reford : MyBlogHer Profile

Rebecca Ford holds an MBA from Louisiana State University, and a BA in economics from Southeastern Louisiana University. She founded CompareRewards.com in 2001 after giving up a corporate position in strategic planning to become a stay-at-home mom. Living comfortably in these difficult economic times is a challenge, but Mrs. Ford explains in plain English how to utilize reputable online rewards programs to stretch your family's dollar.

The internet is rife with websites promising to "save you money" or to "earn money fast." From online shopping rewards programs that pay rebates on purchases, to search engines that offer incentives for simply searching the internet, to online survey sites, Mrs. Ford's CompareRewards.com acts as a consumer advocate to advise consumers on which websites live up to their promises...and which are merely scams.

As part of her efforts to educate consumers, Mrs. Ford compiles an annual in-depth comparison of online shopping rebate rates that provides the cash back rates of nearly two dozen shopping rewards sites for over 150 popular online merchants. Her efforts have been cited in the book Living Rich by Spending Smart by Chicago Tribune reporter Gregory Karp, who also interviewed Mrs. Ford for a two part series on online rewards programs featured in the Tribune family of newspapers. CompareRewards.com has also been a featured resource on KETV Omaha's "Consumer Watch" as well as on former Boston television consumer reporter Edgar Dworsky's ConsumerWorld.org.

Mrs. Ford started TipBlog.com in 2005 to provide consumers with printable coupons, coupon codes, and links to useful information on saving money or making money online.

In July of 2008, Mrs. Ford began work with online shopping rewards program QuickRewards.net as their shopping blogger, at QRDeals.com. This new website provides deal suggestions that can be combined with coupon codes for discounts or free shipping, as well as being eligible for cash back from the QuickRewards.net rewards program.


Sources:
Living Rich by Spending Smart: How to Get More of What You Really Want by Gregory Karp -- summary and reviews: http://safari.oreilly.com/9780768681864

"Consumer Watch: Buy Online with Safety in Mind" - KETV Omaha: http://www.ketv.com/newsarchive/10460566/detail.html

"How to Navigate Online Rebate Portals" - Chicago Tribune, December 10, 2006: http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/yourmoney/sns-yourmoney-1210spend...

"Rebate Shopping Portals Open Door to Savings" - Chicago Tribune, December 3, 2006: http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/yourmoney/sns-yourmoney-1203spend...

ConsumerWorld.org Product Reviews, Buying Guides & Seller Ratings: http://www.consumerworld.org/pages/shopping.htm