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FMTC Affiliate Directory for Bloggers

Posted on Jun 30, 2020 at 4:24 pm · Disclosure Policy

One of the most frequent, non-freebie questions I get asked is “got any tips for starting my own site?” I gotta admit, it's a really hard question to answer! However, that's exactly what I'm going to attempt over the coming months with this series.

I'm kicking things off with one of the only services I use on a daily basis to run HIF, the FMTC's Publisher Toolkit.

Years ago, I signed up for their free plan in order to easily access their affiliate database directory and over time it grew to become a tool I seriously rely upon to streamline my workflow. I can't even imagine trying to run HIF without it.

Let's say you run a niche site and you've decided to keep spammy affiliate offers away from your blog (good for you!) You've also joined a few affiliate programs to promote, but they're inevitably spread across multiple networks. As it stands, you have to regularly log into every network in order to lookup programs, pull links, create deeplinks, or find new deals to promote.

If you don't run a website, what I'm describing is akin to grocery shopping at 10 different stores each week. Imagine being forced to shop at Store A for milk, then Store B for bread, then you drive to Store C for vegetables only to remember at the last second they're sold over at Store Z, etc. Sounds like a pain in the butt, doesn't it?! And it is!

Affiliate Directory Database

Enter FMTC's amazing Affiliate Directory. This feature alone is a huge highlight in my book, as they allow both free and subscribers to search their affiliate directory of over 14,000 programs. The database grows by the dozens every week and acts as a one-stop shop for juggling large amounts of affiliate programs from handfuls of networks.

[Read more…]

Money Saving Coupons via Valpak Envelopes

Updated: Oct 3, 2018 · Posted on Sep 14, 2017 at 4:46 pm · Disclosure Policy

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Valpak. All thoughts, words, and opinions and have not been written or edited by the sponsor.

Living in New York makes saving money incredibly difficult. It's like I'm in college again – which bars have the best happy hour specials? What time does my local bodega put their produce on sale? Is it Mike's Deli or Michael's Deli with the Monday meatball special? But I can always count on setting my watch to a giant Valpak envelope arriving in my mailbox each month. How can I not love spotting a bundle of coupons surrounded by freebies?

When I first started HIF in 2006, Valpak was one of the first companies I wrote about. They mainly only sent out coupons for household services and local restaurants. That helped mold most of us into thinking we could only find grocery savings via printables on the Internet, but that's not 100% true any longer. Valpak envelopes now come stocked with all sorts of grocery coupons, which helps this New Yorker stay fed without breaking the bank.

Sidenote, actually breaking a bank is harder than it sounds. You need all sorts of wrecking balls and jackhammers, it's honestly a lot more work than I'd ever be willing to do. That's why I try and save money with coupons so I don't have to break the bank. What were we talking about again?

Among this month's Valpak envelope, some of the high-value coupons included:

$10/1 Dr. Scholl's Custom Fit Orthotic Inserts at Walmart
Free $20 gift card with purchase of $45 Sam's Club membership
$1/1 Vermont Creamery Fresh Goat Cheese Log at Mambo Sprouts
$1/1 Perfect Bar at Mambo Sprouts

While I might not need all of those items, they're great savings! The Vermont Creamery Fresh Goat Cheese Log has me most intrigued. I'm the kind of guy whose favorite cheese can best be described as “…uh, the yellow one?” So I'm not too accustomed to cheese of the goat nor log forms and I've only been to Vermont for about an hour, I think. I was sleeping in the backseat. Great road trip! Now let's try some of that cheese.

The Dr. Scholl's insert deal is definitely a nice offer to boot (… 😄) since any New Yorker will tell you wherever you're going isn't too far to walk. Anywhere, doesn't matter, it's the cold, hard truth that walking might be faster than a subway, cab, or bus. Turns out moving 8 million people all at once gets things a little clogged up. Who would have guessed? Thus I've used inserts for almost a decade and my feet, legs, and back have thanked me ever since.

If you think back to HIF's earliest days, there aren't many of the same money saving methods still in existence. However one of the longtime stalwarts has been Valpak. As the price of living inches ever up and more and more coupon sites drop to the wayside, it's nice knowing a #ValpakNY of great coupons could still arrive any day in my mailbox.

