Deals

How to Become One of Those "Lucky" People Who Scores Great Deals

Carrie Kirby — Tue, 25 Mar 2014 10:36:18 +0000

A friend recently commented that I have the best luck at getting deals and freebies.

"I don't think it's luck," I replied. "I'm pretty sure it's genius."

No one likes to admit their success is just luck, right? But it made me think. Is it possible to make your own luck when it comes to frugal living?

I think it is. Here are my best 11 tricks for becoming a frugally lucky person and finding more than your share of deals and freebies. (See also: How to Win Sweepstakes)

1. Be Patient

You know how they say that if you want a dog, you should just wait, because eventually the right dog will come to you? I feel the same way about stuff. It may take years, but eventually, that end table or juice maker you need or want will probably turn up at a bargain price. (See also: 9 Easy Steps to Become More Patient)

This year I decided I wanted a record player. I started looking for them at rummage sales, but never found quite the right one. I considered just buying a new one, but I am way too cheap for that. So I waited. I even bought some brand new Beatles records on clearance and left them sitting on a shelf for the player that I hoped I'd find eventually.

Within a week of buying those records, I saw the perfect record player — sitting on the curb! It was so new it had a USB port, and someone was just throwing it out. I'm using it to play my Beatles records right now, and it sounds great.

Was this luck, or just having the patience to wait it out? Ask yourself this: How many times have you bought something new, only to find a much better deal on it a week later?

2. Be Constantly Vigilant

To a true bargain hunter, walking through a store or even down the street is like playing a video game. You have to always be on the lookout for treasure you can scoop up.

If I have extra time, I will always pop into an unfamiliar store just to see if they might have a clearance shelf. If it turns out to be a store with good deals, it'll be on my list of places to check back often.

3. Be Assertive

It feels awkward to ask for a better deal — whether it's haggling over a used car or simply asking for a markdown on about-to-expire milk — but remember that the worst that anyone will say is "no." I have found that most store employees are happy to help you save money if they can. (See also: How to Negotiate With Confidence)

4. Be Persistent

When I first joined Freecycle, I was able to easily get rid of stuff that had been cluttering up my house, but I didn't find anything I needed. Still, I kept my email subscription active, and I kept watching the offers. Eventually, items came up that interested me — but I wasn't the first to ask for them, and I didn't get them.

I continued to stick with it, and over the years I have gratefully accepted a number of useful items, including a futon, a bike trailer, and, most recently, a new-to-me bicycle.

5. Use a Checklist

When I need something, I go through a number of steps before breaking down and paying full price for it. My checklist looks like this:

Ask for it on Freecycle
Search Craigslist
Compare prices
Search for coupon codes
Shop through Ebates

I rarely buy something without going through my checklist, and when I do, I usually regret it.

6. Stay Up to Date

Just as doctors must constantly read medical journals to keep their knowledge fresh, so must bargain hunters keep up with bargain blogs to know the latest trends. (What? Bargain hunting is a lot like performing surgery, don't you think?)

Besides Wise Bread, I read Money Saving Mom, Mashup Mom, WantNot.net, and Brad's Deals to find out what's new in the bargain world — and simply to find hot deals.

In addition to the field research mentioned in item two, I also interrogate fellow shoppers about their shopping experiences. When a friend rents a car, I want to know if they got a free upgrade, and if so, how. Some friends might be annoyed by questions about prices, but kindred spirits love sharing how they got a deal.

7. Try New Things

Once I had never heard of Groupon or Ebates, and now they are go-to sites in my deal hunting routine.

Of course, the new thing you try won't always work out. When my husband and I were buying our first home back in 2001, we signed up for a new online real estate agency that promised to share its commission with buyers in the form of a 1% rebate. Not only did the company offer substandard service, but it ended up going out of business just before we closed our deal.

My husband was not happy with me for making our first buying experience more difficult in pursuit of a one percent rebate. But in my defense, we did end up finding a great place to buy, and we got the rebate. It just turned out to be a huge hassle.

8. Embrace Serendipity

Many frugal shoppers believe in strictly sticking to a list. I try to enter a store with an open mind. A few months ago I went to Salvation Army in search of a curtain. I didn't find it — on that trip — but I did find a Batman bedspread for my son's bed. Every night when I tuck him in, he thanks me for that bedspread.

9. Be Creative

In the same vein, there are bargains that you have to think up a use for before recognizing them as bargains. My grandmother — a Depression baby — is particularly good at this. Think old tablecloths as Halloween costumes and old tableware as bird feeders. If only I were really crafty I could do much more in this area, but I do what I can. (See also: Repurpose These Kitchen Cast-Offs Into Cool New Things)

10. Be Shameless

A lot of people are embarrassed to pick something up off the curb or out of a trash can, or even buy something second hand. I am not, and I have benefited greatly from this lack of shame. I even dabbled in freeganism for the first time recently, finding some mostly good produce discarded outside my regular grocery store.

Remember George Costanza and the trashcan eclair? When I was a schoolgirl, "garbage picker" was about the worst insult anyone could hurl. But I hope that environmental consciousness, the concept of upcycling, and shows like American Pickers have helped people get over this. If not, that's more treasures for those of us with no shame!

11. Have Fun With It

All the tips above are useless if you don't enjoy the thrill of the bargain hunt. This is not a list of virtues — to be honest, some of these habits make me extremely annoying to my family and friends. If you are strictly looking at a cost/benefit analysis, you may be better off spending your time studying investments or working overtime to earn more money than hunting for bargains.

