1. Ask for a lower price. This is the most painless way to lower your bills. Simply call up your cable company, for example, and ask them to lower your bill. Before you call, do a little research. Find out what the competition is charging and what your provider is offering new customers so you know what you can expect to get. Tell them that you're thinking of switching to another provider and explain that you can save money if you do.

   Here's a success story: Threatening To Cancel Comcast Saves Man $238.92 Per Year

2. Eliminate what you don't use and can live without. Bundling your services with cable or telephone companies might save you money— but it might not. Take some time to do research and find out which combination works for you. Maybe it's "dry loop" or "naked" DSL and a bigger cellphone package. Maybe it's cable internet and phone with no cable. Maybe its Netflix instead of cable. An HD antenna and GameFly? Splitting the cost of internet by sharing WiFi with your neighbor? Switching to a pay as you go phone? Getting a family cellphone plan? Be creative.

   Here's a success story: iTunes + Netflix = Cancel Cable?

3. Shop around. When your cellphone contract has expired you are in a position of enormous power. You are in demand. Do not waste this opportunity by renewing your contract for a free phone. Shop around. You're likely to get the best deal from a new company. Even if you're happy with your current provider, there's no reason not to negotiate. Also, make sure that you're taking advantage of all the discounts that are available to you. You might be eligible for a discount simply because of the company you work for.

   Here's a success story: How Joe Saved Hundreds Of Dollars Using Confessions Of A Cellphone Sales Rep

Good luck! Share how you saved on your "information age" bills in the comments and we'll round up the best ideas in another post.

(Photo: darabidduckie )

CR guesses that a jump in the cost of food is encouraging more families to buy in bulk from warehouse stores— and they need more freezer space to do it.

Rising food prices could be a factor in the growth of freezer sales. From 2005 to 2008, the overall cost of food for home consumption was projected to climb 4 to 5 percent, according to this Wall Street Journal report. The ever-increasing tab at the checkout line has spurred more Americans to buy in bulk at warehouse clubs such as Costco and Sam's Club, likely creating a need for more freezer space.

Stand-alone freezers can be really helpful. You can buy meat and veggies in bulk and save time and money. You could even consider buying a side of beef.

Interested? Consumer Reports has a buying guide ready to go.

U.S. freezer sales buck overall appliance downturn[CR]
(Photo: mandysuemccaul )

It's called "sticky prices" — the tendency for companies to delay both raising — and then lowering prices in response to changes in the cost of raw materials. You see, what you pay at the grocery store has more to do with what competitors charge than it does with how much it actually costs to produce the item.

The AP explains:

Prices have been going up broadly across whole categories of products, meaning competitors have been hiking prices in unison. For example, both Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc. and SABMiller's U.S. unit have been raising the price for beer, with neither one too worried that the price hikes will push customers to their competitor.

"They may be upset about it, but you really have fairly limited options as a consumer," Perner said.

For prices to drop, consumers have to hope that companies' competitive juices start flowing again. The drop in oil and ingredient prices is creating a high-stakes game of chicken in the shopping aisle, Perner said.

If companies keep their prices at current levels, they can reap higher profit margins. But if one company starts cutting prices to lure customers away from competitors, it could start a price war.

"As soon as the first (company) in a category reduces prices, the others will follow suit. But they're all hoping the other one doesn't" cut prices, Perner said.

...And in case you're wondering if the same applies to airfares... the answer is yes. Don't expect the airlines to let go of any of those new fees without a fight.

Grocery bill still high? Blame ‘sticky’ prices [Newsweek]
(Photo: Ben Popken )

Here's a quick summary of the tips:

1. Be patient. If you must have the thing on the day it comes out, you will pay more.
2. Wait for a sale. "Retailers will put the title on sale (like toysrus' annual 2 for 1 game sale) or you can wait a year for the reissued compilation edition of the game that is usually cheaper and has extra bonus content, as well. See Oblivion's Game of the Year edition that comes with extra content that came out a year after it first shipped."
3. Buy used. Got a friend who beats everything and then sells it back? Buy it from him! Or check out places that sell used games, perhaps on the internet.
4. Rent. Video stores rent games, and there is also GameFly, which is similar to Netflix.
5. Employee Discount. Get a seasonal job in retail and use your discount to buy games.

