January Challenge

[NikeD]

Should we expect another of those 140 offer challenges for the month?

[Marethundsabre]

I hope I won't get the 140 offer bonus. I didn't even come close. I wasn't able to redeem the Merry and Bright bonus or the smaller one for 45 offers last month. My pantry and freezer are full and money is too tight to purchase things we don't need right now since my husband lost his job days before Christmas. Because of this, I wasn't able to redeem any bonuses from two weeks before Christmas until now. Right now I am hoping for much smaller bonuses and more offers in the Any Brand category. Hopefully this will change in the near future.

[NikeD]

I understand completely. My suggestion for you is buying gift cards. iBotta qualifies each purchase as one offer! I really milked it last month... but yes, I fully get the pantry/fridge overload! Prices right now are not nice either. More reason to load up on gift cards!

[Marethundsabre]

@NikeD 

Thanks for the idea. I have purchased gift cards before through Ibotta and I do like having the option. I have a few Walmart gift cards from Ibotta which I will be using to buy anything necessary not covered by food stamps. Right now I am focusing on getting our mortgage paid monthly so we don't end up homeless as well as paying utilities. So, needless to say right now there isn't any extra money to buy anymore gift cards but that can change anytime as my husband is waiting to hear back from several companies he interviewed with last week. I am hoping that one of them gives him a job. Regardless, we are doing ok so far and have family close by that is very supportive and has the means to help us if need be until my husband finds employment again. As of now, I guess you can say that I am taking a break from chasing bonuses.

[Snowbaby37]

Ibotta challenges you to buy alot. If you stop using Ibotta say for a month or more your number for the Bonus will go down. The more you do every Bonus the greater your number of items needed. 

[Rickibotta]

@Marethundsabre 

How unfortunate the timing of these circumstances are.   I am sorry to hear about this.  I have been there a few times in my life, so I know how stressful this can be.

I definitely would NOT suggest buying gift cards to complete bonuses right now.  If you bought 35 GCs to help complete a 145 bonus offer, that means you would spend at least $175 you already don't want to blow to perhaps earn ibotta rebates.   And then you have to worry about where to spend the GCs, and you definitely don't want your money tied up in GCs.  My bank doesn't accept GCs as payment for my mortgage.

Keep an eye out for the moneymakers and real cheap offers.  That is about all I do anymore.   You can always stick to those, and then add any additional offers for things you know you will use that you find at a good price.  This also may be a time for you to try out store brands for many things, or perhaps even shop at an Aldi or Lidl, if you don't already.  I wouldn't waste any energy even trying to complete any bonuses unless it happens organically.

I'm hoping things get better for you sooner rather than later.

[MelissaR]

Jack o lantern and Merry and Bright started on the 1st.  So if there was a big one I think it would have popped up by now.  Guess we'll have to wait til Monday. 

[NikeD]

Well, the idea would be to use your earnings to purchase gift cards. Cycling the same money, you know? For instance, for December's bonus, you would have received $45. That is a maximum of  9 gift card offers right there. I would not suggest anyone empty their bank to purchase gift cards.

[Rickibotta]

@NikeD 

When you are cash-strapped, I just don't agree you should take money that is liquid, and then swap that for alternative forms of 'money' that is not.  If you decide to not use your gift cards, and have to liquidate them, you can hope to get about 80% back.  Just my opinion.

If you want to use the PWI option of GCs merely to pay, that makes sense, but not all stores offer this.  That is a flat-out savings.

[Icequeen813]

I wouldn’t expect  a big Bonus Challenge in January .We haven’t had a challenge like that in past 3 years @ Rickibotta keeps meticulous records, so he can confirm or deny..