Get Paid to Shop Online

I love shopping.  Shocker.  Do you know a diva who doesn't??

I know, I typically wax on and on about earning points and miles, but there's just something about getting paid to shop.  I like to travel and I like a bargain.  With all the deals and savings offered with post-holiday sales, getting cash back takes the savings to another level.   That extra cash in your pocket can be put toward travel expenses or spending money for your next vacation.

So, how do I get paid to shop?

Ebates! Visit the website or download the app from iTunes or Google Play, click, shop and earn. It's that simple.  Ebates  also provides discount codes for many vendors for additional savings and to date,  has paid members more than $300 million in cash back.  Why would you want to leave money on the table??

Many of your favorite vendors and services, including travel sites, are in the Ebates network.  You can earn up to 8% cash back and sometimes double, when booking your next trip.

Try it today and let me know how much you save!

How Ebates Works:ere's how simple it really is:

Each store offers a different cash back percentage. Just look at the percentage next to the store name on the Ebates.com site to see how much savings you will earn.

Cyber Monday is here!

The Monday after Thanksgiving is a special day for mileage/points junkies.   Earning rewards at great prices  at your favorite online retailers, like Target, Best Buy, Macy's, Groupon, Nike, Sephora, Ulta, Nordstrom, Kohl's etc.,is a win for everyone!  Not only do you get great savings and often free shipping on Cyber Monday, opportunities for bonus miles will get you even closer to your next vacation. I'm ALWAYS ready for the next vacation!

If you plan to put a dent in your holiday shopping today, don't forget to take that extra step and visit your reward program's online shopping portal to earn miles or points for all your purchases! (I have my favorite shopping portals bookmarked and saved as my homepage.) Several coupon codes are floating around for even more savings. You can find a coupon code by visiting www.evreward.com or www.retailmenot.com. 

Happy shopping! And, happy Mileage Junkie Day!! Enjoy.

Online Shopping Portals:

• American Airlines Aadvantage:  Advantage eshopping
• United Mileage Plus:  Mileage Plus Shopping
• US Airways: Dividend Miles Storefront
• Delta: SkyMiles Shopping
• Southwest: Rapid Rewards Shopping
• JetBlue: ShopTrue

Think Pink, Earn AA Miles.

Have boobs? Know someone who has boobs? Then, by now, when you see the color pink, you think breast cancer awareness.  October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and your generosity to the cause can pay off. 

Now through October 31, you can donate to Miles for the Cure and American Airlines will reward you with double AAdvantage^® miles — 20 miles per dollar, with a minimum of $25 donation. Donate now.  Your donation can help save lives and get you several miles closer to your next travel destination.  

Check out AA's Be Pink campaign to see their other activities in support of breast cancer awareness and research.

FACTS ABOUT BREAST CANCER IN THE U.S.A.

• One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.
• Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women.
• Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death among women.
• Each year it is estimated that over 220,000 women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer and more than 40,000 will die.
• Although breast cancer in men is rare, an estimated 2,150 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer and approximately 410 will die each year.

Perk Up & Get More Miles

I hope you heeded my advice and signed up for a Capital One Venture No Hassle Rewards card.   If you haven't, what are you waiting for?? I have the Venture card with no annual fee and I am a HUGE fan.

In addition to earning 1.25 miles per dollar spent when using my Venture credit card, Capital One's No Hassle Rewards also has a shopping portal, Perk Central.  The portal offers rewards for many of your favorite retailers like AMC Theaters, Starbuck's, Target, and Macy's.

When you shop with Perk Central either online or in-store and make a purchase using your Capital One credit card, you can earn bonus miles on top of what you'd normally earn with each purchase. Capital One has partnered with local retailers, national retailers across the country, and the most recognized online retailers to offer you hundreds of options to earn bonus miles.

Some in-store offers must be activated at Perk Central before you can earn bonus miles. To find these offers, select the "Activate Special Offers" on the left side of the page. Click the "Activate" button by a retailer's offer and use your Capital One credit card for in-store purchases before the offer expires. 

I've only been using my Venture Card for a year and I was able to purchase a free round trip ticket to Miami for a much needed vacay. At the rate I've been going, I'm well on my way to more free travel using my Venture card.

Hopefully, you are too.

Note: Perk Central ended its bonus mileage program in November 2013. :(

Are You Ready for Some Football?