Also if anybody at Valpak HQ is reading this, might I be so bold as to propose selling Katsaks. As early 1990's Mike Rowe showed us on QVC, Katsaks are loads of fun for our feline companions. And who wouldn't buy a Valpak Katsak? The name is a billion dollar brand, easy. Thank you for your time and you're welcome for the genius idea.

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Valpak. All thoughts, words, and opinions and have not been written or edited by the sponsor.

$100 Checks in the Mail Giveaway

Updated: Jun 18, 2020 · Posted on Nov 12, 2013 at 2:28 pm · Disclosure Policy

Checks in the Mail Giveaway

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post and giveaway on behalf of Savings.com and Checks in the Mail. However all opinions written below are 100% my own. I ate a bug once in the 1st grade. I also had a huge crush on Christine Taylor when she was in Hey, Dude. How much more do I have to share here?

Actually, let me share one more thing. I used to hate checks. Like, really, I hated them. It wasn't for the typical reasons though. Sure, I thought they were antiquated and I couldn't understand why anybody in their right mind would use, let alone prefer them.

It probably didn't help that my typical interactions with them always involved giving away money too. Making a car payment, insurance, probably a few repairs in there as well. Bills, which apparently come every month. Students loans! HAHA! I paid how much for what exactly again?! I still don't know.

No, the reason I grew to hate checks was because they were forced on me. Some bills could only be paid by check, because that makes sense. Others weren't as macabre, but they charged a few dollars to pay by card.

As a broke 20 year old, I didn't just pinch pennies, I named them and there was no way I could justify giving away Frank, Yolanda, George, Stephanie, Little P, Maryanne, Sir Elton of Dover, Little P Jr., and Winkin' Lincoln as punishment for rejecting what I considered dinosaur technology. “Fine,” I meekly mumbled to myself as I paid $30 I didn't have for a box of checks I didn't want, “I'll buy these, but I'm drawing the line at faxing in my payment!”

Flash forward a decade.

I don't know how it happened, but I developed a habit of saving. I squirreled money away, got a steady job (or whatever the heck this is!), and even *gulp* drank cheap liquor. When my lease ended in August, I kicked around the idea of getting my first apartment alone. I'd always had some sort of roommate situation, be it friends, family, or strangers. (There've been some characters. Remind me to tell you about Phil one day.) It was never a huge deal, but hey, I like walking around naked after a shower or drinking milk from the carton as much as the next guy. Unfortunately I learned the hard way both are activities others frown upon.

The lease I signed last month only had one signature when I submitted it for approval. My new apartment isn't perfect by any stretch of the imagination. Drop a ball in my living room and I know the exact spot it'll end up. The guy next door loves blaring the television at volumes most high orbit spy satellites pick up. Oh and windows are apparently optional!

But it's all mine 🙂 It's my first “home” that I get to make completely my own, something that excites me, and that is something I never saw coming in a million years.v

Landlords are probably one of the biggest holdouts in the “Vive la Checks!” camp. However when I pulled my checkbook out last month while signing the lease, I wasn't filled with hate or annoyance or even apathy. There was happiness and pride and excitement and holy crap it felt stupendous!!!

I'd never had that experience while holding a check. I'm thrilled to say those emotions carried over to the first of this month as well. I guess you can say I don't hate checks anymore.

Discount Code

I've never personally used Checks in the Mail and I'm not in the market for more at the moment, but I've bookmarked them and will use them next year when I run out. They've got good reviews online and an A+ rating with the BBB to boot. If you happen to need checks now, you can't go wrong with their current offer. New customers get 60% off plus free shipping via code GET60. Sounds pretty rad to me.

Awesome Giveaway Details

Most of us get monthly Valpaks stuffed with coupons, which is already great enough. However Checks in the Mail got in touch with them recently and offered to place $100 checks in Valpaks across the country. So make sure to open your Valpak ASAP the next time it arrives

As if that wasn't enough, Checks in the Mail has teamed up with a few bloggers to give away $100 to 10 of our lucky readers. You can enter via the widget below and the fine print can be found beneath it.

I hope all 10 winners are Hiffers. Okay, I'll settle for 9. So go enter, good luck, and just for fun leave a comment saying what you'd spend your winnings on! Just a warning: if you say Macallan, we might become best friends.

FMTC Affiliate Directory for Bloggers

Affiliate Directory Database

Money Saving Coupons via Valpak Envelopes

Sponsored: Free Nike 2-Day Shipping

$100 Checks in the Mail Giveaway

Discount Code

Awesome Giveaway Details

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