But if you feel like a million bucks when you discover that one gem that every other shopper passed by? If you love having a good hunting story attached to every piece of decor in your home? Then these tips should help you win more often.

Now go forth and get winning!

What makes you frugally lucky?

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

The 8 Best Places to Find Deals at the Mall

Paul Michael — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 09:48:29 +0000

Shopping malls. Some are shrines to over-indulgence. Some will have you emptying your bank account faster than you can say "charge." And others, well, don't even go within 100 feet of them if you're planning to save money. In my hometown of Denver, that would be Cherry Creek mall. Very beautiful, very extravagant, and not one bargain anywhere within its luxurious walls. (See also: 17 Places to Get Discount Designer Clothing)

But other malls, especially outlet malls, can be goldmines of savings. And if you know where (and when) to shop within the mall, you can stretch your dollars considerably further. Here are the eight best places to find deals at your local mall.

1. Jewelry: Claire's and Icing

If you have girls, especially between the ages of 7 and 14, then Claire's and Icing can save you a ton of money on jewelry. True, it's not exactly the best quality, but the tastes of teenage girls change with the wind anyway. These stores constantly have deals running, including BOGO and Buy 2, Get 1 Free. And they don't just do deals on jewelry. You'll find bargains on purses, makeup, key rings, chap sticks, and more. It's paradise for young girls, and a money saver for adults. (See also: Where to Find Inexpensive Accessories)

2. Clothing: H&M

Hopefully your mall contains an H&M. Some don't, and that's a real shame. H&M prices run from fair to "that's incredible, how do they even stay in business?!" The thing about H&M is that it's both fashionable and affordable — two words that very rarely go together. They have major celebrities wearing and advertising their clothes, and if you hit the sales, you'll find these items for silly money. Jeans for less than $10, T-shirts for $5. You really can't go wrong.

3. Shoes: Payless Shoesource

I preface this with a note on quality. Many people will tell you that the shoes at Payless are crap. Sorry to be blunt, but that's what it basically boils down to. But to be honest, I've had hiking boots from Payless that I bought at the same time as a much more expensive pair from REI, and both have lasted well. I think the higher-priced boots are more comfortable, but many of the shoes sold in Payless are made in the same factories that churn out the expensive brands. You can also buy Airwalk shoes in Payless. Yes, if you want the latest and greatest fashions, and high-end brand names, this is not the store for you. But if you need shoes for the kiddos who are growing like weeds, and will be in another size in six months, there are plenty of choices here. (See also: Try Frye for Stylish Shoes That Last)

4. A Bit of Everything: Ross, TJ Maxx, and Marshalls

When you want some cheap clothes, bargain watches, cookware, bedding, shoes, suitcases, electronics, and kitchen gadgets all under one roof, these stores are great. The stock is name brand, but is often what the industry calls "factory seconds." They are flawed in some way, but these ways are usually unnoticeable to anyone but a trained eye. That means a slightly incorrect logo placement, stitching irregularities, or even the tiniest of blemishes. For this, you'll pay as much as 90% less than retail. You may also get last year's fashions or discontinued stock. But if you don't care (and how many of us do?) this is a great place to shop and save.

5. Video Games: Game Stop and Game Zone

When you head to these stores, don't go for the brand new games. They cannot offer them at good prices, and they will most likely be cheaper online. Instead, look through the used games, and better still, the bargain buckets. Here, you'll find games that have been hugely discounted. It's not uncommon to pick up games for the Wii, Xbox 360, and PS3 for less than $5. Sadly, these stores have not carried the original Xbox games for quite some time, but you can still find them at independent retailers for as little as $2. They also take trades, so you can walk out with games without spending any money. (See also: Cheap Ways to Play Video Games)

6. Sunglasses: Kiosks

Every mall you go to will usually have small kiosks set up in the aisles. They will be selling everything from skin care products to cuddly toys and wallets. One thing to look out for is the sunglasses kiosk. This will have copies of popular styles at a fraction of the price. They are not counterfeit; they are simply mimicking expensive brands but without the high price tag. What you should know is this: over 80% of sunglasses in the world are made by one company — Luxottica. And almost every pair of sunglasses comes with UV protection. So while you may feel better spending $250 on a pair of designer sunglasses, remember that for ten times less you can get two good-looking pairs that will shield your eyes from the sun just as well.

7. Fragrances: Perfumania and Other Fragrance Outlets

When you want to stock up on fragrances for friends, family, or yourself, don't forget to look in stores like Perfumania. They almost always have good deals running, like BOGO, or BOGO 50%. They will also bundle deals, giving you fragrance sets that include shower gels, lotions, and even nightgowns; and they have a decent clearance section, where last year's hot fragrances are this year's hot bargains. Just be warned — the scent can be a little overpowering.

8. Kitchen Items: Kitchen Collection

If you have specific kitchen items you need, pop into a store like Kitchen Collection. It's considered an outlet store, but the goods offered within are great quality at excellent prices. Brands on offer include Cuisinart, Farberware, Black & Decker, Keurig, KitchenAid, Ninja, Paula Deen, Waring Pro, and Sunbeam. There are gadgets and gizmos covering the walls and the aisles, and the clearance sections can be eye-opening. Expect to pay 50% less for your top-end items than you would in the department stores across the way.

Do you have a secret mall shopping tip that always brings you the best deals? Let us know all about it.

