Compare the Cost of Living:

CNNMoney has just released a new tool allowing to compare prices in two cities and define the new cost of living in another city.

• Enter your current salary;
• Choose your current location (state and the city);
• Select the destination (the place where you are moving to or traveling).

Step 1

Step 2

Compare Local Gas Prices

GasBuddy.com is USA national gas temperature map (there’s also the Canadian version) which allows you to see what gas prices are around the country at a glance. Areas are color coded according to their price for the average price for regular unleaded gasoline:

• Click and drag to move the map around (or use arrow keys) ;
• Double-click to center the map on your mouse pointer and zoom in.
• Right click on a county or zip to retrieve its average gas price.
• Roll the mouse wheel upwards to zoom in one level, and downwards to zoom out one level (or use + and – keys).
• Generate and email any location URL to a friend to show them the exact same spot on the map you were looking at before clicking the Link to Map button.
• Use the search box to search by city, state or zip.

Find Most Affordable Cities

Based on the Housing Opportunity Index (released by the National Association of Home Builders) LifeHacker has created the housing map where you can see most affordable cities throughout America:

Ten Most Affordable Cities:

1. Indianapolis-Carmel, IN
2. Warren-Troy-Farmington Hills, MI
3. Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA
4. Detroit-Livonia-Dearborn, MI
5. Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
6. Syracuse, NY
7. Dayton, OH
8. Akron, OH
9. Cleveland-Elyria-Mentor, OH
10. Scranton-Wilkes-Barre, PA

Local Prices Directory

SalesCircular is a great place to find local prices and deals. Just click-through various states and then browse the necessary categories.

ShopLocal is another huge local pricing directory allowing to browse through local deals:

• See the index of top cities;
• Search by city or zip code.

The great thing about summer is that it is hot. This means less energy spent on heating and cooking, yet more energy spent on cooling. Let’s see how we can save some money (and become more green and frugal!):

1. If you can’t do without fans and air-conditioners, use them wisely: adjust the air conditioning throughout the day to meet your needs. And of course, look for the ENERGY STAR® label.

2. Replace filters in your air conditioner – this will make it work more efficiently and thus spend less energy.

3. Cook outside: getting your whole family together for evening barbecue will be both fun and refreshing experience for your relatives. Make it your new family tradition and you will notice how much closer you become!

Image by oskay

4. Dry your laundry outside: OK, this one works for the suburbs only but if you are happy enough to live outside the city, imagine how good your linen will smell if it dries in the fresh air.

5. Use cold water more often: hot summer is a great time to start taking cold showers, for example. It is both good for your health and saves your energy on heating the water.

6. (Obvious) Keep your lights off during the day: it is sunnier during the summer than during the rest of the year, so don’t forget to take advantage of that!

Save money by saving other Nature resources

7. Save on watering your lawn: Summer heat makes you water your lawn much more often, try doing that early in the morning to prevent the water from evaporating so quickly.

8. Save gas by switching to the bicycle! Really, sometimes it is both refreshing and energizing to take a quick ride to your work instead of idling in traffic jams – and this saves your money too!

Keep updated of summer sales and deals

9. Make sure to subscribe to sites alerting you of the hottest deals and sales. Summer is the time of greatest sales ever. I don’t mean getting obsessed but keeping an eye on best summer deals can considerably help your budget.

by jenn jenn

Save money on summer entertainment

On top of all, summer is the best time to take some rest and relax to get ready for the next working season. Who says you can’t have a good rest on a budget?

10. Keep an eye on summer travel deals;

11. Take advantage of fresh-air summer events: free concerts, theater events, movies, art shows;

12. Get more flexible and smart about your summer travel: consider these 5 tips for example;

Save money on food

13.Growing your own vegetables and herbs is a great way to save money!

Photo by superbez

14. Switch to farmers markets: unlike supermarkets pricing, product prices at markets are often negotiable. Also, you can save a fortune by buying from same sellers daily or weekly and thus having great bargains from them.

Save on your other bills

Use any opportunity to take advantage of opportunities summer can offer! For example:

15. Stop paying for the gym and start jogging: take a leave of absence from your gym membership and enjoy your exercises in the fresh air! Grab your camera to take photos of the morning scenes for more fun!

