cards along with those grocery savings cards you get to put on your keychain. So when you use those cards at participating stores (which are a lot by the way!) then a certain percentage gets put back in your account. The list goes on for the things you can get money back on-moving services (Atlas and Allied Van Lines), mortgage (CitiMortgage), gas stations (Exxon, Mobile), food (McDonalds, Schlotzsky's Deli), etc.
Good luck and have fun saving money while you shop!