Terry.Tyson / Flickr
This post was brought to you by SillyJokes.co.uk, the UK’s leading source of Halloween Costumes and Halloween Decorations.
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
Before you trick or treat this year, there are nine things you can do to save money on Halloween and reduce stress. Starting now is the most important part to finding deals on Halloween decorations, costumes, and candy.
Decorations
- Take inventory. Make a list of what you need. This year, I’d really like to find a deal on kitchen towels with pumpkin designs on them. I’m staying away from witches and goblins as I’ll be able to used these until Thanksgiving. (more…)
Longtime reader Glenn shared a dirty secret about hotel room safes. They’re not safe at all! He writes:
Do you ever use the hotel safe in your room? If so, do you know about the default combination code that can make your valuables “less safe” than you thought? If the answer is “No,” then you must check out a video that was posted on YouTube on Sept. 6th by skyrangerpro.
Here is the video Glenn mentioned. It’s been viewed more than a million times!
fekaylius/Flickr
This post originally appeared on the Bargain Hunter blog, which I wrote at the LA Daily News.
A lot has changed in a decade, but when it comes to finding bargains on September 11, I still feel the same way. I cannot do my job. Ten years has passed; should I move on? I see many have, and I also see the compulsion people feel to mark a neat round number. I prefer to take Sept. 11 as a holiday to remember and cry. A few years ago I told you why and here’s that story again.
Forgive me for not posting any bargains today, the eighth anniversary of the September 11 attacks. Trying to save $3 on a sandwich or find a shoe sale seems silly and out of place today. Instead, I’m going to try to give blood, something I wasn’t able to do that day in New York.
Last chance for back to school deals! Credit: stevendepolo/Flickr
Just a reminder that the back to school deals end this Saturday, Sept. 10, 2011 at Office Max and Staples. Office Depot has already cut us off. The only school sale worth mentioning for Sept. 11-17 is Staples so you’ll find that below. Here’s a recap of the deals ending Saturday, Sept. 10, 2011:
Bubble bath for Halloween!
This post is brought to you by PureCoustumes.com, seller of the most family friendly Halloween costumes online!
It may seem like Halloween is weeks off – it is – but retailers are wasting no time offering coupons for Halloween costumes, decor, and candy. Here are all the Halloween coupons I’ve spotted so far – a dozen so far.
Kmart - Get up to 20% off costumes plus shipping is free on $40 or more. Or use Kmart coupon code KBOO to get $5 off $50. Both discounts valid Sept. 11-17, 2011.
Target - Spend $50, get free shipping on Halloween costumes.
SpiritHalloween.com - Get 20% off one item with SpiritHalloween coupon code SPAFF20. Expires Oct. 26, 2011.
Buy 2 get 1 free at Office Max. Credit: Office Max.
If you haven’t yet taken advantage of the hot weekly back to school deals, this is your last chance! The final weeklong back to school sales cycle begins this Sunday and ends Saturday, Sept. 10, 2011. Office Depot deals end tomorrow, Saturday Sept. 3, 2011. Here are this week’s deals!
Office Max deals Sunday Sept 4-10, 2011 (some prices are regional so double check your weekly ad online or in store)
- 1 cent 12-pack Schoolio Colored Pencils
- 1 cent Pencil Sharpener
- 25 cent Sharpie Singles Markers
- 25 cent 5-pack Just Basics Pink Erasers
A Legoland trumpeter beckons visitors. Credit: Elfidomx/Flickr
Just had to share this hot deal that I heard about from The Freebie Blogger. Florida teachers can get a FREE yearlong pass to Legoland Florida just by showing proof of their occupation. An annual pass is normally $159 for adults and $129 for kids, so this is a hot deal!
Is this for real?
Yes! Bring your most recent paystub, Florida photo ID, valid professional or temporary FDOE teaching certificate, print
Does a good credit score help you save on insurance? This is a simple question, with a tricky answer. Here’s what you need to know.
Soft Credit Check: Whenever you apply for insurance, most insurance companies will perform a soft credit check. A soft credit check is different than a hard credit check in that it does not impact your credit rating. The credit check is used to check your payment history and is then used to calculate your personal insurance score.
Insurance Score: An insurance score is similar to a credit score in that it provides insurers with information about your past credit and insurance history. Your insurance score is calculated by a multitude of factors. Some of them may include, your credit history, your claims history and your insurance payment history. Specifically, insurers are looking to see if you have ever failed to pay your homeowners insurance premiums, if you have filed more than a certain number of claims over a 3-5 year period and what your credit history looks like.
How it translates: There is a lot of controversy about whether or not insurance companies should take credit and payment history into account as a rating factor for homeowners insurance quotes. However, this may allow them to reward consumers who have protected their credit rating with optimal rates. Just like a lender will take your credit score into account when determining your interest rate for a loan, your insurance provider will take your insurance score into account when determining your insurance rates.
What it boils down to: Take care of your insurance score by maintaining a good credit history. This means paying your bills on time and having a low debt to income ratio. Check your credit report regularly to make sure it’s accurate. Also, pay your homeowners insurance premiums on time and never have a lapse in coverage due to non-payment. If you experience a financial hardship, communicate this to your insurance providers and lenders so that they may work with you to come up with a payment plan.
