Something a little different today...
Regular readers know I'm a huge fan of cashback services, which is why they appear in the very first chapter of "The Cheapskate Rules: 21 Easy Money-Saving Tech Secrets." (OK, last plug for a while, I swear.)
If you've never tried one and want to see what all the fuss is about, the folks at TopCashback have crafted a sweet little offer especially for Cheapskate readers: a free-after-cashback 4GB Wintec flash drive from your local Sears store.
On supporting science journalism
If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.
So where's the link? To help keep confusion to a minimum, I'm going to give you the instructions first. Nothing complicated, but you need to do everything in the proper order.
Step one: Sign up for a TopCashback account. (If you want to use my referral link, feel free, but it's certainly not a requirement.) All you really need is an e-mail address, though later you'll need to provide more details so you can claim your cash.
Step two: Head to the TopCashback page that has all the details regarding the promotion. After you've read it, click the big orange Top Cashback Now button, which will take you to Sears' Web site.
Step three: Use the search bar to look for "USB flash drive." Now comes the semi-tricky part. Using the filters sidebar on the left, set the following parameters:
Price: $6.15 to $6.94. (Do this one first, then click the little orange Go button.)
Brand: Filemate
Now you should see a variety of Wintec FileMate 4GB flash drives, all priced at either $6.15 or $6.94.
Step four: Choose the color/style you want, add it to your cart, choose in-store pickup, then check out. Yes, you'll need to pay for the drive. You'll get the usual receipt, pickup instructions, and so on from Sears.
Hey, wait, where's the "free" part? Within seven days you should see an $8 credit in your TopCashback account, enough to cover both the drive and any sales tax. So, technically, it's "free after rebate," but, hey, you didn't think Sears was just going to hand out free drives, did you? (Oh. You did. Hey, I've got a sweet deal for you on a Brooklyn landmark. Let's talk.)
You'll be able to "cash out" that $8 (via PayPal) in 60-90 days, which is typical of how most cashback services operate. If you're thinking there's a little too much work and waiting involved here for a mere $8, I hear you. However, this is a great opportunity to test-drive one of the leading cashback services and see how the process goes.
Indeed, once you've signed up, you can start more of your online shopping at TopCashback's site, and potentially end up with a much larger chunk of rebate cash down the road.
Plus, you get a free flash drive. Not too shabby!
Bonus deal: I honestly don't know how I ever got along without a second monitor. I do know the last one I bought cost way more than this. For a limited time, TigerDirect has the Acer-made Gateway KX2153 ABD 22-inch LED monitor for $99.99, plus around $8 for shipping. It's a 1080p display with VGA and DVI inputs and a three-year Acer warranty.
Deals found on The Cheapskate are subject to availability, expiration, and other terms determined by sellers.
Curious about what exactly The Cheapskate does and how it works? Read our FAQ.
