Are you ready for school to start back up again? Ebates can help you stay within budget with Double Cash Back at loads of different bookstores and rental shops. Check it out!

Wouldn't it be great to save big on your textbooks this semester? We thought so, too! And that's why Chegg is partnering with Ebates to give one lucky student $250 towards their textbooks.

It is is the time of the year to get ready to send your kids Back To School.  For many Moms this is the best time of the year and for others it is the saddest time of the year.  I personally love my son more than anything however we both love the routine that school provides us. 

I would like to share with you 5 tips for Back-to-School Success.

1.  It is very important to transition from summer to school.  You want to create a set bedtime and routine for your children.  In the 2 weeks before school start by getting into a routine of going to bed 10 minutes earlier until you are at the time you want for the children's set bedtime.

2.  Avoid extra activities (if possible) the 1st week of school.  It is a huge transition for your children the first week of school.  If possible miss extra activities and allow your children time to settle into their new routine without distractions.  This one is going to be hard for us because it is also the first week of soccer practice and hubby is the coach.

3.  Prepare the night before so that your morning runs smoothly.  Pack back packs, school lunches, lay out clothes.  Anything that you can do to simplify your morning routine is key.  Don't forget to add special touches from home.  Use cookie cutters to turn sandwiches into shapes, put notes in your child's lunchbox, pack their favorite comfort food.  Another tip is to freeze their grapes or juice pouch to help keep their lunch cool.  Giving them something to look forward to at lunchtime.  Be sure to check out my review on snackTAXIS for a great way to help save the planet while you pack lunches!

4.  Create a positive relationship with your children's teachers.  I suggest sending a note or email to your child's teacher.  I suggest asking your child's teacher if she has a wishlist of items that you could help with or send in items that you think would be beneficial with a note.  I am personally sending a little gift the first day of school.  I had special parents who did this for me throughout my teaching career and I will never forget it!

5.  Create a First Day of School Tradition.  Our tradition is that I cook "Mickey Mouse" pancakes and bacon on the first day of school and we always take a picture of my son on our front porch holding a sign that says the name of the school and year (see above).  This way we never forget the year and we are able to see his growth from year to year.  It is a special tradition and I don't embarrass him at school by taking a picture

Be sure to visit Stockpiling Moms.  We have all the great Back To School Deals available at the stores!

This time of year I always have the same internal debate: buy new glasses frames or not? My eyes will inevitably be worse at my upcoming appointment, and I admit, shopping for glasses frames is something I rather enjoy. While Ebates does not have a huge number of merchants selling glasses, however, FramesDirect has a staggering selection. If I decide to indulge in a new pair of glasses, I sure am looking forward to the Cash Back!

While Over the Knee Boots were one of the hottest trends last year, I just don't see this one going away. While I prefer flat versions of this bold style of boot, there are options (and Cash Back) for everyone.

Manhattan Portage Deluxe Computer Bag from Karmaloop

Even though the sun is still shining bright and warm, the school year is *just* around the corner. Although the summer was over I always loved getting a new backpack for school. It seems that backpacks have come a long way because there are tons of cool, interesting options. Here are some of my personal favorites.

Too bad Popeye doesn't know about Ebates.

Tax season is typically not a joyous occasion, even for those of us getting a return. The hassle of filing can turn even the most responsible of people into slackers, including myself.



If you're having a hard time coping, take comfort in cash back. No, we're not talking about your return, we're talking about filing your taxes online through Ebates stores like H&R Block, or buying the latest in tax software from Staples. Thanks to our Business and Office stores, you'll get cash back even on the not so fun things in life, including tax time.

Still need convincing? Check these out -->

Now that you have a game plan for filing your taxes, let's talk about what do do afterwards. Design a dress from tax returns, or grab a beer?

You can usually tell the overachievers on the first day of school: they have their textbooks, color-coded notebooks, and assortment of pens. While I cannot deny that I was that person in college, one thing I learned very quickly was to not buy a book until after the first day of class. You may drop the class, get wind of horror stories about a professor, or you may find a better deal online. Like at Barnes & Noble, where they have low prices on thousands of textbooks. Plus, You will get 8% Cash Back from Ebates and free in-store returns! You don't need to hassle with return shipping and waiting for a refund. Instead, you can return your unwanted merchandise to a store and quickly get your cash.

