Saving Money

This product image released by One Kings Lane shows gift-wrapped boxes with paper designed by stylist-designer Rachel Zoe. With some creative thinking, you can wrap attractive gifts without paying a penny, Bowsher says. (One Kings Lane/AP/File)

30 ways to spend $0 on gift wrap

By Karla Bowsher, Contributor / 12.08.12

I don’t believe in gift wrap – at least not the kind that costs money.

I learned as a kid that gift wrap becomes trash the moment a present is opened, so paying for it is senseless.

So I’ve gathered all the tricks that my mother taught me and that I’ve picked up along the way.

Free wrapping paper

• Maps: Outdated maps – which is pretty much all maps nowadays – make novel wrapping paper, as do the map inserts that often come in National Geographic magazines.
• Magazines: Colorful magazine pages make unique wrapping paper for small gifts. Don’t subscribe to any magazines? Ask friends, family, or the local recycling center for their already-read issues. Just don’t steal from your neighbor’s recycling bin: Scavenging is illegal in some cities and counties.
• Old calendars: The big images on hanging monthly calendars work just like magazine pages.
• Comics: The funnies section of the Sunday newspaper makes great wrapping paper for kids’ gifts. Again, ask around for leftover newspapers.
• Newsprint: Other sections of the paper – from sports to classifieds – work too. Weekend issues often offer especially colorful images and fancy designs.
• Wallpaper: If you have leftover wallpaper lying around the house, it makes unique wrapping paper.
• Book pages: Do you own books that just collect dust because you no longer read or need them? If it’s too much trouble to sell or donate them, reincarnate their pages as wrapping paper. This is an especially great option for textbooks, which often become useless and valueless once a new edition comes out. Plus textbook pages tend to be more colorful.
• Phonebook pages: Online phonebooks like AnyWho.com have rendered their paper predecessors obsolete for anyone with Internet access, yet publishers still drop them on doorsteps for free each year.
• Old sheet music: If your children (or anyone else you know) went through a musical instrument-playing phase that didn’t last, their old sheet music makes unusual wrapping paper.
• Food wrappers: If you buy any foods that are individually wrapped and come in a bag (think Starburst candies, for example), save the bag, cut square or rectangular pieces out of it, and use them as wrapping paper. A bag that held foods like pasta or beans would also work – as long as the bag didn’t hold anything that would attract bugs (like brown sugar or potato chips).
• Brown bags: Cut-up brown grocery bags make sturdy wrapping paper.
• Shopping bags: Cut-up paper shopping bags (often used by mall-based stores) also work. If the outside of the bag is colorful, use it. If the outside has a logo or store name, use the inside.
• Used wrapping paper: Unless it’s torn to pieces when a gift is opened, wrapping paper is often left intact and unwrinkled enough to reuse.
• Homemade wrapping paper: Certain types of free wrapping paper materials, like brown bags, make drab gift wrap. But you can jazz it up with paint, crayons, stickers, stamps, or whatever arts and crafts supplies you have on hand. This is also a great way to involve the kids, especially if they aren’t yet coordinated enough to help wrap gifts.
• Fabric: Spare fabric and fabric pieces cut from old clothes can work as gift wrap if you fold it right. Google furoshiki, a Japanese folding cloth, and you should find directions for how to wrap just about any shape of object with fabric.
• Gift bags: If you don’t have any of the above wrapping paper materials lying around, use a gift bag.

Free gift bags

• Used gift bags: Gift bags can generally be reused several times before they show any wear or tear.
• Shopping bags: Certain paper shopping bags, especially holiday-themed ones, are nice enough to reuse as gift bags.
• Used tissue paper: Tissue paper naturally wrinkles when stuffed in gift bags. So unless it gets torn, it’s reusable.
• Tissue paper alternatives: Some of the free wrapping paper materials above also work as tissue paper.

Free boxes

• Used boxes: When you get a box in the mail or purchase something that comes in a box, save it if it’s a good size for gifts.
• Warehouse boxes: Wholesale warehouses like Costco and Sam’s Club give boxes away to customers. So, instead of picking boxes that fit your groceries, take boxes that would work best for gifts.
• Household boxes: Check your closets or kitchen cupboards if you need a box in a pinch. Many people stick empty electronics boxes in a closet, and even a cracker or cereal box would work. If you don’t like the shape of those boxes, you can resize them: I recently discovered a great blog post that includes step-by-step directions for resizing cereal boxes into more useful shapes.

• Used bows: When you receive a gift that has a bow in decent condition, save and reuse it. If it has lost its stickiness, use a piece of double-stick tape.
• Homemade bows: Make your own bows with free wrapping paper materials. How About Orange, the blog of a Chicago-based designer, has the best step-by-step tutorial I’ve seen for making bows.
• Used ribbon: Ribbons are often cut when a gift is unwrapped, but if you open gifts carefully, you can sometimes salvage a long enough piece to reuse.
• Ribbon alternatives: Save longer scraps of string or yarn that you happen across. Even make funky ribbons too.
• Flora as accents: I recently stumbled across a blog post by someone who fashioned tiny evergreen branches into a mini wreath to decorate a gift wrapped in brown paper.
• Used greeting cards as accents: Save the nicest holiday cards you receive every year. Ones with colorful images or creative designs on the front can be cut in half so you can tape (use double-stick) the front half to gifts wrapped in drab materials.
• Used greeting cards as tags: The front half of fancy cards can also serve as gift tags. Write the “To:” and “From:” on the black backside, punch a hole in one corner, and attach it with a ribbon.

