Across the country, shoppers bought more than 1.1 million freezers during the first six months of the year — up more than 7 percent from the same period last year, according to research firm NPD Group.

That rings up to nearly $400 million in freezer sales — a staggering figure compared to the rest of the home appliance sector, where industry data shows shipments are down nearly 8 percent.

And, experts said, it's a trend that's expected to continue at least through much of next year as penny-pinching shoppers buy in bulk to take advantage of deals or bundle grocery shopping trips to conserve gas.

We once had an adorably clunky spare freezer straight out of the 50s hiding in our basement. It held ice cream and pasta sauce, and its outrageous power demands easily gobbled up any savings gleaned from buying ice cream in bulk. It's not the kind of freezer you want. Instead, look for newer, Energy Star compliant freezers that might actually save you money.

Socking it away, in freezers [AP]
Refrigerators & Freezers [Energy Star]
(Photo: Getty)

I'm hardly the first to point this out, but had to snap a few pics of the dryer sheets I was buying yesterday at Target.

Note these are regular price items (no sales/clearance). Buying the 120 ct box is a 32% price jump (per 100 sheets).

Another reason to wear your calculator wristwatch at all times when shopping...

Judy Cardin, section chief for weights and measures with the state, said that in the case of bulk coffee, the weight of the packaging materials was included when the price of the product was determined. The state had tested one-pound bags of Cameron brand coffee beans, which were found to be 3/100ths of a pound over the actual bagged content.

While that doesn't seem like much, it translated to an overcharge of 21 cents per pound, Cardin said.

"This is something that's difficult for the consumer to know it's even going on," she said. "How would someone know they were being overcharged? This is why weights and measures checks products to make sure consumers are getting what they paid for."

Cardin said Wal-Mart was fined $25,000 in January 2006 for overcharging for bulk coffee.

Wal-Mart hit with $89,705 state fine [Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter]
(AP Photo/April L. Brown)

AAA: AAA members can save up to 40% by buying a book of tickets from AAA's website.
Warehouse Clubs: Sam's Club and Costco both sell books of tickets at discount rates.
Loyalty Programs: It never hurts to nicely introduce yourself to your local theater manager and ask if regular patrons are eligible for discount programs or club cards.

Finding bargains at the box office [MarketWatch]
(Photo: Franco Folini)

This formula has generated fierce loyalty among both shoppers and workers while rewarding long-term investors...the company also has managed to make discount shopping fashionable for affluent Americans by offering fine wines, books and big-screen televisions at low prices, and staples such as paper towels and razor blades in bulk.

By offering one-time specials like discounted Prada bags or Callaway golf clubs at individual outlets, Costco has created what it calls a "treasure-hunt" atmosphere in its stores.

Costco: The Anti-Walmart [MSN Money]
(Photo: iBjorn)

"Buying beef in bulk can be an excellent deal, but not for everyone. Buying a side of beef is a good choice if you like to cook, you eat a lot of meat, you have storage space, and quality is important to you."

Does this sound like you? If so, check out bulk beef. —MEGHANN MARCO

How to buy a side of beef [Get Rich Slowly]

No risk, as long as you don't forget to keep track of all your receipts and ping customer service at the end of the year. For those low on organization and grocery expenditure, the Costco Executive Membership may not be a good choice. — BEN POPKEN

Is Costco Executive Membership Worth It? [My Money Blog]

UPDATE: Several commenters have noted that Costo keeps track of all your purchases and makes it easy to pull up your purchase record. So perhaps this membership is worth, as long as you make sure to check after a year.

Mega-churches have been slowly coalescing since at least the '70s (and have a historical thread in the evangelical tent revival of the 1800s), but recent experiments in super-sizing the Body of Christ have taken things to a new level in large. See, for instance, Lakewood Church, who recently completed a $90+ million renovation on the Compaq Center, former home of the Houston Rockets.

To their credit, Lakewood does not solicit money on their weekly over-the-air broadcasts. Apparently, the 30,000 or more weekly attendees generate enough money to keep the Southern Baptist offshoot alive and amplified. With a per capita income in Houston of $20,101 and the traditional 10% yearly tithe, Lakewood Church should be bringing in over sixty million dollars a year.

Let's get ready to hummmble!