Father's Day

5 Times Dad Was Right About Money

Emily Guy Birken — Thu, 01 Jun 2017 08:00:12 +0000

Despite what you may have thought as a teenager, it turns out your old man actually knew a thing or two — particularly when it came to money. True, Dad's wisdom might have sounded like corny jokes, dusty cliches, or weird logic at the time, but there was some great information in there among the eyeroll-inducing humor.

So at the risk of having him say "I told you so," let's take the time to recognize some of the ways Dad was right about money. Here are five of the money lessons he taught us well:

1. "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is"

Your dad probably told you this to protect you from con artists, frauds, and crooks, as well as those friends of yours he never liked. When you were a kid, Dad probably wanted you to remember his advice when a friend told you that you could definitely get away with whatever scheme they were trying to talk you into. But it's important to keep this advice in mind when you are offered a "once-in-a-lifetime investment opportunity" as well.

It's easy to see dollar signs (or imagine a Ferris Bueller-like day of playing consequence-free hooky) when someone is presenting you with an offer that seems too good to be true. Reminding yourself that dear old Dad would probably tell you to back away slowly from such an offer can be enough to make you stop your impetuous rush toward untold fortune — or a whirlwind tour of Chicago in a stolen Ferrari.

2. "You don't need that"

When I was in elementary school in the 1980s, all the cool kids wore Jordache jeans, which my father very patiently explained to me that I didn't need. He clearly did not understand the importance of that horsehead label to one's standing in the social hierarchy on the playground.

When Dad told you that whatever item you believed was vital to your life and happiness was not something you needed, you were probably just as disappointed as I was. But as infuriating as it was to hear this, he was helping you learn the difference between wants and needs. To this day, I can hear Dad's voice in my head telling me I don't need whatever impulse purchase is trying to come home with me. I usually listen to him, too — unless it's a pair of awesome jeans.

3. "You've got Champagne taste on a beer budget"

Wanting something you cannot afford seems like a simple enough problem to solve when you're a teenager living at home — ask Mom or Dad to buy it for you. That request does not often end well for the teenager. Many an aspirational teenage consumer gets this sarcastic response from Dad regarding the relationship between their taste and their budget.

Coveting things you can't afford can destroy any budget, and your dad wanted you to understand that it's a short trip to bad finances if you try to indulge your high-end tastes. Dad was trying to teach you how to be realistic about your budget and stick to indulgences that you could realistically handle.

4. "Money doesn't grow on trees"

This is one of the greatest hits of dad sayings, and you probably heard it many times throughout your childhood. He'd dust this old chestnut off whenever you were blatantly wasteful, or whenever you asked for something that he wasn't willing to pay for. In some households, turning the thermostat up by a single degree would result in Dad materializing from nowhere to remind you that trees just don't produce currency.

At the time, this lesson just sounded like Dad being an old stick-in-the-mud. But he was actually trying to remind you that there is a cost to money. Someone (ahem, your parents) had to work for the money necessary to keep the house at a comfortable temperature, replace the toilet paper you used to TP your friend's house, and buy the guitar you so desperately wanted but you never actually practiced playing.

As an adult, it's much easier to understand that money isn't freely available when you realize you have to work in order to earn more. Suddenly, it makes sense why Dad turned into a financial botanist whenever you spent his money.

5. "The best things in life are free"

If your dad was anything like mine, he might have told you this when you asked him for money. While his attempt at being funny was probably not well received, the actual message also made you roll your eyes — since there are plenty of awesome things in life that you have to pay for.

This is a lesson that needs to marinate for a while before it resonates. Teenage you may have just seen this cliché as a cover for your dad not wanting to give you money to go out with your friends. However, adulthood often brings the realization that the things that really do make life sweet — like sunsets, belly laughs, kisses, and naps — are not things you can buy. Dad was right when he told you that you don't need to spend money to enjoy the best of life, even if he was a little too schmaltzy in how he told you.

Appreciating Dad's words of wisdom

Many of the things your dad told you about money might have sounded hokey when he first said them, but it doesn't make them any less true. Let your dad know how much you have learned from him, and how much you appreciate his wisdom, if not his sense of humor.

