<p>does anyone have an account on upromise (and/or similar program) and recommend it? Is it a good way to earn extra money for college and what are downsides to these program?</p>
<p>We started it a few years ago and have a grand total of a couple hundred dollars. My plan is just to continue it and then transfer it to my brother's kids because even the oldest has at least 10 years to go. I can't understand how anybody gets any significant money from that thing. We have tied all our credit cards into it. Including the one my husband charges business expenses on, and my youngest will be a junior in college next year and I don't believe we have the minimum amount required to open the 529 plan. But if anybody else has had success, I'd like to know how.</p>
<p>The best is to open a fidelity 529 account and use their credit card from MBNA. The credit card gives 2% straight kick-back which is automatically deposited in the 529 account.</p>
<p>We registered for Upromise a few years ago, and the rewards are pretty skimpy. It also is affiliatied with 529 plan providers outside of my state providers (ie. no state tax break from Upromises' 529 affiliates), so hopefully as some point these funds can be rolled into our existing 529. I am a little wary about providing the CC#s for Upromise, opting instead for phone, grocery and drug store registration #s. </p>
<p>I have something similar to Simba with a Capital One card that puts a small % rebate into a 529.</p>
<p>we are in Upromise program as well... registered 18 months ago when S went off to school....I think we've realized a grand total of less than $10.00....seems only certain brands and only certain sizes are part of the program at the store...and those are not the ones on sale at the time. I'm always hopeful when the little email arives each month with my account statement...only to be shot down when I read 'no activity this month'....my credit card bill begs to differ!</p>
<p>My parents did the UPROMISE thing, but only because it turns out we buy the supported brands a lot. Still, with returns of 1 to 5% on purchases of around $5 on certain items when we don't buy regularly means that even over a year after enrolling we still don't have that much.</p>
<p>Not a good program to bank on, but it's probably worth joining just to get some extra support that would be nice to have ($10 is dinner for a month for some college kids!)</p>