Save $5 on an $50 purchaseCheck out our twtQpon here
Friday, July 17, 2009
Morning Deals: PureVia, groceries & tickets
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Earn a clean bill of financial health
The current recession has put a renewed focus on the importance of building household savings. Although even the most basic changes to consumers' behavior can have a positive impact on their financial health, there are five things nearly everyone can do to save more:- Treat saving like a monthly expense. Set aside a designated amount such as $250 or $500 per month and put it in a savings account at the same time as other bills are paid so the money is never missed. If possible, arrange an automatic monthly transfer between accounts to make saving even easier.Contribute the maximum amount to retirement accounts. If a matching program is available through your employer, contribute as much as possible to benefit from their program.
- Keep investing despite volatility in the market. Putting money in at regular intervals over a long period of time should help to generate more consistent returns than trying to guess which markets or sectors will be successful in the short-term.
- Plan ahead to make strategic decisions about when to begin collecting Social Security. For couples in particular, it may make sense for one partner to begin collecting benefits before the other. In addition, it's never too early to start planning the best ways to turn assets into income in the future.
- Create a budget. Although it may require some time initially, a detailed budget can be a very effective way to learn more about each monthly expense. Simply knowing where your paycheck goes each month can help you make better decisions about how to cut back or reallocate your spending.
--Bridget O'Sullivan
Tips to make vacation dollars go further
It's easy to go over your budget while on vacation. With the current economic downturn, it's probably not a smart idea to overindulge while hitting the road or jetting off to a foreign locale. We've compiled these tips to help make your vacation dollars go a little further.Plan out your route
How will you get there? Before you decide on your method of travel, find out which way is more cost effective. Maybe your vehicle's mpg will save you a lot of money.
Search for discounts
Yes, there are discounts out there! Many travel sites, and hotels offer discounts to help keep the cost of your vacation down. If you are a member of AAA, visit the local office and ask about additional discounts in the area. Maybe your hotel offers perks and visit Hotels.com for $20 off a three night booking.Grab your camera
Stay away from purchasing souvenirs. Instead, bring your camera along for memories that will last forever. You can always enlarge a beautiful photo and make your own souvenir for a low cost. Don't have a camera? Snag a cheap digital camera here.Find free activities
Try not to pay for fun. There are always attractions for the whole family that are free, and very noteworthy. Visit the National Park Service for a list of historic sites and parks across the U.S. Search your destination's government site. Maybe there is a free concert on the common. Many museums have free or discounted nights/days as well.Book your flight early
While it's possible to get discounts on last minute flights, it is a safer choice to book those seats early. Check out CheapOair.com, Priceline.com, and TravelZoo.com to book your travel.Morning Deals: Eye cream, Drugstore.com & organics
Deal Of The Day:Eye Cream: Free eye cream sample from Macy's Clinique counter
Other Morning Deals:
Drugstore.com: Spend $39 or more on select items and get a $10 promo code to use on your next purchase
Organics: Save 20% on Avalon organics
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Is your bottled water safer than tap?
Over the years, bottled water sales have exploded. Compared to tap, is it a pure drink or pure hype?Consumers hand over money to buy bottled water instead of drinking from the water fountain or from the faucet. Why? We believe bottled water is a healthier alternative.
The General Accounting Office reports in a study released in July that tap water must reach a tougher standards than bottled water. Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, The Environmental Protection Agency is very strict when it comes to the regulations of tap water. However, bottled water is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration and isn't as strict. According to Consumer Reports, John Stephenson of the GAO told the House panel that when it comes to water, the FDA lacks the regulatory authority of the EPA.
Bottled water makers don't have to use certified laboratories, and they don't have to report any of their water quality results to the FDA...even if their water quality is dangerous. The GAO study also found that only a small percentage of the 83 bottled water labels investigated contained information comparable to that required of tap water.
A chemical widely used in the making of polyvinyl-chloride plastics called DEHP, is an endocrine-disrupting compound banned by the SDWA in chidren's products. The FDA currently has no set standards for the use of DEHP in bottled water.
Want to see how safe your tap water is? You can test your own tap water by visiting EPA.gov to check for listings of low-cost or no-cost water testing kits.
In the meantime, stash that $1.50 in your piggy bank, and head to the water fountain.
Morning Deals: Splenda, fire pits & travel guides
Deal Of The Day:Splenda: Free sample of Splenda
Other Morning Deals:
Fire Pits: Great savings on outdoor fire pits for your summer bonfire!
Travel Guides: Spend $40 at Lonely Planet travel shop for your vacation this summer and receive free delivery and a free gift
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Morning Deals: Paper towels, flights & hotels
Deal Of The Day:Paper Towels: Free paper towels from Viva
Other Morning Deals:
Flights: Save up to 65% on family travel deals at CheapOair.com
Hotels: Hotels in 50 cities for $50 & under
Monday, July 13, 2009
Morning Deals: Dr. Pepper, disc players & HDTVs
Deal Of The Day:Dr. Pepper: Fill out the form to receive a Venom energy drink in the mail
Other Morning Deals:
Disc Players: Samsung 1080p blu-ray disc player only $249.99 plus free HDMI cable and shipping
HDTVs: $150 off Sharp 32" 720p LCD HDTV with built-in ATSC/NTSC/QAM tuner- refurbished- now only $379.99
Friday, July 10, 2009
Morning Deals: Peet's Coffee, reviews & shows
Deal Of The Day:Peet's Coffee: Free Tea Freddo today between 2pm and 3pm
Other Morning Deals:
Reviews: Find reviews on the services you need at Angie’s List- use promo code “SAVE TEN” for $10 off!
Shows: Buy tickets on Stubhub.com to sold out shows!
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Frequent the big screen without the big price
As summer kicks into high gear, many flock to the local cinema to chill out and catch the latest romantic comedy or action-packed sequel.But is it affordable?
With the average adult ticket costing around $10, folks shell out major cash for a family night out. However, you can catch a flick on the big screen without the big price ... and snag one of those mega tubs of popcorn while you're at it.
Here are a few tips:
Be loyal
Join a loyalty club at a theater near you. This is an easy way to snag discounted tickets. For example, AMC Theaters' AMC MovieWatcher Rewards offers free small popcorn each week. Loyalty clubs allow you to accumulate points from purchases made. Once you have enough points, you earn a free movie ticket.
Join a loyalty club at a theater near you. This is an easy way to snag discounted tickets. For example, AMC Theaters' AMC MovieWatcher Rewards offers free small popcorn each week. Loyalty clubs allow you to accumulate points from purchases made. Once you have enough points, you earn a free movie ticket.
Go at "off" times
Off hours are less expensive than peak hours. In San Francisco, Cinemark charges an extra 50 cents per ticket on Friday and Saturday night. Go during the day or right after work... then go out for dinner and drinks.
Buy in bulk
Is going to the movie theater becoming a weekly habit? Buy your tickets in bulk. At AMC theaters, you can buy your tickets in increments of 50. The price, between $6 and $7.50 a ticket.
Clip coupons
Always be on the hunt for coupons. You can find these in your local entertainment book. Special promotions happen too. Marriott is offering four free movie passes when you spend a weekend at a participating hotel or resort before Sept. 7.
Dig for discounts
Check with your local theater for the discounts they offer. There is usually a student discount, as well as a senior discount. Don't forget to bring your student ID card!
The ultimate budget-conscious consumer?
Vying to be the ultimate budget-conscious consumer? Check out "Freeganism," a lifestyle of alternative living strategies focused on minimal participation in the conventional economy and limited use of its resources.A global movement starting in the 1990s, freeganism was born out of environmentalism and antiglobalization. Freegans don't judge a book by its cover. Freegans value kindness, humanity, freedom, sharing, generosity and truth in a society that is heavily dominated by materialism, power, competition and conformity. Most freegans are very well informed, not only of current events blaring from the TV set.
Freeganism is a radical belief and practice. Money is not given to corporations. Focused on the ethics of eating, Freegans "forage" for food in corporate dumpsters, and are known to shoplift from major corporations. A large portion of this food is given to the hungry on the streets. The rest of the food is taken for themselves. The downside to the movement is a political statement, questioning the current system of money distribution. However, Freegans proudly give their money to local businesses and local farms.
Nick Simmons, from Wisconsin, has been on both sides of the spectrum but has finally found some peace and happiness living purposefully and sparingly. Simmons started a business salvaging, building and repairing bicycles. Simmons says, "It's not about being a martyr for any political or moral reason. It's about knowing how to survive and knowing how to give yourself a decent life," adding that he's not ready to put himself back on the financial grid.
Interested in the lifestyle but not ready to take the dumpster-diving plunge? Maybe volunteer at a local shelter, start a compost, recycle your trash and, while you're at it, shop for free at Freecycle.com.
Click here for more details.
The pros and cons of using Ethanol for mowers
Ethanol may be to blame if your lawn mower is "sputtering."Since 2005, the use of ethanol has increased due to the federal government's decision to use more biofuels to decrease the reliance on foreign oil. An article from the Tuscaloosa News quotes Mallisham and Charlie Singley, owner of Singley Small Engine & Equipment, both saying they have seen poorer grades of gasoline since the hurricanes of 2005 devastated the oil refineries along the Gulf Coast.
So, what's the problem? Acid can do a lot of damage to plastic, especially the plastic found in a lawn mower. Ethanol is corrosive to plastics, especially if the gas mixture has been sitting in a container for a while, perhaps in the garage. Or when a gas station does not properly maintain it's tanks. The mixture will then separate, causing problems for mowers, chain-saws, leaf blowers, and gas-powered weed trimmers.
The good news? Ethanol is helping farms across the nation, rather than Texas oil refineries. Professor Daniel Kammen of UC Berkeley says "Ethanol provides a wonderful short-term option because we can use corn today to make it, and have significant savings in terms of off-setting gasoline, and modest savings on a greenhouse gas level," he says. "The big plus is it’s available today, so we could make this transition starting tomorrow, if we wanted."
For now, buy gasoline in small quantities, to limit the separation. Add in gas stabilizer, sold at most local repair shops.
Morning Deals: Coffee, wine racks & discover card
Deal Of The Day:Coffee: Free McCafe iced or hot mocha at McDonalds between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. every Monday until August 3, 2009- supplies are limited
Other Morning Deals:
Wine Racks: Great savings on huge selection of wine racks
Discover Card: Get $50 cash back with the Discover More card
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Morning Deals: Ziploc, grilling & restaurants
Deal Of The Day:Ziploc: First 10,000 will receive a free Pack-and-Go gift pack
Other Morning Deals:
Grilling: Save up to 40% on BBQ grilling accessories at ShoppersChoice.com.
Restaurants: Save up to 60% on Restaurant gift certificates- $25 gift certificates for only $10!
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
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