Rebate shopping serves no purpose if you don't send in your refund request. Unfortunately, many people forgo submitting their refund form and all of those forgone rebates mean millions in saving for manufacturers.

Why save money for Big Business when you could be saving cash for yourself? If you want to put money back in your pocket, then follow easy steps outlined below to make sure that you receive savings to which you are entitled.

If you are making an in-store purchase, be sure that you are provided with form that you will need to complete in order to receive your refund. Sometimes it is in box, it may be printed at cash register, or clerk might provide you with refund slip. If you ordered your item online, then rebate form may have been included in with your shipment. Make sure that you don't accidentally throw it away with packing materials, because obtaining another one would be a hassle. If a rebate form wasn't included in with your shipment, then you might have to go online to print it.

One way to be sure that you get your rebate is to complete form as soon as item arrives at your door, if you ordered online, or when you get home, if you purchased item in store. This will ensure that this money-saving offer doesn't slip your mind or that you don't put it aside because of a lack of time.

1. Do not spread your money too thin.

My friend has a little over $200,000 invested in stock market through 27 different Mutual funds. In my opinion, 27 Mutual funds is 27 too many collecting load fees, management fees, commission fees, operating and advertising fees. Diversity is important, but just as important is over-diversification. Also, in my opinion, $200,000 should not be put into more than 12 stocks, let alone 27 different Mutual funds.

2. Do not pay commission fees to purchase a stock.

If you are going to invest your hard earned dollars into a company, least company could do is provide you a way to invest in their company commission free – and they do!

3.Only purchase those companies that pay a dividend.

The same company that you invest in commission free should also offer you another incentive for you to invest – a dividend for use of your money.

4. Only purchase those companies that have a history of raising their dividend every year.

The same company should continue rewarding you for your faith in their company by increasing amount of their dividend every year. Rising dividends are also proof that company is doing something right.

5. Dollar-cost average into each stock position.

By dollar-cost averaging (buying same stock at different prices through years) you’ll never pay too much for company’s stock, even if initial purchase is at a 52 week high. Have all dividends from each company rolled back into more shares of each company, until retirement. The companies you invest in should do this for you, automatically, commission free.

6. Forget making a profit; instead focus on income provided from your stock portfolio.