How do you save money on games? Share your frugal gaming tips in the comments.

Gaming on a Budget [Ash the Blog] (Thanks, Ozzie !)
(Photo: C. Barr )

For $100 Billion you can Universal Health Care for all people in the U.S. without it.

For $35 Billion you can get universal preschool. Half-days for 3-year-olds and full days for 4-year-olds.

For $10 Billion you can carry out all the security recommendations issued by the 9/11 commission.

All these costs are annual. We're not saying this is how we should spend the money, but it does give you an idea of what a large amount we're talking about.

Putting the annual cost of war into perspective [NYT]
(Photo: donbuciak )

• Apple: Refurbished iPod touches on sale, 8GB for $180, 16GB for $240, 32GB for $320
• Amazon: Rewards points upgrade for existing Amazon.com Visa holders
• Apple: Free Select iTunes TV Shows in HD (requires iTunes 8

• Travelocity: United Airlines Sale: Round-trip flights from $108
• Amazon.com: Amazon.com Men's Watch Deals: Timex, Marc Ecko, more from $40 + free shipping
• Sears: Seven7 Women's Jeans for $18 + $6 s&h, more

• Budget Truck Rental: $50 Gift card when paying w/American Express
• Reverie: T-Shirt Sale: Buy 1 TEE get 1 free TEE
• BestBuy: Westinghouse 42" 1080p LCD HDTV and portable DVD Player for $749.99 + shipping

• Drugstore.com: New Customers: Save $5 or $10 off First Order
• Vann's: Panasonic FZ28 10.2MP Digital Camera $340 Shipped
• Amazon: Get Savings of up to 75% off Bargain Books

I recently got a new debit card, and decided on the bright pink "hello kitty" card design. It was the only thing that stood out in the catalog over the American flags and bald eagles. I got it primarily because it was pretty, but I have also noticed that it will almost always draw a comment (or beady-eyed stare) from a clerk or passerby, and is a wonderful conversation starter... I admit I am less apt to produce it in certain situations, primarily because I don't want to explain myself, or in particularly masculine circles of friends. It comes down to my own homophobic insecurities, which I am attempting to cash in on, as they have otherwise proven useless, and as I am reluctant to expose the pretty pink kitten in my wallet.

This, of course, will not work if you actually like Hello Kitty. What works for you?

Dear Consumerist,
 
I just got off a red faced phone conversation with Budget Truck Rental's head of corporate customer service "Wayne" and I thought I would share the conversation. I rented a truck from Budget to pickup 3/9 so I could move some furniture. I live in Kentucky and rented the truck 150 miles away in Indianapolis.
 
When I showed up to pickup my truck, at 1:30, the store was closed even though the posted hours stated they were to be open for another half hour. So I was stranded without a truck 150 miles away from home. Still hoping to salvage the day I called the Budget 1800 number to try to find another truck.
 
Budget's customer service said they were terribly sorry for my inconvenience and said they would find me another truck right away and give me a discount. Two hours later they were unable to locate a single Budget truck in a 50 mile radius and said that they would still send me compensation for my trouble. They discussed giving me a $75 MasterCard gift card since I was already going to be out one of these anyway since I rented the truck during a MasterCard promotion.
 
Two weeks go by and still no "compensation" but I do get a $50 fee show up on my credit card statement from Budget. I called Budget to see what this was about and they said it was a no show fee since I never picked up my truck... lets rewind here I didn't pick up my truck? After a half hour of debating I get up to corporate and finally get my $50 refunded but they said they never promised any compensation and that my online truck rental in no way guarantees a truck but only a rate.
 
So not only did I not get any compensation but they also erroneously charged me $50 dollars and I got to be out 300 miles worth of driving. So moral of the story if you are rent from Budget you may get royally screwed.

On Sept 30, 2007, I rented a 24ft Budget Truck for the purpose of moving myself and my roommates from one apartment to another. Upon rental, I opted for the optional damage waver/insurance and was informed that that waver specifically did not cover overhead damage. I proceeded with the normal inspection, noting minor wear and tear that I could see as well as graffiti damage to the truck.

