Points Programs and Online Deals

by Debbie Clark (DealDebbie) | More from this Blogger

04 Jul 2009 07:45 PM

Shopping at brick and mortar stores with a file of coupons and sales circulars is not the only way to save money when buying the things you need. You can find great opportunities for savings with online purchases as well!

Some online merchants advertise through affiliate sites which offer you special deals. You'll find coupon codes for online purchases, offers for free shipping, and other special discounts for shopping through their links. Some affiliate sites have a points program, which allows you to accumulate points which you can exchange for gift cards or cash rewards.

For example, if you make an online purchase by connecting to the site with an affiliate who has a points program, you'll be credited a specific number of points for your purchase. This is usually determined by the dollar value. If you are already getting a deal such as free shipping, so much the better for you!

Online points programs also offer you the opportunity to earn points by completing surveys, reading emails, or just visiting featured sites. If you do this regularly, your points will add up. The most popular programs of this type include MyPoints and Memolink. Rewards are gift cards for popular stores, or even cash.

Other affiliate sites offer you cash rebates on your purchase price. The best known of these include Ebates and Fat Wallet. They'll also offer you check out coupon codes for additional savings.

Finally, there are company specific reward sites. For example, airline miles and credit card points programs are very popular. Hotel chains now offer you free nights or gas cards in exchange for a certain number of stays in their hotels. Choice hotels is probably the best known program, and Holiday Inn has some great deals with their Priority Club program.

Priority club points are among the premiums you can get from My Coke Rewards. By entering points from the products on the website, you can accumulate points for rewards. This program has been scaled back recently, but you can still get some nice premiums, including gift cards for Nike, car rentals, free coke products, and other items.

Double plays are very possible when you combine these programs to your advantage. For example, I recently made a purchase online at Omaha Steaks, which I accessed through MyPoints. I applied a $20 gift card from My Coke Rewards. I got a discount, great food, and points on the MyPoints program. I've also received CVS gift cards through reward programs, and then used them to pay for purchases that got me ExtraCare Bucks - and stretched those dollars further.

Find some great affiliate coupon deals here.

Learn more about Debbie Clark (DealDebbie)

I'm a veteran deal hunter with two grown sons. I have been clipping coupons and doubling up with rebates and sales and points rewards since they were babies.

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