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:

Flash Sale Sites: Great Discounts...With a Price

Kelly Medeiros — Wed, 21 Aug 2013 10:24:33 +0000

These days, there are a slew of flash sale websites offering limited time sales with big discounts on everything from clothes to home goods to electronics. You can save some serious dough using these sites, but there are certainly a few issues to consider before you shop. Read on to determine if flash sale sites are worth adding to your discount shopping repertoire. (See also: 8 Online Stores With Surprisingly Great Clothing Deals)

How They Work

Online flash sale retailers offer various timed sales on certain brands or genres of goods in limited quantities. It's sort of analogous to a collection of sample sales, pop-up shops, or deal-of-the-day items where big discounts are offered for a short time and on a first-come, first-served basis.

Usually, these sites require you to register and become a member to access their sale events. Items come with significant markdowns, and they can often sell out before the flash sale officially ends. Typically, sites time sale events to start at the same time each day and last for three to seven days. Some sites now offer goods for longer periods or on an ongoing basis for certain items.

Most of the well-known sites, such as Fab, Zulily, Ideeli, Rue La La, Gilt, HauteLook, JackThreads, and Modnique (which recently bought Totsy), focus primarily on apparel, accessories, and home items. Others, such as One Kings Lane, Joss & Main, and The Foundary, concentrate specifically on home furnishings. Additionally, sites like Woot and the newly launched NeweggFlash also carry electronics, among other things.

The Pros

The deals on flash sale sites can be pretty fantastic. Often the greatest finds come from high-priced designer brands with massive markdowns. On average, most of the sites offer at least a 60% discount when compared to full price retail. (See also: Getting the Most Out of Daily Deal Sites)

Deals can get even better with regular blowout sale events and seasonal clearances. One Kings Lane, for example, has a clearance section called "downstairs," which gets updated weekly with additional markdowns. Zulily often runs "extravaganzas" on certain seasonal items or other categories, which offer a big roundup at great prices. Another good example is Ideeli's periodic "Red Sales," where discounts as large as 90% can be found.

Some other flash sale benefits include referral systems, which means you can receive a site-wide $15 or $20 credit when you refer another customer. Many sites also have expert product picks and blogs with designer advice on fashion and decorating. Additionally, most sites have made upgrades to their search functions, which can save a lot of time and help you comb through inventory quickly.

The Cons

Many people do not like the fact that they have to register on many flash sale sites in order to browse, let alone buy. You also may start to receive a lot of email traffic once you register, but you can manage your email settings to opt out in most cases.

Shipping can be an issue, too. Often these sites have rather high free shipping thresholds. This makes it tempting to bundle your purchases and can lead to non-essential buying to reach such thresholds. Shipping times have also been reported to be rather long. I must say I have waited as long as 4-5 weeks at times, but it really does vary by site. Be sure to always stay smart about shipping charges and find out from the site just how long items may take to arrive. (See also: How to Get Free Shipping and Online Discounts Across the Web)

In regards to returns, some sites have strict policies that can make you really think twice before buying. You might encounter very tight return windows of two weeks or less, or final sale and vintage items that are non-returnable.

The Psychology

If you decide to shop flash sale sites, you need to be very careful about how addictive these sites can be.

The psychology behind flash sale sites can play into your need to snap up bargains for the sake of finding deals, rather than buying what you really need. Additionally, limited inventory and running timers for items added to your cart can fool you into making a hasty decision just to beat out other shoppers. These things can bust the budget of any well-intentioned buyer and prove downright disastrous for more serious shopaholics. (See also: Why People Go Crazy on Black Friday)

To keep flash sale sites from getting the best of your wallet, make sure to always set out with a pre-determined list of exactly what you are looking for when shopping such sites, and do not allow any purchases not on the list. You should also take your time buying, even if it means your cart may expire or you wait to come back tomorrow. If you have any doubts that you can stick to these guidelines, perhaps it's best to skip such sites entirely and avoid temptation.

The Future of Flash Sales

Flash sale sites depend a lot on word of mouth and referrals for new business. Social media plays a big role in such reviews, and it also means negative feedback becomes very visible. While the nature of reviews often highlights the extremes, it is interesting to note that many sites have been dealing with their fair share of negative customer feedback. Check out the Business Insider's summary of Dotcom Distribution's report on the 11 biggest flash sale sites and customer complaints on Facebook to see how some well-known sites performed.

Finally, as more players enter the space, existing sites are continually trying to keep customers interested and still generate a profit. For example, Fab has made recent changes, such as allowing browsing without having to sign-up, and they have even indicated they are moving beyond the flash sales model. In the meantime, they are promoting the social media side to shopping by offering $5 customer credits for uploading a first picture of a Fab purchase to their Inspiration Wall.

It will be interesting to see how other sites tweak their strategies and how this pans out in terms of savings and experience for customers like us down the road. For now, flash sale sites warrant a look for some, but just make sure you use them strategically and not as a new addiction.

What are your favorite sites for flash sales?

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:

5 Best Amazon Deals for Thursday 08/08

Deals Deals Deals — Thu, 08 Aug 2013 14:57:43 +0000

$149.95 (from $285) Le Creuset Signature Round Wide 3-1/2-Quart Dutch Oven - This updated kitchen classic enhances the cooking process by evenly distributing heat and locking in the optimal amount of moisture.

$39.95 (5.5 stars) Victorinox Fibrox 7-Inch Granton Edge Santoku Knife - High-carbon stainless-steel blade provides maximum sharpness and edge retention, stamped from cold-rolled steel and ice tempered.

$17.24 (from $22.99) Marvel Universe Super Hero Team Assorted - Pack comes with 3 action figures with accessories in the 3 3/4" scale of your favorite Marvel Comics characters, just what you need to defend the world from the forces of evil!