This is sponsored content. Interested in an ad? Read our blog advertising page.
School supply deals are ending this week so shop soon! Credit: Avolore/Flickr
This is the last week of back to school deals at Office Depot. I’m not sure if the other chains will follow suit, but it is likely. I’ll continue to post deals every Thursday until they stop completely.
Office Depot deals Sunday Aug. 28-Sept. 3, 2011
- 1 cent slider pencil box
- $1 Fiskars Student Scissor
- $1 mechanical pencil
- $1 2-pack of paper towels
Office Max deals Sunday Aug. 28-Sept. 3, 2011
- 1 cent 2-pocket folders
- 1 cent metal compass or 6-inch plastic protractor
- 1 cent ream of paper after $6.98 Office Max Bonus Rewards (which can be spent on anything in the store)
Going to college = eating ramen.
Credit: crazytales562/Flickr
Reader Pauline shared a fascinating secret in her comment on Yazmin’s post on college money wasters: “Our plan and my son’s goal is that he graduates from college debt-free.”
Whaaaa?! How would she accomplish such a financial feat? I was dying to know Pauline’s plan. Luckily, she wrote back and shed light on her family’s incredibly savvy spending habits.
Hi Julia: Well, first of all my son is VERY low maintenance. We have had our kids purchase their own WANTS for years. His Dad and I always provided the needs and made that clear what a need vs a want consisted of. And also my son doesn’t like to spend his own money. He has several and various savings accounts that have been growing over the years.
As far as starting 9 months ago I’m the type of person that needs
Thanks to my friend Emily who shared this video with me. It’s a great diversion on Friday. Cuz’ I know you’re bored at work!
Enlightening yourself has a heavy cost. Credit: TounoTouji/Flickr
This post is brought to you by CampusBookRentals.com.
Buying a new textbook from the college bookstore is passe, largely because it’s so pricey. I made the mistake of justifying many new textbook purchases by telling myself I would sell them come finals. But publishers release more updates than Apple, so my $139 Organic Chemistry tome? Still in the attic. Here are six alternatives to paying full price on college textbooks.
Slugbooks - A site that compares textbook prices across four major sellers, Amazon, Chegg, BookRenter, and Half.com. Plus, Slugbooks partners with more than 100 schools across the country to list
This sponsored post for Factory Direct Craft was written by Jennifer Richards.
Arts and crafts are my favorite hobby and when purchasing supplies, I try to save money whenever possible by searching for the best bargains I can find. Shopping for discounts can be fun, especially when you learn where to search for these bargains. I am planning to get crafty this fall and create decorations for my house. There are many great ideas to consider when it comes to fall decor, but leaves and pumpkins and some Halloween themed decorations are perfect. You can find the necessary craft supplies for these projects at any craft supply store but online shops seem to have the best prices. Although it can be fun to visit your local craft shop, it is not always the best option for saving money.
I found a retailer called Factory Direct Craft, which had the craft supplies I needed to create these decorations and once I am finished, my kids are going to enjoy helping me decorate the house. My plan is to create decorative pumpkins, leaves and some Halloween themed decorations. I cannot wait to start since they will look great and I will be happy knowing I saved money by purchasing the supplies online.
This is paid content. Interested in an ad? Read my blog advertising page.
For those of you in the market for a property, whether it’s your first home or a property you plan on add to your growing investment property portfolio, there are a few tips to follow to save money.
- Get the property valued – If you’re serious about a property, it pays to have it independently valued and assessed. This will give you an idea of whether the property is reasonably priced and whether renovations need to be made.
- View the property on multiple occasions – Make sure you view the property on multiple occasions so you’ll have a greater understanding of the property and its surroundings, such as noise from street traffic and overhead aircraft, the volume of traffic at varying times of the day, availability of street parking and how much natural light is in the home.
- Double check the brochure info – Even if it seems right, double check what the real estate brochure states. They are after all, trying to sell you a property. Check for yourself how long it takes to walk to the train station and how far it is to local shops.
- Grants and concessions – In most countries, there are a number of grants and concessions available to different groups funded by individual states or counties, so look into whether there is a grant that applies to you.
- Home loan comparison charts – With so many banks and lenders offering different mortgages, take advantage of home loan comparison charts and home loan health checkers to see whether there are any other home loans better suited to you. It also makes sense to explore whether the option to refinance is a possibility for you.
If you’re in the market for a new property, take note of these few simple tips so you can stay ahead of the game and save money on your mortgage.
This is paid content. Interested in a sponsored giveaway? See our blog advertising page.
greenasian / Flickr
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
I’m shining the spotlight on eight college expenses that are a big waste of money – and not necessary. Don’t forget to check out our weekly back to school deals to save money on school supplies and other back to college money savers.
- Printer - Most universities offer computer labs where your student can print their ten-page papers for free. All s/he needs is a flash drive to save the doc and transport it to the lab. Emailing (more…)
