more about: money
Buying Gadgets – Made Easier
Have you heard about Measy? It’s a new website that makes choosing a new electronic device a whole lot easier. Whether you’re searching for a new digital camera, netbook, or HDTV – for yourself or for a holiday gift for that special someone – Measy takes the anxiety, confusion, and overwhelmingly endless options out of the picture.
By answering a short quiz about what features matter to you, which don’t, and what your budget is, Measy is able to narrow down the field in a matter of seconds, helping you find the device that is just the right fit for you. It’s more focused and personal than your regular old search engine, and it’s a lot easier than going from store to store listening to sales pitches and wondering if you’re getting the real scoop.
Black Friday Shopping 101 (or 5 Ways to Keep from Spending Money You Shouldn’t)
I’m not a big Black Friday shopper. Never have been. Given the choice between crowded stores full of crazed holiday bargain hunters and my warm bed at 5:00 in the morning, I choose my warm bed. But I respect those of you who plan to brave the long lines and madness to save some money and get a jump on your present buying. As long as you’re wading out into the mayhem, here are some strategies from CouponShack.com that will help you out.
Four Rules for Rebate Success
It’s shopping season. If you haven’t picked up on that fact, you’re just not paying attention. And retailers are trying to get your business any way they know how. One of the more popular methods: rebates. “Buy this marvelous thingamabob for JUST $50! (After $100 mail-in rebate that will be a pain in the neck to send in and which you may or may not ever receive. Restrictions apply.)” Rebates are such an annoyance that 4 in 10 people end up never receiving theirs, either because they didn’t follow the rules, forgot about it entirely, or just found the process too tedious to complete. Here are 4 ways to avoid rebate regret.
What are Your Favorite Money Saving Twitter Feeds?
If you haven’t noticed, Twitter is a breeding ground for bargain hunters who want to share their steal-finding prowess with the world. I have no problem with this. In fact, I embrace it. You’d like to share the latest Gap discount code with me? Great. You found out that a website is offering free shipping? Beautiful. Last week I ordered a magazine subscription for $5 because I caught the special on Twitter (and it was a magazine I was thinking about anyway). I felt so new-age.
Carrying a Balance? Why You Should Pay It Off
Over the past three weeks, I’ve gotten notices from three of my credit card companies. One credit card reduced my limit to $300. (Great, thanks.) Another credit card closed my account. And a third credit card, from Citibank, just raised my annual interest rate to 19.99%. Let’s think about that for a second. Would you ever take out a loan for 19.99%? You’d be crazy to consider it. Luckily, I’m not carrying a balance, and I pay my bill in full every month. But what if I didn’t?
Do You Put Money into an FSA? POLL
Have you ever bought aspirin? Filled a prescription? Written a check for a co-pay at the doctor’s office? Sure you have. People spend hundreds—if not thousands—of dollars every year on medical expenses. That’s why Flexible Spending Accounts, or FSAs, are so fantastic: If you use them correctly, they can save you serious cash on expenses you’re incurring anyway.
Seriously, Don’t Touch That Money
Do you have a retirement account? A 401(k) or an IRA of some kind? There’s a reason it’s called a “retirement” account: You’re not supposed to touch it until you retire.
How Money Made Me Happy. It Only Took $9!
One of my Twelve Personal Commandments is to “Spend out.” This somewhat cryptic phrase encompasses several resolutions, but one aspect of “spending out” is to remember to spend money appropriately. I’m an under-buyer, so I need to make a special effort to buy even the things that I truly need.
And yesterday I actually bought some pens.
What Will You (and Won’t You) Buy Generic?
It’s a common money-saving mantra: “Try generic,” the experts say. “You might like it.” If you avert your gaze from the more-expensive eye-level shelves at the grocery store, you’ll notice these products hanging out meekly above and below—store brand, not nearly as pretty, but definitely cheaper. At the drugstore, I find them sitting right next to the name-brand products they’re competing against. “Pick me!” they seem to say. “I’ve got the exact same active ingredients!”
