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Best Things to Buy in July… and what not to buy

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In South Carolina July is when the weather really starts to heat up and the summer deals tend to follow suit.

best things to buy in July salesWhile there are a limited number of deals to be found in June, July sales work as a ramp up to the fall and then Christmas seasons.

Best Things to Buy in July Sales

As with every month the sales are all dependent on tradition and seasonal changes to the retail cycle. July brings eight opportunities to save cash on items you may need now or in the upcoming months.

Outdoor Gear

The fall is coming and people will be getting back into the school days routine. That means less outdoor activities.  The big outdoor stores know the time is short so they are discounting large parts of the store that are dependent on warm weather.

You can find deals as much as 60% off regular gear and last year we saw 90% some bike equipment and apparel.

House Paint

It is smoking hot outside at my house right now so indoor projects are much more preferable. The house paint manufacturers know this and drop their prices to attract more market share.

Last year I saw deals that were buy one get one free and 40% off from different major paint brands. If you know you will be painting sometime in the next 10 years and already know your colors, now is the time to stock up on that paint.  Unopened, a can of paint can easily last that long.

Christmas in July Sales

July is the beginning of the run up to Christmas. If you think the retailers are not already thinking about the holiday season then you are kidding yourself.

The Christmas in July sales are all over the map and are really hard to peg down as a trend. Online retailers have cut 50% off hotel deals, toys, and many other sales over the last several years. They will make a big advertising push so keep your eyes peeled for these sales.

Christmas Decorations

Just because Christmas in July doesn’t usually have anything to do with Christmas, doesn’t mean there won’t be Christmas deals. It may seem crazy, but July is actually a good time to buy Christmas decorations. The biggest deals are usually on artificial trees that can see over 50% off the price we will see in November and December.

Tools

Father’s day was last month, so all those tool kits and special Father’s Day handy items are now on deep clearance to get them off the shelves.

Clothing

Since July marks the beginning of back to school shopping, items like denim and khakis will go on sale across the major retailers. These sales will not just be on school needs, July also marks the beginning of summer clothing mark downs.

Swimwear

By this time in the summer most people have purchased this year’s bathing suit.  That means swimwear is dropping in price rapidly. I would check the big discounters like TJ Maxx and Ross to see what they have in their selection, as the big boxes are clearancing out their swimwear selection

Jewelry

There is almost no reason to push people to buy jewelry in the month of July, and that is why it goes on sale. Lat year Szul.com and Jewlery.com rant deals as much as 88% off. Bricks and mortar retailers also saw big discounts with as much as 60% off in mall stores.

If you are thinking of buying jewelry for a birthday or Christmas, July is the month to take advantage of the deals.

What Not to Buy

With every month there are several items that you should avoid buying. July gives us categories where people will spend more than what they should.

Amazon Junk Items

Amazon celebrates “Prime Day” on July 11th.  It is marked with some pretty great deals on a wide variety of items. It also presents AMAZING deals on items that have absolutely no real value. So stay away from the junk, no matter how cheap it is, and focus your Prime membership on getting something you really need.

Laptops

There will be some laptop deals that will be tempting as we ramp up for back to school, but the best deals tend to come out in the August sales. If you are not in need of an laptop right now I would hold off until at least August, and if you can wait even longer, maybe until November and Black Friday roll around.

Grills

I know, I know. Grills are on here almost every month leading up to when the bottom falls out on their pricing. The deals are coming and soon, so just hold off a little bit longer.

Pampers Rewards Review – Ultimate Guide to the Pampers Loyalty Program

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I have been purchasing diapers in some form for the last eight years.  This has allowed me to become a master at buying cheap diapers and maximizing my potential for savings.

Pampers rewards points reviewPampers is considered the Cadillac of disposable diapers and competes with Huggies for the most sales across the United States.

While it is does not offer the best rewards program on the planet, the Pampers Rewards program is very useful is you are buying diapers anyway (why not get rewards when you get them for free).

Right now my family has 2877 rewards points and that is after we have used some.  So, not only have I bough a lot of diapers, I have been using this program extensively.

How the Pampers Reward Program Works

Originally called the gifts to grow program, the points system is really simple on its face.  You sign up for an account, and start collecting rewards codes from Pampers products.  The codes translate into points.  The number of points will be different, depending on the products you purchase.

You can then redeem those points for prizes and discounts.  These are going to vary all the time, but right now the rewards include, coupons for more Pampers diapers, gift cards for discover toys, tons of different Shutterfly items, as well as some big point items for toys your kids can ride.

The codes themselves are kind of annoying because they are a random mishmash of 15 numbers and letters.  This is to make it easy to prevent fraud and give plenty of options for no repeats.  Still, when I am entering three to five at a time it isn’t the most fun transcription I have done.

Where to Get Pampers Rewards Codes

There are actual several ways to earn rewards and not all of them require you to make a purchase.

Purchase Pampers Products

I really wanted to be able to throw that alliteration out there.  The way most people earn their rewards is by purchasing Pampers products.  Every pack of pampers diapers, training pants, and wipes comes with a code.  The size of the package determines how many points you get for your purchase.

Extra Ways to Get Free Pampers Rewards Points

When you log into the rewards area of Pampers.com you will see a box somewhere on the screen that looks like this:
Pampers gifts to grow rewardsAs you can see from this screenshot, you can earn points from doing reviews, watching some short vides, and reading articles from Pampers.com.  The rewards are not always this easy, but they do pop up frequently.

Free Pampers Rewards Codes

From time to time, Pampers will release free codes.  You can get these through e-mails that you receive or from special promotions.  They generally are not easy to find and they are few and far between, but free points are fun.

Other Perks

Aside from accumulating points and getting stuff for making the purchases you already make, Pampers offers some extra bonuses for being a Pampers rewards member.

Grow On Program

This is where buying pampers on a regular basis really pays off.  If you redeem at least one code from a Pampers product (wipes/diapers) each month you will start to earn rewards each quarter.  For each consecutive three month period you will get better and better gifts for your loyalty. The current gifts for each milestone include:

  • 3 consecutive months choose from:
    100 Pampers Rewards points
    $5 Alex Toys Gift Cards
    24 personalized labels from shutterfly
  • 6 consecutive months choose from:
    200 Pampers Rewards points
    25 Shutterfly 4×8 flat photo cards
  • 9 consecutive months choose from:
    300 Pamers Rewards points
    Shutterfly photo wall calendar
  • 12 consecutive months choose from:
    400 Pamoers Rewards points
    12×12 Shutterfly hard cover photo book
    Fleece Blanket from Shutterfly

With any of the items that you choose from Shutterfly the gifts to grow on program gives you free shipping and handling, while any orders with Alex Toys will still require you to pay for the shipping costs.

Extra Coupons

I love me some diaper coupons.  The cost of diapers is ridiculous and being a part of the rewards program will get you updated with more coupons.  They can come in your e-mail, be printed online and sometimes you even get them in the mail.  Not bad for a free program.
pampers gifts to grow on rewards

Pampers Rewards App

Just like everything else these days there is an app for that.  The Pampers app is a nice addition and streamlines the process of redeeming your codes. The best features of the app include:

  • Scan and Go Codes – you can currently scan any diaper codes.  Wipes codes are not available yet and will probably come later.
  • Quick Updates – Any codes you scan from the app show up in your balance immediately.
  • Notifications – Get the latest program updates and new offers.
  • Grow On Tracking – You can easily check your gifts to grow on status and know that you are on track to the the next gift.

How to Maximize Your Rewards

There is no great way to increase the number of rewards you get with Pampers rewards.  They have the program clamped down to prevent any sort of abuse.  What you can do is stack your rewards with other programs. So when my local grocery store, that is a participant in the Fuel Rewards Network, runs a deal on pampers, I make sure to buy there an soak up a double reward purchase. If you throw in using a cash back or airline rewards credit card and you can triple dip on your rewards.

