We’ve got the government stepping in to regulate a lot of the credit card industry (recall the age of tighter credit), the banking industry and even debt collectors and their practices. They’re stepping in to take a look at cell phone carriers now.

In a surprising move by the FCC, regulators are pushing forward some proposals that would require cellular telephone carriers to begin notifying customers of charges that exceed their plan limits. What? Yep, you guys heard it right. The Federal Trade Commission wants to hold cell carriers’ feet to the fire when it comes to passing unbelievable monthly bills to their customers.

What’s even more amazing is that the FCC wants our opinion about the new proposals.

It looks like our thinly veiled plan to inundate the FCC with all those complaints about outrageous cell phone bills has finally caught somebody’s attention. In a statement released some time in the not so distant past, the FCC has claimed to have received hundreds of complaints when it comes to consumers who have been stuck with outrageous cell phone bills due to extra charges such as roaming, text messaging, and data usage and feel like it’s now high time to do something about it.

Carrier’s Position

Previously, cellular carriers have always ducked under the legal radar on this one since all that fine print they stick into their contracts cover the fact that we’re supposed to know a few things: when we’ve moved out of our coverage area and start roaming; whether or not we have text messaging or data plans; whether we should expect to be duly billed for said services. But the truth of the matter is, most people don’t read the fine print and, unless the sales rep tells them about the surcharges, many are ignorant about the huge bills that such services can generate if these aren’t included in their plans.

My Position

Now, I am a huge stickler for personal responsibility when it comes to having to pay “stupid tax”. We all have to pay a little from time to time, but most of us can keep these types of expenses under wraps by paying attention to the details of contracts and phone usage. I’m not sure how big a fan I am of having the FCC step in and help those who can’t seem to help themselves to a few extra texts over their allotted number. But, I can’t argue that it would be nice for my cellular carrier to let me know when I’ve entered into the realm of extra charges. I mean, I’m a pretty busy person and a notification can bring to my attention, what might end up being an expensive oversight.

Cellular Billing Regulation: Will This Resolve Billing Issues? The Reality

In reality, I think that the cellular carriers already have a notification system in place that allows them to notify their customers of when they begin to accrue extra charges in certain situations. What I think will happen is that laws will be put into place that will require them to expand these existing notification systems to include additional services that result in larger bills. And there will be a lot of fuss and muss in the negotiations between the FCC and the cellular industry, but in the end, there will be a compromise. And, in an age where unlimited is the norm, most of us won’t be seeing much of any change to our cellular service or bill.

Here’s more coverage of the latest consumer issues besetting the public.

This is a post from The Smarter Wallet.

Will Cellular Billing Regulation Resolve Billing Issues?

Planning to buy a used car? Try out a model from Kiplinger’s list.

Buying a new car in this economy is simply not a practical undertaking. Most of us simply cannot afford to shell out $20,000 or more all at once, and very few of us can afford another payment. So, what do you do when you find yourself in the market for another vehicle? You buy used. Gently used cars are a great way to put yourself into a reliable vehicle for thousands less than you can buy new. Here are a few of Kiplinger’s picks for the best used vehicles.

Best Used Cars: Kiplinger’s Top Picks

2005 Honda Civic EX Sedan
The number one best pick is the 2005 Honda Civic EX Sedan. This little number ranks high on the list for its exceptional reliability, outstanding gas mileage, and high resell value. If classy economy is what you are looking for, try one of these on for size. This one comes in at around $12,000 on the lot and $11,500 if you buy from a private party.

2007 Ford Five Hundred SEL
Next comes the 2007 Ford Five Hundred SEL. This car is quite a bit larger and somewhat more luxurious than the Honda, which comes with a price bump, that believe it or not, is not that much. This car gets around 25 miles per gallon average (21 local/29 highway), which is about 10 miles per gallon less than the Honda, but the increased cabin space can more than make up for the difference. You can pick this one up on a lot for around $13,900 or from an individual for about $12,800.

