4 Ways to save on back to school + $100 amex giveaway!

04 August 2014


How do you save money on back to school shopping? It begins to seem ridiculous when you pay the participation fees, registration fees, book fees, sports fees, band fees, class party fees, PTA fees = Fee’d to death. I try to concentrate on the things I can actually control how much I spend on -- I love to save money without a lot of effort, so here are a few tips I use for back to school shopping:


1. Always, always check for a coupon before checking out. Most likely, there is one! Ask an associate if there is one online, or search for the store name + coupon, or a site like Retail Me Not. Every store we hit while shopping in Montana (no sales tax!) had an additional discount coupon we pulled up on my phone. It adds up –these sweaters were $2.97 and $6.97 on the clearance rack at JCPeneny, and then they had an additional 15% coupon we pulled up on our phone. Score!
back to school amex
2. Go through closets and decide what is really needed for each child. If you are armed with a list of “needs” it will be much easier not to get distracted by sales and bright signs and stick to the budget.
3. Check for neighborhood/community clothing swaps. Our church has one every August – everyone brings their outgrown clothes, uniforms, Halloween costumes, and winter coats, and then they separate them by size. You help others out and might score some soccer cleats that will be outgrown by next season that you didn’t want to shell out $40 for.
4. If you have an American Express card, sign up for Amex Offers. We use credit cards. We have a budget, and we pay them off every month and get some awesome rewards. This is one of them.
 photo savewithamexoffers_zps80ebd13a.jpg
You simply sign in, and choose which offers you want to save to your card. The offers are relevant to where you’ve shopped in the past and your current location. No coupons, no clipping, just shop like you normally do and the savings will add up as statement credits on your bill. That’s it!
This month I have offers from stores I shop at anyway like Dollar Tree, JCPenney, Sports Authority, Best Buy, Whole Foods, Crazy 8, and PF Changs. And you can still use coupons and store deals! This past weekend, JcPenney was having their big sale along with $10 off $25 coupons. We went underwear and socks shopping and divided them up into a couple of $25 transactions to save the most. My son has been begging for Nike socks, and they weren’t included with the coupon, but they were included in the buy one, get one half off and I knew that I would be getting the $10 back on my statement, so it seemed much more reasonable. He got his name brand socks, I got my deal, we were all happy.
 photo amexrewards_zps6b9602be.jpg
To welcome us back to school, we are giving away a $100 American Express gift card to a lucky reader! Tell us in the comments: what do you/would you like most about AMEX offers? Good luck!
Sweepstakes Rules: No duplicate comments.
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
  1. Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
  2. Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#AmexOffers” and “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
  3. Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
  4. For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. The notification email will come directly from BlogHer via the sweeps@blogher email address. You will have 72 hours to respond; otherwise a new winner will be selected.
The Official Rules are available here.
This sweepstakes runs from 8/4-9/1.
Be sure to visit the Amex Offers brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ posts!


101 comments

  1. I Like that it is so easy to add offers!

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  2. I love having AMEX offers. I feel like the offers are ones that I actually use!

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  3. I like a good deal and love using my American Express card at Costco for cash back rewards is awesome!

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  5. We have 2 American Express cards and I didn't know about this benefit! I will definitely be adding it today! Who doesn't like to save more money at the places they shop most!?

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  6. the restaurant savings would be great, as we go out to eat about once a week.
    thanks,
    b

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  7. I like that you don't have to remember to print something or take it with you.

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  8. I like how easy it is to add offers!

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  9. It's like getting free money!

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  10. The offers are from stores where you actually shop--brilliant!

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  11. We've had an AMEX for years and this is news for me. I love that the offers are customized to your shopping history and you can do it all online. Thanks!

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  12. I like that the offers take into account your personal preferences based on what you've shopped for in the past.

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  13. Tweeted: https://twitter.com/lisanne624/status/496351496263700480

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  14. I like that it is so easy to use. Just wish I knew about it sooner...I've been an AMEX card holder for years and didn't know.