Any more tips on saving money during the summer? Please share them!

Post image: Pink Sherbet Photography

Do-it-yourself is an awesome option if (1) you have no money to buy gifts, (2) you have plenty of unwanted stuff at home you want to recycle, (3) you love unique things, (4) you enjoy doing things with your own hands, (5) you are eco-friendly…

Well, there are plenty of reasons you may want to consider the following tips:

1. Recycle a Phone Book into a Pen Organizer

An awesome, simple and genius way to make use of an unwanted phone book: it won’t take you more than a few minutes to make it! (via chicaandjo.com)

2. Recycle Floppy Disks into a Pen Holder

Another pen organizer: turn your floppy disks (is anyone still using them???) into a pen and pencil holder (via The Gadget Blog):

3. Recycle a Floppy Disk into a Notepad

Another way to re-use your old floppy disk: create a stylish notepad of them (via MAKE)!

4. Recycle a Paper Clip into an iPhone Stand:

Very easy and very usable: no excuse for not trying it out:

5. Recycle Pringles Can into an iPhone Dock

Another geeky holder:

The entire project cost around 5 dollars and was quite fun. The project requires nothing but the can itself, a set of speakers, hot glue, ipod cable (if you want), and an exacto knife

via neatorama.com

6. Recycle Milk Bottles into Home Lights

These lights made of milk bottles will be the most famous thing in your neighborhood. Both the instruction and the video below also detail how far you can go configuring it!

7. Recycle Cassette Tapes into a Lamp

Here is another stylish hack for your interior: glue old cassette tapes together and fashion them into a lamp (via Boing Boing).

The color of each cassette’s plastic shell and the half-rewound spooling of the magnetic tape itself will determine the kaleidoscopic pattern cast upon the walls.

8. Recycle Glass Bottles into a Coffee Table

I am not sure if it is safe for kids (as they tend to break everything) but it is rather reliable: it can hold upwards of 200 pounds (via Instructables).

9. Recycle Water Bottle into a Juicer

This one could come in handy when, for example, you are out of town or away from home and really want some home-made fresh juice (via wired.com):

10. Recycle Light Bulbs into a Xmas Tree

You still have more than 6 months before Christmas – quite enough time to find a number of light bulbs for this eco-friendly Xmas tree. But here are two incentives for you: (1) your tree is going to rock and (2) you won’t have to “kill” a real green tree to decorate your holiday home (via Instructables):

Post image by oskay

Thus it is quite clear you are browsing the web searching for some unique and creative gift ideas to make your dad happy.

So this post is all about Father’s Day Shopping: show your fathers your love and support with these gifts:

1. Well… “The Future is Perfect” Mug

If you have not much money for the present but want to cheer up your dad, this gift will do both! An excellent choice in a bad economy (via men.style.com):

2. Alien Abduction Lamp

The Alien Abduction Lamp is a good fit for those science-fiction-loving dads. Whether you are a UFO fanatic or not, there’s something appealing about the light coming out from under this flying saucer. There’s also the more humorous bovine being lifted edition (via craziestgadgets.com):

3. Glo Pillow

Is our dad having hard time waking up in the morning? Make waking up easier for him with this Glo pillow (via talk2myshirt.com):

4. Flip Clock on Legs

A good gift for those who like extra-ordinary designs. Modern design meets vintage technology with this legged flip clock by metal designer Michael Daniel. Every time a number flips over, the clock looks like it’s moving towards you! (via chipchick.com)

5. Smart Silver Wallet

For business-savvy dads:

“The wallet comes with 18 interchangeable button icons that fit any card combination you choose. Logos for your major credit cards, gas, medical, driver’s license, ATM, phone and more. You could even just use colors to demarcate which card is which, if you’re not into icons. The wallet helps you get organized, save time, and allows your cards to last much, much longer. Best of all, the wallet’s attractive, streamlined design allows it to fit easily into any pocket or purse. (via geekalerts.com)”

6. Transformers USB Memory Stick

A great toy for dads who have good imagination. This 2GB USB memory stick transforms into the Decepticon Ravage. At the link, there’s also a laser mouse that transforms into the Autobot Grimlock and a USB hub that transforms into the Autobot Blaster.

