Saving Money

Valentines Day is a big candy holiday, but a recent survey suggest most people aren't thrilled to receive it. Opt for a romantic night out instead, Colley suggests. (Greg M. Cooper/NECCO/AP/File)

Valentine's Day gifts: What people really want

By Angela Colley, Contributor / 01.26.13

Ah, Valentine’s Day, the holiday where everyone longs for a box of chocolates and a dozen roses. Or do they?

Money Talks News recently conducted a survey asking, “Which gift would you be most excited to see on Valentine’s Day?” Both men and women in all age groups – 1,503 survey participants in total – were asked to select among five options: candy, jewelry, flowers, a gift certificate, or a romantic date.

While you might expect the most traditional gifts – flowers and candy – to top wish lists, the reality was practically the opposite. Here’s how each of the five fared…

5. Candy

Russell Stover might not want to hear this, but of the five options, candy was the least popular.

In a 2010 survey from the National Retail Federation, 47.2 percent of respondents said they planned to buy candy for their Valentine. Maybe they did – but the recipient might not have been as thrilled as they acted.

Only 11.7 percent of participants in our survey were hoping for candy this year, with men (13.2 percent) preferring sweets more than women (10.4 percent). Not surprisingly, candy is more appealing to the younger crowd: 17.9 percent of 18 to 24-year-olds put it at the top of their list, compared to just 9.2 percent of those over age 65. ( Continue… )

This undated file photo shows a Gift Card Mall location in an Office Depot.A giftcard from the holidays may be burning a hole in your wallet, but it might be better to wait a few months to spend it, in some cases. (Blackhawk Network/PRNewsFoto/File)

The best times to use your holiday gift cards

By Emily Dovi, Contributor / 01.20.13

As you bask in the glory that is your Christmas haul of 2012, you may be pawing over a gift card or two. And  After Christmas Sales might seem like an extremely tempting place to start redeeming them. But depending on what you're looking for, you might get the most value out of your card if you wait to shop. From consumer electronics to apparel, to MP3s and beyond, we've combed the dealnews archives to offer the best timeframes in which to spend your holiday giftcards.

High-End HDTVs

Best Time to Buy: Late December and Early January
Potential Discount: Up to 50% off
While the typical Black Friday onslaught of brand new all-time low HDTV prices are long gone, we will soon see steep discounts on brand-name HDTVs, which are usually absent during the post-Thanksgiving shopping holiday. So far we've seen 42" and 47" LCD and plasma HDTVs from LG at all-time lows available at the likes of Amazon, newegg, and TigerDirect, but many more are sure to follow, if you patiently wait for a deal. TVs generally continue their slow decline through the year and bottom out in the summer before Black Friday slashes them again even further.

Fitness Equipment

Best Time to Buy: January and February
Potential Discount: 15% to 60% off ( Continue… )

Pantry staples, like the potatoes seen here, should have a long shelf live and serve multiple meal purposes. (Wilson Ring/AP/File)

10 pantry staples to start any meal

By Amanda Geronikos, Contributor / 01.20.13

Not knowing what to cook for dinner is one issue, but not having anything to cook is a bigger problem, especially after a long day at the office. In this situation, many of us resort to takeout food, which isn’t good for our wallets or waistlines – especially if it becomes a habit.

This is why staple foods, which work well with many meals, are so important. These items often have a long shelf life, making them good ingredients to stock up on for last-minute meals.

 1. Eggs

Eggs are a great source of protein and vitamins, including vitamin A (healthy skin) and vitamin D (bone strength). Although they don’t reside in the pantry, they are an essential kitchen ingredient, budget-friendly, and easy to make. They can be prepared in many different ways, from hard boiled eggs to grilled eggs.

2. Potatoes

Stock up on potatoes, and you can easily whip up French fries, mashed potatoes, baked potatoes, potato chips, and more. They’re tasty, inexpensive, easy to prepare, and can easily be grown in a garden. They’re also filling and acceptable to eat at any meal time. ( Continue… )

This undated image provided by Ugg, shows a Dylyn Tall and Short Ugg boot in Chestnut Bomber. Overstockinga nd a disappointing holiday season have led to deep discounts on the pricey boots, if you know where to look. (Ugg/AP/File)

Now is the best time ever to buy Uggs

By Naomi Mannino, Contributor / 01.19.13

Cozy, sheepskin-lined boots from UGG Australia have been a much-coveted item for several years now, and the brand itself evokes a desirable caliber of quality. All of this, naturally, comes at a high cost. However, if you've had your heart set on a pair of UGGs and have been deterred by the hefty — and infrequently discounted — price tag, then take heed: now just so happens to be the best time ever to buy a pair of UGG boots.

UGG is notorious for its very strict pricing policies, which binds all retailers to a Minimum Advertised Price (MAP). This stops stores from advertising prices below an amount specified by the manufacturer. UGG has used this number to keep a stranglehold on its merchandise pricing, forcing most stores to carry items at a standard price across the board. This is also why customers typically don't see UGG footwear heavily discounted.

UGG, however, hasn't had a great holiday season, and many stores have been left with a large amount of unsold inventory. For consumers, this translates into unprecedented discounts, the likes of which we might not see again. Below, we flesh out the details about the sales, including why, when, and how much. ( Continue… )

Creating a personal budget can be tricky for people who are self-employed and may not have a steady stream of income. Johnson recommends estimating your month to month income, then creating "salary" based on average earnings. (Michael Probst/AP/File)

Irregular income? Here's how to budget.

By Stacy Johnson, Contributor / 01.19.13

Here’s a recent reader question that applies to lots of us, including yours truly…

Hi Stacy, I read your Money Talks News first thing each morning! I have a question. How does one budget, save, get out of debt, have money for quarterly taxes, etc., on an erratic income. I am an independent contractor and sometimes clients pay and sometimes they take a long time to do so. This is pretty tough on my finances. I don’t like to push for payments because I am afraid work will dry up. Do you have any suggestions? Thank you very much.
Best wishes,
Zena

Every year about this time we publish articles like "How to Make a Budget You Can Stick With" explaining how to create a spending plan – something essential to accomplish your financial goals.

A spending plan, otherwise known as a budget, is about tracking your income and expenses so you can find the extra money to achieve your goals. But a spending plan has three necessary ingredients: a goal, an estimate of expenses, and an estimate of income. If you can’t estimate your income, you can’t plan. And there’s a lot of people in this position, from commissioned salespeople to the self-employed. I’m one of them: The last time I received a regular salary was April 1981.

How to budget with a variable income

When it comes to planning around a variable income, there’s no simple technique allowing you to accurately predict the unpredictable. And the more your income varies, the harder it is. If your income fluctuates by 10-20 percent, no big deal. More problematic is income that fluctuates a lot. My 2009 income plunged 90 percent from what I made in 2008, and I didn’t see it coming. In 2012, I made more than twice as much as I did in 2011, and again, it was a surprise.

So what are those of us with wildly fluctuating incomes to do? The best we can. Here are the steps to take: ( Continue… )

A shopper loads bags into a car in the parking lot of the Walmart in Lithonia, Ga. last November. Unlike solely online retailers Walmart has the advantage of using its stores as warehouses to facilitate its same-day delivery. (David Goldman/AP/File)

Same-day delivery 101: Amazon, Walmart, and the rest

By Summar Ghias, Contributor / 01.13.13

Ever purchased something online from the comfort of your home, only to wish your retail therapy had provided you with more instant item-in-hand gratification? We have good news: you won't have to wistfully twiddle your thumbs for days anymore, as major retailers are feeling the push to dole out various iterations of same-day delivery.

Instant access to online orders has become a battle ground for retailers, as it affords them a means of beating out the competition. And this translates into comfy at-home pajama-clad shopping, while you marvel at the speed at which your purchases are delivered to your door.

While Amazon Prime users have enjoyed 2-day shipping since 2005, same day delivery on a grand scale has proved to be far less cost-effective. In 2009, the online giant launched same-day delivery (what they call "local express delivery") in 10 cities including New York, Boston, and D.C., but never expanded further. Now, rumor has it that Amazon is gearing up for a broader launch as it opens warehouses across the country. ( Continue… )

The ice-covered twin peaks of Illiniza, located 55 km (34 miles) south of Quito, are seen in Latacunga, Ecuador in this March 2011 file photo. Ecuador's capitol city, Quito, is lauded by National Geographic as an overlooked travel hot spot. (Guillermo Granja/Reuters/File)

13 best, cheapest, and weirdest travel destinations of 2013

By Renee Morad, Contributor / 01.13.13

Another year, another collection of lists purporting to know the best, cheapest, or weirdest places for your next vacation.

So which list do you listen to? Which publication knows best? Which locale do you visit?

To help find an answer, we’ve compared all the best-of lists and best-on-a-budget lists we could find. We also rounded up the unique travel lists – in case you’re traveling for a tattoo or want to travel back in time.

Best of the best

We consider these eight hotspots the best of the best because they appear on multiple best-of lists.

1. Amsterdam, The Netherlands

This capital city made three lists for 2013: Fodor’s Go List, Lonely Planet’s Top 10 Cities, and Travel + Leisure magazine’s Hottest Travel Destinations.

Amsterdam’s 2013 milestones include the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra’s 125th anniversary; Van Gogh’s 160th birthday; the Artis Zoo’s 175th anniversary; and the 400th anniversary of the Canal Ring, designated a World Heritage site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The Rijksmuseum also reopens after a 10-year restoration.

So, Fodor’s says, “The city is ready to celebrate with concerts, exhibits, festivals, and sport events designed to embrace the spirit and culture of Amsterdam.”

2. Marseille, France

France’s second-largest city also made three lists: Fodor’s, Travel + Leisure’s, and National Geographic magazine’s Best Trips – plus the European Union’s European Capital City.

Travel + Leisure calls Marseille France’s edgiest city: “Style seekers browse the racks in the Cours Julien district; artists are colonizing the Le Panier area; and trendy types hole up at Philippe Starck’s Mama Shelter.”

But, National Geographic says, “For all the new energy, Marseille’s old pleasures remain as alluring as ever: a stroll along the narrow lanes of the Panier Quarter, the lusty aromas of a good bouillabaisse, a boat ride into the fjordlike inlets called calanques. It’s no wonder that visitors are becoming fadas (big fans) of France’s southern gateway.”

3. Montenegro

This European country made Fodor’s and Lonely Planet’s Top 10 Countries.

Fodor’s calls Montenegro – wedged between Bosnia, Serbia, Albania, and the sea – the new Monaco at half the price. ( Continue… )

A Home Depot store is pictured in Monrovia, California in this August 2012 file photograph. Home Depot is having a sale on small appliances that runs through Jan. 23. (Mario Anzuoni/Reuters/File)

Cupboard bare? Five great deals on kitchen tools.

By Lou Carlozo, Contributor / 01.12.13

You may have noticed from your holiday entertaining that no matter where you want your guests to congregate, they always wind up in the kitchen. And it's that kind of attention that requires a well-stocked cupboard. Today's kitchen deals are varied and include nearly everything but the kitchen sink!

1. Philippe Richard 21-Piece Knife Set
    Store: JCPenney
    Price: $30 with free in-store pickup
    Lowest By: $18

   Is It Worth It?: Here's a knife set to get you ready for any culinary situation you can slice or dice your way into. Available in Blkcat, this knife block includes six steak knives, kitchen shears, scissors, and more. It also comes with half a dozen kitchen implements with rounded handles for easy grating and mincing. Philippe Richard is exclusively available through JC Penney, so you won't find this item elsewhere. And if that doesn't make the cut, what does?

2. Williams-Sonoma Holiday Sale

    Discount: Up to 90%
    Shipping: $5.50 s&h or free on orders over $49 via coupon code "SHIP4FREE" ( Continue… )

In this 2009 file photo, the Kindle 2 electronic reader is shown at an Amazon.com news conference in New York. Despite eliminating many costs associated with regular books, e-books are often more expensive than paperbacks. (Mark Lennihan/AP/File)

Why do e-books cost so much?

By Stacy Johnson, Contributor / 01.12.13

Here’s a question I got on our Facebook page. Maybe you’ve wondered about it too.

Why do your Kindle books cost more than a paperback copy? The Kindle version of Life or Debt on Amazon costs $9.73, but they’re selling the paperback for as little as $6.00. Since e-books should cost much less to produce, why do they cost more to buy? This seems unfair, especially when you’re writing about how to save money to pay off debt.
- Ted

I got a very similar question a little more than a year ago, published in a post called "Why Are E-Books So Expensive?" I’m going to answer it again, however, because since then things have happened that shed more light on this subject.

As I said in my earlier post, I have no control over the price of my books. When you work with a traditional publisher (mine is Simon & Schuster), you have no input – they set the price. ( Continue… )