Karla Bowsher covers consumer, retail, and health issues for Money Talks News, a consumer/personal finance TV news feature that airs in about 80 cities as well as around the Web. This column first appeared in Money Talks News.

This 2009 file photo shows a gift card kiosk in New York. New federal rules for gift cards mean user have longer to use them and don't face as many costs up front. Many restaurants and retailers offer 'bonus' gift cards during the holidays, so now is a good time to stock up if you visit any one place frequently. (Mark Lennihan/AP/File)

'Tis the season for free gift cards

By Karla Bowsher, Contributor / 12.02.12

The two best ways to find gift cards for less than they’re worth is to buy discounted gift cards from online exchanges or to buy full-price gift cards that come with freebies.

The latter offer only comes around during the holidays, so now’s the time to stock up for yourself if you frequent any of these restaurants or shops. For example, buying a $50 gift card that comes with a $15 freebie is like paying $50 for $65 of goods. So if you spend the gift card and freebie yourself, you save up to 30 percent – or more if you’re buying sale- or clearance-priced items.

If you don’t frequent these places, though, that savings may not be worth it because most of these freebies expire within three months of the new year. Buy if you’re shopping for anyone who likes these restaurants and stores, there’s no reason to pass up what is essentially free currency – whether you enjoy the freebie yourself or pass it on to the gift recipient.

Restaurants

Applebee’s

• Offer details: Free $10 digital bonus card with a $50 digital gift card purchase
• Offer ends: Not specified
• Offer available: In restaurants, online
• U.S. locations: Every state except Hawaii

Benihana

• Offer details: Free $10 promo card (valid Jan. 2 through March 31) with a $50 gift card purchase
• Offer ends: Dec. 31
• Offer available: In-restaurant availability not specified, online
• U.S. locations: Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii (but gift cards are not redeemable there), Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin

Black Angus Steakhouse

• Offer details: Free $5 bonus bucks (valid Jan. 1 through Feb. 13) with a $50 gift card purchase
• Offer ends: Dec. 31
• Offer available: In-restaurant availability not specified, online
• U.S. locations: Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, New Mexico, Washington

Bonefish Grill

• Offer details: Free $20 bonus card (valid Jan. 1 through Feb. 10) with a $100 gift card purchase
• Offer ends: Dec. 31
• Offer available: In restaurants, online
• U.S. locations: Most states

Champps Americana Restaurant

• Offer details: Free $10 extra points card (expiration unknown) with a $50 gift card purchase
• Offer ends: Not specified
• Offer available: In restaurants only
• U.S. locations: Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin

Fox Restaurant Concepts

• Offer details: Free $20 gift card (no expiration date) with a $100 gift card purchase
• Offer ends: Dec. 31
• Offer available: In restaurants, online
• U.S. locations: Arizona, California, Colorado, Kansas, Nevada, Texas

Hoss’s Steak and Sea House

• Offer details: Free $10 voucher (valid through Feb. 28) with a $50 gift card purchase
• Offer ends: Dec. 30
• Offer available: In restaurants only
• U.S. locations: Pennsylvania, West Virginia

Olive Garden Italian Restaurant

• Offer details: Free $5 bonus card (valid Jan. 1 through Feb. 15 when you purchase two entrees) with a $25 gift card purchase
• Offer ends: Dec. 31
• Offer available: In-restaurant availability not specified, online
• U.S. locations: Every state

On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina

• Offer details: Free $5 bonus card (valid Jan. 1 through Feb. 15) with a $25 gift card purchase
• Offer ends: Dec. 31
• Offer available: In restaurants only
• U.S. locations: Most states, Washington, D.C.

RA Sushi Bar Restaurant

• Offer details: Free $10 promo card (valid Jan. 2 through March 31) with a $50 gift card purchase
• Offer ends: Dec. 31
• Offer available: In restaurants; online
• U.S. locations: Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Nevada

Ruby Tuesday

• Offer details: Free $15 bonus coupon (valid Jan. 2 through Feb. 28) with a $50 gift card purchase
• Offer ends: Dec. 31
• Offer available: In-store restaurant availability not specified, online
• U.S. locations: Most states, Washington, D.C.

Stir Crazy Fresh Asian Grill

• Offer details: Free $25 bonus card (valid Jan. 7 through March 14) with a $100 gift card purchase
• Offer ends: Jan. 6
• Offer available: In-restaurant availability not specified, online
• U.S. locations: Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Wisconsin

Texas Roadhouse

• Offer details: Free $5 e-gift card (expiration unknown) with a $30 gift card purchase
• Offer ends: Dec. 31
• Offer available: Online only
• U.S. locations: Every state, Washington, D.C.

Tony Roma’s

• Offer details: Free $15 in RomaBucks (valid Jan. 2 through March 25) with a $50 gift card purchase
• Offer ends: Not specified
• Offer available: In-restaurant availability not specified, online
• U.S. locations: California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin

Uno Chicago Grill

• Offer details: Free $5 voucher (valid Jan. 2 through March 31) with a $25 gift card purchase
• Offer ends: Not specified
• Offer available: Not specified
• U.S. locations: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin

Retail and entertainment

Barnes & Noble

• Offer details: Free $10 e-gift card (valid starting Dec. 26) with a $75 e-gift card or regular gift card purchase
• Offer ends: Dec. 2
• Offer available: Online only
• U.S. locations: Every state, Washington, D.C.