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

10 Money Lessons I Learned From Dad

Paul Michael — Thu, 16 Jun 2016 10:00:09 +0000

It's Father's Day soon. In honor of all the dads out there, I thought it would be great to look back on some of the marvelous advice my dad gave me over the years. I'm sure a lot of the advice on the list is familiar to you, as the generation before mine passed down much of the same knowledge to all of us. Still, it's always advice worth following, and has saved me thousands of dollars over the years. Here are 10 tips from my dad, that I now pass on to you. (See also: 3 Smart Ways to Save on Father's Day)

1. Don't Throw Good Money After Bad

When my dad first told me this one, I was too young to really understand it. Honestly, even in my midteens I wasn't exactly sure what he was getting at. Then, when I became an adult with an income, and the means to make my own purchases, I got it. First, it was buying a cheap used computer that I had to pour a bunch of money into to make usable. And even when it had the best specs, it was still not as good as a new one, which would have been faster and cheaper.

From projects that suck money and time and have no profitable outcome, to investments that keep tanking despite a constant injection of cash, I always remember what my dad told me: Don't throw good money after bad.

2. Do a Job You Love, and You'll Never Work a Day in Your Life

Oh, how right he was on that one. I know it's not really my dad's quote, but it didn't stop me taking it to heart. From as long as I can remember, I have loved drawing, painting, writing, and creating. I did everything I could to follow a career path that utilized those skills, and today I am a creative director in advertising and entertainment — and I also get to write articles like this one.

Sometimes, I feel a bit guilty about getting paid to do something day in, day out, that I really enjoy. And that is the best way to make money; when you aren't even trying. So if you are not yet out of school, follow your dreams and find a job that you will enjoy, if you can. If not, find a way to make money in your spare time by doing something you love — whether it's fixing cars, painting murals, or singing. When you love it, the money is not hard work. It's not work at all.

3. Buy Cheap, Buy Twice

As someone who loves a deal, I did not take this advice word for word. I don't believe in paying full price for anything, and that could be considered "cheap." But I like to buy quality items at a lower price. What my dad was saying was that if you buy a cheap tool or a bargain bucket t-shirt, you cannot expect either to last. It's far better to pay $30 for something that will last you a few years, than $10 for something that will last only six months. If you're digging around in the dollar store bins for screwdrivers, you can guarantee you'll be back for a replacement much sooner than if you had picked up a quality item from a hardware store.

4. Don't Buy Champagne on a Beer Budget

"Wait Dad, we never have Champagne." "Exactly," was his response to me. I grew up in a working class home in the northeast of England. We rarely ate out, and when we did, it was cheap. I remember coloring in pictures every month at the same cafe because "kids eat free if they color a picture." My parents never splurged, except at Christmas (which was a case of going overboard to make up for the rest of the year, I think). We bought food once a week, on Friday, and if we wanted something before then, we had to wait.

I learned this lesson well. I don't have massive loans or a ton of credit card debt, I have a modest car, a small home, and I live well within my salary every month. This is probably the most important lesson I ever learned, and it has stood me in good stead.

5. You're Never Too Young to Save

Whether it's for retirement, a savings account, or just something on which to spend your allowance, saving was drummed into me from an early age. "Pay yourself first" was another way my dad put it.

I had a savings account at the local bank when I was 10 (the Natwest piggy banks were awesome). At 22, I started saving for my retirement. Even though it was just a little each month, the power of compound interest is working its magic on that some 20 years later. Some people say you should live for today, because you'll be too old to enjoy it later on. I certainly don't think you should save everything and live a Scrooge-like existence, but plan ahead, and start saving as soon as you can, with whatever you can. You are going to need it.

6. There's Nothing Wrong With Second-Hand

Many of my friends growing up had new clothes, new bikes, new toys, and new backpacks every few months. I did not. I did get new things, but I made them last. However, I was taught early on that there was no stigma or shame in buying used items. It is a lifestyle choice I continue to practice, and it saves me a lot of money. Used cars are way cheaper than new ones. I will go to Craigslist for appliances, electronic items, tools, and, well, anything else that I need. I will search for "factory refurbished" or used before new. The only exceptions I have on used items are footwear, underwear, and safety items (think infant car seats).

7. Find a Way to Afford It

I grew up around the haves, and have-nots. I would say for the most part, I was in the latter category, but only because the haves were those who had everything they ever wanted. However, if I wanted something really badly, my dad would tell me, "Figure out a way to make it happen."

