3 Fast Ways to Boost Your Savings This Holiday Weekend

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Perhaps the only thing better than nabbing a great deal during a holiday weekend sale is managing to lower the already-discounted price.

That’s easier than you might think. Just use a discounted gift card or earn cash back on your purchase — or both.

Following are three ways to do just that while shopping sales — or buying most anything else — during Columbus Day weekend.

1. Use cash-back portals

A cash-back portal is a website or app through which you can earn cash back on purchases — cash rebates, technically. I break down the process in “4 Websites That Pay You to Go Shopping.”

Now through Columbus Day, which falls on the second Monday in October, the cash-back portal Ebates is running a promotion involving double cash back at certain retailers. From Ebates’ homepage, click on “See All Stores” (written in green) for a list of all retailers participating in this promotion — there are a few dozen.

2. Pay with discounted gift cards

Discounted gift cards are sold for less than their face value — for example, a gift card that’s good for $100 but for which you pay only $80.

There are two main types of discounted gift cards:

  • New gift cards can be purchased for less than their face value at wholesale clubs. Here is the Sam’s Club’s gift cards webpage, for example.
  • Unwanted gift cards can be purchased for less than their face value at marketplaces like Cardpool.com and Raise.com. These are basically websites that enable folks with unwanted gift cards to sell them, and enable savvy shoppers to buy them. Note the banner at the top of Raise’s website, where it says “EXTRA $5 OFF.” If you spend $100 on discounted gift cards for certain brands now through Columbus Day, you’ll get an additional $5 off. Use promo code 5OFFSALE.

3. Pay with rewards credit cards

If you pay off your credit card bills in full each month, you are not incurring interest charges. So instead of choosing a credit card based on a low interest rate, choose one based on great rewards.

Many folks fancy travel-related rewards like airline miles or hotel nights. Money Talks News founder Stacy Johnson has earned free lodging for a weeklong trip this way — see “10 Ways to Score Free Lodging for Your Next Vacation.” I love my cash-back credit card, as I can spend cash rewards on whatever I want.

Whatever kind of rewards you prefer, there is likely a credit card out there for you. An easy way to find cards and compare their perks is to use Money Talks News’ credit card search tool.

For more Columbus Day weekend shopping pointers, check out “The Best Things to Buy in October.”

Do you know about more Columbus Day weekend promotions? Share them below or on Facebook.

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