Stroudsburg's small businesses partner for holiday shoppers

Show a receipt from a partnered Stroudsburg business and get discounts

Source Business - poconorecord.com http://ift.tt/1Rbrtd7

First Uber, is Airbnb next?

THEY’VE seen the taxi industry buckle under the pressure of its modern competitors, now hoteliers are worried about their own future saying the sharing economy is has already created a grey market.

Source NEWS.com.au | Business http://ift.tt/1LDTnHR

We Just Gave Out $28,800 in Prizes. Here’s What the Winners Took Home…

That’s a wrap on our live blog for Black Friday 2015!

Thanks for staying up with us through 48 hours of deals, tips, Red Bull, cartwheels, turkey, ads, tweets and more.

It’s been a whirlwind holiday already, and our whole team has had so much fun chatting with readers and helping you find the gifts on your holiday shopping wish list this year.

Topping everything we’ve done, though, has to be our Choose Your Own Prize Giveaway.

We asked you all to tell us what you want for the holidays — and nearly 25,000 of you responded!

We scoured the entries to choose a new winner for each hour of the live blog — and awarded a total of $28,800 in prizes to 48 winners!

Narrowing down this list was certainly a big task, but it was inspiring to read all the creative, thoughtful entries. We’re grateful to be able to offer a little something extra this holiday season to these awesome Penny Hoarders:

1. Debra G.

Canon T5i Bundle

Debra asked for a camera for her daughter. With this gift, the inspiring photographer can complete her portfolio and apply to a magnet school for visual arts.

2. Claudia D.

Dinner Out with my Mom

Claudia won a $150 Visa Gift Card to take her mom out to dinner. In her entry, she simple stated, “I just want to spend more time with her.”

3. Jennifer D.

$500 Gift Card to Kroger or Publix or WalMart

A single mother to three, Jennifer won a gift card for groceries, which opens up room in her budget for Christmas shopping.

“I know it sounds very boring,” Jennifer said, “but… money is always tight” when you’ve got three little ones at home!

4. Katie B.

$500 Gift Card to Men’s Wearhouse

Katie wants to surprise her husband with a wardrobe upgrade. The couple just had a baby, and some new suits and accessories will give Katie’s husband a confidence boost in his search for a long-term career.

5. Amanda G.

$500 for California Real Estate Exam

After a few hard years of debt and penny hoarding, Amanda, her husband and their one-year-old son are ready for the next chapter in their lives.

Her husband has passed his Real Estate training, and Amanda requested this gift to cover the fee for his state test and help him start his new career.

6. Rebecca B.

Large Lego Set

Rebecca won a Lego set for her son! Money can be tight, especially around the holidays, and we’re happy to help her check this fun gift off her shopping list this year.

7. Michelle E.

Proofread Anywhere Course Tuition

This Penny Hoarder wants to earn extra money at home proofreading transcripts. Taking this course will give her the skills she needs to boost her family’s budget.

8. David P.

Two Tickets to a Broadway Show

David asked for the gift of a Broadway show for himself and his 11-year-old daughter Johanna — named for the Sondheim song in Sweeney Todd. Enjoy your first trip to New York, Johanna!

9. Jennifer J.

Spa Day

Single mother Jennifer will graduate from college in May 2016. Going to school and working to pay for it has meant less time with her daughter, so she wants to celebrate with a spa day at a resort — “quality time where it’s just us” — with her daughter.

10. Erinn T.

Snow Blower

Erinn wants to surprise her hard-working husband with a snow blower for Christmas, so he doesn’t have to shovel the driveway all winter!

11. Heather M.

School and Art Supplies

Heather, a teacher, asked for a stock of school supplies for her classroom.

Things like paper, pens, pencils, crayons, glue sticks and construction paper, Heather says, “would help my students in my classroom whose families don’t have money to buy these supplies.”

12. Joe F.

Trip for Two to New York City to See Wicked on Broadway

Joe got a Cochlear Implant in October and can hear clearly for the first time in his life. He’s been a Wicked fan since the show’s debut and is looking forward to the chance to finally enjoy a live performance and share this life-changing trip with his wife.

