Have you ever wondered if there were off-season wedding months? I’m by no means a wedding planner (or an event organizer for that matter), but recently I’ve been given the honor of being in charge of flowers for a friend’s upcoming wedding. To all lovebirds out there thinking of tying the knot anytime soon, here’s what I learned. There is a peak season for weddings. And there are off-peak months, which are the hot summer months in Virginia and pretty much everywhere else in the South. I hear it’s the total opposite in cold climate states. Which makes sense because your wedding day is supposed to have the perfect weather.

In general, spring and fall are popular due mostly to the virtual absence of inclement weather. Much the same can be said about why summer and winter are less popular. But, for what it’s worth, there are significant savings to be had in off-peak months when wedding vendors and venues are dying to attract business. If you plan your wedding for November or January, you will most definitely get off-season rates and slash at least 20% off the total cost of your wedding. And if you want to really maximize your savings, you can use your bargaining power to negotiate for even better rates.

It’s interesting that today’s young couples spend less time planning their wedding – and that’s not actually a bad thing. With short-term planning, you will save yourself the expense of an elaborate wedding since you need to focus on the most important details. If you are serious about cutting the cost of your wedding, you have two options. You can either make a last-minute plan for a sooner date – or be more flexible about your big day and wait until you have bought all the supplies you need. Whatever choice you make, there’s one thing you can count on anytime of the year: Macy’s Wedding Registry. You can use your Macy’s account to create a registry and shop for essential wedding supplies. That way, you don’t have to spend a whole year preparing for your dream wedding.

Macy’s has something for every Star Rewards member planning on getting married. If you’re a cardholder and you create a new wedding registry online, you’ll be eligible for up to 25% discounts on wedding essentials, which include bridesmaid dresses, flower girl dresses, men’s suits, men’s shirts, ties, fine jewelry, handbags, accessories, stationery, and more. In addition, you’ll earn rewards when you buy wedding-related items – and every time you receive gifts! Registry Star Rewards is just one of the many perks you’ll love when you sign up for a wedding registry on Macys.com. You can set up a Dream Fund, which lets your family and friends contribute to your wedding expenses.

The fun doesn’t stop on your big event. For 6 months after your wedding day, you’ll enjoy exclusive discounts on all home items, such as furniture, mattresses, bed & bath, kitchen, and dining. And when you complete your registry, you’ll receive gifts from Macy’s and your favorite brands! 🙂

I always encourage my family and friends to sign up for a Macy’s Star Rewards card. That’s because they also love shopping at Macy’s. There was once a time when I collected store cards. Like everyone else, I wanted to take advantage of exclusive rewards and special promotions. In the end, I had to give up most of them because I hardly even used them (and because I was told they hurt my credit score). I only kept what mattered most. One card that I don’t regret not canceling is my Macy’s American Express card, which is the only co-branded credit card that I will always recommend.

If you find yourself shopping at Macy’s most of the time, then you have all the reasons you need to apply for a Macy’s American Express card. And if you already have a Star Rewards card, I strongly suggest that you upgrade.

Choosing Macy’s was a conscious decision. My purchases at Macy’s had been a part of my expenses since time immemorial, so I figured I might as well drop my primary credit card and pledge allegiance to Macy’s. To cut a long story short, I saw no point in keeping the credit cards I rarely used. But if there was one thing that made my decision easier, it’s the fact that Macy’s American Express cardholders get up to $25 Star Rewards Certificates based on 3% of all Macy’s purchases.

Yes, there’s a catch. Both Macy’s store card and American Express card have three spending guidelines called loyalty levels. Preferred members spend up to $499 a year, Elite members $500 to $999, and Premiere Elite $1000 or more. Only Macy’s American Express cardholders enjoy 1.5% rewards at Elite level and 3% at Premiere Elite. These rewards accrue to your account until they reach $10 if you’re Elite or $25 if Premiere Elite, and you receive the certificates in the mail with your monthly statement. The good thing about co-branded credit cards is that you earn rewards anywhere you use them. In my case, I earn 5% rewards on mobile purchases, 3% at gas stations, and 1% everywhere else.

Star Rewards Certificates are without a doubt the best rewards. Why? Because they have no limit and exclusions! So you’re earning certificates all year round – and you get to spend them on any merchandise at Macy’s. Now the only sure way to qualify for all the special offers that are exclusive to Elite and Premiere Elite members is to increase your annual expenses with Macy’s American Express card. That’s not particularly difficult if you get to use it outside Macy’s as well.