It's football season and Sundays are good days.  Thank goodness, the refs are back! Whether you kick back on the couch rooting for your favorite team or host a game party on a Sunday afternoon, you can earn frequent flyer miles. 

American Advantage offers bonus miles when you sign up for Direct TV service.  In addition to On Demand services, tons of HD channels, and DVR that lets you record and watch shows when you're ready, you will also get the NFL Sunday Ticket package at no extra charge.

That means you'll get to see every football game, every Sunday.  For my die-hard football fans, it's a win-win. Miles for football? I'm game.

Earn 25,000 bonus Aadvantage miles with Direct TV!

Show a Little Love, Get Lots of Miles

It's February and that means no end to the number of red hearts, chocolates, jewelry commercials, and references to beloved Cupid. Love, that many splendid thing, which connects us to family, friends, and lovers is a great reason to offer a gesture or gift to remind someone you care (even yourself -- nothing wrong with a little self love). Doing something special for others could result in a special trip for you!

With Valentine's Day fast approaching, don't miss an opportunity to earn miles when you show a little love. If you're planning to do something special for or with someone you love enjoy dinner at a participating rewards network restaurant to increase your frequent flyer mileage. Whether it's a beautiful floral arrangement, jewelry, a fragrance, chocolates, or some other confection, visit your favorite frequent flyer program's online shopping mall to get miles for your purchase.


Some of my favorite retailers (some offering up to 10 miles per dollar) around this time of year include:

• ProFlowers   
• Blue Nile                      
• Teleflora
• Red Envelope
• SpaFinder
• Spalook
• Harry & David
• Perfumania
• Mrs. Fields
• Shari's Berries

Love is in the air.  When you're celebrating Cupid's Day, get some miles so you can be too!

M&Ms are good for you... Magazines and Mileage that is.

Laying out on the couch with a good magazine sounds good... Laying out poolside or on the beach with a magazine in some tropical location?  Well, that sounds even better.  You can earn up to 2,000 miles with U.S. Airways Dividend Miles for purchasing a magazine subscription for some of your favorite magazines with Magazine Mileage Awards.  Reading the latest entertainment news, checking out the top 100 places to live in Money magazine, or seeing this season's fashion trends can get you several hundred miles closer to your next vacation. It's worth checking out.

Penny for your thoughts? How about miles for surveys??

Everyone has an opinion.  However, not everyone knows that they can get paid for their opinions.  You can be rewarded with miles, gift cards, or points with various loyalty programs or retailers for participating in online surveys and simply sharing your two cents  — all without ever leaving your home.

To boost your mileage, I encourage you to register with sites like www.e-rewards.com and www.emiles.com which reward you for your time and opinions with airline miles, sponsor points, or gift cards.   For my fellow mileage seekers, you can trade "currency" that you earn for miles/points with numerous loyalty reward programs including Delta Air Lines®, US Airways®, United® / Continental®, AirTran Airways®, Frontier Airlines or Alaska Airlines®.

As a member of these online survey sites, you can earn free miles in just minutes a day — simply by reading and responding to marketing messages based on your preferences. Get started today and you'll be a few miles closer to your next vacation.

Earn Miles for Supporting Our Troops

Support Our Troops!

In honor of Veteran's Day and the great sacrifice and service of our brother and sisters in the armed forces both past and present, consider making a donation to the USO in support of our troops.

For those of you who belong to American's AAdvantage® program, you will receive 15 miles instead of 10 for each dollar donated through American’s Miles In Support of All Who Serve campaign, which supports USO programs and services to support the morale, welfare, social and entertainment needs of troops and their families, free of charge.  This bonus is only available through Veterans Day, Nov. 11th, so act now.  Please note, you will only receive the bonus if you make a minimum donation of $25.

Please don't stop the music...music for miles that is.

To quote Martin's infamous mechanic, Elroy Preston, "I love my music."  Especially when I can get miles for it. Did you know that you can get miles for buying your favorite songs and videos on iTunes?? Apple's iTunes is a participating online retailer in your frequent flyer program's online shopping mall.  You can get up to 3 miles per dollar spent by going through your favorite online shopping mall to access and make purchases on iTunes.

Anytime I need to refresh my iPod playlists, I know I'll be a step closer to my next free flight.  Can't say I didn't tell ya... Don't you know no good? Don't you know no goo oo ood! *In my Martin voice*