WalMart

Best Money Tips: 30+ Ways to Save Money at Walmart

Amy Lu — Thu, 02 Feb 2017 10:30:30 +0000

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips Roundup! Today we found articles on simple ways to save money at Walmart, how to have a green Super Bowl party, and hidden fees to watch out for.

The 8 Things That Are Always Cheaper at Target

Kyle James — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 12:15:21 +0000

There is no arguing the fact that Target has a very loyal following among many shoppers. While they might not always have the lowest prices, they certainly attract consumers who'll happily pay a little extra to avoid the crowded aisles of other discounters.

But there are certain items which are almost always cheaper at Target compared to other retailers. Here are eight such items that'll save you money on your next Target shopping trip. (See also: The Best Store Credit Card: Target REDcard)

(Note: Prices below as of October, 2015.)

1. "Green" Cleaning Products

Not only has Target led the natural cleaning trend over the past few years, but they often do it at a price lower than the competition. For example, Target sells the 28oz bottle of Method All-Surface Cleaner for an affordable $2.99, while Walmart sells the same product for $5.49 and Amazon sells it for $8.00.

Another great example is Green Works laundry detergent in the 90oz size; at Target you'll pay $11.99, while you'll pay $23.27 at Walmart, and $19.21 at Amazon. You'll also find similar savings at Target on other popular natural cleaning brands, like J.R. Watkins, Honest, and Seventh Generation.

2. Kids' Bedding and Decor

When buying bedding for your child's room, your wallet will likely benefit greatly from shopping at Target. You'll find steep savings on sheet and comforter sets, throw blankets, and even decorative pillows. This is especially true when buying "character" bedding from Star Wars, Disney, and Sesame Street. For example, you can purchase the popular Star Wars Classic Twin Sheet Set from Target for $19.79, while you'll have to pay $26.07 on Amazon. If you're shopping for a girl, you'll also save at Target, as you can buy the four-piece Disney Frozen bed set for $31.49 where you'll have to pay $36.97 at Walmart.

3. Photo Frames

When compared to the competition, Target is a great place to shop for picture frames and save money. While they easily beat the price at specialty stores like Michaels and Jo-Ann Fabric, they surprisingly also undercut the likes of Walmart and Amazon. For example, at Target you can buy 8x10 inch frames (set of two for $13.99, while you'll have to pay $19.97 at Walmart and $18.99 at Amazon.

The savings you'll find at Target aren't limited to the popular 8x10 size — it's seen across all picture frame sizes and designs. Plus, they often have coupons available via their Cartwheel app on home items and décor that will bring the price down even further.

4. Beauty Items

Target is where you'll get the most bang for your buck when buying cosmetics and makeup. While prices are generally better at Target when compared to Amazon, Walmart, and Macy's, the real savings comes in the gift card deals they offer. A current example is a free $5 Target gift card when you buy three L'Oreal products. When the gift card is factored into the price, Target easily beats the competition.

Other examples include a free $5 Target gift card with the purchase of three Aveeno items, and buy one, get one for 50% off with all fragrances. Also, be sure to always check for printable Target coupons before you visit to ensure you get the lowest price on beauty items.

5. Name-Brand Baby Gear

Brands like Graco, Britax, and Evenflo are often cheapest at Target. For example, Target currently sells the Graco Pack 'N Play Playard for $59.99 (color: Pasadena), while the cheapest color currently on Amazon is $69.97. The same can be said for the Evenflo High-Back Booster seat; you'll find it for $33.99 at Target and have to pay $39.98 at Amazon, $35.98 at Walmart, and $39.99 at Babies R Us. It's always a smart idea to check pricing at Target before buying baby products, as you'll often find the lowest price.

6. Men's Deodorant

Target is a great place to save money on deodorant and anti-perspirant for men. For example, Target sells the two-pack of men's Old Spice High Endurance Deodorant for $3.97, while Walmart sells the same product for $5.97. Also, you can find a two-pack of Axe Phoenix Anti-Perspirant at Target for $6.29, compared to $7.37 at Walmart. I found similar savings on other popular brands like Gillette, Degree, and Dove Men's Care as well.

