Ways to Save (and make) Money on Things You Already Buy

Updated: April 1, 2016

Everyone loves to shop, right?  Well, actually I hate to shop!  I don't like GOING shopping but I can handle online shopping.  Wouldn't it be nice if we were able to order online and get paid to shop?  Well, read on and find out how you can do just that at your favorite stores online. Just to give you a few examples (with their current cashback amount - which can change at anytime):

• 2% cashback at Macy's
• 4% cashback at Drugstore.com
• 4% cashback at Kohl's
• 4% cashback at Foot Locker
• and the list goes on and on!

This will change the way you shop!

We always like to share with you the ways that we save money so we want to introduce you to SHOP.COM.  You probably know by now that we love Amazon but you're leaving "money on the table"...it doesn't pay you to shop like SHOP.COM does. We ordered our high quality supplements from SHOP.COM but we also use it to earn cashback on our "everyday" purchases too. Here's how it works:

Before you can start earning money on your purchases, you need to set up an account on SHOP.COM (so you can track all the money you earn with cashback).  When it asks if a friend referred you put whitneycarlsonfitness@gmail.com (this will allow us to offer you discounts and promotions on future orders and answer any questions you have).  Once you have your account set up, you just shop at all the stores you normally would, but now you will be getting paid to shop through SHOP.COM's cashback program.  All you have to do is go to the retailer's website through SHOP.COM.  You can view a list of all the partner stores on the website (by clicking 'Stores' in the blue bar near the top of the page) or you can just search for your product or store.  See more detailed instructions below!

Here are a few of our favorite stores (please keep in mind that stores/cashback can change at anytime):

• Drugstore.com/Beauty.com - We buy most of our protein bars here.  They come out to be less expensive because not only do you get cashback (currently at 4%) through SHOP.COM but you also earn Drugstore.com dollars!  Plus, they have free shipping on your order if it is over $35 and they have almost EVERYTHING!  One other thing I love about this site is that you can purchase Flexible Savings Account-eligible products to help you get the most out of your FSA program dollars by helping you track your purchases and easily determine if an item is eligible (Don't have an FSA account?  You're probably flushing hundreds of dollars away each year!). Have a GNC Gold Card?  Go through SHOP.COM to get to Drugstore.com then click on GNC!
   
• Travelocity - We all know how expensive trips can be...how awesome would it be to earn 4% cashback (for most offers) on your trip?  We recently booked a hotel room through SHOP.COM and used our AMEX, so we got the points on the card plus $10 cashback - that buys lunch!
   
• FTD.com - Do you send flowers to family members and friends for special occasions? How does 7% cashback sound on those purchases?

This is also the website where we purchase most of our supplements so if you are ordering supplements you could be or are already getting cashback on those!  Basically, many of the stores you shop at are available! It's so easy to sign up and start earning money on your purchases, but there's more...

So, what if you just want to go directly to the website where you want to shop?  Well, you can download a neat little tool called "Shop Buddy".  Your "Shop Buddy" will alert you whenever you visit a participating cashback website.  After you create your account you can download Shop Buddy (it is located along the right side on the homepage) and pops up showing all the deals on the site that you're currently viewing.

Not only do you earn cashback on SHOP.COM but you also earn a percentage of cashback on your friends that you refer.  So, refer your friends!

So what do you do now?

1. Go to SHOP.COM
2. At the very top click on "Sign In/Create an Account"
3. Enter your email & click "no, I'd like to create a new account"
4. Enter all of your personal information & then at the bottom there will probably be a box that asked if you were referred by a friend...that is where you will enter my email address whitneycarlsonfitness@gmail.com.  Then, when your friends sign up they will do the same steps but enter your email!
5. START SHOPPING & GET PAID TO DO SO!

Please email us at whitneycarlsonfitness@gmail.com with any questions.

No, this post was not sponsored by SHOP.COM, that is just how passionate we are about saving/making money...especially while doing something that we're all so good at! * We do earn a percentage of cashback on your purchases just as you will for referring a friend!

Happy Shopping!

- Scott & Whitney

Clean Eat Education: What Does Your Produce Sticker Mean?

Have you ever wondered about the stickers on your produce?  They actually do have a purpose!  Check the sticker to make sure you are buying the correct produce!

Need help deciding on what you need to purchase organic?  These posts may help you:

• The Dirty Dozen
• The Clean Fifteen

- Whitney

Clean Eat Education: The Clean Fifteen

Yesterday we shared with you "The Dirty Dozen", which are the fruits and vegetables you SHOULD buy organic.  Today we will share with you the fruits and vegetables that do not have to be organic if you cannot find or afford to buy all organic.  These are mainly fruits and vegetables with thicker skins.

Be sure to check out "The Dirty Dozen" if you missed it!

- The Gang

P.S. If you want more information you can read this article from PBS.