*UPDATE: Official government websites for rebates and incentive programs.
The $300 million appliance-rebate program is here and it is going to be a madhouse. On December 24, 2009, the U.S. Department of Energy approved a rebate plan that allows replacement of old appliances with those that are ENERGY STAR® qualified. This will allow American families to save considerable amounts on utility bills.
Many states will begin in the next few months and some have already begun. Each state is only allotted a certain amount of money so it’s vital to have a game plan if you don’t want to miss out.
Check your state below for the start date and PLAN AHEAD!
The best deals will be gone within the first few days of the program.
Limited Supply; The appliance industry may not be able to meet the demand of the entire U.S.
Certain states may run out of funds within a couple of weeks.
Companies such as Best Buy will be offering special promotions and additional rebates just for this program.
Each state has chosen which types of appliances will qualify as well as the amounts of the rebates which average from $50 to $250. Although in Kansas, residents could qualify for an $800 rebate.
For Example, California has chosen three residential appliance categories to be eligible for rebates:
Hello everyone. Hope your Christmas plans are coming together smoothly. There has been some confusion in regards to the percentages cashback websites are offering.
First of all, cashback offers vary depending on whether you choose Bing, Ebates, FatWallet, MrRebates, or any other cashback site. The offers also change regularly, sometimes daily. Bing has been giving out some of the highest cashback offers, but they are not always the easiest to find. Many people have contacted me about how to find the 20% cashback offer for Drugstore.com. Some people were finding 8% or 10% depending on the day they checked, but when I would check I would get 20%. So I did some investigating and figured out why the percentages are different.
When you go to Bing’s main shopping link the percentages may be different from other offers. If you search for Drugstore.com in the search box you will see offers varying from 2-15%. The most common way people search is to click on the cashback tab which allows you to search for stores by their first letter. This page shows Drugstore.com at 10%.
The “trick” is to first go to Bing.com, which will take you to their search page. Then enter the site you want to shop with the words “cashback” into the search box. For ex. enter the search “drugstore.com cashback“. You will then see a sponsored link at the top for Drugstore.com that show’s the amount of 20% cashback. There will also be a gold coin that is the symbol for Bing cashback. The important things to look for in the link are the amount of the cashback and the gold coin. Go ahead and click on that link and then a prompt for your login will pop up unless you’re already signed in. Then a loading page will pop up from Bing. On this page it will tell you the percentage cashback you will receive from that store. It will directly open the store’s page and now you are ready to shop.
The link you want should include:
www.drugstore.comBing cashback
Get 20% Cashback on Drugstore.comCashback. Free Ship On $25+
In regards to finding the best cashback percentage for other stores on Bing, do the same search as above (name of store cashback) on Bing.com.
For all other cashback sites, JGI (Just Google It).
If you don’t want to look through each cashback site for the best deal, your best option would be to do a search with options. Go to Google.com and search the desired store with the word cashback. You will get a lot of irrelevant links. To remedy this problem, click on “ Show Options” which will be at the top left corner of the search page. Under the “Anytime” column choose “Latest”. This will bring up the most current information that has been posted on the web.
Drugstore.com also has a 5% in house rebate that automatically applies to your order. So the total you can save is 25%. Use of coupon codes may disqualify you from receiving the Bing cashback offer.
Some stores are still offering free shipping until 12/20.
Hope that answers some of the questions. Feel free to contact me if you have any further questions.
Information is based on search results at time of publication. Gold coin symbol is property of Bing.
Not too long ago, I had to deal with a very emotional tragedy. My computer crashed! My first thought was, OMG my itunes library!! I know, I should of backed it up.
So recently I have been rebuilding my library, but it definitely gets expensive. Most itunes cost $1.29 now. They are “higher quality” but I’m already hard of hearing so I can’t tell. So what’s my point and why should you care? I just found some free music for anyone that is interested. Amazon is having some kind of holiday special. I didn’t even know that they sold music because, I admit it, I’m an itunes snob. But, free is free.
