I prefer to save my dollars by working with the loss leaders at the grocery store. I used to do the Walgreens rebates to get freebie makeup for my daughter, but they discontinued the program. That was very easy.

I look at it like found money – and that always goes into savings. If we’re all lucky more retailers will use a system like Staples Easy Rebate, where you go to the website, enter a few numbers and viola! You’re done.

That said, one must actually mail in the rebates. And since many people don’t bother, retailers really aren’t in a rush to make it easier for us.