Just as important as studying hard is relaxing with some restorative leisure time. I spent many college weekends laying in bed watching DVDs of my favorite shows, which (for me) was time well spent. So while shopping for textbooks, be sure to shop for some DVD's at low prices. Pick up the highly acclaimed second season of Mad Men, now 50% off along with many more DVDs and get increased cash back from Ebates.


Shop all of our Back to School deals!

As someone who spent almost eight years pursuing higher education in Literature, one word synonymous with "Back to School" was "books." I remember my first semester as a master's student, walking up to the counter in the campus bookstore with two baskets filled to overflowing with novels. Some four hundred dollars later, I was informed by the clerk that I had bought more books in one fell swoop than he had ever seen before in his two year history of working there. Six months, and thirty-seven books later, I was back at it the next semester.

Now, had I been smart, I would have made my money work for me a little bit better, and picked up some of the more easily found titles at Barnes & Noble, who are currently offering 8% Cash Back on all purchases. Just think - in that one semester I would have gotten over $30 back! So let my mistake be your gain, and make the smart call that I didn't; buy your books through Ebates, earn cash back, and put that money towards even more glorious books!

Find all sorts of great deals in our Back to School sale!

One of the best things about Old Navy (besides 8% Cash Back) is that it is a one-stop destination for the entire family. If you are looking to prepare the family for back to school, or even pick up a few fall wardrobe items for yourself, it will be tough to find a single destination that will be just as stylish and affordable as Old Navy. Plus, when you shop at Old Navy, through Ebates, you can get 8% Cash Back on your entire purchase and free shipping on any order with Old Navy coupon code FREESHIP at checkout until August 26.

Shop now and find amazing deals during the Fundamentals Sale where wardrobe essentials for everyone are reduced (think jeans, polos, tops and more). Shop for adult jeans priced from $19, men's polos for $9, cute girl's tees for $5 and much more. They also have school uniform-approved attire for kids available in an array of styles and extended sizes. Hurry and shop at Old Navy now, save big on clothing and accessories for the entire family and get free shipping with cash back from Ebates!


Find deals from all of out Back To School Merchants with increased cash back or shop all of our 1,000+ online stores!

The first time my parents visited me in college I thought my mother was going to faint. My dorm room was a bit eclectic: the curtains were plaid, the bedspread floral, and the floors bare. Surely I was brought up better than this, she lamented! Left to my own devices I "borrowed" some old sheets from the family linen closet (the ones where the pillowcases didn't match) and appropriated a long-forgotten comforter hidden on the top shelf. The window coverings...well they were the legacy of the former occupant. Money was tight and there weren't many options for budget-conscious college kids in those days.

But like they say - we've come a long way baby! Thanks to Designer Linens Outlet, college-bound kids can go off to school in style at a savings of up to 80% off retail prices. From sheets to towels, bed sets to pillows - their vast selection will fit any style, any wallet.  Not sure where to start - visit their comprehensive Back-to-School section, where they highlight the best brands like Nautica, Croscill and Christy to name a few. Each week there's a different promotion to help you save even more, and until August 31st you can either take $10 OFF orders of $99+ with promo code AFTen99, or select free shipping on orders of $49+ with promo code AFShipFree89.

Now you know where to buy and how to save, but are you still suffering from thread count confusion or cotton vs. percale? Visit Designer Linen Outlet's Sheet Buying Guide to strip down the bedding basics. Haven't decided on duvet cover vs. quilt or how memory foam can relieve those sleepless pre-test nights? DLO's Bedding Guide really simplifies linen lingo. And at last, the ultimate source on how to measure for sheets, shams, and more! Remember; studies have shown that students who get a good night's sleep get better grades. Why tempt fate? Shop for your future college graduate's Back-to-School bedding at Designer Linens Outlet and earn 4% Cash Back while you're at it!

P.S. - In case Mom and Dad are taking their student's departure as a signal to re-decorate, they too can get the best in designer bedding, bath, and home décor at the same great savings up to 80% off retail prices at Designer Linens Outlet. Why should the kids have all the fun!

As much as we all like to think about the prospect of shopping for new clothes or even a new computer for Back to School, the most commonly needed things are the basics: pencils, paper, notebooks, and the always important planner for writing down all those homework assignments.