For whatever reason, women's deodorant is cheaper across the board at Walmart and Amazon. But if you're a guy, or buying for one, purchase from Target and take advantage of the lower prices.

7. Tall Kitchen Bags

This one might seem a bit random, but kitchen trash bags — the tall variety — are 25% cheaper at Target compared to Walmart. Specifically, I'm talking about the store brand at each store. At Target, you can get the Up & Up brand in a 110 count box for $9.99, while you'll pay $12.52 for a box of only 100 bags of the Walmart brand. Both bags received strong customer reviews, making the Target brand a solid buy.

8. Wedding Registry Gifts

Because of the exclusive discounts they offer, wedding registry gifts are simply cheaper at Target. If the wedding couple registered at several stores, and Target is one of them, always choose to shop with them and you'll save. For example, they currently have a discount code (WEDDING20) that is good for 20% off your $100 or more regular-priced wedding registry gift. So if you're buying the couple the KitchenAid Mixer they registered for, you'll only pay $200 instead of $250 — a price that beats all of the major competition.

By the way, having been married for 15 years, I can honestly say that this mixer is the only gift we received that we still use today. It clearly falls under the category of quality items worth the price.

By knowing the items at Target that provide the most savings, you can plan your next trip accordingly and save money. Also, it's worth noting that most of the products listed above provide the same savings in-store as they do online. Happy savings.

What items, if any, do you usually find cheaper at Target compared to other major retailers?

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

Walmart vs. Sam's Club: Who Actually Has the Better Deals?

Kyle James — Thu, 01 Oct 2015 15:01:05 +0000

Can you save enough money at Sam's Club, compared to Walmart, to justify the $45 annual membership fee? I did the research and compared the pricing on over 100 everyday items at both retailers. The price tags were very similar on the majority of the items I examined. But interestingly, I did find 12 commonly-used products that had a fairly drastic price difference at one retailer compared to the other.

If you purchase any of these items frequently, it might make the difference in choosing a preferred retailer. Below are the products that offer the biggest savings when comparing Sam's pricing to that of Walmart's.

1. Over-the-Counter Medications (Winner: Sam's Club)

Sam's Club is the clear winner when it comes to over-the-counter medications. A great example is 10mg Zyrtec Allergy tablets. At Sam's you can get a 100-count package for $29.98, while you'll have to pay $34.94 at Walmart for only 70 tablets. The same holds true for Benadryl Allergy, where a 48-count box at Sam's goes for $4.89; you'll have to pay $6.48 for the same at Walmart. The price differences extend way beyond allergy medications, as well. For example, Advil tablets at Sam's cost $16.39 for a 360-count bottle, while a 300-count bottle at Walmart sells for $18.48.

2. Alcohol (Winner: Sam's Club)

If you buy alcohol on a regular basis, a Sam's membership will easily pay for itself in terms of savings. For example, Jack Daniels Whiskey sells for $0.55 an ounce at Sam's compared to $0.66 at your local Walmart. In general, this holds true for other spirits as well, including wine and beer. Note that non-members can also buy booze from Sam's Club (and other membership warehouse stores such as Costco).

3. Sports Drinks (Winner: Sam's Club)

If you have kids that play sports and consume Gatorade or PowerAde during games and practices, you'll want to stock up at Sam's Club and save money. For example, Sam's sells a 28-pack of 12oz Gatorades for $10.48, or $0.03 an ounce. In contrast, Walmart sells an 18-pack of the same size bottles for $8.68, or $0.04 an ounce. Over the course of a sports season, the savings is significant, especially if you're assigned a game to bring snacks and drinks for the entire team.

4. Breakfast Cereal (Winner: Sam's Club)

If breakfast cereal is eaten in your home most mornings, you'll want to stock up at Sam's Club and save. At Sam's, you can buy a two-pack of Cheerios (41 ounces in total) for $5.68, or an affordable $0.13 an ounce. Compare that with Walmart, who sells an 18oz box for $3.68, and you'll end up paying a hefty $0.20 an ounce for Cheerios. Cheerios not your thing? Not a problem, as you'll find similar savings at Sam's on favorites like Froot Loops, Frosted Flakes, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, and Raisin Bran, to name a few.