2006 Infinity G35 Sedan
For all of you luxury car lovers, take a gander at Kiplinger’s next pick. The 2006 Infinity G35 Sedan will give you the luxury you want on the road without breaking the budget. The 6 cylinder motor produces an impressive 280 horsepower, giving this car plenty of get up and go without sacrificing gas efficiency. This car is priced to sell at $19,250 at a lot and $18,200 privately.

2005 Lexus LS 430
Another luxury sedan entry on this list is the 2005 Lexus LS 430. This car tops many Kiplinger’s lists including Best New Car in 2007. This car gives its drivers pure driving pleasure and buying used allows you to save up to half of the original sticker price, coming in at $26,200 on a lot or $24,000 privately.

2005 Toyota RAV4
One of the only SUVs to make this list is the 2005 Toyota RAV 4. This perky little crossover pre-dates all of Toyota’s current design woes and this car actually won Best Small SUV when it was new. Gas mileage is also comparable to many standard family sedans coming in at 24 mpg residential and 29 mpg highway. Average used car price for the RAV4 is $13,000 on a lot and $12,000 privately.

2007 Honda Pilot
The 2007 Honda Pilot LX is the other SUV entry on this list. Slightly more expensive than the RAV4 but it doesn’t have the Toyota baggage. It also adds plenty of extra cargo space making this vehicle the ultimate weekend warrior. You can pick this nugget up for around $17,000 on a lot and $16,200 from an individual.

2006 Volkswagen Golf GL
The 2006 Volkswagen Golf GL is an odd looking, incredibly safe and economical car that you can park in any parking lot with ease. You can be the soccer mom without investing in a minivan; you can also fit the groceries in the car without it having to be a station wagon. And the best part is that it’s the cheapest entry on the list, coming in at $11,000 retail and $10,200 privately.

2006 Hyundai Sonata GLS
The 2006 Hyundai Sonata GLS is a stylish, economical and practical family sedan that offers drivers a great way to get the same caliber car as the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord without the sticker shock. This car has won the Kiplinger’s Best in Class award two years running, making this car a real value. You can pick up this car for $11,500 on the lot or $10,800 from an individual.

2006 Acura TL
If sporty is what you seek, check out the 2006 Acura TL. This car combines the safety and reliability of the Honda brand and adds luxury that is almost unparalleled. This car gets high marks for safety, reliability and high resell values, making it a great car for the money. You can pick this one up for around $21,000 retail and $19,800 privately.

This is a post from The Smarter Wallet.

Best Used Cars: Kiplinger’s Top Picks

Let’s go shopping! But here are some tips to keep in mind before you head out the door.

How often do you head out to the stores without a shopping list? I’ve noticed that whenever I venture out with no list, I end up spending more money. Shopping lists keep me on track, help me spend less and have plenty of advantages.

How Shopping Lists Can Save You Money Shopping

Just check out some of the positives I get from using shopping lists:

1. They shorten my shopping trip. I enjoy food shopping but I don’t want to be doing this all day. I have better things to do. When I head out with a shopping list I know exactly what I need and where to get it from. I’m like a heat seeking missile, going from aisle to aisle finding everything I need and then heading for the checkout. It’s a bit like a supermarket dash without the stopwatch!

2. They make it easier to avoid multi-buys or multiple purchases that you don’t need. I love multi-buys and I’m all for them if they happen to be something you would normally buy anyway. But as soon as you start buying things you have never had before — just because you can “save” money by doing so — then you’ve lost the battle. If you didn’t go into the store with a reason to buy something, then you didn’t need it. I always try and keep this rule in mind.

3. It’s easier to stick to a budget when you have a list. I don’t necessarily go out with the intention of spending thirty dollars or whatever on my shopping. But I do try to keep costs down and spend as little as possible. I don’t like to waste money if I can help it, and my list helps me do just that. If you’re interested in budgeting effectively, check out YNAB (You Need A Budget), a top budgeting tool.