13. Cecilia M.

$1,500 for a New Wardrobe

After eight years on disability, 58-year-old Cecilia recently went back to school to complete an AAS Degree in Social Services.

A new wardrobe will give her confidence when she re-enters the workforce next semester for clinical field work.

14. Hillary H.

VIZIO 55′ Class 1080p LED Smart HDTV – E55-C2

A mother of two with one on the way, Hillary wants to thank her husband for everything he’s done that allows her to stay at home with their daughters.

This TV is a token of her appreciation, she says. “I know it isn’t much, but I know this is the one thing he really wants!”

15. Karla V.

Decorated Christmas Tree

Karla is spending her first holiday season away from family after moving to a new city for her husband to go to school.

This gift will brighten their Christmas and help the newlyweds start their own holiday traditions.

16. Allegra A.

$2,000 Apartment Security Deposit

Allegra and her daughter are staying with friends after a very challenging year. They’re ready to succeed on their own as a single-parent family, and this security deposit can get them into an apartment and onto their next adventure.

17. Sarah F.

Crock Pot With a Timer

Sarah wants to come home to good home-cooked meal after long, unusual hours working for a law enforcement agency.

Also, says this Penny Hoarder, “It would help me save money since I wouldn’t be getting food from a restaurant as often or stocking up on frozen dinners as much.”

18. Jacqueline M.

Crib

Jacqueline and her husband just found out they’re expecting! She’s working seven days a week and saving up for a house. Covering the expense of this essential will go a long way in setting up a home for their growing family.

19. Deborah M.

ezRead Electronic Reading Aid — TV Digital Magnifier Mouse

Deborah is gifting this reading aid to her 81-year-old mother-in-law, who’s lost significant sight over the past year. Deborah says, “I would love for her to be able to have the gift of reading again.”

20. Judy M.

American Girl Doll

This doll is a gift for Judy’s seven-year-old, who has wanted one all year long. Judy was recently laid off from work, and looks forward to the opportunity to surprise her daughter with this gift from Santa.

21. Candice D.

Humidifier

The cold, dry air throughout the winter does not agree with Candice’s asthma. The gift, she says, will help her “literally breathe easier” this holiday season.

22. Coral T.

Burberry Scarf

Coral asked for this gift for his wife, one she’s always wanted that he can’t afford.

“She’s the most deserving person I know and I love her with everything I am,” says Coral.

23. Ashley F.H.

$500 Worth of Red Heart Yarns

Ashley has been making hats for chemotherapy patients since her mom passed away from Stage 4 brain cancer five years ago. She’s made and donated over 150 hats already, and this gift will go a long way in making more.

24. Tena M.

Two Fitbits

These devices will motivate Tena and her husband to get off the couch and be active during the cold winter months.

25. Martha C.

Fish Tank

Martha is caring for her sick husband and wants him to have beautiful fish to watch throughout the day. The addition to their home will offer serenity for the caretaker, too.

26. Alex H.

iPad Pro and Apple Pencil

This graphic design student — trying to get through college debt-free! — can use the new iPad Pro as a drawing tablet, note-taking tool and planner to increase his productivity now and after graduation.

27. Charles S.

Celestron 130 SLT Computerized Telescope

Charles wants to inspire his children “to look beyond just the things in their immediate vicinity — that AMAZING experiences are there if you apply a little bit of effort.”

We concur, Charles!

28. Kimberly H.

Video Camera

Kimberly’s two boys are skilled vloggers, each with their own YouTube channel. All they want for Christmas is a video camera to make great videos for their fans.

29. Dan A.

Silhouette Curio Bundle Cutting Machine

Dan’s wife is out of work after an injury, and has been trying penny-hoarding tricks for making extra money — including launching an Etsy shop (congrats!).

He can’t afford this gift for her for Christmas, but knows it’s exactly what she wants for her new home business.

30. Arlene M.

A Year’s Supply of Hearing Aid Batteries

Arlene says the expense of buying hearing aid batteries for her deaf daughter every two weeks, “kicks my butt” — we’ve got you covered for the year!

31. Kathey J.

$500 Pre-Paid Visa Gift Card

The card is a gift for Kathey’s 12-year-old  granddaughter, Kacey, who has autism. It will help cover the cost of the guitar lessons Kacey has her heart set on.