While driving, I was extremely careful to observe all overhead clearances, and did not drive the truck under any bridge where it could be "clipped". Upon return of the truck, the rental agent immediately asks me what I hit, because he notices damage to the top of the truck. Incredulous, I answer that the only thing I could have hit were low-slung city trees. What looked like a minor scrape from ground level was pointed out to me, and I doubted that a tree could make that kind of damage, but there it was.

Upon returning to the inside of the office, I am informed by the Budget Agent, Dennis Neuhauser, that I had 2 options: 1) That I could pay $670 for the damage immediately up front and resolve the claim or 2) I could go through Budget Corporate, which could potentially cost me "thousands of dollars". Although I was wary of the origins/cause of the damage, I was put under extreme duress by the draconian options presented to me by the rental agent. Fearing the prospect of having to pay "thousands of dollars", I opted to pay the $670 and wash my hands of the damages. My roommate was there to witness the offer and the terms that were presented to me, and it was made clear that, by choosing to pay immediately, I could resolve myself of this issue (that was the only reason why I chose to).

November 28, 2007, I receive a Vehicle Damage Claim from Budget Corporate seeking an additional $1,910.93 for damages to the truck, for a total of $2,080.93 once the $670 I already paid was factored in. I am also sent the estimate/invoice for the repair of the truck, as well as low-res black and white images of the damage areas. This invoice has 20 line items, 12 which are marked as "judgment items". Even things that I had marked on the original inspection form as pre-existing, such as the graffiti, were included on the claim I am on the hook for. The estimate itself is dated more than 2 weeks after I returned the truck, 10/17/2007, meaning I have no way of knowing if any of that additional damage was incurred by other drivers and/or was pre-existing, since I was never given any opportunity to inspect the roof, which is where all the damage was.

I think it is pretty clear from the confluence of these circumstances that Budget is trying to frame me for charges that could have no way been incurred while I was driving the truck for a few hours. I did not hit any structures, and the damages are shown at multiple, un-related points. They clearly just wanted to fix the entire truck and pin it on my rental. This is already in addition to the fraudulent verbal contract I was offered by the agent and the coercing of an immediate payment which was obviously made no difference in the handling of the claim.

In response to the claim letter I had been sent, I wrote a letter in response outlining my objections and demanding a refund of the $670 to pursue my legal options. I have been sent 3 more letters demanding that I respond to the claim, and I have sent 3 letters in response, all of which are documented as confirmed delivered. Given my experiences with Budget thus far, I wanted all communications about this claim to be delivered in a form that could be documented, such as postal mail. All letters have been ignored, and I have just received a final notice claiming that I have made no attempt to contact the company in regard to this claim, which I obviously have. They are threatening to report the charges to a collection agency and destroy my credit. I have even emailed the truck claims examiner, Janice Messinger, directly at her janice.messinger@avisbudget.com email address, and that too has gone unanswered. All I'm faced with is a destroyed credit report if I do not pay by February 25, 2008 at 5:00pm. I am writing this because I feel it is necessary for this story to be publicized to let other know how Budget treats its customers. I don't know how else I can go about resolving this problem. I have been clear in all letters and emails that I am not running away from the claim, but I am challanging it. That said my responses are being stonewalled at every turn. Thanks in advance for any attention you might be able to give my story.

These pictures show damage to multiple points on the roof, and the damages look like they were incurred by multiple collisions, since hitting or scraping one structure, like a bridge, for example (which I didn't even do), wouldn't result in points of impact this varied. In addition, the cracking peeling of the top paneling appears as just wear and tear, and the graffiti is something I noted on the inspection form. They are charging me for ALL of it.

Kevin's story is a sad reminder to take a mess of pictures of any rental before driving away to establish a baseline to dispute any fraudulent claims. From the look of it, Budget is trying to bully Kevin into underwriting a batch of unrelated and overdue repairs. Sending disputes via certified mail is the right move, as is keeping a meticulous record of any documents. If they push the matter further, it may be necessary to consult a lawyer.

Anyway, they asked her for some advice for people who have never ever made a budget. How do you get started?

