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e-HAGGLING -- First, GOOGLE. Then, HAGGLE.

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Webster's Dictionary defines the word "haggle" as "to annoy or exhaust with wrangling." Makes it sounds a little harsh, but hey if it nets you a bargain ... game on.

Shopping Bag, Best Things to Buy in May

Many shoppers may be unaware of Amazon.com's Post-Order Price Guarantee.

It varies by retailer, but you'll likely find very few stores will price match Internet prices, particularly from sites that maintain solely an online presence. Some stores may not even match their own Internet prices. Doesn't mean it's not worth price comparison shopping on the fly, even if it means leaving the item behind vs haggling. You can check prices on millions of items from more than 11,000 retailers on your cellphone at wap.aol.com/shopping.

In the case of Walmart, they do not honor pricing from Walmart.com. But both Circuit City and BestBuy say they will match prices from their web site, providing the same item is in stock at a store near you. And if you buy online and a few days later see the item available in-store at a lower price, you may also have some recourse there.

When items are marked "online only" or "web special," it's spelled out pretty clearly, they're probably not going to honor the same price in store – and may not even have the item in stock at your local store. If you're a really good haggler, you might be able to work some magic, but don't count on it.

According to a recent New York Times article, on stocked items "Most store policies on bargaining are informal. Some major retailers, however, are quietly telling their salespeople that negotiating is acceptable."

Do your homework. Compare prices at multiple stores and check for online deals before you buy. Start your search on a comparison shopping site, find your bargain, print it and take it to the store as evidence to support your haggle. (Make sure it's an apples-to-apples comparison – in other words, it has to be the exact product they have in-store).


Again, mobile comparison shopping tool can work to your advantage, allowing you to compare prices on millions of products via your cell phone, while you're in the store. Try showing the results on your cell screen to the salesperson ... it may move the needle in your direction.

When haggling, if you're dealing with a salesperson who works on commission, you're likely to have more success – or plan B, find a manager who has sales goals to meet.

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Virtual Wedding Planner: AisleDash.com

Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Wedding season is fast-approaching and brides- and grooms-to-be are working feverishly to button up details on everything from flower arrangements and honeymoon plans, to bachelor parties and bridesmaid dresses. For those feeling a little lost in the fray, there's help online from people who've been there, done that. #1 piece of personal advice: Enjoy every second.

The writers at Wedding blog AisleDash, serve up daily doses of advice, helpful info. and picture galleries to help ease the stress of planning for the big day. The site covers weddings from just about every angle – etiquette (never under-estimate), gifts & registries, cakes & catering, invites, rings, fashion, bridal bloopers and more.



With today's average wedding costing nearly $30,000 (that's not including the honeymoon!), you'll want to check out AisleDash's regular posts on "budget advice," like these tips for buying bridesmaids dresses online: Shopping Online for Bridesmaids Gowns: 4 Rules to Follow. And there's no shortage of DIY wedding advice, including: Virtual Scrapbooking, DIY Wedding Program Fans, An Eco-friendly Wedding without Breaking the Bank.





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E-conomy 101: Saving $ in Unexpected Places

Monday, May 5, 2008
As the economy slows and gas prices reach all time highs, it seems we're all looking for new and creative ways to save a few buck ... Grab Your Mouse, We're About to Save $ in Some Unexpected Places ...

Free "Fix it" Help
www.repairclinic.com
POTENTIAL SAVINGS: $70.00 ++
http://www.repairclinic.com/
A one-stop-site for appliance problems, parts and repairs ... Consumers can ask the RepairGuru, RepairClinic's online help wizard, for assistance with most every major appliance repair question. To have an appliance technician come to your house costs as much as $70.00 for the first half hour ... and most often that's only to diagnose the problem. From there, you're looking at additional labor costs + parts.

Other free repair help is often just a "Google" away: Whatever problem you're having with an appliance, your computer, TV or iPod, chances are, someone else has had the same issue. Online searches turn up message boards and online do-it-your-selfers who've posted fixes for common problems.