“Kacey is my shining little star and with this prize I truly believe that she will shine even brighter,” she wrote.

32. Sabrina S.

60′ Class (59.5′ Diagonal) 4K UHD LED TV w/ webOS 2.0

Sabrina asked for this gift to say “thanks” to her dad, who raised three children on his own. He’s sacrificed what he tried to save for his dream TV to help his children, including replacing Sabrina’s computer, and she can’t wait to repay him with this surprise on Christmas.

33. Padilla M.

Professional Espresso Machine

This coffee lover dreams of opening a coffee shop that helps motivate people to pursue their dreams in the arts. This essential piece of equipment is the perfect place to start!

34. Anne R.

Apple iPad Air 2

Anne asked for help buying this gift for her husband, because their daughter’s medical bills have eaten away at their budget. He needs the iPad for work, and the screen on his old one is shattered. Anne wants to thank him for his hard work with this surprise.

35. Aimee W.

4moms momaRoo Bouncer

Aimee is pregnant with her first child and was recently laid off from work. The bouncer will offer a wonderful start to her baby’s life!

36. Roman J.

Root Canal and Crown

Even with a dental discount plan, the quote for Roman’s dental work is over $1,600. Even the down payment of 30% is out of reach for the family, so his fiance requested this prize to help cover the cost and relieve his tooth pain.

37. Lindsey Z.

Titleist 716 AP1 Irons

“This gift would knock my Dad’s socks off,” says Lindsey. She can’t wait to surprise him with this gift — one the soon-to-retire Buffalo, New York, police officer can enjoy in his retirement in Florida!

38. Cayhleen H.

Wii U With Mario Kart 8

Cayhleen’s tight budget doesn’t leave room for gifts for each person in her family, so she wants to surprise them with this one they’ll all enjoy.

39. Paula A.N.

Money to Pay Off Credit Card Debt

Paula is a senior on Social Security Disability, who used three credit cards to get through some tight financial fixes. Paying off this debt will help keep her credit clear (and make for much less stress this holiday season!)

40. Bonnie H.

Kitchenaid Stand Mixer

This single mom of four boys works full time cleaning houses. She saves money by cooking and baking healthy treats at home — but she’s been using a 20-year-old hand mixer! This will free up some time to enjoy those creations with her boys.

41. Lauren C.

$500 Towards My Wedding

“Every penny counts,” Lauren points out. She and her fiance just had a baby, which makes it tough to save up for next June’s wedding. This money will offer a little boost for the big day.

42. Julie C.

22-inch LED Flat Screen TV

Julie is retired and lives in subsidized housing, where cable is free — but she doesn’t have a television.

No car means she has trouble getting to synagogue on Friday nights as often as she’d like, and a TV will enable her to stream the services from Central Synagogue in New York.

43. Nick T.

iMac Computer

Nick is starting nursing school and asked for help replacing his old computer, so he has what he needs to succeed.

44. Sterling M.

Giant Defy Advanced Bicycle

Sterling asked for “a better way to commute to work.”

Riding a bike will save him the money he’d spend on gas, and help him feel healthier and happier from the exercise.

45. Angela S.M.

Two iPad Minis

Angela is a mother of twins with autism. “Technology seems to open a door for them,” she says, so these tablets will be the perfect learning tools.

We were also excited to find Angela is right is here in our own St. Petersburg! We were able to visit her this morning to hand-deliver the iPads — which she swiftly tucked away, so she can surprise her sons for the holidays!

46. Geesa J.

Tickets to Disney World

Geesa’s 3-year-old loves Mickey Mouse! He’s been asking non-stop to go to Disney World, and she can’t wait to surprise him with this gift.

47. Shannon W.

GoPro

Shannon asked for this gift for her 15-year-old son, Connor, who is in a wheelchair. She says, “I’d like to strap that GoPro on his chair and show some real adventures!”

48. Abbey S.

Dining Room Table Set

Newlywed Abbey and her husband can’t wait to have a proper dining table, so they can invite guests to their home without pulling out the plastic folding table.

Stay Tuned for Cyber Monday

Thanks again to everyone who entered, and to all of you for following along for our inaugural Black Friday live blog.

