The holiday season is here along with its many discounts, but are consumers actually receiving the discounts they thought? Many renters take advantage of holiday sales to not only save on gifts but to invest in some apartment essentials, such as furniture, appliances and expensive electronics. However, if they are not careful, they could find themselves quickly overextending their budgets by paying full price instead of the discounted price advertised.

How could this be possible? After all, stores can’t falsely advertise their prices to make a sale, right? Rebates would be the culprit here. The stores are not falsely advertising but are instead representing the potential price customers can receive when turning in the rebate attached.

Unfortunately, many people don’t read the fine print before making the purchase and fail to realize they’re paying full price. Once they have the item, it’s up to them to take the initiative to follow the many steps to redeem the discount they thought they were receiving at checkout. Unfortunately, many forget to do this entirely or realize too late that there was a rebate attached.

According to industry figures, only 40-60% of all rebates are successfully redeemed as customers miss deadlines, forget necessary documentation or just don’t bother. Also, according to ConsumerAffairs.com, companies offer an estimated 400 million rebates yearly worth up to $6 billion. Therefore, even if 60% are redeemed each year, that still leaves over 160 million rebates unclaimed, representing billions of free dollars for companies and lost savings for consumers.

For those that do take the time to read the fine print and follow the steps, rebates can be a fantastic way to save. In fact, many rebates will offer up to 60% in savings on a purchase making even the most expensive items affordable to a much wider audience.

So, should renters and consumers alike consider rebates as a source of savings? That is a risk that each consumer must choose to take on their own; however, by following two simple rules such savings may be worth it.

• Rule 1: Be sure to practice caution with purchases. Read all the fine print for each store discount and when a rebate is included, be sure that you can afford the item even if the rebate is not redeemed for whatever reason. After all, no one wants to be eating Ramen for months just to pay back a laptop they thought they were receiving at half price.
• Rule 2: Read each rebate’s rules and directions thoroughly before redeeming. Also, be sure to fill out all requested information exactly as requested, and double check that all necessary documentation is included. Then, make copies of the completed rebates and attached documents for your records. These few extra steps could mean the difference between a denied rebate and extra cash in your pocket. For more tips on how to ensure a successful rebate, check out Consumerist.com.

Of course, if you prefer easier ways to save, just shop online through the WilliamPaid Shopping Center where you can enjoy cash back on each purchase. Do you use rebates for savings and what other methods do you use to save?