jmhita / Flickr
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
A friend of mine told me to scratch up my iPhone to make it less appealing to thieves. (It was almost stolen once). Apparently, people are craven enough to steal, but not unless an item is shiny and new.
My friend, who rides an expensive bicycle everywhere, said people tend to overlook it because he has “roughened it up.” I suggested this tactic to my dad, who owns an electrical bicycle to save money on gas. He said he wouldn’t damage his bicycle because of the money he spent.
I agree with my dad. I wouldn’t go as far as defacement to keep something from being stolen. Would you?
earthlydelights / Flickr
I share five must read blog posts about saving money every Friday.
Before hitting the sun this summer, find out why you need to stop being frugal with sunscreen and stop wasting money on sunscreen with Vitamin A. (Wisebread)
Learn how to read an electricity meter to avoid paying a higher electricity bill. (Compare Electricity Bills)
The latest trend for smartphones and tablets is mobile shopping. Stay ahead of the curve by finding out the latest on shopping technology trends. (The Digerati Life)
Should parents be responsible for their kid’s college education bill? Jason used to think his kids should pay for college, but has since changed his mind. Find out why. (Frugal Dad)
Are you overspending on sites like Groupon and Living Social? Keep in mind that impulse purchases are not a deal. (Suddenly Frugal)
Get a free meal at Panda Express with purchase and a coupon below. Credit: stevendepolo/Flickr
There are 15 coupons and freebies today. If you shop online, check if there is a cash back rebate for shopping through Ebates or Shortcuts. It’s free to join and you can save a bit extra.
Free paint – Get a free paint sample that is 2 ounces (just big enough to make two coats on a 2′ x 3′ patch on your wall) from Benjamin Moore, which is known for high quality paint. Expires June 30, 2011. One per customer. Must be 18 or older. No purchase necessary.
Free perfume - Get a free sample of perfume from Victoria’s Secret. It’s called Forever eau de toilet. Freebie expires Apr. 18, 2011. In stores only.
rhurtubia/Flickr
There are 9 coupons and freebies today!
Free cheese fondue! Get free cheese fondue at Melting Pot Apr 11-14, 2011. Catch is you have to make a reservation now. I just made my reservation.
Free cookbook – Download a free Kindle cookbook that has 25 recipes for your slow cooker.
JCPenney coupon - Get $10 off $50 or more with this JCPenney coupon.
Free paper products – Get six free products from Vista Print, including note cards, pens, and notebooks when you pay for shipping. Ends Mar. 9, 2011. (more…)
For iPhone users like me who have been waiting for a choice of cell phone carriers, our day is here. By now you’ve probably heard the iPhone, previously only available on AT&T, is now on Verizon. Although I’m ecstatic about the new option, I’m also hesitant to make the switch.
My contract with AT&T is not up yet and breaking it would cost me a hefty $235 termination fee. Verizon’s technology does not support multitasking like making a call and downloading e-mails at the same time. With AT&T I have unlimited voice, text and data, and can multitask to my heart’s content for $125 a month. Verizon’s unlimited $30 data package is only available for a limited time so I run the risk of switching after it has ended. If you’re caught in the same predicament as I am and want to figure out what the best option for you is, check out my price comparison chart below.
As you can see in the chart, AT&T is the cheaper option if you go with the lowest data, voice and text options. The prices do not include taxes, so expect to pay a little bit more. To make the right decision for you, consider how you plan to use your phone. I don’t travel overseas, so if I switch to Verizon it won’t affect me that their technology does not work overseas. If you need an unlimited data plan, Verizon is for you. If I switch, I will do it once my contract is over and this will give me some time to see whether Verizon can handle all the iPhone users on their network. Back in 2007, AT&T’s network was overwhelmed and the drop calls began.
Will you be switching?
Daniel Y. Go / Flickr
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
If you’re an iPhone user, you already know there are thousands of apps (short for applications) that make life a little bit easier. Many apps have free “lite” versions that can be downloaded without charge from iTunes, but others cost anywhere between .99 to $999.99. You read that right! Some apps like Bar Max: California edition, which is intended for law students studying for the California bar exam, are very expensive.
So what’s a frugal iPhone user supposed to do? (more…)
therichbrooks/Flickr
Yesterday I parted with $.99 to download Boggle onto my iPhone, the second time I’ve ever paid for an app. Already, I’ve played Boggle for two hours, steadily increasing my scores from the low 20s to a high of 36.
I felt guilty about the purchase because there are sooo many free apps. On the other hand, I can afford $.99 for good, clean fun. And besides, the free knock-off version of Boggle stank.
I asked my Facebook friends if buying apps was frugal or cheap.
Jason said the purchase made me “Frugal, cheap would get getting someone else to get them for you.”
Jessica said “Discerning!”
Bonnie said “Frugal for sure, especially considering how many apps are available.:-)”
Eugene said “I’ve only ever paid for 2 myself: Colbert’s ‘the Word’ app, and This American Life. Considering I’ve barely ever used them, I doubt I’ll ever buy another!”
Bob said “…or….just not that into apps, … perhaps!”
Do you pay for apps? How many have you purchased?
PS. I plan to break into the 40-point zone soon!
A recent NY Times ad highlighted 16 different iPhone apps that can help save money, including 9 that are free. Highlights:
RN Dining – “As a member of the Rewards Network, you can save up to 15% at select restaurants. RN Dining is the easy, convenient way to find participating restaurants in your area.”
Mint.com – “Manage your bank accounts, monthly bill payments and other finances. With its constantly updated information, it’s an easy way to keep a close eye on your budget.”
RepairPal – “Locate reliable mechanics and get estimates for your vehicle repairs. And if you need roadside assistance, one tap of your iPhone will connect you to a helpline.”
All Recipes.com – “Want to dine in more? Put thousands of money-saving recipes in the palm of your hand. You can also view instructional photos, read user reviews and share your favorite dishes.”
And one I plan to download very soon:
Small Spend – “With handy charts and graphs, this app makes it easy to see exactly where your money’s going so you can make adjustments in your spending habits – and start saving money.”
You might have read about my earlier post about my first iPhone bill: iPricey! Here’s what happened. I called AT&T back about a week after I discovered my montrous bill (due to an AT&T employee forgetting to add the required data plan to our account) and found they waived the entire fee, as they should have. To make amends they gave me a month of free service (I asked for three).
While I had them on the phone I also took care of a few other gliches they created, like dropping my texting plan, charging me $.20 per text, and erasing 374 roll over minutes. AT&T restored my text plan, waived the $.20 fees, and credited us 374 roll over minutes.
It was a pain calling them and explaining my predicament, but every time AT&T took care of the problem quickly with few questions asked. Not a bad resolution.
I did it. I bought an iPhone, and the first 23 hours were great. Then I checked my bill online and found I owed $1,214.65. No kidding. Do you think I would kid about $1,214.65?!
How could I possibly rack up that bill in less than a day? I mean, I know what a difference a day makes, 24 little hours. But seriously?
I got on the phone with AT&T pronto and consciously decided to be on my best behavior. Nobody wants to pull favors for a jerk.
A lovely gal named Florinda (“like the state with an n”) took my call. First she helped me set up my voicemail, then she looked into my bill. Turns out Hubby, who I am on a family plan with, did not… (more…)