Brunswick Bowling

• Offer details: Free $5 bonus certificate with a $25 gift card purchase
• Offer ends: Dec. 31
• Offer available: In stores, online
• U.S. locations: Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington

DSW Shoes

• Offer details: Free $5 bonus card (valid Jan. 12 through Jan. 27) with a $50 gift card or e-gift card purchase
• Offer ends: Dec. 24
• Offer available: In stores, online
• U.S. locations: Every state, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico

Godiva Chocolatier

• Offer details: Free $10 reward card (valid Dec. 26 through Jan. 31) with any $50 purchase
• Offer ends: Dec. 24
• Offer available: In stores, online
• U.S. locations: Every state, Washington, D.C.

L.L. Bean

• Offer details: Free $10 promotional gift card (valid through Feb. 13) with any $50 purchase
• Offer ends: Dec. 24
• Offer available: In stores, online
• U.S. locations: Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia

Victoria’s Secret

• Offer details: Free Secret Reward card worth $10, $50, $100, or $500 (valid Nov. 29 through Dec. 20) with any $10-plus purchase
• Offer ends: Nov. 28
• Offer available: In stores, online
• U.S. locations: Every state, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico

Karla Bowsher covers consumer, retail, and health issues for Money Talks News, a consumer/personal finance TV news feature that airs in about 80 cities as well as around the Web. This column first appeared in Money Talks News.

In this 2008 file photo, an Amazon.com employee grabs boxes off the conveyor belt to load in a truck at their Fernley, Nev., warehouse. Several online shoppers won't be getting the packages they're expecting, as stores were forced to cancel a large number of orders due to overselling on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. (Scott Sady/AP/File)

Black Friday snag? Online purchases canceled in droves.

By Lindsay Sakraida, Contributor / 12.01.12

Although people still showed up at brick-and-mortar stores in droves on Black Friday, the 2012 season was a success for online shopping. In fact, Black Friday itself racked up $1 billion in online sales, a new record and a 26% jump in sales from the year before. Cyber Monday e-commerce sales increased this year as well, by 17%.

However, despite these numbers, we heard rumblings amongst readers and accounts elsewhere online that all was not well with those who happily clicked "buy now" during the past two weeks. After making a purchase, many shoppers later signed into their email only to find that sinking message: the order could not be fulfilled. Reportedly, Best Buy, Toys "R" Us, Fry's, and many others were forced to cancel orders because their systems oversold various items.

We decided to ask our readers how many of them had had an order cancelled from the weeks of Black Friday or Cyber Monday, and at the time of publishing, about 47% of those who voted indicated yes, they had. That's notably high, although this could be attributed to scorned shoppers being particularly motivated to partake in the poll. However, the data regarding when these people placed that order is intriguing.

As it turns out, 70% of those with cancelled orders had made their purchase during Black Friday week, while Cyber Monday week orders only accounted for 30% of the cancellations. While this ratio can still change — Best Buy, after all, was still cancelling Black Friday orders last year well into December — the vast disparity speaks to the differences in shopping on these days. Black Friday week is largely about big doorbuster electronics in extremely limited quantities, while Cyber Monday puts a greater emphasis on home goods and apparel. The latter items can certainly sell out, but the mind-boggling prices on electronics from Black Friday are more likely to get snatched up at a clip since they've been heavily advertised and sought after. It would seem that several retailer sites just can't effectively match actual real-time stock to a flurry of incoming orders.

Regardless of the day, unfulfilled orders degrade the experience and make shoppers angry that they invested their time. Many of the complaints that we received even expressed feeling hoodwinked by the vendor. Thus, if retailers want to build upon the unprecedented online growth from this Black Friday season, they should consider inspiring consumer trust by providing a system that actually delivers the goods.

Lindsay Sakraina is the features director at dealnews.com, a website devoted to finding the best deals on consumer goods. The site pledges to list the best deal, whether or not it's from an advertiser, although it does work with advertisers to craft deals for readers. Our guest bloggers are not employed or directed by the Monitor and the views expressed are the bloggers' own, as is responsibility for the content of their blogs. To contact us about a blogger, click here. This feature first appeared in dealnews.com. 

In this March 2012 file photo, consumer credit cards are posed in North Andover, Mass. As long as you pay down your balances, asking for a higher line of credit can be a great way to boost your credit score, Colley says. (Elise Amendola/AP/File)

Eight surprising ways to raise your credit score

By Angela Colley, Contributor / 12.01.12

In 2011, 62.3 percent of people had a credit score between 749 and 300, according to the MyFICO blog, managed by the Fair Isaac Corporation. Most people in that range fell between 650-699 (12.1 percent) and 700-749 (15.5 percent).

Those are decent credit scores. Within that range, you would get approved for most credit products with acceptable interest rates. I should know. I bounced around between 650 and 749 for most of my adult life – until I decided to boost my OK credit score into greatness two years ago. Today, I fall into the 800-850 range, shared by 18.3 percent of the U.S. consumer population last year. With that credit score, I get the best offers and the best rates on almost everything.

It wasn’t easy, but I learned a few tricks to boost a credit score quickly along the way. Here are my favorites.

1. Dispute errors…even the small ones

Your first step: Order a copy of all three credit reports from the major players – Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian. You can order one free copy per year from each credit bureau through AnnualCreditReport.com. Order your reports, print a copy, and start reviewing.