Simple, Free E-Reminders
www.ohdontforget.com
POTENTIAL SAVINGS: $150.00 & up & up ...
http://www.ohdontforget.com/
When things are crazy and busy, stuff falls through the cracks. The inventor of this site (he was 28 years old!), was walking out the door one day and his wife said, "Oh, don't forget to pay the mortgage." He forgot. He created this tool so it wouldn't happen again. Now, anyone can use it for free. Just enter a cellphone #; the message & when you want it sent. Tell your kids to take out the garbage, spouse to pick up milk, yourself to get the oil changed ... Whatever works. If you type in your own cellphone #, you can test it right now.

How much can forgetting to pay the mortgage cost you? Most mortgage contracts offer borrowers a 15-day grace period, with a late charge of 5% on payments received after the 16th. A 5% late fee on a $3000.00 mortgage is $150.00 ... a decent chunk of change you don't want to part with.

Don't Flush Money Down the Toilet
www.videojug.com
POTENTIAL SAVINGS = 16% OFF YOUR WATER BILL
The tagline for "how to" video site VideoJug.com is "Life Explained on Film." In this short clip titiled, "The Toilet Tank Trick," a do-it-yourselfer explains how to use less water with each flush of the toilet. The fix takes only about a minute and he claims savings of up to 16% on your water bill or about 7500 gallons over the course of a year. While it's hard for us to verify the math, clearly, using less water means more money in your pocket.

http://www.videojug.com/film/the-toilet-tank-trick

Back-up Your Digital Tunes
www.bluestring.com
POTENTIAL SAVINGS = $1188.00
BlueString is a free media storage service, enabling you to preserve your online media, i.e., digital photos, videos and music in an online account. You automatically receive 5GB of free online storage and can access your media from any computer, anywhere and share it privately via invitations to groups of friends and family.
http://bluestring.com/
If you simply used the free 5GB of space to back-up your MP3 collection, you could store about 1200 songs. And you'd be storing them remotely and securely ... So, if your computer goes kaput or your hard drive gets fried, your music collection remains intact and can be restored on to a new computer.

Now, let's do the math – 1200 MP3 songs at .99 cents each will have set you back $1188.00. With a free and easy online storage/back-up option, there's no reason to risk losing that kind of cash.

Reach a Real Human
www.gethuman.com
POTENTIAL SAVINGS = TIME IS $$$ ... WHAT'S YOUR TIME WORTH?

If you're tired of the "robo-voice" merry-go-round that happens each time you try to call customer service, there is a way to work around the seemingly endless chain of automated voice prompts. GetHuman.com, lists shortcuts and telephone numbers for over 500 consumer companies (banks, insurance companies, retailers, telephone companies, utilities, etc.) for bypassing automated messages and getting directly to a human being. GetHuman can't promise you'll get the help you need, but at least they'll be someone on the other end to hear you out.

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Prosper.com -- Real-Life Lenders & Borrowers

Friday, April 25, 2008


Gotta admit, this was news to me ... it's called peer to peer lending -- People turning to perfect strangers vs banks for loans on a site called Prosper.com. Thousands of people are looking for loans and thousands of individuals are willing and able to serve as lenders. Often they lend small amounts to many different people, spreading the risk. Here's a terrific local news story with Laura Rillos explaining how the site works.

My brother-in-law is totally intrigued by this site. Hard not to be.

Prosper.com, reported that its lending volume totaled $80 million in 2007, nearly triple the $28 million it totaled in 2006. Other similar sites include Facebook's Lending Club.

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GreenDaily.com - Easy Ways to go Green on Earth Day

Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Going green is a huge trend & can't watch TV, listen to the radio or get through an interview on either without it coming up. Not to date self, but remember when Nickelodeon launched ground-breaking Earth Day efforts. To their credit, seems they were ahead of their time. Now, everyone & everything is well represented online.

See: Earth Day 2008.



Browse over to GreenDaily.com for tips like: Five ways to start going green if you already haven't: Bring your own bag to the grocery store, unplug appliances when you're not using them and lots more.