How I use My Rewards

The points don’t seem to have any expiration so I tend to let my points accumulate and save them for something we can really use.  The best deal is on gift cards for Discovery Toys which translate out to $10 for only 700 points.  Compare that to the diaper coupons which are $5 off for 700 points and you can see why they are very popular for most parents.

That being said, my kids have TONS of toys.  For that reason, I tend to get the $5 off coupons and bring my diaper prices down whenever I can. When you couple that big $5 off coupon with a deal from CVS or Rite Aid, you can get that diaper purchase down to almost free.

I have several friends who enter the Amazon $250 gift card drawing.  That will cost you 30 points each drawing, but if you do strike it you have paid for a bunch of diapers.

Summary of Pampers Rewards Review

The Pampers rewards program is, by no means, the end all and be all of rewards programs.  It isn’t even enough to keep me being brand loyal.  What it is, is free stuff.  If you are buying diapers and Pampers are the best deal from time to time, then you should absolutely go ahead and redeem your rewards codes.

While there are ways to get additional points, the program is not rewarding enough to make me take extra time out of my schedule to find those extra rewards or even go searching for free rewards codes.  So use the program, take advantage of it, but you are better off using other rewards programs to focus your extra efforts for more profits.

If you are a parent with diaper age children and haven’t signed up for the Pampers rewards program, sign up today!

Aldi Diapers and So Much More – Aldi Little Journey Baby Products Review

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I can remember how excited I was when I first discovered Aldi diapers and wipes. I immediately bought a pack of each to give them a try and was instantly hooked.

aldi little journey baby products reviewIf you aren’t aware, I have three children and as I write this review they are all under the age of eight years old.  My youngest has finally gotten out of diapers and into night time training pants and my middle child has crossed the big landmark of no training pants at night.  As you can tell, I know baby products and have been down there with you in the trenches, and that is why when the full line of Aldi Little Journey baby products were released I can honestly say I had not been that excited since the introduction of the Target RedCard or or when I first discovered ready to cook mail order meals.

What’s New With Aldi Little Journey Products

I have been shopping at Aldi in some capacity for more than 12 years and they have been carrying diapers size 3-5, baby wash, and wipes for a long time.  What the Little Journey product line does is expand into all forms of typical grocery related baby products.

This means that now you can get diapers from size 1-6, wipes, formula, infant/toddler snacks, baby wash, and even training pants all in one convenient section of Aldi.  As with almost everything at Aldi, the prices are GREAT!!!

Pricing on Aldi Baby Products

Obviously, a website that is dedicated to helping you with your finances HAS to have a section on how much this stuff costs and this is where the fun starts.

Aldi Diapers and Training Pants

As a person who has been obsessed with finding the best prices on diapers for the last seven plus years, I can tell you that the prices are the best you will find without using coupons stacked with sale prices.  Even with coupons stacked with sale prices you are going to find it difficult to beat the Aldi price on diapers.  The standard plastic wrapped jumbo pack of diapers are $4.99.  The even more cost effective boxes of diapers are $12.49.  Yes, that is ridiculously cheap.

I wouldn’t recommend something I haven’t tried, so we bought a pack of the newly labeled Little Journey diapers and they are very good.  My wife is pleased with them and we think they compare very favorably with Huggies brand diapers.  Now let me be clear, my children are huge.  My two year old just came in the 94th percentile for weight and 80th percentile for height so their chunky legs make it easier to form a seal with the diapers.  Since all my kids are built this way until they hit age three, if you have a less girthy child, please share in the comments your experience so we can all know how these work on different baby body types.

My middle child just got to where she doesn’t need training pants at night, so I cannot give you a personal experience on this product, but the price is definitely right.  It is only $5.99 for a pack of training pants.  That is better than any other standard price you can find and better than what you get with coupons.  You can beat that price with a coupon/sale/money back kind of deal, but if you want to avoid the hassle that is a VERY competitive price for training pants.

Aldi Little Journey Formula and Baby Food

As a father I am fiercely pro-breast feeding.  Now this has little to do with nutrition and mostly to do with making me useless, especially in the middle of the night, in the activity of feeding our children.

My wife mostly breast fed our children, but we did use formula when it was needed for both our girls.  That stuff is ridiculously expensive, so if you are able to breast feed, it will save you a ton of money, and it burns about 500 calories a day so that helps with getting back in those awesome jeans you love.

Formula is probably the biggest win for parents in the Aldi Little Journey products.  The 33 oz. generic that competes with Enfamil Gentlease powder is only $13.49.  For anyone that doesn’t know that is about 33% off what you pay for the Wal-Mart Brand and 67% off what you would pay for the Enfamil brand.  The same goes for the Similac Sensitive formula pricing.

While formula was a great deal, I didn’t find the baby food to be that special on pricing.  You can do just as well with baby food that is on sale and there are almost always coupons. That being said, it does make your life simpler to just go pick stuff up at a great low price.

aldi little journey baby food products

Aldi Little Journey Toddler Snacks

I decided to make this a separate category because they had a great selection of snacks for your toddlers. The prices are VERY competitive and beat Wal-Mart’s Parent’s Choice brand up and down the aisle.

The Yougurt bites and Puffs are about 10% off what you get on Wal-Mart brand and the squeezable fruit comes in just below Wal-Mart generic pricing.  On any of these snack categories the Little Journey products make Gerber look like they are ripping you off.  Overall you will save money with the new Aldi brand on their toddler snacking options.

Aldi Baby Wipes

I have been a huge fan of the Aldi baby wipes for a long time.  They don’t have too much scent to them and they are a good strong wipe without being harsh. We use them both for bottom cleanups and for wiping mouths with no complaints.

The wipes come in two quantities: three packs and singles.  There are 72 wipes in a pack, single packs cost $1.29, and the three packs are $3.49. This puts Aldi right in the mix as one of the least expensive baby wipes, but having a better quality than the cheapest variety.

Summary Review of Aldi Little Journey Products

I have been hoping Aldi would make a big push into baby products for a long time.  While I am on the final couple of years of needing these products, I am excited that so many people are going to be able to find amazing prices on their everyday baby needs.

I am a big Aldi fan and their prices are the major reason that I have turned into an Aldiphile.  What makes almost as big of an appeal to me is that they only have one type of each product on the shelves.  So when I pop in to get a pack of diapers, because my little angel had something that upset her stomach, I walk to the baby area, I find the one type of diapers in her size, I pick them up, pay for them and walk out.  There is no price comparison and spending brain power figuring out which brand with which coupon gets the best deal. One brand, one price on everything in the store.  It might be the perfect shopping experience for anyone who hates grocery shopping.

Best Things to Buy in June Sales

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Every month presents us with specific opportunities to buy certain items at rock bottom prices.

What to buy in June SalesBy knowing which month presents the best prices on an item or category of items we can make sure that we make purchases when the time is right and not when things wear out.

June has nine specific items you should buy during the month that will not be close to these prices for several months afterward.

What to Buy in June

Lingerie

June comes in as a great month for sale prices on lingerie.  Victoria’s Secret runs their semi-annual sale and it creates a ton of buzz throughout the industry.

Discounts tend to get better as the month goes on and they will start to do bundles of items like buy two bras get one free or $28 for five pairs of panties.

Competitors to VS, like Aerie, use the big publicity from the Semi-Annual sale to run their own sales and steal as much of the market as they can. Last year American Eagle, Kohl’s, Frederick’s, and Macy’s pushed big sales on unmentionables at the same time as the Semi-Annual Sale at VS.

