How to Save Hundreds of Dollars This Holiday Season (My Favorite Tricks)
Introduction
Don’t let holiday spending cause you stress anymore! It’s the holidays…you should feel jolly!!! Here are my surefire tips to put cash back in your wallet (and still get what you want). I’ve used these tricks throughout the year, especially during this holiday season.
Earn cash back with Ebates.
Personal Trainer Wisdom: My friend Allison introduced Ebates to me last holiday season, and holiday shopping has never been the same. The concept: You’ll receive a check for shopping at online retailers you normally would anyway. Of course, I met her suggestion with much skepticism. Within 3 months, though, I received a payment of over $300, and I haven’t questioned it since. Basically, Ebates.com has partnered with popular retailers, including Target, Amazon, Dell, and many others, to offer you a percentage back on your purchases. Although the return rate is typically 1-5%, most retailers double their return policy during the holidays. Right now, Dell, Barnes and Noble, Barney’s New York, The Container Store, Coach, Under Armor, and Shoes.com are offering 12%! Last year, my wife and I purchased a television from Dell for a retail value of $1000. Luckily, Dell was offering a 10% Ebate and another 10% with Dell financing (saving me a total of $200). You can also receive $10 in your account when someone sends you a referral code — more free money. My referral code is https://www.ebates.com/r/MICHAE50039?eeid=28187. Trust me…this is real.
2. Honey finds coupon codes for you.
Personal Trainer Wisdom: Honey is another excellent web browser extension built to save you money. At one point, I scoured the internet for coupon codes (thank you, RetailMeNot, for your years of service). No longer! After you create your account on https://www.joinhoney.com/ and download the extension, begin shopping! As you check out, click on the Honey extension. She will scour the internet for you and automatically apply the best coupon codes. Recently, I purchased a computer from Lenovo and saved $50 with a Honey code (and I also received $50 in cash back from Ebates for a total of $100 off). Crazy enough, Honey is most compatible with Amazon. You can check Honey for a lower price without visiting the checkout. Just click on the button next to the price!
3. Book flexible travel using Google Flights.
Personal Trainer Wisdom: Even though you have a travel destination in mind, would you be willing to fly to a nearby city or somewhere else on the exact dates to save hundreds of dollars? Absolutely! With Google Flights, you can find cheaper round-trip flights based on proximity using their interactive map. After you input your desired dates, click on the map. You’ll notice the lowest round-trip fares for any city in the world based on your selection. A few years ago, we tested this tip while looking for flights to Spain. We found spring airfare to Barcelona for $1300. After reviewing the map, we purchased $500 round-trip tickets to Dublin, Ireland instead! Not only did we see another world city on our trip, but we also saved nearly 37% on total airfare (we booked another flight to Barcelona a few days later after our arrival for $320 apiece). Basically, we saw Ireland and Spain for only $820 round-trip!! Keep in mind that your flexibility will determine your success with discounts. Good luck!
4. Use your Discover Credit Card on Amazon Prime
Personal Trainer Wisdom: Although you typically receive a 2% return on your rewards credit cards, Discover is now offering a 5% return on all Amazon purchases this holiday season. Time to stock up on everything you typically purchase throughout the year for a fraction of the price (especially if you use this discount with Honey). Link your Discover Card to your Amazon Prime account today!
5. Trade mileage for services (and save nearly 85%)
Personal Trainer Wisdom: Many rewards credit cards offer an introductory benefit of 50-80,000 miles/points for signing up (usually with only a $95 annual fee). Why not barter these relatively free miles with your service provider? I value 60,000 miles at $1200 (the cost of a European trip in economy class). If you transfer the miles to me as a credit for $1200 of personal training services, you’ll save nearly $1000. The only cost to you is the annual fee of the credit card and the $100 fee for transferring the miles. Worst-case scenario? Your service provider says no. Worth trying though!
About the Author: Michael Moody, Wedding Officiant
Michael Moody—author of the self-improvement book Redefine Yourself: The Simple Guide to Happiness and host of the “The Elements of Being” podcast—is an ordained minister serving Denver and other towns across Colorado. He is a 2023 WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Award winner in both Denver and Chicago (his eighth consecutive year), was named “Best Business of 2024 and 2025” by Three Best Rated, and earned “The Best Wedding Officiant in Commerce City, Colorado for 2024” from Quality Business Awards USA. Since 2012, he has officiated more than 300 weddings.
Specifically, Michael officiates wedding ceremonies in the Denver neighborhoods of LoDo, River North, Washington Park, Cherry Creek, City Park, Central Park, Capitol Hill, Cheesman Park, Park Hill, Highland, Platt Park, Lower Highlands, Sloan Lake as well as the zip codes 80215, 80214, 80204, 80203, 80205, 80207, 80218, 80219, 80222, 80223, 80224, 80246, 80238, 80221, 80022, 80230, 80231, 80202, 80209, 80247, and 80210. Michael also serves as an ordained minister in Golden, Boulder, Breckenridge, Frisco, Aspen, Vail, Estes Park, and more.
If your Denver neighborhood or Colorado town isn’t listed here, no worries! Please contact Michael to propose a wedding ceremony location in a different area!
