Economizer - WalletPop

Cosmetic Surgery:
Affordable Procedures

Worst Warehouse Club Buys

Black Friday 2009: A Preview

Extreme Ways to Save Money

Bank Giveaways: Get Your Signing Bonus

Repair, Rebuild, Retire

Cosmetic Surgery:
Affordable Procedures

Worst Warehouse Club Buys

How to trim utility costs, even in Maryland

Tom Barlow Nov 2nd 2009 @ 4:30PM EST Filed Under: Home, Saving Money, Economizer

I had the opportunity recently to speak with WhiteFence.com's CEO Franc Arbride about home utilities and how we might trim these expenses. He describes his site as "a comparison shopping engine for utilities and other home services," which allows the user to input his address and receive detailed comparisons of terms offered by competing utilities.

I called Arbride after reading a WhiteFence report that showed the huge difference in utility bills from city to city.

Who pays the most? This is one crown that I doubt that those of you in Baltimore, Maryland will enjoy wearing, but the average bill, according to WhiteFence.com, in the summer quarter of 2009 was $390.44.

The same report should put a smile on the faces of those of you in Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Indianapolis, Denver and San Francisco. L.A. was the least expensive at $192.97, less than half of those in Baltimore. Fortunately for the East Coaster, the cost of housing is skewed in the opposite direction.

Continue reading How to trim utility costs, even in Maryland

Tire prices set to tip the scales

Gina Roberts-Grey Nov 2nd 2009 @ 2:45PM EST Filed Under: Bargains, Transportation, Economizer

If you're kicking around buying new tires, you'd better make up your mind quickly. That's because if you wait too long -- until January -- it can wind up costing you quite a bit extra.

A new 35% tariff on Chinese-made car and light truck tires being imposed by the Obama administration is forcing wholesalers to raise prices on tires sold to retailers, who are sure to pass that "extra" onto consumers. How much extra?

Some say even the most affordable tire will cost about $50 more. Brand name ones are expected to jump as much as $80 per tire.

Continue reading Tire prices set to tip the scales

Finally, Starbucks creates simpler rewards card

Vanessa Richardson Nov 2nd 2009 @ 2:30PM EST Filed Under: Food, Saving Money, Economizer

Last Christmas, I got a Starbucks gift card for $50 from my boss (a nice gift but with a semi-intentional hint that caffeine may help me do a better job).

I used it up within a month but when a barista tried to lure me into getting the Starbucks Rewards Gold card, I wasn't even tempted. Paying a $25 annual fee upfront for the right to 10% discounts on coffees didn't seem like a deal when I didn't know if I'd have the money for the remaining 90% of the cost of my once-daily lattes.

Guess I'm not the only one who felt that way, and Starbucks got the hint. It recently announced it is consolidating its Starbucks Card and Gold Card reward programs into a free, easier-to-follow customer loyalty program called "My Starbucks Rewards" that launches Dec. 26.

Continue reading Finally, Starbucks creates simpler rewards card

Got a frame with broken glass? Go to a local glazier

Zac Bissonnette Nov 2nd 2009 @ 2:15PM EST Filed Under: Home, Saving Money, Shopping, Economizer

I bought a framed poster on eBay for $40 (including shipping) but the seller -- apparently the dumbest person in the world -- decided that the best way to ship framed art was to wrap it in saran wrap and then stick it -- with no further padding -- in between a couple slabs of cardboard.

I took it to the frame shop at Michael's to find out how much it would cost to have the glass replaced, and was astounded when she mentioned the words "one hundred and twenty dollars" -- explaining that it would be less except that it's a custom-sized frame so they'd have to special order the piece of glass.

So then I took the mess to a local glazier's shop -- located in a rundown building in a much less expensive part of town -- and was astounded when he told me his fee: $15.50.

I couldn't believe it. I told him the price that the clerk at Michael's had quoted me and his response was classic: "The problem with that is that it's just ripping people off. There is absolutely no possible justification for charging someone that kind of money for a piece of glass of that size. It's a ripoff."

Bottom line? The framing shops inside big discount craft stores might (and might not) be good for a lot of things. But if you have a frame with a piece of broken glass, take it to your local glazier.

Customers cry fowl after Boston Market fails to learn from chicken coupon mistake

David Schepp Nov 2nd 2009 @ 1:30PM EST Filed Under: Budgets, Food, Fantastic Freebies, Consumer Complaints, Economizer

You'd think any fast-food chain would have taken a lesson from KFC and the Great Free Chicken Fiasco of 2009 and avoid offering customers an outrageous deal via the Internet, where word of just about anything -- good or bad -- can spread faster than greased lightning.

Nevertheless, Boston Market stepped into similar pile of fowl doo-doo last week when it offered its loyal customers a coupon for a $1 chicken entree via its Web site. While not free, it was still one hen of a deal. For $1, diners got a choice of a quarter white or 3-piece dark chicken dinner, along with mash potatoes and cornbread. Vegetables weren't part of the deal.

Continue reading Customers cry fowl after Boston Market fails to learn from chicken coupon mistake

AutoTrader expert's tips on getting the most money for your car online

Josh Smith Nov 2nd 2009 @ 12:00PM EST Filed Under: Technology, Transportation, Economizer

Selling your car, rather than trading it in to the dealer, is a great way to get more money to put towards your new set of wheels. Long ago, when I was but the owner of a learner's permit, if you wanted to sell your car you focused on newspaper classifieds and high-traffic front lawns, but as car shoppers' comfort level with the Internet increased, so did the popularity of listing cars online.

But, many people who have had great success selling their own car on-lawn haven't been able to sell as well on-line. If that's you, read on for these tips from AutoTrader Spokesperson Mark Scott for selling your car online.

Since you can't force locals to drive past your house, there are three things to focus on when preparing your car for sale online:

How you describe the car in the ad.
What you need to include -- and exclude -- from the pictures of your car.
Research the prices of similar cars.

Continue reading AutoTrader expert's tips on getting the most money for your car online

Credit card addiction: How to spot the warning signs and break the habit

Gina Roberts-Grey Nov 2nd 2009 @ 6:00AM EST Filed Under: Credit, Debt, Recession Diaries, Credit Reports, Economizer, Credit cards

With more than $40,000 in credit card debt and more than 20 credit cards to her name, Diana Ryan didn't think she had a problem -- even though her husband had no idea just how many pieces of plastic she had tucked in her wallet. "It sounds cliche," Ryan says, "but I thought I could stop at any time."

But the lure of special offers and other card deals was much stronger than Ryan's willpower. "I couldn't say no when a cashier asked if I wanted to open a new card to get an instant in-store savings or receive a new promotion," she says.

Ryan represents a growing number of Americans who've passed the point of merely overspending and have entered into the realm of addiction. And, in doing so, they're maxing out a record number of credit cards.

Continue reading Credit card addiction: How to spot the warning signs and break the habit

Save, yes. Spend, no. Lessons we've learned from the recession

Geoff Williams Oct 31st 2009 @ 3:00PM EST Filed Under: Saving Money, Economizer

If there's any good news in the recession, it's been that maybe -- just maybe -- people are learning enough lessons about spending habits that the next generation might be able to avoid some of the financial mistakes that have consumed the Baby Boomers, Generation X and Generation Y. At least, that's my takeaway from MetLife's recent survey of 2,200 adults, where they asked Americans about their new financial habits. Here's what people had to say about the changes they've made:

Continue reading Save, yes. Spend, no. Lessons we've learned from the recession

8 ways to save time and money on holiday shopping

Josh Smith Oct 30th 2009 @ 4:30PM EST Filed Under: Shopping, Technology, Black Friday, Economizer

It's still October and already schedules are filling up with things to do to prepare for Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Christmas, Hanukkah and more.

On top of the normal things that need done -- changing your oil, sending out cards, finding time to work out -- you still need to shop for gifts, which is no small matter.

A recent analysis of shopping habits, sponsored by search engine Bing, found that in the process of searching for the right gift and looking for the best deal, the average American will lose $114 this year.

Continue reading 8 ways to save time and money on holiday shopping

What's the real deal? Cashiers cashing in on your instant savings

Gina Roberts-Grey Oct 30th 2009 @ 3:00PM EST Filed Under: Bargains, Budgets, Economizer, Credit cards

The next time a cashier asks you if you'd like to save 10% instantly just by applying for a shiny new piece of plastic with the store's name on it, think twice before saying yes. The real motive might just be to pad her own paycheck instead of saving you a little coin.

Everything might not be better

Their TV ads feature the late Bob Hope in a Santa hat saying "Everything's better at Macy's..." But "better" might not be "best" for your holiday budget.

When she worked as a manager at Macy's, Jennifer Krosche was offered some great employee incentives. " Macy's would pay employees $5 in Macy's money, which we could only use in the store, for every new Macy's charge card application we'd get," says Krosche, explaining that the store would run promotions by which employees could net bonuses. "Other times, it was $5 in "Macy's Bucks" for every three to five new accounts."

Continue reading What's the real deal? Cashiers cashing in on your instant savings

Disney Cruise Lines - inside cabins dismal no more

Jason Cochran Oct 30th 2009 @ 2:00PM EST Filed Under: Bargains, Kids and Money, Technology, Transportation, Travel, Economizer

In the next generation of Disney Cruise Line ships, the windowless inside cabin may be the ones kids beg their parents to book. In a boon to budget travelers, the cheapest, least desirable cruise stateroom category will be getting a major sexing up in January of 2011, when the Disney Dream, now under construction, is christened.

All inside cabins on the new Dream will be equipped with an oh-so-Disney innovation: the "virtual porthole." Above the bed, a round TV window will be embedded in the wall, made to look like an old-fashioned ship's porthole. Through it, the tenants in the modern equivalent of steerage will be able to watch live, streaming high-def images of the ocean outside, just as the guests in more expensive cabins see it for real.

Continue reading Disney Cruise Lines - inside cabins dismal no more

Extreme Makeover's Michael Maloney: If you can't afford to renovate, then edit

Jason Cochran Oct 30th 2009 @ 12:30PM EST Filed Under: Home, Saving Money, Simplification, Celebs & Money, Video, Economizer

Lots of us find that at the end of the month, we don't have any money left. The recession has forced millions of Americans to put off dreams of renovating or redesigning their homes. Designer Michael Maloney has a gift for quick and effective decor. After all, he whips up stunning new rooms within days every week on ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.

Taking off from the show's episode this Sunday, in which a family's plans to build their dream home are derailed by a freak accident, Maloney calls in to WalletPop's studios to talk with Jason Cochran about the things you can do if you find you can't afford that dream makeover anymore.

You can whittle down the things you already own. You can freshen things up by moving your stuff all around the house to new locations. Or, if you have $14 left in your pocket by the 31st, you can give any room a dramatic new look with one simple solution.

Watch our conversation with the design whiz below. You can also watch our conversation with music star Xzibit, who is making his second appearance on the show this weekend as he pitches in to help another needy family.