Look for the big errors first, things like accounts that don’t belong to you, paid balances that are showing as unpaid, and credit limits that are reported incorrectly. Highlight each one of these errors and then dispute them with the credit bureau. You can file a dispute online through each of the credit bureaus’ websites:

• Equifax: Online Dispute
• Experian: Dispute Your Credit Report Online
• TransUnion: Initiate a Dispute on Your Credit Profile

After I disputed the big stuff, my financial adviser told me not to sweat the small things like credit inquires or incorrect dates. I didn’t listen. Instead, I disputed everything, thinking every point mattered. If a creditor pulled my credit without my permission, I disputed it. If my credit card company reported my balance higher than it should have been six months ago, I disputed it. In total, I raised my credit score 88 points by disputing every little error.

By law, the credit bureaus must investigate valid claims and remove inaccurate information, but if you run into trouble, complain to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

2. Add missing accounts

Once I cleaned up my credit history, I started looking for ways to build it. I did this by looking for credit lines that could have been included in my file, but weren’t. For example, I’ve had a cell phone in my name for 10 years, but those payments didn’t appear on my credit report. So I made a list of every company I paid monthly, contacted the companies, and asked them to report my payment history to the credit bureaus. Below are the types of companies that were willing to report on my behalf:

• Wireless provider
• Cable and Internet provider
• Utility company
• Telephone company

Keep in mind, however, that no company is required to report your payments, on-time or not, and many utility companies won’t. So when you approach companies like those above, you’re asking for a favor, not making a demand. To learn more about utilities reporting to credit agencies, see "The Movement to Put Utility Payments on Credit Reports" from the New York Times.

3. Pay down your highest balance

If you’re carrying balances on several credit cards, it’s tempting to pay off your smaller balances first, thinking that will motivate you to attack the larger debts. But if you’re trying to boost your credit score quickly, you should start by paying off the credit card with the lowest available credit limit. For example, say you have two credit cards. One credit card has a $1,600 limit with a $400 balance, which means 25 percent of your available credit is being used. The second card has a $1,000 limit with an $800 balance, meaning 80 percent of your available credit is being utilized. In this case, the second credit card is doing worse damage to your credit score because of its higher utilization ratio. Pay it off first and your credit score will improve faster.

4. Pay by your report date, not your due date

Obviously, if you want good credit, you’ll pay your bills on or before their due date. But if you want to maintain a high credit score, it may be a good idea to pay some earlier – before balances are reported.

For example, say your credit card company reports your balance to credit reporting agencies every month on the 10th, but your bill is due on the 20th. At the first of the month you charge $5,000, but pay your bill in full on the 20th. As far as you’re concerned, you’re not carrying a balance: you got your bill and paid it by the due date. But if someone checks your credit on the 15th, the credit reporting agency will report you have a $5,000 balance.

I called my creditor and asked what day they reported my payment history, which turned out to be a week earlier than my due date. From that moment on, I’ve made my credit card payment before the reporting date, not the due date. That means if my credit is pulled, I always show a zero balance on my plastic.

5. Blend your credit

Three years ago I applied for an auto loan and was denied because I didn’t have a good mix of credit types. Lenders like to see that you can manage different types of credit and handle multiple accounts at once, but I only had two major credit cards. So I applied for a small installment loan (one with fixed payments and an established due date) from my bank and paid it back over 12 months. Adding installment credit to my already established revolving (credit card) credit lines boosted my credit score by about 30 points.

6. Keep using your credit cards

Several years ago I heard a nugget of financial wisdom, “When you’re rebuilding your credit, tear up your credit cards.” Now, if you’re struggling to manage your spending habits, this is sound advice, but if you’re just trying to raise your credit score, cutting up your credit cards can be more harmful than helpful. For example, I spent nearly a year trying to improve my credit score. During that time, I put a small amount on both of my credit cards each month and then made sure I paid the balance on time. While I was disputing errors and working on building up new credit, I was also adding 12 months of on-time payments to my existing credit score.

The bottom line – every month counts. If you can manage your credit cards, keep using them.

7. Ask for a credit line increase

Your credit utilization ratio, mentioned briefly above, is something lenders use to see how you’re managing your available credit. For example, if you have a $15,000 available credit limit and a $400 balance, you’re utilizing little of your available credit, so you look strong. If you carry that same $400 balance on a card with a $500 credit limit, you’ve borrowed nearly as much as you can, making you appear more risky.

While paying off your balance is the best solution, I found a quick fix that improved my credit score while I was paying off debt. I simply called my credit card company and asked if they would increase my available credit limit. They agreed and raised my limit, which lowered my overall credit utilization ratio and gave me a 15 point boost.

8. Protect your credit (once you have it)

Once your credit score is in the prime range, do everything you can to protect it. When you have several late payments, collection accounts, and charge-offs, one mistake won’t hurt you too much, but when you have a near-perfect credit score, even one late payment will cause a big drop. Make sure you pay your bills on time, don’t max out your credit cards, and never co-sign for someone else’s debt. If the co-signer doesn’t pay the bill, your credit could end up worse than ever before. 

Angela Colley is a writer for Money Talks News, a consumer/personal finance TV news feature that airs in about 80 cities as well as around the Web. This column first appeared in Money Talks News.