If my allowance wasn't enough for the book or DVD I wanted, I'd do odd jobs or get a paper route. I would sell things I owned to get something else (I still regret selling my entire Transformers toy collection to get a CD player… oh, if I had foresight). But today, the same is true. I'll work extra hours. I'll hustle freelance gigs. I will find ways to make it work, rather than the usual "slap it on the credit card" routine so many people follow.

8. Don't Shop on an Empty Stomach

Have you ever done this? It's a nightmare. Everything you see, in every aisle, looks fantastic. You may have a shopping list (in fact, my mum insisted on one) but it goes out the window when you shop hungry. You throw all sorts of food into the cart, and before you know it, you're checking out with way more than you need. Sometimes, you buy so much it goes off. Or you blow your budget for the week, and realize half the stuff in your cart is junk. So, before I do my shopping, I grab a bite. Even if it's just a granola bar, it can really stop those hunger pangs from taking over, and turning you into the "eyes bigger than your belly" monster.

9. Knowledge Is Money (and Power)

The more you know, the better the deal you can get. My dad taught me that from an early age, and to this day I am a research freak. Of course, he didn't grow up with the Internet, so he had to work a lot harder to find bargains and hustle great deals. So before I buy anything, I do my homework. I comparison shop. I ask friends and family. I talk to insiders, or visit forums. For me, buying something without knowing as much about it, and the buying process, as possible is just throwing money away. And knowledge is also power in this context. If you're armed with it, you can negotiate from a position of strength. Know you stuff, it will serve you well.

10. Learn How to Fix (and Make) Things

From as long as I can remember, I was helping my dad out with DIY projects. We didn't have a lot of money growing up, but he certainly knew how to stretch it out. Buying materials to build something was way cheaper than buying it ready-made. Coffee tables, lamps, desks, computer cases, fire surrounds, you name it, he built it. He was really good at it, too.

Over the years, he must have saved so many thousands of pounds (as I say, I grew up in England) by making his own things, or fixing things instead of paying for repairs. I try to follow in his footsteps, although sadly, I didn't get his knack for woodworking. But I will look up ways to repair things that are broken, or follow online videos for things like replacing brake pads or cabin filters. Whenever anything is in need of a repair, my dad is in the back of my head saying "Hey son… you can fix that, go on, give it a go."

Happy Father's Day, Dad. I love you, and wish I could see you more. You're my hero.

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:

Ask the Readers: How Do You Celebrate Father's Day on a Budget?

Ashley Jacobs — Tue, 14 Jun 2016 10:00:05 +0000

Editor's Note: Congratulations to Pam, Liz, and Betty for winning this week's contest!

Many of us tend to splurge on holidays and special events, but for holidays like Father's Day where you simply want to show your appreciation for someone you love, spending a lot of money isn't necessary. There are many free (or really cheap) activities you can do on a nice summer day, and there are many gifts that you can make yourself. Hosting a party? Ask your guests to pitch in. The bottom line is that you can celebrate your favorite dad without busting your budget.

How do you celebrate Father's Day on a budget? Do you plan to splurge for any part of the celebration, like for a dinner at his favorite fancy restaurant or a high-end gift that you know he'll love? If you're a dad, what is your idea of a perfect Father's Day?

Tell us how you celebrate Father's Day on a budget and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

Win 1 of 3 $20 Amazon Gift Cards

We're doing three giveaways — here's how you can win!

Mandatory Entry:

Post your answer in the comments below. One commenter will be randomly selected to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

For Extra Entries:

You can tweet about our giveaway for an extra entry. Also, our Facebook fans can get an extra entry too! Use our Rafflecopter widget for your chance to win one of the other two Amazon Gift Cards:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

If you're inspired to write a whole blog post OR you have a photo on flickr to share, please link to it in the comments or tweet it.

Giveaway Rules:

Contest ends Monday, June 20th at 11:59 p.m. Pacific. Winners will be announced after June 20th on the original post. Winners will also be contacted via email.
You can enter all three drawings — once by leaving a comment, once by liking our Facebook update, and once by tweeting.
This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered, or associated with Facebook.
You must be 18 and US resident to enter. Void where prohibited.

Good Luck!

