Comments on: UPromise: Free money for college http://moneysavingmom.com/2009/08/upromise-free-money-for-college.html Helping You Be a Better Home Economist Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:01:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: Erika Chapman http://moneysavingmom.com/2009/08/upromise-free-money-for-college.html/comment-page-1#comment-186793 Erika Chapman Sun, 09 Aug 2009 21:49:32 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2009/08/upromise-free-money-for-college.html#comment-186793 I have registered my debit cards but nothing seems to show up on my account. I also registered all of my grocery store and drugstore cards. Do I have to push the "credit card" button when I check out for it to work? And if I do that does it affect my bank account that is attached to my debit card since it is actually debit rather than credit? Someone said it might cost me more. Any answers anyone? I have registered my debit cards but nothing seems to show up on my account. I also registered all of my grocery store and drugstore cards. Do I have to push the “credit card” button when I check out for it to work? And if I do that does it affect my bank account that is attached to my debit card since it is actually debit rather than credit? Someone said it might cost me more. Any answers anyone?

]]> By: Holly http://moneysavingmom.com/2009/08/upromise-free-money-for-college.html/comment-page-1#comment-186792 Holly Sun, 09 Aug 2009 16:23:16 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2009/08/upromise-free-money-for-college.html#comment-186792 I've asked several times, and nobody ever seems to know. We intend for our son to attend a private college, and at the time he was born I signed up for UPromise only to discover they will not transfer money for a private school. Has this policy changed? I’ve asked several times, and nobody ever seems to know. We intend for our son to attend a private college, and at the time he was born I signed up for UPromise only to discover they will not transfer money for a private school. Has this policy changed?

]]> By: Gwen http://moneysavingmom.com/2009/08/upromise-free-money-for-college.html/comment-page-1#comment-186791 Gwen Sat, 08 Aug 2009 12:27:42 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2009/08/upromise-free-money-for-college.html#comment-186791 If you go through their site for regular online purchases, you get 1-3% back, depending. We switched to cash for everything, while trying to pay off the credit, but I was using my Upromise card to pay for everything and was getting about 20 a month back--all of which was going directly to my student loans as a principal payment, basically about three extra payments a year. (everything was paid off of the card) Love it. If you go through their site for regular online purchases, you get 1-3% back, depending. We switched to cash for everything, while trying to pay off the credit, but I was using my Upromise card to pay for everything and was getting about 20 a month back–all of which was going directly to my student loans as a principal payment, basically about three extra payments a year. (everything was paid off of the card)

Love it.

]]> By: Mandy http://moneysavingmom.com/2009/08/upromise-free-money-for-college.html/comment-page-1#comment-186790 Mandy Sat, 08 Aug 2009 09:34:07 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2009/08/upromise-free-money-for-college.html#comment-186790 The Chiquita Bites are in the refrigerated section of my Kroger. The Chiquita Bites are in the refrigerated section of my Kroger.

]]> By: maggie http://moneysavingmom.com/2009/08/upromise-free-money-for-college.html/comment-page-1#comment-186789 maggie Sat, 08 Aug 2009 07:45:49 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2009/08/upromise-free-money-for-college.html#comment-186789 Signed up 1 year ago and have about $30 in there now. TIP: Go through their site to get to EBAY. They will give you like 2% back. Signed up 1 year ago and have about $30 in there now.

TIP: Go through their site to get to EBAY. They will give you like 2% back.

]]> By: Janet http://moneysavingmom.com/2009/08/upromise-free-money-for-college.html/comment-page-1#comment-186788 Janet Fri, 07 Aug 2009 21:52:57 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2009/08/upromise-free-money-for-college.html#comment-186788 They will also let you use your UPromise money to pay off a parent's student loans. They will also let you use your UPromise money to pay off a parent’s student loans.

]]> By: lizajane http://moneysavingmom.com/2009/08/upromise-free-money-for-college.html/comment-page-1#comment-186787 lizajane Fri, 07 Aug 2009 21:39:36 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2009/08/upromise-free-money-for-college.html#comment-186787 I looked and looked for the Chiquita Bites at Dillon's today and couldn't find them. Maybe it's karma since I didn't load the UPromise coupon, and I'll find them the next time. Does anyone know if they carry them? if so, Where?!?! I looked and looked for the Chiquita Bites at Dillon’s today and couldn’t find them. Maybe it’s karma since I didn’t load the UPromise coupon, and I’ll find them the next time. Does anyone know if they carry them? if so, Where?!?!