5. Frozen Pizza (Winner: Sam's Club)

When it comes to a delicious frozen pizza, Sam's is where you'll save the most money. For example, a DiGiorno Rising Crust Pepperoni Pizza at Sam's costs $4.66 compared to $5.47 at Walmart. Also, it should be pointed out that while Sam's only offers a three-pack of pizzas, you can buy them individually at Walmart. But if you have the freezer space, buying the three-pack for an affordable $13.98 is the best way to go.

6. Peanut Butter (Winner: Sam's Club)

I found this price battle interesting as both Walmart and Sam's stock the Skippy Creamy Peanut Butter pack of two jars, 40 ounces each. The Sam's price is $9.18, while Walmart is over a dollar and a half more at $10.78. Sam's is also cheaper for JIF peanut butter, but the savings is not as significant as it is with Skippy for some reason.

7. Diapers (Winner: Sam's Club)

If diapers are currently on your shopping list, you're well served buying them at Sam's. For example, a 162-count box of Pampers (size 2) at Sam's runs $33.98, or $0.21 each, while the same size at Walmart will cost you over $0.25 each. Four cents might not seem like much until you start adding up how many diapers you'll need before you can potty-train. Similar savings can be found on Huggies and Luvs as well, in all sizes.

8. Laundry Detergent (Winner: Sam's Club)

While Sam's Club sells larger sizes than Walmart, Sam's beats them in price across the board when it comes to laundry detergent. For example, Sam's has Tide Original Liquid Detergent for $0.095 an ounce while Walmart comes in at almost $0.12 an ounce. Also, All Stainlifter detergent sells for $.071 per ounce at Walmart compared to the cheaper version at Sam's which sells for $0.06 an ounce. While the savings seems small in terms of ounces, it really adds up over the course of a year, especially if you're doing laundry for a large family.

9. Shampoo and Conditioner (Winner: Sam's Club)

When buying shampoo and conditioner, Sam's is clearly the place to shop. They currently sell a 40oz bottle of Pantene Pro-V shampoo for $5.88 while Walmart sells a smaller 29oz bottle for a more expensive $6.42. The same can be said for Nexxus Therappe shampoo which Sam's sells for $0.40 an ounce, compared to $0.45 at Walmart. I couldn't find a single example where Walmart had a better per unit price, compared to Sam's, on shampoo or conditioner.

10. Hot Dogs/Sausage (Winner: Walmart)

I'm not sure exactly why, but you'll almost always score a better deal on hot dogs and sausages at Walmart compared to Sam's Club prices. For example, you can buy a 16-count package of Ball Park franks at Walmart for $0.37 each, while you'll have to buy a 24-count package at Sam's and pay close to $0.40 each.

11. Frozen Fish (Winner: Walmart)

When it comes to frozen fish, the prices at Walmart are an easy catch when compared to Sam's. At Walmart, wild salmon fillets in a two-pound bag sell for $9.86, which comes out to $0.31 an ounce. If you head over to Sam's, you'll find that they carry farmed Atlantic salmon, in a three-pound bag, which goes for $22.47, or $0.47 an ounce. Doing some quick math, Walmart is approximately 30% cheaper than Sam's. If salmon is not your thing, you'll find similar savings at Walmart on tilapia and even the tasty fish stick.

12. Blank Media (Winner: Walmart)

In particular, I'm talking about blank CDs and DVDs and Walmart is cheaper across the board. For example, the Verbatim DVD-R 100-pack sells for a low $20.40 on Walmart, compared to $22.48 at Sam's. The same can be said for blank CDs; Walmart sells the Verbatim 100-pack for $16.99, whereas Sam's has the same product for $17.97.

Sam's Club clearly won my pricing challenge by a score of nine to three, making a Sam's membership worth the $45 annual fee in many cases. This is especially true if you're accustomed to buying in bulk for a large family, because most of the packaging at Sam's is bigger in size and will last longer. That's a good problem to have, assuming you have the storage space, as it means fewer trips to the store and more money in your wallet at the end of the month.