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  15. I love a good deal! Thanks so much!

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  16. I recently got a Costco Amex offer. That was awesome!

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  17. I have used the American Express offers multiple times! Love AMEX!

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  18. Love my AMEX card. The offers are actually practical!

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  19. Love my American Express! I had no idea about this program.

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  20. I love AMEX offers-so practical.

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  21. I don't have an American Express, but reading your description, and I love that the offers are ones that familiespon a budget can really use!

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  22. Use my AMEX for cash back on groceries. LOVE you post and use coupons and credit cards to save all the time...people think if you charge you are wasting money, but if you pay it off each month you can make the card work for you. Thanks for a great blog !

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  23. I love that there are cash back rewards when making purchases at many vendors. This is money in the pocket.

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  24. I tweeted.

    https://twitter.com/birdiebee52/status/496423377289363456

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  25. A Costco AMEX card? I'm thinking I need to get one of those!

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  26. I like that the offers are relevant to where you’ve shopped in the past and your current location.

    mami2jcn at gmail dot com

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  27. tweet:

    https://twitter.com/mami2jcn/status/496454296565608448

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  28. Wow! So generous. I always look for coupons too! Most places you can find something online. caraleesearl at yahoo dot com

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  29. I like the money back at JCPenney. I would take my daughter there to buy some dresses since we always like their selection.

    kellywcu8888ATgmailDOTcom

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      https://twitter.com/Kellydinpa/status/496457760955834368

      kellywcu8888ATgmailDOTcom

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  31. I like that you can open the Amex app on your phone, and tap a button to see retail offers that are available in your area nearby. Very cool!

    lil_lady_dz@yahoo.com

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  32. tweeted: https://twitter.com/lil_lady_dz/status/496462366322601984

    lil_lady_dz@yahoo.com

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  33. I love that they do the work of coupon remembering for you so I don't have to bring them with me, pull them up on my phone, etc. I have an AMEX and didn't know about this, so Thanks so much!

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  34. I didn't know they offered this. Looks like it's easy to use.

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  35. Wish I had known about this before...

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  36. I love that it's so easy to use at places I shop.

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  37. My favorite AMEX offer is the Best Buy offer.
    heather hgtempaddy@hotmail.com

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  38. I like the variety of stores to choose from

    elena150980@yahoo.com

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  39. https://twitter.com/ElenaIstomina/status/496493700726280192

    elena150980@yahoo.com

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  40. I, too, use AMEX rewards frequently. With 6 kids, I buy a lot of groceries--with AMEX, I get 3% of those grocery purchases back!

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  41. Love that you don't have to remember to bring the coupon with you!

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  42. Amex cardholder for 20 years now -- this kind of program is why! aorzoff (at) nmsu dot edu

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  43. tweeted!
    https://twitter.com/methhamfetabean/status/496620568699887617

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  44. I love that offers are relevant to where you’ve shopped in the past and your current location - no coupon needed.

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  45. I never knew about the AmEx offers!

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  46. I tweeted! https://twitter.com/katiemur80/status/496634728267526144

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  47. I never know about this deal. I am most excited about JC penny because it's the only store in our small town.

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  48. I never knew about this! I already have an American Express card! Checking into it today! Thank you!

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  49. I like that these rewards are offered at places where I would actually shop! And so easy to add to my card! Thanks!

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  50. Kimberly Wynia8/5/14, 8:56 AM

    This seems like a fantastic way to get rewards!

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  51. I love that I don't have to clip anything or even show the cashier anything on my phone. It's so easy.

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  52. tweeted - https://twitter.com/dmarie824/status/496674981309198336

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  53. I love that there is minimal work on the cardholders' part!

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  54. i like that there are many deals in many categories to choose from; you can find some deal you could take advantage of.

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  55. https://twitter.com/LuLu_Brown24/status/496691275626606592

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  56. What I like most about AMEX offers is that I'd actually use them!

