NYT exposes some gems you might not think of first when planning a summer getaway, which is exactly why they’re on sale. But if you can put up with or get over the reason why most people skip them, you can have a great time for less, and with fewer people around. [More]
saving money
![Beat High Airfares With The Old "Hidden City" Trick](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/aaaaaplane.jpg?w=240&h=180&crop=1)
Beat High Airfares With The Old "Hidden City" Trick
Here’s a little secret to saving big on airfare, courtesy of the New York Times Magazine. When you fly into an airport that is mainly controlled by one airline, like Memphis, Newark, or Dallas, it can be pretty pricey. For instance, Des Moines to Dallas is $375. But if you booked it to LA with a stopover in Dallas, the price drops to $186. All you have to do is just not get on the connecting flight. This is the “hidden city” trick. [More]
![Tricking Yourself Into Saving By Rounding Up Every Check In Ledger?](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/thecheckbook.jpg?w=240&h=159&crop=1)
Tricking Yourself Into Saving By Rounding Up Every Check In Ledger?
While trying to find an article in the Twin Cities Pioneer Press archive, I found a letter from one of their readers who had a unique way of tricking herself into saving money. Whenever she writes a check, she rounds it up in the check register. When she deposits a check, she rounds it down. At the end of the year she finds she has a cache of “ghost money” that she uses to buy new shoes, go to the movies, make donations and do home improvement projects. Depending on how you look at it, this is either the dumbest savings method ever, or an incredibly smart one. [More]
![6 Ways To Be A Savvier Traveler And Save](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/flyingsmart.jpg?w=240&h=161&crop=1)
6 Ways To Be A Savvier Traveler And Save
Q: I’m taking a vacation, room rates are ridiculous. Any way you can save me some money?
A: This is fun. You can start your own miniature bidding ware by calling up several hotel desk clerks and ask them for “the cheapest non-refundable rate.” Play them against each other. Using this method, you can save upwards of $20 off the online rate, even though they insist that that’s their cheapest available rate.
![Save On Mid-Grade Gas By Mixing Regular And Premium](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/gasblendapp.jpg?w=300&h=225&crop=1)
Save On Mid-Grade Gas By Mixing Regular And Premium
If you put mid-grade gas in your car, it’s actually cheaper to pump in a mixture of premium and regular to get the same octane level. But how much of each do you use to get the right blend? As will some day be with all things in life, there’s an app for that. [More]
![Find Your Car's Most Fuel Economic Speed](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/longhaultrucking.jpg?w=240&h=180&crop=1)
Find Your Car's Most Fuel Economic Speed
As a former long-haul trucker, Jason knows a fair amount about saving money vs saving time when it comes to deciding how heavy to put your foot on the pedal. And it all come down to this: ” “Speed destroys your fuel economy,” he writes. “I routinely drove 3,000 plus miles per *week. The faster you go, the more gas you burn.” Here’s some quick math to back up his claim [More]
![Switch To Old-School Safety Razors And Save $160 A Year](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/wetshaver.jpg?w=240&h=159&crop=1)
Switch To Old-School Safety Razors And Save $160 A Year
Like a drug dealer giving out free samples, Gillette has been getting men hooked on Fusion razors by handing out free Fusion razors. You go along and you think, mm, this is a pretty good shave, and eventually you need to buy replacement cartridges, and it turns out they cost $40! Reader Jim got sick of spending $250 a year on cartridges for a shave that wasn’t stellar so he decided to kick it like a grandpa and switch to old-school double-edged safety razors. Jim says the blades on these just cost pennies a piece and the shave is cleaner and closer. Here’s how he made the switch: [More]
![Getting Married For $73.34 In 1972](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/gettingmarried.jpg?w=240&h=159&crop=1)
Getting Married For $73.34 In 1972
A far cry from the extravagance, pomp and expense of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding is the much simpler affair enjoyed by yearofshoppingdetox’s mother and father back in 1972, where they achieved eternal union for only $73.34. [More]
![43 Ways To Save Money](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/smirkybank.jpg?w=240&h=225&crop=1)
43 Ways To Save Money
I sent out an email blast to my friends and family asking them for all their best tips on ways to save money. I got back lots of great responses which I have culled down to 43. Not all of them might apply perfectly to you, as, for instance, you might not wear overalls, but they’re good for getting in the spirit of pinching those pennies a little tighter. [More]
![Karen Chappell](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/valentineshappyfrugal.jpg?w=300&h=225&crop=1)
10 Thrifty Ways To Deliver Big On Valentine's Day
Just because the economy is in the dumps doesn’t mean your spirits have to be on V-Day. There’s lots of great ways to celebrate your relationship without buying into all the myths of conspicuous consumption. At the same time, classic romantic gestures can be nice and sweet, as long as there’s more feeling than Franklins behind them. Here’s a guide to some last-minute, creative, frugal and even free ways to say “I love you.” (Spoiler alert: the best day to celebrate February 14… is February 15! It’s like getting Valentine’s Day half-off!) [More]
![Tuesday And Wednesday Are Best Days To Buy Airfare, Smart
Guys Say](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/boardingpassred.jpg?w=240&h=160&crop=1)
Tuesday And Wednesday Are Best Days To Buy Airfare, Smart Guys Say
The best day to buy airfare is often Tuesday, but Wednesday also offers good deals, which are sometimes even better. How come? [More]
![Buy And Sell Unused Groupons (And Other Daily Deals) On Lifesta](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/lifesta.jpg?w=300&h=225&crop=1)
Buy And Sell Unused Groupons (And Other Daily Deals) On Lifesta
So your BFF work friend cc’d you on that super cool Groupon and you bought in with everyone else and then a little bit down the road, regret sits in. Maybe you remembered you hate fondue. Maybe the restaurant was closed for rats when you got there. Maybe you realized you would much rather have the money for your upcoming cross-country skeeball championship. Well, you’re stuck, right? Not so. Enter Lifesta, a clearinghouse site where you can buy and sell unused Groupons, coupons, discount packages, or vouchers. [More]
![Find Cheaper Textbooks Online](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/mathbooks.jpg?w=240&h=160&crop=1)
Find Cheaper Textbooks Online
The New York Times Bucks Blog has a great feature on finding textbooks for less. There’s a great list of comparison sites in there. Don’t forget too the option of e-textbooks at sites like CafeScribe. Having all the text digitized not only makes it lighter and more portable, but you can easily CTRL-F if you’re trying to find a key phrase or concept. [More]
![Amazon Deals App For iPhone Launches](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/amazondealapp.jpg?w=200&h=225&crop=1)
Amazon Deals App For iPhone Launches
Amazon has put its Gold Box Deals into iPhone form with this week’s launch of its new Amazon Deals app. Buying things you don’t need while on the go just got easier! [More]