<p>Does anyone have any experience with this program?? It says it puts a percent of your spending into an account towards student loans, but I'm a bit skeptical. </p>
<p>Have any of you used ot or know someone who did?</p>
<p>I think that's more for people with kids just entering elementary school. There's no way to accumulate anything substantial while you're already in college. I might just be totally uninformed about the program, though...</p>
<p>yeah, i’m fairly sure its for Parents who plan to have their kids in Higher Education</p>
<p>I love it. Without contributing much of anything, I had a few hundred (about 600.00) accumulate over the years, just doing my normal shopping at Stop & Shop, Shaws, CVS, etc. I also put in some of my own money the last couple of years, but it was an effortless way of saving for me, but not the only thing. You can have grandparents, etc. also give through their cards (you register up to a certain number) Those pennies add up over the years, but I started late for my son. I remember when LLBean would contribute 5.00 a purchase toward Upromise (now it's 3.00 I think) and all their backbacks, etc. would be free shipping and I'd get a contribution toward college. I started late with my son though. He was around 12 or 13. My younger kids will benefit more.</p>
<p>I'm surprised to hear that the program has been so profitable for you, Debruns. Sounds like a much better deal than I thought.</p>
<p>It would of been more if I wasn't so forgetful and order things online before going through Upromise. Now they have a "reminder" download to help you out if you go to participating sites. They have many, many stores and online merchants that give 2-6% or more per order. Small but it adds up. I also didn't get my parents/siblings Stop and Shop card numbers or other stoe cards,in the beginning to have their items added to mine. Most of my siblings have kids older than mine, so they weren't using it. The way I look at it, every little amount matters and since this isn't "my" money and I would buy these things anyway, why not? Even if it just goes toward books or application fees, it's something. Look into it if you want.I wish I did when someone told me years ago when my son was younger. But he has 4 years of college and I have two in 8th grade, so I'm not done yet!
ps. some of their stores:
<a href="http://shop.upromise.com/browse.php%5B/url%5D">http://shop.upromise.com/browse.php</a></p>
<p>I think there's over $200 in the Upromise account my dad has, and he just started it a few years ago. The biggest help in accumulating money for his was that you can register your brand new GM vehicle on there, and $150 will be added to the account. He bought a new truck 2 years ago. Also they have a whole bunch of restaraunts that you can eat at, and if it's on your registered credit card, they'll donate part of that (usually like 10% of the bill). My dad's been eating out a lot in the last year and a half, since his kitchen/dining area were destroyed by a flood from a burst pipe. We may actually be up over $300 now; I haven't looked in a long time.</p>
<p>You're the first people I've heard of who have had good luck with UPromise....we've been in for about 2 years - maybe have a grand total of $15.00 so far....seems only certain brands and sizes of grocery items are eligible (apparently not the ones we use!)....and lots of times we've found things cheaper elsewhere than going to Bed Bath & Beyond - even with their 20% coupons!</p>
<p>Glad to hear someone's benefitting nicely from it.</p>