4. You are less likely to buy things on a whim. How many of us have gone into a supermarket and spotted something tasty? And how many times has the said item gone into the trolley without us even realizing it? I’ve just raised my hand — how about you? I manage to avoid impulse buying for the most part when I have a shopping list. Not all the time… but most of the time, which I figure is better than never.

5. They keep you focused. When I enter a store, I make sure that I keep my focus on my list. This means that I am not looking at anything tempting which may have been strategically positioned at the front doors to tempt me. Of course, I still need to look for the things I need, but I’ve found that my list does help me focus on the items on it and not on everything else.

Grocery shopping lists don’t need to be done at the last minute before you run out the door to the store either. I try and have one on the go all the time. If I run out of something, it quickly goes on the list. This cuts down on the time I spend in the store wondering what else I need. I already know everything that should be on that list. It’s a habit you need to get used to but once you’re in the groove, it makes life a lot easier.

So these are some of my top money savings tips for you. Try them out and see if it saves you some cash in the process!

 
Contributing Writer: Allison W.

This is a post from The Smarter Wallet.

How Shopping Lists Can Save You Money Shopping

“Escrow.com reduces the potential risk of fraud by acting as a trusted third party that collects, holds and disburses funds according to Buyer and Seller instructions.”

Online businesses are growing faster than offline businesses, according to an article by InternetRetailer.com. And the number has reached almost $35 billion in the second quarter, says the Census Bureau. But to ordinary people like you and me, these astronomical quantities mean very little. What we really want to know is how to start a business online and how to make money online (e.g. how to make sure that the buyer will keep his promise once we have sent them their product). And once you start actually making money, then the issue of how to get paid online enters the picture.

Online Escrow Services & Online Payment Options

Here is where some very smart people intervened by offering to operate as intermediaries between buyer and seller — all for a fee of course! Ebay, for example, uses Escrow.com as a licensed escrow service company. Beware of those fraudulent escrow services that seem to have popped up almost as fast as weeds on your prized lawn. Do not send money to a company that has not been vetted by Ebay, in this case.

Watch Out For Online Fraud

To give you a personal example, I write articles on the Web for customers who like my style or who simply do not have time to do it themselves. In almost every case, when there is an agreement between buyer and seller, an escrow service is used. I have had the bad luck of sending an article on psychology to a fraudulent company who claimed to be preparing an introduction to psychology for an online university. It took me 3 hours to gather the data and write the four page article. After 3 months, I am still waiting for my payment.

Use an Escrow Service!

Just remember that it is much easier to start an Internet business than a brick-and-mortar one. You may sell your vinyl records (my wife has a ton) on Ebay; or you may want to exercise your writing skills (like I do). In any case, you should always use an escrow service to protect you. But do you want the money to be sent to you by check or do you prefer an intermediary?

Paypal: What’s A Pal For?

Enter PayPal, the most famous person-to-person payment service on the Web. They take and make payments to more than 100 countries; however, they are not an escrow service. On the other hand, Paypal will protect the buyer on Ebay according to these terms.

Another site that I recently discovered is Revolution Money Exchange. Even though they don’t deal outside the United States, their terms are unbeatable. No fees to send or receive money. You save from 3% to 6% compared to other services. They don’t offer escrow protection (but they should).

Registering is free for both PayPal and Revolution Money Exchange (RME). I would suggest becoming a member at both sites at no cost, so you can always be ready for any customer. One of my writing sites deposits my payment directly into PayPal. Another customer prefers RME. And from either payment management site, I can have the balance directly transferred into my online savings account. Cool, isn’t it? No paper checks, no stamps, and no delay.

This is a post from The Smarter Wallet.

Online Escrow Services & Online Payment Options

Before you start drawing from your high yield savings account, find out how to go about buying a flat screen television with our smart shopping tips!