Buy a school composition book, the kind with the black-and-white cover and lined pages inside. Then whenever a bill comes in, put it inside the book. Use one page for each month and list each bill, its due date and the amount - XYZ Company, the 17th, $23.89. When you pay each bill, check it off in the far right column with the date paid. This is totally NOT complicated, NOT time-consuming. It's amazing to me how many people just toss their bills in a drawer, pay them haphazardly and have no idea at any given time what they have and what they owe. Plus, the add-on fees for missing the due date on payments can get very expensive. This is absolutely the simplest way to ease into the budgeting, the next step being to actually plan ahead for bills you now can anticipate being due on certain dates each month, and eventually at different times of the year.

I Free Advice from a Frugal Family Thrift Counselor [Wise Bread]

We called Gateway and they laid the blame directly at Best Buy's feet, saying the P-6831FX was "selling like gangbusters," prompting the retail giant to raise the price by $350. We asked Best Buy about the price discrepancy late Wednesday, and the retail giant said they would get back to us. While Gateway offers a series of similar laptops online, called the P-171 series, the P-6831 is available only though Best Buy.

"When is a bargain laptop not a bargain?" [Crave]

John Norris' family is drinking a lot less milk these days. He said he considers the higher prices and has cut back on his kids' milk consumption. But between work and family obligations, he still drives almost as much as he used to.

"That's the reason I cut down on milk consumption - so I can drive my car," said Norris.

And Norris should know. He's the director of wealth management for Oakworth Capital Bank and a food price expert.

The Norrises aren't the only family getting pinched at the grocery store. Prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages rose 4.7 percent since the beginning of the year through November, outpacing the 4.3 percent increase in the overall cost-of-living, according to the federal government's Consumer Price Index.

Everyday foods like fruits and vegetables, beef, poultry and cereals are on the rise. The price of milk is the biggest culprit, with a staggering increase of 23.2 percent through November. And with basic foods like dairy and wheat driving up the cost of other groceries, almost everyone is feeling the squeeze.

Gawker Media polls require Javascript; if you're viewing this in an RSS reader, click through to view in your Javascript-enabled web browser.

Food prices soar in America [CNNMoney]
(Photo:pierre lascott)

Budget Rent-A-Car Settles FTC Charges; "Fuel" Fees Levied on Customers Who Returned Rental Cars With a Full Tank [FTC]

1. Don't make a list
2. Act like Santa Claus
3. Go overboard with gift cards
4. Grab the first thing you see
5. Wait until the spirit moves you
6. Put it on plastic
7. Buy now, pay later

Remember, folks, avoid financing consumer debt. Bankrate's expert says: "If you don't have $10,000 to buy those new couches and end tables for your living room then I really don't think you should be financing it."

7 common holiday budget busters [Bankrate]
(Photo:spinadelic)

Frankly, we're skeptical of the whole thing. If you've ever been hit on by a businessman—especially a naked one—you know that those are normal come on lines, right up there with "Let me show you my PowerPoint" and "Paradigm." But Travelodge is naive enough, apparently, to think the ruse is legit. When asked why 95% of the sleepwalkers were men, a spokeswoman answered, "We have more men staying with us than women."

"They sound more like zombies than sleepwalkers..." [Reuters]
(Photo: Getty)

Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4 - Part 5 - Part 6 - Part 7 - Part 8 - Part 9

Inside, we're watching each part and summarize the highlights so you don't even have to watch if you don't feel like it...

Part 1

Debt is stupid
Debt is an aggressively marketed product
Living without debt requires a paradigm shift
We used to think debt was a sin
1910 Sears catalog called buying on credit "folly"
Today, Sears has made more money on credit cards than on merchandise

Credit card issuers sent out 4.2 billion offers last year
Credit cards are a product
Banks are in the business of selling debt
Debt has become enmeshed with the fabric of everyday life
Don't get him wrong, Dave only blames himself for when he got into debt
We have become a culture of borrowers, aka, sharecroppers
"The rich rules over the poor and the borrower is slave to the lender" Proverbs 22:7 (NKJV)
Dave uses a chain to demonstrate how he got into debt, wrapping it around himself more and more as he buys a couch, TV, stereo, and no-money-down home, on credit
According to Larry Burkett (?), we spend the first 5-7 years of our marriage trying to reach the same standard of livings as our parents, only problem being that it took them 35 years to do it...
Of the 52% of marriages that end in the first 5 years, 90% of them cite money troubles as the primary cause
Eventually Dave and his wife decided to go completely broke and get rid of everything and work like crazy to escape their payments
Myth: If you loan money to a friend or family member, you're helping them
Truth: The relationship will be strained or destroyed.