Well folks, Sears is making that shopping a little softer on the ol' wallet by offering free ground shipping on all the basics as well as bigger ticket items like chairs, desks, and cleaning tools. So even if you don't have a munchkin (or college student) returning to school, you can still stock up on essentials like printer paper, ink, or sponges. You can also treat yourself to a nice sexy new desk chair for your home office or office. As someone who just bought a new home desk chair recently, let me tell you: a good chair can change your life.

So, stock up on Back to School supplies at Sears and earn 2% Cash Back along with free shipping on orders over $50. Or, if you don't find what you want or need at Sears (as hard to believe as that may be) you might want to check out our Back to School sale, with increased cash back from some of our favorite merchants.

As a recently-graduated student with an MA in Literature, I did a lot of printing. In addition to about four hundred pages worth of .pdf files I needed for research, I think I printed all 130 pages of my thesis on at least four separate occasions. Lots of printing means lots of ink. Lots of ink means lots of money, because at the prices most retailers charge for ink, it's almost worth its weight in gold.

That's why it's so exciting that right now we're in a "perfect storm of savings". Since 4inkjets has decided to take part in our Back to School promo, they are offering a staggering 19% Cash Back. There is also a great coupon code: use the 4inkjets coupon "EBATE99" through September 1st, and you will get an extra 10% off your order and free shipping, and you know how I feel about free shipping.

This is the perfect opportunity to stock up on ink for the coming school year, because you know you always need at least one spare cartridge around for those nights when you've been up writing until two a.m. so the stores are closed and you can't get ink before the paper is due. When that happens, you can say "Thanks, Ebates!"

Stock up on all your Back to School needs at Ebates!

Today we launched our Back To School Promo, and one merchant I remember always being involved in the back-to-school process is JCPenney. No it's no coincidence that they are increasing their cash back from 3 to 5% during this promo, but let's be honest - you know the great kinds of deals and savings you'll find on all the latest in back-to-school savings.

Just look at our page full of JCPenney coupons - there is one for back-to-school shoes, one for bedding & dorm furniture, one for backpacks, and of course, kids' clothing so that your little one can be on the cutting edge of fashion for that first day back to school. And now that we have increased cash back for throughout the Back to School promo, you can afford to treat yourself to something nice from JCPenney as well!

Check out all the wonderful deals in our Back to School promo!

Since it's still "Tech Tuesday" and since yesterday marked the first day back to school for the city of San Francisco, I figured it was only fitting to add one more tech deal to help get everyone in the back to school kind of mindset.  Alas, in this modern age, when students hear "folder" most automatically think of a file folder in a computer. In that spirit, make it impossible for the student in your life to forget their homework by picking them up this Corsair Flash Voyager 8GB thumb drive.

There are a few things that set this particular travel drive apart from its competitors; first, it comes with a twenty inch USB extension cable so if you, like me, don't have easy access to your USB slot, they provide a cable to make this drive truly portable. Second, this drive is water resistant; while you may not want to go swimming with it in your pocket, but at least it can stand up to the wear and tear of travel in rainy weather.  Another great benefit of the Corsair brand is that they offer a ten year warranty, so this drive will be covered by warranty long after the technology becomes obsolete. Finally, the transfer speed of the drive is incredibly quick, so you won't spend all afternoon waiting for your files to load to or from your drive.

While all these bonuses are great, perhaps the best thing about this drive is the price.  While Newegg automatically gives you ten dollars off the list price, you also get a mail-in rebate to save another ten dollars. This means two things: first, that you are only paying half the list price for a great drive that will give you tons of mobile storage.  While that is great in its own right, what's better is that you get your 2% rebate (1% after midnight on account of the Daily Double) on the price you pay through Newegg, which is $30, despite the fact that you still save ten dollars after making the purchase. Plus, let's not forget the free shipping...

This is one of the best back-to-school deals I've seen so far! Best Buy has put together a Dorm Room Package that includes a mini-fridge, television and microwave for $199!

This deal is so popular that it's backordered for a week or two.

Here's the low down on the goods:

• Avanti 1.7 Cu. Ft. Compact Thermoelectric Refrigerator:  This cute little fridge holds just enough to keep your room stocked  with cool drinks, and is big enough to hold a 2-liter bottle of of  Jarritos. Or Sprite. Because that's what you drink in college.