I have one of the best TVs ever. My 19-inch White Westinghouse is like the Energizer Bunny — it keeps going and going and going. It is one of those TVs you kept hearing about last year when the airwaves were going digital. “You will be OK with an old TV if you have cable,” the commercials reminded. Not that I am complaining. Not once in 15 years has it had to be serviced. The picture is good, and the cabinet is attractive — not outdated looking like some old TVs.

Still, it is time for it to be relegated to my bedroom, and for me to get one of those nice flat screen TVs for my living room. I am updating my condo, and this will be part of the plan.

My first question, besides how much will it cost and where to buy electronics on discount, is this: do I buy LCD or plasma? A friend cautioned me against buying plasma, saying that images burn too easily into those screens. It turns out this is not such a problem anymore, as most plasma sets now have “pixel shifting,” which moves images ever so slightly to prevent burn-in. You can also help prevent it by keeping contrast and brightness settings reasonable and not too high.

For me, it turns out that LCD is the only option, as I want to get a set in the 22-32 inch range, and plasma mostly comes in sizes 42 inches and larger. The good and bad is that LCD has a reputation of poorer picture quality than plasma, because of lower contrast ratios, and slower response times often resulting in blurry action shots. Further, plasma TVs are more viewable from side angles than LCDs and do not appear to change in brightness as you stand up or sit down in front of the set.

LCDs, on the other hand, run cooler than plasmas, and are therefore often less noisy. Additionally, they are easier to view in brightly lit rooms, another reason for me to get one. Sunlight pours through my living room most of the day, and I don’t want to be stuck with a TV that I can’t see.

If you are choosing a screen size for optimal viewing purposes, consider this formula: Take the screen size (inches) and multiply by two. That is how far you should ideally be sitting from the screen. In my case, that would mean a 52 inch screen, resulting in 104 inches, or 8.5 feet, from my sofa. While that would be considered ideal, I cannot afford a 52 inch TV, but I think I will survive.

The number and type of video inputs are a major consideration in buying a TV. Briefly, here are the main types:

• Composite video: lowest quality, uses single coaxial cable
• S-video: most equipment except VCRs have these, uses cable with multipin sockets
• Component video: high quality, uses multiple coaxial cables
• VGA: high quality, used mainly for computer connections
• DVI, HDMI, HDMI CEC: high quality, beyond the scope of this article, but are all used to connect to other devices

I received my tax refund on Friday and spent the majority of the weekend searching the big box retailers both online (e.g. Buy.com, Dell, Newegg.com and Sony) and in-person for my dream TV. This afternoon, I came home with a 26-inch Sanyo LCD. I don’t what kind of video inputs I have yet, but I have a feeling I will be fine with whatever. After all, I was still watching analog TV this morning!

 
Contributing Writer: BEM

This is a post from The Smarter Wallet.

How To Buy A Flat Screen TV: Tips For Buying A Television

More traveling tips for the happy traveler! Here’s how to save on travel with the right resources.

Around this time of year, I feel the need to get out of the house. Since I can’t yet travel to space on Virgin Galactic, I often look for ways to find travel deals at some popular sites. By browsing some of the well known travel sites and online resources available, you’re bound to find great savings for any trip you plan carefully. Here’s a list of the sites I use when planning for an affordable vacation:

How To Get The Best Travel Deals For Budget Vacations

1. Expedia: Putting Yourself Up in Style

Expedia can help you with vacation packages, hotels, cruises, flights, cars, and more. If you’re willing to be flexible, you can go to the Deals & Offers section to see what’s on tap. For instance, say you want a spur of the moment trip to a popular destination like Las Vegas or San Francisco and need a hotel room. Expedia can show you a list of hotel rooms that range in price from the ultra-cheap to less than $150 a day. For other destinations, check out the drop down box to find last-minute deals in other cities such as Atlanta, Charleston, Vancouver, or even cities in Europe or the Caribbean.

If you want to plan ahead, you can book early for package deals. That way, you could explore popular destinations like Hawaii and Florida and budget in extra money for sunblock and souvenirs. Going this route, you could book a flight to Honolulu and four nights at a hotel there for as low as $501 — saving 30% off the regular prices. Generally, any day on the North Shore is a good day, but a day that costs me less is even better.

