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These days your teens' friends aren't just the kids hanging out in your kitchen and family room; they're hundreds of contacts on their "friend" and "buddy" lists. More than 50 million teens (ages 13-17) are online worldwide, and the average number of "friends" is 130. For many teens, these numbers are even higher. It's not unusual to have hundreds of friends and thousands of photos.

So, how can you realistically keep up with your child's vast circle of friends and ongoing status and photo updates?

1. Become a Friend

For starters, you can become your child's friend online. He or she will need to accept your friend request. This can be easier said than done. In some cases you may get push-back. It's your call how strongly you press. There are more private alternatives. A new product called Safe Social lets you privately see everything you would as a friend and even more. Many kids prefer this route. Remember, you're not spying on them; you're simply doing your job as an informed and involved parent.


2. Curb the Comments

Be sure not to push your luck by excessively commenting on your child's page once you are granted access. Grandparents can be over-commenting culprits too. Often, teens find this embarrassing and it may even lead to having them "unfriend" you. It happens all the time as they seek more independence.

3. Get a Report Card

The new parenting tool Safe Social offers a time-efficient and thorough way to keep tabs on your children's social networking without being too intrusive. It delivers an easy-to-read report card providing a 360-degree view of their overall social networking -- what they're saying and doing and who their friends are. This addresses one of the biggest issues facing parents all over the country -- feeling like you need to spend hours each week monitoring your child's online activity and still not being really sure you're seeing everything (they can filter your view) or what you might be missing (what's happening on their friends' pages).


4. Watch the Friends

Some friends your children may know well; others, they may barely know at all. Young people tend to think they know all the friends in their social network, but often, they really don't. Predators, whether bullies or sexual offenders, often masquerade as friends. The key is to unmask them. Safe Social's Friend Engine takes an extensive look at your kids' friends and checks them against more than 50 databases and other factors to see if they may not be who they say they are. You'll be alerted when an adult becomes a friend of your child, when someone looks suspicious or has no or few other mutual friends with your child.


5. Focus on Flagged Language and Photos

Specific words that may come up in strings of conversations -- sex, drugs, alcohol, suicide and so on, and suggestive or violent language -- will be flagged, so you can hone in on suspect dialogue. You can even opt to be immediately notified via an e-mail alert. This piece could prove priceless in protecting your children's safety and managing their reputations. Teen and preteen online behavior can be unpredictable and have devastating consequences. Safe Social helps catch situations before they spiral out of control. While every conversation and image is archived, you can adjust the setting to simply view those that are called out. This lets you give young people more privacy as they mature. You will see all photos, including those other people post of your child. Young people tend to push limits with photos, so checking this is critical.


Overall, social networking is an integral part of many teenage lives and an opportunity for your kids to learn to express themselves in a creative and responsible fashion. It's too big a trend to ignore. You can embrace it with these new tools on your side.

For more information, visit: www.SafeSocial.com, Safety.AOL.Com & ReginaLewis.com.

College students will spend over $600 on dorm room essentials, school supplies, clothes and electronics before stepping onto campus this fall ... and that doesn't even count tuition, room and board or late night pizza orders. Students (and anyone else) can earn cash back when they do their shopping via shortcuts.com new CASH BACK program (www.shortcuts.com/cashback) for back-to-school shopping. Most stores offer between 3% to 6% cash back on purchases – and if you're buying things you need anyway, it's a win-win and a great route to go.


This way come Fall, you'll get a check in the mail right before you're about to run out of money at school and call home. Cash rewards can be earned at 1200 different stores, including big names like Nordstrom, Macys, Target, Best Buy, Bed Bath & Beyond and lots more.

As seen this morning on The Early Show (CBS) – Regina discusses the latest high-tech back to school supplies.

Retailers are preparing for price wars and big discounts to pull in shoppers as the back-to-school season kicks into full gear. The annual ritual is second only to the Christmas season in its importance to retailers' bottom lines. The average American family with school-age children is expected to spend about $58 more this year than last, for a total of $606.40, up 11%, according to the National Retail Federation. The federation says the increase is due to necessity: the kids have outgrown the clothes and backpacks that they might have reused last year.


Look for Dollar Deals on the Basics

Starting with school supplies – there's a lot of competition for the basics – lots dollar deals and many items for well under a dollar. WalletPop.com continues to update a list of back to school bargains, so that's a good starting point for comparison shopping before you head off to the store. And comparison shopping is a big deal this year for back to school – a lot families are on tight budgets. Another trend expected is buying generic vs. brand name.


Target: Paper portfolios for $.10, 2-pack of erasers for $.20, glue for $.20, 12-pack of colored pencils $.50.

Office Depot: Supplies starting at 5 cents each, pocket folders for 25 cents each, a 10 pack of pens for 25 cents, a 24 pack of crayons for 69 cents. Offer for a free backpack with a $10.00 minimum purchase.

Staples: one subject binders for $.59 each and lot of $1.00 and $2.00 deals on the basics like: pencils, pens, markers, highlighters, tape and glue sticks.

Amazon.com: has a Back to School Sale – has 50 school supplies under $5.00 and all 50 deals come with Amazon's Free Super Saver Shipping, as long as spend a total of $25.00 or more.

Tip: Make a list and stick to it. Don't get lured in by the big bargains and then fall into the trap of buying higher priced items that aren't on your list.

Apparel Sales ... Blue Jeans Rule

Apparel is where parents will spend the majority of the back to school budget. Look for big sales on the basics like polos, tees and blue jeans.

- Gap.com: All jeans are $20.00 off for a limited time, plus free shipping on your order for $50.00 or more.

- American Eagle: All jeans are on sale – and buy one pair of jeans and your entire order ships for free.

- Kohls.com: Sale on Kids' Levis jeans - $24.99. Plus, lots of 40%-50% off deals on tops, pants and shorts.


- Also of note, Kmart is offering layaway options, giving shoppers up to 8 weeks to pay for back-to-school goods.

Tip: If you are shopping online, another way e-tailers are bringing in business is through online coupons or coupon codes. If you don't have one, go to a site like retailmenot.com or Google the retailer + "coupon code." It also pays to sign up for e-tailers deal alerts and newsletters. They often send coupons that way and you will also be first on the list to find out about sales events.

Retailers Turn to Mobile Marketing

Retailers are promoting everything from jeans to pens and notebooks through emails and text messages. Target is sending out scannable coupons that shoppers show at the cash register. JCPenney's, Kohl's and Best Buy will send text messages to promote sales while Kmart customers will find out about daily deals through text alerts. Source: Marketwatch.com

Tax Free Holidays in 16 States

In 16 states, there are tax holidays for back-to-school shoppers with many taking place this weekend. In most cases the tax holidays cover clothing, footwear and back to school supplies with a selling price of $100 or less per item – but exact details do vary from state to state. For more details and to find out if and when your state is participating check out Consumer Reports Money Blog where they've done a nice roundup of information.

Laptops and Dorm Room Supplies

There was a time when a sub $400.00 laptop was a hard find, but right now is a great time to snag a deal on one and many are well below the $400.00 mark. BestBuy.com has well-equipped laptops starting at $329.00. Also very popular, the smaller, ultra-portable Netbooks are $100 less, starting at $229.00.


Walmart.com has laptops starting under $350.00 and has tech items for the college set front and center on their homepage right now.

Other Walmart deals:
- TVs starting at $139.00 (for the dorm room)
- Mini-fridges on rollback for $58.00.
- Microwave ovens for $49.00.

Big Savings on College Textbooks

The cost of buying the textbooks can easily add up to $1,000 per year or more. Buying used, either at the college bookstore or online (where you are likely to find a bigger selection) can save you big bucks. Web sites like Amazon.com, Half.com and CampusBooks.com are all places to look for a bargain. Books are organized by condition – i.e., "brand new," "like new," "good." Most books feature comments notifying buyers about highlighted or torn pages, stickers on the cover or water damage. The sites are searchable by title, author or a book's ISBN number. Also, Facebook hosts thousands of college-specific groups where students sell and swap textbooks.


New trend – renting college textbooks. Chegg.com has a reputation for being the Netflix of book rental companies – its used books are known for arriving in a bright orange box, and, more important, in good condition. Textbooks can be rented by semester. Shipping starts at $3.99 and return shipping is free. Renting normally runs about half the cost of buying textbooks. Chegg.com says the average student will save over $500.00 per year by renting.

Breaking up may be hard to do in the real world, but it can be even harder online. Regina stopped by The Early Show on Saturday Morning with suggested web sites, apps and tips to help purge your ex from your online life. Click here to read the full story.

Am picking my eldest son up from camp this weekend (big milestone, he was there for a week) & bringing my daughter to another camp. Multiple stops & some serious mileage ... The newly relaunched MAPQUEST let me easily add multiple stops. Am now set to drive in a near perfect triangle this weekend ...

This week on Wall Street Journal Radio we are talking about fitness sites – sites for those who are active and like to get moving, as well as sports sites for those who'd rather sit back and take in the action from the comfort of their living room.

Challenge Yourself in a Triathlon
www.TriFind.com
The running craze may have peaked several years ago, but now people are trying something even more challenging – triathlons. They are very popular during the warm summer months, on into the fall. If you think you could never do a triathlon, don't think about the extreme Ironman triathlons you see on TV ... those are mostly for the hardcore or seasoned veterans. Entry level or beginner triathlons are called "sprint" triathlons and normally cover distances in the neighborhood of a 300 meter swim, a 12 mile bike ride and little more than a three mile run to finish it off.


If this interests you, log on to web site www.trifind.com where they have races listed by state and include links to official race web sites. The site also has lists of recommended books and related sites for triathlon beginners and veterans alike, as well as training tips and links to triathlon clubs and coaches in your area. Adventure races, duathlons and aquathons are also listed, so there's something for everybody.

Lace 'em up & Log on
www.MapMyRun.com & www.MapMyRide.com
Whether you are training for a race or just like to stay fit, handy web sites like MapMyRun.com and MapMyRide.com (for biking) can help you create local training routes based on how many miles you want to cover and whether you prefer hilly or flat terrain. These clever tool helps make whatever you're working toward more tangible. The sites use Google mapping technology to plot your jogging or riding route and track your mileage. Set precise distance markers and map out any stops for stretching, restrooms, or water along the way. You can save your map and share it with training partners. Start plotting and running/riding and the sites will keep you honest. They also track your training history on an interactive calendar, where you can integrate key information like calories burned, total mileage, speed, etc.



And get these stats ... The MapMyRun Community now includes 6.8 million runs logged in over 150 countries; and a whopping 355 million miles and counting. You can also use the site to find running partners, upcoming events and generally, feel part of something larger. Most of the sites tools are free to use once you sign up, but premium memberships are available for more advanced tracking features and to use the site without seeing advertisements. Plans start at $5.99 per month.

Hit the Trail
www.trails.com
You don't have to have an expensive gym membership to get your body in motion. Miles and miles of trails for hiking, biking and walking are likely not far from your front door. One of the best ways to get the most out of your time outdoors is by exploring new trails or rediscovering some of your old favorites. Web site Trails.com lets you quickly find trails in your local area, searching by city, state or zip code. The site features over 46,000 trails from over 1,000 trusted guidebooks and also incorporates social media tools, making it possible for members to create user profiles, upload trail photos and track favorites via an interactive dashboard. Trails are searchable by 24 different types of activities – from hiking, biking, running and climbing – to camping, canoeing, fishing and even backcountry skiing.


While basic searching and mapping of trails and activities is free to anyone, after a 2 week free trial, there is a $50.00 annual fee for full-featured access to the site or you can go monthly at $7.95 per month. Trails.com maintains an up-to-date list of top trails, voted on by site members. Currently topping the list is Breakneck Ridge Trail in New York – a strenuous 2.8 mile hiking trail with lots of spectacular views of the Hudson River.

Tee Time Online
www.golfmoolah.com
If you plan to spend some time on the sofa this weekend, you may watch to watch golf's British Open, the third major tournament of the year. Tiger Woods will be back in action and according to blog GolfMoolah.com, even with his personal life still somewhat in turmoil Tiger is the favorite to win at 7/2 odds, followed by "Lefty" Phil Michelson at 12/1 odds.


If you plan to hit the links yourself, GolfMoolah is a fun site for those who aren't afraid of a little on course wager. The site will teach you every wagering game in golf – from a simple $5 Nassau or a friendly "Skins" game, to more advance games like "High/Low" and one called "Acey/Deucey." There's a mobile app to download that helps calculate every wager for you, making sure it's done according to each players handicap.

No Holds Barred If golf isn't quite your speed, perhaps you're catching on to the sport that continues to garner millions of mainstream fans. That would be Mixed Martial Arts, better known as MMA (you may be familiar with the biggest organization in MMA, the UFC). To learn about MMA, catch the latest news and videos, log on to MMAFighting.com, the definitive source for all things MMA.


A couple of clicks on the site is all it takes to meet the top fighters and get in on the latest hype surrounding upcoming fights. Before you know it, you'll be an MMA junkie and be able to spot all the fancy techniques the fighters use – from a "Super Man punch," to and "arm bar" or a "triangle choke."

Now that the Federal First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit has expired, consumers are scrambling for information and incentives. They exist if you know where to look and how to qualify, but the process can be daunting. AOL Real Estate, in participation with Bank of America Home Loans, is hosting an online discussion with real estate experts answering consumers' burning questions about home buying in today's market. Be sure to log on here, June 23rd at 7:30pm to watch.

For Omaha Steaks, Father's Day is second only to the Christmas holiday in terms of volume. They actually have to add additional staff to accommodate the volume of orders they receive. So, it makes sense when you consider how big a day Father's Day is for grilling out – it's something that brings the family together.


For the perfect Father's Day gift, try one of Omaha Steaks' gift packages like this one called "Thrill the Grill." It's a great value as it includes everything you see here ... steaks, chicken, pork chops, burgers, and stuffed baked potatoes – all for just $49.99. There's something here to please every Dad and the package includes a free 6-piece cutlery set and cutting board.

Father's Day Gift Thrill the Grill Package
This package includes:
2 (6 oz.) filet mignons
2 (6 oz.) top sirloins
4 (4 oz.) chicken breasts
4 (4 oz.) pork chops
4 (4 oz.) Omaha Steaks burgers
4 stuffed baked potatoes

Regular price: $152.00
Father's Day price: $49.99

Omaha Steaks Ordering deadlines:
For standard shipping – the order must be placed by Monday, June 14.
For expedited shipping – the order must be placed before 10 a.m. CST on Wednesday, June 16.
For overnight shipping – the order must be placed before 10 a.m. CST on Thursday, June 17.

Related post: Father's Day Deals You Should Know About

As seen on The Early Show (CBS), here's a look at some unique gifts for Father's Day 2010 ....

According to the National Retail Federation's 2010 Father's Day Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey, conducted by BIGresearch, the average person will spend $94.32 on dad this year, up from $90.89 last year. Total Father's Day spending is expected to reach $9.8 billion.

Shutterfly.com
Photo Books
Prices range from $13.00 - $70.00



Shutterfly photo books are an easy way to create a unique gift for Dad that lasts a lifetime. Shutterfly offers multiple ways to design and create photo books using digital photos whether they're stored on Shutterfly, on your computer, or Facebook. Make your own photo book choosing from 5 sizes and an extensive collection of backgrounds and covers. Select from "Custom Path" to control all the creative options or use "Simple Path" and Shutterfly will make it for you in just a few clicks.

RedEnvelope.com
Sliders Mini-Burger Set
$29.95



Dad can make a splash at the next cook out with these fun mini-burger sliders from RedEnvelope.com. Set includes a triple slider burger press for the perfect size sliders, one bun cutter and a nine slider grill basket for easy grilling. Turn all nine mini-burger sliders with one flip. A great spin on the traditional burger, these trendy mini-burger sliders make a delicious appetizer. Get creative with all kinds of different toppings for a gourmet twist.

Omaha Steaks
Thrill the Grill Combo
Father's Day price: $49.99 (Regular price: $152.00)

Grilling out with Dad is an American tradition and Father's Day is second only to the Christmas holiday for Omaha Steaks in terms of sales volume. Add variety to Dad's grilling with the Thrill The Grill Combo. This combo features a tasty selection of cookout favorites in one collection.



Fire up the grill and serve up Omaha Steaks world-famous Filet Mignons and Top Sirloins. Enjoy the versatility of Boneless Pork Chops and Chicken Breasts. Host a legendary backyard barbecues with their juicy Omaha Steaks Burgers. Add in Stuffed Baked Potatoes and you've got the Thrill The Grill Combo. Be sure to order by Monday, June 14 for standard shipping.

UncommonGoods.com
Golfers BBQ Set
$25.00



Golf and BBQ: Combine Dad's weekend favorites in this three-piece stainless steel BBQ set with soft insulated handles that look just like golf grips. The tongs, spatula, and fork are perfect for the guy who loves the links, sausage or otherwise. Sold as a set of three on UncommonGoods.com.

Logitech Harmony One Advanced Universal Remote
$177.00 (on Amazon.com)



Give Dad total control over all the family gadgets and electronics with the Logitech Harmony One. A full-color touch screen offers easy, one-touch access to entertainment activities. And the Harmony One replaces up to 15 remotes, reducing clutter in the living room. Sculpted, backlighted buttons are easy to find, making it easy to navigate home-entertainment – even in the dark. The Harmony One is compatible with over 250,000 devices from 5,000+ manufacturers so you know it will work with what Dad has, as well as what he may buy in the future.

Reef Fanning Flip-Flops with built in bottle opener
$46.00 on REI.com



These smooth-wearing flip-flops from Reef have an integrated bottle opener in the outsole, ensuring Dad is never stuck with an unopened cold beverage. Soft, flexible synthetic nubuck strap uppers gently wrap insteps for a secure fit and the soft nylon webbing thong is comfortable between toes. Compression-molded EVA topsoles/midsoles are contoured for an ergonomic fit and offer all-day cushioning.

Hefty fees for checking bags on major airlines are becoming a stark reality for air travelers, but there are ways to avoid the fees by packing smarter and lighter and by knowing the rules and your options by airline. AOL Travel recently ran a feature on Avoiding Check In Fees and offers the following tips:

If you are traveling to your summer vacation destination by air, don't expect to find a lot of deals on fares. Most planes are expected to be operating at or near capacity and on top of that, most big carriers have also added $10 to $30 "peak travel" surcharges each way on nearly every day between June 10 and Aug. 22. However, there is one place where you can attempt to cut costs – or at least avoid getting gouged by the airlines – and that's by avoiding checked baggage fees. Because major airlines like United, Delta, US Airways and Continental are now charging fees to check bags, savvy travelers know packing light, packing smart and going with a "carry-on" is the only way to avoid costly check in fees.


If you're wondering why the airlines are charging these kinds of fees in the first place, it all comes down to math and margins. The airline industry is in survival mode. Air carriers are struggling to stay afloat in the face of daunting fuel costs and (with the exception of peak summer travel) plunging demand. In fact, in the last year, domestic carriers alone lost $11 billion.

Carry-on Rules for Major Airlines
To help with your air travel cost cutting plan of attack, it helps to know who's charging what and what the rules are. Nearly every commercial airline still allows one carry-on bag. According to Delta (and the same rules apply for nearly all commercial airlines), your carry-on bag may not exceed 45 linear inches in combined length, width, and height. Carry-on bags are defined as 1 purse, briefcase, camera bag, or diaper bag; or 1 laptop computer (computers cannot be checked and must be carried on); or 1 item of a similar or smaller size to those listed above.

Checked Bag Guidelines & Fees for Major Airlines
For travel within the United States the following guidelines and charges are virtually the same across the board for all major airlines. You can find a handy chart, breaking out all charges by specific airlines, here on AOL Travel.

Checked baggage must weigh 50 lbs. or less and its combined length, width and height must measure 62 inches or less (otherwise you will incur even more fees by way of an over-sized baggage charge). Your first checked bag is $25.00 at the airport kiosk, ticket counter or curbside. A second checked bag: $35.00. Though most airlines will knock a few dollars off checked baggage charges if you pay the fees upfront, online. Remember, these fees are one-way, so double them for a round trip.

If you plan to check 3 bags or more, charges start at $100.00 per bag additional, so that's when shipping your bags ahead via FedEx or UPS may begin to make sense. There are also luggage shipping services such as LuggageAhead to consider.

If you are traveling between the U.S. and Canada or Europe, your first checked back is free; your second checked bag is $55.00. Again, you can save a few dollars if you pay these fees online, before you arrive to the airport.

As for discount carriers like JetBlue and Southwest, they do offer you a break on baggage fees. JetBlue gives you the first checked bag for free, while Southwest charges nothing for your first TWO checked bags.

Bagging the Extra Fees
There are strategies you can employ to avoid the extra fees. Everything from shipping your stuff in advance, to buying it on-location – to packing smarter and of course lighter. And it pays to make doubly sure your carry-on bags are within the limits for dimensions. Some travelers are going as far as traveling with tape measures to prove their carry-on does comply.

As seen on The Early Show (CBS), we took a look at some of the latest products out there to help you with the "packing smarter" piece of the equation – making it more likely for you to travel with carry-on only luggage this summer (and beyond).

1. TSA Approved, Checkpoint- Friendly Laptop Bags (SkoobaDesign.com):



No need to remove your laptop from this bag that is TSA-approved and opens up like a butterfly for inspection. Variety of styles available from SkoobaDesign.com.

2. Samsonite Expandable Spinner (eBags.com):



Samsonite xSpace 21.5" Expandable Spinner carry-on. Available at eBags.com for $159.99 with free shipping included. Four multi-directional Spinner wheels allow 360° upright rolling so there is no weight bearing on your arm. Spinners can glide right alongside you, pivot to get around tight spaces, and roll like a traditional 2-wheel case. In other words, Spinners move the way you do.

3. Skyway Suitcase, light weight/low cost (eBags.com):



Click here: Skyway Ultra No-weight 21" Upright Carry-On - eBags.com, now on sale for $37.49 (Father's Day Special). A very popular, value-priced bag with good quality. Weights just 6 lbs., 13 ounces.


4. Colorful squishable duffels (LandsEnd.com):



Luggage - Duffel Bags at Lands' End; $49.50 for small, carry-on size. Easy-to-get-to pockets keep small items like your cell phone or boarding pass close at hand. Smooth-operating, self-repairing coiled zippers are all but burstproof.

5. Vacuum packer (BedBathandBeyond.com):



Space Bag Evolution 6-Piece Combo Set - Bed Bath & Beyond for $19.99. Get more in your carry-on bag. The Space Bag uses a turbo vacuum seal valve and double zipper to store your clothes nice and compact. It's guaranteed to be air- and water-tight, and the new turbo valve vacuums out air 35% faster than other Space Bags. Set contains three medium and three large Space Bags.

6. PDA and Phone Organizers and Wraps (SkoobaDesign.com):



Skooba Wraps: Price range, $13.00 - $18.00. Protect your Portables. Whether it's your phone, iPod, compact camera, or just about any other portable device, keep all your gadgets-and the stuff that goes with them-safe and organized inside your carry-on.

7. The Cable Stable (SkoobaDesign.com):



Cable Stable DLX Computer Cable Organizer, $39.95. The Cable Stable DLX is a highly efficient way to store and protect all the cords, adapters, batteries, and other accessories that travel with your portable electronics. Keeps everything organized and gets rid of the "snake pit" in your carry-on bag, suitcase, or backpack. Over 15 intelligently-organized, flexible spaces hold cords and cables, AC power blocks, adapters, batteries, USB drives, office supplies, even compact cameras and MP3 players.

Related: Click here: Avoiding Check In Fees - AOL Travel News

This morning on MSNBC, we're discussing Memorial Day Deals. While it's not traditionally as significant a retail weekend as Fourth of July or Labor Day, a day off can mean a day at the stores (and don't forget outlets!). Retailers are hoping to end May, and start June with strong sales. Here's some of the deals we were able to track down ...

#1. KOHL's
Is it just me or is everything always on sale? If you couple this with the Kohl's Cash drill & stagger your purchases to take advantage of the Kohl's cash, you're looking at 30-50% off + $10 future buying power for every $50 spent. If you're standing in line with $70 worth of goods, it's worth putting that $19.99 item back & returning the next day with your $10 Kohl's cash. At that point you can score the same item for $9.99. I was surprised to learn you can also earn Kohl's cash online, though it can only be redeemed in-store. Smart traffic-driver. If you do shop Kohls.com, take advantage of Power Hours deals and FREE Standard Shipping on Orders $100 or More -- Code: Shipping100

KOHLS Circular

POWER HOURS ONLINE 12 am - 3 pm : KOHLS.com

FREE Standard Shipping on Orders $100 or More Code: Shipping100

#2) Dick's Sporting Goods
I spend a small fortune at Dick's and have noticed they have a giant gold department. Turns out someone affiliated with the PGA is probably working in it, as part of the Golf Club Trade-In Program. A VERY clever promotion aimed at getting you to trade in your old clubs and trade up to new ones. The website is easy to use and will give you an instant quote if you plug in the brand name and type of club. Dick's is upping the ante this weekend with an extra $50, $75 or $100 on Any Used Club Trade-In applied to qualified purchases. The higher the cost of the club or set of clubs you're buying the more they'll add. If you spend $300 or more on a driver or $499 on a new set of irons, they'll add $100 onto that clunker club with a trade-in value of $20. Essentially it's the same as getting roughly 40% off, but it feels even better.
DICK's GOLF CLUB TRADE IN

#3) Sears

Twenty percent off all Energy Star appliances caught my eye, but the washer and dryer would like to get are still $999 -- EACH! On a more positive note, mowers are at their advertised "lowest price ever." SEARS -- Lowest Price Ever on Craftsman mowers

$179 for rear bag push mower Save $70

$1049.99 for lawn tractor. Save $315

#4) TARGET
We rarely make it through a weekend without a stop at Target. They're aggressively distributing grocery and pharmacy coupons (incenting you to move your prescriptions from your local drug store). They're also genius in marketing irresistible seasonal merchandise. I can't tell you how many outdoor acrylic plates, tumblers and serving trays we own. We do not, however, have their "Weekly WOW" -- An Inflatable Pool Lowest Price of the Season $199. Regular Price. Now $169. Little pricey for an impulse buy, but if you can spring for it, seems like a decent value for the size (based on comparable pools at other retailers). It's hard to describe something so non-essential as a "deal," but could be a priceless opportunity to surprise your family. They say it's an EZ Set-Up taking just 15 minutes to be ready for water.
TARGET Memorial Weekend Ad Circular

#5) Walmart
If you're hosting events this summer -- graduations, reunions, BBQ,s -- you might want to consider stocking up on soda at Walmart this weekend. They're offering 24-packs for $5. In some areas, they'll be as low as $3.88. That's less than a 12 pack usually costs on sale at a grocery store. These low soda prices (the lowest in approx 5 years) are expected to cause what the industry deems "pantry hoarding." Hoard away:)


#6) BONUS: FANTASTIC FREEBIES Source: www.WalletPop.com
There's no better price point than FREE when it's part of a legitimate offer. Sampling programs are often part of consumer launches -- whether it's limeade at Taco Bell, a spicy chicken sandwich at Chick-fil-A or a Starbuck's downloadable album on iTunes -- the key is knowing when the offer starts, the caveats &/or catches if they exist and when the offer ends. Popular blog, WalletPop tracks FREE offers daily & spells out these details. In fact, they have a whole area dedicated to FANTASTIC FREEBIES.

While the country's unemployment rate remains a little under 10%, there are some hopeful signs for the employment picture. Over the past month, a tally of the number of online job postings nationwide jumped nearly 6% to the highest level in 17 months, and there are currently over 4.1 million job vacancies being advertised online.



If you're a job seeker looking to land a job, start your search on a major career site like jobs.aol.com powered by CareerBuilder, where you can browse openings by category – anything from Accounting to Government Jobs to Healthcare. You can then narrow your results by location, degree requirements, full-time vs. part-time ... there are lots of levers to play with. Usually you end up learning about positions you never even knew existed at places toy may never have heard of – it broadens your consideration set.

If it's been a while since your last job search, it may be time to craft a new resume or polish up one that's out of date. Sites like emurse.com can help you create, share and store a resume online for free. Start from scratch or choose to upload an existing resume to the site. once you've entered in your information, Emurse takes the worry out of making it look impressive – they handle the formatting & the end result is stunning.

You can take things a step further and design your own web site or blog to serve as an online portfolio where recruiters can view your body of work, read about your goals and obtain contact information. reserving a web address and building a web site can cost less than $10 a month on sites like NetworkSolutions.com and ... could be money well spent.

Then there's the seemingly trick question .... How much are you looking to make? It's helpful to have a real fee for the salary range for the position and a sense of your current market value before answering this question ... You can find out how your compensation compares to your peers on payscale.com. answer a series of detailed questions and they'll produce a graph indicating where you fall on the pay scale, factoring in benefits and other perks – whether you have a position or are seeking one, it's useful to know if your current or prospective salary is below, at, or above average.