I don’t know about you, but October is my favorite month. There are so many fun and frugal things to do: go apple picking and make a ton of apple muffins to freeze, take a leaf-peeping walk through the country, go shopping for the holidays… wait, what?

That’s right, for new and current PerkStreet customers holiday shopping is a frugal activity because now through the end of the year we’re giving you 5% cash back at the places you shop most.

Yes, seriously.

If you open an account between October 4 and November 15 December 1, you’ll get 5% cash back from the day your account opens through December 31, 2010 on all of the retailers listed below. It’s our way of welcoming you, and helping you enjoy the holidays without going into debt.

But wait, what about our current customers? You know we love you, and to show it we’re giving you the 5% high-five. You also get to enjoy 5% cash back at all of the retailers below from October 4 through December 31.

This awesome deal is in addition to the perks you’d be otherwise earning. New customers will continue to get 2% cash back on all non-PIN debit purchases for the first three months their account is open, and current customers will earn perks as per usual. You’ll just get 5% back at the retailers listed below. For the rest of 2010.

Now instead of ringing in the new year with debt and bills looming over you, you can start 2011 off right with the perks you earned during the holidays. So why wait? If you’re not a PerkStreet customer, sign up now. If you are a PerkStreet customer, tell your friends and family. Share the love and the perks, and have a fantastic holiday season!

Clothing Stores

Ann Taylor
Ann Taylor Loft
Banana Republic
J. Crew
Victoria’s Secret

Babies and Kids

Babies ‘R’ Us
Toys ‘R’ Us

Department Stores

Kohl’s
Macy’s
JC Penney
Sears

Sports

Dick’s Sporting Goods

Electronics

Best Buy

Food/Drinks

Starbucks

Details: Any PerkStreet customer who currently has an open account as of 10/4/10 or who opens an account and funds it with $25 or more before 11/15/10 12/1/2010 will earn 5% cash back on all non-PIN debit card purchases at the above named retailers until 12/31/2010. You may spend a total of $5,000 that is eligible for the 5% cash back earn rate. Bonus perks earned as part of the 5% holiday purchases program will be awarded on February 15, 2011, which is different than when you earn your standard perks. Why? Everyone has returns sometimes, so we will wait until February to award your holiday bonus perks to ensure that the perks granted are only for the merchandise you keep. All other perks will be awarded in accordance with the PerkStreet Rewards Program Agreement. Questions? Call our customer service team at 866.792.2834.

5% Cash Back For The Rest of the Year! is a post from: PerkStreet Blog

This weekend we’ve got two different 5% deals, one for each day of the weekend!

Saturday: 5% cash back in fast food restaurants

Saturday is National Cheeseburger Day. With 5% cash back at fast food restaurants all day, you don’t have to be like Wimpy and gladly pay someone Tuesday for a hamburger today. Eating healthy? Visit health.com to get some advice on the healthiest fast food restaurants and choices.

Sunday: 5% cash back on movie tickets

Not to be outdone by Saturday, in celebration of National Talk Like a Pirate Day on Sunday, and in celebration of one of our favorite silly jokes, PerkStreet is giving you 5% cash back when you buy movie tickets!

“Did you hear there’s a new pirate movie coming out?”

“No! Do tell!”

“It’s rated ARRRRRRR!”

In case you need some inspiration, here’s what’s new this week (and what I have to say about it):

Never Let Me Go

This book blew my mind, and I kind of want to see the movie because it’s got a great cast. But I’ve been burned before by books made into movies. I might wait for this to come to TV.

The Town

Last summer while this was filming in Boston, I was one of many people who stopped and chatted with an extra dressed like a cop, thinking he was a cop. Like I do with most Boston movies I’ll go see this to catch glimpses of stuff I see every day, but rumor has it that the movie will be compelling for people who aren’t from Boston, too.

Jack Goes Boating

I love Philip Seymour Hoffman. And Amy Ryan. And that they play my favorite Fleet Foxes song in the trailer! Oh I am seeing this. Who’s coming with me? View the trailer here.

Alpha and Omega 3-D

If you’ve got kids, you’re probably going to see this. The trailer alone has two butt jokes. And you know what? It looks kind of funny. So maybe you’ll see it without kids. Maybe you’ll take the kids to a matinee, call the sitter, and go back again later that night. With 5% cash back, you can!

Details:

The 5% Daily Deal at fast food restaurants is only valid on Saturday, September 18, 2010. The 5% Daily Deal on movie tickets is only valid on Sunday, September 19, 2010. The amount you can earn at the 5% cash back bonus rate is limited to $250 per household annually (starting on the day your account was opened). That’s one busy weekend. The total amount of cash back you can earn remains unlimited. Unless specific stores are named, qualifying purchases are determined by MCC codes. Non-PIN debit card purchases will earn 5% cash back on September 18 in stores with MCC code 5814 and on September 19 in stores with MCC code 7832.

Fill Your Weekend with 5% Cash Back is a post from: PerkStreet Blog

YES – IF you use your debit card as a credit card to pay the bill. Using your account’s bill pay service online is a fast, easy way to manage your bill payments, but you will not earn cash back on those payments.

NO – BUT it depends on the company who’s billing you. Some companies will let you pay bills online or over the phone with a credit card. When you use your PerkStreet Financial Visa Debit Card to pay your bill, you can earn cash back. You can check with Visa’s bill pay site to see what billers will accept your card for payment.

