Wise Bread (Linsey Knerl)

Best of Personal Finance: The Most Shoplifted Items of 2009

Linsey Knerl — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:00:02 +0000

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best of Personal Finance roundup. This week, we tell you the final date you can order online and still get your stuff in time for the holidays, how to cook an amazing Depression-era meal, and what stellar deals you can expect at Walmart this Black Friday! Plus, we'll share the most shoplifted items of 2009.

Ask the Readers: Do You Do Black Friday?

Linsey Knerl — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:12:35 +0000

By Linsey Knerl

You've seen the hype, read about it in the news, and have even heard our thoughts on the matter: Black Friday is a buzzworthy topic, but is it really a great deal? With new developments happening as a result of last year's Walmart tragedy, it may not even be the same shopping event that you remember. (Reports from Walmart authorities reveal that stores will be open 24 hours prior to the shopping event, limited-stock merchandise will be offered at staffed "hubs" throughout the store, and order will be stressed above anything else.) But is it even worth going out into the madness?

I've done Black Friday in the past with amazing results, and with so much information being leaked online and ahead of schedule, you can plan, budget, and prepare well before that turkey ever hits the table. But will talks of $3 appliances at Target and half-priced robotic kittens be enough to push you out into the wee hours of the morning for deep discounts? Or will you sit it out, shop from home, or (heaven-forbid) regift with what you already have on hand?

I want to hear your thoughts on the all things Black Friday -- if you have any. Share them here in our comment thread or on Twitter, and you'll be entered to win one of two $10 Amazon giveaways. It won't guarantee your place in line for the uber-cheap netbooks, but it may help offset your cost of getting little Susie her dream gift. Dozens of readers have already won. You could be next!

Win a $10 Amazon Gift Certificate

We're doing two giveaways — one for random comments, and another one for a random tweets.

How to Enter:

Post your answer in the comments below, or
Tweet your answer. Include both "@wisebread" and "#WBAsk" in your tweet so we'll see it and count it.

If you're inspired to write a whole blog post, please link to it in the comments or tweet it.

At the end of the drawing, we'll update this post to include (and link to) all of your helpful responses.

Giveaway Rules:

Contest ends Friday, November 20th at 11:59 pm CST. Winners will be announced after November 20th on the original post and via Twitter. Winners will also be contacted via email and Twitter Direct Message.
You can enter both drawings -- once by leaving a comment and once by tweeting.
Only tweets that contain both "@wisebread" and "#WBAsk" will be entered. (Otherwise, we won't see it.)

Good luck!

Permalink | 107 comments | Linsey Knerl's blog | Channel: Giveaways

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Getting Free Stuff at Walgreens

Linsey Knerl — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:46:01 +0000

By Linsey Knerl

This article shares tips from the 13th episode of Dealista, our new podcast that'll help you get more for less. Click play to listen, or subscribe via iTunes to take the episode with you!

Download episode mp3 | Check out show archive

We’ve loved getting free stuff from national pharmacy chain Walgreens for some time. (In fact, it was because of their past rebate program that I had been able to amass quite a lot of my free toiletry stash!) With their new rewards program, called Register Rewards, there is no longer any need to wait weeks or even months for a rebate check. You can get money towards your next purchase right in the checkout line! (And that means even more free stuff than before.) We teamed up with Clair from MummyDeals.org to provide you with the ins and outs of the new Walgreens program, and we’ll share some extra tips for paying next to nothing for everything from cleaning products, to food, to makeup!

Register Rewards Explained

During Walgreens' weekly promotions, Register Rewards are advertised as a great way to earn cash back on regular purchases. The rewards come in the form of a coupon that prints out of a Catalina machine next to the register when you complete your purchase. The coupons are good for a certain dollar amount off your next Walgreens purchase (in-store only) and give you about two weeks to spend them before they expire.

Like any good promotion, there are restrictions and rules to using these Register Rewards:

You can only earn one Register Reward per promotion per transaction. (If you were to participate in a program that earns you $4.50 from the purchase of a tube of Colgate toothpaste, for example, you could NOT purchase 4 tubes and expect 4 coupons to print out. You would only get one, regardless of how many you bought.) You can, however, space them out over 4 separate purchases (preferably on separate visits), and get all four coupons for $4.50 on your next purchase.
Register Rewards can’t be used for purchases of alcohol, stamps, and a few other excluded products. Check the back of the coupon for details.
You can use your Register Rewards to buy other things that will generate Register Reward coupons, but not if they are the same product. (You can use your newly acquired $4.50 Register Reward to buy deodorant, but not to buy more Colgate.)
You will always need to spend more than the value of the Register Reward. If your Reward is good for $4.50, but your purchase only comes up to $4.00, you’ll need to find an extra something to toss onto the checkout stand. (Gum, candy, or another small item works great.)
You can roll those Rewards to create even more Rewards! While you can’t use that $4.50 Reward to buy more Colgate, you can use it to buy a deal on Chapstick that will generate a $2 reward and a pack of hairbands that will generate $2. Then toss in a $.50 filler, and you’re good to go! (You’ll have spent 50 cents out of pocket for both the Chapstick and hair products.) You can do this over and over again, as long as you alternate between product types.
Walgreens cashiers consider Register Rewards to be coupons, and they don’t allow you to have more coupons than items purchased. To avoid any problems, you may need to add one of those filler items we discussed before to keep everything working smoothly.

Many frugal bloggers (like Clair) go out of their way to help their readers find the best Walgreens deals and match them with manufacturer’s coupons for an even better find. By checking sites like MummyDeals, you can often see what Sunday’s paper will have in store, as early as Thursday or Friday! Here are some additional tips for getting every last bit out of the money you spend at Walgreens:

Each Walgreens has the right to institute their own coupon policies, so if you find that your closest store is not too fond of your frugal ways, consider another store. (There are usually several within a given area to choose from.)
If your manufacturer’s coupon is worth more than the price of an item, Walgreens will usually still take it. You will have to let the cashier know to adjust the coupon value down to ensure that it is accepted.
To be sure that you get all the savings from all your coupons, present the manufacturer’s coupons before the Walgreen’s store coupons (the ones found in their circular and monthly catalog). Do this at the end of transaction.
Some shoppers have reported being able to use Register Rewards at competing stores like Jewel’s and Kroger, since they seem to have a very liberal coupon-matching policy. Ask to see what the local policy is at your competing store.
Always be polite. This seems like a no-brainer, but acting entitled does nothing to help earn the respect of the Walgreens staff and the community in general. If you have any problems with getting a Register Reward to print, contact Catalina directly at 1-888-8COUPON (1-888-826-8766). They’ll get you taken care of!

Note: The author has no vested or affiliate interest in Wallgreens.

Dealista

If you enjoyed these tips you can find more in our show's archive or subscribe via iTunes.

Dealista is a collaboration between Wise Bread and Quick and Dirty Tips, the producer of popular podcasts such as Grammar Girl, Money Girl, Winning Investor, and Mighty Mommy.

Check out more great tips from our sister shows:

Permalink | 10 comments | Linsey Knerl's blog | Channel: Shopping

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Best of Personal Finance: 12 Surprising Uses for Vick VapoRub

Linsey Knerl — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:36:54 +0000

By Linsey Knerl

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best of Personal Finance roundup. This week, we look at outrageous ways to use Vick's VapoRub, 23 ways to decorate that bedroom, and 10 of the best brands to follow on Twitter.

Ask the Readers: Do You Have the Tools? (Chance to win MS Office!)

Linsey Knerl — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:35:08 +0000

By Linsey Knerl

*** Congrats to our winners! ******

The winners of the $10 Amazon GC are:

Comment #62: Freelancer in need of money to track Submitted by Minal Bopaiah on November 12, 2009 - 08:31.

Given the slow economy, freelance writers like me don't have much in our bank accounts to track--which is why Chase banking online seems to do the trick for now. But I just started my own freelance business (www.brevityandwit.com), and imagine the business I could drum up with a free copy of MS Office on hand! :)

@IFartFairyDust favorite tool for keeping my finances in order? Excel. @wisebread #WBAsk 6 days ago from web

And the winner of the MS Office prize is:

Comment #68 Yodlee and open office calc Submitted by TL on November 13, 2009 - 17:56.- Two of my favorites.

Do you have the tools to succeed?

There are many ways to go about managing your personal and business finances. We often share our best tips here on Wise Bread, and we also love to hear how you tackle the messy task of keeping all your pennies in a row! In addition to the more popular software and online solutions that are currently offered, we have enjoyed trying out some of the more customizeable solutions available via sites like SlideShare. Just recently, we were able to present a versatile and simple family budgeting tool via SlideShare, and we loved telling you about how it can be used to simplify family finances.

Since sharing is really what we want to be about, we don't just want to give you ideas — we want to equip you with tools, as well! That's why in addition to this week's prizes of Amazon Gift Cards (which are perfect for stocking up on paper, pens, or any other "tools" you use to stay organized), we are giving one lucky reader their own copy of Microsoft Office for the Mac or PC, compliments of SlideShare and Microsoft.

Just let us know your favorite tools for keeping your finances in order via our comment thread or on Twitter, and you'll be entered to win! Dozens of readers have already won. You could be next!

Win a $10 Amazon Gift Certificate or a Copy of Microsoft Office for Mac or PC

We're doing two giveaways for the Amazon Gift Certificates — one for random comments, and another one for a random tweets. We will also be giving away the copy of Microsoft Office to one person randomly selected from all entries received. (Value of MS Office is approx $125.)

How to Enter:

Post your answer in the comments below, or
Tweet your answer. Include both "@wisebread" and "#WBAsk" in your tweet so we'll see it and count it.

If you're inspired to write a whole blog post, please link to it in the comments or tweet it.

At the end of the drawing, we'll update this post to include (and link to) all of your helpful responses.

Giveaway Rules:

Contest ends Tuesday, November 17th at 7:59 am CST. Winners will be announced after this time on the original post and via Twitter. Winners will also be contacted via email and Twitter Direct Message.
You can enter both drawings — once by leaving a comment and once by tweeting.
Only tweets that contain both "@wisebread" and "#WBAsk" will be entered. (Otherwise, we won't see it.)

Good luck!

Permalink | 96 comments | Linsey Knerl's blog | Channel: Giveaways

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Best of Personal Finance: How You Can Help the Unemployed Today

Linsey Knerl — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:00:02 +0000

By Linsey Knerl

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best of Personal Finance roundup. This week, we're offering encouragement for those around you with no job, a better way to buy used online, and 10 ways you can actually improve yourself with no money to your name. (Oh, and did you hear the news about Hulu.com no longer being free in 2010? Good thing you can still get a free credit report!)

Ask the Readers: How Do You Manage Stress and Spending? (Your Chance to Win $10)

Linsey Knerl — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:00:02 +0000

By Linsey Knerl

*** Congrats to our winners!***

Comment #52 stress and spending Submitted by lisa on October 29, 2009 - 07:57

I got a chance to test this out yesterday. It seems my new strategy for handling stress it to bake. I probably am someone who used to spend money, but that's just not an option right now and my priorities are different than they used to be (having a child will do that to you). So baking it is.

@slm1978

I 'window shop' online sites like Amazon, put items in basket, but don't check out. I've de-stressed but not spent the $$ 11:59 AM Oct 27th from web

Our good friend Trent at The Simple Dollar recently made a good observation about stress and spending. It seems that for many of us, being stressed out causes us to be less mindful about our purchases, which leads to more spending, which causes more stress. Thus, you have a cycle that is really hard to break. A very small number of people I know are almost paralyzed by spending. The stress of a mounting debt or the fear that they may "go crazy" keeps them out of stores and away from online deals.

What do you think about stress and spending? Are they closely related? Do you see one causing the other? Or are you in a place where you can manage stress and/or spending independently of one another?

We'd love to hear your tips for managing stress and spending. Together. Apart. One or the other. Just let us know what works for you! Share them here in our comment thread or on Twitter, and you'll be entered to win one of two $10 Amazon giveaways. It won't completely ease the stress of your bills (and hopefully it won't cause you to go into a downward spiral of buying much more than you need). It may, however, afford you a nice relaxing novel or a meditation CD. Dozens of readers have already won. You could be next!

Win a $10 Amazon Gift Certificate

We're doing two giveaways — one for random comments, and another one for a random tweets.

How to Enter:

Post your answer in the comments below, or
Tweet your answer. Include both "@wisebread" and "#WBAsk" in your tweet so we'll see it and count it.

If you're inspired to write a whole blog post, please link to it in the comments or tweet it.

At the end of the drawing, we'll update this post to include (and link to) all of your helpful responses.

Giveaway Rules:

Contest ends Thursday, October 29th at 11:59 am CST. Winners will be announced after October 29th on the original post and via Twitter. Winners will also be contacted via email and Twitter Direct Message.
You can enter both drawings -- once by leaving a comment and once by tweeting.
Only tweets that contain both "@wisebread" and "#WBAsk" will be entered. (Otherwise, we won't see it.)