Myth: By cosigning a loan, I'm helping a friend or relative
Truth: The bank requires is requiring a cosigner because the person isn't able to pay. Be ready to pay the loan and have your credit damaged.
If you cosign a loan for your children, you're not blessing them, you're bringing them into a master/servant relationship
If you really want to help them, give it to them as a GIFT
Myth: Cash Advance, payday loans, pawnshops, rent-to-owns are needed services for poor people to get ahead
Truth: These are horrible, greedy, ripoffs
Myth: You can get rich playing the lottery
Truth: Powerball is a tax on the poor and people who can't do math
If you took $32/month, the average amount a lottery player spends, and instead invested it in a good growth stock mutual fund from age 20 to 70, you can retire with over a million dollars
Myth: Car payments are a way of life
Truth: Staying away from payments by driving reliable used cars is what the typical millionaire does

Myth: Leasing is what sophisticated people do
Truth: A car lease is the most expensive way to pay for a vehicle
If a car dealer sellls a car for cash, he makes on average about $82. If he sell it with a financing plan, he makes $775. Leasing, $1300
Myth: Sophisticated people write off part of the lease
Truth: Smart people buy items that depreciate in value used
Myth: I can get a great deal on a new car!
Truth: A new car loses 60% of its value in the first 4 years you own it
Instead buy a 1 or 2 year old car
Unless you make $600k plus a year, then it doesn't really matter!
Sometimes Dave feels like his radio show is the "sell the car show" as that's his number one piece of advice to people
Dave himself bought a 2 year old car with 23,000 miles on it

Myth: Home equity loan is a good because it's a tax deduction and it's a substitute for an emergency fund
Truth: You don't go into debt for emergencies and a tax deduction is not good math
People who justify going into debt for tax purposes are really saying "let's send the bank $5,000 to keep from sending Washington $1,250"
Myth: I'll take out a 30 year mortgage and promise to pay extra
Truth: No one pays extra, don't take out more than a 15 year fixed rate loan
An FDIC study says that on average 97.3% of people do not systematically prepay a 30 year mortgage. See graphic:
Myth: It is good to take out an adjustable or balloon mortgage because "I know I'll be moving"
Truth: You will be moving when they foreclose
Adjustable rate mortgages were invented in the early 1980's to transfer the risk of higher interest rate mortgages to you
Myth: You need to take out a credit card or car loan to build credit
Truth: Open credit cards with zero balances and car loans count against you when qualifying for a mortgage
Myth: You need a credit card to rent a car.
Truth: A debit card will work at nearly all major places
Myth: You need a credit card to check into a hotel, make a purchase online or over the phone
Truth: Your debit card will work just as well
Myth: I pay my credit card off every month, and earn miles and points, and a free hat
Truth: 78% of Americans do not pay off the balance every month. If you pay with cash only, you spend less
Consumer Reports says that 75% of frequent flier air miles are never redeemed

Though I have no problem with debt or money management, he's almost got me convinced to cancel my American Express card.
63% of bankruptcy filers blame credit card bills and 89% of filers STILL get offers
The credit card industry is out of control, they're trying to give lines of credit to dead people, poodles, and children
Myth: I'll get my teenager a credit card so they'll learn to be responsible with money
Truth: Teens are the number one target of credit card companies today
Citibank spent 100 million dollars this year JUST for marketing credit cards to high school and college students
Having a credit card doesn't make you an adult, it merely means you can probably breath air
Credit card companies are priming children for brand loyalty. A back of a Raisin Bran box says Visa is the official sponsor of Grinch's "Whoville." Citibank sponsored a learning tool cash register with their name on an included credit card "toy." "Cool Shopping Barbie" was pulled off the market in 1997 after consumer advocates complained about her being sponsored by MasterCard, though they waited until afte Christmas to do it. She came with her own little MasterCard.
19% of the bankruptcies filed last year were college-age people.
The number one personal finance curriculum sweeping schools today was sponsored and designed by VISA.