Don't forget to enter before June 30th for your chance to win $1500 in prizes in our Rutgers Giveaway! If you are a young adult, take a quick survey on your financial decisions and you could win a $500 or one of five $200 Amazon gift cards. For more information and to enter, check out our giveaway article!

Tell us how you celebrate Father's Day on a budget and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

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

3 Smart Ways to Save on Father's Day

Ashley Eneriz — Tue, 14 Jun 2016 09:30:27 +0000

Father's Day is fast approaching, and dads and grandpas alike deserve some appreciation on their special day. Most of the nation agrees, considering this year, consumers will spend a record-breaking amount on Father's Day. From gifts to meals out, Americans plan to spend $14.3 billion on dads in 2016. That averages to about $125.92 spent per person on this holiday. However, this huge amount looks subpar when compared to how much was spent on Mother's Day this year, which was $21.4 billion.

While fathers deserve the best, you don't have to blow your budget to make your husband, dad, or a grandpa feel special this year.

What Dads Really Want

If you ask Dad what he really wants, he will probably give a frustrating answer of "nothing." In fact, many dads just want a day of relaxation rather than expensive cuff links or a stressful dinner at a packed restaurant. Here are a few last-minute Father's Day gift ideas that are extra thoughtful and budget-friendly.

1. Crafts Worth Keeping

While the cute handmade necktie cards are a sweet gesture, try doing a craft with your kids that incorporates their handprint or footprint. This is not only cute, but it seals the memory of just how little your children's hands and feet were in their younger years. Pinterest is filled with many handprint/footprint ideas, including putting two feet together to make a heart, making a football out of a baby footprint, or making a Star Wars Yoda out of a footprint with the phrase, "Yoda best, Dad!"

Another idea is to do a photo shoot with your kids holding up different words to a phrase, such as, "I love you." Two years ago, I had my daughter pose with a letter "D" and "A" and then arranged the pictures to spell "DAD" on a photo card. The total cost was less than $5, and my husband still has the card on his desk at work. You can do this idea for Grandpa, too, and even older children or adult children can do this for their fathers.

Last year, I found a printable dad survey on Pinterest and asked my three-year-old to answer questions about her daddy. The results were adorable and hilarious, and my husband asked if I would do that every year and save them.

2. Special Time Together

When's the last time you did something special just with you and your dad? Life can become so busy, and it is easy to put your relationship with your father on the back burner, especially since when we have our own families to manage. Try scheduling special one-on-one time with your father before or after Father's Day. Even if you just sit down and drink coffee together, it will be more meaningful to him then a generic card. Some other affordable ideas include hitting balls at a golfing range, going on a fishing trip (even if that is more your father's thing than yours), or seeing a local sports game together.

If you are a family of little ones, your husband might appreciate a day or weekend alone with you or just the guys. Eric Brantner, founder of Scribblrs and father to a one-year-old daughter, said, "What I really want for Father's Day is for a night alone with my wife. Having a one-year-old makes that next-to-impossible. But it's what I want more than anything."

Even a trip out as a family can make a great Father's Day treat. Marcus Kusi, marriage blogger at Our Peaceful Family and father to two toddler daughters, said, "What I really want for Father's Day is to spend time with my kids, and to appreciate the opportunity they have given me to become a better person." Try a simple, stress-free outing, such as a trip to the beach or a picnic in the park.

3. Words Matter

So many times we can save the gushy stuff for Mother's Day and hand our dads a funny or generic card that we signed her name to. But Dad would also appreciate a handwritten note saying how much he is loved. Because who wouldn't want to know that all of their hard efforts and sacrifices have been noticed by their family?

Save money by avoiding the generic and cheesy Father's Day cards and opt for a handwritten note instead. Pair it with his favorite chocolate bar, and you have a meaningful gift for under $2.

Father's Day is a day to celebrate your day and show him that you appreciate him. Don't get tied up finding the perfect gift that will impress him.

What are you giving your dad/husband/grandfather for Father's Day this year?

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

Ask the Readers: How Will You Show Your Appreciation This Father's Day?

Ashley Jacobs — Tue, 16 Jun 2015 15:00:16 +0000

Editor's Note: Congratulations to Jeff, Michelle, and Susan for winning this week's contest!

