travel/TAKE A "REPOSITIONING" CRUISE. Cruise lines spend this month relocating their ships(from Caribbean to European ports, for example) before kicking off a new season. If you take a relocation vacation with them, you could save up to 35 percent off the typical fare.
groceries/STOCK UP ON NONPERISHABLES. Most brand-name products are discounted once during the standard 12-week cycle, says Teri Gault, founder of TheGroceryGame.com So it's smart to buy 3 months worth of, say, Barilla pasta if it's on sale now, because it probably will not be again until July at the earliest.
energy/REDUCE YOUR ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION. You can cut your phantom power usage by up to 85 percent by purchasing the Dexim Visible Green Charger($40, amazon.com)The charger, which can be used with most Apple items(iPhone, iPad, iPod)shuts off once your device is fully powered.
health care/GET NEW EYEGLASSES FOR LESS. Buy your next pair of spectacles from WarbyParker.com Every stylish set of frames costs just $95(including your prescription lenses)and the company offers FREE home try-ons, FREE shipping, & FREE returns. Plus, for each pair sold, another pair is given to someone in need.
ONLINE TICKET MARKETPLACES - missed the chance to buy your teenager seats to Taylor Swift's next arena show? Chin up. Even if the original broker sold out in five minutes, you can shop at these resale sites, which offer tickets to thousands of events--including sporting matches, concerts, & plays. And since sellers adjust their prices daily, you could score a great deal as an event draws near. Here's a fun-seeker's guide.
STUBHUB.COM-service fee:10% of the ticket price:electronic delivery $5: Perks:notifies you when your favorite events fall into your desired price range; pickup areas at most events are staffed with reps to help if your ticket doesn't scan; a free app scans the artists in your iTunes library & sends you notices of their upcoming local concerts.
TICKETSNOW.COM-service fee:15% or more of ticket price:electronic delivery $5: Perks:users who join the site's e-mail list get a promotional offer, such as free shipping or a 5% discount on tickets; ins(which costs 5.6% of your total order + service fees, guarantees a refund if you can't make it to an event.
TICKETNETWORK.COM-service fee:18.5% of the ticket price:electronic delivery $5: offers a 125 percent money-back gaurantee or a better seat if a ticket purchased on the site isn't valid(a risk you take when buying resold tickets); users who sign up for the site's e-newsletter get $15 off their next purchase.
VIVIDSEATS.COM-typically up to 25% of the ticket price:electronic delivery $5:live chat available 24/7 to answer questions; email alerts notify you when your favorite events fall into your desired price range; offers a money-back guarantee or a replacement if a ticket purchased on the site isn't identical to what was ordered.
SCAM OF THE MONTH - AUTO REPAIR SERVICE CONTRACT
The Rip-Off: marketers call or mail letters warning you that your car warranty is about to expire, then offer to sell you a sefvice contract to cover the costs of future repairs. These policies, which can run up to around $3,000 are also advertised on TV, the radio, & the internet, promising bumper-to-bumper coverage that will keep you from shelling out big bucks if your transmission fails or your engine breaks down.
The Tip-Off: some "auto-repair service sellers" have led customers to believe that they are affiliated with vehicle manufacturers. Not so. These companies operate on their own and are infamous for refusing to reimburse claims on car repairs, says Bill Smith, a St Louis-based investigator with the Better Business Bureua(BBB) According to Smith, the sellers often cite loopholes in the contract(ones you would never be able to discern)to avoid paying uo, then void the document, leaving you in the lurch.
How To Protect Yourself: although the Federal Trade Commission has cracked down on the illegal robocalls to sell auto-repair service contracts, many companies, such as StopRepairBills.com, Consumer Protection Services, & Service Protection Direct, are still in business(despite receiving grades of F from the BBB)If you are the target of one of these offers, research the company's history at bbb.org--or to be on the safe side, steer clear of these policies entirely.
BOOKMARK THIS: moneyaisle.com Driving that shiny new red sedan off the lot? Fun. Shopping around for a low-interest car loan? Not so much. Avoid the tedious task by filling out the form on this secure website. Enter the amount you want to borrow & your location, then let banks and credit unions bid for the chance to give you a loan. The auction site will present you with the best offer in less than 30 seconds. Going, going, gone!
Can I check up on my spouse's credit-card & bank-account balances?
Well that depends. Do you suspect your spouse of acting in a fiscally irresponsible manner & running up massive debts? Or worse, committing fraud or some other misconduct? If so, says Anita L Allen, a professor of ethics & law at the University of Pennsylvania, then it's acceptable to pry. If he/she maxes out a credit card on a joint account, for example, you're legally responsible as he/she is for paying off the debt. But if you're just curious about his/her spending, you must ask his/her permission before you peek at his/her accounts. Hopefully, he/she will be open to this. And if he/she balks? Don't think that you can just help yourself to his/hers online statements, even if you know his/her log-in information. "Ethically, you have the right to know, but his/her password to access the information without his/her consent is a form of identity theft. - Ingela Ratledge
Best Time to SHOP AT A THRIFT STORE
To find a wealth of gems, hit up these merchants 'now'. "People tend to clear out their houses in April & May, causing donations of used furniture and household appliances to spike" says Jennifer Byrd, a spokesperson for the Salvation Army. Credit spring-cleaning, too, for the huge selection of clothing that you'll find this month.
REMEMBER TO SMILE, SMILE, SMILE - HOLD THE DOOR FOR SOMEONE & BE KIND TO OTHERS:)
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