Myth: Debt consolidation saves money.
Truth: Debt consolidation is a con. Smaller payments equal longer time in debt.
Myth: Debt, properly used, is a tool for financial prosperity
Truth: Debt is proof that the borrower is slave to the lender
75% of the Forbes 400 most wealthiest people say that getting debt-free is the number one way to build wealth

The number one thing you need to pay off your debts is INTENSITY
Dave has 6 steps to get you out of debt, which he wants you to employ with the focus and drive of a gazelle running from a cheetah
1. Quit borrowing more money

2. Save money
3. Pray. (Obviously, this step is not for everyone)
4. Sell a bunch of your stuff
5. Temporarily get a part-time job
There's a great place to go to when you're broke... to work
6. Pay off your debts using the debt snowball: pay minimum payments on everything except for the smallest debt. Then put as much money as you can towards paying it off. After you knock that one down, go onto the next one. He says the psychological win is more important than paying off the highest interest payment, as it motivates you to keep paying off debt.

In true second-hand fashion, we've collected a bin's worth of suggestions on how to maximize your thrift store shopping, added a few of our own, and thrown it all together in no particular order:

• Go often - turnover is high in thrift stores.
  
• Shop for quality - learn how to spot vintage linens, original recordings, depression glass, or whatever it is you're interested in.
  
• Take your time - more than normal retail, thrift stores reward shoppers willing to spend half an hour going through a long rack of clothes item-by-item.
  
• Try on clothing at the store - and wear something easy to change in and out of, or something you can pull clothes over in case there's no dressing room. If it's cold outside, leave your coat in your car.
  
• Test all electronics on-site - carry common batteries with you if you're looking at used consumer electronics or toys that are battery operated.
  
• Factor in the cost/trouble of delivering any furniture you purchase - most thrift stores won't deliver.
  
• Decide on a category before you enter - don't shop for books and clothes; focus on one thing exclusively
  
• When clothes shopping, learn to look for color, then texture, then style. Also, learn to identify material by sight. This way you can use color and texture (and fabric type) to quickly identify pieces you'll want to actually pull off the rack to inspect further.
  
• Avoid the temptation to make clothing-related jokes while you shop - yes, that Mr. Furley blazer is hilarious, but now you've wasted another 30 seconds in a store that smells like a basement.
  
• If you suffer from severe allergies, stick to Wal-Mart. Many thrift stores are filled with dust or worse, and can wreak havoc on allergies.
  
• Take water to drink - it will help alleviate any reactions you do have to dustmites or mold.
  
• Eat before you go.
  
• Use the bathroom before you go.
  
• If you want to avoid crowds, try evenings.
  

RELATED
"Tips for Thrift Store Shopping" [Associated Content]
"Thrift Store Shopping Basics" [Associated Content]
"How to Shop Well for Clothes in a Thrift Store" [WikiHow]
"Thrift Store Shopping" [The Sideroad]
(Photo: Chris Walters)

How will you get your child the name-brand items he wants while staying under budget? You won't. Sander says that to avoid having your child fall into a I-can't-possibly-wear-this-if-it-isn't-Nike meltdown at the store, you need to de-program him from commercials. "We teach our kids the 'disvalue' of brands. We point out commercials and say, 'They are trying to get you to buy that. You can either buy it or think for yourself,'" he says.

Victoria Jacobson of The Foundation for Credit Education suggests (in the same article) that you re-use as many leftover supplies and hand-me-down clothes as possible, but that you frame it as "recycling" to avoid the used-goods stigma. Her argument? Being environmentally conscious is a popular topic these days, so maybe your kids will find it easier to get behind that than the "let's all save money" meme. (And if they refuse, you can try to scare them into compliance by telling them stories of the "Inconvenient Man," then putting on an Al Gore mask and jumping out of their closets at one in the morning. And no, we don't have any kids.)