But we’re not done yet! Join us again starting Sunday, November 29 at 12 p.m. EST for 36 hours of live Cyber Monday coverage.

Happy Holidays, Penny Hoarders!

The post We Just Gave Out $28,800 in Prizes. Here’s What the Winners Took Home… appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.

source The Penny Hoarder http://ift.tt/1MJ25bz

Here’s What to Expect at Target on Cyber Monday — Including 15% Off EVERYTHING With This Code

If you’re waiting for Target to share its Cyber Monday deals, you can expect to wait until the very last minute — the store won’t reveal its mega-deals until Sunday, November 29.

But Target is offering a sneak peek at what you can save on Cyber Monday.

For the first time, the retailer will offer a site-wide discount code: Use CYBER15 to take 15% off all online purchases, including items that have already been discounted. The code is even good on Apple products!

A few discounts will be good from Sunday, November 29 through December 5 as part of what Target’s dubbed Cyber Week:

• Take 30% off apparel, shoes and accessories for the whole family

• All home brands will be discounted 40%

• Baby gear and basics like strollers, car seats, play pens and more will be discounted up to 30%. Spend $250 on items for baby and receive a $50 gift card

• Receive a free gift card for up to $50 on sale VIZIO TVs

• Save $300 on Samsung 4K Ultra HD TVs and receive a free $100 gift card

• Take up to 40% off Christmas trees. Use code DECORATE to take $10 off a $50 Christmas decoration purchase or $25 off a Christmas decor purchase of $100 or more

• Save up to 40% on kitchen brands including Corelle, Riedel, Nachtman, Spiegelau and Cambridge

Last but certainly not least, all purchases get free shipping and returns at Target.com through December 25.

Lisa Rowan is a writer, editor, and podcaster living in Washington, D.C.

 

The post Here’s What to Expect at Target on Cyber Monday — Including 15% Off EVERYTHING With This Code appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.

source The Penny Hoarder http://ift.tt/21k8nGe

You Know You’re a Penny Hoarder If…

Everyone has that one friend who has tons of really quirky money-saving tricks.

And if you can’t think of one… you’re probably that friend.

We’ve got some pretty quirky penny-hoarding habits around here, so we thought we’d shed a little light on the subject. If any of these tips hits close to home, you just might be a true Penny Hoarder.

Your Turn: Do any of these strategies ring a bell? What are your weirdest penny-hoarding habits?

The post You Know You’re a Penny Hoarder If… appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.

source The Penny Hoarder http://ift.tt/1ThWDPg

Buy the Wrong Size on Black Friday? We Dug Up Return Policies for 15 Popular Retailers

There’s a lot to stress over when it comes to holiday shopping.

Staying within budget, dealing with big crowds and long lines, figuring out what on earth you can get for Great Aunt Margaret, who’s regifted every single thing you’ve ever given her…

The last thing you need is the headache of dealing with complicated return policies.

But fear not. Here to ease your gift-giving (and receiving) woes is an overview of the return policies for some of your favorite retailers.

1. Kohl’s Return Policy

In short: No time restrictions and no receipt required means Kohl’s “No Questions Asked — Hassle-Free” return policy makes them tops when it comes to customer convenience.

Item condition: Must not be used or damaged (unless items arrived damaged from an online order).

Exceptions: Gift cards may not be returned.

No receipt? No receipt is required; store associates can locate Kohl’s charge purchases up to 12 months after the purchase date, and the credit can be applied to your account.

Non-Kohl’s charge purchases, or purchases made outside the 12-month timeframe, qualify for a Kohl’s Merchandise Credit or a corporate-issued refund.

Worth noting: Did we mention the “hassle-free” part?

For the full fine print: http://ift.tt/1rofGhe

2. Macy’s Return Policy

In short: You can make returns — for free — at any time after purchase.

Item condition: Must be unworn, unwashed and unaltered.

Exceptions: Special merchandise terms apply for select items. See here for further details.

No receipt? If the item was charged to your Macy’s card within the last 12 months, staff can locate the purchase for you on their system.

If you used a different form of payment, they can locate the item by scanning the price tag. If the tags are not available, they’ll issue a Macy’s Easy Exchange Gift Card for the item’s lowest selling price within the last 180 days.