Transformers USB Mouse:

7. Speech Bubble Speakers

Does you dad like music – here’s a good gift for him then (via geekalerts.com)

8. Clever Post-A-Note pen

For always-busy dads: The clever Post-A-Note pen comes with a built-in cartridge filled with small yellow Post-it inspired notes, so you’ll never have to worry about being without paper again (via Geek Alerts).

9. Bottle Popper Easy Bottle Opener

If your dad likes to relax with a bottle of beer in the evening, this gift is definitely going to make him happy: a geeky bottle opener: Just press down and the Popper does all the work, opening your bottle with a satisfying “pop” sound. (via craziestgadgets.com)

10. Flashing Dry Erase Memo

If you and your dad can’t afford to see each other too often and communicate via notes on the fridge – here’s a good way to make this conversation better! No excuses—they can’t miss your note when it’s on this dry erase memo board because it has a blue light that slowly flashes (via solutions.com)!

1. Maintain Daily, Weekly and Monthly Shopping Lists

Saving money requires strategy, and having a shopping list is a pertinent step in your strategy. Taking a shopping list to the store helps prevent buying useless junk. If you go in with a definite idea of what you need, not what you want, then you are more likely to be able to discipline yourself to stick to your list.

Professional budgeters suggest making your grocery list according to the layout of the store, to avoid “danger” areas, like the junk food aisles.

2. Pay in Cash

Making purchases with cash makes it easier to be realistic about how much you can spend. Credit cards allow you to fool yourself into thinking you have more money than you actually do. Budgeting gurus advise consumers to freeze their credit cards in a huge block of ice, so you will only use it in the case of real need.

The idea of picking a huge block of ice or melting it with a hair dryer might be all the incentive you need to leave that card alone and wait until you actually have the cash to buy what you want.

3. Avoid Payday Shopping

Again, this is a matter of psychology. If you go into a store having just cashed your paycheck, it is easy to tell yourself you have plenty of money. You were, after all just rewarded for your hard work. Surely you have earned the right to splurge a little, right? Of course, twelve days from now, when you don’t have enough money for gas and payday is still two days away, those little treats you bought yourself won’t seem so important. Yet, you will manage to forget starving the last two days when you get the next paycheck, and the cycle starts all over again

4. Eat Before Going Shopping

Diet advisors have been saying for years shopping when hungry makes you more likely to buy junk food and other items you don’t need, just because our brain is telling your stomach you need food, so you buy everything that looks good. If you go grocery shopping after just eating a meal, you will likely be full, and will not even have the desire to be in the store very long. You will be more inclined to get just what you need and leave.

5. Store Money in Several Envelopes

Keeping your money arranged in categories helps you keep track of how much money you are spending in each area of living. It also helps you to stick to a goal of spending no more than a set amount on anything one thing. Keeping your money in large denominations also helps prevent you from spending a dollar here and there, which definitely adds up over time.

6. Try to Stick to Familiar Stores

Walking around aimlessly in a store allows you to chance walking by all those yummy things you know you shouldn’t have. If you shop in places where you know the lay of the land, so to speak, you are better able to control your impulses by avoiding areas where “danger” items are.

7. Never Buy Anything in the Checkout Line

The checkout is notorious for drawing in the impulse buyer. Magazine headlines scream at you to try the ABSOLUTE BEST diet ever, and Brangelina are forever snagging your eye in those sensational tabloid photos. Retailers also know all the bright, colorful things in the checkout line will catch your attention simply because you are bored.

The next time you are waiting for the woman with five months worth of groceries in line in front of you, tell yourself that no, you do not need a credit-card sized pack of handi-wipes or a wind-proof lighter, or that irresistible combination keychain/snow shovel/blood pressure monitor.