Booking trips on Expedia can also lead to rewards. If your trips are eligible, you could save up the reward points to redeem for travel rewards, gift cards, home products, and other benefits.

For more of our insights on this, you can check out our Expedia deals and travel discounts page.

2. Travelocity Will Get Us There

Travelocity has lots for the budget-minded traveler, too. For example, if you’re interested in a particular activity, you can specify what you’d like to do and the site will respond with different selections. You can choose categories like attractions, shows and events, tours and activities, outdoors, and dining for the city you want to visit.

When I asked for activities in Boston, Travelocity let me know about the Boston CityPass, which gives discounts to venues like a variety of museums, the aquarium, and an observatory.

How about a cruise instead? If you want to go to sea, Travelocity can find you plenty of cruise deals. An inside cabin might not have a great view, but it will generally cost less than a suite. A limited-time offer might yield a great price, too. If you’ve never been on a cruise before, Travelocity has a helpful FAQ for first-time cruisers.

Sometimes, a low-cost flight can become a good motivator to get out of town. I like the Low Fare Alert, which is an RSS feed you can add to your reader so you don’t have to keep tabs on the fares yourself. You might even save 20% or more on your fare. The FareFinder Search feature allows you to add in the number of people who are traveling with you, and determines if they’re kids, seniors, or adults.

3. Priceline.com: Get a Trip!

Booking travel packages is a great savings strategy when using Priceline. You can bundle a flight, hotel, and car for discounts. If you prefer, you can go the Name Your Own Price route. This strategy might save you up to $100 for hotel rooms.

When I looked at flights from Tulsa to Portland along with hotel accommodations, I found packages that ranged from just above $500 to more than $600. I was able to sort the deals by most popular, lowest price, star rating, and by hotel names and their locations. Adding a car rental might cost as low as $27 a day. It should be easy enough to book through Priceline’s website or through their call in number to get started on your getaway.

One great benefit to booking with Priceline is its Pricedrop Protection. If you’re eligible, you can get up to $300 back if your flight drops in price, and up to $600 back if your vacation package drops in price.

And one more feature to keep in mind for family reunions or other gatherings: Priceline can help with group hotel reservations.

So what are you waiting for? Time to pack your bags!

This is a post from The Smarter Wallet.

How To Get The Best Travel Deals For Budget Vacations


When it comes to keeping more of my money, I’m always interested in finding new ways to save. Earlier on, we’ve written a few posts on how you can save while shopping online:

• How To Buy A Digital Camera
• Shop From Home! Online vs Catalog Shopping
• Buy Electronics On Discount At These Shopping Sites
• Buying A Computer? Check Our Computer Shopping Tips First
• Let’s Go Shopping! 10 Things To Buy In This Economic Recession

The interesting thing is that you can go shopping and buy things as you normally do and ALSO have the chance to receive cash back on your purchases simply by checking out the Ebates online shopping site. Ebates is a rewards shopping portal that can help many of us save on purchases from a wide variety of places.

Ebates Review: Earn Rewards For Shopping

Since Ebates features over 1,200 stores, it’s possible to find online coupons and rebates for the items and services you need throughout the year. I follow a few deals and coupon sites each day, and I’ve found that the layout of Ebates makes it easy to find bargains.

Under the Shop All Stores column, there’s a search box so you can track down the store you want. Some of the stores on the list include the Apple Store with 1% cash back, eBay with 2% cash back, and Macy’s with 3% cash back. Several of the stores offer more than 10% cash back, though the majority seem to range from 2% to 5% cash back.

Coupons, Rebates, and/or Cash Back

When you select an individual store or service, you might find coupons, rebates, or a cash back offer. For instance, when I clicked on Babies R Us, Ebates notified me that I’d be getting 1% cash back, then took me to the Babies R Us site. Using the portal this way means that shoppers can be secure in the knowledge that their rewards are being properly tracked.