$79.99 (4 stars) Crock-Pot SCVT650-PS 6-1/2-Quart Programmable Touchscreen Slow Cooker - Stainless steel, touchscreen control panel without the static clings; programmable cooking time; auto keep-warm.

40% off or more on Kenneth Cole dresses - Prices start at $35.34.

See more great deals today, including Owl You Need is Love T-shirt $6, Home Depot Overstock Items 50% Off, Target Bedding Clearance 65% Off, and more! See our full list of Best Deals Today.

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

Big List of Senior Discounts

Mikey Rox — Mon, 01 Jul 2013 09:48:33 +0000

Senior citizens have it made. Not only do they have retirement and senior centers (two things I can't wait to enjoy when I get older — hello, bingo!), but they also get to take advantage of a long list of discounts on entertainment, travel, dining, shopping, and more. What are those savings exactly? Find out right here in this big list of senior discounts. (See also: Amazing AAA Discounts)

Dining and Groceries

I knew that just about every restaurant offered senior discounts, but what a nice surprise to find that many grocery chains do, too.

Applebee's

Seniors age 60 and older can save 15% at Applebee's.

Arby's

Seniors age 55 and older can receive 10% off and discounted drinks at participating locations.

Ben & Jerry's

Seniors age 60 and older can receive 10% off in-store.

Boston Market

Seniors age 65 and older can receive 10% off.

Burger King

Seniors age 60 and older can receive 10% off at participating locations.

C-Town Supermarkets

Seniors age 60 and older can save 5% on their grocery bill on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and participating locations.

Chick-fil-A

Seniors age 55 and older can receive 10% off and free small beverages at participating locations.

Chili's

Seniors age 55 and older can save 10% at participating locations.

Denny's

Participating Denny's offer a discounted menu for seniors age 55 and older, plus AARP members can take advantage of everyday discounts on regular menu items for seniors and their guests.

Dunkin' Donuts

AARP members can receive a free donut with the purchase of a large coffee.

Friendly's

Participating Friendly's restaurants offer senior-friendly pricing to those age 60 and older.

Fuddruckers

Seniors age 55 and older can save 10% at participating locations.

Golden Corral

Seniors age 60 and older can receive 10% off at participating Golden Corral restaurants.

Gristedes

Seniors age 60 and older can save 10% on their grocery bill every Tuesday at participating locations.

Harris Teeter

Seniors age 60 and older can save 5% off the grocery bill every Thursday with the store's VIC card.

IHOP

Seniors age 55 and older can receive 10% off at participating IHOP locations.

Kroger

Seniors age 60 and older can receive 10% off their grocery bill on the first Wednesday of every month at participating locations.

Publix

Seniors age 60 and older can receive 5% off their grocery bill on Wednesdays at participating locations.

Super Fresh

Seniors age 55 and older can save 5% on purchases over $30 on Tuesdays with Club Card.

Shopping

You're only as old as the style you wear.

Banana Republic

Shoppers age 50 and older can receive 10% off at Banana Republic.

Clarks

Seniors age 62 and older can save 10% at Clarks shoes.

Dressbarn

Seniors age 55 and older can save 10% at Dressbarn.

Kmart

Gold K members age 55 and older can save 20% on prescriptions.

Kohl's

Seniors citizens can save 15% every Wednesday at Kohl's with a valid ID.

Ross

Shoppers age 55 and older can save 10% on Tuesdays.

Lodging and Travel

You'll find plenty of discounts on cars, boats, and trains, and on lodging when you get where you're going.

Alamo

AARP members can receive discounts on vehicle rentals from Alamo with a valid AARP membership number.

Amtrak

Amtrak travelers age 62 and older can save 15% on train tickets within the U.S. and 10% on tickets to Canada. Some restrictions apply.

Best Western

AARP Members age 55 and older are entitled to at least 10% off hotel rooms at Best Western hotels.

Choice Hotels

AARP Members age 60 and older can save up to 10% with advance reservations.

DoubleTree Hotels

Seniors age 65 and older can take advantage of Senior Discount Rates at participating DoubleTree by Hilton Hotels.

Greyhound

Seniors age 62 and older can save 5% on unrestricted passenger fares. Some restrictions apply.

Hampton Inn

AARP members can save up to 10% off the Best Available Rate by entering your AARP member number when booking online.

Holiday Inn Express

Seniors age 62 and older are eligible for a senior discount at participating Holiday Inn Express hotels.

Hyatt Hotels

Seniors age 62 and older can save up to 50% on prevailing rates at participating Hyatt properties.

La Quinta

AARP members can save up to 10% at La Quinta hotels.

Marriott Hotels

Seniors age 62 or older can save 15% or more on room rates at Marriott hotels worldwide.

Motel 6

Seniors age 60 and older can save 10% off standard rates at Motel 6.

National Parks

Seniors age 62 and older can receive free admission to America's national parks with the purchase of a $10 Senior Pass from USGS.

Norwegian Cruise Line

AARP members can save 5% on cruises that are booked at least nine months in advance.

Radisson

Seniors age 60 and older can save 10% on standard rates.

Entertainment

Many theaters offer discounted movies and so does a landmark water park.

AMC Theaters

Kick back and enjoy a flick on Tuesdays with discounts for seniors age 60 and older at participating AMC Theaters.

Bow Tie Cinemas

Seniors age 62 and older can save up to 25% off regular-priced adult tickets.

Carmike Cinemas

Seniors age 65 and older can save up to 35% off regular-priced adult tickets.

Celebration Cinemas

Seniors age 60 and older can save up to 20% off regular-priced adult tickets.

