Do you eBay?

Microsoft is giving away money! They want you to use live.com's search service so they partnered with eBay so that for certain products/keywords you search on live.com, you'll find links to eBay that offer some cashback. Here’s what you have to do. 

First, make a Live cashback account (click here to create a new account). In order to make everything a lot simpler, make sure you create the account using the same email address that you use for your eBay/PayPal account.

Next, go shopping! Go to www.live.com (type it directly into the browser yourself) and search the item you're looking for – I'm going to search for PS3.



One of the sponsored links at the top will be a link for www.ebay.com. You'll see “... You may get 25% off with PayPal if eligible.”Click on that link and you will be taken to eBay. Once you are there, make sure you see this logo at the top:



Find the item you want to buy – it has to be a BUY IT NOW item that accepts PayPal. Buy the item as usual, making sure that you can see the “Microsoft Cashback” logo the all the way through your buying process. 

Keep in the mind the following: make sure that the seller doesn't use an alternative checkout process and make sure that from the time you click on the live.com ebay link to clicking the BUY IT NOW button, no more than 1 hour passes. There are a few other rules, but nothing out of the ordinary (all of the rules are here). You can do this a total of 12 times and the cashback limit is $200 for each purchase! 

After you complete your purchase and pay through PayPal, you will get an email from Microsoft Live letting you know that you earned your cashback. It will either be pending and then sent to your PayPal account after 60 days or sometimes, you will receive an instant cashback! 

You have to spend money to make money

Some of us consider shopping as a sport – physical activity that is fiercely competitive. However, these days it has become more of a leisurely activity thanks to the wonderful world wide web. So if you’re like me and prefer to shop in the comfort of your own home (even if its dial up), let me share with you another reason to shop online. Cash Back Shopping.

Cash Back Shopping is as simple as creating an account with rebate websites and then shopping as you do. For example, I just used Ebates to buy some Ralph Lauren – I love Ralph Lauren Friends and Family – and for shopping through Ebates, I earn 3% cash back on my purchase.

I spent US320 on three men's polo tshirts, one sports shirt and one cashmere sweater (tip: Friends and Family discount also applies to sale items so total discount can be up to 70% off) but I really paid US310 since I get 3% back through Ebates. How does it work? Supposedly the stores pay Ebates a sales commission when you shop and Ebates is kind enough to share it with us. I think it might have something to do with tracking online habits of their member but I have had no problems.

Now you might think 3% isn’t much. And it isn’t. But you’ll be surprised how much it accumulates over time. I joined Ebates in 2006 and so far I’ve been paid US574. This also means I spent approximately US14,000 in three years (assuming an average rebate rate of 4%) but you have to spend money to make money. Right?

Cure for impulse purchases?

Have you ever bought clothes or shoes, only to find out few days later that its on sale? Perhaps kick yourself for making such an impulse purchase? Even contemplate returning the perfect clutch that complements everything in your wardrobe in the hope that you’ll be able to re-buy it at the sale price? If you’ve felt my pain, then read on.

US department stores can be pretty generous and have policies to make sure that you are a satisfied customer. One of these is the price adjustment policy, which allows you to receive a refund should the item go on sale within one or two weeks of your purchase.

So when I found out that my ‘I have to have it’ Marc Jacobs dress went on sale from US1,500 to US900, I became a woman on a mission. That 600 bucks was going to get me a pair of Manolos to complete the outfit. The only thing was I didn’t know about the policy at the time so I had to put some effort to make my money – I returned the dress with one sales assistant and then bought the same dress at the sale price with another. I thought I was running a stealth operation but the first sales assistant saw me and kindly explained that I didn’t need to go through that ever again. That it is as simple as bringing the receipt!

Price adjustments also apply to internet purchases so if you are surfing the web, check the prices of your recent purchases. It is a great way to make some money back as struggling retailers are offering more sales and other discounts to lure in shoppers.

Only if I could convince Australian department stores to adopt the same policy…

Thats what friends are for

I used to work at Mooks during uni and looking back now, that might have been the root of my shopping addiction. 8 hours a day, 5 days a week I was constantly looking and handling clothes and sneakers. I was basically shopping all those hours! For three years!!!