Worth noting: Their “exchanges made simple” claim seems to live up to its promise. It’s not quite as impressive as Kohl’s, but it’s certainly worth making the top of the list.

For the full fine print: http://ift.tt/1OvjYLy

3. Walmart Return Policy

In short: Returns accepted within 90 days of purchase.

Item condition: Must be in original manufacturer’s packaging. There are exceptions and additions to condition requirements by department (see full return policy below for further details).

Exceptions: Some outdoor items must be returned within 30 days. Some electronic items must be returned within 15 days. Contact cell devices must be returned within 14 days.

No receipt? You can get a cash refund for purchases under $25 or a gift card for purchases over $25. (Note: You can only make three “no receipt” returns in a 45-day period.)

Worth noting: During the holiday season, Walmart extends its return policy for “limited return/exchange” items (those that must be returned within 15 days, 30 days, etc.). For items bought from Nov. 1-Dec. 24, the limited return period doesn’t begin until Dec. 26.

For the full fine print: http://ift.tt/L2PCV8

4. Target Return Policy

In short: Returns accepted within 90 days of purchase.

Item condition: Most items must be unopened items in new condition. Some items have a modified return policy noted on the receipt, in-store Target policy board, Target.com or in the item department.

Exceptions: Quite a few (see full return policy below for further details).

No receipt? Target can attempt to look up your receipt if you bring the item, a government-issued photo ID (like a driver’s license) and the method of payment used to an in-store Guest Service desk within the return window allowed for that item.

Worth noting:  While their standard policy is 90 days for most products, if you’re not satisfied with any Target Owned Brand item, you can return it within one full year year with a receipt for an exchange or a refund.

For the full fine print: http://ift.tt/1OvjXaw

5. Toys R Us/Babies R Us Return Policy

In short: Returns accepted within 90 days of purchase.

Item condition: Must be in new or “like-new” condition and in original packaging with all paperwork and accessories included.

Exceptions: E-readers, laptops, netbooks and tablets must be returned within 15 days. Camcorders, cameras, digital audio players, DVD players, cell phones and video game consoles must be returned within 30 days.

Purchases made from a baby registry can be returned within a year.

No receipt? You can give a refund by presenting one of the following in connection with your purchase: the baby registry or wish list it was purchased from; your Rewards“R”Us member number; the credit or debit card used to purchase the item; the number of the check used to purchase the item; packing slip if your order was done online.

For the full fine print: http://ift.tt/1kXzAy6

6. Kmart Return Policy

In short: Returns on most items are accepted within 30 days of purchase.

Item condition: Must be in original packaging with all accessories, manuals and parts included.

Exceptions: Mattresses, foundations, bed frames and headboards and footboards must be returned within seven days. Indoor upholstered furniture must be returned within seven days. No returns are allowed on customized products.

No receipt? Sorry; you’re out of luck. Refunds and exchanges will not be given without one.

Worth noting: No returns are accepted on holiday seasonal items (Valentine’s Day, Easter, Christmas or Halloween products) after the respective holiday. Holiday seasonal items purchased after the holiday are considered final sales.

For the full fine print: http://ift.tt/1OvjXax

7. Apple Return Policy

In short: Returns are accepted within 14 calendar days of the date you purchased the item (if bought in-store) or received it (if bought online).

Item condition: Depends based on item type (see full return policy below for further details).

Exceptions: Not eligible for return: opened software (unless it has not yet been installed on any computer), electronic software downloads,software upgrades, Apple Store gift cards, Apple Developer Products (membership, technical support incidents, WWDC tickets), Apple Print Products

No receipt? Sorry; original receipt or gift receipt is required.

Worth noting: Different wireless carriers have different service-cancellation policies. Returning an iPhone or iPad may not automatically cancel or reset your wireless account; you are responsible for your wireless service agreement and for any applicable fees associated with it. Be sure to contact your provider for more information.

For the full fine print: http://ift.tt/1iZphaE

8. Gap/Old Navy/Banana Republic Return Policy

In short: Returns are accepted within 45 days of purchase at Gap, Old Navy and Banana Republic,

Item condition: Must be unwashed and unworn. Swimwear must have original price tags and hygienic liner intact. Sunglasses must have tags attached and be returned with complimentary case.