]]> By: Jess http://moneysavingmom.com/2009/08/upromise-free-money-for-college.html/comment-page-1#comment-186786 Jess Fri, 07 Aug 2009 21:39:14 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2009/08/upromise-free-money-for-college.html#comment-186786 We have been with Upromise for quite a few years now. I love it!! I also earn additional money for my Upromise account by taking surveys with e-Rewards.com. For those interested, here is the URL for more info- <a href="http://im.529.com/partner/acqLandingNavbar.do?partnerName=erewards." rel="nofollow">http://im.529.com/partner/acqLandingNavbar.do?partnerName=erewards.</a> We have been with Upromise for quite a few years now. I love it!! I also earn additional money for my Upromise account by taking surveys with e-Rewards.com. For those interested, here is the URL for more info- http://im.529.com/partner/acqLandingNavbar.do?partnerName=erewards.

]]> By: EmilyD http://moneysavingmom.com/2009/08/upromise-free-money-for-college.html/comment-page-1#comment-186785 EmilyD Fri, 07 Aug 2009 21:36:20 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2009/08/upromise-free-money-for-college.html#comment-186785 We love Upromise! I thought it was a gimmick too but my husband (a CPA) convinced me to join up. When we do go out to a meal, we find a UPromise restaurant (he does that for business dinners too) - and my in-laws have signed up their credit cards on our account too. We have over 2K put away for our girls already! BUT, I didn't know about the ecoupons until I read your post - THANK YOU! We love Upromise! I thought it was a gimmick too but my husband (a CPA) convinced me to join up. When we do go out to a meal, we find a UPromise restaurant (he does that for business dinners too) – and my in-laws have signed up their credit cards on our account too.

We have over 2K put away for our girls already! BUT, I didn’t know about the ecoupons until I read your post – THANK YOU!

]]> By: LK http://moneysavingmom.com/2009/08/upromise-free-money-for-college.html/comment-page-1#comment-186784 LK Fri, 07 Aug 2009 21:10:11 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2009/08/upromise-free-money-for-college.html#comment-186784 We have earned around 1100$ with Upromise over about 4 years of doing what we normally do. It's quite a nice program! Also, you can ask for a check directly for your earnings, which they send to you, if you don't have one of their linked 529 college savings plans. I put our earnings into my children's high yield savings accounts, then quarterly make our deposits into their Education Savings accounts. It really works! We have earned around 1100$ with Upromise over about 4 years of doing what we normally do. It’s quite a nice program! Also, you can ask for a check directly for your earnings, which they send to you, if you don’t have one of their linked 529 college savings plans. I put our earnings into my children’s high yield savings accounts, then quarterly make our deposits into their Education Savings accounts. It really works!

]]> By: jenna http://moneysavingmom.com/2009/08/upromise-free-money-for-college.html/comment-page-1#comment-186783 jenna Fri, 07 Aug 2009 20:56:42 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2009/08/upromise-free-money-for-college.html#comment-186783 Upromise is a fikle program we signed up 6 years ago. I have had over $ 148K in purchases I registereed all my cards , when i went to cash in the account we were told we had $3.00 and even that $3.00 we could never get. So I am glad so many of you are finding upromise to be such a great program, I hope that they actually pay out when the time comes for all the little ones to go to college. College is expenisve! Sign me, Mom to two Grad Students! Upromise is a fikle program we signed up 6 years ago. I have had over $ 148K in purchases I registereed all my cards , when i went to cash in the account we were told we had $3.00 and even that $3.00 we could never get. So I am glad so many of you are finding upromise to be such a great program, I hope that they actually pay out when the time comes for all the little ones to go to college. College is expenisve! Sign me,
Mom to two Grad Students!

]]> By: Honey http://moneysavingmom.com/2009/08/upromise-free-money-for-college.html/comment-page-1#comment-186782 Honey Fri, 07 Aug 2009 20:45:59 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2009/08/upromise-free-money-for-college.html#comment-186782 I am confused. I am signed up and have registered my CVS, Kroger, and other shopper cards. But do I also have to register and use a certain debit card to pay? (Because I use cash now for most of my expenditures) Thanks! I am confused. I am signed up and have registered my CVS, Kroger, and other shopper cards. But do I also have to register and use a certain debit card to pay? (Because I use cash now for most of my expenditures) Thanks!