Apart from making minimum wage, I worked with lots of fun people, we listened to hip hop all day long and even got to mingle with celebrities – I was practically trampled by Macy Gray’s entourage. But most of all, I bought my clothes and sneakers at a discount. Under the employees’ discount I got 30% off full priced items and 50% off sale stuff. Of course I spent all my money on the day I got paid. And then some.

So when I shop in the US, I often wonder about the perks offered to the employees of retail companies. Actually, that’s a lie. I’ve gone as far as seeing a recruiter to switch my profession, but for some reason they weren’t convinced when I said my retail experience from 11 years ago is still relevant today. Just imagine! I would have shared the perks with all of you! But until then, I’ll share with you something almost as good. Its called ‘Friends and Family’.


Major department stores and companies run this promotion twice a year where ‘Friends and Family’ of the employees are blessed with 15-30% discount on almost everything at the store. Even skincare, cosmetics and fragrances. Stores usually send the coupons to bring in-store or an email with a promotional code. Its usually a 4 day event and the stores are packed with shoppers. Not to mention that the sites can be really slow, like that annoying dial up speed.

Here is the list of stores I frequent during this event:

• Saks
• Bloomingdales
• Lots of make up brands such as MAC, Shu Uemura and Nars
• Sephora
• Ralph Lauren
• American apparel

I usually make the most of this event by stocking up on things that never go on sale like skincare, cosmetics and fragrances. Last year, I bought staple wardrobe items like Burberry trench coats and Jimmy Choo pumps. Jewellery is also included in this event but I’m pretty sure I don’t have enough money to buy the flawless 2 carat diamond earrings from Graff. Sigh.

I want Victoria Beckham’s wardrobe

Exotic Hermes bags, custom made Christian Louboutin shoes and everything from Marc Jacobs, who can resist! If only I had her spending money. Well that and her frame to fit into tiny Roland Mouret dresses. 

Unfortunately I’m not a hotel heiress, I don’t have a seven figure salary and I’m not married to a hot blonde soccer player that has a killer smile and an awesome body… you get the drift. I did however build my wardrobe by buying some of the most coveted items at a sale. I love shopping and whether I’m rummaging through racks at department stores or browsing the net on my comfy bed, I get a thrill when I find a bargain. Of course these are things I need. Right now I’m in dire need of the perfect little black dress to complement my new Christian Louboutin heels I just snatched at a sale. The price tag said US625 but I managed to grab them at 70% off. That’s a steal at US188 for the perfect peep toe pumps. 


Its no coincidence that I found the Christian Louboutin heels at my budget. It actually took me a little bit of time to figure out how to find really good bargains. When I first moved to NY, I was over the moon about US prices in general that I considered it a bargain in itself. Designer jeans, cosmetics, shoes, they were all cheaper in comparison to Sydney. But as I got used to shopping habits here in the US and their public holidays I learned to plan my purchases and get smarter about finding bargains.

When I used to live in Sydney, big sales were twice a year. But in the US, sales at department stores like Saks and Barneys are generally centered around the public holidays: 

January 19, 2009: Martin Luther King Day [3rd monday in Jan] 
• Last round of sales for Fall/Winter merchandise. Discounts usually range from 70-75% but due to poor sales recently, seasonal merchandise was marked down to 80-85% off. At the NYC Saks store for example, there were Bottega Veneta and Prada handbags at 70% off and American and European designer labels including Marc by Marc Jacobs and Chanel at 80% off. 


May 25, 2009: Memorial Day (observed) [last monday in May]
• First cut of sales for Spring/Summer merchandise. Discounts are around 30-40%.
• Towards third week of June the second cut of sales begin. Discounts range from 50-60%.

July 4, 2009: Independence Day
• Last round of sales for Spring/Summer merchandise. Discounts range from 70-75%. 

November 26, 2009: Thanksgiving Day [4th thursday in Nov] 
• Start of the traditional Holiday shopping season, also known as Black Friday. Discounts are around 30-40%.

December 25, 2009: Christmas Day 
• Second cut of sales. Discounts range from 50-60%.

Keep these dates in mind and I will post actual dates of sales as soon as I get the details. Sale prices are usually online too so even if you’re not here to take advantage of the sale, you will only be few clicks away. 

Now about that tiny frame of hers…