If you don’t have a specific store in mind, you can also browse by categories such as appliances and hardware, computers, food and wine, and many others. Sometimes you’ll see a store listed in several different categories. Just click to see all the store’s coupons so you don’t miss out on anything. There’s also the Ebates Daily Double, where you can see who’s offering twice the savings that day. I also liked the eco-friendly listings for the Shop Green section.

Under the Coupons section, you can browse for coupon codes and online coupons. You can sort the list alphabetically, by the most recent coupons, or by those about to expire. You can also filter by type: free shipping, money off coupons, free gifts, and other categories.

Another helpful way to filter the coupons is by category. Choosing the Home and Garden category yielded a list of over 450 coupons from retailers like Best Buy, Home Depot, and JCPenney, among many others.

When you sign in, you’ll see sections like Deals of the Week, Featured Stores, and Featured Coupons. You can also see your account information at a glance, which will tell you how much total cash back you’ve earned. Overall, the site is pretty well organized.

Under My Ebates, you’ll see more account information, a list of your favorite stores, and coupons based on what you might like. If you want the potential to earn more money, hit up the Tell-a-Friend section. There, you can send out an email to refer your friends to the site. In addition, you can add a special link to your favorite places so people can sign up for Ebates through your referral link. You’ll earn a $5 “referral fee” for each person you refer to Ebates, but you’ll only receive it if an Ebates member makes a minimum purchase of $20 within the next 90 days of joining.

If you’re on Facebook and Twitter, you can get the scoop on deals from Ebates. I saw some helpful tweets about the Daily Double on Twitter. If you need to check out some online auctions, you can use the Ebates eBay portal to earn 2% cash back. The Ebates Shopping blog has features about new stores and ways to score big savings.

Getting Cash Back Is Simple

As for the cash back, it can show up in your Ebates account within 48 hours, depending on the retailer. Some retailers might take up to 30 days to process your cash back; if it takes longer, you should contact customer service.

Every three months, Ebates will send you a cash back payment if your balance is more than $5.01. You can have them mail you a check, send it to you via PayPal, or you can elect to have your payment sent to a charity, organization, or family member. But you’ll be responsible for following up on tax matters if you send your payment to charity.

Note that in order to rack up the cash back and other benefits, you need to start your shopping trip through Ebates instead of visiting your favorite sites directly. That way, you can see the current offers and have your account properly credited.

Ebates makes it easy to save at the stores we already frequent. If you haven’t already signed up, it’s worth a look to see if your favorite stores and services offer cash back.

This is a post from The Smarter Wallet.

Ebates Review: Earn Rewards For Shopping

So you’ve saved enough in your online savings account to finally afford that digital camera. Well here are some things to consider before making your purchase!

I was way behind the curve when I bought a digital camera. I had put off buying one for too long and had done absolutely no research, but ended up needing one in a hurry right before going on a cruise. I logged on to eBay and found a cute little used lavender Fuji camera that fit my budget and met the requirements for some of my mystery shopping assignments as well. So I made it mine. Only after I was on the cruise did I realize that I had gotten a bonus: the camera takes movies too!

Although I am happy with my camera, I realize that I did not go about buying it the right way. It is important to know exactly what you are buying before you purchase. There are scads of cameras out there in different price ranges and with various bells and whistles. So how do you make a decision? Price will always be a factor of course, and so will be intended use. Also, it’s important to comparison shop, so visiting stores and sites where you can buy electronics on discount can help you find the products you need at great prices. You may also want to consider online auction sites for affordable merchandise; just make sure you do your due diligence when you order online.

If you are a professional photographer, you probably already know everything I’m going to mention below. But if you are just starting out, then here are some helpful hints and terms to be familiar with when you do your camera shopping:

How To Buy A Digital Camera: Know These Terms!

