Lifestyle

Paribus Review: Is It Worth It?

paribus review

It seems there is an app for everything these days, especially for saving money. One in particular, called Paribus, will get you a refund when something you purchased was found cheaper. The goal is to help you gain money when prices change or drop. But, does it really work? Is Paribus worth it? I decided to do a Paribus review to find out.

My Paribus Review

Paribus was created and developed by two Harvard graduates, Eric Glyman and Karim Atiyeh, who used to use their skills to help Fortune 500 companies, according to their website. They now use their talents and knowledge in technology and business to help the everyday consumer, like you, save money.

Many retailers promise a price match credit when the cost of an item drops after you’ve purchased it. The problem is that they won’t just offer it to you; you have to work for it. So, Paribus does the work for you. They find these reductions and trace them back to your purchases when you sign up, helping you score some savings where you did not think they existed. The app works to find these price changes on a variety of merchandise, from clothes to groceries. Impressive, no?

How Paribus Works

Eric and Karim developed algorithms that search for changes in prices from a variety of retailers, known as their supported merchants. The app works day in and day out monitoring opportunities to get you some cash back from your purchases using information from your receipts. They are the ones contacting the stores to earn you money. Thus, all you need to do is go about your normal day and wait for the money to roll back in.

Of course, there are terms and conditions to this, so make sure you review those before signing up.

What You Need to Know

To sign up, you simply choose the email provider for which you have or will have shopping receipts sent to. If you currently do not link your email to online shopping accounts, you will want to in order for this app to work. You’ll also need to attach a credit or debit card that you use for purchases so that they can pay you. In addition, you have the option to also link your Amazon account for tracking. It’s important to keep in mind, though, that Paribus only works with certain stores.

paribus

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Some people may not feel comfortable giving access to email and credit card information to an app, but Paribus assures users through the press kit that their systems are secure with an SSL bank-grade encryption.

“Security is embedded through our entire architecture, including dedicated firewalls, VPN services, intrusion prevention systems and stringent access controls,” the release states.

Atiyeh also reminds its potential users that retailers actually use our data against us to get consumers to pay more. When you realize this, it really isn’t a big deal to give access to your email and payment to Paribus for the purpose of getting money back, especially knowing their systems are secure.

Luckily, you don’t have to decide right away; you can opt to enter your card information in later like I did. This can allow time to do some more research before deciding whether or not you want to actually give your card number. Another option for your security relief worries would be to create a separate email that is dedicated only for shopping online. The one I used for my Paribus subscription is set up this way, and they only have access to one email of your choosing.

Lastly, the app is currently available only to residents 18 and older in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. You must subscribe with a valid email address and be enrolled in the Paribus service or app. Unfortunately, they do reserve the right to cancel your account at any time or refuse access to the service, according to their Terms of Service.

Is It Legit?

I have not had the app long enough myself to see if it actually works. Plus, it takes 48 hours before your purchases from the last three months or 90 days appear in the app. However, there appears to be a lot of positive feedback thus far from people who have actually seen it work.

In a testimonial from Catherine Geewax, a Paribus member since 2014, she said that within 12 hours, she received a refund of $70 following a shopping spree to Nordstrom.

Omar, another member, woke up to find $80 in his account after buying two monitors the week before that were reduced in price.

Even though these numbers are not always the case, every little bit helps. You’re still getting money back that you would not have had (without spending the time and energy yourself to retrieve) for purchases you were going to buy anyway.

“At our current rate, we’re saving people on 1/4 of their orders, almost 10% per purchase — automatically,” Glyman said in the press kit.

Conclusion

Ten percent per purchase may not seem like a lot, but at least it is something. Just think about the benefits of using this service during the holidays. I know I plan to, which will definitely come in handy to save a little extra on Christmas shopping.

Hopefully, my Paribus review helped you see if this service is right for you. Make sure to check back in to see how it continues to work for me. Finally, if you’d like to sign up for Paribus, please feel free to use this link, it will help keep the lights on for this website.

Do you use Paribus? What are your thoughts on the app? I would love to hear your opinion in the comments below. 

This post was sponsored by Paribus. 

How to Pay for Plastic Surgery with Bad Credit

how to pay for plastic surgery with bad credit

There may come a time when you want plastic surgery, whether out of medical necessity or purely personal reasons. Whatever the case may be, it may not be an option if you have a poor credit history. However, this is not to say that it is not still possible. I was curious to see how to pay for plastic surgery with bad credit, so I did some research for today’s article. Keep reading to learn more.

The Rise in Plastic Surgery

Reconstructive surgery existed long before the first procedure was performed in the United States during the 19th century, but it was the emergence of motion pictures and television that boosted the modern movement of plastic surgery. And this phenomenon shows no sign of stopping any time soon.

According to their press release, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) released data recently showing there were “15.9 million surgical and minimally-invasive cosmetic procedures performed in the United States in 2015, a two percent increase over 2014.” In fact, the company also claims in the release that overall procedures have risen 115 percent since 2000.

With the evolving types of procedures patients can choose from, options are increasing and so are providers, ASPS President David H. Song, MD, MBA, FACS, said in the release. Unfortunately, despite the increase of providers, cosmetic surgery remains costly, especially if you want more than one procedure at once.

So, if you are looking for plastic surgery but have poor credit, what are your options?

