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Gift cards can be a boon for both the giver and the receiver, but they can lose value over time. Employers like to offer gift cards to employees as a bonus gift to say “thank you.” One perk of giving gift cards is that many retailers will offer a cash discount to the purchaser that gets reimbursed in more gift card cash. That allows a gift card buyer to buy something for someone else and get something for themselves, too. However, receivers often don’t get to choose what retailer will reimburse the gift card, and may have to make a decision on whether to spend the card, re-gift it, or try to swap it for cash. (more…)

People don’t just shop out of necessity. The act of buying something comes with an emotional and psychological payoff that often outweighs the actual necessity of the item.

It’s the difference between buying any pair of shoes or opting to make a fashion statement with a trendy pair of sneakers or high heels. However, that same good feeling we get from buying an item can often come back to haunt us in the form of credit card bills that are difficult to manage and pay off. To get a handle on your shopping urges, it’s a good idea to address the root causes. (more…)

Today’s toys are not the cheap trinkets of the past. Many are high-end electronics that need to be upgraded to stay fashionable in a relatively short time. With new features coming out every year (if not sooner), you may want to upgrade, but the cost can be prohibitive. Or, you’re just looking for a little extra cash and have a used cellphone, laptop, game system, or iPod that could help you achieve your goal. But, where do you go to unload and score some cash? (more…)

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Buying large quantities can almost always get you a better price per unit, but doesn’t mean that it leads to bigger savings. If you have a small family and end up throwing out a large part of the purchase, you might end up wasting your money instead of saving it. (more…)

Happy Thanksgiving!

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We know you’re trying to save money, and so Black Friday is a temptation to be avoided! You don’t need all those gadgets, but you still need to get some christmas shopping for gifts and for cooking! Here’s our deals of the week!

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The school year is getting close to starting and it is now the time to start thinking about school supplies. The early bird gets the worm and this year is no different. The bigger stores are rolling out their school supply sales early this year as they are trying whatever they can to get the people’s attention with door buster sales that entice parents to get out there, deal with the traffic and long lines to save some money. (more…)

When the price of gas goes up, the price of many other goods follows the same trend. Inflation can be a problem and when it occurs at a time when many struggle to make ends meet, it is a real issue that cannot be ignored or dismissed. Luckily, the prices of some items have gone down. (more…)

The key to any retail business is getting customers in the door to spend money. One of the best ways to do this is to offer sales and items that are underpriced to entice shoppers to come in and buy other items that may not be on sale. The more exposure your goods get, the more likely you will get the business you need to make money and stay in business. (more…)

There are a number of watchdog publications and agencies that can help you decide whether a particular product or service is a good value. There are magazines, like Consumer Reports, and agencies like the Better Business Bureau.

Even with some dedicated souls who are trying to help the average consume make wise choices, there is still a maze of information that can be difficult to interpret. The consumer has to be aware that they are responsible for learning about a particular product or service and deciding whether it is a good deal or not in the end. This applies whether the product is a mortgage, a car or a box of cereal. There are some things that can help you in your quest to get the scoop on something before you buy.

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With the recovery of the economy being so slow and sensitive and the prices of commodities rocketing, it has now more than ever become important for families to buy in bulk.  The current affairs in Libya is not helping the struggle we as a global community are plagued with either, so we most surely will be faced with shelling out even more money for our basic necessities.

Food storage should be a part of every household’s emergency savings plan for any type of crisis situation and if kept up on a regular basis it can not only cut down on your carbon footprint, but also save on personal time and money. Buying in bulk can get you a 30% overall savings and over a period of time it will free up money without having to lower your standard of living.

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