Savings Tip – Go to the store of your choice, try on what you want and get the proper sizing, and then use one of the cashback sites to place your order and have it shipped to your home.

Tools

Father’s Day is in the middle of June so there will be a bunch of sales going on for tools of all kinds.  Keep checking the weekly sales flyers for Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Sears and they will be the biggest discounters for these products.

Many years we have seen a deal where you buy one item on sale and get a second tool for free.  It’s a great month for buying new tools.

Doughnuts

June 2 is national doughnut day.  That means that everywhere you look will be some sort of deal for a free doughnut.  Most of the Doughnut stores will require the purchase of a drink or some other product.

Check the sites of these four major doughnut companies or your local shop for specifics:

Gym Memberships

The warm weather pushes people into full outdoor exercise mode.  That means all the gyms are losing members as they realize they can ditch their treadmill routine for the real road and as people who signed up as part of their New Year’s resolution are finally admitting they are not committed to losing weight.

In response, gyms will be offering a bunch of deals to lure in a new wave of people who choose not to show up to use their membership.

Vacations

Vacation spots that are usually considered a winter destination are trying to make enough to break even during the summer months.  There are other things to do in these towns and you can have a really great time for a big discount.

June also marks the beginning of hurricane season, so many people refuse to book tickets to the Caribbean during this time.  This means there will be deals to be had, but make sure to check the weather first.

Outdoor Gear

It seems counterintuitive, but outdoor gear sees its best deals in June until the temperature cools down. The Walmart brand Ozark will see some price drops along with fishing and camping gear.

The winter months are definitely the best time to get this gear but we can expect discounts in the 30%-40% range.

Family Movies

Summer marks the time when the movie theaters lure in parents with cheap movies.  These movies are usually second running of stuff we saw over a year ago and will run around $1. They also do minor discounts on movie food, but don’t expect a lot because they make their money on the food.

Check your local theaters to see which days they are offering the movies. If you have a few theaters in the area you may end up getting a bunch of great movies this summer for not much out of pocket.

Produce

Farmers markets go into full swing come June and you will see the full effects of the produce boom in your grocery store.  What goes on sale is very dependent on what part of the country you live in, but the more common produce to expect on sale includes:

  • Berries
  • Corn
  • Cucumbers
  • Leafy greens
  • Peaches
  • Summer squash
  • Tomatoes
  • Zucchini

Garden Supplies

The spring planting season is over so the garden supplies that go with spring are going on sale. These items don’t usually cost too much, but the prices are even lower starting in June.

What Not to Buy in June Sales

In every month, there are circumstances that lead to some items being more expensive than other times of year.  Here are a few things that you should avoid till another month when they will be less expensive.

Smart Speakers

Google Home and Amazon Alexa have taken the home smart device world by storm. Apple has finally gotten off its rear end and is set to announce their own blue tooth enabled speaker with Siri built in.  This should put some pressure on the market and Amazon will most likely lower prices in order to grab as much market share as possible.

Laptops

You are going to see the first of the back to school sales come out toward the end of the month.  These are just the tip of the ice burg.  The deals will start to really roll in from the middle of July to the middle of August.

Grills

Summer is the time when everyone wants to break out the grill and eat outdoors.  If your grill is ready for retirement or if you don’t have one, your best bet is to hold off until the fall. The prices will be much lower and you will see clearance pricing.

Televisions

Summer is a bad time for television deals. Once we hit fall and then Black Friday the deals will be plentiful.  If you need one now, your best value is in the 55” range.  You can get name brand sets for just over $500 and off-brand for $400 or less.

Get Paid for Shopping – Best Cashback Rebate Sites

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Getting cash back when you shop online has become easier than ever as more and more sites have joined the rebate game.

best cashback websitesThe problem is which programs actually pay out and have enough rebate offers to make it worth your time.

How Do Cashback Rebate Sites Work?

The way these cash back sites work is, whenever you want to shop online, you first log into your members area.  Next you click on a link that takes you to the site where you want to do your shopping.  This click gives the site you are using a commission for clicking on their link.  They take that commission and share a part of it with you.  Everybody wins.

Now I have set some criteria before I join a program.  These criteria include:

  • It has to be free to join – I am not going to go through the trouble of earning someone else some cash if they want me to pay for the “privilege” of joining.
  • The points have to be simple – Complex online rebate programs make it hard to really know if your efforts are worth the trouble.
  • The payout has to be reasonable – If I have to wait til I earn $100 to get a payout, then I’m out.  Most of these programs will pay you at $10 or less.

If you are like me you can use all of these programs but to get things started I wanted to give you a best of class list for anyone that wants to concentrate their efforts on one website.

Best Cashback Sites

While it would be easy for me to pick just one singe site, I thought it would be more helpful to highlight the best site in several categories.

1. Largest Rebates – TopCashBack

TopCashBack stormed on the cashback scene in the United States back in 2011. Compared to other sites this makes them a little on the young side, but very established in Internet years.  The company originated in Great Britain so they were really founded in 2006 and have a long history of paying out their users on time.

TCB operates on a different financial strategy than many of the other sites on this list.  Instead of you clicking their link and getting a portion of the commission, you get the entire commission the site makes. What they keep is any bonus money that might result of performance incentives.  For example, Amazon starts their affiliates out at 4% commission, but that goes all the way up to 8% as they sell more during a month.  TCB gives you 6% cashback and pockets the extra 2%.  This still makes them they best rebate for Amazon and they make money.  That’s good for all of us.

TopCashBack is consistently the highest paying rebate site and that includes huge retailers like Walmart.  If you are looking to get the most back without referring people or searching multiple rebate sites, then TCB is your best choice.

2. Most Ways to Earn Money – MyPoints.com

MyPoints is one of the oldest rewards programs on the Internet.  How old? I joined in 1997 and it was already a year old then.  While MyPoints is not my favorite for cashback rebates, they do have a good size list of stores that you can earn cash back from shopping and they have a ton of different ways to make money. The overall program sets them apart from the other rebate style sites.

This is not to say that the shopping rebates are bad.  They are competitive with other sites but you don’t have the same total number of retailers and they definitely do not compete with TopCashBack for the percentage back.

What you can do is earn points in multiple ways that include:

  • Doing internet searches
  • Taking Surveys
  • Watching Videos
  • Playing Games
  • Printing Grocery Coupons

And even more.  These extra ways to earn cash means you can consolidate all your efforts into one program and do very well. See all the ways to earn more cash in my MyPoints Review.

There are two other direct competitors to MyPoints, Swagbucks and InboxDollars.  Each one has some great options for earning money during your down time or for stuff you already do.

3. Best for Referrals – Mr Rebates

Mr. Rebates is the second longest running of these programs, getting their start in 2002.  They do not have as many stores as CouponCactus but they tend to pay a little bit higher percentage on the stores they do carry.

I used to use Ebates exclusively but found better cash back offers at this site and then added TopCashBack, so now I go back and forth between the three based off of who has the best rebate or carries the store I am shopping at.

This is the cashback site where I first started doing click throughs for printer ink and saved a TON. Learn more in our Mr Rebates review of how to use this site more effectively.

4. Largest Number of Stores Covered – CouponCactus.com

CouponCactus has the largest number of online retailers in their click through list and it isn’t even close.  With over 9,000 stores in their list, CouponCactus has twice as many store options as any of cashback rebate site.

The reason why they are not listed higher on the list is that they have worse rebate rates than TopCashback and Mr Rebates and a lot less ways to earn cash than Mypoints.

5. Best Sign Up Bonus – Ebates

While Ebates is not older than MyPoints they are the grandaddy of all the cashback rebate programs.  This is because when Ebates came on the scene, MyPoints was still mostly a get paid to read e-mails program.

The company was started in 1998.  That is an eternity in internet years and they have paid out consistently for me for over a decade.