There are also a regular features on Celebrity "ecoists" like Ted Danson:



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TODAY SHOW -- Cracking the Car Buying Code

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

It was particularly quiet around the TODAY SHOW this weekend because all of the roads were blocked off near St Patrick's Cathedral where the Pope was giving mass. The weather was glorious, just as it was in DC. Divine intervention perhaps & just wonderful to see. Back to business ... We didn't get nearly as much information as I had hoped across in the on-air segment re: online resources when it comes to car buying. A couple of clicks really can save you thousands of dollars. The article prepared for MSNBC.com is loaded with info & here's even more ....

With talk of a recession, consumers are tightening their purse strings, so car makers and dealers are doing whatever they can to "keep the metal moving." It might be one of the best times in recent history to pick up a good deal on a new or used vehicle. But you still have to do your homework before you fire up the engine. Making some key moves online could save you thousands.

LOG ON BEFORE YOU HIT THE LOT
Bottomline: it pays to click around before buying. Shoppers who use the web spend about one hour and 20 mins less time circling the dealer lot and less time negotiating a sales price. Plus, they pay about 5% less for cars. In what is often the second biggest purchase for most consumers – after their home – that's big bucks.

SHOW ME THE MONEY


Cash back incentives or 0% financing (Is usually one or the other -- not both), sounds great, but the advertising is more subtle these days & consumers are doing their online homework vs. responding to in your face "LOW, LOW!" aggressive ads. We're over the hype. We want to know the math. Dealers understand this. We spoke with one salesperson who said on a percentage basis, he's more likely to convert an Internet lead into a sale compared to getting a sale from someone who just shows up on the lot. It's all about qualified leads. If you're a qualified & well-informed buyer ready to make a decision, it's a win/win for you AND the dealer.

LOCATION MATTERS
Keep in mind, car deals often vary regionally, so when you're doing your online research, it's a good idea to type in multiple zip code (maybe an hour away or one state over). Could be worth the drive if the incentives are better.

THE REAL MATH
It's estimated there's $1,500-$3,000 difference between the "invoice" and " sticker" price on a $20,000 vehicle. The numbers go up for higher priced vehicles. If you negotiate, you should end up somewhere in between those two prices. The goal is to work your way UP from the invoice price VS DOWN from the sticker price.

A a lot of people don't know this, but dealers sometimes get additional cash back paid to them directly from manufacturers for moving/selling certain models ... Those are the cars you can really get a deal on, since the dealer may be able to sell you the car at/below invoice price and still make decent money from the sale.

This valuable information is available online – it's usually listed as dealer marketing support, which describes manufacturer to dealer programs specifically designed to assist dealers in marketing their vehicles. The most common program is in the form of cash credit to the dealers, who may or may not choose to pass some part of this money on to their customers.

Stat: 70% to 90% of customer rebates from car manufacturers trickle down as discounts to car buyers, while only 30% to 40% of dealer rebates from manufacturers are passed through to buyers by dealers. That equates to a difference of about $500 for a typical promotion and is caused by the fact that consumers often don't know about dealer rebates.

At the end of the day, sometimes you hear about the latest incentives ... cash back, 0 % financing, etc., but it's often the incentive you DON'T hear about -- the ones between manufacturers & dealers -- that matter most.
RUN THE NUMBERS (KNOW THE TOTAL COST OF OWNING THE CAR).
www.NADAguides.com (National Automobile Dealers Association)

The math doesn't stop when you get the keys. A lot of people learn this the hard way. There are sites to help you know what you're really getting into by calculating the TOTAL cost of ownership.

http://nadaguides.com/

NADAguides.com gives car buyers a detailed overview of the estimated Cost of Ownership to own a vehicle over the course of five years, including depreciation, fees & taxes, insurance, fuel, maintenance, opportunity cost, and repairs. A five year summary of all associated costs specific to a particular make and model is very telling! Some brand maintain their value & some are more reliable ... it all factors into the overall math.

BUYING USED -- MAKE SURE YOU'RE COMPARING APPLES TO APPLES.
There's a record-breaking 2.5 million used cars listed on autos.aol.com alone -- from dealers AND private sellers. The trick is comparing apples to apples and narrowing down the choices in a methodical, sensible way. You're in the driver seat by fine tuning the search criteria. Here's where using online search tools really beats roaming dealer lots and scanning the paper.

http://autos.aol.com/

Type in the make & model you're after; your price range; & zip code. You'll quickly get comprehensive results you can tailor even further. Two of the biggest factors in price are the YEAR of and MILEAGE on the vehicle. Make adjustments using the prompted criteria to narrow down your choices. Once you get down to a handful of available options, you can check the often free CARFAX report vehicle history report, detailing things like: Has the car ever had flood damage or odometer fraud? How many people have owned the car? Is the title is clear?