They are offering free Christmas music from Frank Sinatra to Lady Gaga to Jars of Clay, and they also have lots of songs for the kids. They also have a daily special and $5 CD’s. I’m not sure if this is something Amazon does regularly or if it’s just for Christmas but I believe I saw somewhere that some of the downloads won’t be free after Dec. 17. All I know is that there are a lot of free songs. Go check it out, especially for those of you that are completely broke. Make someone a Christmas CD or buy them one of the $5 downloads. There’s a crazy Christmas download of 99 songs for 5 bucks. Oh, and I’m sure some of you are wondering the same thing I was when I heard free, yes the songs are ipod compatible.
The positive responses we got from the Smarter Shopper articles has encouraged us to develop a new section called Smarter Wallet.
We will let you know of any online resources for great deals as soon as we hear about them. Once in a while we find steals that are too good not to share, and when we do, you will find them in the Smarter Wallet.
Leave me a message or email if you find any great deals. FYI don’t forget most websites end their free shipping offers within the next couple of days. Shop smarter.
Here are the direct links for the different offers.
Amazon Consistently low prices. Most items ship free with $25 purchase, tax free in many states, and great return policy.
Mejier From groceries to gadgets, it’s a one stop shop with competitive prices.
Save big at Drugstore.comand Beauty.com. No sales tax except for NJ, NY or WA. Free shipping w/ min. purchase. Plus a 5% credit to use for your next purchase. Stock up on toiletries when they are on sale.
Have any sites you would like to recommend? Share in the comments below.
Budget a total amount. Be honest about your spending limits.
Set a limit for each person. This will allow you to narrow down your options and make shopping decisions less overwhelming.
Have friends or family members create a wish list. This allows you to get them something they really want and you don’t have to stress over figuring out what to get them.
Make a shopping list ahead of time. Research items online for best prices. Print out or make note of thr lowest price of each item in case you need to price match.
Stick to the list!!! Browsing can lead to your downfall. If you know what you’re there to get, then you’ll be less likely to buy unnecessary extras. If you need to, bring a shopping nazi. In my case, that would be my brother.
Pool funds for gifts. Ex. for Mom, divide with others the cost of the gift. This also ensures a better gift rather than several small gifts.
Consider the Secret Santa option. There are new ways on the internet to make the exchange more seamless. Each person creates an account online and the site can also randomly choose your recipients name. You can even create wish lists on some sites. This would be great for family members that do not live nearby or people that have no idea what their recipient may want.
Now that you have organized and researched, remember:
Shop early so you have enough time for online purchase options and to avoid high shipping costs. Stores generally don’t offer their best prices right before Christmas. They count on last minute shoppers paying more for products.
Try to use cash instead of credit. We all know, the ease of just charging it, usually results in overspending. The last thing you want is to pay for Christmas charges all through the next year.
Prepare for tunnel vision. Stores put out all kinds of little booby traps, gifts with small price tags, to psych you out into thinking that the little purchase won’t put a dent into your budget. This year, we’re not going to fall for it! Christmas makes us all overspend by buying little things here and there. That’s what leaves us with the feeling, “how did I spend so much, when I only bought a couple of things?!”
If you bought too much, return it ASAP. As Christmas gets closer, things get more hectic for everyone. The stores also get jam packed. So do it now, before you lose that receipt!
Stick to the list! I’ve already mentioned this, but it is worth mentioning again. Financial stress takes away being able to fully relax and enjoy the season.
Price Match. Price matching is the easiest way to ensure you’re getting a better deal. Bring a printout or ad with you. Most stores will honor competitors prices. Even if you don’t have an ad, ask for a discount. In my experience, big chain stores such as Best Buy and Sears will negotiate. Keep the attitude, everything is negotiable. I wouldn’t try it at the check stand of a supermarket, not that it can’t be done, but don’t be shy to ask at major retailers. You’ll be surprised the deals you can get just for asking.