• Insignia 20" Flat Tube TV: So, technically it's not a flat screen TV, it's a flat tube TV...  but the screen just looks flat. Best Buy describes it this way: "Flat  picture tube produces vivid images without the glare and picture  distortion common with curved picture tubes." Whatever you want to call  it, it's a pretty darn slick looking TV for the price.

• Proctor Silex .6 Cu. Ft. Compact Microwave:  Just think- with a microwave in your dorm, you can practically bury  yourself in mountains of Easy Mac! They don't tell you this in high  school, but that's what college really is all about: creamy, delicious  Easy Mac. Ramen is so '90's.

o...  you've bought some new clothes, a backpack, and you've got your  highlighters all ready to go, but where are your books for your lit  class? Barnes & Noble is marking down their Classics  50% off! Lots of them are around $2.47, and that's before Cash Back from Ebates!

Why not buy your books with a friend? If you spend $25 or more, you get free shipping!

How  often can you buy brand new books for this cheap? It's a lot better  than chipping dried chocolate off your student store used copy of "Madame Bovary".

One of the most important elements of college life is your dorm.  I can still remember my triple room at Cal: long evenings studying together, bonding over a glass of wine...wanting to rip my hair out because the boorish twits left a week-old turkey sandwich to rot on top of the microwave!!! Dorm life certainly has its charms, doesn't it?

Most universities keep the dorms pared down to a minimum- sizewise and stylewise. Some even have cinderblock walls! Fortunately, there's lots of ways to turn your otherwise austere abode into a cozy retreat:

Cool Bedding: Dorm size bedding has never looked better! Target and Delia*s both offer  stylish, modern designs that will warm up your space and make it feel like home. Whether you like pop-art apples, dramatic Victorian patterns or bold solid color, they've got you covered.

Mood Lighting: If  you want your room to look a poorly-wired 7-Eleven, then by all means,  keep the flourescent lights so generously provided by the dorm. If,  however, you want a warmer, cozier glow, get some lamps! They'll change the whole mood of the room, and you won't have to resort to the often overused Christmas light scheme.

A Cool Computer: For the budget-conscious student, the Compaq Presario v2000Z (as discussed yesterday) is a steal! For the Mac users, try a Mac Mini plus your own monitor. Target has a nice looking dorm bundle:  a set of wireless accessories including a keyboard, mouse and  router...this is handy since trying to snake a bunch of wires through a  room that's smaller than a naturist's armoire will be a little bit  tricky.

Coffee (and food) : Two words for you: FRENCH PRESS.  Don't drink the stuff in the cafeteria. As one of our Ebates staff  said, "you could make better coffee by squeezing the grounds in your  fist and pouring water through your fingers". A french press is an  easy, no-stove-required way to make gourmet coffee any barista would be  proud of. Just pour in your fresh ground beans, mix with hot water and  the press takes care of the rest! Imagine how impressed your study  groups will be when you practically have a Starbucks a mere 3 feet from  your bed! Trust me, you'll need a strong cup for those lectures on  diasporic transnational migration.Oh, and you might want to pick up a  microwave and mini-fridge too. You know, so you'll have something to  eat with the coffee.

Yes, it's August- those last precious weeks of cavorting with friends, staying up late and going to the beach.      Come September, it'll be the red ink on that first history exam that'll require a pair of sunglasses!

Why not look at the bright side? Back-to-School also means Back-to-School shopping, a welcome respite when you're about to dive into the books rather than the pool.

Lets  take a quick look at some of the essentials you'll need for a proper  scholastic debut, whether you're shopping for yourself or the kids:

• A great bag: eBags and Ebates have teamed up to give you $10 off on any backpack purchase of $45 or more! They've got LiveWire bags that have an iPod holder, laptop packs, ultralight bags, as long as it's a backpack, you get a discount!

 
• A new computer: For students, a great option is the Compaq Presario V2000Z. At $399.99 after a mail in rebate, it's not a huge investment and is a great machine for word-processing and web browsing.

 
• New threads: For great Back-to-School bargains for the girls, try Delia*s or Alloy.  Both offer free shipping fororders of $75 or more. For guys and girls, another good pick is Old Navy.com. They have a flat $5 shipping rate and a ton of brand new styles in stock!

• Books: Wal-Mart is doing 97 cent shipping on all books! It doesn't get much cheaper  than that. Barnes and Noble is having a summer clearance with some  titles up to 80% off!