Sunday is Father's Day! While it's important to love and appreciate the special dads in your life all year round, Father's Day is usually the time when many people want go the extra mile.

How will you show your appreciation this Father's Day? Will you be giving a gift, your time, or both? How do you usually show your appreciation when it isn't Father's Day?

Tell us how you'll show your appreciation on Father's Day and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

Win 1 of 3 $20 Amazon Gift Cards

We're doing three giveaways — here's how you can win!

Mandatory Entry:

Post your answer in the comments below. One commenter will be randomly selected to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

For Extra Entries:

You can tweet about our giveaway for an extra entry. Also, our Facebook fans can get an extra entry too! Use our Rafflecopter widget for your chance to win one of the other two Amazon Gift Cards:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

If you're inspired to write a whole blog post OR you have a photo on flickr to share, please link to it in the comments or tweet it.

Giveaway Rules:

Contest ends Monday, June 22nd at 11:59 p.m. Pacific. Winners will be announced after June 22nd on the original post. Winners will also be contacted via email.
You can enter all three drawings — once by leaving a comment, once by liking our Facebook update, and once by tweeting.
This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered, or associated with Facebook.
You must be 18 and US resident to enter. Void where prohibited.

Good Luck!

Tell us how you'll show your appreciation on Father's Day and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

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

Best Money Tips: Financial Tips From Dad

Ashley Jacobs — Fri, 13 Jun 2014 17:00:19 +0000

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips Roundup! Today we found some amazing articles on financial tips from dad, managing your money in retirement, and financial goals everyone should strive for.

Ask the Readers: How Do You Celebrate Father's Day Frugally?

Ashley Jacobs — Tue, 10 Jun 2014 15:00:30 +0000

Editor's Note: Congratulations to lostAnnfound, Carmen, and Ernest for winning this week's contest!

Father's Day is coming up! Retailers have been targeting dads and dad-appreciators for weeks now, but here's another holiday that you don't need to bust your budget to enjoy.

How do you celebrate Father's Day frugally? Are you buying or making gifts for the dads in your life? Dads, how do you want to spend June 15th?

Tell us how you celebrate Father's Day frugally and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

Win 1 of 3 $20 Amazon Gift Cards

We're doing three giveaways — here's how you can win!

Mandatory Entry:

Post your answer in the comments below. One commenter will win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

For extra entries:

You can tweet about our giveaway for an extra entry. Also, our Facebook fans can get an extra entry too! Use our Rafflecopter widget for your chance to win one of the other two Amazon Gift Cards:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

If you're inspired to write a whole blog post OR you have a photo on flickr to share, please link to it in the comments or tweet it.

Giveaway Rules:

Contest ends Monday, June 16th at 11:59 p.m. Pacific. Winners will be announced after June 16th on the original post. Winners will also be contacted via email.
You can enter all three drawings — once by leaving a comment, once by liking our Facebook update, and once by tweeting.
This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered, or associated with Facebook.
You must be 18 and US resident to enter. Void where prohibited.

Good Luck!

Tell us how you celebrate Father's Day frugally and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

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

Best Money Tips: Affordable Presents for Dad

Ashley Jacobs — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 17:00:29 +0000

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips Roundup! Today we found some great articles on affordable presents for dad, getting a frugal start on summer, and how not to drown in student loan debt.

Best Money Tips: Money Tips Every Dad Should Teach His Kids

Ashley Jacobs — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 10:00:34 +0000

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips Roundup! Today we found some stellar articles on money tips dads should teach kids, saving money by cutting food wste, and interview preparation.

Best Money Tips: DIY Gifts for Dad

Ashley Jacobs — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 10:00:43 +0000

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips Roundup! Today we found some awesome articles on DIY gifts for dads, meaningful and unique wedding gifts, and how to save on running shoes, gear, and events.

10 Meaningful, Money-Saving Ways to Celebrate Dad

POPSUGAR Smart Living — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 10:36:35 +0000

Showing Dad you love him doesn't have to mean sending him on an expensive golf vacation or buying him a new camera. The special day should be all about connecting with him, and there's no better way to do so than by spending some quality time together. Here, we've rounded up meaningful activities you can do no matter where you live or what budget you have — all the activities are free or cost very little. Cheers to being fun and frugal with Dad!

