The Consumer's Edge: Save money, live richer.

More tax tips...

2012-02-19T11:10:00.001-05:00

Reminder, taxes are due on April 16, 2012. Make sure that you are accounting for all of your relevant tax documents when you begin filing your taxes. It seems like every couple of days I am still getting long overdue 1099-INTs and DIVs forms when they were supposed to be mailed out in January. Thus, it's easy to forget them if you aren't tracking carefully. In a previous post, I have discussed using an aggregation site, such as Yodlee, in order to keep track of all of your accounts. A new(er) site, called HelloWallet, is another such tool.

Can't wait for the mail? Check your brokerage, bank, mutual fund, or other financial institution's web site to see if they have posted documents online. Firms such as Etrade are pushing customers towards online delivery of forms, and for good reason. Online documents save them money, can be delivered faster than U.S. Mail, and can be retrieved any time. This is especially helpful for previous year's forms, which you may need on occasion.

Bottom line: a little careful planning now will help prevent having to perform a re-filing of your taxes if you forget about your accounts. You don't want that refund to now turn into an unexpected tax bill.

It's Valentine's Day....!

2012-01-28T18:45:00.000-05:00

Romeos,

It's that time of year again to appreciate your favorite loved ones and significant others. But, relax, it doesn't have to be a big stress. Let the many flower services do the hard work for you. While you are at it, get some miles, points, or cash back, too!

If you have a favorite provider like 1-800-Flowers, or FTD, check to see what promotions are running before you plunk your cash down. Among many other deals, eBates is offering 20% cash back on FTD purchases. That's awesome. Given that flowers can run $35-50 with delivery/service fees, that definitely helps. Don't want cash back, your favorite airline is definitely having a miles earning bonus, too. Visit their site before buying and you might be awarded with not only a big kiss from your sweetie, but a bounty of miles. Definitely see if there is a coupon, too, to save even more.

Bonus tip: depending on when you order your flowers for delivery, you might save a few bucks on the delivery/service fee. Obviously, February 14 is preferable, but if she's flexible, you might save a few bucks by delivering them a day earlier, with a promise of dinner next day.

Happy Valentine's shopping.

Tax Time Tips

2012-01-21T09:14:00.000-05:00

Income tax documents are probably already available to you to start completing your taxes. One excellent source for tax records is your credit card statement--specifically the year end one. I just got a notification from Chase that my 2011 year ends are available.

Here is why they are good to have:

1-Purchases are categorized, such as charity, travel, dining, and entertainment. If you engaged in any of those activities on a volunteer/non-profit basis, and itemize your taxes, they are a good back up to your receipts. Be sure to verify that the organization is in fact a registered non-profit.

2-In a pinch, you can reference these documents while filing your taxes. Receipts are cumbersome and clutter your filing records. Year end statements, saved to a computer, are much more efficient.

3-In an audit situation, handing an auditor a print out of neatly categorized purchases is much better for appearances than a stack of paper, odd-shaped receipts. Think about it.

I am sure there are other good reasons to keep your year end statements for tax purposes and I would like to hear from you on them. In general, they also help with tracking where you spent money and for what purpose.

In closing, a good strategy for filing taxes painlessly, and at little expense, is to use a service such as Tax Act Online. I have been using it for years and there is a lot of basic functionality that is available for free that will help you on your way. Helpful functions include instant calculation of the refund or taxes due, filing tips, simplified language describing complex tax topics.

Maximizing gift cards

2011-12-17T16:16:00.001-05:00

Chances are, you will be receiving a store gift card this holiday season. It's easy to see why. They are convenient, never go out of style, and easy to ship, or even send electronically. But, actually using them might come with some unforeseen headaches, namely, what to do with a balance of only a few dollars left after a purchase. I will discuss what you can do to make sure that gift card is truly a gift and not a lump of a coal.

Did you receive a gift card for something you like? Great! Did you receive a gift card for a restaurant that you never go to, and that was famously mocked in the movie "Office Space?" Not so good. Did you receive a Visa/Amex gift card? There is another strategy you can use to get their full value as well. Let's address each scenario below.

First, for when you received a gift card for a place you like, do a bit of research before buying something to see how much it will cost. Certainly don't overspend, but it's much easier to just use the full value of the gift card in one shot rather than having an annoyingly small amount left. Did you use it all? Good. No? See the next scenario.

