Upromise ~ has anyone joined this ?

[elmonshea]

Upromise.com
I was reading about it and it sounds good but I am totally scared about giving them my debit/ credit card info..
Has anyone joined this?
If yes, is it a good thing or a bad experience?


Any input will be so helpful.

 

[Dagny]

Hey there! I have been a member for a couple of years and have never had any issues with any of my credit/debit cards. So far I have been very pleased with their program. It is really amazing how fast you can earn a few extra bucks for the kids college education... every little bit helps!

 

[missmulan]

I've been a member since they first started this program...I like it so far.

 

[RichNKatHolly]

Definately do it! It is really a great program. I've been involved with it for 6 years and my kids have earned $700 for college. I have it go directly to their 529 plans. So that is over $100 per year in FREE money!

Enjoy! The only trouble I have is remembering to go through their site when I shop. Otherwise, I may have made closer to $1000 by now.

 

[Aneille]

Upromise.com
I was reading about it and it sounds good but I am totally scared about giving them my debit/ credit card info..
Has anyone joined this?
If yes, is it a good thing or a bad experience?


Any input will be so helpful.

I've been a member since my daughter was born in 2001. I have had no problems with any of my credit and debit cards either and I have accumilated about a 1000 I think. It should be more because I often forget to go to their site before shopping. But just recently I set it up as my home site so I am reminded every day.

Alot of our $$ actually comes from my husbands speedpass. Those nickels do add up!

 

[geniegirl]

we use it nad have had no problems with our cards. as others have said the only problem is remembering to shop through it and that amazon.com is not part of it.

 

[Wigit12]

You can sign up and not register your credit cards. We've been members for 3 years and had no problems at all. My SIL refuses to trust it and just uses the grocery store bonus card options. You miss out on a lot of rewards but it's an option.

 

[blessedby3]

Can someone post what this actually is, or what you do? I have never heard of this before. Thanks!!

 

[MrsPete]

Upromise.com
I was reading about it and it sounds good but I am totally scared about giving them my debit/ credit card info..
Has anyone joined this?
If yes, is it a good thing or a bad experience?


Any input will be so helpful.

We've been members for years now, and it's a good program. We have not accumulated a large amount of money (a couple hundred, which might pay for a semester's worth of books). Any little bit will be helpful, since it's free money.

We're not likely to save a tremendous amount because the grocery stores in our area don't participate, and the only gas station that is part of the plan is very expensive (it doesn't make sense to pay ten cents a galllon more just so that one cent per gallon goes into UPromise). We never buy anything JUST so we can get UPromise money.

This program isn't open only to parents. Grandparents, aunts/uncles with no children of their own, etc. can sign up to contribute to your child's educational fund. Again, it's "free money" so why wouldn't they?

Finally, remember that this is just a supplemental college savings plan. No one will ever go to college full-ride-free on UPromise, but it could be a nice little nest egg in addition to your main college savings plan.

 

[RichNKatHolly]

Can someone post what this actually is, or what you do? I have never heard of this before. Thanks!!

You go to upromise.com and enter your grocery store and credit/debit card information. They are affiliated with many online shopping sites and grocery and drug stores who will donate a percentage of your puchase into your account. the money is meant for college savings, but I've seen posts where people request to withdraw in the form of a check.

We also linked the kid's NY 529 plans to our upromise account so that anytime we accumulate $50 in upromise, it gets divided in the percentage we dicated and gets deposited into both our children's 529s. I don't purchase JUST to get upromise contributions, but if you shop online alot you go through upromise first and get the $$. Many vacation sites also contribute (like priceline and expedia).

Good luck!

 

[momx2]

I went on there and there was also an option to get a credit card through them with 1% for every purchase, just like the disney card. If this is correct, I think I'll start doing this since I pay off at the end of every month anyway. Did I read it correctly????

 

[RichNKatHolly]

I went on there and there was also an option to get a credit card through them with 1% for every purchase, just like the disney card. If this is correct, I think I'll start doing this since I pay off at the end of every month anyway. Did I read it correctly????

Yes. I saw that too, but can't be trusted with a credit card

With the credit card, your free money should add up quickly!!!

 

[christinadei]

I always forget to go through their site too, but they have a program that you can download from their website called remindu and it automatically tracks purchases, you don't have to remember. That's really nice because I never remember.

 

[mapmakerj]

We also have been Upromise members for a few years. We have earned about $500 for our DS so far. We have the Citibank Upromise card and have it linked to our Mobil Speedpass because sometimes they offer $.04 per gallon with the speedpass and then we get the additional 1% with the Card. The gas promos can get you a few bucks in a month. My Mom, Bro and Sis all signed up their grocery cards on their own accounts and linked them to our account so my DS gets the benefits from them too!

 

[Laurajean1014]

Upromise is excellent. Although I am not holding my breath on it paying for son's college, it is worth it and very secure. I have my credit cards attached to it and it works well.

Everytime you go to the food store and buy something affiliated with Upromise, it automatically goes on your account. Restaurants are included as well, and so are many websites to buy on-line.

It's definitely worth it, but don't count on it for paying for anything more than books for college.

Get a good 529 to help you save for tuitution.

 

[elmonshea]

Thank You for all of your input..
I signed up last night !
Thanks again !

 

[blessedby3]

Thanks for answering my question about Upromise. Now, can someone tell me what a 529 is? Thanks aw:

 

[RichNKatHolly]

Thanks for answering my question about Upromise. Now, can someone tell me what a 529 is? Thanks aw:

It is tax free savings program that is meant to be used only for higher education. Also, up to a certain amount per child, the contributions are tax deductable. You can open a 529 for any child in your family, not necessarily your children. I have one for my sister as well as my 2 children. There is a link through Upromise where you can see if your state offers a 529 plan and then you can have the money from upromise put directly into the 529.

Hope this helps, I don't really know much about them, but figured it could not hurt to have it.

Oh, if you withdraw money for any other reason than college, there is a penalty and also taxes.

 

[WatchinCaptKangaroo]

You can also sign up for yourself (if you don't have children yet or are going to school). I signed myself up also included my parents. I haven't earned that much because we don't buy for it, just look at is as a bonus. You can also use the money to pay off student loans.

 

[kelleigh1]

I signed up and we don't even have kids. Actually, I signed up shortly before we were married. I figure it's never too early. And if we don't have kids of our own, I can either use the money for myself to go back to school or for my niece and nephew.