The December before last, I had the pleasure of talking with Gregory Karp, a personal finance reporter for the Chicago Tribune’s family of newspapers on the topic of online shopping rewards websites. He was interested and enthusiastic about learning more and about sharing this information with his readers. Our conversation was incorporated into a two-part series that explained what online shopping portals were and how to use them.
Mr. Karp just published a book called Living Rich by Spending Smart: How to Get More of What You Really Want. It includes a lot of great advice he’s shared with his readers over the years about how to eliminate wasteful spending and how to make the most of your money. I just started reading it and was honored to find a mention of CompareRewards in the book, as the place to go to get more information on how rewards programs work. (Thanks for the mention, Mr. Karp!)
His advice about rebate portals (I call ‘em rewards programs) is to stick with cash-based ones and avoid points programs. He specifically endorsed FatWallet, Ebates, QuickRewards.net, and Jellyfish.
In an interview about the book, Mr. Karp says, “Spending Smart is not a ‘live cheap, die loaded’ plan. I don’t talk about making sweater vests from dryer lint or separating two-ply toilet paper into two rolls. Spending Smart is about plugging the leaks of wasteful spending — spending on purpose rather than by accident and habit. That way you can redirect money away from things you don’t care about and spend it on things you do care about…Remember, you can’t out-earn dumb spending.”
I haven’t read the entire book yet but I have really enjoyed it so far. If you’d like to pick up a copy at Amazon, it’s on sale for $12.23, 32% off list price…I think Mr. Karp would approve. 
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I KNOW some famous people now! You and Dmitry are the most deserving folks I know of to be mentioned. Mr. Karp must be a smart man. I’ll have to get a copy of the book. The first review on Amazon was 5 stars. Seems spending less than $20 saved the first reviewer $300. Not a bad return on investment!
Congratulations on getting some notoriety — FINALLY — for all the hard work you do to keep us safe from the scammers and bring us the best news in the industry. May your site meter spin wildly!!!!!!!!
Ginger