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itsjustpk Member since 2003


From: WI

Saving for: granddaughter, age 19


Featured Comment:

The extra 10% for dining and participating grocery items is usually posted a few weeks after...more

Visitor
cweekly
Posts: 1
Registered: 10-30-2008

Saving tips from a long-time Upromise member (and employee)

Hi, I'm Chris Weekly, I was one of the first ten Upromise members (back in 2000) as I was the lead web developer for the site before we first went live. I've got a couple thousand dollars in my Upromise account now and thought I'd share a few tips for maximizing your contributions.

 

Note over the years my spending habits have changed quite a bit. Before I had kids, most of my contributions came from restaurants. I'd simply check the website for the current list of  restaurants near me in the Upromise dining program -- e.g. http://www.upromise.com/dining -- and eat there. Earning 5-10% (including tax + tip) on the bill added up quickly. I also have had the Upromise credit card for years, which gets me an additional 1% on everything I buy.

 

Nowadays, it's the use of the Upromise card plus my grocery shopping that earns me most of my contributions. By registering my Stop & Shop card and paying w/ my Upromise card, I get contributions from the manufacturers at the grocery store and from the credit card.

 

Finally, when I shop online I always go through http://shop.upromise.com first, to make sure my purchases at online retailers are rewarded by Upromise. (There's a browser add-on called "Upromise TurboSaver" which you can use to automatically remind you to go through our shopping site instead of going straight to online merchants, ensuring you get your contributions.)  These simple steps to save for my daughters' education have put me in a better position, and help me keep my eye on my long-term goal of paying for their education. 

 

In summary:

- start early (now)

- get the Upromise credit card and use it for all expenses

- register grocery card w/ upromise.com

- eat at restaurants in the program 

- do all online shopping through shop.upromise.com (w/ the help of the "TurboSaver" browser tool)

 

If this sounds familiar to what other high-earning Upromise members recommend, it's probably not a coincidence.

 

Note this message came from me individually in my capacity as a Upromise member, and is not any kind of official company statement. I hope it helps folks out there looking to save more for college.

 

Good luck!

 

 

 

 

 

Regular Contributor
commo2
Posts: 144
Registered: 10-30-2008

Re: Saving tips from a long-time Upromise member (and employee)

All of these are things I currently do also, In addition to using my grocery card for Winn Dixie I am also using my Upromise credit card to purchase the groceries (unless Discover is having 5% back during that quarter). I did not do this in the past but with less grocery products available for Upromise credit I have decided to maximize my purchases, so now I earn the grocery price on qualified items, 1% for my total grocery bill (which is always around $100) and 10% back on qualified items purchased with my credit card.

 

Whenever I purchase items I try to go online rather than the store, it saves me on gas, not finding what I want, the hassle of dealing with others, and I get money back.  When others who are not upromise member need something I try to help them find it and give them my guest link to purchase the items or I do it for them if they are not familiar.

 

There are many ways to save, it just takes a little imagination to combine them.

New Member
willamay1966
Posts: 1
Registered: 10-18-2009
0

Re: Saving tips from a long-time Upromise member (and employee)

hi. i was just wondering if you could answer a few questions for me. i entered my kroger card and i use it all the time but i dont see where there is anything on my upromise account for me using it. is there a trick to you it or what. please help me willa from ohio

Regular Contributor
RammsteinNicCag
Posts: 219
Registered: 01-03-2009
0

Re: Saving tips from a long-time Upromise member (and employee)

[ Edited ]

Are you buying products that participate in the UPromise program?  Click the following link for a list of participating products.  Click on the category headers to get specific info (item size) and for add'l items.

 

https://lty.s.upromise.com/displayServlet?su=8251

Upromise is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any postings. Participation in the Upromise Community is subject to the terms and conditions of the Upromise Community Rules.

If you use unauthorized promotion codes or link directly to partner web sites from the Community to make purchases, you will forfeit Upromise contributions. Always start your online shopping at upromise.com/shop.

Important Note: Any links to partner websites used in the Upromise Community blogs are provided for your convenience only. Remember to always start your online shopping at www.upromise.com in order to earn your Upromise rewards.

Upromise Community blogs do not represent official Upromise communications. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of Upromise and any references herein to any specific products or services, or otherwise, do not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement or recommendations by Upromise and should be used in accordance with the Upromise Community Rules.

Any links to external websites are provided for informational purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsement or an approval by Upromise of any of the products, services or opinions of the corporation or organization or individual. Upromise bears no responsibility for the accuracy, legality or content of the blogs, external sites or subsequent links.

*The $100 more a year savings figure is based on Upromise internal reporting data for 2007 and 2008 comparing the average Upromise savings for members who joined Upromise prior to such year and used the Upromise credit card at least once during the year with the averagae Upromise savings for members who joined Upromise prior to such year and have not opened a Upromise credit card account.