1. Pack a Picnic

Picnics are for spending quality time with loved ones, and that certainly includes Dad. Take time to pack snacks you know he'll like, and head to the park for a day of sun and making memories.

2. Play Tourist

Make like a tourist and see sights in your own city that you often overlook. If Dad grew up there, he might even share some stories of his younger days around the block.

3. Browse Books

Whether it's at a local bookstore or public library, you two can get lost for hours surrounded by books. Discuss which genres are your favorites and why, buy one another a favorite book, or take home the same book so you can start your own book club for two.

4. Take a Cooking Class

Get ready to roll up your sleeves for some quality cooking time with Dad. Many culinary schools and even locals will open up their doors and homes to teach you how to make a delicious meal at a fair cost.

5. Play Mini Golf

He doesn't have to be a big golfer (or a middle schooler) to appreciate the fun that comes with a good game of mini golf. Other similar and budget-friendly ideas include bowling or hitting the batting cages.

6. Watch Home Movies

Break out those VHS tapes collecting dust in your drawers and take a trip down memory lane by watching homemade movies with Dad. You'll not only get to see how much you've changed, but you can also poke fun at Dad's camera skills.

7. Tour an Art Gallery

You'd be surprised at how many art galleries — and even big museums — open their doors for free or offer discounts. Bond with Dad while strolling past beautiful paintings and sculptures.

8. Go For a Hike

There's nothing like some fresh air and scenic views to enjoy the day. If Dad is someone who likes to hike a lot, ask him to take you on his favorite trail.

9. Go Wine Tasting

You don't have to travel to the vineyards of Napa to enjoy some wine tasting with Dad. Do so right at home by looking up wine bars and clubs that typically offer samplings at an affordable cost.

10. Learn Your Family History

It's not very often that we sit down with our parents to learn about their upbringings. Take this time to go through old family photos or mementos with Dad; ask him about his grandparents and to tell you all that he knows about your family's genealogy.

Father's Day isn't about pricey ties and expensive steaks; it's about honoring a man you love. Show how much you care with these frugal suggestions.

Guest Post Blurb:

This is a guest contribution from our friends at POPSUGAR Smart Living. Check out more useful articles from this partner:

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

Best Money Tips: Frugal Father's Day Gift Ideas

Ashley Jacobs — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 10:00:36 +0000

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips Roundup! Today we found some fantastic articles on frugal Father's Day gift ideas, tips that will save you hundreds on your next trip, and ways to save on your beauty regimens.

Ask the Readers: How Will You Celebrate Father's Day?

Ashley Jacobs — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 10:36:35 +0000

Editor's Note: Congratulations to Melissa, Jennifer, and Bethany for winning this week's contest!

We should show our appreciation for those we love every single day, but Father's Day is the day to do a little extra something for the dads in our lives. This is the day for gifts, fun, and quality time spent with our favorite dads.

How will you celebrate Father's Day this year? Are you planning an event or activities, or will you be giving a gift — or both? What tips and tricks do you have for celebrating Father's Day on a budget?

Tell us about your Father's Day plans and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

Win 1 of 3 $20 Amazon Gift Cards

We're doing three giveaways — here's how you can win!

Mandatory Entry:

Post your answer in the comments below. One commenter will win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

For extra entries:

You can tweet about our giveaway for an extra entry. Also, our Facebook fans can get an extra entry too! Use our Rafflecopter widget for your chance to win one of the other two Amazon Gift Cards:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

If you're inspired to write a whole blog post OR you have a photo on flickr to share, please link to it in the comments or tweet it.

Giveaway Rules:

Contest ends Monday, June 10th at 11:59 pm Pacific. Winners will be announced after June 10th on the original post. Winners will also be contacted via email.
You can enter all three drawings — once by leaving a comment, once by liking our Facebook update, and once by tweeting.
This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered, or associated with Facebook.
You must be 18 and US resident to enter. Void where prohibited.

Good Luck!

Tell us about your Father's Day plans and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

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

Best Money Tips: Inexpensive Father's Day Gift Ideas

Ashley Jacobs — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 09:48:16 +0000

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips Roundup! Today we found some great articles on inexpensive Father's Day gifts, credit card mistakes, and unexpected costs in retirement.