• Megapixels: Refers to the camera’s resolution. The higher the megapixel number, the better, larger prints you can make.
• Aperture and shutter modes: Available on most cameras; these enable you to override the automatic settings and allow you to customize for low light, depth of field, and movement shots.
• Focal range and manual focus override: Cameras with a large focal range can zoom far out to capture more of the environment, or zoom in to focus tightly on the subject. If you want to use a powerful zoom, it can make photos blurry, so you might want to get a camera with optical image stabilization. Some cameras have a focus ring that allows you a wide range of manual focus, but compact point-and-shoot cameras may have a button that only lets you adjust the focus manually to a few settings.
• Speaking of focus, if you are going to take a lot of indoor photos, you might want a camera that has a low light focusing aid. Trust me on this one.
• Digital zoom: Does not produce the same quality of photos as does optical zoom, so don’t buy a particular model based on claims of high digital zoom.

So do your research. Read up on cameras that interest you and know what features are important to you. Go to a brick and mortar store to try out a camera before buying one online. You might find that certain features on some cameras are easier or harder to use than you thought. Give it a test run.

Most importantly, have fun! Photography is a great hobby that you can enjoy and develop in so many ways. You might even find a new career!

So what are you waiting for? Let’s go shopping!

 
Contributing Writer: BEM

This is a post from The Smarter Wallet.

How To Buy A Digital Camera

When it comes to food shopping, I now keep an open mind. Doing so has helped me save money on a good diet! There are cheap meals you can cook at home to stay frugal.

I’ve got a new pact with myself when it comes to doing the food shopping each week. I’ve agreed I will not go within ten feet of any prepared ready meals.

Now don’t get me wrong — they’re nice as far as convenience is concerned. But you can never be sure of what’s in them, and when it comes to the price, I know I can cook meals that are far cheaper and more nutritious any day of the week.

The one thing I had to do before I actually swore off ready-made meals and got more creative with my food shopping was to clean out my refrigerator. I’ll sheepishly admit that I don’t do this nearly as often as I should. But half the time, stuff gets pushed to the back of my fridge and forgotten about –- even though it is still in date and perfectly good to use.

Versatile Food Shopping: Tips To Save Money on a Good Diet

So here’s how I started. I cleared out the refrigerator and made a list of what was still in there. I defrosted the freezer and did the same thing there. Then I went shopping and stocked up on cheap essential items that can be used as basics for lots of different meals. This is how you can save a lot of money every time you go food shopping.

Take the humble potato for example. You can use this in so many ways, and if you buy more, they’re generally cheaper. I chip them to create huge oven chips with the skins on. Add a splash of olive oil, salt and pepper, cook them on a high heat for a half hour or so and they’re better than any shop bought high priced chips you’ll ever buy.

Basic vegetables and organic food can be used in plenty of different ways too. One of my latest favorites –- and it goes a long way too –- is to slice up some raw potatoes, throw in some shallots (or sliced red onions if you like, as they’re cheaper) and make up a sauce to pour over the top. And this sauce is dead easy –- I put some milk, grated cheese, salt and pepper into a saucepan and add a bit of flour to thicken it. Then I stir it until it thickens and pour it over the top of the potatoes and onions.

Once it’s cooked it provides an alternative to basic potatoes and a nice side dish to lots of different meals too. And you can freeze it in portions and defrost it whenever you need some. This is how I think about every meal I make and cook now: how many portions will I get out of it? Can I make it using basic ingredients? And do I need to buy any new basic ingredients for future reference and use? Here are a couple of creative dishes you can try on your own: check out this healthy breakfast idea using oatmeal and this easy meal idea involving frugal soups.

I can’t tell you how much this has transformed both my food shopping and my cooking. I used to go down the same aisles and pick up all the same things constantly, without even giving a thought to buying anything new or different. But now I don’t miss a trick, just in case it provides something cheaper for my cupboard and a good idea for a new recipe or two.

Try it yourself –- you never know how buying some new and wholesome ingredients can save you money as well as inspiring some great new dinners.