They offer the most generous signup bonus with a free $10 when you make at least $25 in qualified purchases in the first 90 days.  This is really easy for most people and a good way to get your feet wet while earning some extra cash.

6. Best for Groceries – Ibotta

Ibotta was the first to really test this model and have done really well with it.  The way it works is you go into your account and connect your loyalty rewards card.  If you are shopping at a store that does not have a loyalty rewards card then you can submit your receipt with detailed purchases from the retailer.  Before you go shopping you have to unlock your rebates and then you get credit back into your account for the purchase.

While Ibotta focuses on grocery stores, it works with all sorts of retailers so if you are going shopping you should check to see if something you are going to purchase is on their list.

You might also want to take a look at Checkout 51.  They work in an almost identical fashion to Ibotta and many times you can submit the same receipt to each service.

How I Use Cashback Rebate Sites

I didn’t get the name “Saving Freak” by being happy when I get one discount. When I start to win at something I want to run up the score and that is exactly what I do by stacking my discounts. My strategy is to use multiple cashback and rewards programs all in one transaction.  This example is how it works on $50 Amazon.com purchase, but it can be applied to almost any major retailer.

  1. I go to my local grocery store and purchase a $50 Amazon gift card with my cash back rewards credit card that gives me 5% cash back on grocery store purchases.
  2. My local grocery store participates in the Fuel Rewards Network so I get 5¢ off per gallon with my next gasoline fill up at Shell (worth about $1 or 2% on a $50 purchase).
  3. I check Ibotta to make sure there are no rebates from them on my purchase.
  4. I then go to my TopCashBack account and use their link to click through to Amazon.com
  5. I make my purchase and get 6% cash back into my TopCashBack account.

So what does this rebate/reward stacking get me?  That $50 purchase is now the equivalent of a $43.50 and, let’s be honest, whatever I purchased on Amazon was also on sale.  If you can do better than that I want to know and you should leave your strategy in the comments for all of us to learn.

Best Cashback Rebate Websites – Summary

Reward Portal
# of Stores
Best For
Go To
TopCashBack
3,596
Largest cashback percentage
Review of TopCashBack
MyPoints
1,688
Most Ways to Earn
Review of MyPoints
Mr Rebates
2,617
Best referral program
Review of MrRebates
Ibotta
372
Grocery rebates
Review of Ibotta
Coupon Cactus
9671
Most stores
Ebates
2166
Longest running rebate site
Review of Ebates
Upromise
907
College savings
InboxDollars
17
Get paid for e-mails
Review of InboxDollars
Active Junkie
468
Outdoorsy stores
Checkout 51
Any store with items on receipt
Groceries
Review of Checkout 51
Swagbucks
1,721
Get paid to search
Review of Swagbucks
Fuel Rewards Network
142
Best for Gasoline Purchases
Review of FRN
BeFrugal
4073
Extra Rebates
1205
Extrabux
1955
Giving Assistant
2745
Glamour Rewards
957
Go Cashback
1248
Hoopla Doopla
1598
iConsumer
1609
Mainstreet Shares
961
Rebate Blast
1750
RebatesMe
621
Shop at Home
3367
Simply Best Coupons
4018
Sunshine Rewards
881
Yazing
1168

The Diversification Battle – [ETF vs Mutual Fund]

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Diversifying your investment portfolio is an important step in making sure you never lose too much in a market down turn and that is why comparing ETFs vs mutual funds will make it much easier for you to implement a diversification strategy.

etfs vs mutual fundsMutual funds and ETFs are very similar investment types.  Their similarities make it really difficult for people to understand which one is best for their needs.

This guide aims to get you as clear as possible on each one, and help you to work out which is the right one for you. If you’re looking to invest some money, read on to discover where it’s best going to so you can enjoy the highest rate of return and the most benefits from your choice.

What is a Mutual Fund?

A mutual fund is a managed portfolio of stocks, bonds, or both in some cases. A mutual fund is where a company that brings together a large group of people manages the investments made, and collectively invests the investor’s money into a portfolio on their behalf. Each investor holds a share of the mutual fund.

In short: it is a pool of money belonging to a large group of people who want to save or make more money. It could potentially be a smart investment to make for any investor, which is why it’s worth knowing about whatever stage of your investment journey you’re at.

To put it as simply as possible: mutual funds are like baskets. Each basket holds certain types of stocks and other investments. It’s important to remember that each investor owns shares of the mutual funds but not the holdings. Investing in a share of mutual funds is different to investing in shares of stock. Mutual fund shares don’t give investors any voting rights in a company.

An investor may earn a return from a mutual fund in a number of ways, including income earned on stocks and interest on bonds that are in the portfolio. There are a number of pros and cons to mutual funds, which we’ll talk about a little later on.

Basic Mutual Fund Types And Categories

Stock funds and bond funds are two of the most popular types of mutual funds. You then get three sub-categories of ​capitalization — small-cap, mid-cap, and large-cap. These can be categorized further as either growth, value, or growth and income. Stocks can also be classified as international, global or foreign, however, they all similar objectives to one another.

It’s worth knowing the exact type of mutual fund you are looking at, as things can change depending on the various factors.

The Benefits Of Mutual Funds

Although there are different types of mutual funds, let’s talk a little more about the general benefits of them.

  • Professional Management – your mutual fund investment is professionally managed by a skilled person with experienced. You do not have to pick stocks and manage your investment yourself. An investment manager takes care of all of this using their specialist trading skills. This means you can free up time to do other things, without having to worry about your investments. You will have more time and less stress. If you choose the right company, you may have more money too.
  • Diversification – you get diversification when you select a mutual fund. Your risk is spread out across many different holdings in this type of investment. Large mutual funds typically own hundreds of different stocks in different industries. If you know anything about investing, you’ll know how important diversification is for success. The majority of investors will tell you not to put all your eggs in one basket, and with a mutual fund, you’re automatically diversifying.
  • Simplicity – with a mutual fund, you get simplicity. The process is fairly straightforward, and the initial investment can usually be quite small. Most people do not have the knowledge and experience required when first starting out, or even the big bucks to invest. If you’re feeling lost and want something easy, a mutual fund could be the way you begin your investment portfolio.
  • Transparency – Some people worry about working with vague companies and not knowing where their money is really going. Accountability and fairness to investors is ensured thanks to industry regulation. You won’t need to worry about anything going awry with your mutual funds without you knowing about it first.
  • Ease of Use – this process can be much easier than investing in stocks and bonds on your own. Even if you know what you’re doing, a mutual fund could free up more time for you.
  • Low Initial Investment – you can get started with as little as $100 for most mutual funds. If you pledge to invest $100 a month, you will usually be better off as there are less fees to contend with.

Disadvantages of Mutual Funds

As beneficial as mutual funds can be, there are some disadvantages you will want to think about too. Take a look at them below:

  • Active Management – Although investing in mutual funds can be attractive thanks to the managed investment portfolio, some investors debate whether the managers are better than the average investor at selecting stocks. Even if the fund loses money, the manager still gets paid, so it doesn’t matter to them too much how well they handle it. Some people believe that they could do a similar job, if not a better job, depending on who is managing the mutual fund. There’s no guarantee that the person managing your fund will be a total expert and get you the best results.
  • Costs and fees – creating and running a mutual fund can be expensive. Fees can vary from fund to fund. All of the money you spend on fees is money you have not invested to grow over time. If you were to go for a more cost effective fund, you would also have more money to invest, and earn a higher rate of return in the long run.
  • Dilution – you could potentially get poor returns due to too much diversification. This can also result from a successful fund that has grown too big. While diversification is important, dilution is the last thing you want to happen. Most don’t realize that dilution is a problem.