Cinemark/Century Theaters

Seniors age 62 and older can save up to 35% on regular-priced adult tickets, plus an additional 10% on all showing on Mondays.

Clearview Cinemas

Seniors age 62 and older can save up to 25% at participating locations.

Landmark Theaters

Seniors age 62 and older can save up to 30% off regular-priced adult tickets.

Muvico Theaters

Seniors age 55 and older can save up to 30% off regular-priced adult tickets.

Regal Theaters

Seniors age 60 and older can save up to 30% off regular-priced adult tickets.

SeaWorld

Visitors age 50 and older can receive $3 off a one-day ticket at SeaWorld in Orlando.

Miscellaneous

These last few discounts are for everyday things that didn't go anywhere else in this list.

Supercuts

Seniors age 60 and older can save $2 on services at Supercuts.

Teleflora

AARP members save 20% at Teleflora.

Verizon

Seniors age 65 and older can purchase 200-anytime-minute plans for $29.99.

Do you know of other senior discounts not listed here? Let me know in the comments below.

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

Big List of Student Discounts

Kelly Kehoe — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:00:14 +0000

If you’re barely scraping by on your university student’s income (or Mom and Dad are giving you a very limited budget), then student discounts can really help you to stretch those funds until the end of the month. The following is a list of the major discounts obtainable to those with a valid student ID card (or college email address). (See also: 9 Places to Get Student Discounts)

Electronics

If you're looking for great deals on pricey gadgets for school, then look no further than the following section.

Apple Store for Education

The Apple Store for Education offers discounts its products (particularly favorable in regards to MacBooks and software) for college students and teachers, administrators, staff, and board members for K-12.

HP Pavilion

There are PC and laptop discounts for students and educators at HP Pavilion's store online.

Dell University

You can get discounts on PCs and laptops specially designed with students’ needs in mind at Dell University.

Sony Education Store

Students can find discounts of up to 10% on VAIO products upon checkout at the Sony Education Store.

Travel

Looking to travel on a budget as a college student? There are several deals created just for you!

Student Universe

One of the best websites offering low-cost flights and hotel bookings for students is StudentUniverse.com. I’ve used this one personally, and most flight offerings were much less than the stated price on airline websites, and even less than most other “discount travel” sites.

American Airlines

One of the biggest airlines in the U.S., American Airlines offers flight discounts for current college students, including 5% on land components (hotels, tours, rental cars, theme park tickets, etc.) when booking through their site.

Student Air Travel Association

One of the biggest travel agencies in the world is the Student Air Travel Association, targeting the traveling college student crowd.

Squaw Valley Lift Tickets

College students can find $59 Squaw Valley Lift Tickets (regularly $70-84) at the world-renowned skiing resort that once hosted the Winter Olympics. You can check to see if your local ski area offers discounts as well.

Food

Restaurants in college towns love university students for two reasons: they eat a lot, and they tell their friends afterwards (assuming the food was good). Relying on word of mouth marketing is crucial to these food joints staying in business, so they often offer student specials throughout the week. You never know which restaurants and fast food places may offer a student discount, so be sure to carry your school ID with you wherever you go, just in case.

Entertainment

Looking for a way to spend a few hours without a lot of cash? Check out the following options for entertainment.

Regal Movie Theaters

Students can get discounted movie tickets on select days at Regal Movie Theaters (price depends on location).

Several other movie theaters offer discounts for students as well. For more information, either call or check the website of your local cinema.

Broadway Shows

To help students save money and still get to see their favorite performances, many Broadway shows have begun offering tickets through a Student Rush pricing structure.

For smaller theaters, especially those on high school or university campuses, student discounts are usually offered to those who bring a form of ID. To see if a local theater offers student discounts, give them a call or check for ticketing options online.

Museums

Across the country, there are hundreds of museums that value their educationally inclined visitors and often have significant discounts offered to high school and college students with valid ID cards. For example, Columbia University students get free admission to 34 museums in New York through the CU Arts Program. The same applies for many other cities, so be sure to contact the museum before purchasing tickets. You might be able to save as much as 50% or more off of the regular admission price!

Basics

The following three items listed do not fit into a specific category, but they are too good not to mention.

International Student Identity Card

The International Student Identity Card has over 4.5 million members worldwide and over 40,000 discounts currently offered to members. This includes language schools, transportation, magazines, hostels, motels, clothing, etc.

Amazon Student

Free two-day shipping on millions of items and special deals and promotions offered frequently to members of Amazon Student.

Sam's Club

Get a $15 gift card through the Sam’s Club collegiate program when you sign up or renew your membership. This gives you access to the low prices on their entire inventory, saving you a bundle while struggling to get by in college.

What about your college town? Feel free to share other student discounts that you know about in the comments below.

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

Bing Double Savings Days Currently Paying up to 50% Cashback

Xin Lu — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 17:00:20 +0000

Bing is the new search engine from Microsoft, and right now they are sponsoring a promotion called "Double Saving Days" that is giving shoppers cashback of up to 50% on select merchandise until the end of August, 2009. The Bing cashback program is completely replacing the old Live Search cashback program and this is how it works.

Go to http://www.bing.com/cashback/
Click cashback account on the left side and sign up for an account if you do not yet have one. You may need to sign up for a Windows Live ID first, and then sign up for the Bing cashback account. This requires your email address and physical address. The physical address cannot be a PO Box and has to be in the United States. You also have to be at least 18 years old.
Search for the product you are looking for and look for the "Bing cashback" symbol:
Compare prices and shipping options and go to the store with the best option.
A window will pop up asking for your email address if this is the first time you are using it. Make sure you use the same email as what you registered the cashback account under.
If you purchase the item you will be able to claim your cashback after 60 days. You need a minimum cashback balance of $5.
After you request your cashback payout it takes another 7 to 21 days to get your money. So you do have to remember that you need to wait up to 3 months to get your rebate and that means you need enough money now to cover the full price of the item you are purchase.
There is a maximum cash back amount of $2500 per person per year.