The Best and Worst Things to Buy in June

Dealnews — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 10:36:10 +0000

June is the month with the longest daylight hours of the year, which for the deal-shopper means that you have even more time to shop! But before you let Father's Day or the increasingly warm weather convince you to buy less-than-stellar deals, check out our latest buying guide. We searched through our extensive archives of sales, promotions, and coupons to sort the fact from fiction when it comes to getting the best deals in June. (See also: Shopping Calendar: The Best Time to Buy Anything)

Make Do With Last Year's Sandals

Much of your wardrobe can transcend a single season, but this is rarely the case with sandals. For most areas of the U.S., the summer months are the only time to let your toes breathe. And as such, you're unlikely to find any great discounts at the onset of the season. Although cheap flip flops and slip-ons are popular in promotional sales from the likes of Old Navy, you'll largely have to wait until at least mid- to late-July before seeing clearance-level deals on the informal footwear.

Cruises and Vacations to the Caribbean...During Hurricane Season

June is typically the beginning of the hurricane season in the Caribbean, which usually lasts through November. Because of the risk of tempestuous weather, prices on cruises and vacations to these regions are considerably less than during other seasons. We've already seen a plethora of above-average deals on non-hurricane season cruises this year due to the public relations disaster that was the cruise industry in the first few months of 2012, so it remains to be seen if "hurricane" packages will offer even steeper discounts. Either way, if you're willing to run the risk of a rainy tropical getaway, the Caribbean will certainly offer more bang for your buck than Europe, which has been seeing exorbitant prices as of late.

Book a Staycation Instead of Jumping the Pond

Speaking of travel deals, you might want to avoid booking a trip abroad, as the cost of flying is on the rise. According to USA Today, international airfare this summer will cost on average about 20% more than it did in 2010. This is essentially due to rising fuel costs. Moreover, many airlines are cutting down on the sheer volume of the flights they offer, creating greater demand for fewer seats.

Ladies Love Cool Lingerie (Deals)

It's usually this month that Victoria's Secret unveils its famed Semi-Annual Sale, and last year we saw prices as low as $3 for panties and $12 for bras. Moreover, we saw excellent lingerie deals in June from aerie by American Eagle, Frederick's of Hollywood, Macy's, Soma Intimates, and Figleaves. That said, while summer deals entailed steep discounts last year, they paled in comparison to the October to December stretch, which saw more Editors' Choice offers from many of these same vendors.

Consider Putting off Tool Purchases Until July, or Later

You may feel compelled to buy dear old Dad a new tool set for Father's Day later this month, but in fact, July (as well and November and December) offers the highest number of Editors' Choice tool deals. That means, if you want to pay close to the best (if not the best) price of the year, skip June and splurge in July. (But remember to at least get your Pops a card!)

Fire It Up! It's Almost Time to Buy a New Grill

Last year, we saw a slight uptick in Editors' Choice grill deals during the month of June, which means we will likely start seeing respectable cuts on grills in the coming weeks. However, as is the case with any seasonal item, you will absolutely start seeing incrementally steeper cuts on comparable models (if not the model of your choice itself) as the season progresses. So purchasing your grill becomes a matter of deciding upon need; if you want a full season of use out of it, then June is the first month of the summer in which we see a notable decline in prices. Otherwise, wait for late-season sales instead.

Experience the Majesty of Our National Parks on Uncle Sam's Dime

While there are everyday ways to make a trip to a national park exceedingly affordable, there are a handful of days each year in which more than 100 national parks offer free admittance. June 9 is one such occasion, as it celebrates Get Outdoors Day, an event that encourages "healthy, active outdoor fun." Notable natural wonders like Yosemite and Yellowstone will be gratis on this day.

Don't Expect Cheaper Cotton to Yield Better Prices

While the cotton industry is likely invigorated by reports that cotton prices are at a 2-year low, consumers are unlikely to see a difference on price tags at the store. While fluctuations in food costs have a demonstrable effect on prices at the supermarket, apparel retailers have a larger profit margin to work with that allows them to absorb raw material cost increases. Many retailers thus have been absorbing the additional costs, while others adjusted the prices slightly but not enough to actually cover the total increased costs. Others still found workarounds, like using less of the material. Either way, dropping cotton prices will have little effect on the prices that consumers see in-store.