Here’s my personal example:

YES: My cell phone service is through Verizon Wireless. They offer me the option of paying on their site with a debit or credit card; they’re also listed on the Visa bill pay site as a vendor who accepts Visa for payments. I earn cash back every time I pay my cell phone bill. Woohoo!

KIND OF: I use RCN for cable and internet, which you may already know from my post on BillShrink’s blog today. They will take my card for payment, but I have to call them and they charge a convenience fee. I’m not going to pay a fee to earn cash back – that’s just silly.

NOPE: My student loan lenders will only take money directly out of my checking account. They are very happy to do so. Sigh.

Was this helpful? Have other questions we can answer on our blog? Let us know!

photo by Marco Belluci

Can I Earn Cash Back When I Pay Bills? is a post from: PerkStreet Blog

photo credit: allancaplan

Back-to-school time can be stressful, whether you’re sending kids off for the first time, the seventh time, packing them up for college, or just feeling the end of summer drawing near. This September, PerkStreet’s month-long 5% deals are designed to help you relax, look great, and surround yourself with beauty. So take a deep breath and enjoy 5% cash back at:

• Spas. Spa Week is September 13-19, and we’re so excited about it we’ve decided to celebrate for the entire month! Pamper yourself and your wallet.

September Savings! 5% Cash Back Monthly Deals is a post from: PerkStreet Blog

It’s ok, I hadn’t heard of him either until now, nor did I know the sordid history of the bicycle. Although Lallement was the first to patent the bicycle design, he sold that design to the Olivier brothers who ran with it and it’s the bicycle they created with Pierre Michaux that became famous. Lallement’s own designs never got off the ground, but continued to spark inspiration for other bike-makers. Lallement died in 1891, completely broke.

Isn’t that terrible? There’s definitely a lesson here, folks, but it’s Friday and let’s not overthink it. Instead let’s honor Monsieur Lallement’s great idea by earning 5% cash back with every non-PIN debit purchase made at a bike store on Sunday, August 29. And if you’re in the Boston area, head down to the Pierre Lallement Bike Path and have yourself a lovely ride.

Thanks to CrazyGuyOnABike.com for the info!

Details:  This PerkStreet 5% cash back Daily Deal is only valid on Sunday, August 29, 2010. The amount you can earn at the 5% cash back bonus rate is limited to $500 per household annually (starting on the day your account was opened). That’s a lot of pedal power! The total amount of cash back you can earn remains unlimited. Qualifying purchases are determined by MCC codes. Non-PIN debit card purchases will earn 5% cash back on August 29 in the following category: Bike Stores (5940).

On a Bicycle Built for 5% Cash Back is a post from: PerkStreet Blog

photo credit: Michael Graf

Monday, August 9 is World Book Lovers’ Day! All day on August 9 you’ll earn 5% cash back on non-PIN debit purchases made at any Barnes & Noble, Borders, or Hudson Booksellers.

I don’t know about you, but I love to read and I love being surrounded by books. I have four bookshelves stuffed with books (none of which I am looking forward to packing and transporting in my upcoming move) and I’ve read almost all of them. Since I was a kid I’ve loved the smell of a library, the bookishness of it, the quiet respectful way we all tiptoe around the books, the muted crackle of a book cover opening.

FRUGAL TIP: Check out Book Sale Finder to find book sales near you. I hit the one at my local library a few times a year. It supports the library and feeds my addiction for way less than even the bargain book table.

Speaking of books, we’re doing something kind of cool here at PerkStreet headquarters. We’ve started a book club, where each of us reads a book and shares it with the others. Don’t worry, we’ll be sharing with you, too, with video and written blog posts. I’ve chosen The Soul of Money: Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Life for my first read. I’ll pick it up on Book Lovers’ Day and let you know what I think!

What are you reading right now? Any good finance reads you want to recommend for the PerkStreet staff? Come back after Monday and let us know on which titles you earned 5% cash back!

Details:
This Deal is only valid on Monday, August 9, 2010. The amount you can earn at the 5% cash back bonus rate is limited to $500 per household annually (starting on the day your account was opened). That is seriously a lot of books. The total amount of cash back you can earn remains unlimited.

Daily Deal: 5% Cash Back for Book Lovers’ Day! is a post from: PerkStreet Blog

Thank you doesn’t seem quite enough, does it?

Celebrate Parents’ Day this Saturday with 5% cash back at florists and spas. Honor your parents, hook up a friend with a new baby, or treat yourself to an afternoon away from your little monsters lovely darlings.

While you’re waiting eagerly for the day to arrive, check out some of our favorite frugal parents:

Cool Mom Picks
Money Saving Mom
The Centsible Life
Frugal Dad

Details:
This Deal is only valid on Saturday, July 24, 2010. The amount you can earn at the 5% cash back bonus rate is limited to $500 per household annually (starting on the day your account was opened). The total amount of cash back you can earn remains unlimited.

Thanks, Mom and Dad! is a post from: PerkStreet Blog

But because we like to celebrate as much as the next person (geek or not) we’re giving you 5% cash back at Think Geek and New Egg on July 13, 2010. Embrace away, friends!

Details:
This Deal is only valid on Tuesday, July 13, 2010. The amount you can earn at the 5% cash back bonus rate is limited to $500 per household annually (starting on the day your account was opened). That’s more than enough geekiness for anyone. The total amount of cash back you can earn remains unlimited.

Great galloping geeks! 5% cash back! is a post from: PerkStreet Blog