Do you have a Sam's Club membership? If so, what items have you discovered that provide the most savings?

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

These Secrets of Amazon's Pricing Strategy Will Help You Find the Best Buys

Kyle James — Mon, 25 May 2015 13:00:13 +0000

It can be easy for Amazon customers to assume they're always getting the best price. As a matter of fact, that's exactly what the marketing geniuses at Amazon want you to do. They don't want you to compare prices with Walmart; instead they want you to perceive them as always having the lowest price.

They do this by pricing a few, popular items lower than Walmart does in an effort to build your perception of them as a low-price leader. By knowing which items undercut Walmart's pricing — and which don't — you can become a more informed shopper and save money in the process.

Items That Are Cheaper at Amazon

Spotting the loss leaders at Amazon is not hard. After all, they want you to find the lower prices for their marketing to work.

Items With a High Customer (Star) Rating

A recent study from Boomerang Commerce showed that, in an effort to be perceived as a low price leader, Amazon purposefully undercuts the Walmart price on products with a high star rating. (A high rating is anything over four stars.)

By analyzing millions of orders over the years, Amazon has realized that a great way to build loyal customers is to beat the competition on products that people are gobbling up due to the glowing opinions of fellow shoppers. Use this to your advantage by gravitating toward products with at least a four-star rating, especially when there are at least 50 reviews. It's a bit of a follower's mentality, but you'll find it really does hold true, especially when shopping for small electronics, toys, and video games.

Highly Visible Products

Another category of products that Amazon sells cheaper than Walmart is highly visible and popular items. In other words, items that have a lot of buzz around them and are often featured on the Amazon homepage or highlighted on specific product category pages. Again, the perception of having the lowest price means a lot to Amazon, so when a product has a lot of eyes on it, Amazon will tend to price it lower than Walmart. Examples of some popular and highly visible items that consistently beat Walmart include the popular Fitbit Charge Activity Wristband, Dyson vacuum cleaners, Keurig coffee makers, and the Jawbone Wireless Speaker.

Items That Are Bad Buys at Amazon

Amazon obviously can't undercut the Walmart price on every product. With Walmart's enormous buying power, and reputation for pressuring suppliers to lower prices, it simply can't be done. This means Amazon often raises the prices on other products to make up the difference. These "other products" are items that are not very glamorous in nature and tend to be more "needs" than "wants."

Consumer Electronic Add-Ons

If you score a great deal on a HDTV from Amazon, beware of add-ons like cables, wall mounts, and screen cleaners, as they're typically marked-up. Other examples of add-ons that can be marked up include things like a wireless mouse when buying a laptop, and a protective case or charging station for your new Kindle. In many cases, Amazon will try to pad their profits on these add-ons making them not such a great deal for shoppers.

Household Items

Amazon has the reputation of being up to 20% more expensive than Walmart when shopping for household items like laundry detergent, paper towels, toilet paper, and the like. While this margin is definitely getting smaller in recent years, you'll still typically end up paying more compared to Walmart and Costco. If you are going to shop for household items at Amazon, I highly recommend signing up for their Subscribe & Save program, which allows you to get items sent on a monthly schedule with free delivery. The best part is you'll get 15% off your total when you have at least five items in your monthly subscription plan. The extra 15% savings brings Amazon very close in price, or in many cases, under the Walmart price for identical products.

Clothing

The problem with buying brand name apparel from Amazon is they rarely mark down prices and seldom have coupons. You'll typically score a much better deal by shopping at discount clothing stores like TJ Maxx, Ross, and Marshalls.

Shoes

When shopping for brand name shoes, especially online, you'll find much better prices at websites like Shoebuy, 6PM.com, and ShoeMall. Not only do all three sites offer free shipping, but they also regularly have coupon codes in the 25% off range. For example, a new pair of top of the line women's New Balance 990V3 running shoes is selling for $149.95 at both Amazon and Shoebuy, with free shipping. But with a little digging, I found a 20% off coupon code for Shoebuy, bringing my total down to $119.96 — a price Amazon can't touch.

