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Do you ever look at your credit card statement and laugh at how often you spend money at the same four or five places? I definitely do. I have my favorite spots that are part of my daily routine and I'm always trying to think of ways to make my money go further, but I'm not willing to give up those purchases that are a normal part of my week. So rather than skip my morning coffee to save a buck, I use Drop.

Drop is an app that lets you earn points when you shop at your favorite stores. All you have to do is link your credit or debit card. Once you sync with Drop, you then select your five favorite stores. Then, any time you use your card at one of those five stores, you earn points that can be redeemed in the form of gift cards. It's literally that simple.

For me, there were almost too many options to choose from when selecting my five stores. There was Dunkin' Donuts, which was a no brainer since I need my coffee every day. Then there was Uber, which I always end up taking even when it's not in my budget. And of course I had to include Seamless, because I'm never in the mood to cook when I get home from work. To round it out, I chose Chipotle, my go-to lunch spot, and Target, which is where I go for everything else.

All I had to do to start earning points was go about my normal life and I saw the points start to roll in with each purchase. I knew I was spending a good amount of money at those five stores, but I had no idea how easy it would be to start getting rewards points. And if I want to earn even more points, Drop is constantly sending me additional offers from other brands that I love, like BirchBox and Boxed.com, so I don't just have to rely on my five main stores. Since I started with Drop two months ago, I've already used 10,000 points to get a $10 gift card at Amazon. It's that easy!

With Drop, I see all the deals available to me in the app and I can keep track of them in one convenient location. I've been trying to tell as many of my friends as possible to try Drop because there's zero downside and it takes almost no effort at all to earn points. I can't imagine I'll ever stop using it. It's literally the easiest way I've ever earned rewards points. I even get offers for new deals to earn more points at other places like Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Since signing up with Drop, I know I'm getting getting the best bang for my buck.

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Valentine's Day is the pinnacle of romantic holidays — today's the day you get to show all the love you have for your significant other in the form of gifts or experiences. It's a bit materialistic yes, but everyone loves feeling special and being showered with presents! However, if your budget's a bit tight, it can be hard to show your partner you appreciate them. So, we've compiled a list of five tips you can use to ensure that you have an amazing Valentine's Day without spending that holiday money.

1. Make sure you buy flowers the right way

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Don't get cheated and buy your flowers online for delivery — even if they're ensured fresh and come with discounts, shipping trucks don't come with refrigerators. So if you order from a company with a warehouse far away from you, they might be wilted by the time your SO sees them.

Instead, get your flowers from grocery stores or the florist — both will keep their flowers cold until pick up time and some florists would even deliver in a chilled van. Be sure to ask for flowers that haven't quite open yet — that way they'll bloom in the hands of your SO and will keep for days.

2. Don't skimp where it doesn't count

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A definite no-no is buying flowers from the side of the road — even though they're the cheapest, they definitely won't last more than a day. These flowers also won't come with flower food nor replacements if they turn out to be spoiled.

Regarding dinner, don't order cheaper foods just because you need to save money — worrying about money every step of the date will definitely spoil your night.

3. Eat at home

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Come to think of it, spend your special night at home instead of a kitschy Valentine's Day restaurant. Even if it doesn't seem that special, eating at that dining table you never use or in front of the fireplace, or even in bed will give it that special feel.

Light some candles, throw around a handful of rose petals and put on some Frank Sinatra — your SO will definitely give you brownie points for your thoughtful DIY.

4. Order smart

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If you're bent on going out for dinner, you can totally pull that off too — one tip is to go for the cheapest champagne or Prosecco. No one can really tell the difference between expensive and cheap champagnes so there's really no use ordering the one that's going to break bank.

If the night is going to end in romance, be sure to order light. Not only will it stop bloating, but lighter dishes will also be less expensive — choose fish over steak, or sorbet over chocolate mousse.

5. Do your research with jewelry

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Look online for the jeweler with the best prices, but never buy online — it's much better to go in store to make sure that ring or necklace looks the way it's supposed to. Also be sure to check its certificates — this is to make sure the piece will last for a long time, not something you should obsess over.

Now that you're equipped with all these tips, enjoy your day of romance with your SO — and don't forget that this holiday is for love first and foremost. Even though you're encouraged to splurge a bit, losing sight of the spirit of Valentine's Day will definitely screw you over.

College is a pretty stressful time — different from high school, but still hard to deal with. They're basically your first steps to living by yourself. From being tempted to order in every night and textbooks that cost way more than they should, college can also be a money blackhole.

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