Up Next;
Part II features indispensable online resources to smarter shopping.
The exact method of determining credit scores is a closely guarded trade secret. So it is rather surprising that FICO has released this information. It doesn’t tell us everything, but it does help us understand how much of an impact debt can have on credit scores.
The New Info
Effect on a 680 score
Effect on a 780 score
Maxed out card
-10 to -30
-25 to -45
30 day late payment
-60 to -80
-90 to -110
Debt Settlement
-45 to -65
-105 to -125
Foreclosure
-85 to -105
-140 to -160
Bankruptcy
-130 to -150
-220 to -240
What We Already Know:
Payment history – 35%
Amounts owed ( amount owed in proportion to total credit limit) – 30%
Length of credit history – 15%
New credit ( recent inquiries and newly opened accounts) – 10%
Types of credit used (revolving, installment, or consumer finance) – 10%
Source: FICO
Another instance that FICO revealed some rather controversial info was during July 1999. They stated that the type of occupation, such as professional or blue collar, was a factor of up to 50 points (FICO Presentation). However, on FICO’s website it clearly states that occupation is not scored (FICO scoring).
Make a budget…blah, blah, blah. First and foremost, this is your most valuable tool. Sounds so boring and insignificant, but I promise you it is not. Do you want to know how to save more money than you thought possible? Take a look at your spending habits. Not only will it show you the cold, hard facts, it will heighten your awareness of saving in general. It can truly be a motivating factor. There are some amazing websites that help you to manage, budget, save, and even motivate. Some offer syncing with your credit cards and bank accounts. If you are vary of sharing such info, I would suggest BudgetTracker. It allows you to enter your info manually and also has an option to sync your accounts in the future. It is important to find the right budgeting tool for you. There is no ”best” when it comes to this category. It really must fit you personally and meet your individual needs. Just a few off the top of my head. A more comprehensive list will be added later. Have you found a great budgeting tool or tip? Share in the comments.
AceMoney Lite - Free finance manager. Full version is for businesses.
Buddi - Simple to use finance manager and budgeting program
BudgetTracker - Allows you to enter your banking info manually, but syncing is also available.
Buxfer - Money management linked to checking and credit card account.
Geezeo - User friendly financial tracker and budgeting.
GnuCash.org - Checkbook register style format. Simple but lots of additional options.
mint.com - A money manager that is synced to your accounts
MicrosoftOffice templates - Free downloads of their popular templates.
Wesabe - Another money management program that is synced to your checking and credit card accounts
Yodlee - Beyond budgeting. Offers integrated bill pay options.
Ihave gotten quite a few questions regarding the statute of limitations, so I have decided to start Quick Post; A short post for hot topics or time sensitive material.
What is the statute of limitations?
The statute of limitations for a debt is the amount of time creditors can file a lawsuit on an unpaid debt. However, creditors and collectors can still try to collect the debt. The SoL (statute of limitations) varies from State to State.
A SoL on a debt can become void if you admit to the debt being yours. In other words, if the creditor is asking you if this is your debt or if you made certain charges, and you respond yes, the debt is reactivated. The SoL will no longer apply.
Zombie debt is a debt past the statute of limitations. This debt is uncollectible, meaning you no longer can be sued by collectors for the debt. However, that does not stop collection agencies from coming after these old debts. They count on the fact that the average individual does not know about the SoL or they hope to void the SoL by getting you to admit to the debt.
Bottom line- You can pay the debt if you choose, but you can’t be sued if you don’t. Also, that negative report will remain on your credit report for seven years from the date of the charge off.
