From the category archives:

Smart Shopping

Store Returns In Your Horizon? How To Return Store Merchandise

by Emiley Thacker on January 5, 2009 in Consumer Issues, Smart Shopping

Want to know how to handle store returns? Here’s how to return store merchandise without fuss, along with some basic shopping tips to live by.

I am notorious for avoiding store returns; I don’t usually return purchases that don’t live up to my expectations. A dear friend used to scold me for it, but it wasn’t a habit that I tried to change until recently when it finally occurred to me that I’ve wasted a lot of money over the years by keeping items that have disappointed me.

I’m pretty good about researching products before buying: I read up on tips to shop for clothes and try on clothing before I make it mine, and I’m thorough about checking over workmanship before making a purchase. Still, there is the occasional purchase that just isn’t quite right, and it makes no sense to simply accept an item as it is when returning it is an option.

store returns, return store merchandise
Image by IntangibleArts.

Tips on How To Return Store Merchandise With Minimal Fuss

Many retailers make it very easy to return an item, but there are some that don’t. Here’s how to make that return as painless as possible:

  • Keep your receipts or other proofs of purchase until you’ve determined that the product meets your needs AND the return period has expired.

  • Make sure you are aware of the retailer’s return policies before making the purchase — especially when purchasing big ticket items. If you’re really unsure whether you’re going to like something, it may be worthwhile to do some research to find a retailer with a liberal return policy.

  • Be aware that policies regarding returns of electronics are typically very strict, and always keep all original packaging and documentation for these types of purchases.

  • Understand that a retailer’s policies may not be the same for all items. Clearance or sale items may be ineligible for return, or may have a shorter return period than other items. Other items may be eligible only for exchange or store credit, rather than refund.

  • Beware of restocking fees.

  • Consider purchasing an extended warranty, or using a credit card that extends the manufacturer’s warranty period, for items that may be difficult to return to the retailer in the event of malfunction.

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Buying A Computer? Check Our Computer Shopping Tips First

by Jacques Sprenger on January 2, 2009 in Money Saving Tips, Smart Shopping

Buying a computer anytime soon? Check out our computer shopping tips before making your purchase.

Stuff I Learned While Buying A Computer

A couple of months ago I had a need for a new desktop computer; mine was 5 years old, which is equivalent to 80 years for a human ;) . After searching the Internet (where else but places like Buy.com, Dell Home Office, HP) for 2 weeks, I finally decided to take a ride to Best Buy (yeah, I know, I like to put my hands on what I buy, unless it’s an intangible, of course.)

I tried to do my homework, so I was full of precious technical information (I am no geek in electronics, but still), such as RAM and ROM, video card size, GHz, WSVGA TFT, gigabit Ethernet, etc. You get the full picture, I hope, because I still don’t. To make a long story short, I finally bought a CPU that was on display for almost 50% less than new. But before I took it home, I talked to the specialists. They told me what I wanted to know and that clinched the deal.

buying a computer, computer shopping tips
Image by Dvice.

Computer Shopping Tips

1. Find out the kind of computer technical support you’ll get.

The best part of buying a computer is the service that comes after the purchase. After all, most good brands are similar in quality and price; but many of them “suck” (pardon my French) when it comes to good support. They simply told me at Best Buy that all I had to do was to take the CPU to the store and they would fix the item for free for one year (I could always buy a warranty extension).

2. Check ratings and reviews for the best computers and best support available.

If you’re in the market for a new computer, check the latest recommendations, reviews and rankings available. The web is chock full of information that will tell you which computers are consistently topping the rankings. For example, here are the best desktops (according to Consumer Reports® at MSN Shopping): HP Pavilion m9100t, HP Pavilion a6250t a6350t (see HP for details), Dell Inspiron 530s (see Dell for details).

3. Decide if you’ll spend for an extended service and support plan.

We can learn a little bit too from what MSN.com says about the best extended service and support companies:

“Along with Apple, Dell and Gateway’s extended plans were also better at problem solving than their standard support. Spend no more than 10 percent of your computer’s price for each year of extended coverage.“

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Used Car Trade In and The Buyer’s Market: Time To Buy?

by Jacques Sprenger on December 17, 2008 in Debt, Credit and Loans, Money Saving Tips, Smart Shopping

One of the recession’s consequences: a buyer’s market. Is it time to consider a used car trade in? Is it time to buy new, now that some things have better value?

Have you ever had someone cajole you into doing a trade in for your vehicle? This has been the situation for me lately.

I Was Offered A Great Deal

The dealership where I bought my truck 2 years ago keeps sending me offers to buy back my vehicle at the original MSRP minus $0.10 to $0.55 per mile, depending on the wear and tear. Since I only have 15,000 miles in 2 years, I figured the discounted amount as approximately $3,000, which represents a very good deal for me. The only condition is that I must buy a new or used car from the dealership.

used car trade in, buyer's market
Photo by FayettevilleAveo.com

Would You Buy In This Buyer’s Market?

The letter they sent me insists that they already have clients anxious to buy my used truck (pick-up), a claim that I find suspicious indeed in these trying times. So why are they pushing me to trade in my car? Because hardly anybody is buying new cars or because lots of people are looking for good used vehicles? Maybe both. In any case, if they don’t come up with some shenanigan at the last minute, I stand to make an excellent deal. So, is it time to buy a new car? Or a new house for that matter, given the many opportunities available?

Here’s an argument for being a “buyer” at this time: the pressure is on the Detroit automakers to start making money, especially after they receive any form of bailout from the government. With credit already showing signs of being loosened, this could only bode well for us consumers, maybe creating an atmosphere that’s conducive to buying autos… an atmosphere that encourages you and me to start parting with our cash to help nudge this economy along towards recovery.

Even the foreign brands will feel the pressure if clients flock to GM, Ford and Chrysler (by the way, I would never again buy a Chrysler car, no matter what the deal may be; they have shown time and again that they can’t make quality cars, even when Mercedes-Benz took over), and will thus cause the markets to continue to shift in favor of consumers. So the question remains: should you buy a car or house given the present conditions of the market (ultra-favorable to buyers)? Well my answer is: it depends.

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Expedia Deals and Travel Discounts For The Frugal Traveler

by SVB on December 4, 2008 in Deals and Offers, Money Saving Tips, Smart Shopping

Are you a frugal traveler? Then these Expedia deals and travel discounts may be right up your alley.

Travel is one of those things a lot of people have shoved by the wayside recently. Because of the slower economy, the travel industry is now seeing much lower demand, so much so that the airlines are starting to do something about it. As a consequence, we may start seeing cheaper fares, although they are balanced by flight and airline staff cutbacks.

At any rate, if you’re at all going on a trip anytime soon, things are becoming more affordable. Hey gas prices are lower, after all! Just check out these Expedia deals and travel discounts available this time of year:

Holiday Expedia Deals

Last Minute Deals

Weekly Promotions

Here are more traveling tips that can help you save on travel. Plus check out Travelocity’s Race To Savings promotions for additional deals.

Here’s to happy, safe, fun and cheap travel!

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8 Weight Loss Tips and Weight Management Ideas To Battle The Bulge

by Millie Kay G. on November 28, 2008 in Consumer Issues, Smart Shopping

Worried about the extra pounds you may pick up during the holidays? Here are some weight loss tips and weight management ideas to battle the bulge!

diet, weight loss, weight gain

Each holiday season, it seems like I end up with a few extra pounds by the end of December. It’s been estimated that the typical Thanksgiving meal can contain around 2000 calories. To my shock, I learned that this is as much as I should consume in a single day! With food in the form of tasty concoctions and treats being a very common choice for gifts during this time of year, it’s no surprise that we all end up grappling with unwanted weight gain by the time the festivities are over.

But you don’t have to follow a strict diet or grueling exercise regimen to make sure you keep the pounds at bay. Even a few simple tricks can help you maintain your weight through all the fun and celebration.

I, for one, will be working to skip the holiday weight gain; I’m hoping to send the scale in the other direction with a few weight management ideas. Here are some thoughts to get me started!

Great Weight Loss Tips and Weight Management Ideas

1. Drink lots of water!

First and foremost, I’m going to keep up my habit of taking my reusable water bottle with me when I go out. That way, I can say “NO” to the minty milk shakes and other sugary drinks that tempt me while I’m out. I’m using a teeny bottle right now, but if I scale up to a larger water bottle like the ones from SIGG, I’ll stay refreshed for longer.

2. Maintain a food diary.

Earlier in the year, I used a food diary to track my portions and the calories I consumed for each meal. I fell out of the habit during the summer, but US News has noted that food diaries work because they make you accountable. Besides, I don’t want to have to write down that I ate 43 cookies at the parties I attended! Any notebook can work for this, but I especially like the looks of a Moleskine notebook. It would fit in a pocket or purse without screaming “she’s trying to lose weight!” to everyone.

3. Check out online sites for weight loss programs, tools and resources.

In addition, I can give online programs like FitDay another try. Most of them have resources like calorie counters, an online food diary, and more. Or I can program an online calendar program like Google’s to remind me to make healthier choices during this season. If I wanted to follow the example of other weight loss battlers, I could even set up a blog to challenge myself :) .

4. Don’t go out too hungry.

Before I head out to parties or to join friends and family at restaurants, I usually eat a little: I fill up on a small portion of yogurt at home. By doing so, I’m able to pay attention to the people I’m meeting rather than obsessing over the food. If I’m partially sated, then I’ll be able to eat lightly elsewhere. For instance, if soup’s on the menu at a restaurant, I’ll be able to have that, instead of something fried. Also, I’m making an effort to enjoy more vegetables and fruit.

When I’m out shopping, I’ll be taking a stash of almonds or some cubed cheese. These snacks will keep me away from the temptation of the mall’s food court and keep me focused on finding bargains.

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Quality Cookware To Help You Save Time and Energy in the Kitchen

by Millie Kay G. on November 26, 2008 in Smart Shopping

What kind of quality cookware and kitchen items are available out there to save you time and energy in the kitchen?

quality cookware set, kitchenware

In winter, I seem to have less time to get things done, especially when it comes to putting food on the table. So it may be worth the investment to take a look at some helpful appliances and cooking techniques that save time and/or energy in the kitchen.

Cookware for Fast Dinners and Easy Meals

Pressure Cooker: Over the years, I’ve heard a lot about how pressure cookers can save time. Because they cook items faster than on the stove top, you might save energy too. I’d like to try out one of Presto’s pressure cookers with a meal like ham and vegetables, or goulash — both can be on the table in about 30 minutes. As a bonus, if I ever want to follow up on learning how to can fruit or veggies, I can use the pressure cooker.

Rice Cooker/Steamer: However, the workhorse of my kitchen has to be the rice cooker/steamer. The last time I needed to replace mine, one lady stopped me to say that her rice cooker has really helped her marriage of 35 years! Besides making fabulous white and brown rice, I’ve been able to steam artichokes, cook up a spicy lentil dish, and more. The next time I go shopping for a replacement, I want to try the Zojirushi brand — I’ve heard good things about it.

Microwave: Like a lot of other people, I make popcorn at least once a week in my microwave (thank you, Alton Brown). In addition, I use it to bake potatoes, melt chocolate, defrost meals I’ve frozen, and to cook vegetables when I want them in a hurry. Since I use my microwave so much, I might want to consider upgrading to a commercial one from Instawares. There’s no doubt that the microwave saves me time in the kitchen each week; as a bonus, it saves me energy, too.

Bread Machine: My bread machine keeps my family fed, too. Each week, I make my own pizza dough and bread; on occasion, I also make pretzel dough, loaves to give as gifts, and dough for wraps. Unfortunately, my bread machine is getting pretty ancient, so I’ve got my eye on a Sunbeam Breadmaker next, which is available at several places, such as Cooking.com.

Grill: As for grills, I love my little indoor electric grill. It makes tasty grilled cheese sandwiches which are fantastic with homemade bread. Also, I use grilled chicken in everything from chicken noodle soup to barbecue chicken pizza. When it turns warm here again, I’d like to make my kitchen mobile and pick up an outdoor grill.

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Find Bargain Gift Cards, Don’t Pay Full Price!

by Emiley Thacker on November 24, 2008 in Money Saving Tips, Smart Shopping, Web Sites and Tools

You don’t have to pay full price for gift certificates and cards. We’ll show you where to find bargain gift cards for your giving needs!

This holiday season, I fully intend to do the vast majority of my gift shopping online for no other reason than to protect my own sanity. I’m not a fan of crowds, and have no intention of getting caught up in the masses of people who will scramble in the wee hours of the morning for Black Friday bargains. I don’t intend to brave the crowds before the crack of down on any day for that matter, just to take advantage of the pre-daylight, doorbuster sales. It takes a special kind of person to deal with that kind of mayhem and, despite what my mom told me so many years ago, I’m not THAT special.

So, online shopping it is! I’ll even buy my gift cards online. Yep, gift cards. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that a gift card is always the best gift but, rather, that it’s not always the worst gift. I’d rank gift cards somewhere in the middle on the fruitcake to Ferrari gift spectrum.

Where To Find Bargain Gift Cards

I’ve recently discovered that you don’t necessarily have to pay full price for a gift card. Several websites have sprung up allowing users to sell or trade any unwanted gift cards or to buy gift cards at a discount. The discount varies depending on the seller, the card balance, and the merchant. Here are a few websites that will help you grab that coveted card for less, or turn unwanted cards into cash:

Plastic Jungle: The best of the sites I’ve come across, Plastic Jungle is like gift card mecca. Plastic Jungle verifies all cards bought and sold, and is the only site that I found that offers a transaction guarantee. Users looking to sell or trade gift cards retain ownership until the transaction is completed. Need small holiday gifts for coworkers? Pick up $10 Crabtree & Evelyn gift cards for $8.

Gift Cards Again: A quick search of Gift Cards Again made it appear as though this site has a much smaller inventory of gift cards to buy than Plastic Jungle; however there was still some good stuff to be had, like a $150 Banana Republic gift card for $130. Also, Gift Cards Again has a sister site, Gift Card Buy Back. Unlike Plastic Jungle where users who want to sell, own the card until they find a buyer, Gift Card Buy Back buys the card from the owner and then resells it on Gift Cards Again. The site gives the seller cash for their unwanted gift cards. It may also be a good site for gift card shoppers who may not want the uncertainty of dealing with people they don’t know.

Gift Card Exchange: Gift Card Exchange has a transaction set up similar to Gift Cards Again/Gift Card Buy Back. The primary difference is that purchase transactions at Gift Card Exchange can only be completed using PayPal or Google Checkout. Look! There’s that $100 Pottery Barn gift card for only $90!

One thing that I should note for all of the sites listed above is that the availability of gift cards for any given merchant can vary greatly from day to day, so if you see a great deal, snap it up.

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Even With Gas Prices Down, Small Hybrid Cars Remain In Demand

by Jacques Sprenger on November 18, 2008 in Money Saving Tips, Smart Shopping

Gas prices may be down but the shift to small hybrid cars continues.

Toyota small hybrid car
Toyota concept car. Photo by Paul Tan

The 2008 cars, on average (including of course hybrids and big trucks), reached a record 26.8 miles per gallon, according to Edmunds.com. That figure tells us two important trends: one, that Detroit and other manufacturers are finally getting the message that less is better, and two, that American consumers are decidedly moving in greater numbers to smaller, more efficient cars and trucks as their desire to save money on gas remains a strong priority. All this, despite the fact that gas prices have plummeted to almost half of their peak levels.

Small cars lead to smaller costs.

So the price of gasoline has since fallen considerably — less than $2.50 in my neck of the woods in south Texas — igniting fears that some people will reverse course and buy the big guzzlers which have also collapsed in price. I, for one, cannot imagine that American consumers would go back to the wasteful days, knowing full well that the drop is temporary. Ten years ago, $2.50 a gallon would have seemed criminal to the average driver, while today it looks downright like a great bargain; oh how times and perspectives change!

Get ready for cheaper hybrids!

A recent study, again on Edmunds.com, indicates that hybrids will tumble in price as demand grows, following the rules of increased volumes which translate into lower production costs. The same study says the following: Honda Motor Co. has said that it has managed to engineer a less-costly version of its Integrated Motor Assist hybrid system that will enable it to price a new 5-passenger hybrid, the 2009 Insight hybrid due out next year, at about $19,700, almost $3,250 less than Toyota’s Prius, the top-selling hybrid in the world.

Well this is very good news for us consumers who are waiting for hybrids to drop below $20,000. It is of course bad news for Saudi Arabia and Venezuela among other unfriendly oil producers, who will see their income from oil drop precipitously over the next 10 years (too bad, Hugo Chavez).

A quick check shows that the cheapest hybrids as of this month are:

  • Toyota Prius, starting at $21,100
  • Honda Civic Hybrid, starting at $22,600
  • Saturn Aura Green Line, starting at $22,790

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