Exceptions: Final sale items cannot be returned or exchanged. Online purchases marked “mail only” cannot be returned in-store.

No receipt? The refund policy does not specify what to do in this case; see “contact us” section on this page for further details.

Worth noting: Returns and exchanges of online purchases are free by mail with a prepaid return label (however, original shipping and handling charges are not refunded). Items purchased from Athleta may be returned at any time.

For the full fine print: http://ift.tt/1OvjXay

9. Office Depot/OfficeMax Return Policy

In short: Returns are accepted as follows:

• Office supplies: within 90 days of purchase
• Ink and toner: within 30 days of purchase
• Technology and consumer electronic products: within 14 days of purchase
• Software/DVDs/video games: within 14 days of purchase
• Furniture: within 14 days or purchase

Item condition: Depends based on item type (see full return policy below for further details).

Exceptions: Special order/custom items and “manufacturer direct” items cannot be returned or exchanged unless they are damaged upon receipt. Pre-paid cards (i.e. gift cards and phone cards) are non-refundable.

No receipt? All returns without an original receipt require valid government-issued ID. Technology products without an original receipt are not eligible for return. Software, CDs, DVDs and video games without an original receipt are eligible for an exact-item exchange only.

All other returns without an original receipt (so long as item is still active in the store’s system) will be refunded in the form of an Office Depot or OfficeMax merchandise card in an amount equal to the lowest retail price during the preceding 90 days. (If that amount is under $10, it will be refunded in cash.)

Worth noting: Holiday purchases (items purchased between Oct. 21 and Dec. 24) may be returned as late as Jan. 14 (or as the return policy states, whichever is later). Office Depot/OfficeMax reserves the right to request identification or deny any exchange or return.

For the full fine print: http://ift.tt/1kXzyq2

10. Lowe’s Return Policy

In short: Returns accepted within 90 days of purchase.

Item condition: Must include all original manufacturer’s packing materials, manuals and accessories.

Exceptions: Major appliance, outdoor power equipment and highway trailers must be returned within 30 days of purchase.

No receipt? No receipt is required in most instances if you provide the MyLowe’s card or credit card you used to make the purchase. (Lowe’s reserves the right to refuse or limit the number of returns permitted without valid receipts.)

Worth noting: Lowe’s reserves the right, in its discretion, to repair, replace or refund an item based on your method of payment.

For the full fine print: http://ift.tt/1rFu6d5

11. Home Depot Return Policy

In short: Returns accepted within 90 days of purchase.

Worth noting: This one’s a bit tricky (lots of exceptions, etc.) and instructions depend on whether your purchase was made in-store or online. See full return policy below for further details.

For the full fine print: http://ift.tt/1u4yzlT

12. Walgreens Return Policy

In short: Returns accepted within 30 days of purchase.

Item condition: Depends based on item type (see full return policy below for further details).

Exceptions: No refunds are given for sexual wellness or seasonal products. Returns of cosmetics and electronics are handled at the discretion of the store manager.

No receipt? A return without a receipt may be refunded in the form of a Walgreens gift card.

Worth noting:  Online orders placed between Nov. 16, 2015 and Dec. 25, 2015 that are eligible for return can be returned to a store or by mail until Jan. 31, 2016.

Satisfaction is 100% guaranteed on all Walgreens brand products, so if you are not completely satisfied — even on opened and used products — you may return the unused portion and receive a refund the full price (including shipping if purchased online).

For the full fine print: http://ift.tt/1KKoE0t

13. PetSmart Return Policy

In short: Returns accepted within 60 days of purchase.

Item condition: Must be in original packaging.

Exceptions: You must have a valid receipt to return or exchange any of the following products that are valued at $10 or more: electronic merchandise (such as collars, fencing and training items), grooming tools, filters or pumps, pet medication or vitamins.

No receipt? Bring the item and a valid ID to any store and a merchandise return card for the most recent sale amount will be issued.

If you wish to exchange the item for another product, any remaining balance will be refunded in the original form of tender (i.e. in cash if you purchased in cash, refunded to your credit card if charged, etc.).