While having the perception of being a low price leader is something Amazon strives for, it's up to us, as smart consumers, to see through the charade and always do our due diligence when making significant purchases. This means always price comparing, looking for coupons that'll beat Amazon pricing, and understanding the types of products Amazon purposefully prices higher than the competition. Do that and you're guaranteed to always find the lowest price.

Have you noticed Amazon offering certain items cheaper than the competition?

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

Best Money Tips: Ways to Save on Groceries at Walmart

Amy Lu — Fri, 27 Feb 2015 20:00:08 +0000

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips Roundup! Today we found some great articles on ways to save money on groceries at Walmart, the golden rules of decluttering, and how to simplify your finances.

5 Discount Stores That Are More Expensive Than You Think

Brittany Lyte — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 18:00:06 +0000

If you think you're getting a great bargain by shopping at big box stores that market themselves as purveyors of incredibly low prices, you may want to think again. Consider the alluring "loss leader" pricing strategy, for example. America's discount retailers draw you in by selling certain items at or below cost. But, they make up for lost profits on those dramatic mark-downs by selling you other, higher-priced products during that same visit. By the time you reach the register, the amazing savings you reaped from that doorbuster special is reduced by all the other higher-priced items you purchased. (See also: How Retailers Manipulate You Into Spending More)

Stores use a variety of such techniques to make themselves only seem cheaper than they really are. Read on for our roundup of some of the big name stores that are more expensive than you think.

1. Walmart

"Always the Lowest Price. Always." That's the original Walmart slogan. But the world's biggest retailer was forced to stop using it when the National Advertising Review Board ruled that Walmart's lowest price claim simply wasn't true. Perhaps a more accurate tagline would have instead utilized the word "sometimes."

Indeed, some of Walmart's items are priced lower than anywhere else. Those key products are strategically chosen commodities that customers like you tend to know the going price of. Therefore, you know a steal when you see one, such as 25 cent cans of Progresso soup or a Dyson upright vacuum for $369. Eventually, you see enough good deals and assume everything Walmart sells is cheap. Alas, it is not. If you pile up your shopping cart with a mix of good deals, bad ones, and regularly priced items, you've merely neutralized your big savings, while helping Walmart achieve its bottom line.

2. Target

Though it caters to the fashion-forward shopper rather than the self-identified thrifty one, Target sells many of the same products as Walmart. In fact, 80% of Target's and Walmart's merchandise is identical, according to Charles Fishman, author of The Wal-Mart Effect. The two stores also offer the same discounts. A recent comparison by Bloomberg Businessweek found only a 46 cent difference between the two retailers per $100 of purchases. You'll save those 46 cents at Target, the analysis found, although Walmart usually wins independent price comparisons. (See also: How to Find the Secret Deals and Biggest Markdowns at Target)

3. Dollar General

Despite the name, not everything here is a dollar or less. And even when it is, you're not necessarily getting bang for your buck. Case in point: The price tag on bulk goods at Dollar General is often lower due to smaller unit counts, but they can be higher per piece. For instance, an analysis by the Wall Street Journal found a 28-pack of Pampers diapers sells for $10, or 35 cents per diaper, on Dollar General's website. But the same diapers on Walmart's website sells in a 180-pack box for $45.97, or 25 cents per diaper. So, yes, you can get diapers for less money at Dollar General. But they'll cost you 40% more per diaper than if you were to buy a bigger bulk package at Walmart.

4. Amazon Prime

The $99 annual fee you must pay to gain membership to Amazon Prime gets you free two-day shipping on selected products. If you're a fairly frequent Amazon Prime shopper, a membership should work out in your favor. But beware: As a Prime customer, you may not always be presented with the cheapest item.

A GeekWire analysis found that a search for a Hamilton Beach Slow Cooker turns up a Prime-eligible product that costs $49.95 for free two-day shipping. But if you were to click on more options, the same slow cooker is available from a different seller for $38.01 plus $11.99 for shipping, for a grand total of $50. In this case, as a Prime customer, your $99 membership fee would save you a mere 15 cents.

