Smart Shopping Tips to Save for College #NYR #TakeSimpleSteps

Effective Strategies to Save for College While Shopping #SimpleSavings

Special thanks to Country Financial for supporting this discussion. All views expressed are my own.

Now that the holiday rush has passed, I’ve found myself browsing online for fitness equipment to help fulfill my New Year’s resolutions. This got me thinking about something important: the majority of my shopping occurs on the internet. Why? It’s simple—comparison shopping is straightforward, many sites offer free shipping, and I can shop from the comfort of my couch.

Have you considered how much you’ve invested in your New Year’s goals? Whether it’s workout gear, dietary supplements, gym memberships, or planning tools, your shopping list might be extensive!

While exploring online coupons, it struck me that there are numerous opportunities to earn cash back from my purchases. That’s right! Several platforms provide cash back for something I enjoy doing—online shopping. It’s a simple way to contribute funds for college while engaging in an activity I already do!

Here are some straightforward ways to earn cash back:

• ebates.com (now Rakuten) provides cash back rebates for your online shopping. Start your journey on their site, log into your account, navigate to the retailer you want, and click through. They also feature an “in-store” rebate program for some merchants. Rebates are issued monthly, usually between 3% and 15%.

• Ibotta.com is a rewards platform that gives you cash back for buying specific products. You can earn in three ways: submitting a photo of your receipt, linking your loyalty cards, or making in-app purchases.

• Swagbucks.com enables you to earn gift cards, which I often apply towards my usual purchases—allowing me to save the equivalent cash. Earnings can come from shopping online, watching videos, searching the internet, taking surveys, and discovering great deals.

• Dosh.cash is an app that gives you cash back by scanning for existing coupons, promotions, and rebates at countless restaurants, retail outlets, hotels, and more.

• Topcashback.com offers a similar service to ebates, being a cash back platform for online shopping. They partner with thousands of retailers providing exclusive cash back opportunities. Just shop through their site and receive money back from your purchases—available on both desktop and mobile.

• Shopkick.com is an in-store shopping application that my kids find enjoyable. As you shop, it prompts you to scan items for points. You can also browse and shop online. It’s that simple! Accumulate points and redeem them for gift cards to your favorite stores, allowing you to set aside the money you would have spent.

This is just the beginning of how you can start saving money through online shopping. Why not earn cash back while doing something you already enjoy, and gradually build up savings for college?

Financing college can become manageable when you start planning and saving early. With tuition fees continually increasing, consider the impact of inflation over the next decade! For more insights on college savings options, explore Country Financial’s educational funding resources.