Here are some pitfalls of this promotion you should be aware of:

Using extra coupon codes at the store you are shopping at may void the cashback reward.
Some items can be backordered, and some stores only charge you when the item ships, and that may be outside of the promotional period.
Returns and exchanges may void your cashback.
You have to purchase the item through the Bing search results. This is because they track your purchase with cookies. If you close the browser and then go back to the store directly to make the purchase, the cashback may not register correctly. Also, if you clicked through to a store via another affiliate link before going to Bing, it is possible that earlier cookie could be overriding the Bing cashback cookie. Make sure to clear your cookies, and then go to Bing if you want the Bing cashback.

Currently both Eastbay.com and Footlocker are giving 50% cash back on Bing, but this may change at any time. This program is great for large purchases because the cash back amount is bigger. For example, I searched for some baby crib models that I was interested in and found stores giving cash back of up to 30%. Some of the prices of these new cribs were even less than the prices I saw on Craigslist because of the rebate. I also like the fact that Bing manages to search thousands of stores and products quickly, but you do need to know exactly what you want to narrow down the copious amounts of search results.

For more information Bing has a very good FAQ available here about the promotion

The full Terms and Conditions of the program is available here.

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

Restaurant.com helps you save for Valentine's Day - 60% off gift certifcates and a free $15 FTD gift card!

Xin Lu — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 02:49:07 +0000

Note: The following promotion has ended, but there is a new promotion starting from 2/21/09 to 2/28/09 at Restaurant.com. The new coupon code is DINE and gives you 80% off $25 gift certificates and also Dinner of the Month memberships . Enjoy!

A few months ago I shared a coupon code for Restaurant.com that allowed 80% off on their already discounted gift certificates, and that post was quite popular.
Today I found that Restaurant.com is offering a great deal valid from today until February 15th, 2009 that gives 60% off their gift certificates and a $15 gift card for shopping at FTD. You could easily take care of both dinner and flowers for Valentine's Day with this deal.

Here is the scoop. All you have to do is to log onto Restaurant.com and purchase a gift certificate, and type in the coupon code TREAT. You will get 60% off right away on your gift certificate so the $25 gift certifcate is only $4. You will also receive a $15 FTD gift card in the confirmation email. This gift card is actually not valid at FTD.com so do not try to use it there. You have to click on the FTD® logo on the Restaurant.com confirmation page or in the confirmation email and make your purchase at the cobranded site. The discount is only good for regular priced merchandise and is not good for taxes or shipping. The FTD discount expires on 3/31/2009.

Since the last promotion I have already used some of my Restaurant.com gift certificates with no hassle at all so I know their service is quite legitimate. If you plan correctly, it is possible you could get a lovely Valentine's Day with dinner and flowers for under $30.

As usual, you should read the terms and conditions of each gift certificate before purchasing them, and also do not accept any offers from strange popups. This deal is strictly for the gift certificates, and the FTD $15 discount.

Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links to Restaurant.com

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

Goodbye Circuit City - Final liquidation begins January 17th, 2009 - Updated

Xin Lu — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 07:58:27 +0000

Circuit City officially announced that it is going out of business today. The number two largest electronics retailer begins final liquidation sales on January 17th, 2009 in all of its stores in the United States. Read on for details.

Circuit City's site has a detailed FAQ here. I have summarized the most important information below:

The stores will close as soon as all merchandise is liquidated. It is expected that the sale will last until March.
Circuit City gift cards are still valid for purchases during the liquidation. Use them now if you have them because they will be worthless after the store closes!
Specific discounts will be up to the liquidators and all sales are final.
Canadian Circuit City stores will stay open.
Cash and most credit cards are accepted, but not personal checks.
Extended warranties already purchased will not be affected.

I think deal hunters are probably wondering how much of a discount they can expect from Circuit City. I actually went to a Circuit City liquidation a month ago when they shut down a portion of their stores and the price cuts were decent. The biggest discounts were on hardware and big screens which were 40% to 60% off, and the smallest discounts were on video games which were 25% off. We did find some decent games for under $10, but they were mostly old. The particular store I went to actually had their shelves and other fixtures for sale. Basically, they are trying to get rid of everything, and perhaps you could negotiate prices with the liquidators tomorrow at Circuit City.

It should be interesting to see what the liquidation will be like, and I am sure a lot of people will show up like vultures flocking onto a carcass, but hopefully everyone will be able to find a good deal on something they need. Finally, I think it is a bit sad that Best Buy will be losing its closest competition and I hope the employees of Circuit City will be able to find jobs in the 60 days they have been given.

Update:

I just went to the local Circuit City in San Mateo and the discounts were as follows: 30% off cables, 20% off CDs and DVDs, and 10% off everything else. This obviously isn't spectacular, but the line had about 50 people in it. The store I mentioned that had the 40% to 60% discounts was in East Palo Alto, and I went there in the 4th week of their liquidation. So I guess the better deals may come later.

Have you gone to the Circuit City liquidation? Share your experience and best deals here!

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

Paging Doctor Jones… Free Pizza Dr. Jones?

Linsey Knerl — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 14:45:18 +0000

In another crazy promotion scheme cooked up by the people at Papa John’s, you can score a free pie if you share Indiana’s name.