In another scenario, the analysis found a vacuum cleaner filter from Dirt Devil was actually cheaper if you didn't use your Prime account. The Prime item cost $13.49, but another vendor was charging $12.74, plus free shipping. Now, this isn't always the case. Often the Prime-eligible item is the cheapest one. But if you are a sporadic Prime shopper rather than a loyal one, or if you don't want to have to dig to ensure you're getting the best deal, a Prime membership might not be worthwhile for you.

5. Kohl's

At Kohl's, sales prices aren't always what they seem. A CBS hidden-camera investigation conducted between November 2011 and January 2012 found that the discount retailer was in the habit of marking up items as much as $100 from earlier levels before putting them on sale. For Pattie Woody, the result is that the $202.99 sheet set she purchased at a 50% discount had actually been priced at $169.99 before the sale, the investigation found. The pre-sale markup meant that Woody really only saved 40% rather than the advertised 50%. In another example, a twin sheet set was listed at half off the original price of $89.99. But inside the plastic zipper, the earlier price tag read $49.99, indicating the sale was only a $5 savings from the original tag.

What other tricks do big-name retailers use to make you spend more?

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

Best Money Tips: Worst Things to Buy at Walmart

Amy Lu — Mon, 27 Oct 2014 19:00:05 +0000

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips Roundup! Today we found some terrific articles on the worst things to buy at Walmart, recipes for homemade junk food, and tricks to make groceries last longer.

More Sales Insanity, This Time From Walmart

Paul Michael — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 09:48:26 +0000

Sometimes this world really makes me wonder how even the smallest things got so weird and screwed up. I had already written about my adventure at Hobby Lobby. In this case, I was buying a movie set from Walmart.

It was recently my birthday, and my folks back in England sent me some money to buy myself something nice. I knew just what I wanted, too — the latest BluRay Back to the Future boxed set.

As it was released some time ago, I figured the price for this was now well below the initial price of $79.99. And sure enough, a little Internet browsing revealed it was as low as $37. The lowest prices were online, as they always are, but I saw that Walmart had the boxed set on sale for $39.99. Rather than waiting for a week or two to arrive in the mail, I figured I could pop in and get my boxed set immediately. Nice!

Here are screen shots from Walmart.com. As you can see, they’re a little confusing.

The first states that this particular boxed set is not sold in stores. Bummer, it’s the one I wanted. Then I clicked to the next screen and saw that I could have it shipped to a store.

But before I ordered, I talked to a guy in the office who said Walmart stores do carry that boxed set, and it must be a mistake. With the nearest store being 10 minutes from work, I popped in on my lunch hour to pick it up.

Sure enough, there it was on the shelf. Identical. But wait a minute. The price was $59.96, almost $20 more than the exact same product online.

I talked to a store clerk, brought up the site on my cell phone, and showed him that the same product was for sale $20 less online.

“Ah, but that version doesn’t include digital copies,” he said. “That’s why they’re different prices.”

I then pointed out that both versions include digital copies. It's the same exact boxed set.

He looked quickly between the screen and the shelf. He scratched his head. Then he said “Well, that’s the special price for ordering online. It will be delivered to you direct from Walmart’s warehouse; it won't come here.”

But then I showed him the “free ship-to-store” option, which basically means that it will be shipped straight to this store. And that’s madness, because it’s already at the store, right on the shelf in front of me! He then looked off into space, thought for a second, and said, “Sorry, nothing I can do; you need to order online." And he walked off.

So, Walmart, can you explain this please? Why do customers have to go through the process of ordering online to save $20 when the exact same product is in the store (even though your website lies and says it’s not) and ready to be purchased? Why take the time and trouble to ship a product to a store that's already in stock at that store?

It seems nuts that your customers who take the trouble to drive to the store must pay $20 more for the product than those who order online first, and then drive to the exact same store to pick it up. What’s the rationale here?

And when a customer shows you the differing prices, wouldn’t it be wise to discount the in-store product to match the online price? You’re getting the same amount of money for it, and you’re just making a paying customer wait a whole week (or two) longer to get an identical product.

