Year End Rebate Madness Wrap Up

So last night I spent a couple hours going through my stack of receipts from the end of the year (September to December roughly) to match to rebates I need to get filled out, copied/scanned and mailed out. It took ages to sort them. First I pulled the ones that had items I needed for rebates. Then I sorted them by the rebate so I made sure I had all of them covered.

The good news is I only didn’t buy a couple rebates worth of stuff (firelogs and a produce item more than $3). Which means I have around $100 more in rebates to send out for, which will bring my yearly total to around $400. Not too bad for missing a bunch of them and not buying every rebate since we don’t really need some stuff.

I told Tim (my husband) he can keep any I send in his name to buy a light saber part. So he will be happy when checks start coming in as well.

Let this be a lesson if you think rebates are just as negligible as coupons. Most of the rebates I have now are for meat, produce, cheese and holiday decorations (lights, bows, cards). Which are things we don’t always have coupons for which are now paying for themselves. Not a bad deal when you think about it.

The Two Faces of Couponing in Maine

I happily live in Maine. I live on the border so I have the option of shopping in New Hampshire as easily, and often more easily, than in Maine. All the state asks in return is a usage tax to make up for loss revenue. Not a bad trade off most times.

Take for instance the fact that Maine does not allow alcohol companies to require we purchase their product for a rebate. Which means if Coors or Bud or even Sutter Home offers a rebate good in Maine I can not buy the alcohol and still get my cash off food or giftcards or whatever. Although not a heavy drinker I do allow such rebates to influence my few purchases for gifts or to fertilize my lawn.

We also have some of the best seafood prices in the country which means my seafood winetags and rebates go further and buy fresher seafood than you might get in say South Dakota.

On the other side of the coin is the stuff I have to purchase in Maine that cost more. Such as drinks in a bottle or can. I have some nice bottled water coupons, but they will at best eat half the bottle deposit for the water purchased. Which means I will buy store brand instead of our preferred brand (after all Poland Spring is what it means to be from Maine, right?) to try and come out ahead. Although then I have to try to remember to return the bottles instead of just taking them to the transfer station. we still have a case of Smirnoff Ice from this summer we haven’t gotten around to returning yet.

I don’t mind the tax as much as the bottle deposits. I suppose if you are buying alot it adds up, but it never seems to do me in compared to the savings. I mean if I get $100 worth of stuff for $10 plus tax I can’t complain much.

In the end I am a proud citizen and enjoy the benefits of living here. Now if I could just get me some tourist repellent for the summers I’d be all set.

End of the Year Rebate Madness

I went through my coupons last week and picked out all the ones expiring 12/31/2009. What a haul I have stored away and so little time to use them. I’ve weeded through to use the ones I know are good deals, but alas many will get shipped to the troops instead.

Along with the coupons expiring the deadline for many rebates is upon us. Which means lots of last minute buying to round out amounts and get them in the mail next week when USPS is back up and running. The good thing is many of the rebates will include stuff on sale or clearance after the holidays including meat, decorations, and all sorts of other food items.

I have seperated out almost $150 worth of rebates I still need to do, and I know I am still looking for some I do not have. Some are being sent in my husband’s name which will go towards his Crystal Focus fund (light saber stuff) so I will be sharing that $150. well worth it though.

So go through all those rebates you’ve been meaning to do, the try-me-free items, beer rebates, winetag rebates and make a list. Check it twice and you can find out if your haul will be naughty or nice.