Best Places To Invest In Mutual Funds

Most investors will have some kind of mutual fund in their portfolio. If this is something you’re looking to add to yours, there are a few places you should look at first. The following places offer high quality selection, affordability, service, and tools to help your mutual fund investment prosper.  Some of the best companies include:

  • Ally Invest – Ally bank recently bought out TradeKing and converted them to Ally Invest.  This is the best place for beginners because they do not require a minimum amount to get started. Any mutual fund that has a load requires zero transaction fees and no load mutual funds are only $9.95 per trade.
  • Vanguard – I have one of our Roth IRA’s in Vanguard and they offer all their funds for no fees.  The only reason I do not suggest them for everyone is that many of their funds require s $3,000 investment to get started.  I know several people who have started with an Ally account and then rolled that money over to Vanguard once they had enough.

Pretty much any brokerage will allow you to invest in mutual funds, so remember to look into each individual company carefully before you decide who should handle your mutual fund investment.

What is an ETF?

The abbreviation ETF is short for ‘Exchange Traded Fund’. Although it is very similar to a mutual fund, there are some notable differences. The main difference is that an ETF is a marketable security that tracks an index, a commodity, bonds, or a basket of assets similar to an index fund.

Just like when you buy a share of stock, ETFs experience price changes throughout the day as they are bought and sold. They have higher liquidity, and make an attractive alternative for individual investors who do not want to invest the larger sums it takes to buy into a mutual fund.

An investor may get residual value in case the fund is liquidated, and ETF shareholders are entitled to a proportion of the profits, such as earned interest or dividends paid. ETF shares are traded on public stock exchanges. Let’s take a closer look at the benefits and some of the disadvantages of an ETF.

Benefits Of ETFs

ETFs have many benefits that you’ll want to consider.

  • Trading Flexibility – You get trading flexibility when you choose an ETF. ETFs are bought and sold during the day when the markets are open, and pricing is continuous through normal trading hours.
  • Diversification and Risk Management – ETFs provide an investor easy access to a desired market segment, which is easier for investors who may not have expertise in those areas.
  • Lower Costs – operating costs come with all managed funds, but you can expect them to be significantly lower with an ETF. Marketing expenses, custody costs, and more are all things you will need to think about with most funds. Costs can be more streamlined with ETFs, however. You will get lower expenses in the case of monthly statements, tax reports, quarterly reports, and more.
  • Tax Benefits – mutual funds typically incur more capital gains tax than ETFs due to differences in structure. The tax benefits are one of the most attractive benefits of ETFs.
  • One Transaction – you can usually purchase an ETF with one easy transaction. It has a  simple structure and is fairly easy to understand, so it is very useful for beginners. However, any level of investor can put their money into an ETF.
  • Accountability – the company sponsor, designer, and creator of the ETF publishes a list of assets in the fund on a daily basis. This means you know exactly what is going on with your ETF. These are investments that are known for their transparency.
  • Passive Management – minor adjustments are needed for an ETF, as opposed to other funds that are aggressively managed. This is how the risk and management fees are lowered.
  • Immediate Dividends – with ETFs, dividends can be immediately invested back into the funds.

Disadvantages Of ETFs

There are many advantages to an ETF, but you can’t ignore the disadvantages if you want to make a well informed decision.

  • International Limitations – There are some international limitations with an ETF. The US has many ETF products for investors to look at, however, some countries only have a handful.
  • Low Trading Volumes – when ETFs have low trading volumes, the other advantages diminish. Bid ask can be spread too wide to be cost effective in some cases.
  • Inactivity – some ETFs aren’t traded as actively as others. This can be due to sector or regional issues.
  • Tax Implications – tax laws vary from country to country, so this is worth bearing in mind if you are looking to invest in foreign ETFs.

Best Places To Invest In ETFs

Knowing the best places to invest in ETFs is crucial if you want the best place for your money. The following places offer high quality selection, cost effectiveness, great customer service, and tools to help your ETF give you the highest return. Two of the major providers of ETFs are:

  • Betterment – Betterment is the best way to invest in ETFs for new investors or for people who want a hands off approach to investing.  Instead of having to pick ETFs yourself, Betterment gives you a shot questionnaire to gauge your risk tolerance and then does all the investing for you.  In my review of Betterment we discuss how they use ETFs to make all the investments.
  • TD Ameritrade – If you are going to pick ETFs for yourself then TD Ameritrade is the best option.  They offer over 100 different ETFs that you can purchase for no trading fee.  They are, by far, the best at offering no fee trading for ETFs.

Mutual Funds vs ETFs – The Real Differences

So, with all of this in mind, what is the real difference between mutual funds and ETFs? They are similar as both instruments bundle together anywhere from 100-3000 securities to offer investors a diversified portfolio. However, ETFs trade throughout the trading day, like stocks, while mutual funds trade only at the end of the day at the net asset value (NAV) price.

ETFs offer lower operating expenses more than mutual funds as they usually track to a particular index, this savings can mean you may get a better rate of return in the long run. ETFs have no investment minimums either. Take a look at the differences in a nutshell below:

Mutual Funds

  • Trade at closing NAV price
  • Operating expenses will vary
  • Have investment minimums
  • Are less tax efficient
  • May have sales load

ETFs

  • Trade during daily trading
  • Have low operating expenses
  • No investment minimums
  • More tax efficient
  • No sales loads

Both Mutual Funds and ETFs have a place in a varied investment portfolio. However, while a mutual fund is still a solid choice, ETFs are something you should definitely incorporate for maximum benefit and returns on your investments.

That being said, it’s so important to do your own research on any financial asset before making either long or short trades. Just because an ETF has many benefits, does not mean it will be the right choice for you.

If you have any questions, feel free to leave them in the comments.

Save Money on All Your Online Shopping – TopCashback Review

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TopCashback started out in 2005 as a cash back rebate site that only serviced the U.K, but expanded to the United States in 2011.

topcashback reviewWhile the American cash back rebate space was already crowded, TopCashback has taken on the more established websites, like Ebates, and become a real competitor for helping people save money on their online shopping.

Whether you are looking for information on www.topCashback.com or topCashback.co.uk, you are dealing with the same larger company and they work in identical fashion.

How Does TopCashback Work?

Like other Cashback rebate websites, TopCashback works by you signing up for an account, logging in, and using their website to click over to other merchant websites (Walmart, Amazon, Best Buy, etc.).  TopCashback has set up relationships where they get paid for sending traffic to these different online retailers.

Instead of keeping all the money for themselves, they send the percentage of sales back to you, the person who clicked on their link.

This presents all of us with options for getting a discount on almost any purchase we make online

Is TopCashback Legit?

Yes, TopCashback is completely legit. The site has paid out as promised for years.  With a 12 year history in the UK and six years in the USA, the site has proven to be a top flight Cashback rebate program.

Having personally used this particular cashback rebate site, I have had no problems with tracking of my purchases and have received payment in a very timely fashion.

Ways to Earn

There are three ways to earn money with TopCashback.com.

Click and Shop

The obvious way to earn money with a Cashback rebate site is to use the portal to click through to all your online shopping.  You get the affiliate revenue that TCB earns.

Bonus Offers

One of my favorite features of TCB is that they run bonus offers that allow you to get items even more cheaply.  When I first signed up for this service I was able to get a free copy of Big Hero 6 by signing up and clicking the Walmart link.

The bonus offers only come every so often, but they are really awesome when they do show up. You have to keep up with their e-mails where all these announcements come through.

Refer a Friend

When you refer other people to TopCashback.com you will get a $10 when they sign up with your link and then earn $10 in Cashback themselves.  If you have a bunch of friends on Facebook or Twitter this can add up very quickly.

