Lowes $10 OFF Promotion
I just received my weekly e-mailer from Lowes. In it you will find a new promotion designed to get you in the store this weekend. There is a $10 off coupon on purchases of $50 or more (20% off). If you combine this coupon with the cashback categories I discussed in a post earlier this week, you can get an additional 5% off the discounted price. NICE. Offer expires 4/4/11.
Gaming 5% Cashback Categories
Yesterday, I posted my quarterly update on 5% cashback categories for the more popular credit cards. In it I noted that this quarter basically all the cards were competing in the same categories (e.g. home improvement). From a business perspective this doesn’t make much sense, but as we all know credit card companies don’t always make sense. From a consumer perspective however, this causes a problem. There’s no card I can use in Q2 2011 to get 5% back on my groceries or travel or lots of other things.
What’s a credit card reward maximizer to do when this happens? Read more
Maximizing What’s in Your Wallet Q2 2011
I started doing this last quarter and people seemed to like it, so here's the latest installment. As a reminder, this post is for all the credit card deadbeats out there looking to maximize cashback rewards. So, if you never carry a balance on your credit cards, have them set to auto-pay in full every month, and want to make the most of Q2 2011, then read on. Read more
An Open Letter to Pentagon Federal Credit Union
Dear Pentagon Federal Credit Union,
For years, I have been a big fan. I love many things about you, particularly your wonderful customer service representatives. However, since I joined back in 2008ish, some things have started deteriorating, and I'd just like to let you know that I miss them. * I miss when in December you used to offer really great CD rates for a short time. It was like getting presents under the Christmas tree, only it kept paying me month after month. I really miss those. * I really miss that my PenFed VISA Platinum Gas / Cash Rewards Card used to have no foreign transaction fees.
Then you sent this: "Effective November 30, 2009, Pentagon Federal is increasing the foreign transaction fee to 2% of the U.S. dollar amount of the transaction whether originally made in U.S. dollars or converted from a foreign currency." A sad day that was. * I also miss the 1.25% I used to get cashback on all non-gas and non-grocery purchases on the Pentagon Federal Credit Union Platinum Rewards VISA. You switched it to just 1% at the beginning of 2010, and it had an impact. No longer were you my card of choice. That extra 1/4 percent was really important. Dropping it to 1% made you seem like most everyone else out there. *
And then this month you sliced the grocery reward 50% from 2% cashback to 1% cashback on the same card. Sad, sad, sad. * Finally, the extra rewards that you offered on certain categories last year seem to be gone. When I called and asked why, you just said you weren't feeling the need to do any promotions right now. So, now I've gone from a lover of your CD's and frequent user of your card for all manner of purchases to a disgruntled customer who only pulls out your card at the gas station since the Pentagon Federal Credit Union Platinum Rewards VISA still offers 5% back on those purchases. But, at this rate how long will that last? Then, how long before I just throw it in the drawer with all the other also-ran cards out there? I miss you old Pentagon Federal Credit Union!
Coinstar Special Offers Review
I’ve always been a fan of Coinstar, but I thought the fees that they charge for processing your coins were absurd (9.8 cents per dollar counted in USA; 11.9 cents per dollar counted in Canada). The convenience was compelling. However, there was no way I would ever do that. You can’t hustle a hustler.
Luckily for me, my local credit union installed a fee free machine in most of their branches. I loved that. Then I read in the NY Times about an even better deal:
“Coinstar advertised a program where several retail outlets, including iTunes, Borders and Regal Cinemas, went beyond shouldering the fee to offer gift cards that exceeded the value of a $40 minimum coin exchange by $10, meaning that $40 in coins could be redeemed for a $50 gift certificate.”
That’s just a quick stop at the bank for 4 rolls of quarters. If you are already planning to shop at these retailers, you just have to be a little proactive, and you can easily game this for a massive discount off your purchases.
I recommend that my readers start following the special offers at Coinstar. If they announce them, I’ll be sure to announce it on my Twitter. Be sure to follow me!
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