rt shoppers who know that referrals will give them more cash back than coupons or in-store deals.

Bernstein says he wanted to solve the main problem with referral deals, which is that most people don't know anyone who they can refer. “For instance, if you live in an apartment that offers a $500 bonus for referring new tenants, you can post that deal on MutualWin, where people are searching for apartments,” he

Last summer, OfficeMax announced that it would no longer offer its familiar mail-in rebate programs. Their decision to pull the program was made when customers overwhelmingly expressed frustration with the lengthy process. In an interview with News.com, Ryan Vero, the company's chief merchandising officer, revealed that rebates were the top complaint they received from customers. He explained that the stores actually had little control over the rebate process and that was why they chose to eliminate them.

Best Buy made a similar announcement the year before about getting rid of their mail-in rebates, and soon after shifted the company's focus to its RewardZone program. Other retailers are now following suit, looking for ways to ditch their rebate deals and find more cost effective ways to draw consumers into their stores.

Both retailers have the intent of saving both time and money for consumers—replacing those mail-in rebates with in-store rewards and coupons for instant savings. While rebates may have been frustrating to many, they were also a source of substantial discount. As opportunities for rebate savings quickly fly out the window, consumers are searching for new ways to stretch their dollars.

In response to the lack of opportunities for savings, Michael Bernstein founded MutualWin (www.MutualWin.com), a website that functions as an open market where people can post and search for refer-a-friend deals. “MutualWin's goal is to make people aware that another way to substantially save money on purchases is through refer-a-friend deals,” Bernstein says. It's free for shoppers to use and its use is growing rapidly among smart shoppers who know that referrals will give them more cash back than coupons or in-store deals.

Bernstein says he wanted to solve the main problem with referral deals, which is that most people don't know anyone who they can refer. “For instance, if you live in an apartment that offers a $500 bonus for referring new tenants, you can post that deal on MutualWin, where people are searching for apartments,” he

ly had little control over the rebate process and that was why they chose to eliminate them.

Best Buy made a similar announcement the year before about getting rid of their mail-in rebates, and soon after shifted the company's focus to its RewardZone program. Other retailers are now following suit, looking for ways to ditch their rebate deals and find more cost effective ways to draw consumers into their stores.

Both retailers have the intent of saving both time and money for consumers—replacing those mail-in rebates with in-store rewards and coupons for instant savings. While rebates may have been frustrating to many, they were also a source of substantial discount. As opportunities for rebate savings quickly fly out the window, consumers are searching for new ways to stretch their dollars.

In response to the lack of opportunities for savings, Michael Bernstein founded MutualWin (www.MutualWin.com), a website that functions as an open market where people can post and search for refer-a-friend deals. “MutualWin's goal is to make people aware that another way to substantially save money on purchases is through refer-a-friend deals,” Bernstein says. It's free for shoppers to use and its use is growing rapidly among smart shoppers who know that referrals will give them more cash back than coupons or in-store deals.

Bernstein says he wanted to solve the main problem with referral deals, which is that most people don't know anyone who they can refer. “For instance, if you live in an apartment that offers a $500 bonus for referring new tenants, you can post that deal on MutualWin, where people are searching for apartments,” he

es.

Both retailers have the intent of saving both time and money for consumers—replacing those mail-in rebates with in-store rewards and coupons for instant savings. While rebates may have been frustrating to many, they were also a source of substantial discount. As opportunities for rebate savings quickly fly out the window, consumers are searching for new ways to stretch their dollars.

In response to the lack of opportunities for savings, Michael Bernstein founded MutualWin (www.MutualWin.com), a website that functions as an open market where people can post and search for refer-a-friend deals. “MutualWin's goal is to make people aware that another way to substantially save money on purchases is through refer-a-friend deals,” Bernstein says. It's free for shoppers to use and its use is growing rapidly among smart shoppers who know that referrals will give them more cash back than coupons or in-store deals.

Bernstein says he wanted to solve the main problem with referral deals, which is that most people don't know anyone who they can refer. “For instance, if you live in an apartment that offers a $500 bonus for referring new tenants, you can post that deal on MutualWin, where people are searching for apartments,” he

the lack of opportunities for savings, Michael Bernstein founded MutualWin (www.MutualWin.com), a website that functions as an open market where people can post and search for refer-a-friend deals. “MutualWin's goal is to make people aware that another way to substantially save money on purchases is through refer-a-friend deals,” Bernstein says. It's free for shoppers to use and its use is growing rapidly among smart shoppers who know that referrals will give them more cash back than coupons or in-store deals.

Bernstein says he wanted to solve the main problem with referral deals, which is that most people don't know anyone who they can refer. “For instance, if you live in an apartment that offers a $500 bonus for referring new tenants, you can post that deal on MutualWin, where people are searching for apartments,” he

rt shoppers who know that referrals will give them more cash back than coupons or in-store deals.

Bernstein says he wanted to solve the main problem with referral deals, which is that most people don't know anyone who they can refer. “For instance, if you live in an apartment that offers a $500 bonus for referring new tenants, you can post that deal on MutualWin, where people are searching for apartments,” he explains. “When they move in, they use your name as a referral, and the two of you share the referral bonus—and that's why we call it a mutual win.” Right now on MutualWin.com there are referral deals for T-Mobile cell phones, DirectTV service, and Bank of America checking accounts, among many others.

There are also plenty of coupons sites on the internet looking to offer shoppers good deals in place of the rebates that are now fading from the market. Coupons.com claims that you can save hundreds on your weekly grocery bill by printing out their coupons and taking them to the store. ValPack.com offers local coupons to save on everyday expenses like dining, entertainment, travel, groceries, retail, and professional services.

Even with mail-in rebates quickly becoming extinct, consumers have plenty of choices when it comes to saving money. Referral deals such as the ones found on MutualWin.com seem to be the best bet if you're looking for really large savings or cash back amounts. Coupon sites can add up to big savings in the long run too—though you've got to take into account the price of ink and paper to print the coupons on. To get your own great deal at the money saving sites mentioned above, visit www.MutualWin.com, www.Coupons.com, and www.ValPak.com.