Good luck!

Permalink | 55 comments | Linsey Knerl's blog | Channel: Giveaways

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Dealista Tip: 5 Ways to Get Free Tech Advice Online

Linsey Knerl — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:16:15 +0000

By Linsey Knerl

This article shares tips from the 10th episode of Dealista, our new podcast that'll help you get more for less. Click play to listen, or subscribe via iTunes to take the episode with you!

Download episode mp3 | Check out show archive

It happens almost weekly for some: your computer freezes, your iPhone won’t power down, or your printer is jammed in a big way. The frugalist in you just doesn’t want to make an expensive house call to a tech professional, and most of the time, that’s OK! We’ve got 5 top resources for finding free tech advice online, and a few tips for helping you decide which tips are worthy.

1. Kim Komando

This radio talk show host is a popular choice for anyone looking for true basic-level tech mentoring. She can help you pick out just the right wireless network for your home office, and give you suggestions for keeping your digital photos from being out of focus. Her website The Kim Komando Show is equally valuable, giving free daily downloads and a Cool Site of the Day!

2. PC Magazine

Long before magazines went digital, I was devouring this glossy mag and using it to tweak my finicky desktop system. Now complete online, it’s still a top stop for everything from advice for getting the most out of your surround sound to a plethora of some of the most consumer-friendly tech product reviews around. The perfect balance of newbie-friendly and hacker-helpful, you’ll pretty much find it at PC Mag.

3. Tom’s Guide

This is the perfect stop for noobs looking to interact with long-time programmers and technicians, as Tom’s Guide is the offshoot of the more intensive Tom’s Hardware (a Best of Media company). The quirky product guides and cultural discussions are accompanied by photos and graphics to keep you informed and entertained, while the forums are a great destination for those looking to learn a lot in a hurry. Head to Tom's Guide to get tech news that won’t bore you to death.

4. PC World

Sometimes you just need a detailed, step-by-step tutorial of how to do something right. PC World is the place to get it, with dummy-proof instructions for getting your HDTV to do what you want it to do and 5-minute suggestions for amping your cell phone signal. Their consumer-reports inspired product reviews are especially helpful, giving you a pricing guide to help you in your very important purchasing decisions.

5. FixYa

Peer groups are great for many things, tech advice not excluded. For the times when you swear you saw your computer do something you can’t quite explain to the repair guy, FixYa is a community forum for sharing problems and solutions we all can benefit from. Don’t see your problem asked? Post it anyway — chances are good someone else will also suffer from some annoying bug that no one else believes can happen.

All this this is a great start for the DIY tech enthusiast, but how can you know that the advice you get on line is safe (and will really work)? There are a few basic tips to keep you in the clear when giving your gadget a life-saving procedure (or even just a facelift).

The more the merrier.

If you see a solution to your tech woe being echoed time and again by the moderators, editors, and long-time contributors of a popular forum, chances are good that it’s a legit fix. The troll with one or two lifetime posts and a hyperlink to a Viagra wholesaler in his signature, however, is probably not to be trusted.

If it’s a warranty-voider, it may be a deal-breaker.

Yes, it’s cool to do unauthorized hacks on your iPhone, and for those that are willing to void their manufacturer’s agreements in the name of jailbreaking, we don’t want to stop you from having your fun. For the not-so-zealous tech user, however, it may not be worth giving up 2 years of authorized tech support just to be able to perform a neat hack. If something you read seems shady, it may not be for you.

Saving some cash isn’t worth freaking you out.

If the thought of adding some memory to your laptop or reinstalling your operating system has you in tears, skip the DIY and fork out the cash to have a professional do it for you. Life’s too short to lose sleep over those tasks that a tech pro can take care of in less than 20 minutes.

Dealista

If you enjoyed these tips you can find more in our show's archive or subscribe via iTunes.

Dealista is a collaboration between Wise Bread and Quick and Dirty Tips, the producer of popular podcasts such as Grammar Girl, Money Girl, Winning Investor, and Mighty Mommy.

