Deal Of The Week: Apple TV: Now there's always something good on TV. With Apple TV, you can enjoy movies, TV shows, music, and podcasts in your iTunes library, plus photos and movie trailers, on your widescreen TV. Click here for an Apple TV with 160GB hard drive for $228.89.
Other Weekly Deals: TiVo: Get three months of free TiVo service here all summer long with the purchase of any TiVo Premiere or TiVO Premiere XL box.
Restaurant.com: Take 50% off $25 gift certificates from Restaurant.com with Consumer United's special code FREEDOM though Tuesday, July 6 here.
Travel: Take up to 50 percent off or more on last-minute travel deals--including flights, hotels and car rentals--at Priceline.com. Fandango: Get 10% off when you buy $25 in Fandango Bucks movie gift certificates during the month of June. Good for any movie on Fandango here.
Don't judge a book by its cover. Instead, save the criticism for the hefty sticker price traditional campus books stores charge for required texts.
On a budget? No problem.
With college students shelling out hundreds--sometimes thousands--of dollars on textbooks each year, an alternative is used books stores and online shops like half.com and amazon.com as a viable way for frugal-minded collegians to save a few bucks.
Also, students returning to the halls this fall may find it easier to shop and compare prices for textbooks thanks to a federal law that kicks in July 1 that requires universities to serve up its required book list upon registration.
The law, included as part of the federal Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008, requires publishers to provide faculty with details about their selected books, including information about previous editions, any substantial revisions and alternative formats.
"Textbooks are a significant part of college costs," says Elsa Magee, acting president of the New York Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC). "A report revealed the average college student spends $1,000 a year on books, so it's imperative for students to use all available resources to save money on this expense."
HESC serves up a few tips for budget-savvy students:
Shop Early Get the book list as soon as you can and note the ISBN (the book's unique identifying number) and the edition required by the professor. Campus bookstores often have used books available at reduced prices, but supplies dwindle as the start of classes gets closer. Some college towns have independent bookstores near campus that carry used textbooks, so check them out, too.
Consider Online Shopping Most of the large online booksellers like Amazon.com and Half.com carry new and used textbooks at competitive prices that could save you money over purchases made at a traditional bricks-and-mortar store.
Textbook Rentals Renting books online can save hundreds of dollars over the cost of purchasing and may be a good idea if you don't plan to keep the book after the end of the class. Online companies such as Chegg, Campus Book Rentals, BookRenter and others promise savings up to 90 percent over the retail cost of books.
Say "bye-bye" to debit-card swipe fees? With Congress finalizing its financial-overhaul legislation this week, retailers are positioned to save billions on so-called interchange fees charged by banks.
"Every dollar we pay the credit-card companies is a dollar we can't pass on to consumers or use to hire employees or build more stores," argues Scott Mason, vice president of government affairs for home-improvement retailer Lowe's. "Literally you are talking about hundreds of millions of dollars.
Banks for credit-card companies like Visa and MasterCard charge retailers roughly 1-to-2 percent on the entire transaction amount. While the legislation will impact small businesses like gas stations and restaurants, retail giants like Walmart are slotted to save hundreds of millions annually if the overhaul bill becomes a reality.
Deal Of The Week: Restaurant.com: Take 80% off $25 gift certificates from Restaurant.com with Consumer United's special code SUMMER though Wednesday, June 30 here.
Other Weekly Deals: Fandango: Get 10% off when you buy $25 in Fandango Bucks movie gift certificates during the month of June. Good for any movie on Fandango here. Camera: OnSale's electronic of the week special is a 10 Megapixel Touchscreen digital camera from Polaroid, marked down to $84.99 here. Deep Discount: Free shipping and guaranteed lowest price on DVDs, music, books, video game and more here.
More than ever, recent college graduates need sound advice to help them establish a sound financial footing in an economy where jobs are scarce and student loan bills are looming.
Most government loans offer a six-month grace period before graduates must begin making payments, but the loans cannot be wiped out even if bankruptcy is declared. As a result, facing the reality of what the monthly payments will be and finding a job, even if the work is less than ideal, should be a top priority.
When the bills come due, loan consolidation is an option for some graduates. Interest rates will reset in July, and they are expected to decrease. Comparably low interest rates may be one of of the only bright spots on the horizon for young people finishing school in the current economy.
Another option for graduates in a limited number of fields is loan forgiveness. Although these programs are on the decline in some states due to budgeting concerns, professionals in fields such as teaching, nursing, and engineering are sometimes eligible for loan forgiveness after working for a designated number of years.
Money tips for college grads? Here are a few suggestions:
Be a saver Most experts in the financial arena suggest keeping at least three months of living expenses in the bank as back up.
Ditch the debt The average college graduate is overwhelmed with more than $4,000 in credit card debt. Pay off the credit card with the highest interest rate first.