Keep an Eye Out for Refurbished or Used Tablets

Tablets continue to shine in the tech spotlight, and if you're looking to get in on the still-strong trend, consider shopping for a second-hand option. The majority of the top-shelf iPad and tablet deals we've seen recently have been on refurbished or used models. Last month saw Apple again cut prices on refurbished iPad 2 models, slashing its starting price to $319. Meanwhile, we saw all-time low prices on used and refurbished Motorola Xoom, Samsung Galaxy Tab, and BlackBerry PlayBook models over just the past month. A word to the wise though, pay close attention to the warranty information for used and refurbished iPad and tablet deals; a 1-year warranty is ideal.

46" HDTVs Hit New Lows

June isn't a big month for HDTV deals, but if you're in need of a new set, we recommend looking at name-brand 46" and 47" LCD HDTVs. For the past two months, name-brand 46" LCD HDTV deals have remained at an all-time low of $490. By comparison, they bottomed out at $598 and $549 during the months of November and December of 2011, respectively. (Those months are traditionally the best months for HDTV sales.) Look for models from Sharp or Toshiba priced at $490 or lower.

Ivy Bridge Debuts, Desktop Replacements Prices Continue to Drop

June has the potential to be a great month for bargain laptop shoppers. On the one hand you have Sandy Bridge Core i7 quad-core desktop replacements, which have reached new price lows since the start of the year. We expect price tags on these laptops to drop even further, especially as we begin seeing new Ivy Bridge-based systems enter the market.

These Ivy Bridge laptops, which are packing Intel's latest CPUs, are pushing the price of Sandy Bridge systems even lower. Best of all, since their debut on April 30, 16" Ivy Bridge-based laptops have also dropped 31% in price (falling from $1,010 to $689 in a span of weeks). These new systems are also boasting 8GB of RAM, dedicated 1GB video cards, 1TB hard drives, and in some instances built-in Blu-ray players. A 16" system with the above specs went for $770 in late May, and we expect that price to repeat itself in June as manufacturers attempt to gain consumers' attention.

Bottom line, if you're looking to purchase a Windows laptop that will last you the next few years, now's the perfect time. On the Sandy Bridge front, look for deals at $712 or below (that's been the average for 2012 so far). On the Ivy Bridge front you'll find plenty of deals, but $689 is the all-time low for a 16" system as of late May.

Ready to put this advice to use? Set up a customized email alert to receive notification as soon as we see deals on the categories above.

This is a guest post by Dealnews.

Before you let Father's Day or the increasingly warm weather convince you to buy less-than-stellar deals, check out our latest buying guide for the best deals in June.

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

Father's Day

5 Times Dad Was Right About Money

1. "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is"

2. "You don't need that"

3. "You've got Champagne taste on a beer budget"

4. "Money doesn't grow on trees"

5. "The best things in life are free"

Appreciating Dad's words of wisdom

10 Money Lessons I Learned From Dad

1. Don't Throw Good Money After Bad

2. Do a Job You Love, and You'll Never Work a Day in Your Life

3. Buy Cheap, Buy Twice

4. Don't Buy Champagne on a Beer Budget

5. You're Never Too Young to Save

6. There's Nothing Wrong With Second-Hand

7. Find a Way to Afford It

8. Don't Shop on an Empty Stomach

9. Knowledge Is Money (and Power)

10. Learn How to Fix (and Make) Things

Ask the Readers: How Do You Celebrate Father's Day on a Budget?

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3 Smart Ways to Save on Father's Day

What Dads Really Want

1. Crafts Worth Keeping

2. Special Time Together

3. Words Matter

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2. Play Tourist

3. Browse Books

4. Take a Cooking Class

5. Play Mini Golf

6. Watch Home Movies

7. Tour an Art Gallery

8. Go For a Hike

9. Go Wine Tasting

10. Learn Your Family History

Best Money Tips: Frugal Father's Day Gift Ideas

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Best Money Tips: Inexpensive Father's Day Gift Ideas

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The Best and Worst Things to Buy in June

Make Do With Last Year's Sandals

Cruises and Vacations to the Caribbean...During Hurricane Season

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Ladies Love Cool Lingerie (Deals)

Consider Putting off Tool Purchases Until July, or Later

Fire It Up! It's Almost Time to Buy a New Grill