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  57. That you save money. vandenbossche3@hotmail.com

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  58. https://twitter.com/618mom23boys/status/496711238965932032 vandenbosshe3@hotmail.com

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  59. I love you can get the savings at the stores you really want them!!! I had no idea this existed!!

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  60. i like all the different stores you can pick from- we love best buy the best!!!

    vanitizebaby@yahoo.com

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  61. tweet https://twitter.com/MeandBells/status/496732521766203393

    vanitizebaby@yahoo.com

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  62. We don't have AmEz, but I like how easy these are to use! And when you are shopping there anyway it is a bonus!

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  63. I love that they offer coupons based on stores you already shop at!

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  64. i like the cash back offers

    freebiel0ve@yahoo.com

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  65. tweet: https://twitter.com/akronugurl/status/496803366224560128

    freebiel0ve@yahoo.com

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  66. I didn't realize that AMEX had such awesome perks... I like that I could get deals for stores where I actually like to shop. Off to check out their website!

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  67. I like that you can just put the coupon code on the card you do not need to bring a physical coupon with you.

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  68. We use AMEX all the time, but had no idea about these perks. This is awesome. I will definitely be signing up to use these perks, no coupons, no clipping. Just at your favorite stores.

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  69. I love their PF Chang's offer, I didn't realize they had offers like that.

    jessicarwarfield at gmail dot com

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  70. I tweeted too https://twitter.com/jessrwarfield/status/497482469164077056

    jessicarwarfield at gmail dot com

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  71. I don't think my last comment went through, so thanks for the awesome giveaway

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  72. I like that they are for places I already go and for money I already spend - so it's always like a nice surprise!

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  73. i like how easy it makes it for me to save $$ pryfamily5@gmail.com

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  74. i tweeted https://twitter.com/thepryfamily5/status/497517207249637376 pryfamily5@gmail.com

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  75. Love not having to remember to carry the coupons with me.

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  76. https://twitter.com/turnerm829/status/497570849491128320

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  77. I definitely like the no clipping coupons or trying to find coupon codes!

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  78. We have an AMEX card but I didn't know about this. Definitely will be signing up. I like saving money without having to clip coupons.

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  79. i love that i can earn cash back from just about anywhere

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  80. https://twitter.com/raggammuffin/status/498093649226256385

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  81. I love that I don't have to carry around coupons or remember any codes to get my reward. I'm always excited to find ways to save money.
    s2s2 at Comcast dot net

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  82. https://twitter.com/susan1215/status/498227065175285760
    s2s2 at Comcast dot com

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  83. i like the 10 back at jcpenny.
    i like money back anyway.
    kayleefaith1228@aol.com

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  84. Definitely the cash back!

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  85. I like that they have offers at tons of stores I already shop in!

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  86. tweeted
    https://twitter.com/rubylorikeet/status/498511174963445762

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  87. I like that there are many offers that I’m actually interested in, like JCPenney and iTunes.
    madelinebrubaker {at} gmail [dot] com

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  88. Tweet link: https://twitter.com/shala_darkstone/status/498526561511817216

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  89. I didn't know about it, but I really like that you can save at places you shop anyway without coupons!

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  90. The saving amounts are amazing. And the simplicity in which you can save is my favorite thing!

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  91. I like they offer local restaurant savings, a perfect way for date night out.
    tcarolinep at gmail dot com

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  92. -https://twitter.com/tcarolinep/status/498908023427833856

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  93. I like that the offers are geared to where you shop. providentmom (at) hotmail (dot) com

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  94. I love the travel offers

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  95. https://twitter.com/Momlovesl/status/499560039359586304

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  96. I used to have an AMEX...I should check them out again!

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  97. I love that AmEx Offers are tailored towards each individual card holder based on where they have shopped in the past!
    mummytotwoboys@yahoo.com

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  98. Tweeted
    https://twitter.com/mummytotwoboys1/status/500030404456239105

    mummytotwoboys@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete

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