Does anyone else have any stories that are just as confusing? Am I missing something here? So far, no one I’ve talked to from Walmart can offer an explanation other than “prices in store differ than prices online.”

I have purchased the boxed set, by the way. I paid the $39.99, and instead of choosing free site-to-store, I chose free shipping. Why? Because it’s easier for me, and it will arrive in five days less than if I pick it up from the store. The store that already has it! Why, I have no idea.

I don't know who is figuring all of this out over at Walmart, but it’s making my head hurt. Come on guys, and get this silly process straightened out, please.

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

The disappearance of real America - my guest post at Zen Habits

Paul Michael — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:24:47 +0000

I'm not one for believing in fate or destiny, but the timing on this was spot on. After just finishing a terrfiic documentary called "America Unchained", about one Brit's quest to cross the US without giving any money to "the man," I was asked if I wanted to write a guest post at Zen Habits. Did I? You bet I did. And I had just the topic.

Here's the introduction to whet your appetite. If you like what you read, pop over to the excellent ZenHabits and check it out here .

As a young boy growing up in a gray, rainy seaside town in England, I had a fascination for America; maybe even a love affair. America was the land of opportunity, sure. But it was also vastly different and eccentric (in a good way) from state to state. So when I came to the U.S. around seven years ago, I was somewhat disappointed. The roads were lined as far as the eye could see with signs for fast food chains, corporate-ran hotels and big, bad gas companies. Where was the other America? Had she disappeared?

I'd also like to take this opportunity to thank Leo at ZenHabits for letting me write a guest post. I read ZenHabits frequently, so being given the chance to write a post was something I jumped on. And hey Leo, my wife's from Guam...gotta love breakfast at Shirley's.

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

Is this the weirdest freebie ever?

Paul Michael — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 15:01:56 +0000

Anyone who knows me knows I'm no fan of WalMart. Aside from their horrific treatment of workers and the impact they have on the economy, their stores just suck all the energy out of me. Which is why I don't go there. But a friend told me today of a WalMart Exclusive DVD that made me laugh out loud. Seriously, this one is a killer. It's the Clueless Whatever! Widescreen Edition DVD with, wait for it, FREE TRANSFORMERS BEACH BALL!

I had to stop and think about that one (after I stopped laughing). Why have these two seemingly unrelated movies been thrown together? And not just that, but two completely different target audiences as well. As someone in advertising, I was clueless (pardon my pun).

Why Clueless and Transformers?

Why Transformers and a beach ball?

Why bother with a Widescreen edition of Clueless (it's hardly Blade Runner or Apocalypto)?

So I sat down and scratched my head some more, pulling the few remaining hairs out of my noggin. And then it hit me. It's supposed to bring two completely opposed target audiences together, right? No, that can't be it. Hang on, I have it...the movie is called Clueless, the promotion should be clueless! Bravo, wonderful idea WalMart. That's why you're the leader of retail. With that in mind I have some more DVD promotions for you. My treat, use them as you see fit.

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

WalMart

Best Money Tips: 30+ Ways to Save Money at Walmart

Top 5 Articles

Other Essential Reading

The 8 Things That Are Always Cheaper at Target

1. "Green" Cleaning Products

2. Kids' Bedding and Decor

3. Photo Frames

4. Beauty Items

5. Name-Brand Baby Gear

6. Men's Deodorant

7. Tall Kitchen Bags

8. Wedding Registry Gifts

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Walmart vs. Sam's Club: Who Actually Has the Better Deals?

1. Over-the-Counter Medications (Winner: Sam's Club)

2. Alcohol (Winner: Sam's Club)

3. Sports Drinks (Winner: Sam's Club)

4. Breakfast Cereal (Winner: Sam's Club)

5. Frozen Pizza (Winner: Sam's Club)

6. Peanut Butter (Winner: Sam's Club)

7. Diapers (Winner: Sam's Club)

8. Laundry Detergent (Winner: Sam's Club)

9. Shampoo and Conditioner (Winner: Sam's Club)

10. Hot Dogs/Sausage (Winner: Walmart)

11. Frozen Fish (Winner: Walmart)

12. Blank Media (Winner: Walmart)

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