How to Pay for Plastic Surgery with Bad Credit

If plastic surgery is on your radar, there are a few different routes to consider taking. These suggestions from Creditcards.com may be worth looking into:

  • Credit Cards: To pay for the expense of the operation(s), credit cards are an option. A standard card with an interest rate less than 10 percent used specifically for this could pay for the costs while also building your credit. You could also apply for a medical credit card like CareCredit to cover te surgery. These often have zero interest rate promotions for a certain amount of time following your approval. Creditcards.com recommends reading the fine print, though, as those rates can skyrocket if you miss a payment or do not repay the amount quickly.
  • Regular Loans: Obtaining a loan from your bank or a credit union could be a good fit for you. The problem is these unsecured loans will likely tack on to the overall amount you owe due to interest. The good news is that banks often offer loans with a fixed interest rate, preventing the interest the fluctuate throughout the course of repayment. The alternative would be to look into a secured loan where you promise an asset as collateral should you miss a payment. Secured loans offer lower interest rates for that reason.
  • Unsecured Medical Loans: Similar to a personal loan or credit card, unsecured medical loans are typically provided by a third party such as a doctor, Creditcard.com explains. This would be a potential option if you are having a hard time borrowing money from other sources, especially if you have a lower credit score. Watch out, though; these loans are known for having higher interest rates.
  • Payment Plans: You can always speak with your doctor to see if they offer their own payment plans. Some practices in a variety of medical fields will work out monthly payments with you based on your income or budget, but most do not do the procedure until the expense is paid for in full. It’s worth attempting to have that conversation with a plastic surgeon to evaluate your choices. Even though this type of plan would not include interest, you could still be sent to collections for missing a payment.
  • Savings: You could pull money from your own savings account to cover the costs of cosmetic surgery. Although you’d be reducing your account, you would at least not have to worry about monthly payments or interest rates.

If you’ve been wondering how to pay for plastic surgery with bad credit, the above alternatives hopefully present some realistic ways to receive your desired operations. Whatever route you choose, remember to make payments in a timely manner to prevent your credit score from getting worse. Also, make sure to outweigh the costs, evaluate your finances, and do your research prior to moving forward with your decision.

Have you ever had plastic surgery? What suggestions would you include in the list? 

 

Photo credit: Brian J. Parker

What is the Starting Credit Score?

starting credit score

A common misconception comes with turning 18: You can automatically start borrowing money on your own. Wrong. While you are targeted by credit card issuers all wanting to take advantage of your newly found adulthood, you are unable to take out a loan. At least, not without a cosigner. Why is this? The answer is fairly straightforward, really. It’s all thanks to a lack of credit and data. So, what is the starting credit score?

The Starting Credit Score

Credit does not automatically appear on our records; we have to put it there. Until we put borrowing data on our records, we have no credit, credit reporting company Experian explains. Thus, the starting credit score when entering adulthood is non-existent. This is not the same, though, as having a zero or bad credit score. It essentially means there is no record or data on which to base your repayment capabilities. Credit.com goes on to explain that your score does not event start at 0. For most companies, the scoring range goes from 300 to 850, with 300 being the worst or lowest.

So, if we start with no credit, how can we build it up?

How to Build Your Credit Score

There are a few ways to grow and develop your credit score. As annoying as the multiple direct mailers from credit card companies may be, credit cards can be a great tool to build that score. But, don’t just pick any credit card. Make sure to research interest rates (especially on retail credit cards), terms and conditions, and more before signing off on that plastic. When starting from scratch, a secure credit card may be the best option for you. Many carriers like Visa and Mastercard do have secured options. Likewise, if you’re in college, look into student credit card choices. You just need to shop around for the perfect one for you and your situation.

Another way to take your score from nothing to something would be a credit-builder loan, which are smaller loans that do exactly what it sounds like: build your credit. You can also have someone co-sign with you on a loan. Once you start making repayments on the loan, you will start developing that “data” discussed previously in this article. It will take about six months of consistent and positive reimbursements for your numbers to start to appear on reports.

Tips on Keeping Your Credit Score Positive

Once you build your credit, you need to then continuously and simultaneously make an effort to keep it positive. Having a higher rating will provide you with more opportunities to request borrowed money when necessary (like when buying a home), unlike the situation when you have a starting credit score. Here are few quick tips on keeping your rank in the green:

  • Automate your payments. Arrange for your credit card(s) to take a fixed amount from your bank account each month to go toward your balances. This not only prevents a missed payment, it helps to show companies you are financially capable and responsible, which will boost your credit rating.
  • Monitor your credit report. Request your credit report regularly to keep yourself aware of your report and changes that may have recently occurred. If you notice it is not where you would like it to be, you can start making a conscious effort to improve it.
  • Pay your bills on time. Avoid making late payments not just on your card balance but your household bills as well. If you get behind on your electric bill, the utility company can file a claim against you, which would hurt your score. This may seem like a no-brainer, but this is a common cause for poor credit.
  • Talk to the companies. We all go through hard times, and sometimes, our finances can be unforgiving. However, most people don’t realize that by simply informing bill collectors of your circumstance, you may be able to lower your payment amounts temporarily until your situation improves. This helps to lessen the blow to your credit score while you work on getting back on your feet.

Even though the starting credit score is non-existent, it is far from impossible to grow it. Everyone builds theirs at a different pace. As long as you still make wise decisions, stick with a budget, and remember that borrowed money needs to be repaid in a timely manner, you will be well on your way to a higher credit rating.

What problems did you face when you first started signing up for loans, and how did you overcome them?