Get a credit card Are you one of the few college grads without a credit card? Graduation may be the time to take the plunge. Make sure you pay off the balance each month to build your credit rating.
Get smart It's amazing how little college grads know about their finances. Get educated on money matters and pick up a book like "I Will Teach You to Be Rich" for the lowdown.
Skype, the Internet voice and video conferencing firm that initially operated on a pay-as-you-go basis, announced that it's now available for Symbian-based phones including Sony Ericsson Satio, Vivaz and Vivaz Pro.
For those not in the know, Skype is a software that makes it possible for people around the world to communicate via voice, video and IM over the Internet, and at a lower cost than traditional landlines.
It's been the go-to online phone service for those making international calls. And, of course, Skype-to-Skype calls continue to be free. Now, with its availability using the Symbian platform, it's compatible with millions of mobile devices.
The benefits of Skype for Symbian include:
Free Skype-to-Skype calls to your friends and family on Skype anywhere in the world*
Savings on calls and texts (SMS) to phones abroad
The ability to send and receive instant messages to and from individuals or groups
Solution to share pictures, videos and other files
Way to receive calls to your online number
See when your contacts are online and available to call or IM
Easily import names and numbers from your phone’s address book
Click here for the lowdown on Skype's Symbian platform and here to start saving on three or 12-month calling subscriptions.
Paper or plastic? If California's push to become the first state to ban single-use plastic bags becomes a reality, consumers may have to jump on the environmental bandwagon and ditch the old-school way of shopping for reusable polypropylene bags.
Fueled by a proposed bill AB1998 which charges shoppers throughout California a 5 cent surcharge for every bag used, Walmart launched its plastic bag initiative announcing their "commitment to reduce the plastic shopping bag waste at our stores around the world by an average of 33 percent per store by 2013."
If passed, the AB1998 ban wouldn’t kick in until July 2011, but Walmart has been doing some test runs to see if its a viable option.
In October, Walmart stopped selling single-use plastic bags at two stores in Sacramento and a third shop in Ukiah. Instead of plastic, they hocked small, reusable poly bags for a mere 15 cents and larger bags for 50 cents. A few pundits didn't like the switcheroo, lobbying an attact against the so-called "environmental extremists" for pushing these "lousy bags" to the masses.
However, the environmental benefits are staggering. According to an article here, each 15-cent poly tote could save up to 75 plastic bags.
A harbinger of things to come? Perhaps. San Francisco has already issued a ban the single-use bags.
Amelia Newfeld, a spokesperson at Walmart, says it's too soon to tell if they'll ban single-use bags altogether. "We have to monitor and gauge reaction at those stores," she adds.
Deal Of The Week: Restaurant.com: Take 70% off $25 gift certificates from Restaurant.com and snag a free $10 Lobster Gram with Consumer United's special code FATHER though Sunday, June 20 here.
Other Weekly Deals: OnSale: iSkin Cerulean F1 Stereo Bluetooth Headset for iPad, iPhone 3G/S, Blackberry (CRF1-BK) only $124.99 here.
Magazines: Take an extra 15% off most titles from Best Deal Magazine using code PXCJ620 until Sunday, June 20 here.
Fandango: Get 10% off when you buy $25 in Fandango Bucks movie gift certificates during the month of June. Good for any movie on Fandango here.
GiftCards.com: With Father's Day around the corner on Sunday, June 20, save 25 percent on a slew of gift cards here.
The summer is going to be a scorcher but don't let the warmer temperatures burn a hole in your wallet. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is offering a slew of no-cost cooling tips to help beat the heat.
The average U.S. household shells out almost 20 percent of its utility bills on cooling, according to the EPA. By taking steps to improve energy efficiency, consumers can save on many levels.
"You can save energy, save money, and help fight climate change," the group says in an announcement here. Its Energy Star program, which it co-runs with the Department of Energy, offers a handful of low-cost tips such as swapping out incandescent bulbs with more energy-efficient lighting choices.
The EPA's no-cost tips include:
· Program your thermostat to work around your family's summer schedule—set it a few degrees higher (such as 78 degrees) when no one is home, so your cooling system isn't cooling an empty house. With proper use, programmable thermostats can save you about $180 a year in energy costs.
· Check your HVAC system's air filter every month. If the filter looks dirty, change it, but change the filter at least every three months. A dirty filter will slow air flow and make the system work harder to keep you cool—wasting energy.
· Run your ceiling fan to create a cool breeze. If you raise your thermostat by only two degrees and use your ceiling fan, you can lower cooling costs by up to 14 percent. Remember that ceiling fans cool you, not the room, so when you leave the room make sure to turn off the fan.
· Pull the curtains and shades closed before you leave your home to keep the sun's rays from overheating the interior of your home. If you can, move container trees and plants in front of sun-exposed windows to serve as shade.
Click here for additional tips from the EPA and here take ENERGY STAR pledge.