E-HAGGLE (EMAIL ANONYMOUSLY FOR A NO OBLIGATION QUOTE).
You can actually negotiate price anonymously, without having to step foot into a dealership. It's referred to as "e-haggling." You might wonder: Why would a dealer negotiate with someone that they've never met? Well, they know 75% of car buyers are starting their search online. Dealers have staffed up their Internet departments accordingly & won't be surprised when you ask for a price quote via email.

When they write you back, you might say -- if your research has indicated you're in the ballpark -- "That seems a bit high. Am waiting on several other incoming dealer emails. So far, think can do better." They'll likely write you back. Again, they want you to come to the lot. And now, you might be arriving with a discounted offer in hand. You're already ahead of the curve whether you're buying a new or used vehicle. You've talked – or in this case – TYPED them down.

GOING THE EBAY ROUTE.
www.motors.ebay.com

Online auctions/bidding on a car can be another way to score a deal on a used car. EBay Motors just announced the 3 millionth vehicle was sold on their site. Currently, a vehicle is being sold on eBay every 56 seconds. If you're looking for a steal on a car with a lot of miles or a clunker you're willing to fix up (they also sell a lot of parts), the deals can be terrific.

http://www.motors.ebay.com/

Many buyers feel like they're paying about $1800 less than the official Kelley Blue Book value of the vehicle (the industry standard for the going-rate of any given vehicle).

Keep in mind the bids are binding ... if you're bidding over 15K you'll have to secure the bid with a credit card (the card is not charged) or you may need to be pre-approved. You're also likely to be responsible for picking the vehicle up. They have deals with shipping companies & can give you an estimate, so you know what this variable will be.

As is always the case with eBay, the sellers reputation (their "rating") is key. If the seller has a very high customer satisfaction rating, you're probably in good hands. In addition, eBay has really beefed up it's VPP (vehicle protection program), so the risk of buying a car site unseen (though there are tons of photos for each vehicle) is significantly minimized.

So, it's worth a look & a shot if you have a specific price limit in mind re: what you consider is a good deal and only bid up until that point. So, do all the online homework we've suggested. Then, bid low and see if you can do even better going this route:)


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HAGGLING -- Price Set in Stone? Maybe, Maybe Not.

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

We've covered this angle on the radio this week & are delving into it further in upcoming TV segments ... Not since the 1850's have American consumers considered prices in retail stores anything other than fixed (set in stone). In face, most research indicates we like it that way. Hence, "no haggle" price advertisements. Well ... maybe not so fast. They're calling it "entrepeneurial" (why ise the word 'desperate' if you don't need to?). Whatever the driver, math is math and consumers are watching their wallets just as retailers are realizing some margins are better than none. What does it all mean & how does the Internet factor in? Read on ....

NY Times: Even at Megastores, Hagglers Find No Price Is Set in Stone

  • Consumers accustomed to haggling online are heading to brick & mortar stores for more deals.

Haggling is a never-ending process:

  • PriceProtectr.com: They watch prices so you don't have to; if an item drops in price after you purchase it, they'll let you know so that you can get a refund of the difference.

    • All you need to do is enter the URL for the item you purchased. If the price drops within the item's price protection period, they'll send you an email with detailed information on how to get your money back.
    • Also works for in-store purchases – check the site for a complete list of stores

      • Abercrombie & Fitch

      • Ann Taylor

      • Anthropologie

      • The Apple Store

      • Best Buy

      • Bed Bath & Beyond

      • Nordstrom

      • Target

      • Walmart

HowToHaggle.com: Know the mistakes

  • Getting angry: Do not let your emotions get the best of you. Remember, you approached him with a price that is different than what he is advertising.

  • Don't Dress to Impress

  • Don't be unreasonable: the vendor needs to make money too; he cannot give you the item for free.

More Tips:

  • WalletPop's daily deal – new bargain-basement deals posted daily

  • Go to a comparison shopping site, print the bargain, and take it to the store as evidence to support your haggle!

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Deltalina

Friday, April 4, 2008

As discussing on CNN Headline News & stations across the country this morning, Delta Airlines has a new In-flight safety video and it's .... well, ..... different. Different enough to turn a safety video into a marketing vehicle. Same script, different treatment & it took off after being posted on the airline's corporate blog.

The airline employed the "American Idol" strategy winnowing down 1,000 potential candidates to front the video to one flight-attendant -- a 33-year-old Atlanta woman named Katherine Lee. She's now going by "Deltalina," a combination of the airline's name and Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie. She's a real Delta employee and reportedly flattered by the comparison & loving the spotlight.

The video is slated to air on approximately 400 Delta flights & is already a hit online prompting tons of media coverage & at least one marriage proposal.

FOXNews.com - Delta's Red-Headed Flight Attendant a Hit on YouTube in Airline's Safety Video - Local News | News Articles | N..

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,340624,00.html#

COMMENTS:
tselone
this girl is the best thing that happened to Delta! she is super fresh!!!

lobstertexas
it's very slight.. but the way she says "phones" indicates she's from the greater Pennsylvania area :D
ebrock1
She looks a little like a redheaded Evangeline Lilly. Can't wait to fly Delta again.

DeepSpace9Fan
I saw on the morning show, they were talking about this, and they said the woman looks a bit like Angilina Jolie. With the lips and all.
Delta...you've won me back!

eric3356
She is easy on the eyes and easy on the ears. I love the part where she says the light on the life jacket will illuminate on its own in the water.

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MARCH MADNESS + BE GREEN & SLASH FOOD PRICES

Thursday, March 27, 2008
We continue to expand into more & more local networks ... including CH. 13 KLBK CBS Lubbock, TX. Feel free to get in on our ever-growing TV & Radio roster ... We'll fit it as many/much as we can ... THANKS FOR YOUR INTEREST:) Really appreciate & am open to any/all story ideas. Comment! R



Related round-ups:

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Peer-to-Peer Lending -- Turning to Strangers vs Banks for Personal Loans

Thursday, March 27, 2008
Gotta admit, this was news to me ... it's called peer to peer lending -- People turning to perfect strangers vs banks for loans on a site called Prosper.com. Thousands of people are looking for loans and thousands of individuals are willing and able to serve as lenders. Often they lend small amounts to many different people, spreading the risk. Here's a terrific local news with Laura Rillos explaining how the site works. We're researching it further for a Rachael Ray segment being taped next week. Let me know what you think of the concept. I think it's intriguing & a real sign of the times ...



Of course, Prosper.com and its lenders do make money & the business model is somewhat intricate. Some of the specifics are here. They certainly seem to be onto something with loan volume growing to over $125 million consisting of 620,000 individuals. The "individuals" looking for cash range from students with college tuition bills, to entrepreneurs trying to get a news business off the ground, to folks trying to pay down credit card debt (the interest rate on credit cards is higher than what you''ll likely be able to secure on Prosper.com).
WalletPop puts a different spin on it, suggesting if you've been living within your means (good for you, by the way) & have some cash to spare, this could be a legit way to capitalize & help people out at the same time. You can see just how many people are "bidding" (think eBay) on the loan (this drives down the interest rate) & the estimated "risk" of the loan based on the individuals credit history.

Lenders & borrowers alike seem to rave about it. Scroll down to read COMMENTS on this BloggingStocks.com round-up, which also describes the concept as "amazing."



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FIVE SITES THAT CAN PUT $50 IN YOUR POCKET

Monday, March 17, 2008

THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR FEEDBACK RE: THIS STORY ... WE'RE WORKING ON ADDITIONAL COST-SAVINGS STORIES, SO FILL US IN ON YOUR TRICKS ... THANKS AGAIN. BEST IS YET TO COME ...

Lester isn't exactly a bargain bee, but he did light up when he found out he can soon have savings transmitted directly to his grocery store card &/or his cellphone as seen on the TODAY SHOW this morning.

Call it want you want ... A recession or not, there's no question Americans (INCLUDING THIS ONE:) are looking for to get more bang for their buck and cash is king.

While there are scams online offering "get rich quick" schemes or promising tax refunds (one of the most popular "phishing" scams), there are also some savvy, legitimate resources worth taking advantage of.

Here are FIVE SITES THAT CAN PUT $50 IN YOUR POCKET FAST:


CLICK TO VIEW: NBC's Lester Holt with Regina Lewis

1) CLICK FOR COUPONS
www.couponmom.com
TOTAL AVG. MONTHLY SAVINGS: $50.

Grocery prices are up almost across the board. People are really feeling it when you consider food accounts for about 15% of the average household budget. Rising prices are in large part driven by wheat – up 44%. Cereal is one of the most obvious examples, since wheat makes up about 24% of the total cost of goods for cereal. One of the ways cereal makers are hiding the price increase is to make the box smaller.

Hands holding grocery receipt
Consumers are paying as much as 36% more than last year
for common kitchen staples, like eggs, bread, milk, chicken

Money saving blog WalletPop has breaks down where your food budget is seeing the biggest hit. According to WalletPop, grocery prices are up substantially from this time last year. Orange juice is up 13.3% and lunch staples like American sliced cheese, up 8.3%; peanut butter, up 9.4%; and potato chips, up 7%. If you drink cola with your lunch, that's up, too, 12.4% year-over-year.

An obvious way to get around rising grocery costs is to stick to a list, so you avoid impulse buys ... and above all, play the coupon game. You can print coupons at home from sites like couponmom.com. Manufacturers want you to have these, but only if you need them to pick their product. Retail 101. In a matter of minutes, we selected $12.50 in coupons ... Shopping once per week, that equals $50 a month in savings. If your store doubles coupons, $100. And this is conservative. True bargain bees are all over this site – a quarter million of them are regular users.


The Coupon Mom says over 250,000
users save money using her system.

Coupon "Shortcuts" on the way
Here's what's coming up next: You won't even have to print them. A new just-developed technology launching later this month (www.shortcuts.com) allows you to select the coupons you want & instantly they'll be transmitted to your grocery membership card (81% of people have these). It's like turbo-charging your card with extra savings.

And, looking further ahead, you heard it here first – coupons can be requested & downloaded right to your cellphone & you'll scan it across the in-store scanner. We got our hands on a prototype from Acuity Mobile (www.AcuityMobile.com). Think of it as coupons on-demand.

2) CASH IN OLD CELL PHONE
www.cellforcash.com
TOTAL CASH OUT FOR OLD CELL: $5.00-$50.00
Log on, locate your make and model and get a quote in seconds. You do need to know your exact model – find this wherever the battery is on your phone – pop out the battery and look behind it. If you're satisfied with the price they offer you (anywhere from $5 for a regular cell to over $50 for a higher-end Blackberry), request a postage paid box. The phone must be able to power up and complete a call and you'll need to send in the charger as well. Cellforcash.com will mail you a check within 30 days. The site takes the old phones, refurbishes them and resells them in developing countries ... A win, win.

3) CASH IN A GIFT CARD
www.swapagift.com
TOTAL CASH OUT: $75.00 SEARS card currently going for $48.75
$26 billion worth of gift cards were sold this past holiday season alone ... Thousands will go unused by consumers. You can't redeem for cash in-store, but you can online ... Generally, you can expect to receive about 65% of face-value. I spoke with a top executive from swapagift.com and he says business is booming. Makes perfect sense ... cash is king in this economy.



So, I had a $75 Sears gift card. I enter this info on the site (it takes a few seconds) and get an "instant" quote. There is a $1.99 fixed fee, because they make their money on the spread (the difference between what they buy the card for & the price they re-sell it at). So, on the flip side, if you're doing a kitchen renovation and wanted to really get the cost of a new dishwasher down, you could buy three $100 gift cards on this site for $90 each (the current going rate). Essentially, you'd be getting "discounted cash." If the dishwasher is $300, that's $30 off right off the bat before any other sales or discounts are applied.

4) SAVE AT THE PUMP
www.mapquest.com
TOTAL MONTHLY SAVINGS: Save 30 cents per gallon X 2 tanks per week = $48.

In many cities across the country, going one block or one mile could save you precious pennies at the pump ... As much as .30-.50 cents per gallon. If you're filling up a 20 gallon SUV once or twice a week, it adds up fast.


Mapquest's Gas Prices feature plots prices
on a map for stations within a 50 mile radius.

Use Mapquest's Gas Prices feature by typing in an address or zip code and it will give you gas stations with the lowest prices for up to a 50 mile radius. The stations appear plotted on a map. In a given area, prices can range by as much as 50 cents per gallon and are updated up to 7 times a day.

5) CHEAP SEATS GUARANTEED
www.yapta.com
TOTAL CASH BACK BASED ON NEW LOWER FARE = $400 (original fare) - $275 (new fare) = $125 - $75 (change fee) = $50



You book your airline ticket, prices drop ... But it's not game over! Plug in your itinerary into Yapta.com (before or after you book) and it will alert you if/when prices drop. All major airlines offer what is called the "guaranteed airfare policy," which means you're eligible for a refund if the fare price decreases. When you get your itinerary, just email it to Yapta at flights@yapta.com. It's literally just a matter of forwarding what the airlines send you. Couldn't be easier. Even after deducting any change fee levied by the airline, if your $400 round trip ticket is suddenly $275, you might have $50+ bucks headed your way. Related: THE WALL STREET JOURNAL - How to Get Money Back When Airfares Drop.

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What's Hot on the Web - Overview

Thursday, March 6, 2008
As covering on radio stations across the country this week, here's more of what Americans are looking for online ... It's a round-up of what's being searched for, clicked and watched on the Web. This week: Most Searched: American Idol; New You: New Sites Fit Fashions to Your Figure; Spring Cleaning: Get Rid of the Clutter .... Plus, Got Game? Girls Do Now More than Ever; Filing Taxes Online? Protect Yourself.

AOL SEARCH SPOTLIGHT: Past Lives of American Idol Hopefuls

American Idol Scandals
Turns out David H.'s stripper past
isn't the only skeleton in 'Idol's closet.

* David Hernandez – up 439%

* David Archuleta – up 395%

* Amanda Overmyer – up 234%

* Ramiele Malubay – up 232%

* Robbie Carrico – up 214%

* Carly Smithson – down 41%

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

New You: New Sites Fit Fashions to Your Figure
Fashionistas are gearing up for the hot new colors and styles of spring, but how can you tell if that color really works with your skin tone? Or if the must-have new top fits properly? Personally, I think you can figure out the color thing. The fit? Trickier. I was at J Crew this week & had the woman in the dressing room laughing .... In their stuff I'm a size 2-4 on bottom, but a size 4-6 on top. So .... I walked out & said, "Clearly, I'm a 3 & a 5!" (they only sell 2, 4 & 6). Was total bust & don't have ton of time to shop, so was bummed at lack of purchasing productivity. But, at least we had a good laugh & J Crew merchandising (more than quality of goods) continues to impress.

Here area few new sites to steer clear of fashion faux pas by size and shape. And, at least, maybe you won't make major mistakes in front of a few million people. (you know, the thought you have when you see someone (usually a woman) wearing something on TV & think "what were they thinking?" ...

Dior Fall 2008
Catwalking, Getty Images

www.SizeMeUpOnline.com – Enter the sizes, brands, etc from your 10 favorite clothing items and this site figures out your correct size in other brands. No more false size zeros, sadly, but at least you won't have to return those pants you ordered at JCrew.com!

www.stylelist.com – The "Shape Your Style" blog helps readers find the right fit for them.

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Spring Cleaning: Go Online to Get Rid of the Clutter
No more excuses, it is time to clear the clutter. Sites with online checklists, tips, videos, quizzes, and the support you need to spruce up your home and life.



AOL Coach Barbara K helps you re-imagine your home.

RealSimple.com has a cleaning schedule that can be put automatically into your calendar to keep you on track. Clever & elusive;)

iVillage.com has a great spring cleaning web site with essential products and even a list of 10 Things You Can Quit Cleaning (fireplace walls, sneakers, pillows, etc).

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Got Game? Girls Do Now More than Ever
While conventional wisdom holds adult gamers are predominately male, nearly half (45%) are female. Women also prefer more casual, social-oriented games. There's even a new scholarship program to recruit more women into the video game industry.

GameDaily.com: Check out Second Life, others.

The GIRL scholarship program from Sony is designed to educate and recruit more women into the video game industry. The winner receives $10,000 tuition scholarship towards his or her education and an internship at Sony. Smart.

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Filing Taxes Online? Take Steps to Protect Yourself
More and more people every year are filing their taxes online, and for good reason. Fewer mistakes are made, prep time is shorter and, best of all, your refund come faster. Last year more than 80 million taxes were filed online. As with anything, you need to make sure you are being safe. Here are some tips.


  • Never open an email from the IRS that you're not expecting. The IRS will never send an unsolicited email. More here.
Check out AOL Money & Finance for filing tips advice, links, forms, etc.

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Viral Video of the Week

Will.I.Am's Newest Obama video - Black Eyed Peas frontman's latest viral video "We Are the Ones."


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Keeping up with The Online Buzz
Each Thursday & Friday, AOL Consumer Advisor Regina Lewis (www.reginalewis.com) chats about the week's hot searches and trends across the web in radio interviews.

For a daily look at the day's most searched queries, check out the AOL Hot Searches blog at http://hotsearches.aol.com. And visit The Ones to Watch for the most popular viral videos around the Internet.

To BOOK AN INTERVIEW ... CALL RICH @ 202.631.2159

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CATCH REGINA ON SHOW/STATIONS throughout the country, including:

Jack Diamond Morning Show

Matthew Blades, Erin & AJ

Moby in the Morning

Monty, Chris & Zeke

Weasel & Kate

Gordon Deal

Wags & Elliott
Bruce & Donna in the Morning

Vic & Katy
Nancy & Bill
www.komoradio.com

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Unplug & Cash In Old iPods, Cameras, PlayStations, Laptops & More ...

Tuesday, February 26, 2008
** There's a NEW Market for OLD Tech **
E-V-E-R-Y-B-O-D-Y has this stuff in their drawers & closets .... Average person switches cell phone every 18 months; a lot of people are on their 2nd-3rd iPod; kids grow up & outgrow their PlayStation; many laptops are on their last leg; and lots of people want to upgrade their digital camera. Hence, a new secondary market has emerged & most people don't know about it.

Costco.com Trade-In & Recycle Program

New sites & stores, including Costco/Costco.com, www.secondrotation.com & www.GreenSight.com allow you to trade in almost anything & it's a lot easier than attempting to do it on your own via eBay. They resell or take them apart and use parts. You can get anywhere from $50+ for an iPod or digital camera to $250+ for a used camcorder, laptop or the PlayStation your kids aren't playing anymore.
Key tips:

1) Make sure you erase personal info, pictures, etc. (avoid identity theft)

2) Save original packaging & manual (yields more $ when reselling)

3) Be honest about item condition (they're going to check, so no point in "fibbing")

4) Be realistic about value (cross-check with comparable items/bids on eBay)

5) Use provided shipping label (is trackable & often pre-paid)

Related WSJ Article -- How to Part With An Old Computer

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If YOU were in the Oval Office ...

Wednesday, February 20, 2008
This site is really neat. WWW.ELECTORALCOMPASS.COM . They ask you a series of 36 questions on issues including Iraq, Iran, taxes, gun control, global warming, education, etc. Then, they plot your views on a Republican/Democrat axis to see where & how you skew overall & by issue. Takes a matter of minutes & is pretty telling ... Essentially, you "vote" the way you would in the White House and weight how strongly you feel about a given topic (Neutral, Tend to Disagree, Strongly Agree, etc.). Then, they tell you which candidate best matches up with your views. It is representation after all;) Hmmmm ... based on my results, may have to give Ron Paul another look.

USA TODAY adds some production elements with this "Candidate Match Game" ... I post up well against Giuliani in this one. Guess they need to update the choices. In the meantime, taking the Quiz, does force you to think.

For ongoing updates on election video, check out this new area on TRUVEO: Government Elections Videos - Truveo Video Search

See related: FOX NEWS VIDEO

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