4 Rules To Know If Rebates Are Rewards or Rip Off ?

Rebates have become increasingly popular in the last few years on a lot of items and certainly on electronic items and computers.

Rebates of $20, $50 or $100 are not uncommon.

I’ve even seen items advertised as “free after rebate”. Do these rebates come under the heading of “too good to be true”? Some of them do and there are “catches” to watch out for but if you are careful, rebates can help you get some really good deals.

The way a rebate works is that you pay the listed price for an item then mail in a form and the bar code to the manufacturer and they send you a refund thus reducing the price of what you paid for the item except with a time delay of several weeks.


Rule #1. Rebates from reputable companies are usually just fine.

You can be pretty sure you will get the promised rebate from Best Buy, Amazon or Dell but you should probably not count on getting one from a company you’ve never heard of.


If you really want the product and are OK with paying the price listed then buy it but don’t count on actually getting the refund.

Rule #2. Check rebate expiration dates.

Many times products will stay on the shelf of a retailer after the date for sending in the rebate offer has expired so check that date carefully.

Rule #3. Be sure you have all the forms required to file for the rebate before you leave the store.

Rebates will almost always require a form to be filled out, a receipt for the purchase and a bar code.

Rule #4. Back up your rebate claim.

Make copies of everything you send in to get your rebate including the bar code.

Stuff gets lost in the mail all the time and if the rebate for example is for $80 to $100, it’s worth the trouble to back up your claim.

Get A Hobby Kit And Learn Something New

If you are tired of the ho-hum of life and would like to branch out a little, maybe you should get a hobby kit.

Many different hobbies have kits that can help a beginner learn about the hobby quickly and easily.

 It is not easy to teach yourself some hobbies, but with a hobby kit, you can learn from the kit.

For instance, if you have been wanting to learn how to do a needle craft, such as cross stitch or crewel embroidery, there is no better way to start than with a kit.

In a hobby kit, you will receive a piece of cloth with the design already stamped on, yarn or floss in the proper colors and possibly already cut to the proper lengths, and a needle.

 You may even get an embroidery hoop in the kit. 

When you buy a hobby kit, be sure to read on the package to see if any other materials or tools will be needed to do the hobby.

A hobby kit is also the best way to learn a hobby like building model cars.

In a model car kit, you will get all the pieces you need and detailed instructions. 

In some kits, you might also receive paint, a brush, and glue, but read the label.

You might have to provide these things separately. When choosing Christmas or birthday gifts for a young person, consider a hobby kit, such as a candle-making kit or a rock tumbling kit.

 In the fall, the stores are full of kits that could start a kid on a hobby that would last throughout his life.

You can find small weaving loom kits, glycerine soap making kits, bead craft kits, wood-burning kits, and art kits.

There is a line of colorful books put out hat each gives instruction in a hobby and has a packet of materials for learning the hobby.

Some of the topics books cover are polymer clay modeling, hair styling, and pompon creations. 

They are all cleverly written and lots of fun.

Another hobby that can be learned from a kit is starting garden seedlings, especially herbs.

A seed starting kit typically contains a pot, a small trowel, seeds,  fertilizer, and a green house dome or cover. Potting soil may need to be purchased separately.

When choosing a hobby kit, be careful to get one that is appropriate for the recipient.  Sometimes a hobby kit is quite challenging.

An example of a difficult project is an electronics kit for wiring one's own radio.

 If a kit is a gift for a child and it is too hard, it will wind up gathering dust on some shelf.  In fact, it might gather dust even if you buy it for yourself!

Consider getting a smaller project that you can finish in a short time so you can get a feel for the hobby.

The next hobby kit you buy can be harder if you find that you enjoy the hobby and have a real desire to learn more about it.