Top Cashback vs Ebates and other Top Sites

So what do we get when we compare TopCashback versus Ebates or Mr Rebates?  You get a really great battle that’s what you get.  I compare these three services on four criteria: Cashback rebate, number of stores, referral program, and payout minimum.

Cashback Rebates

Now each of the Cashback rebate sites has its strong point when it comes to being the best, but I look for three specific stores to do my evaluation.

  1. Amazon.com – Amazon is the number on online retailer and where I buy a ton of stuff that is shipped for free to my house. TopCashback wins this one with 6% back, while MrRebates and Ebates give you 5% and 3% respectively.
  2. Walmart.com – Walmart is the number one retailer in the world and the second largest online retailer. TopCashback, once again, take top prize with 3% cash back while MrRebates gets 2% and Ebates 1%
  3. 4inkjest.com – Printer ink is MUCH cheaper online. When you get Cashback on top of that you get amazingly low prices.  4inkjets.com is one of the top sites for low cost ink and TCB wins again with up to 20% Cashback, while Ebates has 11% and MrRebates 8%.

When it comes to straight Cashback offers TopCashback is the clear winner.  If you aren’t going refer people and they carry the store you need then this is the program for you.

Number of Stores

As of this writing, Ebates has 2,140 online retailers that they have relationships with, MrRebates.com has 2,603, and TCB has 3,351.  Ebates seems to have been resting on their laurels and advertising while other services have passed them by on the number of stores metric.

TCB has already clinched themselves as the best of the three, but there is still one more and it is a game changer for some people.

Referral Program

Top Cashback and Ebates have very similar programs.  TCB still beats Ebates by giving you a $10 referral fee when your friend earns $10 in reward, while Ebates gives you $5 when your friend earns $25.  MrRebates program is where this gets interesting.

MrRebates does not give you a lump sum when you get a friend to sign up through your link.  Instead they give you 20% of whatever that friend earns forever. That’s right, you get 20% of everything your referral gets in cashback in perpetuity.

This make MrRebates the program to go to if you are able to refer people who will use the service. That 20% referral bonus can lead to tons of money over the life of that program.

Payout Minimum

This criteria isn’t as big a deal as the other three for me because when I receive the money isn’t as important as the fact that I get the most back eventually.  That being said they all have a low payout threshold.  MrRebates and Ebates require that you cash out with at least $5 while TCB does not have a minimum.  So if you want access to the cash the fastest, TCB wins again.

For me personally, I recommend signing up for all three.  I am always looking to get the most cashback on every purchase and each program beats the others on specific retailers.  If you do not want the hassle of multiple programs and want the best cashback bang for your buck, then Top Cashback is the clear winner.

Complaints

With any company that has a reasonably long history there are going to be some complaints.  The only complaint that I have seen that happens with any sort of frequency is that every once in a while, a purchase does not register in their system.

This is pretty common in the cashback rebate site world.  When you click though to a site, there are a few things that can mess up the cookie that tracks your purchase.  This could be anything from using a coupon code that erases the affiliate or accidentally clicking on someone else’s tracking link after you have clicked on the link from the rebate site.

The complaints do not seem to be plentiful enough to make this a major concern.

Is Top Cashback Worth it?

TCB is worth it because it takes almost no time and makes a real difference in your total purchase price for online purchases.  With more bricks and mortar stores allowing you to buy online and pick up in store the savings are getting more and more substantial.

If you are looking for a single cashback rebate site that will get you the best reabtes then TopCashback is currently making the strongest case for your business.

25 Ways to Save Money on Air Conditioning Costs

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It is now May and we are really starting to heat up in South Carolina.  By the end of the month we should be steadily in the 90 degree temps every day.

While this is a welcome change for my kids who are already dreaming of the neighborhood pool, my Electric bill is starting to quiver with fear.

Since the three small people in my house don’t seem to be able to close the doors, finding some ways to cut the cost of AC is a big money saver.  I put in some research time and came up with these 25 ways to save money on air conditioning.

how to save money on air conditioningKeep Yourself Cool Other Ways

If you aren’t using air conditioning, then they cannot charge you for it.  The reality is that you can save the most money on air conditioning by using less.

Install Ceiling Fans

Ceiling fans make it feel three to eight degrees cooler in whatever room you are in.  The principal is that ceiling fans move the air around you, this gets the hot air that your body is emitting away from you and also allows any small amounts of perspiration to evaporate quickly.  Both of these actions cool you down.

If you do install ceiling fans you need to make sure that they are blowing in the right direction. If you are using the fan in conjunction with the air conditioning, then have the fan push air away from you.  If you are using it for the purpose of moving air around your body, then you want it to be pointing down and blowing directly on you.  For most ceiling fans, the fan will blow down when it is spinning counter-clockwise.

Use a Bed Fan

Frequently used for people who experience night sweats or hot flashes, bed fans run a gentle breeze under your sheets as you sleep.  This can allow you to save money on the AC by turning up the temperature on your thermostat at night.

There are some REALLY expensive ones out there, but this one runs $80 and doesn’t take up a ton of space so you stub your toe in the middle of the night.

Use a Chilling Pillow

There are water cooled pillows that help keep your head cooled down while you sleep. The most famous is called “The Chillow” and the reviews of them are all very good.

They are pretty affordable and they even advertise to help with relief for flu, fever, headaches and several other maladies.  I could see this being a big help for sunburn.

Get Naked

You should probably make sure all the blinds and curtains are closed before doing this, but at least try switching to lighter types of clothing. The one real argument for going full out in the buff is that you will also save money on doing the laundry.

Rinse off In the Shower

A quick cool shower can cool you down for a good period of time.  Make sure you are not using warm water as that will heat up the bathroom and make your A/C work hard to remove the heat.

Reducing Heat

One area where we frequently forget to keep it cool is reducing the heat we use around the house.  If you don’t heat things up, then your AC unit doesn’t have to work to cool it down again.  Here are three areas we can easily reduce the amount of heat we produce inside.

Take a Break from Baking

Now don’t get the idea that apple pie is not necessary for the 4th of July, but baking less can really save you.  The oven will heat up your house which you then have to cool down again.

If you are doing small meals try using a good toaster oven. We purchased one that has a convection feature and it does a great job for small meals.  We just started cooking chicken fritters from Zaycon Fresh and they turned out AWESOME!

This is a great time of year to grill out and keep all that cooking heat outside.  Even using the stove top instead of the oven will save you.

Take a Cold (or colder) Shower

You may think this funny but it will save you money on two fronts.  First you are not heating up your home with steam.  If you have a vent that you run you are also moving air out of your house and like me you may forget and leave that fan running which then wastes the AC.  Also, you will lose less hot water which means that you will put less strain on your hot water heater.  Even if you have a tankless water heater you will use less energy by taking cooler shorter showers.

Keep the Lights Low

Depending on which type of lights you use you could be heating up your rooms.  CFLs are better than Incandescent bulbs, but LEDs produce the least heat of the group. LED lighting has gotten much cheaper over the last couple of years, they last longer, and they cost less to use.  So start switching your lighting out as your incandescent and CFL bulbs go bad.

I found LED bulbs on Amazon for just under $3 a bulb.  That is not a great price now a days, so I would try Lowes and Home Depot for their best deals.

Doors and Windows

Doors and windows are the gateways to our homes.  They are also the gateway for all the heat outside.  Here are some ideas

Plug The Holes

You have to treat the “paid for air” like it is vaporized gold seeping out of your home.  So check your windows and doors for places you may be losing your air.  You can repair most of these with inexpensive caulk, weather strips, or foam that you can find at your local hardware store.