8. Never Buy Anything Just for the Sake of Using a Coupon/Deal:

Coupons are a great way to save money, but only if they are saving money on stuff you actually need. “Saving money” on something you did not really need in the first place does not constitute saving money, no matter how much you try to tell yourself so. There is the old joke about the woman who comes home from shopping with bookoodles of clothes and junk, and tells her husband that everything was on sale, so they actually saved money. This is a tried-and-true tactic of marketing … people will buy things just because they are told it is a good deal and they need it.

9. Be aware of Common Tricks

Gone are the days when subliminal messages enticed us to the concession stand at the movie theater. Marketers and retailers still use the powers of suggestion, however. The packaging and marketing of a product is the most expensive cost of the product to the retailer, so realize that when you pay for high-end items, you are usually either paying for the name or the fancy packaging. Don’t be fooled by bright colors and misleading labels. Retailers are students of psychology, and they know the power of color to guide people to buy things.

10. Use a Calculator

Calculators are useful when you go shopping, because they help you figure out how much a discount actually saves you. Many times retailer will “trick” customers into thinking they have taken a much bigger discount than they really have. Splitting a discount is a deceptive way of making consumers believe the discount is higher than it actually is. Also, the calculator allows you to keep track of how much you are spending. In addition it can help you figure out which item is actually the better deal. For instance, when buying laundry detergent, a calculator could help you to figure out how many cents you are spending per ounce, comparatively.

Images by e-magic, Bill in Ash Vegas, kevindooley, Pink Sherbet Photography, rick, markhillary

1. Take Advantage of Coupon Codes Directories and Communities

There are plenty of sites aggregating hundreds of online and printed coupon codes. All you need is to choose one (or several) of them and learn how to follow it effectively.

Here are just a few recommended tips and resources:

Search for web 2.0 features: many sites not only collect online coupons throughout the Internet but also offer their members share their opinion and experience about each one. Thus, you will be sure to make the best choice. Example: Buxr.com displays votes, reviews ratings for each deal they publish on their site. The site is fairly new but very well organized and clutter-free:

2. Get Organized: Plan Your Shopping

The first and most commonly used tool to use here is ordinary notebook where you write down your planned purchases.

There are online more advanced tools for that: web-based to-do and shopping lists. The most obvious advantage of using them is that you can access it from any computer and easily share them with your friends.

If you are a Facebook user, you can try using its application and manage your purchases from there (example: What I Want):

3. Calculate Your Spendings: Use a Calculator

Do you know that most sellers trick people into buying something based on the fact that most Americans are bad at math?

If you don’t take time calculating how much in total you are going to spend, you risk being manipulated into paying twice and thus losing much money.

4. Pay in Cash – Leave Credit Card at Home

Paying in cash makes you think twice before spending money:

• It triggers the feeling of guilt: you don’t want to waste it any more;
• It makes you think about what you are doing: it is believed that paying with cash removes the shopping momentum when you feel the need to buy more.

5. Use Price-Tracking Sites

BeatThat! and PriceGrabber are good tools that allow you to set a desired price for any product and get notified when its price equals or drops below the set amount.

Here is a good guide on how to use these and more services.

Post image by bdjsb7

The only thing it does is burning a slice of bread – but have you ever seen a kitchen without it?

However like any other ordinary thing, a toaster has a long history and can be innovated in multiple things.

So let’s just let’s see what we have never expected from an ordinary toaster: let’s explore state-of-the-art toasters:

State-of-the-Art Toasts:

“Tell me what you feel” toaster: get your morning toasts express your emotions (via target.com):

The geekiest of the geekiest: the following toaster “burns line-by-line black and white pictures with 12 by 12 pixel resolution into the toast. Comes with a memory chip which stores multiple images.” (via Appliancist.com)

Could it be even geekier? Oh yes it could! With this crazy toaster you can burn pretty much anything: “The Scan Toaster connects to a PC over USB and downloads everything from local weather conditions and the current time to the morning’s news headlines.” (via reghardware.co.uk)

Want Darth Vader for breakfast? This “Star Wars” themed devices toasts a perfect image of the Dark Lord (via reghardware.co.uk):

This one doesn’t produce such a perfect image but it is fun too (via dvice.com):

The following one will make your daughter happy: Helllo Kitty toaster (via SlipperyBrick.com)

Volkswagen toaster for all those fan of German cars and unique designs:

Unique Designs:

Transparent toaster is made of “heated glass to burn a single piece of bread in plain view right before your eyes” (via slipperybrick.com)

Ceramic toaster turns its downside (plenty of time to burn one slice) intoits greatest advantage: cooking toasts become social again, while making a toast you now have time to talk to your relatives and friends (via designboom.com)

Rollertoaster combines extra-ordinary design with much fun: stick bread in one side, and watch it get rolled into toast by the compact little unit. (via Engadget.com)

Need more unusual designs? Browse online toaster museum for the whole bunch of craziest designs!