I personally make it a point to reach the Premiere Elite level every year. It’s not just the Star Rewards Certificates I’m crazy about – Premiere Elite cardholders enjoy a lot more perks! Since I do most of my shopping at Macy’s, I actually get to take advantage of almost every special offer that comes my way, such as my monthly Star Pass mailings, exclusive shipping offers, and bonus Thanks For Sharing events. Well, I must say I’ve always wanted to go on a cruise using Macy’s American Express travel rewards, but that’s another story. 😉

I made a promise to myself that I’d share the joy of saving with Macy’s coupons through this blog. This post is about how to save without using any (the title really gives it away 😉 ). Last week I blogged about why your Macy’s Star Rewards card is your ticket to ultimate savings. By simply using it any time you shop in-store and online, you save – and earn rewards. Today let me show you how to maximize your opportunities to save using your Macy’s credit card.

(1) Add your credit card to your online account.

Once you receive your credit card in the mail, link it to your Macy’s account to have your savings offers automatically added by the system. Sign in to your account, click on “My Profile,” and go to the “Add your Macy’s Card to your Profile” section. Note that you’re going to need your account number as well as the last four digits of your Social Security Number. If you don’t have an online account yet, create one here by all means. It’s free. More importantly, it gives you access to even more offers.

(2) Sign up for marketing mail.

You don’t want to opt out of receiving marketing mail, because if you do, you’ll forfeit all of your savings offers – including even your Star Passes! Resubscribe on Macys.com if you think you have opted out by accident. (After all, Star Passes are not your ordinary coupons. They are exclusive savings offers sent out to cardholders at least three times a year. Each pass has a single-use code that you can apply before you check out, and most passes can be used on any date within the offer period. Don’t miss those mailings if you want to maximize your savings.)

(3) Activate My Wallet on Macys.com.

Thankfully, keeping track of all the exclusive offers you receive from Macy’s is now much easier than ever. All you need to do is visit the “My Wallet” section on your online account and follow the instructions for activation – don’t worry, it’s free. My Wallet stores all your Star Passes, coupons, deals, promotions, and other savings offers in one place, so you could conveniently use any of them when you shop online or in-store. That means you don’t need to have your Macy’s coupon codes with you at checkout.

(4) Save offers on any device.

After you have your My Wallet activated, download the Macy’s app from iTunes or Google Play to your iPhone, iPad, or Android devices (it’s one of the apps I can’t live without). That way, you can update your account information, pay your bill, create your wish list, and see store events on all your devices. What I love about the Macy’s app is the fact that it lets you receive and save offers on the go. Here’s how. Just open the app, find the offer, and click on “add to wallet” to save it to My Wallet (see above). The next time you see a can’t-miss offer from Macy’s, you know how to save it on your phone or tablet.

(5) Shop with your Star Rewards Card.

Now you’re ready to go shopping – and saving – using your Macy’s credit card! 🙂 When you shop online, My Wallet will give you a list of saved offers that are applicable to your purchases so you wouldn’t have to sort through them yourself (see above). And when you shop at your local Macy’s store, you’ll get the list of applicable offers after you swipe your card.

It’s that time of the year again. The weather is getting colder, but our hearts are getting warmer. I’m sure I’m not the only one who looks forward to the season of giving (and shopping 🙂 ). I’m just glad we get to reach out sooner with Macy’s Thanks For Sharing give-back event. This year it kicks off on September 2 – don’t forget to mark your calendar!

I did some digging and learned that Macy’s and, by extension, customers like you and me donate over $70 million to charities every single year. $15 million of which are raised through Thanks For Sharing. Since its inception in 2002, this yearly event has donated more than $115 million. For 2014, Macy’s will donate $3.4 million to The American Heart Association’s, Go Red For Women Campaign, and the rest will go to The Make-A-Wish Foundation, The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Futures Without Violence’s The RESPECT! Campaign, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, and Local Boys and Girls Clubs.

I’d love to help these charities! How do I participate?

All Macy’s Star Rewards cardholders can participate in this event starting September 2. Visit your local Macy’s store for enrollment – if it’s almost-an-hour drive away, just sign up online. There will be a one-time fee of $25, which will be charged to your credit card. For those who haven’t received the replacement for your old card, you may use the card you have as long as it’s not inactive or delinquent. Don’t have a Macy’s credit card yet? Find out how to get yours fast here: Macy’s Star Rewards Card.

Macy’s donate $10 of each enrollment fee to charity. Here’s what’s in it for you. Macy’s is giving out 10% rewards on your credit card purchases from your date of enrollment until December 31, 2014. How’s that as a thank you for helping charities?

There are rewards?! Yay!

That’s not even the best part. Thanks For Sharing brings a new twist to the old saying: “The more you spend, the more you save.” There is no limit whatsoever to how much you can earn. And since this is a nationwide event, you earn rewards at any Macy’s store and online for four months – the perfect time for a shopping bonanza! Come February, you’ll receive your Thanks For Sharing Rewards Card in the mail having the card value that you accumulated. When does it expire? It is a non-expiring card, so you can use it anytime in the future! 🙂

Wait! How is the card value calculated?

OK, first things first. Be sure to pay the enrollment fee using your Macy’s credit card because there won’t be any reward otherwise. The card value of your rewards is calculated at 10% of your net purchases, which exclude Macy’s coupons, discounts, sales tax, service fees, delivery fees, bill inserts, adjustments, and returns. Be reminded there are products that are not eligible for rewards, such as furniture, floor coverings, mattresses, box springs, gift cards, watch repair, custom decorating, carpet cleaning, and other non-merchandise-related services.

Don’t worry, you can easily keep track of your rewards. You may have your card value to date printed on your receipt when you shop in-store. Or you may call 888-933-6229 to inquire.

I can think of a thousand reasons why I love Macy’s. First off, they have everything I need for the home, so I rarely shop elsewhere. But what I love the most is my Macy’s Star Rewards credit card. As a budget-conscious mom, I just love it when I get to maximize my savings every time I shop with my credit card in-store or online – every time! 🙂

I’m going to let you in on a little secret. Getting your Macy’s Star Rewards cards is easy – and you’ll receive a surprise savings offer upon approval! See that “Save 20%” offer? You can use that on the same day you get approved as well as the following day – for up to a maximum of $100 total savings. You know you wouldn’t want to miss out on that, so apply here: Macy’s Star Rewards.

How do I get my application approved?

Here’s what you need to know before you click on the submit button. You only qualify for the signup discount if your application does not require further processing. So how do you make sure you qualify for immediate approval? You simply have to fill out all the required fields. Don’t hesitate to call customer service if there’s anything about the terms and conditions that you want to clarify. You can talk to a representative by dialing 1-800-289-6229 (that’s 1-800-BUY-MACY) or 1-877-493-920. You can also reach one through live chat on Macys.com.

The discount will be applied to your account as soon as you receive the approval, so you can shop online right after. That said, you need to have the card with you if you shop in-store. If you’re already a Star Rewards cardholder, you can also take advantage of the discount if you create a new account. Just remember to link your credit card to your online account at register.

There’s just one more caveat: the “Save 20%” signup discount shown above is not offered all year round. While there’s always a surprise savings offer when you register for a new account, it’s not 20% every time. So feel free to visit Macy’s from time to time if you want better offers.

How do I earn Star Rewards?

If you’re anything like me, you know it’s not too hard to find coupons for Macy’s on the internet. But being a Macy’s Star Rewards cardholder allows you to save even more on your purchases not only on Macy’s website but every time you shop at your local Macy’s store. How? You get instant access to discount prices that are otherwise unavailable. Plus, you earn loyalty points when you use your card.

It’s a good idea to shop once you receive your approval. In addition to the huge signup discount, you will earn 3 Star Passes as you become a Preferred customer. You only need to spend a minimum of $1 to unlock Star Passes (see above). But before you go on a shopping spree, take note of the loyalty period, which is from December 1st to November 30th – that’s when you earn points for Star Passes. Don’t worry if you have unused Star Passes as they are added automatically to your online account after you link your card.

Here’s the fun part. There are more categories of exclusive savings offers that you can earn as a cardholder, namely, Thanks For Sharing rewards, Happy Birthday offer, and shipping offers. You unlock these offers as you spend more. When you reach Premiere Elite status, you get to enjoy all of them.

Thanks for Sharing is what made me a fan of Macy’s. Every year this event donates up to $15 million to charities like The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, The Make-A-Wish Foundation, and The American Heart Association, among others. You get to help their cause when you pay a one-time enrollment fee of $25. And you get back a whopping 10% rewards on your Macy’s credit card purchases within the effective period (which is usually from September until December 31st). If you want to learn how to make the most of this shopping event, check out this post: Macy’s Thanks For Sharing.

I bet you’re thrilled to have your own Macy’s credit card now. Getting your own Star Rewards card is just the beginning of an exciting journey! 🙂