The Best Ways to Get Refunds

Do I like REFUNDING? You bet I do. For a few years, I really did great with my money-saving tips and ideas. I used coupons to save 25 to 30% on my groceries and weekly shopping. I kept up with all the latest rebates and made sure to send in the ones that I used...I have heard that just a small percentage of people follow through on rebating. I was in that small percentage. I also shopped sales and would wait until things hit rock bottom price -even if that meant not getting something I really wanted. Last, I worked a full-time job and always had at least two other small part-time/freelance gigs going on too.

Today, I am going to tell you about my refunding. We will save those other ideas for another day. Refunding is basically a manufacturer or company giving you money back after you purchase their product. Unlike couponing, where you see the savings at the cash register, you have to wait for your refund. Some refunds will get you the product for free. We call this a FAR or Free After Rebate. Others will get you a set dollar amount back -sometimes $1.00 or $2.00.

I have a few websites that I check for the latest refunds that are out on the market. To find your own favorite sites, Google "refunding forms". That should get you a good start. Two of my favorites are: Refunding Cents (www.refundcents.com) which is a paid subscription site, and Refund Sweepers (www.refundsweepers.com) which is a free site. Both sites require registration to post messages.

Once you have researched your sites and have found the best way to determine what rebates are available, it is time to start looking for those forms. Some forms are online. I really like when the manufacturers do this. It makes getting the form easy and free! Other times, the form is part of a SMP or Specially Marked Package. You have to buy the item to get the form -but them you send the form, the UPC, and the receipt of your purchase and get some or all of your money back. Other forms are on Tear Pads -those little pads of forms that you see on your store shelves. To help us all out, please only take what you will use. I have seen too many people take the whole pad and then sell the forms. It completely takes the fun out of refunding. I do think it is fine to take a form for yourself and then one or two more for friends who also refund...just be sure that you pass the forms on without expecting payment for them. One other way the forms get to consumers is in the coupon inserts that come in the Sunday newspapers. I like this type of form distribution too. I know that I can buy my paper and get the form I want.

Once you have those forms, it is time to start shopping. Refunds normally require the form, a UPC of the product, and an original cash register receipt. Since you will need that receipt in order to collect any refunds, you will need to purchase each of your items separately or ask if the store can print duplicate receipts. I prefer to do separate purchases, as I have been turned down many times when I ask for duplicate receipts.

This type of shopping can get time consuming. Right now, I have refund forms for peanut butter, air freshener and vitamins that I plan to use. I tend to do most of my shopping at one or two stores. I tend to choose a time to shop when the store isn't very crowded so that I do not hold up the line when I ask to do separate purchases. Always tell the cashier that you have multiple orders before he/she starts ringing the order. Also, it is nice when you have them clearly separated when it is your turn at the check out.

Don't lose the receipts! I have lost receipts before and consider lost refunding receipts to be lost money. Also, don't let deadlines slip past you. I like to complete my refunding paperwork as soon as I come in from shopping. That way, I know I will meet the deadlines. Make sure you follow the instructions on the refund form to the letter. I have had refunds rejected for something as small as not circling the product on the receipt. And, KEEP A COPY of everything you send in. If a refund is rejected, you will get a letter or postcard as to why it was rejected. This communication will also give you an address to appeal -send in information that you think is needed to complete the refund. If you don't have a copy, you have nothing to fight back with -they don't send your receipt or form back with the letter.

In an economy where every dollar counts, I hope that you are able to save a little extra by following my steps for refunding.