UPromise

[oreo]

Does anyone use UPromise to save for their child's (or other person's child's) college? I just signed up and maybe I'm just lazy but it seems like a lot of work to do this. Does anyone have tips, etc? I don't really understand how it works especially if I don't buy a lot online.

For example, I signed up my Ralphs Club card and I can't figure out if I'll just get something back when I buy products with the UPromise logo on it or if I maybe get a % back from my entire purchase or how it works.

Any tips/tricks would be greatly appreciated. I don't want to get their credit card and I'm hesitant to give them all of my credit card information. I noticed most of the restaurants I go to aren't on the program anyway.

It looks like Target.com is listed as getting money back but not the Target store itself, is that the deal?

[Deleted]

I go to it before shopping online and register my cc. I also go to the grocery online coupons and load them on my card during the beginning of the month.
You need to register your cc to get any money. If you do not want to do that, use ebates instead for online shopping.

[Deleted]

I USED to use UPromise.... until some money mysteriously disappeared from the account.

When I questioned them about it, they said that I requested a check in that amount to be sent to me.
When I asked for a copy of that cashed check or even a check number, they said that information was NOT available.

We went 'round and 'round for weeks... then I canceled the account.

No way I would trust them with my CC#!

[Regis]

I do the same as gin1984. Since we put most everything on our credit card (and pay it off monthly), we get about $70-90 each quarter towards the college account. We've had no problems at all.

[Angel!]

I use Upromise & they send the money to pay down my existing student loans. I think I've earned around $500 so far, which is pretty good considering my student loan payment is only $70/month.

When you purchase products with the upromise symbol in stores, then a % of that products price goes towards your account. When you purchase things online by linking through their website, then a % of that purchase goes towards your account. I don't shop online often & rarely buy products with the Upromise symbol because they are always namebrand, more costly items. Probably 95% of my earnings are because I use the Upromise credit card.

I've never had a problem with money disappearing or not getting credited to my account, but if I didn't use the CC, then I can't imagine it would be worth it.

[Clever Username]

It takes a little while to front load all of the information. But mine's been on autopilot for years. I never intentionally buy anything for the points.
If you shop online alot (like I do for office supplies at work) they've got an ap that will log in the purchases for points.
That and random restaurant rewards are my main earnings.

[mithrin]

I signed up almost 10 years ago and have $30 in my account. I don't use the UPromise branded credit card. It's only 1% back into the UPromise account. I can get a higher cash back rate using other cards. I also don't use the online shopping links via UPromise. Whenever I've looked, I can get a higher % by going through my Chase or Discover cards online links, or from sites like eBates or Fatwallet.

We used to get the occasional grocery purchase reward, but the number of participating products has gone way down since the start, so I've stopped even worrying about keeping my credit card info updated.

[kccini9]

I have the upromise cc but I don't use it anymore. I'm trying to pay off debt, not add to it! I do use the site when I shop online tough. Since we are overseas, I do a lot of online shopping. I have over $300 in there now. I'll eventually transfer it over to pay on one of my student loans.

[hsclassic]

I just got an email today that Upromise is changing their grocery program. Used to be you just had your card swiped. Now you have to print the coupons from their new administrator's website to get credit. Needless to say, I'm discontinuing my participation (was saving to help my niece).

[oreo]

I haven't received that email yet but I just added all of my grocery cards so I guess that won't do me any good now it sounds like?

Wow mithrin, it hardly seems worth it if you've only been able to get $30 in 10 years!

I'm thinking this isn't really a viable way to save anything for college. I wasn't counting on it being anything major but I thought maybe I'd end up with a couple hundred or something by the time my son is 18 (he'll actually be 17 when he goes into college if we start him in kindergarten at 4 since his birthday is in November) because he's barely 2 now. I think I'll just leave this on autopilot and will probably forget about it by the time my son is 17 anyway!

Thanks for all of your feedback!

[Deleted]

Well I have had it since 07 and have over $300, it really depends on how you use it. Having the toolbar has really helped me.

[Deleted]

meh... that $300 would have paid for one of my daughter's textbooks....
nice, but nowhere near enough.

[Deleted]

Feb 23, 2011 18:11:49 GMT -5 @luann said:

meh... that $300 would have paid for one of my daughter's textbooks....
nice, but nowhere near enough.

I just graduated and $300 is enough for three biology/chem/physics textbooks not one. I was able to pay for my entire last semester of books with $300. As a college student if anyone had given me $300 I would have been grateful.

[wvugurl26]

I'm totally doing something wrong. I think I have $5 sitting in that account.

[Deleted]

Just checked in with upromise to activate the ecoupons for grocery shopping. Though the coupons are through a different company I do not see much difference. Just remember on the 1st of the month to activate the coupons and you won't have a problem.

[Deleted]

Feb 23, 2011 21:27:38 GMT -5 @gin1984 said:

Feb 23, 2011 18:11:49 GMT -5 @luann said:

meh... that $300 would have paid for one of my daughter's textbooks....
nice, but nowhere near enough.

I just graduated and $300 is enough for three biology/chem/physics textbooks not one. I was able to pay for my entire last semester of books with $300. As a college student if anyone had given me $300 I would have been grateful.

Lucky you!

One semester, her books totaled $850... yes, for ONE semester!

[mithrin]

Feb 23, 2011 22:19:03 GMT -5 wvugurl26 said:

I'm totally doing something wrong. I think I have $5 sitting in that account.

When if first started, they got a lot of companies to partner with them and there were a fair number of grocery items that qualified. Apparently having the UPromise logo didn't drive up sales of those brands though, so more and more of them have dropped out. I looked at this month's coupons and didn't see anything I'd use (I get paper goods at Costco because they are cheaper than the after coupon price at the grocery store, others are for name brands and I can get the generics for less). I will often use the coupons from the grocery store's Sunday insert, it's just that UPromise doesn't have any deals that I will use.

To build a good balance you either need to use the UPromise credit card for a 1% contribution from all your spending, or use the referral links for online shopping regularly.

My experience has been that I can get more than 1% back by using other credit cards, and I can get higher referral %'s from other sites online, so I don't use UPromise. If I can get a higher percentage back, in simple cash rather than education-only credit, I'll take it. I can always put the money I earn from those other cards and sites into a 529 account if I want to save for college--in which case I'd sign up for the Fidelity Amex that will pay 2% back into a Fidelity 529 account.

[Deleted]

Mar 1, 2011 15:30:20 GMT -5 @luann said:

Feb 23, 2011 21:27:38 GMT -5 @gin1984 said:

I just graduated and $300 is enough for three biology/chem/physics textbooks not one. I was able to pay for my entire last semester of books with $300. As a college student if anyone had given me $300 I would have been grateful.

Lucky you!

One semester, her books totaled $850... yes, for ONE semester!

My first semester my books cost $700, buying mostly used from the bookstore. Over the years I got better at finding deals. Buying online, first from B&N and then other stores. Buying international copies, buying from the year before me. Yes, you can go to the bookstore and spend $850 or you can find the deals and shave 1/2 of that off.

[Deleted]

Mar 1, 2011 15:47:55 GMT -5 mithrin said:

Feb 23, 2011 22:19:03 GMT -5 wvugurl26 said:

I'm totally doing something wrong. I think I have $5 sitting in that account.

When if first started, they got a lot of companies to partner with them and there were a fair number of grocery items that qualified. Apparently having the UPromise logo didn't drive up sales of those brands though, so more and more of them have dropped out. I looked at this month's coupons and didn't see anything I'd use (I get paper goods at Costco because they are cheaper than the after coupon price at the grocery store, others are for name brands and I can get the generics for less). I will often use the coupons from the grocery store's Sunday insert, it's just that UPromise doesn't have any deals that I will use.

To build a good balance you either need to use the UPromise credit card for a 1% contribution from all your spending, or use the referral links for online shopping regularly.

My experience has been that I can get more than 1% back by using other credit cards, and I can get higher referral %'s from other sites online, so I don't use UPromise. If I can get a higher percentage back, in simple cash rather than education-only credit, I'll take it. I can always put the money I earn from those other cards and sites into a 529 account if I want to save for college--in which case I'd sign up for the Fidelity Amex that will pay 2% back into a Fidelity 529 account.

I use upromise links when they equal or are more than ebates/bond rewards. I use my Fedelity AMEX as well. Why do you think you get education-only credit, not cash? I used to get a check from upromise and now it gets deposited in my sallie Mae savings account and I get a 10% in Feb for it.

[Deleted]

Mar 1, 2011 16:46:44 GMT -5 @gin1984 said:

Mar 1, 2011 15:30:20 GMT -5 @luann said:

Lucky you!

One semester, her books totaled $850... yes, for ONE semester!

My first semester my books cost $700, buying mostly used from the bookstore. Over the years I got better at finding deals. Buying online, first from B&N and then other stores. Buying international copies, buying from the year before me. Yes, you can go to the bookstore and spend $850 or you can find the deals and shave 1/2 of that off.

Ummm... that was not the bookstore's price.....
She stopped buying at the bookstore after her first semester!

[Deleted]

Count me among those who are doing it wrong. I signed up about 5 years ago and have $ .30.

[Deleted]

Mar 1, 2011 17:07:13 GMT -5 @luann said:

Mar 1, 2011 16:46:44 GMT -5 @gin1984 said:

My first semester my books cost $700, buying mostly used from the bookstore. Over the years I got better at finding deals. Buying online, first from B&N and then other stores. Buying international copies, buying from the year before me. Yes, you can go to the bookstore and spend $850 or you can find the deals and shave 1/2 of that off.

Ummm... that was not the bookstore's price.....
She stopped buying at the bookstore after her first semester!

LuAnn, if you would like you could PM me before the beginning of the semester with the ISBNs and I can see what I can shave off for her.

[Deleted]

Mar 2, 2011 11:56:55 GMT -5 @gin1984 said:

Mar 1, 2011 17:07:13 GMT -5 @luann said:

Ummm... that was not the bookstore's price.....
She stopped buying at the bookstore after her first semester!

LuAnn, if you would like you could PM me before the beginning of the semester with the ISBNs and I can see what I can shave off for her.

Aww... thanks a bunch!
But she graduated spring 2006.

Karma for the offer.....

[Regis]

Mar 1, 2011 16:46:44 GMT -5 @gin1984 said:

Mar 1, 2011 15:30:20 GMT -5 @luann said:

Lucky you!

One semester, her books totaled $850... yes, for ONE semester!

My first semester my books cost $700, buying mostly used from the bookstore. Over the years I got better at finding deals. Buying online, first from B&N and then other stores. Buying international copies, buying from the year before me. Yes, you can go to the bookstore and spend $850 or you can find the deals and shave 1/2 of that off.

$588 for all of my son's books last year (freshman year) and $706 this year.