I've moved! New Site and New Host

Alright, things may be a little funky in the next several days.

Blogger proved too limiting so I’ve moved to a new Wordpress home on a new hosting service. Boy is this complicated. Thanks goodness for the plethora of information & help on the internet.

Things may be up and down as I complete the transition.

Hope you enjoy the new look! Read more!

DEAL: T-mobile Monthly Plan Discount

I've talked a lot about AT&T discounts because so many people have iPhones.

What if you are stuck with T-Mobile and want a discount too?

T-mobile also offers corporate discounts. Even if you don't qualify, there are codes floating around the internet that can qualify you. Search the mighty google!

For example, here is a 12% discount

1. Call T-Mobile (1-877-453-8824)
2. Navigate phone system to get to a real person
3. Mention that you are a member of the Federation of American Consumers and Travelers. They may ask you for the code promo: 10045TMOFAV
4. If unsuccessful, hang up and go back to step 1
   

Discount takes 1-2 months to take effect.
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FREE MUSIC: Amazon Mp3

I love free music.

Not to be outdone by iTunes, Amazon actually has a large selection of music to download for free.

Just go to the link to get your music

Free music from Amazon

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BASICS: Ebay Buying Part II (making the purchase)

Now that you've decided that Ebay offers the best deal, you have to make the actual purchase.

Before pulling the trigger, I want to tell you about some tricks you can use to reduce your purchase price even more.

Remember, emotions are the enemy of Ebay buying. You want to set a maximum ceiling price you will pay and you must not go above that. Do not get into a bidding war!

Specific tips

• BigCrumbs: More useful if you are purchasing at a fixed price. BigCrumbs, besides its other benefits, offers you a cashback bonus for all ebay purchases. You can receive up to 36% of seller fees as cashback. You just need to remember to click through the BigCrumbs website before purchasing. Sign up for BigCrumbs!
  

• Sniping Services: To avoid a bidding war, you want to place your bid at the very last possible moment. You can try to do this manually, but Ebay sniping services can automate this so you don't need to be by your computer at the exact moment. There are tons of services available, most of which you have to pay for. I find, though, that the cost savings are worth the fees for these services. PowerSnipe is a well-reviewed sniping service that I've used. They offer a 30 day trial to test it out.

• Misspellings: If a seller misspells an item, you are in luck. No one will see it to bid on it thus you can get it at a great price! You can try searching AuctionBloopers or AuctionEgg for such items. I don't usually find this method too helpful.

Random tip: When paying, definitely use Paypal with a linked credit card. Both paypal and your credit card have methods in place to easily get your money back if the seller is scamming you.

Finally, After receiving the item in satisfactory condition, leave positive feedback for the seller. You will be more likely to receive good feedback in return.

Good luck!


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COUPON: Cheap Ice Cream

Ice cream has got to be my favorite dessert.

Maybe it's not so good for the winter months when it's freezing, but I still enjoy it.

Ben & Jerry's can be expensive, but here's how to get a $3 off coupon.

Just go to promotion site and follow instructions.

Good for 2 coupons of $3 off a pint. Walgreens, this Sunday (1/4/09), has a Ben & Jerry Sale of 2 pint for $6!
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FREE: Airport Reading Materials

I hate traveling. Those planes are cramped, noisy, and there is nothing to do!  Plus with the constant cost-cutting, even free airplane magazines and newspapers seem to have disappeared.

Where can you get some free reading material at the airport?

I recently flew across the country to be with my family for the holidays.  One thing I noticed was that people tend to leave lots of magazines and newspapers behind when it's time to board. I suppose that while waiting, they grew bored or finished their reading.

I tend to be the last to board the plane (i never understand the rush to board early just to sit in that sardine can for longer!) which allows me to get my choice of what to read. Last time I got The New York Times and US magazine. A nice combo, I must say.

Other things I preoccupy myself with

• iPhone music
• Movies on my laptop
  
• Munchies to chew on (brought from home)

Anyone with other tips to pass the time while traveling alone? Read more!

BASICS: Find Internet Store Coupons

So you are one click away from completing your purchase.

You've done your research by comparing competing products, read all the customer reviews, found a great deal, chosen the right credit card to optimize your rewards, and used the affiliate link to receive cashback.

Before you purchase, do one more thing. Look for a coupon! There are many, many resources available for find that coupon.

It always bothers me when I'm about to purchase something and I see a blank field for "Apply Coupon". That button must be there for a reason! There's a coupon I'm not using!

What should you do now?

• Do the trusty google search with keywords of coupon, deal coupled with the store name
• Search specific coupon websites: SlickDeals, DealCatcher, CouponCabin, DealTaker, other sites. I am especially fond of RetailMeNot.
  
• Search ebay for store coupons. You'd be surprised what you can find for the bigger retail stores.
  
• Certain stores will email you coupons if you agree to marketing offers (notorious ones being Staples, OfficeMax, BedBath & Beyond, etc). Paypal is one example of this.
  
• Certain stores have yearly Friends & Family discounts for which you have to be neither friend nor family (Brooks Brothers, Banana Republic, Rockport, etc).
  

Some of my experience

• Amazon: Don't bother looking. Never has real coupons. You could try the 5% discount trick
  
• Bed, Bath & Beyond: These 20% off coupons are everywhere
• Barnes & Noble: Frequent coupons 15-40% off. Combine it with the 15% B&N Membership card
• Buy.com: Minor coupons (i.e. $5 off $100) available only for new members. Those free email accounts come in handy here.
• BestBuy, Lowes & Home Depot: The Post Office has a moving packet which often has 10% off coupons for these stores.
  
• Staples: Great coupons on Ebay. For example, $30 off $150 coupons can be bought for $2-$4.

Caveat: Some coupons may void cashback. I found this to occur less than 5% of the time. Weigh the size of the coupon vs the cashback amount to decide your risk tolerance.
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Pro: Save money
Con: Takes time to search for coupons. It can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. Can sometimes be frustrating and fruitless.
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ENERGY: Light Bulbs

Edison invented the light bulb back in 1879.

It was a completely different era back then. The concept of saving energy or being environmentally conscious did not exist then. In the current era of global warming, there is a need for more efficient style of light bulb than the traditional incandescent one.

Interestingly, the modern Compact Flourescent light bulb (CFL) was created at GE in response to the 1973 oil crisis. It was shelved back then, however, due to the immense costs associated with manufacturing.

These new CFL bulbs use about 75% less energy than the standard incandescent bulb and can last up to 10 times longer. Yes, the upfront costs are higher than the standard bulb, but given the higher energy efficiency and longer duration you should end up saving money in the long run. Also, since they last longer you'll spend less time changing your bulbs.

You can buy these light bulbs at any major store (KMart, Walmart, Sears, etc). Check out Amazon for its CFL lighting store.
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Pro: Energy efficiency means decreased electricty bill. Good environmental impact.
Con: Greater up-front cost.



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