Saving Money

The world's largest Etch A Sketch is shown in Boston in this 2006 commercial file photo. Etch a Sketch made the list of the top 20 toys of all time, but it didn't snag the top spot. (Business Wire/File)

The top 20 toys of all time

By Brandon Ballenger, Contributor / 09.30.12

What was your favorite toy from childhood?

If a Nintendo Entertainment System doesn’t count, I’d have to say LEGO or Lincoln Logs. I’d probably still play with them today if I had them around. And that’s just the kind of toy the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis was looking for when they chose the 100 most iconic toys of the past century – toys with memories, stories, and intergenerational appeal.

Here’s the Top 20, as chosen by museum visitors and fans. We added a few tidbits ourselves – like when they first became widely available (according to Wikipedia) and how much they cost today. For bonus nostalgia, click the toys’ names to watch their classic TV commercials.

It’s worth noting there’s nothing more recent than 1984 at the top of the list, although new versions of many are still made today. And collector’s editions aside, they’re all pretty affordable today as well…

1. G.I. Joe

• First widely available: 1964
• Cost: From $4

2. Transformers

• First widely available: 1984
• Cost: From $2.50

3. LEGO Toys

• First widely available: 1947
• Cost: From 1 cent

4. Barbie

• First widely available: 1959
• Cost: From $9

5. View-Master

• First widely available: 1966
• Cost: From $7

6. Bicycle

• First widely available: 19th century
• Cost: From $40

7. Cabbage Patch Kids

• First widely available: 1982
• Cost: From $14

8. Crayons

• First widely available: Crayola in 1903, but centuries ago
• Cost: From $1.50

9. Play-Doh

• First widely available: 1955
• Cost: From 70 cents

10. MONOPOLY

• First widely available: 1934
• Cost: From $10

11. Raggedy Ann

• First widely available: 1918
• Cost: From $8

12. Spirograph

• First widely available: 1965
• Cost: From $15

13. Etch A Sketch

• First widely available: 1960
• Cost: From $9

14. Little Golden Books

• First widely available: 1942
• Cost: From $4

 15. Hot Wheels

• First widely available: 1968
• Cost: From $5

 16. Lincoln Logs

• First widely available: 1918
• Cost: From $14

 17. Candy Land

• First widely available: 1949
• Cost: From $11

 18. Roller skates

• First widely available: 1863
• Cost: From $15

 19. Silly Putty

• First widely available: 1949
• Cost: From $3.50

 20. Mr. Potato Head

• First widely available: 1952
• Cost: From $9

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

Steve Boers takes his two dogs, Manny and O'Tool, for a run in Ankeny, Iowa in this August 2012 file photo. Getting rid of a gym membership and running outside, for free, is one step the author took in improving her finances. (Andrea Melendez/Des Moines Register/AP/File)

Stop living paycheck to paycheck: 5 steps

By Angela Colley, Contributor / 09.29.12

In a recent study conducted by the American Payroll Association, 68 percent of the 30,600 people surveyed said it would be somewhat or very difficult if their paycheck was a week or more late. In other words, more than two-thirds of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck.

It’s a lifestyle I know all too well. I lived paycheck to paycheck for years, sometimes running out of cash days before my next payday. I spent too much and racked up debt. My entire financial safety net was the $50 minimum required to keep my savings account open.

My game-changing moment came when my paycheck bounced and the financial tightrope I was walking on snapped. I had to borrow money from family to keep from being evicted. I knew I was going to have to change something to keep that from happening again.

For the next few months, I worked on my finances. Now I have a pretty decent emergency stash, some money saved for retirement, and even a few investments. Here is how I did it.

1. Adjust your attitude

For some, living paycheck to paycheck can be a lifestyle choice. In my case, I chose to ignore my financial reality and live beyond my means, so I never got ahead. To help myself change my attitude toward money, I made a list of goals and rewards:

• Pay off debts to improve my credit score so I could one day own a home
• Build an emergency fund so I could start saving for fun things like a vacation
• Stop wasting money on little things I didn’t need so I could buy bigger things I did need later on

Creating a vision of what I could have in the future made it easier to make better financial choices.

2. Create a savings-friendly budget

Surprisingly, I had a budget, but it was a horrible one that only accounted for my living expenses. It looked something like this:

• Monthly income – $1,800
• Rent – $750
• Utilities – $85
• Cell phone – $85
• Internet – $45
• Remainder – Spend on whatever!

I didn’t budget for any of life’s other necessities like toilet paper and food, and I didn’t plan for the future. As a result, I paid my bills, put the minimum amount due toward my credit card, and wasted the rest of my income.

To meet my goals (and realize my vision), I needed a better budgeting system. So I created one that included every purchase I made in the month – like groceries, personal care products, dog food, and the little extras. And then I included putting money into savings. For years now, I’ve put 10 percent of my income into my savings account automatically. It’s part of my budget, just like rent or car insurance.

3. Track spending

Once I had a detailed budget, I figured my financial situation would improve – and it did. But I still found myself running out of money every month. Curious as to why, I saved every receipt for a month. At the end of the month, I added it all up by purchase and realized I was spending far more than I thought. All of those $2 purchases here and there, running to the store to get one thing I forgot, or buying a pricey latte were killing my budget.

Since I realized I could easily go over budget, I’ve kept track of my spending. Now I use online budgeting software like Mint to automatically see where my money goes, and I haven’t gone over my budget in years.

4. Trim the fat

Once I got my spending under control and had some money set aside for emergencies, I started focusing on one of my bigger goals – paying down my credit card debt. I figured out how much I owed, about $2,500, and set a one-year goal date to pay it off by. To do so, I was going to have to come up with about $210 a month to pay toward my credit card.

To get what I needed, I trimmed some things I really didn’t need or even use that often out of my budget. Here is what I cut:

• Cable TV – $65
• Gym membership – $45
• 3 magazine subscriptions – $33
• Monthly hair color at a salon – $85

Now I watch Netflix, take my dog for a run every day, read blogs, and keep my hair my natural color. I don’t miss any of it, and I was able to pay off my debt in a year. The following year, I started putting that extra money into my “vacation funds” account. Trust me, seeing my favorite bands at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, was better than sitting in my living room reading Cosmo.

5. Don’t trade life experiences for money

Living in New Orleans, it was just accepted that if I went out, I had to spend a ton of money. Every weekend my friends and I ate at a nice restaurant, or bought concert tickets, or racked up a hefty bar tab. I was new to being on my own and thought spending hundreds a month on social activities was just what adults did.

I thought I was going to have to sit alone in the dark every night to save money. So when the weekend rolled around, I told a friend that I needed to start saving money and she said, “Me too!” That is when it hit me. Most people don’t love being broke. And maybe if we had something cheaper to do, we could all save some money.

So I went to my city’s tourism center and made a list of every free activity I could find. I found free concerts, firework shows, festivals, parks, and museums. Now my friends and I still go out every weekend. I still buy the occasional ticket to see the Saints play or eat at a nicer place, but most of our activities are free.

The bottom line: I didn’t give up my life experiences just to save a buck. I still have fun.

It wasn’t easy to stop living paycheck to paycheck, but the way I did it can work for anyone. You just need a vision – and of course, a little sound advice never hurts. 

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

A bird rests on a coffee cup in the parking lot of Pat's Little Red Barn in Belfair, Wash.in this 2011 file photo. National Coffee Day, celebrated Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012. means one thing to North Americans: a free cup of joe. (Larry Steagall/Kitsap Sun/AP/File)

National Coffee Day 2012: where to find free coffee and more

By Karla Bowsher, Contributor / 09.29.12

Whether you call it Coffee Day, National Coffee Day, or International Coffee day, this global “holiday” means one thing to North Americans: a free cup of joe.

So in honor of the sacred day, we’ve rounded up every caffeinated freebie and discount we could find. (If you know of one we missed, leave a comment below or share on Facebook.)

No coupons or purchases are necessary to redeem these offers unless specified. But not all chain locations participate, so you may want to call ahead.

Besides these chains and big brand names, it also can’t hurt to ask – or haggle with – your local coffee place about National Coffee Day freebies and discounts. This year, you’ll find them everywhere from theSouthern Food & Beverage Museum in New Orleans to the Friends Business Source office supply store in Findlay, Ohio.

• 7-Eleven: Free large coffee on Sept. 28 between 6 and 10 a.m. 7-Eleven has locations in the U.S. and Canada.
• Dutch Bros. Coffee: All coffee drinks and Dutch Bros. Blue Rebel energy drinks are free on Sept. 29at the location at 7225 Martin Way East, Olympia, Wash. Take $1 off any coffee drink on Sept. 29 at the eight locations across Central Oregon, all located in Bend, Redmond, or Sisters. Free coffee drinkson Sept. 29 at the three locations in Colorado Springs, Colo.
• Dunkin’ Donuts: Printable coupon for a 99-cent hot or iced latte through Sept. 30.
• Dunkin’ Donuts: Printable coupon for six free doughnuts with the purchase of a Box o’ Joe through Sept. 30.
• Dunkin’ Donuts: Printable coupon for $1 off the purchase of a dozen K-cups through Oct. 28.
• Eight O’Clock Coffee products: Printable coupon for $2 off at any store that sells this brand and accepts manufacturer coupons.
• Einstein Bros. Bagels: Pumpkin lattes are buy-one-get-one-free on Sept. 29. They’re also offering other coffee-related discounts earlier in the week. Einstein has locations nationwide.
• Kangaroo Express convenience stores: Get a 12-ounce cup of Bean Street Coffee for 1 cent onSept. 29 between 8 a.m. and noon. Kangaroo Express has more than 1,500 locations in 13 southeastern U.S. states.
• Krispy Kreme stores: Free 12-ounce cup of their new House Blend Coffee on Sept. 29. Krispy Kreme has locations in 39 U.S. states and three Canadian provinces.
• Krispy Kreme online: They’re giving away free coffee for a year to 75 people as part of their 75th birthday celebration. To win, enter once between now and Sept. 29 by completing the form. The winners will receive two bags of coffee every month for the next twelve months – plus a free T-shirt and coffee mug. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents age 18 and older.
• McDonald’s: Free cup of coffee every day through Sept. 29. Rumor has it this freebie is limited to locations in the eastern U.S., so be sure to call your location before making a trip. (Thanks to reader Jolene for writing to us about this offer.)
• Punchbowl.com: Send a free National Coffee Day e-card. This freebie is available now, but they don’t say when it expires.
• Seattle’s Best Coffee products: Printable coupon for $1 off at any store that sells this brand and accepts manufacturer coupons.
• Ten Thousand Villages: Look for free samples or discounts at the stores in Charlottesville, Va., and Philadelphia and Lancaster, Penn., on Sept. 29.
• Tim Hortons Cafe & Bake Shop: Printable buy-one-get-one-free coffee coupon good on Sept. 29. The coupon is good at their U.S. locations.
• Wawa Inc. convenience stores: Sign up to receive an immediate coupon for a free 16-ounce iced latte through Oct. 2. Wawa has locations along the eastern U.S. coast.

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 and around the Web. This column first appeared in Money Talks News.

Sony's S Series laptops cram lots of technology into its 3.8 pound, 13-inch frame. (Courtesy of Sony Electonics/File)

Best laptop deals of the week

By Louis Ramirez, Guest blogger / 09.28.12

We've been sitting behind our laptops all day, putting together a roundup of the hottest notebook deals from the past week that are still available for you to compare. This week's top laptop deals include the second least-expensive Sony VAIO S Series 13" laptop we've seen for $650, and the highly-rated Lenovo U410 Ultrabook for $849:

1. Sony VAIO S Series Intel Ivy Bridge Core i5 2.5GHz 13.3" LED-Backlit Widescreen Notebook
   Store: Sony
   Price: $649.99 via coupon code "VAIOSCT75" with free shipping
   Lowest By: $75
   Expires: September 26

   Is It Worth It?: Sony is renowned for its thin and light laptops and the VAIO S Series proves why. This 3.8-lb. laptop crams in tons of tech into a laptop with a 13" frame. For power users, the notebook runs on Intel's latest Ivy Bridge Core i5 CPU. Complimenting the processor are 4GB of RAM and a 320GB hard drive. And whereas most manufacturers would omit a DVD burner in a laptop this size (we're looking at you Apple), Sony keeps its optical drive. Best of all, at $650 it's the second least-expensive price we've seen for any Sony VAIO laptop with this configuration.

2. Lenovo IdeaPad Z580 Intel Core i7 2.1GHz 15.6" LED-Backlit Widescreen Notebook
   Store: Lenovo
   Price: $699 via coupon code "DOORBUSTERS" with free shipping
   Lowest By: $500
   Expires: September 26

   Is It Worth It?: Although it costs $100 more than last week's mention, this IdeaPad Z580 packs a quad-core Ivy Bridge Core i7 CPU (last week's mention had a dual-core Core i5.) A great buy for users in search of a laptop that will last them more than one year, the 5.8-lb. notebook also features a hefty 8GB of RAM, a 1TB hard drive, and an HDMI port.

3. ASUS Intel Pentium 2.3GHz 14" Widescreen Notebook
   Store: Best Buy
   Price: $299.99 with free shipping
   Lowest By: $30

   Is It Worth It?: If you missed it earlier, the ASUS X401A is back again at the same low price we saw last week. Based on a Sandy Bridge Pentium B970 processor, a power notebook this is not. However, this 4.1-lb. laptop is a steal for day-to-day use. Released in July for the back-to-school crowd, it packs 4GB of RAM, a 320GB hard drive, and USB 3.0 connectivity. Just keep in mind, it lacks an optical drive.

4. Toshiba Satellite L875D-S7230 AMD A6 2.7GHz 17.3" LED-Backlit Widescreen Notebook
   Store: OfficeMax
   Price: $399.99 with free shipping
   Lowest By: $190

   Is It Worth It?: This 6.2-lb. desktop replacement uses AMD's Trinity AMD A6-4400M to provide an overall balanced computing experience at a very affordable price. In addition to the dual-core APU, it packs 4GB of RAM, a 640GB hard drive, USB 3.0 connectivity, and an HDMI port.

5. Lenovo IdeaPad U410 Ultrabook Intel Ivy Bridge Core i7 1.9GHz 14" LED-Backlit Widescreen Notebook
   Store: Lenovo
   Price: $849 via coupon code "DOORBUSTERS" with free shipping
   Lowest By: $50
   Expires: September 26

   Is It Worth It?: By now every major laptop manufacturer has an ultrabook in their product lineup. For Lenovo, the U410 is that laptop. Weighing in at 4 lbs, Laptop calls it, "an affordable Ultrabook that offers strong performance in a striking design." Indeed, this mobile powerhouse includes a dual-core Core i7 Ivy Bridge CPU, 8GB of RAM, 1TB hard drive with a 32GB SSD, and NVIDIA GeForce 610M 1GB graphics.

6. ASUS Intel Ivy Bridge Core i5 2.5GHz 15.6" LED-Backlit Widescreen Notebook
   Store: TigerDirect
   Price: $449.99 with free shipping
   Lowest By: $30

   Is It Worth It?: Since its September appearance in our laptop roundup, the ASUS K55A has dropped about $40, yet kept the same modern-day specs as our last mention, re-defining what a mainstream laptop should look like and cost. The 5.6-lb. system is built around an Ivy Bridge Core i5 CPU with 4GB of RAM and a 500GB hard drive.

Louis Ramirez is a 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. This feature first appeared in dealnews.com. 

To mark the launch of the first 4G LTE Windows Phones in April, Free-Time Machines were set up at Bryant Park in New York and across the country to show how smartphones operate faster with the speedier network. Since the arrival of more 4G LTE smartphones, coverage has definitely improved, although it still depends on factors like your carrier and location. (Diane Bondareff/AP Images for Windows Phone/File)

What you can expect from 4G LTE coverage

By Simon Hill, Guest blogger / 09.27.12

As more and more 4G LTE smartphones hit the market (most recently the Apple iPhone 5), we have begun to see marked improvements in coverage for the fourth generation (aka 4G) of mobile technology and data networks. With 4G LTE, users enjoy extremely fast download speeds and therefore smoother streaming video, faster-loading websites, and (eventually) potentially better call quality. As it stands right now though, the quality of a 4G connection depends on the smartphone, carrier, and location. Given these factors, it's important to look at exactly what 4G can do for you.

How Fast Is 4G?

Although 4G networks have been rolling out across the country for a couple of years now, the issue has been slightly confusing: various technologies have been tagged with the 4G label. LTE, or Long Term Evolution, has emerged as the frontrunner, and it looks set to become the first worldwide mobile phone standard.

In theory, LTE can support download speeds of up to 100Mbps and upload speeds of up to 50Mbps. In practice users will never see these speeds, but in general 4G LTE is faster than 3G technologies. Depending on connection strength, 4G could be 10 times faster than 3G, it could be twice as fast, or (just to confuse matters) it could even be slower than advanced 3G technologies like HSPA+. In general, though, 4G LTE should offer speeds of 5Mbps to 12Mbps.

Large cities tend to have better coverage, and customers there will likely enjoy speeds of around 20Mbps; a majority of the nation however is looking at speeds a lot slower than that. A PC Mag test of 30 major U.S. cities found that Verizon offered the best overall coverage, with average download speeds across the country of 8.89Mbps. Interestingly AT&T's 4G LTE offers the highest average speed at 13.71Mbps, but its availability is much more limited.

To put this into perspective, streaming a hi-def 1080p video requires a 5Mbps to 9Mbps download speed. But customers who want to create a hotspot with their phones (so that other devices like a laptop or tablet can use the network connection) will definitely want a faster connection. For most people an average speed between 5 Mbps and 12 Mbps will be enough. It's worth remembering that average speeds are liable to go down as demand for bandwidth goes up and the network has to serve more devices.

Where Can I Get 4G LTE?

It's no surprise that 4G LTE has been rolling out to cities first, but coverage is extremely variable: only Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint actually offer 4G LTE service at the moment. T-Mobile's network is HSPA+ and its current average speeds are quite high, though the carrier will be rolling out LTE soon enough. Verizon currently offers the most 4G LTE coverage, and it claims to cover 75% of the U.S. population.

To compare coverage in cities, check out CNET's 4G coverage comparison and 4G LTE coverage maps for Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint at CNN. The bottom line is, if you don't live in or near one of these cities right now, then 4G LTE is going to be patchy or completely unavailable. All of the major carriers are committed to increasing 4G coverage, and it should eventually cover as wide an area as 3G, but that could take up to three years.

Watch Data Usage with 4G

Unfortunately, as 4G LTE rolls out nationwide and consumers finally get a big, speedy pipeline to endless web content, carriers are simultaneously killing off unlimited data plans. A few years back, a typical mobile plan would include a set number of voice minutes and texts, and unlimited data. That trend is now being reversed; consumers can have all the texts and minutes they want now, but carriers are charging for data by the gigabyte.

New plans from AT&T and Verizon offer shared tiers of data that multiple devices can draw from. The trouble is, if any one of those devices goes over the monthly limit, carriers can bill for overages, at nearly $10/GB! For perspective on how much data an average user consumes, consider this: streaming an hour of HD video — made all the more possible with 4G — could use a full 2GB of data. If you're not careful about how and when you use your 4G LTE, you could find yourself with a much bigger bill at the end of the month. Thankfully both Sprint and T-Mobile continue to offer unlimited data plans — for now, at least.

Is It Worth Upgrading to 4G?

Even for those smartphone users who don't live in a well-covered area, it's worth upgrading to a 4G LTE device. All 4G devices on the market can also use 3G, since they fall back on 3G networks when there's no 4G service available. Plus, the service plans for 4G phone are no different than 3G, meaning there are no additional service expenses when upgrading. Moreover, 4G phones themselves don't have to cost a fortune. In the past five months, we've listed 22 4G-enabled phones that cost a buck or less, when purchased with a 2-year contract. And you can even get the iPhone 5 for free (after a trade-in, that is).

When it comes to choosing a carrier, knowing the kind of coverage available is key. If you're lucky enough to live in an area covered by all the major carriers, then it's a choice between the high speed and high cost of AT&T and Verizon, versus the relatively slow speed and potentially lower costs of T-Mobile and Sprint (thanks to their aforementioned unlimited data plans).

Simon Hill is a contributor to 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. This feature first appeared in dealnews.com.

For a designer purse, like the Dooney and Bourke bag seen here, check outlets of high-end department stores like Nieman Marcus, Bowsher suggests. (Valassis/PRNewsFoto/FIle)

Don't splurge for a purse. Here's how.

By Karla Bowsher, Contributor / 09.24.12

Sure, we may be headed over a fiscal cliff, and the unemployment news remains depressing. But ShopSmart magazine is worried about consumers – of handbags.

“Finding the perfect purse can be tricky,” they say. “According to a new national poll from ShopSmart, roughly half of women said they had a hard time shopping for a handbag.”

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The poll results also show…

• Women spend an average of $148 on a “splurge” handbag purchase.
• About one-fourth of women have bought a handbag because of its brand.
• Women own an average of 10 handbags.
• 10 percent of women admit to owning more than 20 handbags.

The editors of this Consumer Reports sister publication are so concerned about these poll results that they’ve devoted part of their October issue to handbag shopping wisdom.

Of course, as the owner of a bag or five, I naturally gathered their advice, expanded on it, and categorized it all for maximum use value. I also threw in shoes, because most of the best places to find designer and brand-name handbags also happen to be the best places for known-name shoes.

If selection is most important…

• 6pm.com: Take advantage of their sales. Shipping is always free too.
• Zappos.com: Shipping and returns are always free.

If price is most important…

• HandbagHeaven.com: Their motto? “Handbags starting at $10. All under $85.” Shipping is free if you spend $50-plus.
• ShopStyle.com: OK, OK, this isn’t a store. But listen to this: “This fashion search engine does a sweep of the Web’s biggest retailers, making it easy to find the bag of your dreams at the right price. ShopSmart found a $69 Limited shoulder bag marked down to $16 and a $1,485 Jil Sander bag reduced to $297.
• Yoox.com: This site was unfamiliar to me, but ShopSmart raves about it too: “Yoox.com offers a huge selection of discounted high-end bags. Act fast on this site because the inventory changes fast. Hit the sale section for the deepest discounts (up to 70 percent off) on names like Marni and Marc Jacobs. ShopSmart spotted Diesel fabric and leather bags marked down to less than $100 and a $450 Moschino for $270.”

If a true designer label is most important…

• Last Call by Neiman Marcus: This outlet store sells bags, shoes, and lots of other merchandise that was previously on sale at Neiman Marcus. That means lots of labels from big-name designers at lower prices than the department store could clearance them for.
• Loehmann’s: This department store sells overstock. The purses are on the higher side because they’re generally true designer names, but I’ve seen shoes there for even less than DSW (below).

If shopping in a store is most important…

• DSW Shoes and Off Broadway Shoes: These competitors are warehouse-size shoe stores with decent handbag sections. Both also have rewards programs. At Off Broadway, each receipt is also a coupon for a certain dollar amount off your next purchase. At DSW, you’ve got to sign up and spend more before you receive certificates. The only other major difference is that only DSW offers online shopping too – and I find their site has a better selection and often better sales than their stores.
• Marshalls and T.J. Maxx: The shoe and bag sections at these sister stores may not be that big, but a little persistence and patience often yield a bottom-dollar gem that makes it worth your while to stop in and browse every so often.
• Last Call and Loehmann’s also have stores.

I prefer to try on shoes and handle handbags before investing, so I stick to brick-and-mortar (assuming I didn’t see what I want for less online). DSW is probably my favorite. But what about you? Let us know below or on Facebook.

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 and around the Web. This column first appeared in Money Talks News.

Autumn leaves in Salina, Kan., are shown in this 2011 file photo. Air conditioners and Halloween costumes are among the best products to but in early fall, according to Morad. (Tom Dorsey/Salina Journal/AP/FIle)

Air conditioners, backbacks, and the best things to buy in Fall

By Renee Morad, Contributor / 09.22.12

Everything from the Bible to popular country songs suggests the importance of timing – being in the right place at the right time.

Proper timing is also important when it comes to shopping. Nearly every product and service has its own sales cycle, so the calendar can help you score the lowest price on anything from a kitchen renovation to clothes.

While there are no absolutes – any retailer can discount their merchandise any time – here’s a list of common purchases where proper timing may score a deal…

Air conditioners: Retailers look to clear out air conditioning units after summer ends, so expect the biggest savings in October.

Back-to-school gear: Backpacks and other back-to-school supplies are marked down during the first week in July and continue throughout September. Some laptop manufacturers roll out their back-to-school sales in August for shoppers with student IDs.

Bicycles: As cooler weather arrives in September, particularly on the East Coast, bikes are parked on the sales racks, with markdowns of up to 30 percent.

Boats: Prices on boats and personal watercraft tend to sink in March.

Cars: New Year’s Eve may be the best time to buy a new car. What’s driving these bargains? The calendar is just about to flip, which makes the current models sound dated. And after experiencing a lull around the holidays, dealers want to meet their annual sales quota to get a big year-end bonus.

Clothing: January marks the end of the winter clothing season, so expect to find coats, hats, scarves, and flannel pajamas up to 70 percent off.

Beachwear is typically marked down 20 to 25 percent in January and February – and then again in July, when savings reach up to 70 percent. In fact, many summer wardrobe items are deeply discounted in July at 50 to 75 percent.

Spring promotions begin in March and continue throughout April, which is the perfect time to stock up on clothes if you wear a size that’s hard to find. In May, you’ll save even more on your spring wardrobe, but at the cost of a reduced selection.

Denim and other fall apparel items hit sales racks in September and are usually discounted more throughout October.

Cosmetics: Cosmetics and fragrances are typically marked down two weeks before Mother’s Day in May – just when spa specials are also tempting shoppers.

Electronics: Black Friday in November is a bargain hunter’s paradise for deals on TVs, laptops, tablets, and other consumer electronics. But if you’re not willing to fight the crowds, look for deals on Cyber Monday. December is also a good time to buy a new TV.

Grills: Barbecue bargains start in April and heat up in May and June, leading up to Father’s Day. Since Memorial Day jump-starts grilling season, you’ll also see deals for soda, condiments, charcoal, and other barbecue-related supplies.

Halloween costumes: Another shopping trick: plan ahead for Halloween. Shop online for costumes in September to beat early October’s price hikes.

Homes: The best time to go house-shopping is when nobody else is – typically right after the holidays when the weather is cold, the kids are in school, and everyone is tapped out.

Home furnishings: Memorial Day and Labor Day are the big weekends for deals on everything from mattresses and sofas to dining room sets. Showroom models – particularly appliances, furniture and lighting – also hit their sales peak in December, as stores gear up for next year’s models. Homeowners looking for deals on patio furniture should hang tight until March.

Home goods: January is the month of white sales, so expect to see plenty of deals on linens, but also on cookware and furniture. These sales continue into February. May’s wedding season also brings deals on small housewares such as coffee makers and vacuums; look for savings of 10 to 30 percent off. China and flatware prices are lower in September, when stores gear up for the new season’s patterns.

Jewelry: Diamonds are a girl’s best friend year-round, but are a shopper’s best friend in December, when markdowns can reach 30 to 50 percent. Jewelry sales – particularly online – are slow in July, so shoppers can find savings of up to 50 percent.

Luggage: Deals on luggage roll out in March, when the holidays are over, but summer travel hasn’t picked up yet. They’ll make another visit to the clearance section in May.

Produce: When it comes to many purchases, the expression “buy straw hats in winter” applies: Buy out of season for the biggest discounts. With produce, however, discounts happen in season. Look for larger citrus fruits – such as grapefruits and oranges – in January, after they’ve had enough time to sweeten. Blueberries are also a good January buy. Think mangos and asparagus in March, melons and peaches in May (good weather permitting), and apples in September.

Remodeling. If you’re thinking of home remodeling, you might find a bargain on both materials and contractors in January, since construction often experiences a post-holiday winter lull.

Shoes. New athletic footwear usually hits stores in February, so older stock could be discounted up to 40 percent. Boots tend to go on sale as winter wilts, and sandals are cheaper at summer’s end.

Sporting events. Score discounted tickets for basketball and hockey in February, just as the spotlight on football fades. By July and August, you’ll find deals on baseball tickets and gear, as teams are being eliminated during pennant races.

Sporting goods. Since February marks the end of football season, team memorabilia hits the clearance rack. March is the month to stock up on new skis and snowboards for next year’s season. Camping equipment prices cool down in October, providing discounts up to 30 percent off.

Toys. Last season’s toys are heavily marked down in October as retailers clear inventory before holiday shopping kicks off.

Travel. The best cruise deals are available during off-season in April. If you experience the winter blues, book a beach vacation in December; many are discounted up to 50 percent off from Thanksgiving through the third week in December.

The above are only rules of thumb – different retailers and service providers offer discounts for different reasons at different times.

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

A view of a house for sale is seen in Los Angeles in this February 24, 2010 file photo. For some, searching online for a new home can save time and money, Colley writes. (Mario Anzuoni/Reuters/File)

How (and where) to buy a house online

By Angela Colley, Contributor / 09.21.12

Still think the housing market is in a slump? Realtor Magazine begs to differ. According to its research, houses are flying off the market in some areas:

• San Francisco, Calif. – 45 days on the market (median)
• Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, Wash. – 45 days
• Bakersfield, Calif. – 44 days
• Fresno, Calif. – 43 days
• Anchorage, Alaska – 43 days
• Denver, Colo. – 33 days
• Oakland, Calif. – 24 days

If you live in one of those markets, you’ll need to hustle to find a house before someone else snatches it up. If you live outside of those markets, you’ve got a little more time – about 84 days on average, says the magazine.

Home-buying websites (and their apps) may be speeding up that process. They’ve got loads of listings, tons of photos, and easily sorted databases that could save you time. But in reality, some are a waste of time. We checked out the biggest…

1. Zillow

Zillow is my favorite home-browsing site, if only for the sheer volume of information available. You get listings, mortgage rates, advice columns, and local info. In my area, they have more listings than any site mentioned here. They contain photos, information about the property, the number of days it’s been listed on Zillow, and the selling price. And best of all, Zillow estimates your monthly mortgage payment in the listing – so I don’t have to do the math before I think, “Whoa, I can’t afford that.”

Zillow also has apps for Android, Android tablet, Blackberry, iPad, iPhone, Kindle Fire, and Windows Phone.

2. Trulia

If you browse the Sunday home listings in your local paper, then Trulia’s layout will look familiar. The listings are posted down the front page, starting with the newest. You can sort them by the usual ways – size, location, and price, for example – but Trulia also has a few unique search features:

• Type of listing – sort by price reductions, newest listings, and upcoming open houses
• Foreclosure type – sort by houses under a notice of default, those going to auction, and real estate owned property
• Keywords – sort by anything you want

The only problem I found with Trulia was that the site automatically pulled my location – and missed it by about 40 miles.

Trulia also has an app for the iPhone.

3. Homes.com

In my opinion, the layout of Homes.com is its best feature. The listings are posted in a grid, with the two most important things prominently displayed: a photo and the price. In fact, this was one of the few sites that showed large enough photos on the home page that I didn’t have to open the listing to see if I liked the house.

Of course, if you want more information, Homes.com has that too. You can search by specifics such as listing type, year built, size, and features.

Homes.com also has apps for Android, Android tablet, iPad, iPhone, and Windows Phone. They also have a mobile website accessible on any smartphone.

4. HomeFinder.com

HomeFinder.com had a few features I liked. For example, every listing shows information about the neighborhood, like the percentage of renters vs. homeowners, nearby schools, and recent tax assessments. But I couldn’t get past the ads – multiple ads on every page. And their mortgage estimate info links to a single mortgage company.

HomeFinder.com also has apps for Android and iPhone. There’s also a mobile website for smartphones.

5. ChoiceofHomes.com

ChoiceofHomes.com is an ironic name, considering that other sites found more than 100 listings in my ZIP Code – and this site found only one. And they’re the only one of these sites without an app.

Those are my five favorite (and least favorite) home-buying sites, and while they may help you find a house, you’ll still need to do another search for a mortgage. 

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

In this May file photo, customers wait in line at a Hertz rental car counter at San Jose International Airport in San Jose, Calif. Relying on your credit card to replace car-rental insurance depends on the card you use and whether you already have auto insurance. (Paul Sakuma/AP/File)

Some credit cards can replace car-rental insurance

By Michael Germanovsky, Contributor / 09.06.12

Even if you own a car, there are times you need to rent one – whether it’s a business trip or that vacation to Puerto Rico. Whatever the reason, there are certain decisions you need to make – one of the key ones is whether to accept car rental insurance.

Costing up to $28 a day, the car-rental company’s option isn’t cheap. The advantage is that it typically provides primary coverage for loss damage waivers (LDW) and collision damage waivers (CDW). Essentially, that lets you off the hook if the rental car is vandalized or stolen, or if you crash it. And because it’s primary coverage, you don’t have to go through your personal auto insurance, which could jack up your premiums.

Is there cheaper insurance? Credit card companies offer some alternatives. Whether it’s the best option for you depends on two questions: 1) Do you already have auto insurance? 2) Does the credit card offer primary or secondary insurance coverage?

Most credit cards offer only secondary coverage. That covers the gaps that primary insurance doesn’t offer, such as a deductible and any excess of liabilities above the limit of primary coverage. So if you have a fender-bender and don’t pony up for the rental car company’s insurance, you still have to go through your insurance company.

But if you don’t own a car – and thus, don’t carry car insurance – secondary insurance through a credit card becomes a great deal. You get the coverage you need because, through standard terms of a credit card, secondary insurance becomes primary for the uninsured. And you don’t have to pay a deductible.

If you do carry auto insurance, then it gets trickier. To replace the coverage you'd get from the car-rental company's insurance, you need a credit card that offers primary insurance. Only some cards offer this perk.

Take MasterCard. Only a few of its World cards, with hefty annual fees, offer primary coverage. Even some World cards, like CitiBusiness AAdvantage World MasterCard, with an annual fee of $95, offer only secondary coverage. So check with your bank before you use a MasterCard to pay for a rental car.

Ditto for Discover, where only one of its offerings – the Discover Escape Card, with an annual fee of $60 – comes with primary coverage.

By contrast, some no-fee Visa cards come with primary coverage, including the AT&T Universal Business Rewards Visa and Delta Community CU Visa card.

Only Diners Club offers primary coverage on all its cards, including the Diners Club Commercial Card and Diners Club Professional Charge Card.

American Express has an intriguing alternative: temporary primary car rental insurance. For a onetime $24.99 fee, you can get its Premium Car Rental Protection, which pays for 42 days of coverage and up to $100,000 in liabilities.

Before you rent your next car, do your research. Find out whether your card offers the right kind of insurance for you, so you can save some money on the front end, while being fully covered, if you have to submit a claim.

– Michael Germanovsky is a credit card expert and the editor-in-chief of Credit-Land.com, a credit-card comparison website.