]]> By: tonya http://moneysavingmom.com/2009/08/upromise-free-money-for-college.html/comment-page-1#comment-186781 tonya Fri, 07 Aug 2009 20:09:49 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2009/08/upromise-free-money-for-college.html#comment-186781 We got a credit card linked to the Upromise account. The credit card co gives us 1% of what we buy. We've earned approx $2k just buying the things we normally buy with the credit card. We got a credit card linked to the Upromise account. The credit card co gives us 1% of what we buy. We’ve earned approx $2k just buying the things we normally buy with the credit card.

]]> By: Trixie http://moneysavingmom.com/2009/08/upromise-free-money-for-college.html/comment-page-1#comment-186780 Trixie Fri, 07 Aug 2009 20:07:46 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2009/08/upromise-free-money-for-college.html#comment-186780 Great post! Did you know you don't have to use this money for college or education? Upromise sure doesn't publicize it much, by you ask them to send you a check. You can find out more about it here. <a href="http://farmhomelife.blogspot.com/2008/06/upromise-not-just-for-college.html" rel="nofollow">http://farmhomelife.blogspot.com/2008/06/upromise-not-just-for-college.html</a> My husband and I really don't have a need to save money for college so we just have them send us a check for the balance every now and then. Even though we only end up accumulating money in small chucks of a few coins or dollars at a time, over a few months it really adds up! Trixie Great post!

Did you know you don’t have to use this money for college or education? Upromise sure doesn’t publicize it much, by you ask them to send you a check.

You can find out more about it here.

http://farmhomelife.blogspot.com/2008/06/upromise-not-just-for-college.html

My husband and I really don’t have a need to save money for college so we just have them send us a check for the balance every now and then. Even though we only end up accumulating money in small chucks of a few coins or dollars at a time, over a few months it really adds up!

Trixie

]]> By: Christy Carden http://moneysavingmom.com/2009/08/upromise-free-money-for-college.html/comment-page-1#comment-186779 Christy Carden Fri, 07 Aug 2009 19:45:40 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2009/08/upromise-free-money-for-college.html#comment-186779 $3K?? I wish I had known about the Century 21 thing--we are probably moving within the next year or two--I will have to look into that! We actually started a UPromise acct. when we got married 6 years ago and didn't even have a kid yet--a friend told us about it and you don't have to have a kid yet to do it--you can start saving for your future children. Sometimes you can even put the money towards your own student loans, but my husband's loan didn't qualify. Anyway, we have only saved about $80. I think we got around $20 when we bought our laptop and the rest have been a few dollars here and there. We hardly ever buy any of the items that qualify. We make a bit from on-line shopping; but really only on-line shop for gifts for others who live out of town and we would have to mail anyway. We have never made anything from gas, another thing I'll have to look into. We have made a bit dining out, but 1. We don't eat out often. and 2. Only a few random restaurants near us participate; we have been pleasantly surprised when we eat out while traveling and a dollar or so goes to our account. Oh, well, like Lisa said, we didn't have to do anything but sign up and maybe it will buy a book or 2 when college rolls around! $3K?? I wish I had known about the Century 21 thing–we are probably moving within the next year or two–I will have to look into that! We actually started a UPromise acct. when we got married 6 years ago and didn’t even have a kid yet–a friend told us about it and you don’t have to have a kid yet to do it–you can start saving for your future children. Sometimes you can even put the money towards your own student loans, but my husband’s loan didn’t qualify. Anyway, we have only saved about $80. I think we got around $20 when we bought our laptop and the rest have been a few dollars here and there. We hardly ever buy any of the items that qualify. We make a bit from on-line shopping; but really only on-line shop for gifts for others who live out of town and we would have to mail anyway. We have never made anything from gas, another thing I’ll have to look into. We have made a bit dining out, but 1. We don’t eat out often. and 2. Only a few random restaurants near us participate; we have been pleasantly surprised when we eat out while traveling and a dollar or so goes to our account. Oh, well, like Lisa said, we didn’t have to do anything but sign up and maybe it will buy a book or 2 when college rolls around!

