Monday, July 27, 2015

Cleaned Up in Rewards

Back with I joined the rewards program with Ulta, I could get free salon services with my points (which I get 1 point per dollar spent). Well, after about 500 points they changed the rules. Points could no longer be used in the salon.

Well, I’m not much of a cosmetics kind of person, so I just kept collecting the points. At 2000 points I earned $125 worth of merchandise (the most I can get per point). Sunday I decided to cash in.

My blow dryer was probably created in the 90s and my travel blow dryer broke years ago (the folding handle wouldn’t lock in place any longer), so I picked out two new ones (and they’re purple—pretty!). One of my brushes had lost most of the little nubs on the end of the bristles, so I got a new one. My hair dresser (and friend) told me the big bottles of shampoo and condition were on sale, so I got one of each. A pretty good steal, huh, and it only cost me about six bucks (since I went over my allotment just a little bit).

I don’t know what I’ll get the next time I reach 2000 points (which will take a little over two years to reach). Maybe I’ll get some fun stuff for a raffle basket or something. I doubt my blow dryers will need to be replaced by then. J

Hubby and I also cleaned up in some of our restaurant rewards this weekend (mainly Max & Erma’s and TGI Fridays). I love free food!

So… What reward programs do you participate in? Do you cash in?

Stacy

8 comments:

JeffO said...

Sounds like you used your points well! We get a gas savings from our local supermarket--every $100 spent gets .05/gallon of gas, which can build up in a hurry, and you can BET we use it! The only other one we did recently was one (again, through the supermarket) where we got a couple of pieces of cookware for purchase points. Pretty sweet.

Maria Zannini said...

Excellent!

The only rewards program we use is from our credit cards. At the end of the year, it's enough to buy a month's worth of groceries.

Stacy McKitrick said...

Jeff - We play the supermarket/gas game, too! Kroger gives .10 off/gallon per each 100 points. You can use up to 1000 points (1.00 off/gal) per fill up (max 35 gallons). Well... We use our credit card (which has its own reward points--we've paid for cruises with THAT thing!) to buy gift cards of restaurants we KNOW we're going to anyway (and they're worth DOUBLE points). We usually have 1000 points to cash in each month and with three cars, we have no problem using 35 gallons in one fill up. Our problem is getting one of the kids to drive the third car! Haha!

Maria - I love the rewards program we have with our credit card. Like I said above, we've paid for cruises with that thing. Heck the airfare for our trip to California last year was free. We just make sure we pay the bill in full each month, or else the rewards aren't worth it. We hate paying interest!

Jennette Marie Powell said...

Our PNC Business Visa has a points program. Kept forgetting about it until they emailed me saying my points were going to start dropping off. Among many choices were $400 cash, or $500 worth of Lowe's gift cards. I picked the latter, because DH shops there for the business all the time, and DUH! Better value!

Stacy McKitrick said...

Jennette - Good score! I could easily spend $500 at Lowe's. :) At least your card company let you know about the drop. I had some points with Discover that I'd forgotten about. When I used the card the next time, the points were gone -- they had apparently expired. Oh well, one of the reasons I don't use that card all that often. Points on my Visa don't expire. I like that.

The Happy Whisk said...

Sounds like a fun clean-up, on your end. I recently got free mason jars at Kmart. Only all I had to do was go there. Spend 5 dollars-get 5 dollars in Rewards right on the spot. Then the other time 2 pair of jeans for 5 bucks total.

Stacy McKitrick said...

Ivy - You're the Queen at finding deals, that's for sure. I go to the salon anyway, so I saw no sense in NOT joining their program, especially since it didn't cost me anything. :) I LOVE free money! :)

The Happy Whisk said...

I agree, and Kmart didn't cost me anything either. The only one I do pay for is the Barnes membership but we go there often and it's long paid for itself.