Cleveland fans lucked out last time, when Papa John’s offered their “apology” pie to thousands of fans in response to a Lebron James-related misstep. This time, they are celebrating the release of the new Indiana Jones movie with a very unique offer aimed at a small percentage of the U.S. population.

The qualifiers? If you have the last name “Jones” and you are a Doctor (of anything, apparently), you will get a free XL Explorer pizza from now until the 26^th. Sadly, this only applies to an estimated 1,600 people. (So in response to anyone who’s ever wondered if the fortune spent on an advanced medical degree is worth it… only if you like pizza.)

As an added bonus, those Docs living in the state of Indiana will get a free copy of the DVD, “Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull.”

The Papa John’s website made no specific mention of the offer (although there are plenty of other promos to be had.) If you qualify, I suggest calling your local Papa John’s for all the details on how to claim your pizza.

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

Free Preview of Refund Cents Website – Extended for Wise Bread Readers ONLY!

Linsey Knerl — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 19:50:55 +0000

UPDATE: I realize that I learned about the Refund Cents deal very late in the game, and I apologize to all of you who couldn't take advantage. In speaking to Michelle, the owner, she has agreed to give Wise Bread readers an exclusive preview that is good until the 21st! Just use the following logon info:

username: wisebread
password: wisebread

The link that takes you directly to logon is:

http://www.refundcents.com/login.asp

Have Fun!

Refund Cents tops my list of money-saving websites. With coupon codes, a great reader community, and lots of last-minute and rarely-heard-about deals, it’s saved me lots of money over the last 2 years. Membership will cost you a bit, but for the next few days, you can use the site for FREE! Try before you buy.

This is not an affiliate offer. I don’t get anything from this. Yes, Michelle who runs Refund Cents, is giving everyone a chance to preview the site in hopes of getting a few paying subscribers from the deal. (That’s how I became a paying member years back.) If you’re at all curious what kinds of great deals are popping up every day across the country, this is a great site to browse.

Here are some of the reasons I’ve kept renewing my Refund Cents subscription for the past two years:

Last year, The American Girl website sold many of their toys and books for 29 cents and 49 cents. A free shipping code got me a whole bunch of great Christmas presents for less than $4!

One reader recently posted about an instant-win call-in promotion from HyVee that was listed very few places online. One hour later, I was claiming my $15 Target gift card for my daughter!

Several times a day, readers will share their unwanted codes for Pampers Gifts to Grow Program, the Coke Rewards incentives, or one-time use Free shipping codes. These go fast, but it’s great that they share!

The Comprehensive Guide to Walgreens Shopping is amazing! There is also an up-to-date CVS and Rite Aid section with dedicated deals for the ultimate freebie hound.

The Grocery Boards are organized by store. They list deals and coupon combos and are updated by the members. This is great for those of us who live in an area not serviced by the bigger couponing sites like Coupon Mom or the Grocery Game (which are both very good, as well.)

Michelle maintains a list of all printable and in-store only offer forms. This makes it easy to keep track of the best deals offline, too! Previews of the next week’s newspaper coupons and in-store deals can help me to plan ahead in my shopping.

Membership to Refund Cents is very affordable. On-line membership is about $1 per month. If you'd also like to receive the monthly print magazine RefundCents, in the mail, the cost is $25 per year and includes access to the website.

This website has been great for me. I don’t have a lot of time to hunt down deals or scour websites for the most relevant info, but this has given me a good balance of saving money and time. If you’re at all curious if the site could help you save, give it a look! With 29 years of experience, Refund Cents has been a valuable resource to my family.

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

Sears goes a little crazy - sweaters starting at 99 cents!

Paul Michael — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 20:25:28 +0000

Very quick and super deal for you folks, to follow my vent on mortgages. And considering what I was saying, we need to save every penny we can. Anyway, Sears is going a little gaga and selling off a whole bunch of decent clothes for 90% off, sometimes more! How much more? Well, when you click on the link you'll be greeted by items that have been reduced from $20-$30 to just 99 cents. I'm not even sure you could find a deal like that for a used sweater at a charity store.

As usual, these deals will go quickly and sizes will start to disappear fast. So, get over to Sears and get yourself some great deals (if you need them of course). If not for yourself, you could certainly fill up on gifts just in time for the holidays. I could find no indication of the sale expiration date, so take advantage of it while you can.

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:

Save Some Coin with Lands' End Overstocks and Free Shipping!

Linsey Knerl — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 04:24:46 +0000

I love Lands' End and their selection of high-quality, comfy clothes and shoes. Their overstocks are very reasonably priced, and with this special code, you can even get free shipping!

With something for everyone in the family, I enjoyed browsing through the clearance and overstock section at Lands' End. Some items in particular that caught my eye, include:

Women’s Sherpa Marinac Boots for $14.99 (were $39.50)

A selection of cute and comfy ladies’ undies (everything from hipsters to thongs for less than $3 in some styles and sizes.)

Some NQP (Not Quite Perfect) Men’s Tees (the neckline is 1” larger than what the label states) for less than $5. Check out their other NQP’s!

An entire collection of men’s tailored dress clothes (from suit coats to twill pants.)

Our favorite men’s microfiber half-zip pullover priced at $12.99 (marked down from $49)

There are overstocks for baby, boys, girls, ladies, and guys. I found summer tanks for less than $3 and an assortment of school uniform pieces. (Just be careful when clicking the “school uniform” link. For some reason it comes up with over 1000 products and contains everything from bedding to ladies’ shoes. To find just the school uniform deals, click on boys or girls and go from there.)