The majority of us pay our mortgage once a month, hopefully. The majority of us also receive a paycheck every two weeks. If we were to deposit half the amount of that month’s mortgage payment into a savings account when we receive our first paycheck, we would make interest on that amount until we removed it to pay our mortgage. It may be a negligible amount, but that is not the point. This long winded explanation is to help better understand how you can reduce a large amount of payments and save thousands of dollars. It is simply to make biweekly mortgage payments every month instead of one payment a month. Since we have half the money when we receive the first paycheck of the month, it would not be preposterous to go ahead and pay half of that month’s mortgage.
Let us say we take out a loan for $250,000 for 30 years with an fixed interest rate of 7%*. The amount due each month comes to approximately $1,660. We choose to go with a biweekly payment which comes to $830. Now let’s look at the final numbers. If we kept paying the monthly payment of $1660, we will have paid out approximately $350,000 just in interest alone! By making biweekly payments we pay approximately $263,000 in interest. That means a savings of $87,000!! It also means that your loan is shortened by 75 months. That’s 6 years and 3 months of payments gone, just by changing when you pay. When I learned the facts and figures of biweekly payments, I called up my bank and asked if I could make daily payments. They said, “That’s very funny.” I said, “I’m not kidding.”
Loan Amount (30 years/7% fixed) and AmountSAVED*
$100,000 $34,500
$250,000 $87,000
$300,000 $103,000
$500,000 $172,000
$1,000,000 $345,000
I find the savings truly amazing, but I find the amount of interest we pay absolutely ludicrous! There are many mortgage calculators that will show you a breakdown of how much principal and interest is paid each month. Let’s use the same loan for $250,000/30yr/7% to see what our break down of what the first month’s payment will be. The monthly payment is $1660. Of that amount, $1455 is interest and $205 is principal!? Now this is just the first month’s payment and each month the interest and principal amounts change. It gets better in the second month; $1454 in interest and $206 in principal. I’m going to stop there, it’s just too disheartening.
One other thing. I have heard of people sending in a weekly payment plan. Some people also pay their monthly payment at the beginning of the cycle rather than waiting until it is due. The lenders will take your money whenever you send it, but that doesn’t mean you gain any benefit from doing so.
Important!
You cannot just send in biweekly payments. You must call your lender to set it up, otherwise your payments will not reduce any interest!
Clarify with your lender that the biweekly payment plan is a TRUE biweekly plan. There is also a biweekly plan that is a standard biweekly plan, which is completely different. It is imperative that you get the correct plan.
Not all lenders accept or are willing to change to biweekly plans. Do research to see if refinancing is a viable option.
*Disclaimer: these amounts are approximates and to keep things simple, they do not include fees and mysterious other charges such as PMI (more on what I think of PMI some other time). The calculations are for demonstration and are approximations. Please seek the advice of a financial advisor when making any changes. I do not guarantee the accuracy of the numbers, spelling or grammar of this article.
Rebuilding your bad credit is not as difficult as you think. The first step is to realize and prove to yourself you can be responsible in handling credit cards. If your credit is bad, you most likely do not even have a credit card and it might be hard to obtain from major banks, but it is okay because you still have some options.
Secured Credit Cards- Works like an unsecured credit card but the cardholder needs to make a deposit against the credit limit. The creditor will take the deposit if you default on the credit card payment. The credit limit is usually around 50-100% of your deposit. If you cannot get a credit card the conventional way, this is a great way to improve your paying habits and improve your credit so you can get an unsecured card. Make sure the creditor will report to all three major credit bureaus and make sure to pay off your balance in full. Do not charge anything you cannot afford! After one or two years of timely payments, the creditor will usually allow you to convert your secured card to an unsecured card.
Department Store and Gas Cards- These cards are great to use for rebuilding your credit. Make sure you do not have more than two of each. Make sure you pay your balances in full, make payments on time, do not make any new charges until your balance is zero, and keep your balances under 25% of your credit limit.
Credit Cards for Bad Credit Scores- There are unsecured credit cards available based on your bad credit score. The rates can be pretty high but if you make payments on time and pay off your balance in full this can improve your credit score. Click here to find a bad credit score card or a secured card.
Bing cashback
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