PricePlease - Online Shopping - Discount Tracker - We watch all the prices. You get all the savings!

PricePlease - Online Shopping - Discount Tracker - We watch all the prices. You get all the savings!

This seems like a pretty cool little site. You paste the URL of something that you want to watch the price on, and it will do so for you. So far you can only do this with 259 stores, but they are always expanding.

If you've bought something recently, it will check for you to see if they drop the price for a possible refund.

Stress Relief Tips for Summer

Stress Relief Tips for Summer

Chill Out: Summer Tips for Stress Relief

Don't go into meltdown over stress! Take a mental vacation via meditation or yoga.

By Jeanie Lerche Davis

WebMD Feature

Reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD

Any sort of change causes stress, even good changes -- the kids home on summer break, or having a baby. You feel the tension caused by stress in your shoulders, in your neck. You lose sleep, feel depressed, and feel tired. The long-term effects of stress are much worse: stress ups your risk for heart disease, mental distress, andweight gain. This summer, practice a few simple tips for stress relief. Enjoy regular exercise.Walking is a good way to reduce stress. Sometimes, just learning to accept what you cannot change can help ease the burden of stress. Meditation and yoga are two stress-management techniques that help train your body to relieve stress.

Meditation for Stress ReliefThe practice of meditation is ancient. But in recent years meditation has gained worldwide acceptance for its ability to produce the "relaxation response" and ease stress. When we are in this state of deep relaxation, our breathing, pulse rate, blood pressure, and metabolism decrease. By meditating on a daily basis -- even just 10 minutes once or twice daily -- it's possible to lift depression, lower blood pressure, and ease stress.

What is meditation like? You silently repeat a word, sound, or phrase while sitting with your eyes closed for 10 to 20 minutes. The sound can be "om," "one," "peace," or any other word with special meaning. Focus on the sound -- or on your breath -- and ignore intruding thoughts as best you can. You can periodically open your eyes to check a clock, but don't set an alarm. Meditation is sometimes difficult at first, but over time nearly anyone can achieve a state of relaxation. Find a meditation center or class to learn this timeless stress-reduction technique.

Yoga for Stress Relief Yoga is another ancient practice that reduces stress and tension. Yoga can lower blood pressure and levels of cortisol, a stress hormone. Through yoga practice, you also boost flexibility, strength, endurance, and balance. Don't worry about having to do pretzel positions. You don't need to stand on your head either. In a beginner's class, you will learn basic stretches or poses. There are several different styles of yoga, and you may want to try different ones to see what feels best.As you work through poses, you must focus on inhaling and exhaling -- and it's this concentration on the breath that is yoga's key to stress management. With this focus, you let go of external thoughts and anxiety.With meditation and yoga, you get a mental vacation!

Are your Eggs Fresh?

How To Test Eggs For Freshness on Howcast

This is a great way to see if your eggs are fresh!

ReUsing 2 Liter Plastic Bottles.

Here are some great tips for Reusing those 2-liter plastic soda bottles. Saw this great video on @thriftstoreremx's site.

Tips for staying cool in hot weather!

Here are some tips for staying cool in the hot weather without AC.

How To Survive Without Air-Conditioning on Howcast

Styrofoam Cups

Styrofoam cups are generally a bad idea since they aren't recyclable. But sometimes you just get one with out much of a choice. One thing that you can do with them is use them to make an insulated cup. Take a regular cup and put it inside the Styrofoam cups, and it adds a layer of insulation. While there isn't much you can do to recycle the Styrofoam, you can reuse it.

Though it's still generally better to avoid Styrofoam all together when ever possible.

Gift Basket Ideas

Here are some great ideas that I saw online: Some of them can be quite frugal depending on where you get your items.

Gift Baskets can be fun and easy once a theme is picked out. They can be a great idea if a group of people want to contribute for a shower or birthday gift.

• Sewing Basket - Fill a sewing box or basket with needles, thread, thimble, buttons, finish by tying with a tape measure.
• Baking Basket - Fill a Bundt pan or a candy clay basket with mixing spoons, collected recipe cards from each participant, spatula, measuring cups, and a cookie cutter. To make it even more special paint a set of pot holders or apron.
• Pasta Basket - Fill a large colander, lined with a kitchen towel, with dried pasta, spices, sauces, a bottle of wine, and some bread sticks.
• Children's Craft Can - Fill a white paint bucket with paints, paper, stickers, brushes, pencils, and markers. Finish by painting the child's name on the bucket and top with curling ribbon on the handles.
• Bath Basket - Line a basket with an elegant towel, add soaps, a candle, sponges, bubble baths, bath beads, oils, and pampering spa products all in the same color family. Finish it with a large piece of tulle tied in a bow with a silk flower.
• The Grill Master Basket - Line a basket with an apron add a cookbook, marinades, rubs, grilling tools, and potholders.
• A Pancake Breakfast Set could include Syrups, Pancake Mix, syrup pitcher, cloth napkin as a liner, jams, and so forth.
• Picnic Basket - In a wicket basket lined with a blanket add a bottle of wine, 2 glasses, cheeses, corkscrew, crackers, a cheese board and knife. Include a disposable camera to capture the fun times.
• Movie Basket - To an empty popcorn tub add microwave popcorn, candy, canned sodas, videos, CD's, or tickets to the movies.
• New Car Bucket - To a bucket add car soaps, wax, chamois cloths, sponges, key chain and special auto scent products.
• Bon Voyage Basket - Line a basket with a crinkled map and add a travel journal, pen, small photo album, stamps, prepaid phone card, travel pillow, and simple stationery.
• Fisherman's Basket - Inside a creel add lures, line, bobbers, bait, hooks, sinkers, and tie it all up with a tape measure.
• Beer Basket - Fill a cooler with an assortment of beers, pretzels, favorite snacks and an opener for a big hit.
• Get Well Basket - Fill a cherry basket with chicken noodle soup, Aspirin or Tylenol, a thermometer, current magazines, a crossword
• puzzle book, pencil, paper back books, fresh fruit, and a Get Well Bear.
• Tool Basket - Inside a Tool Bag add a hammer, screw driver, tape measure, pencil, level, assorted nails, screws and a 'how-to' book.
• Computer Basket - Fill a basket with discs, CD's, a mouse pad, post it notes, paper, and paper CD sleeves.
• Over the Hill Basket - In a black basket add Geritol, Preparation H, Magnifying Glass, and Ben Gay.
• Gardener's Basket - Inside a large pot add seeds, gloves, hand rakes, trowels, seeds, bulbs, and a decorative item for the garden. To add a crafty touch paint the garden gloves and pot.

Beauty Expert Paula Begoun's Favorite Products - Video - Oprah.com

Beauty Expert Paula Begoun's Favorite Products - Video - Oprah.com


I'm soo not usualy an Oprah Fan, but she recently had someone on that had some great beauty tips, and what works for several price ranges. $$$ isn't always best!

Some good Tips for Saving Money

I came across a site that had 180 tips for saving money, Some of them just weren’t practical. Here are the ones that made the cut for me!

Automobile/Transportation

• Wash and vacuum your car at home.
• Tires, keep your tires inflated at the correct pressure. Keep them properly aligned, and Rotate your tires. This helps prolong the life of your tires.
• Do not carry unneeded weight in your vehicle. Excess weight puts a heavier load on the engine.
• Accelerate slowly and smoothly. Avoid jackrabbit starts. Get into high gear as quickly as possible.
• Use your air conditioner only when absolutely necessary.
• Avoid unnecessary stopping and braking. Maintain a steady pace.
• Do not rest your foot on the clutch or brake pedal. This causes needless wear and poor fuel economy.

Clothing

• Check Free Cycle for clothing!
• Keep a wardrobe of classic pieces, so you don’t have to update your clothes every year.
• Buy clothes at a thrift store.
• Wear clothes more than once before washing them. You’ll reduce wear on your clothes and save energy by not washing so often.
• Shop at outlet & discount stores.
• Avoid buying clothes that require drying cleaning.
• Cut dryer sheets in half to double the value of each box.
• Buy your winter clothes at the end of winter/beginning of spring. Buy summer clothing at the end of summer/beginning of fall.

Food

• Buy a water filter and make your own bottled water.
• Buy bread at the bread outlet store and freeze excess loaves or even make your own.
• Make meals that are left over friendly, like soups and casseroles.
• Join a food co-op.
• Make dinners in a crock pot
• Buy in bulk.
• If you buy soda, buy 2 liter bottles instead of cans. It’s much cheaper per unit price.
• Have potluck dinners.
• When you eat out, share meals. Most restaurant meals are big enough for two people.
• If you don’t have someone to share it with, split the meal and half and put when half in a to-go box for next day’s lunch.
• Skip the soda when you go out to eat, and drink water.
• Cooking at home is cheaper then dinning out.
• Take a list when you go shopping and stick to it. Impulse buying is one of the most expensive parts of shopping trips. Stores are designed to make you impulse buy!!!!
• Buy generic brand products at the store
• Bring your lunch to school or work instead of buying it.
• Grow your own vegetables.
• Use coupons and loyalty cards at grocery stores.
• Eat cereal instead of fast food. It’s cheaper and usually healthier.
• Have a late lunch/early dinner when going out to eat. You can save on lunch menu items.
• Join clubs at school and take advantage of free food at meetings.
• Don’t buy prepackaged cheese or meat. Go to the deli and have them slice it for you. You can get more for you money.
• Collect vegetable scraps in a bag in the freezer. As soon as it’s full, make a soup out of them.
• Save Chicken, Beef, Lamb Bones to make stock or add a little extra flavor to soups & stews.
• Buy whole roasted chickens. When you have used all the meat, throw the bones into a soup.

Household

• Buy furniture at a consignment store.
• Check Free Cycle before you buy.
• If you need a tool, see if you can borrow it from someone before you go out and buy it.
• Don’t throw away “dead” batteries. Remove them from your radio and use them in quartz clocks. These clocks take such a small amount of power that batteries too weak to run anything else may have enough power to run a clock for a while. (if batteries are completely dead, please recycle!!)
• Wash and reuse plastic bags.
• Clean your own carpets. You can rent carpet cleaning machines for about $10.

Health Care

• If you take a prescription medication on a regular basis, ask your doctor to write a three month prescription. Instead of paying three co-pays, you only pay one.
• Go to the dentist at your local dental school. Students need people to practice on. You can get all your dental needs fulfilled at a reduced cost.
• If your doctor gives you a prescription, ask if he has samples that he could give you. Ask if there is Generic you could take.
• Use your local park’s playground as a workout station. Monkey bars can be used for pull-ups and leg lifts. The park will also have a trail where you can run.
• If you go to school, use the school’s gym. It’s free.
• Brush and floss your teeth. You’ll save on dental expenses.
• Eat right and exercise daily. You’ll reduce health costs.
• If you join a gym, find one that offers a month to month contract.That way if for some reason you stop going, you won’t be stuck with a 1 year contract that you have to pay for.

Beauty and Hygiene

• Use baking soda for toothpaste.
• Use baby shampoo or baby wipes for a makeup remover.
• Check out reviews online before buying
• Use makeup samples.
• Don’t throw out small pieces of bar soap. Wet the small piece and the new bar and stick them together.
• Simplify your beauty products. Do you really need 5 different types of body lotions?

Travel

• Pack your travel meals in advance.
• Buy snacks at the grocery store, not at roadside convenience stores.
• Plan trips where you have friends and family. You might be able to score free room and board.
• Go camping.
• Book your flights and cruises way in advance. You can get lower prices.
• Always negotiate hotel room prices. Hotel rooms are like highly perishable food: if they’re not used that day, they’re wasted. You can almost always get a better deal just by asking, but do it with a nice smile face-to-face when you check in, or with friendly calls direct to the hotels you’re considering. It won’t work if you just call national 800 numbers, because they can’t negotiate. If your flight is overbooked and the airline offers a voucher if you take a later flight, take it.
• When flying, bring your own snacks. Airport food is expensive.
• Avoid renting a car at the airport. You’ll find more competitive rates, plus avoid extra surcharges at car rental agencies away from the convenience of the airport.
• Time your stay for best hotel deals. Plan the timing of your stay according to the type of place you visit. Hotels in cities are usually cheaper on the weekends, when business travelers aren’t staying there, but hotels in resort areas or other places that are popular with leisure travelers are often cheaper during the week
• Tourist spots sell everything from film — to capture those special moments — to sunscreen, bottled water and aspirin for prolonging your fun, at a higher cost. Purchase these items before and save.
• Travel after peak season. This might not be an option if you have school-age children. But families with infants and toddlers can take advantage of discounted rates by traveling in the fall.
• Bring an empty water bottle with you to the airport. Bottled water at airports is expensive. While you can’t bring any liquids past security, you can bring an empty bottle. Put it in your carry on and fill it up as soon as you get past security.
• Stay in hostels when traveling overseas. While you do have to share a bathroom and a room, you can stay for as little as $5.

Entertainment

• Trade video games, DVD’s and books with your friends.
• Have a game night with friends.
• Attend movies at dollar theaters.
• Take advantage of your local university. Colleges often have free entertainment events.
• Join the library.
• Check out DVD’s from the library, rather than renting them from the video store.
• Go on a hike, take a walk in the park, or go to the beach. Some of the nicest things to do in life are totally free.
• See if your local zoos, museums, entertainment parks and water parks have annual passes. Often the annual passes may not cost more than the price of a couple of visits.
• Save money on movies by going to the matinee.
• Watch amateur sports. High school athletic competitions are cheap and can be just as exciting as the pros.

Banking and Investing

• Start an automatic savings plan with your bank.
• Use your credit card to make all purchases, but pay it off each month. That you’ll earn cash back or travel points.
• Open an online savings account. Most online accounts offer a 4% interest rate. That’s much better than the 1% you get at your current bank.
• Avoid ATM fees. Only withdraw money from machines approved by your bank. 7-11 doesn’t have a surcharge.
• Pay bills by direct debit. You save on postage & the cost of checks and avoid the risk of paying late fees.

Children

• Buy gender neutral baby clothing so you can use them again with the next baby.
• Make your kids Halloween costumes. It’s cheaper and more fun.
• Buy your baby toys from the thrift store. .
• Buy your baby’s and tot’s clothes from the thrift store. Your kid isn’t going to notice the difference between a thrift store onezy and a Gap onezy.

Utilities

• Use a clothes liner to dry clothes. You’ll save on your energy bill.
• Replace old appliances with ones that have Energy Star approval.
• Regularly clean the coils on the back of your refrigerator. A clean coil uses less energy.
• Make sure your freezer is full. An empty freezer requires more energy to keep cold.
• Use washable coffee mug instead of Styrofoam. You’ll save money and help the environment.
• Replace all your incandescent light bulbs with Energy Efficient Bulbs.
• Turn off the lights when not using a room.
• Turn off your appliances when not using them.
• If you have a cell phone, get rid of your land line.
• Sign up for Skype or Google Voice for long distant phone calls.
• Turn your heater thermostat down 2 degrees in winter and up 2 degrees in the summer. Don’t use your AC unless you have to!

Miscellaneous

• Get a digital camera. You save money on film & Processing, most stores have better rates for digital.
• Buy as much as you can online. Use Coupon Codes, Compare Prices
• Negotiate the price on big ticket items like cars, electronics, and large appliances.
• Use cash as a negotiating tool. Nothing makes a seller’s mouth water than cold hard cash in their hand.
• Before you buy big ticket items, ask if the item will be put on sale in the near future. Smaller things, most stores will give you the sale price if it’s with in a day of when you buy.
• Don’t buy extended warranties. Eighty percent are never used, and they’re a major profit item for the vendor. That’s why they push you so hard to buy them!
• Keep receipts and send in rebate slips. Very few consumers actually return rebate coupons. Which is, of course, exactly what the manufacturers are hoping for.

School

• Check out study supplements from the library. Don’t buy them.
• Buy used text books.
• Take advantage of free pens and pencils at business conferences.
• Keep track of your pens and pencils. You’ll spend less on them if you don’t lose them all the time.
• Buy back packs that your kids can use for years. While they might think the Sponge Bob Square pants one is cool in 2^nd grade, they probably won’t think it’s cool in 4^th.
• Don’t wait till the last day of a back to school sale! a lot of the items are only in stock for the summer, rain checks won’t help if they don’t get the item till next summer.

Computers

• Use open source software like OpenOffice for your computing needs.Here is some great open source software.
• Refill ink cartridges instead of buying new ones. Put unused Ink Cartridges in a Ziploc bag, it will keep them from drying out as fast.
• Print off your documents in draft mode. It’s faster and saves ink.
• Use free online storage for all your digital storage needs.
• When you buy new computers or printers, keep the old cables. You never know when they’ll come in handy.

Gifts

• Agree with family and friends to NOT buy each other Christmas presents this year or do a Christmas Grab Bag Style Christmas. (Draw Names)
• Offer to give a service, like a night of free babysitting as a gift, instead of buying stuff.
• Give baked goods. Everyone loves cookies!
• Learn the art of the re-gift. If you get something that you don’t like, keep it and give it to someone else later. However be careful to keep track of who gave you what. You don’t want to give a gift back to somebody.

Tips for Shopping.

Working at a chain store, I don’t know how many times I see people think they are getting a great deal, but they aren’t.

* Search high and low. Eye-level shelving is prime selling space,
commanding "slotting" fees from manufacturers. Similar products with
lower prices may be on the bottom or top shelves.

* Compare unit prices. You might think a jumbo can of soup or beans
would be a better deal than its peewee cousin. But that's not always the
case. Check the shelf tag under the product that reveals the price per
ounce, quart, pound or unit.

* Consider convenience. Sometimes it's worth the extra dimes to purchase
a ready-to-heat entree or fresh watermelon cut into chunks. But know
that a few minutes of prep in your kitchen can keep more George
Washingtons in your wallet.

* Bag it. Sacks of potatoes, onions, oranges and apples often are
cheaper than buying by the pound. If the item has a fairly long shelf
life, grabbing a bag might be a cost-saver.

* Know prices. Just because a product is featured in a weekly sales
circular doesn't mean it's on sale. Sometimes manufacturers pay for
placement in the flier. By knowing prices, you can tell if that
highlighted item really is a bargain.

* Buy at the bakery. In-store bakeries sometimes sell baked goods at
prices lower than commercial alternatives. Compare the two.

* Check the receipt. A survey of Consumer Reports readers revealed that
6 percent have been overcharged at the register. I think it's higher,
based on my own experience. Now I scan my receipt once I get to my car
and march back into the store if I spot an error.

* Reach deep. Retailers rotate stock so the older items, such as milk,
cereal, lunch meat and packaged goods, are in the front. To get the
longest shelf life, take the freshest stuff from the back of the shelf,
refrigerator or freezer.

And, if possible, use a discount coupon when buying it.

del.icio.us Tags: Tips for Shopping,Shopping,Savings

Technorati Tags: Tips for Shopping,Shopping,Savings