BondRewards Blog

Hey Savvy Shoppers & Savers,

While January is one of the best discount months of the year, many of its savings carry over into February.  Throw in the fact that many annual trade shows happen this month and you might find February the perfect time to finally buy those things you’ve been holding off on.

1. Electronics

February is the time of year when electronics manufacturers announce their new products at annual trade shows.  This means that most stores are gearing up for the new stuff and cutting prices on last year’s models.  Electronics savings tend to hit their peak around President’s Day, so if you can wait, we recommend it.

2. Home Furniture and Housewares

Like with electronics, new furniture enters the market in February.  Stores slash prices on slightly older models in order to make room for the new products, making this month the ideal time to makeover your house.  At Sears, everything from cookware to furniture to mattresses is currently discounted up to 60%.

3. Winter Coats

We are more than halfway through winter, which means stores are already putting out their spring collections, so it’s unsurprising that winter clothes are on sale.  Due to mild weather this winter, you might find cold weather jackets discounted even higher as stores try to unload the high volume of leftovers.  Check out Nordstrom or Eddie Bauer for winter coats at up to 60% off.

4. Ski Vacation

If you are looking for a quiet vacation this month, skiing may be your best bet. February is normally peak skiing season, however, due to warmer temperatures and low snow fall this year, many resorts are offering unseasonal deals.  Look for the best packaged deals in traditional ski towns, such as Lake Tahoe, California, or Park City, Utah through websites like Expedia, Orbitz, or Travelocity.  Additionally, many outdoor equipment stores, like REI, are holding early sales on skiing gear, making skiing more affordable than ever.

5. Grills

Grilling loses its appeal if you have to brave the cold weather to light the coals. Stores like Hayneedle cut their prices this time of year in order to make their grills more enticing.  If you need a new grill for next summer, this is the time of year to buy one.

6. Wedding Supplies

Like grills, most people are holding out until the weather gets warmer to hold a wedding.  As a result, it is much easier to find a venue and negotiate a good price.  Wedding supplies, like dresses, flowers, and decorations, are also less in demand during winter.  Check out David’s Bridal for its wedding dress sale this February.

7. Video Games

Most video games are released in the beginning of winter, just in time for the holiday season.  By February, most of the serious gamers have already snatched up the new releases.  Check out the deals sections at stores like GameStop to find the best prices on the games you have been waiting to buy since December.

8. Chocolate

Peak chocolate sales occur right before Valentine’s Day.  Starting the 15^th, stores begin trying to sell their remaining chocolates—at highly discounted prices.  If you can look past the heart shaped boxes, you can find ingredients for your next baked masterpiece at 50% discount.  Buy in bulk and freeze for several months to make your savings last even longer.

If you are looking to increase your rewards this February, remember to shop using BondRewards.  Not only will you be able to access all of this month’s sales, you will be saving for your future with the rewards you get back from BondDollars.  With a selection of over 600 different merchants, you’re bound to find whatever you need all on one site.  Keep these tips in mind and shop at BondRewards to keep the prices low this February…and the savings high!

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The more shopping you do online through BondRewards – the more BondDollars you can earn. Watch your BondDollars grow into big savings that you can later redeem for Cash or U.S. Savings Bonds! It’s a win-win so spread the word, secure your future, and show some love with BondRewards!

Melanie Roberts
Marketing Manager Bondrewards.com
Fan Us on Facebook | Follow Us on Twitter

Hey Savvy Shoppers & Savers,

Experienced shoppers know that, as is often true in life, timing is everything. It’s not just about knowing what and where to buy, but also when to buy it. Prices fluctuate constantly over the course of a year as new product lines are unveiled and retailers attempt to clear out old stock. Knowing when to capitalize on these transitions is a great way to save big and get the best price possible.

Ideally, you would have purchased your winter goods months ago in anticipation of what you and your family would need this season, rather than be forced to pay inflated prices now, when the retailers have the upper hand. If you didn’t, alas, there is still hope. While you may no longer be able to save for the winter, you can save during it by making well-timed purchases. Here are eight items you should do your best to avoid buying until the weather warms up:

Corn and Other Seasonal Vegetables:

Exactly what constitutes “seasonal” will depend on your particular location, but there are general rules of thumb to follow. For instance, if possible, avoid crops that are typically grown in the summer months, as they will be both more expensive and worse-tasting in the colder winter. For instance, corn in the summer will be closer to 15 cents an ear and taste great; but try buying some now and you’re more likely to pay 40-50 cents an ear for corn that isn’t nearly as sweet. Try substituting a more winter-friendly vegetable in the meantime and save your corn-fix for summer cookouts.