Two-in-One Toaster:

A glass toaster + induction cooker spots high-teck design that looks like a laptop to me (via thedesignblog.org):

Ok, three in one for this toaster I guess: toasts, tea and cool retro style (via UberReview.com):

Nasty morning? Cheer it up with these cool egg-and-muffin toasters: quick and easy (Source: Uncrate.com):

Toaster + XBox 360? Why not? (believe it or not)

Btw, if you want to compare your PS 3 with a toaster, this video might help:

Post image by oskay

That said, the tactic is widely used and no secret for anyone.

So how do you react to that 9.99-pitch? Does it effect your rational thinking making you believe that 9.99 is way better than 10?

We seem to see those prices all over the stores, can it still be working?

In reality, the odd pricing has become so well-spread that consumers get irritated by it.

This 9.99 mania is well summed up by this anti-consumerism video:

Surprisingly, studies show the 9.99 tactic still works like a charm. It is reported that .99 fraction not only influences people’s perceptions of prices, but boosts their buying.

The tactic success is based on one or several of the following shopping theories:

“False Rounding” (or Left Digit Effect):

Instead of doing proper rounding, buyers tend to ignore fractional digits (those that come after the dot).

This comes from our habit to read from left to right. So we first see and perceive the first digit and make our further judgments based on it ($19.99 versus $20).

This theory is rather controversial. Many surveys claim people are still able to quickly estimate “the real” product value and do absolutely proper rounding.

“False Discount” (or Right Digit Signal)

Fraction implies that the seller is offering the least possible price.

Fraction makes the price feel like a bargain. It also implies that the buyer did a thorough research and counting before coming to the ultimate price.

The implication of the discount accounts for the emotional reaction. “There’s an instinctive kick to getting a discount that makes a difference to consumers.”

Following the Tradition

Our eye is so used to fractions that rounded prices just look odd.

Fractional pricing has already turned into the well-established tradition; trying to break it may result in the loss of money, so sellers just follow the fashion in order not to confuse their customers.

Are You Immune?

Of course, even if you find yourself vulnerable to this sort of technique, can you actually be blamed for that? We are always in haste. Even we are well aware we are being tricked, we can be making our decisions subconsciously. “When a person goes through a supermarket buying things, is it worthwhile for him to study and take in the price information of each product in full?”

Post image by Fortyseven, by jonny goldstein

Luxury things you may want to have are numerous. But what about those you never want or need?

Here are most expensive things you would buy only if you had already bought everything else in the world.

Most Expensive Dog Collar: Amour Amour

Amour Amour dog collar from I Love Dogs Diamonds.

Price: ~$1.8 million

Luxury details: crocodile leather, platinum and 52 carats of hand-set diamonds, including 1600 diamonds with a seven-carat, brilliant cut center diamond. At $3.2 million each, only

Why you don’t need it: OK, this thing does look luxurious. But it will never make your pet happy! Why bother?

Most Expensive Dog Bed

Price: ~$1,400 (via pid.se)

Luxury details: 10mm thick acrylic and furnished with luxury faux suede cushions. The dog bed pillow is filled with shredded ‘memory foam’ incorporating a wealth of innovations.

Why you don’t need it: if one wanted to spend that much money on the dog bed, why not buy a real bad for it? And this one even doesn’t look like a luxury item!

Most Expensive Piece of Art: Diamond Skull

Price: $98,000,000 (image source)

Luxury details: 2156 grams of platinum in 32 individual plates, welded together by lasers. The skull is covered inside and out in 8,601 sparkling diamonds and has a main stone that is a 52-carat pear-shaped diamond fixed upon its forehead, this stone is further bordered with 14 additional diamonds.