By now, everyone knows that you can make out like a bandit on super-cheap supplies if you catch the right sale at some nationwide office supply stores and discount retailers. There's also a few remaining tax holidays coming up (Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Florida, Massachusetts, and Texas, as of August 6th). But Deborah Ng at SimplyThrifty suggests the following unconventional sources: your local Freecycle group, those ubiquitous dollar stores, and garage sales. All three have their drawbacks—Freecycle lives and dies on location and random availability, dollar stores aren't known for quality anything, and hitting 10 garage sales on a Saturday morning arguably wastes more money in gas than it saves in scoring that gently used backpack. But depending on your location, budget, and lifestyle (maybe you live in one of those neighborhoods where there are a dozen garage sales every weekend in a six block radius), they might be worthwhile strategies.

5 tips for saving on back-to-school gear [Bankrate.com]

(Photo: Getty)

There's nothing ground breaking about them, but if you're looking to change your habits following these tips is a great start. The tips for "bulk shopping" are fun:

• Buy only products that your family will like and use often enough so that they will be used before spoiling or becoming outdated. Otherwise, you'll waste food and money.
  
• Not all bulk items are bargains. Make sure the item is really a good buy and saves you money. Check the unit price, don't just look at the size of the package.
  
• When you buy in bulk, you buy more than you can use before your next shopping trip. Be sure you have enough money to do this.
  
• You should know what type of storage is needed for the product and have enough space to store it.
  
• Beware that buying in bulk can lead families to overeat or eat too quickly. If this happens, you could run out of food or money before the end of the month. Make sure you can store food so that it won't get eaten too quickly.
  
• Know proper storage times for different foods.

Eating Healthy on a Budget [UPMC via Getting Finances Done]
(Photo: swruler9284)

• A company you've done business with partners with a company that offers some sort of service. Life insurance. Coupons. Whatever.
• The company you've done business with solicits your enrollment in the service by sending you a check that, if cashed, automatically enrolls you.
• After the "risk-free" month (or whatever), you are charged for the service via whatever credit card they company has on file for you (or whatever). It is possible that you did not understand that by cashing the check you were enrolling in a pay service, but since you agreed to be enrolled by cashing the check, all you can do is nicely ask for a refund.
  

Health Care: $219.40
Social Security: $206.60
Military: $196.50
Income Security (Unemployment insurance, food and housing, retirement for federal workers, etc): $132.70
Interest on Debt (The US Government's Version of Credit Card Payments): $85.30
Transportation: $26.50
Colleges: $19.00
Federal disaster relief and insurance spending: $17.40
Administration of justice: $15.40
Public Schools K-12: $15.00
The Environment: $12.40
Agriculture: $9.80
General government costs: $6.90
International development and humanitarian assistance: $6.30
Social services related to education and training: $6.20
Space Program: $5.50
General science and basic research:$3.40
Community and regional development: $3.20
Workers training programs:$2.70

Look like your budget? —MEGHANN MARCO

Where do my income tax dollars go? [MSNBC]

The problem is that most parents resist giving children an allowance and, if they do, they usually give the children too little. If the allowance isn't large enough for children to experiment with — to make mistakes with — it won't have the learning effect you'd like it to have.

As soon as your child begins to express a sincere interest in material wants (as in, "I want that!"), it's time for an allowance. Depending upon the child, that's probably around the ages of 3 to 5.

The first mistake most parents make is starting too late. The majority of parents wait until their children are tweens (9 to 12 years old) and they miss out on the opportunity to discuss money with young children who are more apt to listen to, and take, their parent's advice.

All About Your Child's Allowance [Bankrate]

Some of the best flights leave from Chicago, Minneapolis, Atlanta, Charlotte, and New York, all starting at $39 and under.

The deal is not valid for travel on Sundays. Tickets must be booked by Wednesday, Nov 15, 11:59 PM ET.

14-day advance purchase required, so not as good for people who haven't finalized their Turkey day travel plans. — BEN POPKEN

AirTran 48 Hour Sale [Official Site] (Thanks to Zac!)