In this photo taken earlier this month, Daniel Holmquist raises his forklift to the top shelf of the Sierra Trading Post Fulfillment Center's racks to a pick a product off the shelves at the facility in Cheyenne, Wyo. Some Cyber Monday deals are already available. (Kyle Grantham/Star-Tribune/AP/File)

Cyber Monday: Some hot deals are already available

By Laurent Belsie, Staff writer / 11.25.12

Cyber Monday – the biggest online shopping day of the year – starts tomorrow, but many stores aren't waiting. Kohl's and Amazon are advertising Cyber Monday deals already. Other stores are simply extending their Black Friday sales a few extra days.

So what are the hottest deals? FatWallet.com, an online-deal website, has published a few of the Cyber Monday deals. Some of these deals are already available; others don't kick in until Monday. Here's what you can expect from various online retailers:

• Lenovo - G580 15.6” Laptop (loaded) - Lenovo - $359 (was $549) +5% Cash Back
• Lenovo - Save 33% on the ThinkPad T430! + free shipping
• Lenovo - Save 41% on the ThinkCentre M92z All-In-One! + free shipping
• Sears - Shade Tech 81 12X12 Canopy - $59.99
• Sears - Thousands of Great Deals plus EXTRA 5-40% + free shipping with orders over $49
• Sony - Save an extra $20 on VAIO E Series 14 Custom Laptop - $479.99 + free shipping
• Sony - Save an extra $10 on Cyber-shot Digital Camera W620 + free shipping
• Dell - 43% off Samsung Series 5 60-inch PN60E530 1080p Slim Plasma HDTV - $847.99 + free shipping
• Dell - 45% off LG 50-inch 50PA5500 Plasma 1080p Full HD TV - $549.99 + free shipping
• Dell - 43% off Nikon COOLPIX S3300 Silver 16 MP 6X - $79.99 + free shipping
• Kohl’s - Over 300 Cyber Specials Plus Extra 20% and $15 Kohl’s Cash for every $50
• JCPenney - Free shipping on everything, no threshold
• Lowes - Free Shipping on orders over $19 or more
• Lowes - Free local delivery w/$50 or more on most major appliances
• The Limited - 50% off (original ticketed prices) + free shipping
• Columbia Sportswear - 15% off sitewide
• Ashley Stewart - 40% off their entire purchase + free shipping on orders over $50
• Maurices.com - 30% Off + free shipping on orders over $30
• Mattel Shop - 20% off EVERYTHING + free shipping on orders over $25, + super steals up to 70% off
• Adidas - $10 off $75, $20 off $100, $40 off $150 + free shipping
• Levis.com - 40% off sitewide + free shipping
• World Market - 20% off Everything Online + free shipping on orders over $150
• Nordstrom - 50% off apparel: Bearnardo, Vince, Hudson, Madden & more + free shipping
• Kmart - 75% off Diamond Earrings
• Kmart - B1G1: Disney Princess & Barbie Playsets , K'Nex and 50% off Clearance Toys

In this November 2012 file photo, Ann and Lee Haggard, of Carthage, Mo., peruse stoneware during the Midwest Clay Artists Pottery Show & Sale at City Pointe Shopping Center on Madison in Webb City, Mo. Most of us are too embarassed to haggle when shopping, but Zinn argues that shouldn't be the case. It's your money, after all. (T. Rob Brown/The Joplin Globe/AP/FIle)

Haggle while Christmas shopping: 5 tips

By Dori Zinn, Contributor / 11.24.12

Most of us love a deal, especially when we go shopping for the holidays. We sift through weekly circulars, clip coupons, browse daily deal sites, and visit various stores looking for that killer deal.

But instead of just looking for a better deal, why not ask for one? We’ve mentioned it before in posts like "The Simplest Way to Save on Everything." But in case you missed it, here are the basics.

1. Don’t be afraid to ask

According to a recent CouponCabin survey of 2,319 shoppers, 23 percent of respondents said they’re too embarrassed to haggle and 10 percent refuse to haggle because they don’t want to appear cheap.

The key to successful haggling is focusing on the fact that it’s your money. There’s no need to be embarrassed, there’s no need to fear appearing cheap. Prepare yourself by having a firm idea of the item’s price. Then decide what you’re willing to spend, and go for it!

2. Talk to the right person

If you walk into a department store and ask an associate for a better price, they’ll typically say they don’t have the authority to make those decisions. They’re probably right – ask for someone who does. If you can’t find a manager or other store employee with the ability or willingness to negotiate, the store may be too big. Head to a local shop or boutique, where you can often talk directly to the owner. Which brings us to our next tip…

3. Know where to shop

You’ll have a better shot at a deal if you shop at an independent retailer or second-hand store. Small Business Saturday, which American Express introduced in 2010 to encourage shoppers to support their local community businesses, occurs on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. While haggling might be possible on Black Friday, you’ll find more luck negotiating when hitting the local shops on Small Business Saturday – or year-round.

4. Be aware of the best times to negotiate

Haggle on weekdays and afternoons when stores are less crowded and sales associates and managers have more free time. It’s also better to ask for a bargain at the end of the month or shopping season, when shop owners are closing their books or clearing shelves for new merchandise.

5. Don’t be afraid to walk away

Negotiating is a subtle human art that’s been around as long as people have. Like any art, there are different approaches. But there are a few that have proven consistently better than others. For example, appear in love with the product and the person on other side of a negotiation knows you’ll pay full price. Be rude, and people won’t want to talk to you at all, much less negotiate. Act like you’re only kidding, and the merchant will assume you are.

Want the best deal? Act uninterested and be willing to walk away. Be nice, but firm. Look your opponent directly, and tell them with complete confidence what you expect. You might be surprised at the result!

Dori Zinn is a writer for Money Talks News, a consumer/personal finance TV news feature that airs in about 80 cities as well as around the Web. This column first appeared in Money Talks News.

A cider brined turkey and sage gravy are shown in Concord, N.H. in this October 2012 file photo. According to Geronikos, choosing one meat option and preparing simple side dishes are good ways to save money on Thanksgiving dinner. (Matthew Mead/AP/File)

Thanksgiving dinner: 10 ways to save

By Amanda Geronikos, Contributor / 11.21.12

Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks, overeat, and spend time with family – but it isn’t cheap.

After jumping 13 percent from 2010 to 2011, this year the price to provide a feast for ten will rise by only $.28 from last year to $49.48, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation.

Luckily, there are simple ways to keep Turkey Day from taking a bite out of your family fun. Here are some money-saving tips for Thanksgiving…

1. Make a list

It’s easy to overspend when shopping for a much anticipated holiday dinner. Make a list of what you’ll need and exactly how much, and be sure to stick to it when you’re in the store.

2. Don’t forget store promotions and coupons 

Keep an eye out for special coupons and promotions around Thanksgiving. Some stores offer a free turkey if you spend a certain amount of money. ShopRite, for example, is offering a free turkey or ham to customers who spend more than $300 between Oct. 14 and Nov. 22.

3. Know price matching policies

Find out if there are any stores nearby that will match advertised prices from competitors. Do the bulk of your shopping there – just don’t forget to bring your coupons.

4. Choose one meat…

For many, turkey is obligatory on Thanksgiving. What isn’t essential, however, is ham, lamb, and prime rib. Save money by simply choosing turkey or another type of meat for your family’s feast.

5. …and buy the right amount of it

Buy the right amount of turkey by counting 1 pound per person. If you want some leftovers, calculate more than 1 pound per person. Also remember that if you load up on side dishes, you can probably get away with less turkey.

6. Consider a frozen turkey

Buy a frozen turkey, and you could save 30 to 40 percent more than you would if you bought a fresh one. Just be sure to follow through with the necessary preparation. You’ll need three to five days to let it thaw.

7. Balance your side dishes and desserts

Whipping up a bowl of mashed potatoes is cheaper than cooking a seven-layer sweet potato casserole. Serve the essentials (green beans, stuffing, and cranberry sauce), and go light on the more expensive dishes that require several ingredients.

Of course, dessert is just as important as the dinner itself. Luckily, pumpkin pie and cookies are crowd pleasers, and they’re inexpensive to bake.

8. Be smart about beverages

Visit a wholesale liquor store, and take advantage of sales. Don’t overlook boxed wine either – on average, one box of wine is equivalent to four bottles. Boxed wine often costs $20 or less, which is the equivalent price of $5 per bottle. Serve it in a decanter, and no one will ever know the difference.

For the non-alcoholic drinkers and little ones, serve coffee, tea, or Kool-Aid, which are all cheaper than serving soda.

9. Have a BYOD (Bring Your Own Dish) party

Asking friends and family to bring a dish is a great way to mix things up. Plus, it relieves some of the meal’s financial burden on the host.

One way to go about this is asking guests to bring a type of dish, rather than a specific one. For example, you can suggest that some guests bring an appetizer, while others contribute a side dish or a dessert. Of course, there’s no shame in asking Aunt Sally to bring her legendary apple strudel either.

10. Use DIY decorations

If you’re hosting Thanksgiving dinner, you’ll inevitably want to decorate. But this doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll need to splurge on decor. Instead, make use of everyday items in your home or shop at the dollar store.

Consider using drinking glasses as candle holders (turn the glasses upside down), or dress up a pitcher with a simple cloth napkin. Also, go outside. There are plenty of things to do with all the red and orange leaves and acorns in your backyard.

Metallic pumpkins are another inexpensive decoration. Buy a few pumpkins at your local pumpkin patch, and spray them with metallic paint.

Amanda Geronikos is a writer for Money Talks News, a consumer/personal finance TV news feature that airs in about 80 cities as well as around the Web. This column first appeared in Money Talks News.

The iPad 2 with a Smart Cover is shown in use in the demonstration area after the iPad 2 launch during an Apple event in San Francisco, Calif., in March 2011. Walmart is offering the Apple iPad 2 16GB WiFi Tablet bundled with a $75 Gift Card for $399 for Black Friday, according to dealnews.com. (Beck Diefenbach/Reuters/File )

Black Friday 2012: the best electronics deals so far

By Louis Ramirez, Contributor / 11.20.12

By now we've seen the leaks, analyzed the circulars, and highlighted the best Black Friday laptops, HDTVs, and toys. But what about the small electronics like tablets, smartphones, cameras, and MP3 players? Fear not, for below we've compiled a master list of the best deals on said items.

iPod Deals

The iPod is the king of all MP3 players, so, not surprisingly, the most noteworthy promotions in this category involved the Apple device. Below are the best ads we've seen thus far for the ubiquitous do-it-all handheld.

• Apple iPod touch 32GB MP3 Player (5th generation) bundled with a $50 Gift Card for $295 at Best Buy
  We always advise our readers to buy Apple products from authorized resellers, and this deal is a good example of why; this new, 5th generation iPod touch 32GB MP3 Player is listed for $295 with a $50 Gift card from Best Buy. Assuming you use the gift card, that easily trumps the 5% to 10% off discount you can expect from Apple's annual (and predictably boring) Black Friday sale.
• Apple iPod touch 16GB MP3 Player (4th generation) bundled with a $40 Gift Card for $195 at Target
  If you take the gift card into account, this deal blows Walmart's Black Friday iPod deal out of the water by $40. Also remember that Apple is only going to discount these items by 10% at best; this deal is essentially 20% off.
• $50 iTunes Gift Card for $35 at OfficeMax
  You can't have an iPod without some tuneage! At 30% off, this is the best iTunes gift card deal we've ever seen. (It even beats the Editors' Choice deal we saw two weeks ago, which was discounted 20% off). A close runner up is Toys "R" Us' sale which offers a $50 iTunes Gift Card bundled with a $15 iTunes Gift Card for $50 (roughly 23% off). And honorable mention goes to this $100 iTunes Gift Card Multipack for $80 at Sam's Club.
• Apple iPod Nano 16GB MP3 Player (7th generation) bundled with a $20 Gift Card for $145 at Best Buy
  Not only is this new iPod Nano $4 under Apple's retail price, but factor in the $20 gift card and it also undercuts Apple's Black Friday sale by $10.

Tablets Deals Come Mostly Bundled

Despite the ongoing tablet wars, your chances of seeing a deep dollar-off discount on any of today's most popular tablets are slim. There are a few out there (as described below), but your best bet for purchasing a tablet is to find the biggest tablet/gift card bundle available.

• Apple iPad 2 16GB WiFi Tablet bundled with a $75 Gift Card for $399 at Walmart
  We predicted that this Black Friday, we would see the iPad 2 drop to as low as $299. If you take into account the $75 gift card, it's close to what we expect, but not quite there. Though, for what it's worth, this is also one of the items that Walmart guarantees will be in stock for the first hour. That might push this deal into "pretty good" territory, since the availability of iPad deals on Black Friday is always risky. (A $299 iPad 2 would almost certainly sell out very quickly.)
• Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7" 8GB Android Tablet bundled with a $20 Gift Card for $160 at MacMall
  This Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7" 8GB tablet is an all-time low at $160, and it's $40 under the cost of an Amazon Kindle Fire HD or Google Nexus 7, to boot. Alternatively, Best Buy offers this tablet bundled with a $20 Gift Card for $180, which comes to the same net price if you factor in the credit.
• Apple iPad with Retina Display 16GB WiFi Tablet (4th generation) bundled with a $60 Gift Cardfor $500 at Target
  It may be list price, but factor in the $60 gift card and suddenly this deal beats not only our Editors' Choice mention from three weeks ago (which only included a $40 gift card), but also our Black Friday prediction for current generation iPads. If you must have the latest and greatest, this is the deal you'll want.
• Amazon Kindle Fire 8GB Tablet bundled with a $30 Best Buy Card for $160 at Best Buy
  At $159, Amazon's Kindle Fire SD is perhaps the cheapest mainstream tablet out there. If you missAmazon's own lightning deal that cuts it to $129, this is probably your next best bet.
• Amazon Kindle Fire HD 16GB 7" Tablet bundled with a $30 Best Buy Card for $200 at Best Buy
  As we stated in our Black Friday tablet predictions, your best strategy for slate shopping this holiday season is to seek out bundle deals, as retailers are unlikely to discount a $200 tablet. That said, this offer from Best Buy throws in a generous $30 gift card with your purchase of the Kindle Fire HD. That beats both deals from Staples and OfficeMax, which only bundle it with $20 and $25 gift cards, respectively. However, we still recommend waiting to see what kind of bundle Amazon will offer (that way you can use the Amazon credit to purchase content for your Kindle), otherwise, this deal is solid for any Kindle HD seeker.
• Barnes & Noble NOOK Simple Touch WiFi eBook Reader for $49 at Target
  Although we predicted popular tablets wouldn't see any dollar-off discounts, in this case, we're happy to be wrong. Not only is this NOOK $50 off list, it's also the lowest price we've ever seen for this device by $21.

Point-and-Shoot Digital Camera Deals

The rise of the smartphone has relegated the once-popular point-and-shoot digital camera to the back shelves, but that's not to say that several merchant won't try to get you interested in spending some cash on them during Black Friday. Below we've gathered the few noteworthy deals, though keep in mind prices will drop further once the new 2013 models are announced at PMA/CES in January.

• Canon PowerShot A3400 IS 16-Megapixel Digital Camera bundled with an SD Card and Case for $90 at Target
  At $90, this camera bundle is $29 under the lowest price we've seen this year. Even better, it includes both an SD card (capacity not described) and a camera case.
• Canon PowerShot A2300 16-Megapixel Digital Camera bundled with a 8GB SD Card for $80 at Sears
  This deal at Sears replaces our last "best of" mention of this camera because, though it's the same price, it's bundled with a memory card. At this price, it's $14 under our last mention and a current low by $19.
• Better still, BJ's Wholesale Club also offers it, bundled with 2 4GB SD Cards and a camera case for the same price. However, you have to be a BJ's member to get this deal and membership costs $50.
• Sony DSC-W620 14-Megapixel 5x Zoom Digital Camera for $80 at Kmart
  The current lowest price we could find for this camera is at TigerDirect for $98 with free shipping, so this Black Friday price will be the lowest we've seen by $18. That's a respectable deal, but probably not one worth going to Kmart for unless you have planned on buying other things there, that day.