Check out more great tips from our sister shows:

Permalink | 3 comments | Linsey Knerl's blog | Channel: Technology

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Best of Personal Finance: Alaska Doesn't Want You

Linsey Knerl — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:00:02 +0000

By Linsey Knerl

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best of Personal Finance roundup. We look at why Alaska really doesn't want you (unless you have a job, that is) and how you can choose the right type of baby carrier for your little bundle. You'll also have a chance to speak your mind on some "ethics" in frugality (like if it's really OK to take those little shampoos home from your hotel stay).

Ask the Readers: Is Now the Time to Shop?

Linsey Knerl — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:31:29 +0000

By Linsey Knerl

***We have our winners!****

Comment #44 Samples Sales Submitted by Tammy on October 21, 2009 - 10:55.

In the past, I have used credit card points to buy gift cards for Lands End or Toys R Us to then purchased gifts for my kids and relatives. But this year, I started my own business so I can now shop at the Sample Sale of a local gift trade show. I am so excited! My friends and I are going together and I hope the prices are as good as I've heard. I very rarely go shopping for fun anymore so I'm looking forward to the event as much as the sale prices.

@ysdata Question? Shop Now - answer http://twurl.nl/wjsru7 -- YES! 5 days ago

Whether are not you are fully convinced that a falling dollar will put a crunch on how far your holiday spending will get you, there are many advantages to buying early (especially when you can get a fabulous deal.) All the hype, however, has caused a few people to consider buying very early -- before they even have the money -- putting Christmas gifts on a low or no-interest rate credit card in anticipation of what the dollar may do (or not do) come December.

Are you thinking that maybe, this year is a "special" year? Do you think it may be wise to buy as soon as possible, instead of waiting out the pending Black Friday tradition and the savings that accompany it? Or are you going to play it straight, save your cash, and buy when you can afford it (regardless of that pesky shrinking buck)?

I want to hear your thoughts on the holidays and the U.S. economy -- if you have any. If not, just let us know what you usually do each holiday (use credit, cash, layaway, or a combo of both?) Share them here in our comment thread or on Twitter, and you'll be entered to win one of two $10 Amazon giveaways. It won't offset global economic crises..but it's good for a nice paperback. Dozens of readers have already won. You could be next!

Win a $10 Amazon Gift Certificate

We're doing two giveaways — one for random comments, and another one for a random tweets.

How to Enter:

Post your answer in the comments below, or
Tweet your answer. Include both "@wisebread" and "#WBAsk" in your tweet so we'll see it and count it.

If you're inspired to write a whole blog post, please link to it in the comments or tweet it.

At the end of the drawing, we'll update this post to include (and link to) all of your helpful responses.

Giveaway Rules:

Contest ends Thursday, October 22nd at 11:59 am CST. Winners will be announced after October 22nd on the original post and via Twitter. Winners will also be contacted via email and Twitter Direct Message.
You can enter both drawings -- once by leaving a comment and once by tweeting.
Only tweets that contain both "@wisebread" and "#WBAsk" will be entered. (Otherwise, we won't see it.)

Good luck!

Permalink | 56 comments | Linsey Knerl's blog | Channel: Giveaways

Similar entries:

This article is from Wise Bread.

Wise Bread (Linsey Knerl)

Best of Personal Finance: The Most Shoplifted Items of 2009

Top 5 Articles of the Week

Other Essential Reading

Ask the Readers: Do You Do Black Friday?

Win a $10 Amazon Gift Certificate

How to Enter:

Giveaway Rules:

Getting Free Stuff at Walgreens

Register Rewards Explained

Dealista

Best of Personal Finance: 12 Surprising Uses for Vick VapoRub

Top 5 Articles of the Week

Other Essential Reading

Ask the Readers: Do You Have the Tools? (Chance to win MS Office!)

Best of Personal Finance: How You Can Help the Unemployed Today

Top 5 Articles of the Week

Other Essential Reading

Ask the Readers: How Do You Manage Stress and Spending? (Your Chance to Win $10)

Dealista Tip: 5 Ways to Get Free Tech Advice Online

1. Kim Komando

2. PC Magazine

3. Tom’s Guide

4. PC World

5. FixYa

The more the merrier.

If it’s a warranty-voider, it may be a deal-breaker.

Saving some cash isn’t worth freaking you out.

Dealista

Best of Personal Finance: Alaska Doesn't Want You

Top 5 Articles of the Week

Other Essential Reading

Ask the Readers: Is Now the Time to Shop?

Win a $10 Amazon Gift Certificate

How to Enter:

Giveaway Rules: