Articles by Madison


Gift Card Alternatives: The Art of Buying Actual Gifts

Posted by Madison on December 14, 2011

It’s easy to give a gift card. I know. I do it all the time. But could this be the year you actually give gifts instead of gift cards? I’m a sucker for gift dard deals too, but the reality is that gift card recipients don’t use the gift cards, they exchange them for cash. […]

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Should You Pay Your Property Taxes This Year?

Posted by Madison on December 12, 2011

Property taxes are are one of the biggest expenses in our budget. Since property taxes are deductible (if you itemize your deductions), it’s only natural that they have a large impact on income taxes as well. Every December, as part of our end of year tax planning, I like to figure out when we should […]

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5% Amazon Discount Using Price Check

Posted by Madison on December 8, 2011

Here’s a fun twist on a combination of saving money at Amazon while shopping at Bricks and Mortar stores, the Amazon Price Check App! This Saturday, Amazon is going to give you 5% off of 3 items (up to $100 each) when you use the app. I love shopping at Amazon, so 5% off is […]

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9 Christmas Gift Ideas for Kids to Learn About Money

Posted by Madison on December 6, 2011

Looking for gift ideas for kids that focus on personal finance? You’re in luck, because gifts and toys that double as tools to teach kids about money management are some of my favorite gifts to give. They’re also the perfect gifts for kids that have everything and really don’t have a use for another expensive […]

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Free Gift Cards from American Express Gift Chain

Posted by Madison on November 30, 2011

One of my favorite holiday shopping traditions was the old American Express Wishlist. Anyone remember it? Well, it’s back… sort of… in a new, and different form: the American Express Gift Chain. The gift chain is giving statement credits, gift cards, rewards points, shoprunner memberships, and more ranging from $2 to $500. Some of the […]

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11 Cash Back Reward Sites for Your Holiday Shopping

Posted by Madison on November 25, 2011

Happy Black Friday! Did you get all your shopping done and pick up your Black Friday free stuff? Now it’s time to settle in at the computer to prepare for round two: the online shopping extravaganza! And in Free Money Friday spirit, I’m ranking the cash back programs in order of sign up bonuses so […]

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Mastercard $20 Gift Card for Online Shopping

Posted by Madison on November 21, 2011

The incentive offers for online shopping are starting to stack up! And I’m loving it! We’re kicking off a fun filled holiday week of more Free Money, gift ideas, and plenty of online shopping cash back! Mastercard is offering $20 prepaid gift cards for online shopping this holiday season via their “Here’s To Moms” promotion. […]

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Cost Basis Reporting: Preparing for 2012

Posted by Madison on November 14, 2011

Our investment club just finished submitting all of our cost basis reporting to our broker, Scottrade. And to be honest, it wasn’t an easy task! Our treasurer spent hours on the task. If you’re like me, you’ve gotten a flurry of cost basis reporting requests from your brokers via email. And it’s about time I […]

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How to Stack Gas Rewards on American Express for Free Gas

Posted by Madison on November 9, 2011

We just filled up our Durango with $75 in free gas, courtesy of the ability to stack the purchases on our Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express card. You should have seen the look on the cashier’s face just a few days earlier when she reported how much free gas we had earned! I […]

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Emptying Your 6% Cash Back via ATM and Cash Advance

Posted by Madison on November 7, 2011

Two readers, Kelly and Barbara, are taking the 6% from Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express straight to the bank, literally! Barbara first came up with the idea to cash out the gift cards for actual cash instead of using the cards for spending in our American Express 6% Cash Back Q & A. […]

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