This is a post from The Smarter Wallet.

Versatile Food Shopping: Save Money on a Good Diet

Some ways that companies hope to find business success even in a flagging economy.

During a down economy, retailers are feeling the loss along with us. The mathematics is simple: people purchase less when they earn less. Additionally, basic expenses such as food and utilities continue to rise. From clothing to luxury purchases, retailers are getting hit hard. Several major retailers will close their doors in 2010 — but will any be opening more locations during leaner times? And if you own a retail business, what could this tell you about your own prospects down the road? I’d like to take a look at some well-known businesses and how they’re coping with changing market forces.

Online Retailers, Business Outlook For 2010

At online retailers, shoppers can shop anytime, anywhere and have the goods delivered. Customers are lured away from traditional retail stores because bargain hunting online allows them to save time, effort and even gas money.

Case Study #1: Blockbuster

Take the case of Blockbuster, which intends to shut down up to 20 percent of their stores by 2011 because of competition from Netflix and Redbox (check out this Blockbuster vs Netflix article). A total of up to 960 out of 4,356 Blockbuster stores might be closing, with the company shifting its focus to DVD rental kiosks in other merchant stores. At this time, Blockbuster only has 500 kiosks but looks to have a significant 10,000 by the middle of 2010.

Customer reaction makes retailers take action to accommodate consumer purchasing preferences. Will switching over to more kiosks and fewer store locations help keep Blockbuster profitable? This seems to be a good start for Blockbuster since I know many consumers (including myself) who prefer to rent their movies from kiosks. In my case, I’ve been patronizing an affordable Redbox kiosk at my local supermarket where, for just under 5 bucks, I can rent the latest movie and get a soda and snacks.

Case Study #2: Crabtree & Evelyn

On another note, I remember the introduction of the Crabtree & Evelyn bath and body chain in 1973 when I was a child. The fresh, natural scents were a welcome pleasure after the heavy, heady fragrances of days gone by. Now Crabtree & Evelyn has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. With 126 stores, the company will close those locations that don’t perform up to standards. It seems that Crabtree & Evelyn will continue to appeal to the high end market.

Unfortunately, I stopped using the Crabtree & Evelyn products when I discovered Bath and Body Works natural fragrances. With coupons and online deals, I get great natural essences for less. During these tight times, the more high end retailers are facing some challenges.

Case Study #3: Bank of America and Citigroup

In the midst of the financial crisis, the powers-that-be at Bank of America plan to shrink their branch network by approximately 10 percent despite a positive growth record over the last two decades.

Meanwhile, Citigroup plans to lower the number of retail outlets and limit banks to six major metro areas including New York, Los Angeles, Washington DC, San Francisco, Miami and Chicago. This shift is in accordance with Citigroup’s plans of focusing on certain metropolitan areas for their business. Definitely a sign of the times.

Case Study #4: Kohls

Seems people are shopping more or at least as often as they used to at Kohls, the fourth largest department store in the country. In 2009, Kohls opened a total of 56 new locations. As shoppers turn away from pricey high end products, they turn to middle of the road retailers such as Kohls. By buying out Mervyn’s and converting their locations to Kohls stores, the latter saved on costs associated with opening brand new stores.

Chairman and CEO Kevin Mansell says that the secrets to Kohls success are partnerships with names such as Vera Wang and Avril Lavigne. Another secret involves good inventory management such as keeping shelves well-stocked with the proper placement of items. As a former merchandiser at Kohls, I was always impressed with the stock rooms and knowledgeable staff when I would set up merchandise displays at the stores.

What’s Next For The Small Business Owner

If you operate your own home business, it might be time to shift gears yourself. Are new market opportunities appearing while old ones die out? Are you ready to expand and grow, thanks to good decisions you’ve made in a changing market? Note that what works for big business also works for smaller businesses trying to stay afloat at this day and age.

This is a post from The Smarter Wallet.

Online Retailers, Business Outlook For 2010