Beyond Coupons: Ten Surefire Ways to Save Money Thanks to the TLC show Extreme Couponing, the practice of scouring through one’s local newspaper and clipping coupons is suddenly in vogue. Although achieving the monumental savings depicted on TV takes a great deal of dedicated effort, most of us are aware that using coupons–whether they be grocery store printables or promo codes for online retailers–can be an easy and smart way to save money. But coupons only scratch the surface of money saving opportunities that savvy shoppers can take advantage of to fortify their finances. There are a number of other tactics that can help consumers make the most of their hard-earned money—no scissors required. Here are ten surefire ways to save money: Have a Plan According to the 2010 survey conducted by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, 56% of Americans don’t have a budget. Downsize If after tracking your spending and saving you find too much emphasis on the former, it could be time to put your “living large” lifestyle on a diet. Food.
Amazon discount codes at ProBargainHunter.com Ever since I wrote about Amazon shopping tips and hacks last November the article has been the most visited page on ProBargainHunter. In case you missed it -- the post describes how you can browse discounted merchandise on Amazon (by messing around with the URL's) and lists a few other useful tips. The article featured on LifeHacker and Consumerist and even prompted some people to create tools for easy URL building. Below is my own attempt to summarize the information from that blog post into a more usable format. Take the results you see with a grain of salt though. The table layout idea is courtesy of Brand-Name-Coupons (via Digg)
5 Websites to Check Before You Shop Online (PriceGrabber) Shopping online has its undisputable benefits: it can save you gas, time and money, not to mention you can do it in your pajamas. The problem is, with so many online retailers to choose from, the whole process can become overwhelming rather than a time-saver. Cutting through the online clutter is easy if you start out your shopping trip with the five websites below. PriceGrabber.com Everyone tells us to comparison shop online, but few offer much in the way of concrete, usable advice. One website that makes comparison shopping much simpler is PriceGrabber.com. Milo.com (Milo) One of the most promising up-and-comers in the online shopping world is Milo.com. Driven by their slogan “Find it Local, Get it Now,” Milo vouches that any product for which it finds a price is available right now from the local retailers it lists. CoolSavings.com (CoolSavings) For consumers who prioritize getting a good deal above all else, it’s tough to top CoolSavings.com. ShopAtHome.com (ShopAtHome)
Groceries & Coupons: How I Get It All Free or Cheap : MommyPR.com™ I know you are thinking “Oh shes one of THOSE people”. Nope. I am no extreme couponer, crazy coupon lady, or someone who clears shelves. That’s not me at all. I am somewhere between overly organized and above normal. I only print out what I am allowed. We have a cat. Then I ordered 2 other really great coupons. The other coupon was for $5 off any John Frieda Repair product. Here was my order yesterday: 5 John Frieda Hair Repair Products- $2.99 x5= $14.99 – $25= +$10.056 Schick Hydro Razors- $4 x6= $24 – $24= $02 Bags of Dog food- $7.99 x 2= $15.98- 2 x$4 coupons= $7.98 Total was + $2.07 so I bought a few extra items (milk, cheese). Now where do I get coupons? (I have found its easier to print these in IE rather than Chrome) I also visit a couple blogger sites. Other coupons that you should grab are these: (Only sent at special times of the year) Don’t forget to also check the brand’s website too, example: Arm & Hammer & Febreze. It’s not hard to coupon. Where do you shop? Whew.
The Geek’s Guide to Getting Almost Anything for Free Does it pay to be Internet savvy? Yes. In more ways than many people imagine. Sure, the Internet is a great way to research just about anything you could ever want to know about; and it’s an outstanding communication, marketing, and entertainment tool. Want proof? 1. 2. 3. 4. Does it pay to be a bit of a geek? Matthew Toren is a serial entrepreneur (Co-founded YoungEntrepreneur.com), mentor, investor and award winning Co-Author of Kidpreneurs (Basic Principles of Entrepreneurship for Kids).
How to Check and Manage Your Credit Score for Free Last Updated: 4/05/2014 14:17 PST Most people know that a lot is riding on their credit score, from the interest rates you pay on your loans, to your ability to rent an apartment, buy a home or car, and even to find a job. Companies are increasingly using credit scores as an objective measure of not only your credit, but your credibility. But, there’s still a lot of confusion out there about credit scores and what they mean. Some people confuse a credit report with a credit score, when they are two different things. People also incorrectly assume that checking your credit score lowers it—this is partly true. In fact, it’s essential to know what your score is, because it can change at any time, and it impacts so many different areas of your life. Many companies have figured out ways to charge consumers for reporting on their credit scores. You can log into your account as often as you like to quickly and easily track your credit score, credit attributes, and debt from a single source.
Best Day to Buy Groceries for a Bargain -- Savings Experiment The Savings Experiment discusses the best day and time to go grocery shopping in order to get the lowest prices. When it comes to grocery shopping, we know it's wise to not to go on an empty stomach, but when should you head to the supermarket to bag the best bargains? Believe it or not, there's actually one day of the week that's better than the rest. That's right, savvy savers. While it may be most convenient for you to shop on the weekends, it's more economical to tackle your grocery list on Wednesdays. According to Lifehacker, this mid-week day is when many grocery stores release new sale ads, but also honor the previous week's sales items. MyGroceryDeals.com also confirmed that Wednesday is the best day for grocery shopping. To save even more, experts say that shopping in the evening is your best bet. So, when your pantry and refrigerator need to be restocked, make time to shop on Wednesday nights.
Online Shopper Cont. 4-6 - Become a Better Online Shopper With These 6 Tools 4. The Price PredictorIn addition to price tracking and comparison tools, a price predictor helps you decide the best time to buy. Decide.com is a top price predictor offering the advantage of historical price data and expert reviews. 5. Since the extreme couponing hype hit, various coupon code browser add-ons have been released, all claiming to be the best online shopping tool. 6. The perfect platform to pair with Pinterest, The Hunt helps you find purchase page URLS for products you like but don't know where to buy. As an added benefit, the platform is a great social discovery network, helping you inadvertently find new, under-the-radar shopping sites.