What’s even better about this program is that you also earn money everytime you convince a friend to sign up for FREE and shop through the links provided from this program.

You save, your friends save and you make money from saving? Can anything be easier then that… well, check out the online stores you get to choose from

eBay, Alloy, Amazon, Apple Store, Avon, Beauty.com, Babies R US, Drugstore.com, eBags.com, Office Depot, Peach Pit, Total Gym, Pet Street Mall… AND SO MUCH MORE!

So check it out, sign up and tell your friends.

1. Spend With Cash- When you make purchases with a card you are tempted to spend more. Not only that, you pay extra service fees and penalties when you use plastic. To withdraw out of an ATM, you are looking at $1.25 (at least) from Interac and $4.00 (at least) for cash advances from a credit card. These charges seem small but if you make 10 withdraws a month, you are looking at spending anywhere from $150-$480 a year. That is money you pay  to spend YOUR OWN MONEY. And don’t forget about those pesky overdraft fees.  In fact, these fees are the #1 way banks are making money. $38.5 billion dollars in America to be more precise. Check out Reuters  for more information.  So, spend with cash.  Build a budget and take only enough cash that you need to make purchases. When the money is done, STOP SPENDING!
2. Turn off the AC and the Heat- America spends $22 billion or 185 billion kilowatt-hours to keep their homes cool and comfy.  Now that’s a lot of green and a huge environmental impact on the planet. Try dressing lighter. T-shirts, tank tops or go buff when you can. Drink some cool refreshments or suck on a Popsicle.  Hey, you can always open up a few windows here and there.  And if need be, get a ceiling fan which can save you alot more than using the AC.  Also, when outdoors, stay in the shade. Check out The Greenest Dollar for more energy savings tips.  And as for keeping toasty… invest in better insulation for your home.  People lose about 18-20% of their heat through their window/doors, about 10% through their ceiling, 15-18% through floors and grade space, 12-14% through wall and a whopping 35% through Infiltration (air leakage). Turn down the thermostat and put on a sweaters.  Are you reading or messing around on your laptop while you are on the couch? If you are then yourself a Snuggie. Buy some extra blankets. Cool weather is the perfect opportunity to snuggle up under some warm covers with somebody you love. You can save up to 3% on your bill by every 1 degree you turn down your thermostat.
3. Do Your Laundry Less Often- There are people who change their cloths 3 times or more a day and that is a waste.  Try to only wear 1 outfit a day.  Wash pants once every 2 or 3 wears (or when dirty or stinky). There isn’t always a need to wash your pants every single time you wear them (but feel free to wash your underwear and shirts after every use). After separating your laundry into colors, only wash when you have enough for 1 full load.  Share a load with family or a friend if you cannot make a full load. Wash with cold water.  Buy an energy efficient/water efficient washer and dryer. Hang cloths to dry instead of using a dryer.  
4. Quit Smokin’ and Drinkin’-You would be doing more than just saves what’s in your wallet. There are just some things you can’t put a price on; and one of those being your health. The average heavy smoker smokes between 15-30 cigarettes a day with an average cost about $4-$10 per pack.  A smoker can easily save up to $1500/year just by kicking the addiction. And don’t get me started on alcohol.  Americans spend almost $100 Billion (with a capital ‘B’) on beer alone.
5. Know What You Are Bringing In- That’s easy.  Check your paycheck and figure out how much you are making each month. If you have unpredictable shifts or you don’t work regular hours, try to get a basic average from the past year or 2.  If there are more than one income earners then work out how much the household is bringing in each month.
6. Pay The Higher Deductable- If you are a fairly decent driver, consider paying the higher deductable to keep get a cheaper premium.
7. Know How Much You NEED To Spend- Some people may need to get some help from a financial advisor to be sure they that are looking at this aspect of their finances honestly and reasonably.  Figure out how much it costs you to keep a roof over your head, food on the table, the water running, the lights on, routine health check-ups  and medication, car(s) on the road… there are a lot of stuff to look at and to take into consideration.  So, take your time. Keep all your bills. There are plenty financial software programs that can help you organize and calculate these expenses.
8. Turn Off The Lights- invest in light dimmers and compact florescent bulbs. Remember to power down any electronics that you are not using them (like a computer). Standby or Sleep mode is not enough.  When you leave an area, turn off the lights behind you.  There are real-time power cost monitors that you can purchase to track how much you are spending, down to the penny, on your electricity bill.  It’s an awesome motivator to keep your energy usage under control. Also consider getting a “Bits Smart Surge Strip” . This device will help to organize and save energy by shutting down any device that is suppose to be completely turned off when you shut down your computer.
9. Buy Quality Products- many people are tempted to shop at dollar stores, but let’s get real! A lot of the stuff you find there are crap. You are better off spending more money on products that will last longer than having to replace the stuff you purchase often.
10. Make A Shopping List- Are you an impulsive shopper? In other words, are you someone who will go to the store for 1 thing and come out with 5 other things? Well, here is something that can help you along with following tip #1, above.  Make a list, check it twice… make sure you include only items you need and planned into your budget. You may go to the store and see something that isn’t on the list and you will think you need it. WELL, FORGET ABOUT IT! If the item is not on the list you don’t get to buy it. If you truly do need that item, you will definitely remember to include it on the next shopping list.  You’d be surprised about the crap you avoid purchasing when you have a little time to sleep on it and think about how badly you need it.
11. Pay Your Bills On Time:  Avoid paying extra in late fees and penalties. If you have a budget, stick with it religiously. There is no real excuse for paying these fees if you have a good budget plan and you are organized about your spending.
12. Disconnect Landlines:  in a world where 82% of people have a cell phone, there are very few reasons to keep a landline unless you have kids or a serious medical concerns that requires that you keep a line with enhanced emergency features.  Consider signing up with  Skype – Unlimited Calls to Landlines  and get some sweet local and international rates.  Also consider using free chat, video conferencing and instant messaging services.

I know what you’re thinking; and the answer is NO! There are no shopping limitations. So shop where ever you want. There are other rewards programs that are affiliated with specific retailer and in order to receive your cash back you are limited to shopping at only these affiliate retailers.  But with these programs, you shop where ever you want and save at the stores of your choosing.

Capital One Platinum MasterCard

• Get up to 1% no hassle cash back on every purchase on purchases above $3000*
• No annual fees
• Cash Back rewards never expire
• Annual Rate is at 17.55%
• No caps on the amount you earn back
• Redeem your reward balance when it’s over $15.00 J

*get 0.5% no hassle cash back on purchases under $3000, then earn 1% cash back on purchases over $3000

CIBC Dividend Visa Card

• Earn up to 1% cash back on purchases you make with the card on purchases over $3000*
• No annual fees
• Personal Purchase Protection- automatic coverage for replacements, repairs or reimbursements on most purchases
• Bonus Money Saving Features: At Participating Avis locations get Common Carrier Accident  coverage of up to $100 000 and up to 20% discount
• Cash balance accumulates and is redeemable in December L
• Current regular rate 19.5%

*CIBC has a 3 tier cash back structure. On the 3^rd tier get 1% cash back on purchases over $3000

TD Rewards Rebate Visa Card

• Earn up to 1% cash back on purchases over $3000*
• No annual fees
• Receive your cash back rewards every January( Reward balance redeemable only once a yearL)
• Maximum annual purchase limit of up to $25 000 L
• Added Benefits: Preferred rates at Budget Rent A Car
• 19.75 interest rate
• Additional Features like: Verified by Visa, Balance Protection Insurance… and much more

*Earn 0.5% cash back on first $3000 spent. There after earn the 1% cash back on annual purchases over $3000

Canadian Tire Cash Advantage MasterCard

• Get up to 1.5% cash back on purchases everywhere *
• Earn up to 3% cash back on purchases at Canadian Tire stores, gas stations and Mark’s Work Wearhouse J
• No annual fees
• Unlimited cash back rewards
• Rewards applied to account once a year L
• Even more benefits
• $4.00 cash advance fee

*conditions apply so read the terms of and conditions carefully

There are many other programs out there you can look through. I mostly focused on programs in Canada but I’m sure that there are programs available in the country you live in. Don’t just focus on the cash back percentage. There are other key points to consider.  For instance, consider when and how you will be able to gain access to your rewards, what additional rewards and features that is built into your program and what are the additional fees associated with getting cash advances or getting a second card holder. Look for programs with additional bonuses and/or cash back for shopping at certain locations like gas stations, retail stores, department stores…etc.  Also, look out for those nasty interest rates. These reward programs are meant to help you save and put money back into your pocket. So spend money that you can afford to pay off right away. If you are paying  19.00% interest and only receiving 1% cash back on the maximum tier, then you are better off finding yourself a 0.00% interest  credit card or a card that will beat the cash back reward card’s interest rate differential.  And if you get a rewards program that eventually expires, be sure to get  rid of the card after the expiration date of the program. There is no point in keeping a credit card that is no longer rewarding you to shop with it. You can easily find another credit card with a better interest rate or a cash back rewards program that never expires.

Check Out These Great Reward Programs:

Also keep in mind that most of these program offer cash back in a tiered system. In other words, you have to spend over a specific limit to get cash back at the higher rates.   Take, for instance this example (pulled from the TD Rewards Rebate Visa page):  if net annual purchases on your cash back credit card total $10,000, you will earn cash a  reward of $85 ($15 for the first $3,000 in purchases and $70 for the additional $7,000.) That’s $85 you have earned just from using your Card for everyday purchases. And there’s no annual fee to pay.

You get cash back for shopping at many of your favorite online stores. Many of the stores, you may already shop at already.

Do you want to earn more cash? I know you want to ;P…

you can refer friends and build yourself a downline. Let them benifit and save from the purchases they make already too.

This program is free to join so sign up now. And please, remember the the gal the leads you to the best online money saving programs on the NET!!!

Happy Shopping xoxo