Warm Weather Items:

Just like corn, it’s not a great time to buy other warm weather products, from clothing to outdoor furniture and grills. You may be able to find some good deals on swimwear, but articles like t-shirts, shorts, and other outdoor apparel are going to be much more expensive, as spring lines are just beginning to be released now.

Camping Gear:

Speaking of the great outdoors, you might think that camping gear would be drastically marked down during the winter months, when people are less inclined to ‘enjoy’ nature when it’s freezing outside. Well, you’d be wrong.

In actuality, camping and other similar seasonal activities are more often promoted when they are relevant to people. You’re more likely to find companies encouraging sales on camping gear in the spring, when families are making their summer plans.

Suitcases:

By the same token, many people are often surprised to find that travel equipment isn’t discounted much during the wintertime. There simply aren’t very many notable deals to be found; in fact, the best deals on suitcases and other luggage are typically found starting in March, hitting their strongest point around August. Consequently, you may want to wait until shortly before your spring and summer trips to buy your luggage, as that’s when prices will likely be lowest.

Computers:

Just like suitcases, the best time to buy computers is around August, not the winter. Retailers traditionally have their best sales of the year at that time to coincide with back-to-school shopping. So, if you can, try to get by with what you’ve been using for another six months, or be prepared to splurge.

You will, however, find sales on other electronics in the spring. This is because Japan’s fiscal year begins in April, which brings new consumer electronics products, which in turn brings discounts on last year’s models.

Snowblowers:

This may be irrelevant for many of you, but for those of you expecting heavy snowfall this winter, now is not the time to invest in a new snowblower. Due to the high demand in the wintertime, you’ll be hard-pressed to find them on sale anytime soon. So, if you can’t wait till March to get one, either be willing to pay full sticker price, or pay the neighborhood kid to shovel the driveway for you while you remain warm and cozy…indoors.

Cars:

If you’ve been considering buying a new car lately, you should have done it in 2011. Traditionally, the best time to buy is in the fall, with prices dropping as you go deeper into the season. But the turning of the calendar changes everything. The reason why prices are lower towards the end of a calendar year is because car salesmen are under the gun to meet monthly and yearly quotas. But with the dawn of a new year, that motivation goes out the window, and so do the discounts.

Linens:

You may have heard that January is the optimal time to buy sheets and other linens, as that’s when big retailers generally hold their ‘white’ sales. The truth, however, is that these ‘white’ sales don’t really live up to their billing, and are generally more hype than reality, price-wise. Linen sales in January are generally no better than other sales throughout the year, particularly in June. Don’t be fooled by special names; while they may generate additional excitement for an event, they do not necessarily guarantee a divergence from the norm.

And, as always, if you’re going to buy anything this winter season, be smart about where you buy it. By making a purchase via BondRewards, you’re not only guaranteeing yourself access to some of the best deals around, but also saving for the future with the rewards you get back in BondDollars. With a selection of over 600 different merchants, you’re bound to find whatever you need all on one site. Keep these tips in mind and shop at BondRewards to keep the costs down this winter…and the savings up!

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The more shopping you do online through BondRewards – the more BondDollars you can earn. Watch your BondDollars grow into big savings that you can later redeem for Cash or U.S. Savings Bonds! It’s a win-win so spread the word, secure your future, and show some love with BondRewards!

Melanie Roberts
Marketing Manager Bondrewards.com
Fan Us on Facebook | Follow Us on Twitter

Hey Savvy Shoppers & Savers,

Happy New Year from BondRewards.com! After the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, many of us find ourselves pondering what type of New Year’s resolution to make. While getting more exercise and eating healthier are great goals to set for yourself, we know it can be easy to fall of the wagon and revert back to old habits as the year goes on. So, what can you do to make sure you fulfill your New Year’s resolution? The smart logic says to pick attainable goals that you can perform consistently, all with the idea of improving your daily life.

Easier said than done, right? Well no, actually. There are many ways to turn minimal effort into major benefits, such as smarter shopping strategies. As you may have noticed throughout your holiday shopping the last few months, shopping online can save you a ton, especially if you know what you’re doing. Using coupons and scanning multiple stores for the best price when looking for a particular product are well-known methods to ensure yourself some savings, but there are many less obvious tricks to the trade that can go a long way towards getting you the best online shopping experience possible.

These six shopping secrets can help you save even more on your online purchases:

1.       Check your favorite store’s Facebook and Twitter pages

Social media isn’t just for your teenage son or daughter. Stores love to use social media because it provides the cheapest and easiest way for them to connect with their customer base. That’s great news for you, since it doesn’t take much effort on your part to take advantage of their social media fascination. “Like” your favorite stores on Facebook or follow them on Twitter and you’ll be among the first to hear about breaking news and special event announcements. Some stores even offer special discounts to their followers. And if you’re worried about your own privacy…don’t. Just bookmark a store’s social media page and check it regularly. You can often view most, if not all, of the offers without signing in, and you still may be eligible to capitalize on them.