Use Thermal Window Panels

In the same vein, they actually make window panels that are attractive and decorative, but also have thermal properties as well as light and sound reducing properties.  The best of these window panels are the Eclipse Thermaback Blackout Panels.  These panels will block 99% of light and 40% of sound from your windows.  The most amazing property is they are specially made to help insulate your windows from the rest of your house.  These can save you as much as 25% off your heating and cooling bills (not letting light or heat in) and are great for a home theatre room.  Obviously if you have high end windows it will be less and if you are using plastic wrap with duct tape it will be more.   The best price I could find was $14.99 on Amazon.com (free shipping if you spend $35 or more or have Amazon Prime).

Put Solar Screens on the Windows

There are actual solar screens that are made with a special mesh that blocks the sunlight.  You can get these screens to block up to 90% of the sunlight. Most people really do well with 60% to 70% blocking, that way you don’t have to use the lights in your house that also produce heat.

This option is great for rooms that are not frequently used and can stand to be a bit darker.

Use Storm Windows and Doors

If you have an older home with single pane windows or doors that are leaking air, then storm windows and doors are an affordable way to go.  You can go pretty cheap with these and still get up to 50% benefit over the leaky alternatives.

Install Reflective Film on Windows and Storm Doors

Reflective film is a great way to block the heat from the sun.  This film can reflect 40-60% of heat while still letting in the visible light that makes your room.  These reflective films are relatively inexpensive at less than $2 per square foot if you want to pull a DIY.

Attic and Roof Changes that Save Money on AC

Since the sun beats down on your roof and the attic is just below, making slight changes to these two important parts of your home can make big differences in your cooling bills.  Some of these are worth doing when you have to make a replacement and others are worth the investment any time.

Proper Insulation of Attic

If you do not have good insulation in your attic you are looking at up to a 40% heat loss.  Older homes frequently have 2-3 inches of insulation.  If you increase this to 8-14 inches you can save up to $145 per year (based on 1200 square feet of ceiling). Check out how much insulation you need in the attic on the Department of Energy website.

Radiant Barrier

Radiant barriers are kind of like aluminum foil or a special paint that goes on the underside of your roof.  It blocks the radiant heat that leaks into your home and saves you in the range of 3-8%.

Metal Roofing

I always think of metal as something that heats up in the sun, but metal rooves actually reflect more heat than asphalt shingles.  If you aren’t into the old country home style of roofing, they now make metal shingles that resemble the very nice wooden shingles.  Metal rooves are made to be permanent so if you are thinking this is your longer term home the investment will save you in the long run.

Get a White Roof

If you don’t feel like metal is the option for you then you can do a white roof.  These shingles reflect the sun instead of absorbing it.  This will get you 10-20% in savings on your air conditioning.

Plant Shade Trees

While this is not exactly a roof change it does keep the sun off your roof.  You can reduce the temperature in your home by up to 20 degrees and get a good 40% energy savings just by having some nice shady trees in strategic places around your home.

HVAC System Changes that Can Save Money

Some of these are SUPER simple and others require a big investment.  Making sure your system is working at its best will save you a ton in the long run.

Change or Wash Your Filters

Making it easy for your home cooling system to move air helps it work more efficiently.  I am as guilty as anyone for not changing or cleaning the filters on a regular basis.  I recommend spending the little bit of extra cash and getting reusable filters that you can just rinse with a hose, but either way get those filters clean so the unit works the most efficiently.

Get Duct Work Checked for Leaks

Leaky ducts cost the average home 27% of the cooling or heating.  Having leaks in your ducts and poor insulation around those ducts makes a huge difference in your energy bills. You can save in the range of $200 a year on electric bills.

Programmable Thermostat

If you are not at home you do not want to be paying for cooling (or heating for that matter).  Also, with temperatures dipping in the evening you want to let your AC have a rest while you are sleeping.  The best way to do this is with a programmable thermostat.

Now I know some people are worried about keeping it cool for your cat, but cats are evil and are close friends of the devil so they should already be used to a little heat.  Having a properly programmed thermostat can save as much as 30% of your costs on an annual basis.  If you don’t have a programmable thermostat I found them on Amazon for around $25.

Window Units

Yes they look terrible, but central AC is the most convenient not the most efficient means of cooling your home.  Cooling rooms that do not need it makes the biggest difference.  If you switch to window units and only cool the rooms you use you will save big bucks.

My wife and I know this one first hand. When we purchased our home it was a foreclosure and the upstairs unit was dead.  At the time it was just me and Amy so we only cooled and heated our master bedroom. When we started using the central system upstairs the bills did go up.  Of course that coincided with keeping our new baby boy cool during the summer so we were good with it.

Mini-Split Systems

These systems are relatively new and are still on the expensive side, but you get the advantage of a unit in each room with no duct work. The units are mounted to the wall so some people are not keen on their appearance.  The big savings, once again, is in having cooling only in rooms that you need it.

Geothermal Systems

I have met two people with these types of systems and they are a pretty awesome idea.  You have a series of piping that goes under the ground and circulates water through those pipes. The heat gets taken out of your house and pushed into the water.  Then it goes into the ground.

The upfront cost of these systems is what keeps most people from getting them.  You are looking at almost twice the cost of your standard air system. What you get is 30-60% less energy usage.  This means the system should pay for itself in about 6 years. Did I mention they are still giving a 30% tax credit to help with the costs on these systems?

Overall you can save a bundle if you do just implement a few of these tactics for reducing your air conditioning bill.  Now, if only my wife could decide what color of thermal window panels she wants.

How to Fix Your Credit Score – And Not Go Crazy in the Process

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Our credit scores have become mythical creatures that determine how people measure their financial success and self-worth.

Your credit score determines how much you pay in interest and for a bunch of other needs like insurance and rent. Use this guide to fix your credit and give your credit score a boost.In truth, a credit score is just a measure of how good you might be at paying back debt, based off of past behavior.  It has many implications and uses in today’s world, and can be used to determine how much you pay for services like insurance and apartment rentals.

But, what do you do when you have a poor credit score?  As someone who has gone from a score in the low 600’s to now over 800, I am your man when it comes to boosting your credit score.

How to Boost Your Credit Score 100 points or More

Fixing your credit means that you have to prove to creditors you are worthy of being lent money.  While I highly recommend living a debt free lifestyle, statisticians have found people with high credit scores are also more likely to be responsible people.

This means that more and more services where you pay after you receive the service are starting to require credit checks and basing your rates for service off your score.  While I am not a fan of this practice we frequently have to adjust to the world we live in not the one we wish we had.

Get Your Credit Report

If you don’t know what your credit report is or where to read it, you’re not alone. Perhaps you imagine yourself digging through a dusty government filing cabinet, looking for a file with your name. Fortunately, our credit reports is kept by private companies and have been digitized for years now, and you can check for free at annualcreditreport.com.

With annual credit report you can order all three of your credit reports for free once a year.  While we are fixing our credit, you will want to get all three at one time.  Once your credit report resembles a Monet instead of a stick figure drawing, you can pull one credit report every three months to make sure no bad stuff pops up and hurts your score in the future.

Dispute Credit Record Errors

Sometimes when a person pulls their credit report for the first time there will be errors on the report.  You will want to dispute these records all at one time with all the credit bureaus.  These credit errors can do big damage to your score and I rarely find errors to be in your favor.

The good news is that annualcreditreport.com makes it easy to make these disputes directly with each credit burea.

Fix the Negative Credit Records

This is where we get to the hard part.  Pulling your credit report is pretty easy.  Once you have that report in hand, you have to scour the records to see where the negative items are and figure out how to fix them.

If you are starting to doze off just thinking about doing this, then I recommend signing up for a free credit service like CreditSesame.com.  Credit Sesame will pull your credit report for you and translate it into easy to read sections.  They even make recommendations on boosting your credit score.

Now that you have what is causing your score to tank, start paying off those debts that are delinquent or in default.  If you have debts that are in default and too large for you to pay off, you can go to the company and offer to settle the debt. You have to make sure that you receive a letter from the creditor and keep a receipt for the payment.  NEVER give them access to your checking account.  Tell them ou can mail them a certified check and NOTHING else.  With a letter in hand and the receipt from your certified check in hand you can fight them if they try something sneaky in the future.

Start New Habits

If you are like me and most other low credit score people, your credit score didn’t go in the tank overnight and for no reason at all.  It got there either through a combination of bad habits and mismanagement.

This process should be a turning point in your financial success.  Start with putting together a budget, start paying all your bills on time, and your credit score will be on the rise before you know it.

For me the turning point was getting married and my detail oriented and extraordinarily hot wife taking over the day to day finances.  After we celebrated our first wedding anniversary, I told her she paid for her engagement ring with how many late fees that had been avoided.

If you are not sure where to start on this, the study from I Was Broke. Now I’m Not. Is an affordable and easy to understand way to get your finances in order and change all your bad habits into good ones.

Get a Secured Credit Card (maybe two)

Once you have your report straightened out and have changed the habits that got your score somewhere close to the Mendoza line it is now time to jump start your score building.

If your score is still very low, then the best way to start is to get a secured credit card. You will have to put down around $500 to open each card and then you will want to spend no more than $100 on a card each month and then pay it off.

By doing this you will get all your payments reported to the credit agencies and you will start proving you can handle credit effectively.  Most of these cards can convert to a non-secured card after a year or two.  By not using more than 30% of your available credit your score go up much faster.

The only reason to have two card is if you do not have two sources reporting to the credit bureaus.  So if you have a landlord that will report, you only need one revolving line to charge up your credit score climb.

Keep Going

The last and a key step in getting your credit score to a much happier place is to keep going.  Giving up in the middle of this process because it is too hard or because you don’t understand will not change your situation.

If you don’t feel like this process is going fast enough, just remember, you didn’t get a poor credit score overnight and you are not going to fix it overnight.  Just like Dori in Finding Nemo you have to “just keep swimming”.

You Can Fix Your Credit Score

My wife and I recently bought a new home and our realtor told us, “you have the highest credit scores of any couple I have ever seen.”  That vote of confidence is a far cry from the couple who had to get my dad to cosign for the loan we took out to buy our first car.  It took us less than two years to go from me with bad credit and my wife with no credit to credit score champions.

This journey included about $16,000 of debt paid off and a long period of time before we felt confident that credit cards were something we could be responsible with.  While I may not be where you are right now, I can tell you I have been there.  The good news is that my family climbed out of the poor credit hole and you can too.

Best Things to Buy in May Sales… and what not to buy

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May is here, the flowers are blooming, my allergies are killing me, and I have already had to mow the lawn three times.

May sales are dominated by Mother's Day and Memorial Day. Use this guied to help you know the best items to buy in May, so you can stock up or make large purchases at just the right time.While the appearance of pollen doesn’t make me happy about this time of year, the sales make up for it… a little bit.

May brings us Mother’s Day and Memorial Day.  That means there are interesting forces at play to help us save money and overspend.  This list will help you make sure that you are getting the best prices, while avoiding items that you could get with a better deal later in the year.

The Best May Sales Items

Sales, sales, sales.  That is what we think of when Memorial day comes around, but make sure you aren’t getting taken for a ride by sticking to these best May sale items.

Spring Clothes

If you find any winter clothing on the clearance racks by now then you are either super lucky or your store is not doing very well.  The items to really be shopping for are spring clothing.

One of the great things about Spring clothes is they translate well to summer, especially if you are shopping for a man.

Check the clearance racks for spring apparel and if you have kids this is a good time to stock up for next year.

Thrift and Second Hand Stores

People are still hammering down on the Spring cleaning, so thrift stores will continue to see an influx of nice items.

Like April, this doesn’t mean you are going to get much better prices at the thrift stores, but it does mean you can get better quality items.

Appliances and Cookware

You have to wait till Memorial Day, but home items are huge for the sales.  Depending on which study you look at anywhere from 25% to 33% of all Memorial Day sale items are for the home.

Vacuums, dishwashers, toaster ovens, are all going to be at very low prices this Memorial Day.

Patio Furniture

The best deals on patio furniture are always after the summer season, but if you need something now, May is the best month before all the prices settle in for the Summer.  The other item that falls into this category is deck boxes.  They can be as much as 70% off in May.

Star Wars

If you are not part of Geek culture, then you may not know that May 4th is Star Wars Day (May the fourth be with you).  It’s a bad pun but it leads to a bunch of sales on Star Wars items.  If you have a Star Wars fan in your house, then this will be a good time to grab the deals for birthdays and Christmas

Mattresses

Memorial Day sales strike again.  Mattresses are at some of the best prices of the year.  The good news is that you will not have to look far for a great deal, they will be advertised EVERYWHERE.  Make sure you are looking for around 50% off and then there are also coupons that you can stack to take even more off the discounted price.

Office Furniture

The furniture stores will not only be discounting mattresses, they will also be running good sales office furniture.  This also goes for other retailers like Office Depot, Stapes, Target, etc.

This is also the time when stores are putting items into clearance for new lines.  So make sure to keep checking the May sales flyers and hit up stores for their clearance sections.

Non-Mainstream Mother’s Day Gifts

Photo printers like York Photo will offer big discounts around Mother’s Day to attract people away from the traditional gifts of flowers and candy.  They will frequently throw in extras like photo magnets and other fun items.  It’s a great way to say thank you to mom and not over spend.

Swimsuits

There are more swimsuit deals in May than in June or April.  Their price can actually triple from May to June.  So if you need one, now is the time to grab one.

What NOT to Buy in May

As with every month there will be items on sale that are not as good of a deal as they seem.  Stay away from these items as much as you can.

Traditional Mother’s Day Gifts

I have always thought it would be cool to celebrate Mother’s Day one week late and take advantage of the tons of items that go on clearance the week after.  So far, I haven’t gotten one mother in my life to go along with this.

As Mother’s Day approaches the gifts get more expensive.  This is because men are in charge of the purchase and we tend to wait till the last minute.  Get your Mother’s Day gift lined up now and you can save money.

Perennials

It’s spring and you will see tons of “sales” on plants, but perennials are a better deal at the end of the summer.  This is because their blooming season will pass and then they are kind of plain looking the rest of the year.

If you are looking for some hassle-free plants, then wait out the high priced season and pick up your perennials in late summer.  Then enjoy them as they flower every year going forward.

Gasoline

I know this one is hard to avoid, but prices have historically increased throughout the month until after Memorial Day.  At that point the big driving weekend is over and most states have gotten their summer blend of gasoline switched over.

I use the Fuel Rewards Network to help cut my gasoline costs, but there are other ways to save money on gasoline that can get you through this high priced month.

A Pool

Fall and winter are the best time to buy any type of pool, hot tub, or outdoor water related item.  People tend to follow their desires when making purchases.  When it starts to get hot, we want to cool down, and what better way than to have a pool.  Figure out a way to get through the summer and you can save a bundle on your pool purchase.

Grills

Like the pool purchase, grills go on sale after the big BBQ season is over.  That means you are going to find great sales and clearance starting at the end of August and going forward to October.

Laptops

Back-to-school is coming but it isn’t here yet.  While laptops have gotten much cheaper, you can get a deal on one with the back-to-school sales.  This could include a discount or even store credit.  So hold out at least until the end of June before you make that next Laptop purchase.

Hitting the May Sales

With every month, it is important to make sure you are hitting the items that are at the cheapest of the year prices.  By getting ahead of items that are wearing out or we will need in the future, we can be sure to get the best prices.

None of this strategy works if you do not have money saved up for the items you need to replace.