In this month’s blog I’ll be wrapping up creative ways to save for Disney, and with all that Christmas shopping, these tips are sure to come in handy! My first recommendation is using affiliate shopping apps, like Ebates and Ibotta, which give you money back on the purchases you already make by directing you to their sites, before or after your purchase. With Ebates, you head to their website first, and then find the store where you want to shop. It will link you to that store’s website and also tell you what percentage cash back you’ll be getting for that purchase. Once you make your purchase, it will automatically deposit your rebate into your Ebates bank. 
You’ll then get paid once a quarter via check. Since starting Ebates, I’ve already received $365 back! I’ve been doing it for a year and haven’t found a “catch” yet! Ibotta is a similar concept to Ebates, but it provides rebates on brand-specific groceries at places you normally shop, like Costco, Publix and Walmart. A lot of times they also have rebates for “any item” and general items as well, like milk, bread and fruit, so after a shopping trip, check out the app to see what rebates you can get on your purchases. After you have checked off your qualifying purchase, upload your receipt to Ibotta. Once your purchase is reviewed and accepted, it will show up in your Ibotta bank, which you can then cash out after $20.
The next big way to save is to buy discounted gift cards. Various retailers like Sam’s, Target and even Best Buy have deals that would allow you to purchase Disney gift cards at discounted rates, ranging from 5% off, up to 15% off, depending on the deal. This equals HUGE savings for a cruise or a week-long trip.
Another trick is to check out “used” gift card sites, like Raise. If you haven’t heard of Raise, they basically buy gift cards from customers who do not have a need for that particular gift card brand, at a discounted rate. While Disney gift cards can be hard to come by on these sites, there are thousands of other brands on items you use every day like Starbucks, 
Home Depot or Marshall’s, which make your dollar stretch a little farther so you can save up for that Disney trip in no time. And as a bonus, Raise is on Ebates so you can get an extra 1% off of your purchase when you start your virtual shopping trip on Ebates. If you are going to try to purchase these types of gift cards, make sure you use sites that have a guarantee, like Raise, which offers a year-long guarantee on their gift cards so you don’t have to worry about what you are buying.
I hope you have found these tips helpful and make sure to keep an eye on the Me and the Mouse Facebook page for additional “tips and tricks” to save for your Disney vacation!
Jen Morrison
Travel Specialist