Second, if you are not able to use the full value of your gift card and don't want to fork over extra cash in order to use it, or just don't want the gift card period, you can do a couple of things. Depending on how much is left, say, over $10, you can see how much the card is worth on a gift card re-seller aggregator site, such as Gift Card Granny. Visit the site, pop in the name of the retailer, and hope that it is listed. If it's an obscure store, you might be stuck with that balance. But, if its a big name store, such as Home Depot, there's a huge market for their used gift cards. Depending on the site listed on Gift Card Granny, you will take a hair cut between 10-30% of the remaining value From there, you can either get a PayPal credit, or be sent a check.

Third, if you received a cash/debit gift card, they can be used just like credit/debit cards, but sometimes combining them with other payment forms, when you are short the value of your purchase, can be cumbersome. For example, if you have a $25 Visa gift card and an item costs $27, you need to make up the difference somehow, or n item costs $23, and you have a balance. Just as with scenario 2, if you don't want to just spend to use the card, you have a great option. Amazon's gift cards can be purchased for minimal amounts. I recently had $0.24 left on an AMEX gift card and used it to give myself a $0.24 electronic gift card. When I redeemed it, the value just got transferred to my Amazon account and now I can use that towards a future purchase without carrying around a cumbersome debit card.

The bottom line is to not get discouraged with gift cards if you have remaining value. There are viable options that will serve everyone's interests.

AMEX Small Business Saturday is Back!

2011-11-05T08:51:00.001-04:00

If you haven't heard of American Express' Small Business Saturday, get excited. On November 26, spend $25 at a small business and you will receive a statement credit for $25. That's right: spend $25, get $25. All you have to do is register your AMEX card here and then patronize your favorite small business.

Where can I find a small business that accepts AMEX? Easy. Just search using this link and look for "See where you can shop to earn your $25 statement credit."

For more great offers from American Express, you can sync your card here and receive other statement credit promotions and deals.

Review: Proctor and Gamble eStore

2011-10-29T10:11:00.000-04:00

Some time ago, I wrote about P&G launching an eStore to compete not against grocery stores or e-drugstores per se, but assuming against other consumer products companies, such as Unilever, maker of Lever 2000 soap and other products. P&G's hook? $5 flat rate shipping, no matter what you buy. Since the store has been functioning for some time, I figure it was time for a review and comparison.

The first thing I noticed was a slick, clean, and easy to use interface. Products are categorized logically and have a large picture so you know exactly what your buying. The second thing I noticed was the site offered digital coupons, which was a nice surprise. So far, so good. But most importantly, let's talk about prices. How do they compare with other online stores?

Here are a couple of items and how they stack up (without coupons):

Item	Store	Price	Shipping	Total
Gillette Dry Skin Hydrator Body Wash - 16 oz	P&G eStore	$3.99	$5	$8.99
	Drugstore.com	$4.99	$5.99	$10.98
	CVS.com	$4.99	$5.49	$10.48
Tide 2X Ultra Detergent Spring & Renewal	P&G eStore	$8.49	$5.00	$13.49
	Drugstore.com	$8.39	$5.99	$14.38
	CVS.com	$9.39	$5.49	$14.88

The results from this limited experiment are clear: the P&G eStore wins out on a few sample products. However, there are a few things to consider as well in price comparison with the other online retailers. First, after spending $25 (any time) at Drugstore.com, you get free shipping on select items, and the coupons that the P&G eStore listed are also available digitally with Drugstore.com, too. Drugstore.com promo codes via Retailmenot.com or other coupon sites can lower your costs, and you can earn "Drugstore.com Dollars" for for savings on future purchases. Moreover, by shopping through a portal, such as Ebates, you can receive cash back for your purchases. Drugstore.com also participates in the Shop Runner program, which for $79/year, you get "free" two day shipping with no minimum purchase and special savings offers. Several retailers participate in this program.

Second, CVS.com has free shipping after spending a whopping $49 on selected items, they do not seem to have digital coupons for the P&G products as does the eStore and Drugstore.com, but they do have Extra Bucks you can earn just by buying their products, which can be used for future savings. You can also earn Upromise dollars by shopping at CVS.com, and use promo codes to save even more. Just visit Retailmenot.com or Evreward.com for any available coupons.

Bottom line: you have a few viable options to choose from when shopping online for these products. I would stay away from CVS.com if your purchase is going to be under $49. Paying for shipping will mitigate your savings. If you are planning on spending more than $25 anyway, then carefully compare Drugstore.com and the eStore. You will have to pay $5 shipping, but the savings could make it worth it. If you have the time, also check if you are better off just buying the products at the brick and mortar store using regular coupons. Depending on how savvy you are, you might even get them for a lot less, or even free.

Better than just saving money...getting things free

2011-10-01T09:37:00.001-04:00

I speak a great deal about ways to save money when obtaining products and services, but how about just getting them free out right? I was contacted recently (no financial incentive for me) about a site called Ecofreek. Ecofreek searches the web for free and 'for swap/trade' items people no longer need from over 45+ major sources. It is an excellent site for trading what you don't need anymore for things you could use.

The process simple. Once you are on the site, type in what you are looking for, such as a TV. You will then see a listing of everyone who is offering to give one way. You can further refine the search by location. Since the site is an aggregator, it will go to the source of the ad. In my sample, it was craigslist in Kansas City. Of course once there, you can easily figure out how to contact the offeror and arrange for pickup.

Give a shot and tell me what you think. Saving money and saving landfill---what could be better?

How to save money at sporting events

2011-09-17T08:45:00.001-04:00

Typically, going to a major league sporting event can be quite costly, especially if bringing the entire family. There are a couple of ways around purchasing tickets at full price though that can help.

1. If the stadium has group packages, check out the price of buying enough tickets to meet the minimum, even if you don't have enough people who will fill all tickets. Example: you might buy 6 tickets to meet a group discount, but just bring your family of four. There might be a food discount thrown in, too. Bonus: two empty seats to put all of your stuff in.

2. Use search engines like FanSnap that re-sell tickets from a plethora of sources. Even paying the service charge is often worth it than buying direct from the sports venue.

3. Use a scalper. While a little more risky, especially if you are on your own during the transaction, these guys typically have good deals. Tip: make sure the ticket face value is more than or equal to what you are paying and it's for the right day. Unless it's a really hot event, don't give scalpers more than you have to. Bonus tip: you can negotiate a good deal by waiting until the game has started. At that point, unsold tickets will lose value quickly. Finally, if you don't like the offer, walk away!

Ensure you are insured for less...

2011-09-11T10:51:00.001-04:00

Insurance, be it auto, home, or medical is one of those "be glad you had it when you need it" aspects of life. Just when it feels like another bill to pay, all of a sudden you get in an accident or your stuff is stolen, you can say "well, at least I am insured."

While its imperative to keep current on your insurance, it doesn't mean you can't negotiate a better deal when your policy is up for renewal. Here is how you can do it:

1. Shop around on sites like www.insure.com and compare prices and simply drop your carrier if you find a better deal. Be sure your coverage does not lapse, though.

2. Call (more effective) and ask your current insurer straight out if you can get a long time customer discount, because of good credit, no accidents, or the installation of theft prevention devices. In my case, simply saying that I no longer drive to work was enough to get the policy quote knocked down.

3. Call your agent and ask if bundling other insurance together, such as home and auto, will save you money.

Especially with auto insurance, the different coverage levels can be a little confusing to understand, so if you are going to compare apples to applies, it's best to have a print out of your current coverage and see if you can fax/or email it to your carrier to ensure you are getting an accurate quote. I followed that strategy recently and discovered that my home insurer could not beat the deal I was currently getting with my auto insurer, but it was a great exercise regardless.

Like your cable bill, there is competition for your dollars, so if you are going to pay for this the rest of your life, you might as well see what you can do about the price.

Live your life, one daily deal at a time

2011-08-21T09:48:00.002-04:00

Daily deal sites, such as Groupon and LivingSocial, and too many others to mention, are making it possible for the consumer to not have to pay full price for a wide variety of products and services common to their normal routine. I provide a scenario to illustrate my point below:

1. It's about lunch time and you are hungry. Check out LivingSocial's instant deals site where you can check to see what restaurants are having 50% or more off deals. If you have a smartphone, you can download their app and see what offerings are nearby.

2. It's now after work and your hair is looking a mess. The solution: get a haircut, of course, but check to see if there is a Groupon Now deal so all you get is your hair cut and not your wallet.

3. While you are getting your hair cut, you realize that your car is not looking so good these days either and is in need of detailing. But, since there wasn't a daily deal you can recall today, check out re-seller sites like Lifesta, or Dealsgoaround, to see if someone is offering their deal that they can't use. Search by category and location and all of a sudden you don't have to clean your tires by yourself.

4. After a long day, nothing sounds better than watching a movie. But, movies cost too much, so dial up Groupon again and see if there's a discounted movie ticket deal (there usually is).

The bottom line is that if you know you are going to need specific items or services,spend a minute or to on these deal sites, or others I have discussed on my blog, and see if the "man" is offering you a bit of a break. Not only will you save money, you might discover a new local retailer you hadn't tried out before, too.

Good luck with your plan. And, tell me what you did by leaving a comment below.

Check your receipts carefully (revisited topic)

2011-07-24T10:17:00.002-04:00

I have written about checking your receipts carefully before for restaurants and grocery stores, but not for other retail purchases. Yesterday, at a mid-upper scale clothing store, I was quite taken when the taxes the sales rep was going to charge me were about $75 on a $210 purchase. When he read the total charges to me, it didn't sound right, as tax couldn't be that high, but he probably read it back to me wrong, so I just waited for the actual receipt to sign. When I went to sign my receipt, I noticed that it was no joke. Something was clearly wrong, as the store was going to heap on a ~ 36% tax, when it should have been only 6%.

I showed the receipt to the rep and he quickly acknowledged the mistake and credited me back the difference. However, I can't help to wonder if it were he who made the mistake, or the cash register was malfunctioning. Moreover, if it was a machine error, how many others had been affected?

There are two lessons here: first, check your receipts, always; second, know your state sales tax rate. Especially at grocery stores, some items are taxable, and some are not (typically food and drugs). For more information on state sales tax rates, visit the Federation of Tax Administrators' website.

Don't let re-stocking fees un-stock your wallet

2011-07-23T10:34:00.000-04:00

Web shopping is a highly useful, convenient marvel of modern commerce. Discounted merchandise is easy to find, and often even with shipping charges, the savings are far better than sloughing it to the store where you might be "up sold" anyway. However, there are a few perils which I was reminded of recently that make it less appealing at times.

Not to single out smaller stores, their return policies might not exactly favor the customer, unfortunately, as much as "big box" stores. Usually, if you buy something from a large retailer, and must return a purchase, you might get stuck with paying for shipping, either in the form of reduced reimbursement, or store credit, to make up the difference. I don't have a huge problem with this, unless the product was clearly defective. Best case, a straight refund, with no loss for a return.

However, what I do take exception to is the "re-stocking fee," about 15% or more, according to Smart Money. While it's certainly buyer beware when purchasing anything, I don't think customers, provided they are being honest, should have to subsidize a business' operations beyond what they would if they were to take delivery of a product after payment. Case in point, I was told recently that if I returned merchandise I bought, I would be paying for the cost of restocking and shipping the product. In effect, I paid three times for shipping: once for buying the product, once for returning it, and then once again for the business to re-sell the product (their policy said re-stock and shipping fee). On smaller purchases, it's almost not worth returning the product at all. Bum deal.

The take a way here is that unless you know exactly what you are purchasing, it fits, etc., avoid businesses that have such policies. To me, the re-stocking fee is likely almost pure profit. Repeated over and over, one can't help to wonder if it's a nice source of revenue for the company: they exert a little effort in pulling the product off the shelf, charge you to ship to/from them, and then charge you again to put it back on the shelf if you don't like it.

Remember, before you press "ok" and submit your payment, read the return policy.

Don't pay fees to banks you can avoid

2011-05-30T10:16:00.000-04:00

Recent banking reform law implementation means that banks are scrambling for new sources of revenue--don't let it be yours. With the enactment of the Credit Card Act banks and credit card companies must limit interest rates that they can charge you (without work arounds) for credit cards. Moreover, new regulations were placed on overdraft fees, too. With reductions in revenue sources, as a result, fee-free checking/savings accounts are becoming extinct like T-Rex.

But, they don't have to be. Especially with old-school banks, such as Bank of America (full disclosure: my bank), there are account options, such as implementing automatic transfer, and maintaining minimum balances, that if followed, will prevent you from being charged regular monthly fees. If that is too much of a hassle, consider bank shopping at sites like Bank Rate. Their interactive listing allows you to drill down to the specifications you require, such as high[er] interest rates on savings, ATM fee-free transactions at any bank, check writing ability, and a host of other features. Look for a bank that has no fees period, even without a minimum balance.

You already pay enough in bills every month, don't let one be to your bank. They should be paying you. After all, you are lending them your money.

Sell your stuff to Amazon

2011-05-21T10:32:00.000-04:00

The shopping giant, Amazon.com, has a new (or at least new to me) program that allows you to sell your used electronics, books, and DVDs to them. Not to be confused with eBay, but actually selling your unwanted items to Amazon directly. The process works like this:

1. Search their database for what you are trying to offload
2. Prepare a shipping label (free shipping!)
3. Send them your items
4. Get paid in Amazon credits (which you could convert to cash this way)

While you won't get rich off the program, it's a fast way to get compensation for your used items. While you could donate them to Good Will, or another charity, the tax write off won't occur until next April, which means you could be putting that money to better use, in the form of shopping credits, today.

Maximizing your daily deal offers

2011-05-18T17:42:00.000-04:00

By now, you probably have heard of Groupon, who essentially pioneered the (electronic) daily deal service, ahead of other big players that include Buy With Me and Living Social. Although it's exciting to see what these sites offer, just be sure you read the deal's fine print before plunking down your cash. Some deals are quite restrictive and usually have an expiration date that comes all too quickly.

What happens when your daily deal expires? Although it does vary by state, according to this National Conference of State Legislatures chart, you may not be out of luck if the deal expires before you use it. In most cases, you will have several years to use the value of the coupon deal you paid for, but lose the "bonus" part of it.

Example: I had a Groupon for The Grooming Lounge that I wasn't able to use before it expired. So, I called them up and forwarded them my Groupon number. Within a day, I got a code to use in their on-line store for the value of what I had paid. I didn't lose any money, but I did have to spend a few bucks more than I wanted in order to take advantage of the code. I learned my lesson.

On the topic of daily deals, I came across a site called the Deal of the Day, which tracks Groupon-like deals across the web. Check it out, but read the deal details, too.

"Like" this and maybe you can get a coupon for it

2011-04-30T14:13:00.000-04:00

Increasingly, companies are using Facebook and Twitter to engage their current or potential customers. This is of course both good and bad for consumers. Bad because the reason why 600 million users were drawn to Facebook initially, at least, was to keep in touch with friends, family and the like, not to be subject to an onslaught of ads. But, Zuckerberg needs to justify the multi-billion dollar valuation somehow right?

Now, this is a good thing because with more companies involved, it means---deals! When it comes to getting a coupon, points, or entering a contest, I will "like" just about anyone and everyone. Yes, you can call me a sellout, but if there are deals to be had, I will take them. There's a cost, though, in that you give up some privacy. But, I am not concerned. Ever since the advent of the store loyalty card, which you could say goes back about 30 years when American Airlines introduced the frequent flyer program, you gave up your privacy a long time ago.

The next time you are on Facebook or Twitter, which probably won't be too long from now, look up your favorite company and see what they are offering if you agree to be their friend, or follower. You might be pleasantly surprised. And by the way, please tell your friends to like my Facebook page while they are it.

Review: "Extreme Couponing"

2011-04-14T06:26:00.001-04:00

If you haven't already, definitely check out the TLC show "Extreme Couponing," it may just change your perspective on shopping altogether. In case you haven't heard, the 30 minute (well, more like 20 or less) show features so-called 'extreme' shoppers who are able to walk into a grocery store armed with coupons and walk out with carts of groceries--at about 90-100% off. Yes, 100%.

Although the show is a little short on specifics, presumably to preserve the ability to continue facilitating the habits of the shoppers, basically, these couponers spend hours at home clipping coupons and building their "stock." Depending on the store, they employ strategies such as 'double coupons,' coupled with manufacturer's coupons, and other store sales. Occasionally, the prices are so low that the store actually refunds them the difference because the shopper's coupons went over the price of the item.

It's somewhat humorous, somewhat disturbing, and impressive all at once. Finally, last night's show brought some sanity to the mix because the guy featured, the only one so far to have some benevolence for others, was going to donate his wares to troops overseas.

I am interested in how long this show can last. They have had a couple of episodes, which were basically the same. It may be giving the impression that eating bad food is ok, which is kind of irresponsible. Several scenes showed piles of candy, highly sugary cereals, and tons of pizza, only to be followed by a woman buying 40 or so bottles of antacid. One wonders if the diet has something to do with that. I would like the show to take on CVS and see what magic can be performed with ExtraBucks.
Check out the show on Wednesdays at 9pm EDT.

"Extreme Couponing" show coming to TLC

2011-03-28T07:39:00.000-04:00

Get excited, at least I am, about the TLC Channel's newest reality offering, "Extreme Couponing." Starting April 6, viewers can watch profiled so-called "extreme" shoppers who are able to walk in a grocery store armed with coupons and a bit of shopping savvy and save big. Not $10-15, but hundreds consistently.

I am looking forward to it. But, I am not going to recommend all of the strategies they discuss, one of which seems to include buy a lot of bulk food in advance. And, the bulk food purchased neither looks all of that healthy nor totally appealing. Jello for a year? Nevertheless, it should be entertaining to say the least. Hopefully, the shoppers profiled, or ones they inspire, do not end up on another TLC show, "Hoarders."

Enjoy.

P.S. got an idea for a blog topic? Let me know at theconsumersedge@gmail.com, or leave a comment below.

Coupon etiquette

2011-03-07T08:18:00.000-05:00

Here on the blog, I speak a great deal about using coupons. The primary benefit of course is to save money. The secondary benefit, more pyschological, is to impress yourself or your friends/family with your buying prowess. However, just when is it a good time, and not, to use coupons? We'll discuss here.

First, the right times:

1.If you are by yourself. No one is ever going to call you out for being too frugal if you are solely using coupons when you are alone. I am foreshadowing a "do not" here.

2.If you are with someone who you know really well: friend, significant other, or family member.

3.When you can purchase something that you normally would not because of its lack of affordability otherwise.

Second, the wrong times:

1.First dates, or early into a relationship. While you might save some bucks, focusing too much on bargains might make you appear cheap. And, let's face it, no one wants to think that their significant other might choose not to spoil you for the sake of saving money. It can also lead into other manic decision making.

2.In professional settings. Unless you know your fellow diners really well, caution on using coupons in group settings. If you are splitting the check, an inadvertent miscalculation of a check might spoil a good working relationship.

3.If it overly complicates a group dinner. Groupons, Living Social, and Buy With Me-type sites are awesome. You get a huge discount and you might be eating out a restaurant that is otherwise too expensive. However splitting a check with friends involving these coupons, especially after a few cocktails, might complicate the math, thereby causing confusion and hurt feelings if one feels "stiffed."

4.Buying something that would cost more anyway than your budget. Coupons are great marketing tools, but they just might make you overspend. Having a coupon might make you think you are saving money, but if its spending more out of your budget, than you are wasting money.

There are probably many more examples, and I'd love to hear them from you. Bottom line: use coupons wisely.

Free iTunes and a warning about Borders Books

2011-02-27T09:54:00.000-05:00

The Good

The American Express Network has been putting out a lot of great offers lately. Back during the holidays, they were offering statement credits of $25 if you spent $25 at a small business. Today, and until March 15, 2011, they are offering 5 free iTunes credits. Just register for the offer and buy 5 songs. In a few weeks, you will get a credit back on your account.

The Bad

By now, you might have heard that Borders is in dire financial straits. They are closing, or have closed already, a number of their stores throughout the country. From media accounts, they are having liquidation sales which may not be as lucrative for the buyer as anticipated. Moreover, gift cards are still being offered, which if things continue on their current path, may be become worthless. Caution. No telling what will happen with the Borders Rewards program, which is free and generally good with discounts and deals.

Access free streaming music, newspapers, ebooks and more from your library

2011-02-26T09:22:00.000-05:00

Your local library seems to be getting cooler all of the time with the breadth and depth of resources available for free. After registering for a library card, don't just limit your browsing to the 'brick and mortar' building. Go on-line and browse the vast collection of streaming music, ebooks, classes, and even sites like Consumer Reports for free.

Even the smallest library system in the U.S. should have access to a wide array of resources on-line. As I blog, I am listening to John Coltrane from an outside link from the Arlington, VA library system Jazz Music Library. It's awesome. You might even find that you can skip out on having to buy iTunes, or listen to Pandora's commercial-interrupted selection of repeated songs now and again with the library's streaming selections.

To get started, visit the national library directory and find your closest one. Generally, you might not even have to live in the same town or even state to get a card. Major metropolitan regions which border several state might have an agreement that allows one out-of-towners to register.

Gift cards 2.0

2011-02-22T07:42:00.001-05:00

There have been some recent developments in the world of gift carding that are worth mentioning. Several gift card sites now allow you to sell cards using only the gift card number, without having to send in the card itself. A favorite site of mine, Plastic Jungle, will accept sales of gift cards using just the serial number and transfer their value into your Amazon or PayPal account without the need to mail the card in.

And, on the flip side, Plastic Jungle and another site called Card Pool, and others, too out there allow you to buy discounted gift cards (essentially used ones) of varying amounts. Even better, is that Plastic Jungle will sell you a discounted gift card in the form of an eCode which means no waiting for a card to arrive in the mail. I tried this method the other day successfully.

There are a few things to be mindful, though, when selling gift cards. One, you will take a hair cut, or more, when selling them. The sites have to make money some how. Two, you will receive even less value if you try to convert them into PayPal vs. Amazon dollars. There is site called Gift Card Granny that will compare the value to be obtained from selling gift cards or the cost to buy them, listing their discount %. Sites do vary.

My advice, unless you are hard up, or never feel like you will use a gift card you received as a present, stick to buying used gift cards instead. Not only will you get a discount there, you can also plug in a coupon code on top of that to increase your savings. And, for really advanced shopping, use one of the many shopping portals mentioned on the site to get a cash rebate, too.

Save money during tax season

2011-02-20T10:16:00.000-05:00

It's everyone's favorite time of year---tax season. Depending on your situation, it can be quite cumbersome, or quite simple. Regardless, you can take away some of the sting by filing your tax returns using free, or low cost software. Here are some options:

1.IRS e-file, which is available to everyone. Click here for more details. The link also directs you to a page where you might be eligible to file for free. The "gottcha" is that if you want to file state returns, that will likely cost a few bucks.

2.Linked on the e-file site are several IRS approved tax software programs, web and software based. I use Taxactonline as it is user-friendly, keeps data from previous years' returns (which saves re-keying information), seamlessly integrates with state tax return preparation, and points out ways where you can save money on your taxes.

3.If you itemize deductions, write off tax preparation services on Form 1040, Schedule A. It is a legitimate write off to deduct how much you paid for tax preparation. Your individual situation may vary, however, if you don't normally itemize.

4.Coupon codes for tax software. As with any purchase, check to see if there are any discounts for tax software. One example, Taxslayer.com, has a coupon code on Retail Me Not for new customers. There are many others, too.

Regardless of the options, file your taxes by April 18, 2011.

Offermatic is a new rewards site

2011-01-21T07:48:00.000-05:00

This morning, I learned about a new (to me at least) rewards and savings program, Offermatic, that is based on your spending history. The premise is that by analyzing common spending patterns, Offermatic will send you deals and discounts just for registering your credit/debit card.

The program is free and you can sign up here. Registration is simple: sign up and add your credit or debit cards. Behind the scenes, Offermatic is crunching your transaction history to determine where you most often shop. For example, if you shop at Macy's frequently, Offermatic might just offer you a special coupon for them.

There are many more details on their website, but if you activate your membership now, Offermatic is offering a free movie ticket to Fandango.com.

In the future, I will look forward to showcasing the rewards and discounts I have earned just for spending on what I would normally do anyway.

Save money at an arena or stadium near you

2011-01-15T11:22:00.000-05:00

Baseball season cannot come fast enough, but there's one thing I won't be looking forward to is the concession prices. Defying inflation history, these prices seem to go up significantly every year. If you are lucky, there are restaurants or outdoor vendors near the stadium so you can load up first. Of course, you can always bring food to the game, but there are limitations, of course.

One thing to be cognizant of though, if you buy food at the stadium, is food size. While you may think you are buying a large beer or soda, it might in fact be a small one in disguise as these fans found out. Through a few tricks with cup shape and size, it appears that the same amount of beverage was sold at a higher price. Not saying this happens everywhere, but it's something to be on the look out for. And, by all means, don't buy the souvenir cups. They charge more for them, and if you really want one, chances are that someone will leave one behind after the game. Just a little soap and water will do.

Ironically, I am not as concerned with ticket prices. According to Major League Baseball, and personal experience, some clubs are even lowering ticket prices for the 2011 season. You can attribute low attendance and a flagging economic situation for most of the country still to blame for that. Plus, with the proliferation in sites like Groupon, Living Social, Buy With Me, and others, there will be opportunities to obtain quality seats at a discount.

Now, if only players could lower the salaries, that might have an impact, too. Nah, that will never happen.