2.       Ditch your shipping fees

Many online stores offer free shipping on your purchase if you spend a minimal amount. Other stores like Zappos and L.L. Bean offer free shipping on all of their products, regardless of how much you spend. Before you do your online shopping, make sure you check FreeShipping.org to find out about all kinds of shipping offers and stipulations. This great site lets you search by either store or item, and lists how much you need to spend (if any) to get free shipping, as well as other important information like expiration dates.

If your favorite store doesn’t offer free or discounted shipping, there are other alternatives you might want to consider. Joining a free shipping club is a great way to pay a little to save a lot. By paying a flat monthly or yearly fee, you can get all the free two-day shipping you desire. Join Amazon Prime if you’re a frequent Amazon customer, or ShopRunner.com if you shop at a bunch of different places. Both services cost $79 annually, but if you use them to do the majority of your online shopping over the course of a year, chances are you will see a hefty return on your investment, particularly in the amount of money you’ll save on free shipping alone. Plus, you won’t have to wait long to have your purchase delivered.

3.       Check a coupon database

Don’t already have a coupon, or don’t know where to get one? Problem solved. You can find one online at an online coupon database, such as RetailMeNot.com. This site lets you search for coupons by store, and since anyone can add to the database, it’s a great place to find rare or hard-to-find codes. They’re not all guaranteed to work, but since site members vote on a code’s effectiveness with the results posted directly next to it, you can find one you’re confident will work at checkout.

4.       Use daily deal sites wisely

There are all kinds of daily deal sites that offer great savings, depending on your particular interests. Sites like Groupon and LivingSocial are very useful for trying out new restaurants and stores. Sites that focus on merchandise, such as Woot!, offer great deals on all sorts of electronics and household appliances. However, the most important thing to remember when using these sites: only buy deals that you will use, not might. Don’t go crazy on offers just because they’re there. Use reason and make time to use your deals. For instance, you’re much more likely to try out a local restaurant than one that is several towns away. Similarly, chances are better you’ll stay at a hotel or attend an event if you plan ahead and block out a weekend for it in advance.

5.       Buy directly from artists

Expensive boutiques have their place in the consumer marketplace, but if you’re a fan of handmade and vintage products, you’re much better off going through sites like Etsy or ArtFire to get them. These sites let you search for all kinds of handmade things from artists all over the world, including scarves, handbags, stuffed animals, jewelry…you name it. By buying directly from the artists, you avoid the annoying middleman commission fees. And the convenience of searching for products by price lets you find the best deal on whatever type of product you’re looking for. Some of these sites like Etsy even let you search by location, allowing you to shop locally and save money on shipping costs, all while supporting the local economy.

6.       Shop at your credit card mall

One of the best kept secrets of online shopping is the existence of credit card malls. If you have a major rewards credit card, you’re eligible to make purchases and redeem reward points at your card provider’s online mall. These sites feature hundreds of your favorite and most popular retailers, such as Apple, Target, and Macy’s, just to name a few. Shopping at these credit card malls allows you to redeem rewards points or airline miles to pay for purchases, or you can just use your credit card. To reward you for using their site, your card provider will issue you further rewards too – often anywhere from 2 to 30 percent back, depending on the store. If you happen to have multiple major credit cards, this puts you in an even more advantageous position to save money at credit card malls. NerdWallet’s discount tool lets you search by either product or store, and tells you which credit card mall will give you the best discount.

And don’t forget BondRewards! Many of the tips listed above are still accessible via our website. We are constantly on the lookout for new retailers and deals for you to take advantage of. By using a combination of all of these tips, you’re well on your way to maximizing your online shopping savings. Following through on your New Year’s resolution isn’t too bad either

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The more shopping you do online through BondRewards – the more BondDollars you can earn. Watch your BondDollars grow into big savings that you can later redeem for Cash or U.S. Savings Bonds! It’s a win-win so spread the word, secure your future, and show some love with BondRewards!

Melanie Roberts
Marketing Manager Bondrewards.com
Fan Us on Facebook | Follow Us on Twitter

Hey Savvy Shoppers & Savers,

We at BondRewards want to thank you for another great year. We value each and every one of you and hope that you have a very Merry Christmas and a safe and happy New Years.

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The more shopping you do online through BondRewards – the more BondDollars you can earn. Watch your BondDollars grow into big savings that you can later redeem for Cash or US Savings Bonds! It’s a win-win so spread the word, secure your future, and show some love with BondRewards!

Melanie Roberts
Marketing Manager Bondrewards.com
Fan Us on Facebook | Follow Us on Twitter