You will be taxed based on your location, but the best part is the FREE SHIPPING! Just fill your cart, and put code “SHIPFREE” and PIN# 4566 in the promotion boxes at checkout. (You can click the small “Apply” button before even entering your credit card info to be sure the amount adjusts.)

Word on the street is that this code is only good until 10/9. It worked for me! Let me know if you are able to score any other good Lands' End deals.

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

Faster Free Shipping on Amazon With No Minimum Order -- Free Prime Trial

Carrie Kirby — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 19:47:37 +0000

I want to take a moment to remind you all to wait til the last minute to Christmas shop online this year.

Wha??

Well, you can, once you have a free three-month trial membership to Amazon Prime, the service that gives you free 2-day shipping on orders of ANY size. There's a bit of a trick to getting a three-month trial instead of the more common one-month, but it's not hard. This should work for anyone who has never been a Prime paid or free member before:

1) Go to Amazon but DON'T sign up for the free 1-month trial.

2) Instead, put a $100 worth of textbooks in your cart. I used this one. Don't worry, you won't have to buy it.

3) Proceed with the check-out process. Before you get to the final purchase page, you will get an offer for a free THREE-MONTH trial.

(NOTE: Thanks to reader Brian for pointing out the exact location of the link, which you might not see right away: "the link is after you enter a credit card, and when you're finalizing your shipping options. It's kind of wedged in there among the existing shipping options, but it's definitely there.")

4) Accept it!

5) If you don't want the textbook, delete it from your cart.

And if going partway through the check-out process for a $100+ snoozefest biology book makes you nervous, remember that you can always just cancel Amazon orders before they ship at no charge, by logging into your account. It's easy.

Why you want Amazon Prime for the holidays:

I did a lot of my "Santa" shopping on Amazon last year, and enjoyed the fact that I could order the kids' gifts while they were tucked in bed, instead of trying to shop with them in tow ("Hey! Isn't that Rudolph out the window there? Clerk, could you wrap this, stat?) or wasting precious childcare hours at the mall. This year, local sales tax increases have given me even more incentive to shop online.

But I ended up paying a lot in shipping last year. I'd carefully choose several items together in order to hit the $25 minimum for free Super Saver Shipping, only to realize at the last minute that one or two of the purchases were from independent sellers and didn't qualify. Then I was faced with two choices: Stay up late searching for fillers to bring the qualifying portion of the order up to $25, or just pay shipping on the whole thing.

To be sure, the items that are ineligible for Super Saver are generally also ineligible for Amazon Prime -- stuff from indie merchants who don't use Amazon fulfillment, according to the Amazon Prime FAQ. However, I clicked around and found lots of potential gifts that do qualify. I think this will be a Godwend when I inevitably realize I need ONE MORE stocking stuffer or Secret Santa gift and the month of December is getting long in the tooth.

OK, of course you know how shipping gets during the holidays, so I'm not saying wait until the last, last minute. But still, if you do end up pushing it timewise, the promised 2-day shipping with Prime is a better bet than the regular Super Saver. Also, Prime members can upgrade to overnight shipping for $3.99 per order.

A lot of people love Amazon Prime, so maybe you'll even want to keep it after the trial, when it will cost the regular $79 a year. But if you think you WON'T want to keep it, you can also prevent that bill from hitting your credit card in three months: Log onto your Amazon account, where you will see the option of managing your Amazon Prime membership. From there, you'll be able to click a button that turns off the "auto upgrade" to the paid membership.

I signed right up for the three-month trial after reading about it on Wantnot.net. I'm excited to try it before the holidays, maybe by snapping up some grocery clearance items.

Oh, and if you don't like the idea of the textbook fake-out, you can always just sign up for a monthlong trial and do all your shopping early.

And then just hope that Christmas isn't cancelled this year due to financial apocolypse.

Disclosure: This post is riddled with affiliate links.

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

Free Bare Escentuals and up to 75% off at Sephora!

Linsey Knerl — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 14:49:30 +0000

I’ve usually been satisfied with getting staple beauty items from companies like Jane (I love their mineral line.) Perhaps you are wanting to stock up on something a bit more spendy for yourself or a Christmas gift. Sephora.com still has some neat buys in stock in their Sale department. While many of the items are going fast, I was able to snag a Napolean Perdis mascara for under $6 and a cute little Sephora girls mini Princess kit for 50% off.

Sure, the economy may not make it seem necessary to pamper your lashes, but let’s face it – I need my makeup. If you’re looking for some nice stocking stuffers, you might also scoop up some of the remaining clearanced-priced Sephora-brand body washes and scrubs (they are going fast, but are 75% off.)

The best part of this week’s deal is the opportunity to try Bare Escentuals BareMinerals SPF 15 for practically nothing. You’ve seen the commercials. I’ve seen the commercials. I’ve even drooled at how fabulous my friends looked after getting complimentary makeovers at the BlogHer convention. You can imagine how pumped I was to find out that I could snag a 10-day supply of the stuff (with free baby buki brush) by entering code “10DAY” at checkout.

If you have a “spending problem”, this may not be the deal for you. If you like to wait for a great deal to indulge in the finer things, then you might be in for a treat! And if you’ve been holding out for an opportunity to give Bare Escentuals a shot without the hassle of returning product if unsatisfied, this is not a bad deal.

Note that shipping is only free from Sephora.com if your order is over $50. If you’re not going to buy that much, don’t push it. Just pay the $5.95 flat rate shipping (still not bad) and be happy with your self-control. You also get to pick three (tiny) samples with each order.

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