Deal Of The Week: Fandango: Get 10% off when you buy $25 in Fandango Bucks movie gift certificates during the month of June. Good for any movie on Fandango here.
Other Weekly Deals: Restaurant.com: Score $25 gift cards to restaurants around the country until Thursday, June 10 for only $2 using Consumer United’s special promo code SAVE here.
GiftCards.com: With Father's Day around the corner on Sunday, June 20, save 25 percent on a slew of gift cards here.
Travel: Take up to 50 percent off or more on last-minute travel deals--including flights, hotels and car rentals--at Priceline.com.
As consumers look for ways to have fun while saving money this summer, improving the energy efficiency of backyard pools can make a big difference.
A standard-sized pool often uses about 15 kilowatts of energy each day, much of that from the pool pump. Pool lights and heaters can also be updated for energy savings because newer models are often significantly more efficient. An added advantage is that LED bulbs last about 10 times as long as typical fluorescent bulbs, so they require changing far less often.
Heating pools with solar panels is another energy efficient trend on the rise. After an initial investment of about $5,000 for pools around 25,000 gallons, in some cases solar panels can provide considerable savings compared to gas or propane heaters. Even traditional heaters made within the past ten years can use up to 40% less energy than older models.
Chemicals are another environmental concern related to pool maintenance. Chlorine is widely used and considered relatively safe, but other pool treatment methods are gaining popularity. Ozone is effective at killing bacteria and can reduce the need for chlorine, and salt-activated systems are also effective and are often touted as less abrasive.
An alternative to pool chemicals popular in Europe is known as "biological filtration" because the process uses plant life to clean the water naturally. Aquatic plants such as lilies and reeds grow in the pool and replace the use of chemicals.
However, the American Chemistry Council says it's important to stress that the suggested alternatives to chlorine should not be used as complete replacements, only as supplemental treatments.
"Ozone treats water as it flows through the system, but can’t disinfect as it comes into contact with germs in the pool," a rep from the council informs us. "Salt treatments produce chlorine from salt and electricity—the chemistry is the same."
Have a band that's as annoying as FreeCreditReport.com's singing pirate? You're in luck.
The controversial credit service is on the hunt for a new crew of wannabe musicians to sing along to what has basically been a classic example of misleading advertising. As previously reported, owner Experian had to spill the beans that their side business is only free if consumers enroll in the then $14.95-a-month credit-monitoring service and then cancel it within a week.
In response to the new Federal Trade Commission rules, FreeCreditReport.com is now asking consumers to shell out $1 for credit reports.
Yep, the so-called "free" report now costs a buck. But, it's still not free. Oddly, the service claims that the $1-per-report charge will be donated to charity.
The site's ubiquitous TV ads, in case you haven't seen them, feature slackers singing in their shabby apartments or waiting tables in pirate costumes. If only they had used FreeCreditReport.com, they wouldn't be in such a financial mess.
The controversy is that FreeCreditReport.com diverts customers away from the free government mandated site located at www.AnnualCreditReport.com.
Due to the legal issues, it now has a disclosure on its home page saying it's not affiliated with the annual free credit report program. This disclosure is in fine print on the side of the home page, on a subdued background.
Deal Of The Week: GiftCards.com: With Father's Day around the corner on Sunday, June 20, save 25 percent on a slew of gift cards here.
Other Weekly Deals: Magazines: Save 15 percent on a slew of magazines perfect for dad using the special promo code PXCJ66 here. Promotion ends Sunday, June 6.
Restaurant.com: Score $25 gift cards to restaurants around the country until Thursday, June 3 for only $5 using Consumer United’s special promo code DINNER here.
Travel: Take up to 50 percent off or more on last-minute travel deals--including flights, hotels and car rentals--at Priceline.com.
Yep, the heat is on and folks are whipping out their barbecue grills to enjoy the warmer months following Memorial Day weekend.
But, there's an ongoing battle waging in backyards across the country. Should barbecue enthusiasts opt for technology or tradition? Charcoal barbecues vs. gas grills?
Contrary to popular belief, taste tests have apparently discredited the myth that food cooked on a charcoal barbecue has a better flavor than hamburgers prepared on gas grills. Word is that the smokey goodness comes doesn't come from the charcoal itself, but from the evaporation juices in the flames which are re-absorbed into the food.
Gas grills, which ignite on command, are easier to clean and have heating controls which can control the intensity of the cooking process. With charcoal grills, it's all or nothing.
In contrast, the traditional charcoal grills are more cost-efficient compared to their pricier gas counterparts. They also allow are less bulky, which allows for grilling on the go, and are a smarter option for those who only barbecue a few days throughout the warmer months.
Bottom line: If cooking out isn't the norm, it's probably wise to go charcoal. However, if backyard cooking is a favorite summer past-time, invest in a gas grill.
Deal Of The Week:
