discount shopping

Don't Make These 5 Laptop-Buying Mistakes

Nayri Leanna Gregor — Thu, 03 Oct 2013 09:48:03 +0000

Shopping for a new laptop can be fun and exciting, but don't let that cloud your judgment, or you may end up with a shiny new piece of technology that costs too much, weighs too much, and does too little. Before making your next laptop purchase consider these "don'ts" of buying a laptop, and you can avoid one of the most common, financially costly mistakes made by consumers. (See also: The Best Back-to-School Laptops)

1. Don't Buy the Wrong Laptop for the Right Price

Buying technology that doesn't actually suit your needs is a bad deal no matter how little you paid for it.

The general rule of thumb for electronics is the better the price, the worse the performance. To ensure that you're buying a laptop that does what you need it to do, start your search by knowing exactly what you will be using it for. Next, check the specs and user reviews to find out as many product details as you possibly can. (See also: What to Look for in a Laptop)

Finding the Right Laptop

For students and professionals who need a portable computer for daily work and travel, look for a laptop that weighs around five pounds and has a smaller monitor size because bigger screens can't even be fully opened on some planes.
For laptops that will be used in place of desktop computers and will mostly stay at home, go for the big monitor with all the bells and whistles — and a large screen with high resolution for watching movies, TV, and playing games.
If you only use a laptop to send emails and surf the net, then you're free to look for a bargain for any type of laptop at any size.

2. Don't Buy Brand Hype and Marketing

Yes, Apple is the talk of the town with an excellent reputation… But, in a feature-to-feature comparison by Gizmag, the KIRAbook from Toshiba stands up to the MacBook Pro in almost every way: "The specs of each competing device's lowest-priced models are almost identical, with the exception of storage, where the KIRAbook doubles the MacBook Pro's offering of 128 GB to 256 GB."

Similarly, Alienware is the "it" brand for gaming laptops, but when compared to a Qosmio, it turned out to be more expensive, with lesser value.

The Qosmio X70-ABT2G22 is priced at $1,250 before customization. Standard features include an Intel Core i7 processor, 1TB hard drive, a 17.3" LED backlit display (1920x1080), and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770M 3GB performance graphics. In order to match the screen quality with an Alienware, you need to pay for an upgrade, and the same goes for the performance graphics. With a starting price difference of $400, you need to spend an extra $400 in upgrades to get the machines roughly on par. To get an Alienware to roughly equal the specs offered by the Qosmio resulted in an $800 price difference!

So don't forget — shop the specs and not the brand when buying your next machine. You'll be surprised at how much you can save.

Compile a list of your needs and compare the features, spec by spec. Throw your brand loyalty out the window and read before making a final decision. Read reviews from neutral sources and ignore deals with tons of extras, like software, unless those extras are things you would actually spend money on anyway. (See also: How We Brainwash Ourselves Into Brand Loyalty)

3. Don't Wait for Holiday Sales and Deals

Back-to-school and holiday sales are well advertised and may be a good time to get the precise model a company is pushing but not necessarily the best deal overall. In fact, Decide.com looked at the pricing information for 6,000 laptops over three years and concluded that the best laptop prices occur during mid-summer, before back-to-school season and again right before Christmas during "last-minute" shopping.

Retailers push out more sales and discounts during the holiday season, but are these deals better compared to other times of the year? The answer is no.

Because most consumers are in the mindset to buy during the holidays, retailers play off of this weakness and pump out a higher quantity of deals, but the quality of a deal is what makes the difference on how much money you save.

According to CouponPal.com, their HP coupon code offers drove 10% more sales during the summer than the year-end holidays with comparable site traffic, due to more aggressive back-to-school savings options for laptop buyers. Once you have narrowed down your search and know which laptop you want, start monitoring prices and deals for a few weeks, and to save time, set up a price alert to get email notifications when the price of a desired item drops.

4. Don't Pay for an Extended Warranty

Extended warranties might make you feel like you're covered, but when it comes to laptops, it's more often than not a waste of money. The reason being, most laptop failures occur long after the standard warranty expires, and most repairs cost around the same amount as the warranty. (See also: Get Free Extended Warranty From Your Credit Card)

Consumer Reports advises against extended warranties with two exceptions:

If you travel frequently with your laptop and the warranty includes coverage for theft or damage.
If you're buying an Apple product and want extended tech support; tech support coverage from Apple can be skimpy if you don't have a service contract.

5. Don't Overlook the Benefits of Bundling

Some consumers make an automatic assumption that a bundle price is a rip-off and that the manufacturer is just trying to sell a bunch of extra stuff you don't need. However, buying a new laptop can lead to additional purchases including a carrying case, mouse, screen protector, keyboard cover, and so on. Bundling your laptop and accessory needs can help you save more money. By putting some thought into which accessories you may potentially need, you can take advantage of bundling discounts and save on all related items in one fell swoop.

What's your best laptop purchase advice?

This article is from Nayri Leanna Gregor of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

All the Savings Under the Sun: 12 Essential Daily Deal Sites

Rebecca Leib — Mon, 09 Sep 2013 09:37:19 +0000

In recent years, daily deals and daily deal sites have been booming with opportunities for serious city-centric savings. More than ever, these sites make it easy for the savvy online shopper to get the price cuts and deals they so crave. Here are the essential sites that host the best and most exciting daily deals. (See also: Get the Most Out of Daily Deal Sites)

Groupon

The daily deal trailblazer, Groupon corners the market on all-around deal coverage. Save on practically every service you can imagine with Groupon — from fixing your car to fixing your golf swing. And not only is Groupon super useful, it's easy to use and the descriptions are informative with a witty edge.

Living Social

The marketplace to share and buy at bargain prices, Living Social seeks to share the best deals in every city. It's simple to use and easy to share, with referral discounts and lots of daily savings.

Eversave

Eversave not only boasts daily deals, but also includes printable coupons, an app, a blog, and a partnership program for writers and fellow online aficionados. Eversave is also great for people who like to patronize the same site for their deals. Stick with Eversave, and they'll gift you with priority on deals, specials, discounts, and loyalty benefits.

Plum District

Plum District offers daily deals for families, and specifically for moms who appreciate a great deal. From crafting to travel, Plum District is a community-conscious, chic, search-friendly site for active families in every area.

Amazon Local

The Amazon we know and love also does daily deals. Meet Amazon Local, the friendliest deal site with exclusive deals for every city. With easy shipping and lots of ways to share daily deals, Amazon Local is truly a way to connect to your city's best deals and hidden treasures.

Gilt City

Gilt City is an "insider's" daily deal site, and promises that you'll get the finest, most exclusive offers and memorable adventures that will make you fall in love with your city all over again. Sound good, especially paired with that $25 credit when you refer a friend. (See also: Discount Luxury)

Dealchicken

Dealchicken has deep savings on everything from electronics to golf. Dealchicken has an upbeat design and an interface that shows how much you've saved on each deal, and how to quickly redeem and share.

Ethicaldeal

Ethicaldeal isn't your average daily deal site; it strives to bring you deals and help the earth. With "making green mainstream" as its slogan, Ethicaldeal assists buyers in making greener choices by offering discounts on lots of incredible, eco-friendly services. (See also: 26 Green Websites That Save You Money)

Mamasource by Mamapedia

Mamasource is a network of moms from around the country who host daily deals to make parenthood easier on the wallet. With an emphasis on customer service, Mamasource offers lots of help and returns, plus unique deals up 90% off retail prices.

Groopdealz

Groopdealz functions a lot like Etsy with simple, readable deals every day, often from local and independent buyers. The site corners the market on crafty, featuring jewelry, clothes, and home goods with a unique flair. Free shipping on some items makes Groopdealz all the more buyer-friendly. (See also: Fine Art Makes Fine Gifts)

Half Off Depot

With an emphasis on social, entertainment and adventure deals, Half Off Depot is the place to go if you want to explore your city! A friendly interface and searchable by city or activity, Half Off Depot will make any day more fun…on the cheap!

Moolala.com

Moolala offers an exciting deal from a local or online merchants straight to your inbox, every day. Each deal saves 50%-90% off the product or service's retail price, which means you've got money to spend on the next day's awesome deal.

What are your favorite daily deal sites?

This article is from Rebecca Leib of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

How to Find the Best Stuff at HomeGoods

Kelly Medeiros — Wed, 07 Aug 2013 09:48:32 +0000

If you aren't yet a HomeGoods devotee, then maybe it's time to check out everything these stores have to offer. Owned by the TJX Companies, this popular chain of discount home furnishing stores complements the company's well-known TJ Maxx and Marshalls apparel stores. HomeGoods is a gold mine for finding everything from dining chairs to dog beds at deeply discounted prices (up to 66% off regular department store prices to be exact). (5 Frugal Rules You Must Follow When Shopping at Costco)

Unfortunately, because of the store's popularity and steep discounts, finding just what you're looking for can be challenging. But with these useful HomeGoods shopping tips, you will always bring home the biggest savings and the best finds.

Know When to Shop

The unique, ever-changing, affordable inventory at HomeGoods is enough to make any decorator or homeowner shout with glee. This does mean, however, that popular items, like Le Creuset bakeware and limited edition art prints, get snapped up quickly. The good news is that most HomeGoods locations restock weekly, if not daily. Therefore, shopping the store about an hour after it opens works best. This gives the staff enough time to stock the new goods of the day and gets you there early enough to snag the best stuff before things get picked over. Weekdays are also a plus as there tends to be less competition by avoiding the weekend rush.

Where to Look for $10 Gifts

Economical gifts are abundant throughout HomeGoods stores, but there are always some great go-to options under $10.

In the decorative glass section, check out the authentic, hand-blown vases, bowls, and figurines from Poland and Italy for under $10.
The stationery area always has decorative note cards, journals, and other pretty paper goods.
The candle section is also worth a stop, where you'll find candles in unique colors and sizes for just a few dollars.
Decorative dishtowels, cloth napkins, and fancy pump soaps make other great, cheap gifts.
Finally, head over to the kids' department for some extremely discounted brand name toys and classic books.

Scope Out All the Departments

Thinking outside the box can score you some unique finds at HomeGoods. For example, think about searching the sea of outdoor furniture and accents and bringing them indoors.

I have found small, outdoor tables and plant stands that make excellent nightstands or hall tables. By perusing other departments, you may land a piece that can surprise you. This is true of a fantastic gold garden stool I once found in the outdoor area, which is now a side table in my formal living room. I have even used a small storage vanity from the bath section as an end table. Check out the store's site for great designer inspired ideas for every taste.

Always Check Out the Seasonal Stuff

Around the holidays, the seasonal decor virtually takes over the front half of the store. This makes HomeGoods one of the cheapest and most well-stocked places for Halloween, Christmas, and Hanukkah decor. It's also definitely worth checking out other seasonal items as well. Come spring and summer, garden-inspired accents, beachy decor, and an array of outdoor items hit the floors, all with steep discounts.

Look for Items That Need a Little Makeover

You may not think of HomeGoods for your DIY project, but many good finds make for inexpensive, one-of-a-kind pieces. Examples include the multitude of tables for sale, which can be easily transformed at home with paint, lacquer, or stain into whatever you can dream up.

Chairs are also abundant, and you can easily change up the fabric for your own look. The same goes for the many beautiful mirrors and frames, as a new finish is a simple project.

My favorite HomeGoods DIY project started with a small, brown wooden end table I scored for $29. I transformed it with some gray paint, nailhead trim, and colored stones into a really cool piece.

Consider the TJX Rewards Card

I am not one to promote opening another credit card, but if you are going to be shopping HomeGoods, TJ Maxx, or Marshalls on a regular basis, then a TJX rewards credit card may be a money-saving option. This is only true IF you can always pay off the balance each month, since it will carry a very high APR. The TJX rewards card has a point system where 1,000 points earns you a $10 in-store reward certificate, and you can earn 5 points for every $1 spent at any TJX store. This equates to $10 back on every $200 spent, or as I like to think of it, 5% off of all of my HomeGoods purchases. The rewards never expire and there is no limit on how many you can earn and redeem at one time. You also get 10% off your first in-store purchase when you open the card.

The real fun of shopping at HomeGoods comes from their ability to provide a selection of discounted, quality inventory, since the stores' buyers continually handpick items from a variety of vendors and name-brand retailers. For me, I always get a thrill from finding a treasure at an amazing price.

Are you a HomeGoods shopper? What's been your best find?

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This article is from Kelly Medeiros of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

8 Online Stores With Surprisingly Great Clothing Deals

Kelly Medeiros — Mon, 08 Jul 2013 09:48:32 +0000

In the quest to find fantastic clothing online without spending a fortune, there are some key discount sites that always seem to be at the top of the list (think Bluefly and 6pm). While these sites are awesome in their own right, there are also some other full-price retailers offering up great, regular sale selections or seasonal promotions that may actually surprise you. (See also: 12 Ways to Save Cash on New Clothes)

1. Nordstrom: Half-Yearly Sales and The Rack

If timed just right, Nordstrom is a great online resource for finding numerous high-end brands at wonderful savings. They hold their well-known "Half-Yearly Sales" online for women and kids in May and November, and for men in mid-June and late December. They also advertise their "July Nordstrom Anniversary Sale" as a big way to save on new fall styles for the coming year.

During last November's online sale, I nabbed a fantastic Michael Kors dress for under $50, which I wore to numerous holiday events and even to my high school reunion. The other great thing about the Nordstrom site is their online sale area, The Rack. It is full of good deals pretty much all year long. And don't forget they offer free shipping and returns, which is a nice bonus.

2. Ralph Lauren: Sale Area and Private Sale Events

Far from being a site to peddle cheap wares, Ralph Lauren's sale area does offer some decent savings, especially for babies and children. Seasonal promotions make sale items even more affordable, as additional savings are tacked onto a large selection of already reduced merchandise. They also have private sales during the year that offer up to 40% off, plus an additional 15% using a sales code, which they promote through mailed invites to previous customers. As a nice touch, all gift orders have complimentary gift packaging, consisting of a handsome signature Ralph Lauren gift box.

During the last private spring sale, I stocked up on some newborn clothing gifts for several friends, all well under $20, complete with pony emblem and fancy gift box.

3. Piperlime: Girl on a Budget and Sale Area

Besides free shipping and returns with no minimum order, this beacon of the Gap empire is a gold mine of name-brand apparel, shoes, and accessories. Launched in 2006, Piperlime's trendy boutique setup showcases a number of picks from well-known industry stylists. The Girl on a Budget area displays the site's best picks by category under affordable dollar thresholds. Additionally, Piperlime's sale area is always well stocked with deals on high-end brands and savings on chic, affordable names, like Tinley Road, Pim + Larkin and Hive & Honey.

Piperlime also often mails out regular discount codes for returning customers. The men's section has apparel and shoe sales areas as well. For now, the kids area is just shoes, but here's hoping it expands to apparel one day.

4. Lands End: On the Counter

Think beyond plain khakis and sensible polos, and you can hunt out other stylish basics for the whole family at Lands End's On the Counter sale area. A limited number of discounted items are placed for sale in this area each Saturday. On Monday, if the items are not already sold out, any remaining items are marked down an additional 25%. As the week progresses, further discounting takes place, including another 50% markdown on Wednesday and finally 75% by Friday. Things go quickly, and there are limited sizes and styles, so not many items make it until Friday. If you play your cards right with this version of discount gambling, however, you can hold out for almost unheard of savings.

5. Shopbop: Sale Area

If you haven't checked out Shopbop, make sure you first get comfortable because you will need plenty of time to explore the thousands of tops, slacks, dresses, shoes and accessories.

Normally this site is not for the faint of heart, as they carry many luxury brands and high-end, boutique labels, which are by no means bargain shopping. However, they are one of the few online retailers that always has one of the most plentiful sale sections (as in several thousand items), which not only offers some amazing deals, but also remains continually stocked year-round. Additionally, they offer seasonal promotions that slash already discounted sale items even further. Another plus is that Shopbop also has free 3-day shipping on any order.

6. Anthropologie: Sale Area

It's hard to believe Anthropologie has been around for 20 years, but the grown-up version of Urban Outfitters certainly offers unique clothing choices, often with a vintage feel.

Score some great finds under the Anthropologie sale area, which is analogous to the bountiful sale racks found in their bricks and mortar stores. Oftentimes, you can find items discounted up to 60%. Time it during seasonal sales as well, like mid-summer or after the holidays, and you can score some amazing bargains with a greater inventory selection to pick from.

7. Look.com: Outlet

Yes, this is for kids only, but the latest (and tenth) site under the Diapers.com name is dedicated to clothing and shoes for babies, toddlers, and kids sizes 4-14. Check out the site's Look Outlet, which always seems to have decent options. Things like kid's Crocs for 30% off and Carter's clothes and pajamas for as much as 60% off always seem to be available here. They also have a seasonal section where you can stock up for the coming year with massive discounts on off-season items. All the Diapers.com sites have now lowered their free shipping threshold from orders of $50 to $35, which is also helpful.

8. REVOLVEclothing: Sale Area

Launched in 2003, this online shopping boutique carries over 500 trendy designers and luxury names for men and women. While this doesn't always equate to bargains, head to REVOLVE's sale area and you can easily score something chic for a fraction of the full retail price. The sale area is extremely easy to navigate with search options by brand, date of markdown, percentage off, size, color and price range, which allows you to really narrow down your search in the sea of options. The site also has a great fashion blog to boot. Finally, free shipping and free returns with no minimum order is an added bonus.

Where do you find the best sales and discounts on clothing online?

This article is from Kelly Medeiros of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Are Outlet Malls Worth Your Time?

Janey Osterlind — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 12:00:08 +0000

One of the bonuses of traveling for work is discovering new things in the towns where I travel, like a great restaurant, boutique, or indie movie theater. I came across one such find last month that gave me particular joy — an outlet mall. Few things make me as excited as knowing I bought three new outfits for the price of two — and at my favorite store, no less! But are outlet malls really such good deals? A recent article on MSN.com sheds some light on why outlet malls might not be as attractive as I first thought. (See also: 12 Ways to Save Cash on New Clothes)

They’re Inconvenient

Ever notice that outlet malls are on your way to a big city, but not in them? It’s no coincidence that outlets are so inconveniently located: Land is less expensive when it is located further from a metropolitan area, making it more lucrative for developers to construct the malls and allowing owners to charge less rent from the stores. Another reason for the inaccessible locales is psychological: If people have to travel further, they want to make the trip worth their while, which often translates into more money spent per trip.

The Items Are Lower Quality

Sometimes, your favorite retailer ships damaged or overstocked goods to its outlet location. Sometimes, it just produces cheaper goods and sews on the same label. Difference in quality could translate into a difference in material, hems and buttonholes, and cut of the fabric. One way to determine whether your favorite retailer manufactures items solely for its outlet is to check the label. If there is an “F” for factory outlet, it was made specifically for the discount store.

The Savings Really Are Too Good to Be True

Sure, it feels wonderful to save 60% on an item, but what was the original price of that item? The MSN article mentions that both "the Federal Trade Commission and the Council of Better Business Bureaus have detailed pricing guidelines and many states have pricing laws," but that inflated prices are not uncommon. As it turns out, my joy at seeing a 60% off sticker could be misguided.

Despite these negatives, outlet malls can still yield some good finds. A recent article from SmartMoney magazine gives some good tips to make the most of the discount retail centers. Many retailers, including J. Crew, J.C. Penney, and Crate & Barrel, are making the move to an online outlet presence, which makes it easier to compare prices and take advantage of deals when you might not be able to make a trip to a brick-and-mortar store. You should also take advantage of coupons at outlets. Yes, they do exist: Outlet mall developer Chelsea Premium Outlets created a VIP Club that offers members coupons and sales alerts. I’m a member of the club and regularly save 15% on outlet prices.

While I can’t say I’ve definitively answered the question of whether outlet malls are worth it, I do think after reading these articles that I’m a little more aware of the costs of outlets and the ways to save beyond the already low prices. I hope it helps you score some fabulous deals on your own shopping excursions!

This article is from Janey Osterlind of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread: