Pinching Some Pennies - Easy Rewards Programs

Well, if you have checked out my other blog, you will know that I love pinching pennies!  My thinking is that God has blessed us with a finite income and finite financial resources.  The money is all HIS but it is our job to manage it the best we can for His glory.  I'd rather put my money towards His Kingdom rather than towards toilet paper.

I have found several programs over the past year that help me stretch our budget.  I tend to use a "junk" email account for these programs so that I can keep friend/family email separate from my deal hunting.  Feel free to sign up for any of these!  As with most programs, the more you use them, the more you benefit.

• Caregivers Marketplace.  Are you providing care for someone?  Do you purchase medical supplies for someone?  Do you purchase diapers for a baby?  Check out the rebates offered through Caregivers Marketplace.  All you do is save receipts and mail them in and Caregivers will mail you a receipt.  Their 2010 rebate list is started but not complete.  They are working to finalize what baby care items will be covered.  For 2009, they paid $.75 for each jumbo pack of Huggies diapers (except pure and natural).  It adds up!  If you still have 2009 receipts, you have until 1/31/09 to mail them in for a rebate.
• Swagbucks.  Swagbucks is a google-powered search engine that rewards users for searching with them by giving out swag "bucks."  Bucks can be redeemed for prizes.  My favorite is the $5 Amazon gift card.  For every 45 Swagbucks I earn, I redeem for a $5 Amazon card.  Since March '09, I have earned $110 in Amazon cards and have another $10 that will post to my account on the 16th.  You can read more details on my post here.
• SuperPoints.  I am new to SuperPoints.  Basically, you earn points by inviting friends and doing various other things online that you might normally do such as: searches, playing games, shoping.  Right now they have a promotion where you choose your reward.  I chose a $5 Amazon gift card.  To win this, I need 5 friends to sign up with my link within a week.  I will then have enough points for that gift card or many others such as Dominoes (almost free dinner for the night), Quiznos, Jamba Juice, and many more.  I was skeptical but saw that SuperPoints was featured on Good Morning America.
• Pampers Gifts to Grow.  If you have a little on in diapers and even occasionally purchase Pampers (I only do when I get a great deal on them), it pays to sign up for their rewards program.  Each pack of diapers and some wipes contain codes inside the packaging.  Enter the codes on the rewards website for points.  Save up points for great prizes or donate to several charities.  Here is a list of many codes to get you started.
• My Coke Rewards.  If you drink Coke products, you may have noticed codes on their packaging.  Those codes can be entered on their website for points.  Save up points for some great prizes including coupons and free magazine subscriptions.

That list should get you started for now.  How do I cut my budget with these programs?  I save up points and cash in for gifts.  Between rewards programs, couponing,  and surveys, we were able to cover all gifts to family this year from June '09 and on for a total of $100 out of pocket including Christmas.  That is a vast difference from the nearly $450 we were spending annually in the past.