]]> By: AmyB http://moneysavingmom.com/2009/08/upromise-free-money-for-college.html/comment-page-1#comment-186778 AmyB Fri, 07 Aug 2009 19:35:12 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2009/08/upromise-free-money-for-college.html#comment-186778 In five years, we have accumulated $1600+ just from regular shopping. We do have our reward cards and credit cards linked to it but have never made any extra expenditures--it is just everyday stuff. It is also good because the distribution isn't set in stone. You can change who gets the $ at any time and can even use it for adult education expenses. For once my procrastination has also paid off--I never got the $ transferred over into a 529 investment account--the $ are just in the "holding" account. So, we didn't take a hit when the markets dropped. Restaurant spending can get you up to 8% too. All in all, a great program and I feel like I am making a SAHM contribution to their college in some way by tracking everything. In five years, we have accumulated $1600+ just from regular shopping. We do have our reward cards and credit cards linked to it but have never made any extra expenditures–it is just everyday stuff. It is also good because the distribution isn’t set in stone. You can change who gets the $ at any time and can even use it for adult education expenses. For once my procrastination has also paid off–I never got the $ transferred over into a 529 investment account–the $ are just in the “holding” account. So, we didn’t take a hit when the markets dropped. Restaurant spending can get you up to 8% too. All in all, a great program and I feel like I am making a SAHM contribution to their college in some way by tracking everything.

]]> By: Michele http://moneysavingmom.com/2009/08/upromise-free-money-for-college.html/comment-page-1#comment-186777 Michele Fri, 07 Aug 2009 18:38:10 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2009/08/upromise-free-money-for-college.html#comment-186777 I've been using UPromise for about 6 years! I don't know what my account balance is, but my mother and mother-in-law have their grocery cards on it, too. When my daughters and son are ready for college, we should have accumulated a fair amount of money, in addition to the money that we are saving for them in an ESA. I’ve been using UPromise for about 6 years! I don’t know what my account balance is, but my mother and mother-in-law have their grocery cards on it, too. When my daughters and son are ready for college, we should have accumulated a fair amount of money, in addition to the money that we are saving for them in an ESA.

]]> By: Roxanne http://moneysavingmom.com/2009/08/upromise-free-money-for-college.html/comment-page-1#comment-186776 Roxanne Fri, 07 Aug 2009 17:24:27 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2009/08/upromise-free-money-for-college.html#comment-186776 I think I have an amazing ability to accidentally avoid all the items UPromise pays back on, because after 7 years we only have about $75 accumulated. But hey, it's still free, effortless money!! I think I have an amazing ability to accidentally avoid all the items UPromise pays back on, because after 7 years we only have about $75 accumulated. But hey, it’s still free, effortless money!!

]]> By: Coral http://moneysavingmom.com/2009/08/upromise-free-money-for-college.html/comment-page-1#comment-186775 Coral Fri, 07 Aug 2009 17:12:17 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2009/08/upromise-free-money-for-college.html#comment-186775 I've been a member for 5 or so years. I have it linked to my school loan and have earned close to $100 in that time. It's true that it's not much, but on the other hand, that's $100ish that I don't have to pay back! I’ve been a member for 5 or so years. I have it linked to my school loan and have earned close to $100 in that time. It’s true that it’s not much, but on the other hand, that’s $100ish that I don’t have to pay back!

]]> By: Saving In Akron http://moneysavingmom.com/2009/08/upromise-free-money-for-college.html/comment-page-1#comment-186774 Saving In Akron Fri, 07 Aug 2009 17:01:23 +0000 http://moneysavingmom.net/2009/08/upromise-free-money-for-college.html#comment-186774 I just want everyone to know what a great program this is. We signed up 5 years ago and have over $2,700 in savings. I have the Upromise credit card and I used it religiously (until this year when business was bad) for gas and groceries and anything else I bought (just make sure you pay it off every month). It's amazing how the savings add up. You get 1% savings on everything you buy on the card, plus the savings from the manufacturer or store, and 10% savings back on groceries. And the best part is you can get grandparents to contribute too. You just do your regular shopping and it starts to really add up. Plus I've found their deals are really good too. When we were on vacation, I couldn't beat their car rental prices anywhere. I just want everyone to know what a great program this is. We signed up 5 years ago and have over $2,700 in savings. I have the Upromise credit card and I used it religiously (until this year when business was bad) for gas and groceries and anything else I bought (just make sure you pay it off every month). It’s amazing how the savings add up. You get 1% savings on everything you buy on the card, plus the savings from the manufacturer or store, and 10% savings back on groceries. And the best part is you can get grandparents to contribute too. You just do your regular shopping and it starts to really add up. Plus I’ve found their deals are really good too. When we were on vacation, I couldn’t beat their car rental prices anywhere.

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