Why you don’t need it: luxury skull? Seriously?

Most Expensive Cell Phone: “LeMillion”

Price: $1.200, 000

Luxury details: 18 carat white gold and 120 carat diamonds. And that isn’t the only thing why this phone price is 1.2 millions USD!!! Others characteristics are not special at all. Mp3, bluetooth, digital camera… You can buy normal phone with these characteristics for 300 USD.

Why you don’t need it: too much money for a phone that looks like a lighter.

Most Expensive Cupcake

Price: $30,000

Luxury details: festooned with eight ideal cut round brilliant diamonds around its circumference and a two carat Asscher cut diamond in the center (via luxuo.com)

Why you don’t need it: what happens after you eat the cake?

Most Expensive Bikini

Price: $30, 000, 000 (image source)

Luxury details: no fabric, only diamonds. This bikini contains over 150 carats of D Flawless diamonds, including a a 30 carat D Flawless Emerald Cut, 51 carat D Flawless Pear Shape, a pair of 15 carat D Flawless Rounds and a pair of 8 carat D Flawless Pear Shapes all set in platinum.

Why you don’t need it: I can’t even imagine how awfully uncomfortable to wear this thing is.

Most Expensive Handbag

Price: ~$1, 400, 000

Luxury details: made out of platinum and set with over 2,000 diamonds – totalling 208 carats;

Why you don’t need it: if you have that much money, why would you need such a little purse?

Most Expensive Watch: Chopard Watch

Price: 25,000,000

Luxury details: Three heart-shaped diamonds, a 15 carat pink diamond, a 12 carat blue diamond and an 11 carat white diamond. 163 carats of white and yellow diamonds bring the total of 201 carats of diamonds.

Why you don’t need it: it looks like it is not that easy to tell the time using this watch

Most Expensive Saucepan: Fissler Pan

Price: $197,630

Luxury details: solid gold handles studded with 200 diamonds. The gold alone weighs two pounds.

Why you don’t need it: if you are so rich, why care about the kitchen at all?

Most Expensive Saxophone

Price: $62,632

Luxury details: embellished with 10 two-carat diamonds and 2.82 ounces of gold plating.

Why you don’t need it: can you play saxophone anyway?

Additional resources:

• Session Magazine
• Money.aol.ca

Post image by Neubie

You know me, I love when ordinary things are turned into something creative and innovative – and shopping bags are no exception!

So today I am listing the examples of most creative and awesome shopping bags that are aimed to spread an idea and communicate the company’s message.

Part of your style:

Karl Lagerfeld mask bag is both stylish and genius:

And this one is just hilarious!

Visualizes the message

Wheaties bag is a great example of how its advertising campaign communicates the company message: eat our products and get in shape! (via epromos.com).

YKM Bag shopping bag clearly promotes the active way of life:

GreenPeace shopping bag is another great example of a well-visualized campaign message: “Give me your hand” (via scattodesign.com):

Gaia activists visualize their message on a plastic shopping bag the following way (via frederiksamuel.com):

Red cross shopping bag strikes simple design and impactful execution (via adsoftheworld.com):

Visualizes the product:

Fitness Company fitness center shopping bag shows a 20 kilo handweigt (printed on both sides). They’re given away to customers when purchasing fitness accessories or nutritional supplements (via commercial-archive.com):

“Drop your bag!“: this shopping bag was given when you bought a book by Belgium’s most famous crime-writer (via adsoftheworld.com):

Would you guess what product the following one promotes? This is a product that is meant to stop nail biting:

Panadol shopping bags that visualize the head ache:

Cool design:

Clothes in Closets shopping bag has handles like knuckles. The idea behind the design is unclear: whether the clothes are so cool that you will have to fight for them or (as suggested in the comments) it is meant for aggressive sale hunters. What’s sure is that the design is cool and catchy:

I can’t understand the idea behind the following one but it cool, isn’t it?

The following ones must be promoting some concept, but I wasn’t able to find out which one:

Post image by wili_hybrid