A Note About DSLR Cameras

Even this close to Black Friday, we're not seeing any killer deals — or even rumors of good deals — on DSLR cameras. Everything we've see stores offering have been ho-hum when compared to historic deals that we've seen on similar cameras. Plus, as mentioned above, new models of all of these cameras are going to be announced at PMA/CES in January, so if you buy a so-so deal during Black Friday, you'll really regret it come the new year. That said, one DSLR-like camera deal does stand out:

• Nikon J1 10-Megapixel Mirrorless Digital Camera for $400 at Walmart
  This is a super buy for this Micro 4/3 camera. We've seen several refurbished units of this camera for $270 last month, but the best we've seen for a new unit is $447, currently available at Amazon.

  Of note, Dell is rumored to have the same camera available to purchase online for a buck more, which is worth paying if you can save yourself an early-morning trip to Walmart on Black Friday, right?

Camcorder Deals

Another division of electronics that has been all but marginalized by smartphones that can also take video, we used to see dozens of hot deals on camcorders around Black Friday. This year, we've only found one that is even worth mentioning, for those of you who still like your unitasker devices.

• JVC Everio 40x Zoom HD Camcorder for $119 at Walmart
  Even though Walmart isn't specific with the details of this camera, we can still tell you that it's the lowest total price we've seen for any JVC Everio HD camcorder by $10. It's also a current price low for the same by $80.

Free Smartphones After Contract

Although you may not be inclined to associate smartphones with Black Friday doorbusters, the truth is that last year Amazon caught everyone by surprise with its Penny Pincher Sale, which dropped current Android smartphones to just 1 cent (with the purchase of a new contract). In general, we saw three times as many smartphones deals in 2011 than we did in 2010, so we expect it to be a big category this year as well.

• Samsung Galaxy S III 4G Android Smartphone for 96 cents at Sam's Club
  Not only is this an all-time low for the Galaxy S III, but it's quite possibly one of the best Android smartphone deals we've seen to date. It even beats Best Buy's deal on the S III by $47. Keep in mind that we predict many popular — and current — Android smartphones will hit a penny this Black Friday as they did last year during Amazon's unprecedented Penny Pincher Sale. Our advice: check sites like Amazon and Wirefly before you pay for any Android smartphone.
• Motorola Atrix 4G, Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G, or Samsung Stratosphere 4G for 1 cent at Staples
  Although we've seen the Atrix and Stratosphere hit 1 cent before, it was a one-time deal back at the start of the year. And if you're shopping for a new Android smartphone, this is as low as you can go. However, it's possible to get a newer Android phone (like the one above) for a buck or less as well, so make sure to take that into consideration.

Blu-ray Player Deals

Despite the preponderance of digital ways to stream movies and TV shows, Blu-ray players have stuck around. Perhapse it's because you never see digital HD movies on sale for $4 at Black Friday? Or people just like owning something tangible? Either way, there are several Blu-ray players that will be available this year.

• LG Blu-ray Player for $38 at Walmart
  This is another of the deals that Walmart is guaranteeing will be availabile on Thanksgiving between 10 pm and 11 pm. Outside of refurbished units, we've only ever seen a Blu-ray player this low once before: a Toshiba for $35 total. This deal also solidifies our Black Friday prediction of seeing a Blu-ray player for $39.
• Digix BD-500 Blu-ray Player for $30 at hhgregg
  Though it shatters our Blu-ray player price prediction, it's hard to get excited over a no-name device that will probably sell out before you even set foot in the store when there is a name-brand sure thing available at Walmart (see above). That said, this is an amazing price on a player that is currently sold at Fry's Electronics for $59.99 with $10.54 for shipping.

There are still more ads trickling in as we speak, so be sure to keep an eye on our Black Friday hub for the last deals on cell phones, iPods, and other electronics.

Louis Ramirez is the senior feature writer at dealnews.com, a website devoted to finding the best deals on consumer goods. The site pledges to list the best deal, whether or not it's from an advertiser, although it does work with advertisers to craft deals for readers. Our guest bloggers are not employed or directed by the Monitor and the views expressed are the bloggers' own, as is responsibility for the content of their blogs. To contact us about a blogger, click here. This feature first appeared in dealnews.com. 

In this January 2011 photograph taken by AP Images for Nintendo of America, members of the media enjoy hands-on time with upcoming games for the Nintendo 3DS portable game system at Skylight Soho in New York. Meijer is offering a Black Friday deal on the Nintendo 3DS this year. (Matt Peyton/AP Images for Nintendo of America)

Black Friday 2012: the best gaming and toy deals so far

By Louis Ramirez, Contributor / 11.19.12

No holiday shopping list is complete without the season's hottest toys and video games. And while Black Friday doesn't always offer the best prices on toys (you'll see more and lower-priced toys in the weeks leading up to Christmas), there are still a handful of Editors' Choice deals to be had. Below we've rounded up the highlights from the gaming and toys Black Friday ads thus far.

Gaming Consoles & Games

Whether you're buying your first console or upgrading to a newer model, your best strategy is to hunt for console bundles. Below we've rounded up the best bundles we've seen to date, along with a few choice deals on select games.  ( Continue… )