Worth noting: Bring a pet product from another retailer along with its original receipt into any PetSmart store, and they’ll gladly refund your purchase in the form of a merchandise return card. You can also exchange the product for a similar PetSmart product.

For the full fine print: http://ift.tt/1kXzAOr

14. Sears Return Policy

In short: Returns accepted within 30 days of purchase for most products.

Item condition: To avoid a 15% restocking fee on consumer electronics, patio furniture, gazebos, canopies, pergolas, air conditioners, dehumidifiers, space heaters and grills, you must return these items unused and with the original box, product packaging, accessories and parts.

Exceptions:  Christmas seasonal items (trees, decorations, etc.) cannot be returned after Dec. 25th. Christmas items purchased after Dec. 25 are considered final sales.

No receipt? Sorry; no refunds or exchanges will be given without a receipt.

Worth noting:  To accommodate holiday returns, items that typically have a 30-day return period which are purchased between Nov. 8, 2015 and Dec. 24, 2015 can be returned through Jan. 24, 2016.

For the full fine print: http://ift.tt/1OvjYLz

15. Best Buy Return Policy

In short: Returns accepted within 15 days of purchase for most products.

Item condition: Does not have to be in original packaging or include all accessories; however, your refund may be reduced for any missing items.

Exceptions: Refunds on cell phones with contract are only accepted within 14 days of purchase.

Most wedding registry items (did you know Best Buy had a wedding registry?) are accepted within 60 days of purchase. Best Buy Elite Members get extended return times

No receipt? If you don’t have your receipt, you will need to bring the credit card used to purchase the item or a valid photo ID.

Worth noting: Best Buy is offering an extended return and exchange policy during the holiday season. Purchases made between Nov. 1, 2015 and Dec. 31, 2015 have an extended return period through Jan. 15, 2016.

(With the exception of cell phones and devices with a carrier contract and AppleCare and Geek Squad® Protection plans returned without a product. All other terms and conditions in the standard return policy apply.)

For the full fine print: http://ift.tt/MYEaKA

Your Turn: What stores have you had a noteworthy return experience with (whether positive or negative)? Share your stories in the comments!

Kelly Gurnett is a freelance blogger, writer and editor who runs the blog Cordelia Calls It Quits, where she documents her attempts to rid her life of the things that don’t matter and focus more on the things that do. Follow her on Twitter @CordeliaCallsIt.

This post originally appeared on our special Black Friday site.

The post Buy the Wrong Size on Black Friday? We Dug Up Return Policies for 15 Popular Retailers appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.

source The Penny Hoarder http://ift.tt/1kXzAOz

3 Swagbucks Deals We’ve Got Our Eyes On: Peet’s, The Body Shop and Shari’s Berries

Everyone knows the holidays are expensive. But the essence of penny hoarding is earning small amounts and letting them grow into big sums. And it’s an added bonus if you can earn those pennies doing what you’d already be doing anyway!

That’s why so many of our readers love Swagbucks — you earn money doing the shopping you were already planning to do. Just do it through their portal, or by watching cooking shows on their site.

Extra Earnings Through Swagbucks Black Friday

Swagbucks is offering special holiday deals this year. They’re not Black Friday specific, but they’re another great way to make some money back during time normally set aside to spend, spend, spend.

Or, take advantage of these deals to help replenish your holiday shopping budget — they’re good throughout December, after all.

Peet’s

Want to get your coffee fix? If you’re in the great American west (or select areas in the Northeast and Midwest), Peet’s is a great stop for a cup of joe.

Simply head to Swagbucks, register your Visa card online and then make an in-store purchase of at least $1 with that card. You’ll get a $5 Amazon gift card credited to your Swagbucks account.

Easy, right? But if you’re not a java junkie, don’t worry! There are other holiday Swagbucks deals to try.

The Body Shop

The Body Shop offers a variety of cosmetics made with natural ingredients. From skincare to fragrance, you can find almost any self-care product you can imagine at their store.

If you fancy a footrub with a minty soak or want to give the gift of soft, sweet-smelling hands, head to Swagbucks first and, again, register your Visa online.

Make an in-store purchase of at least $20 and you’ll earn 1,500 SB — worth about $15 in gift cards to popular vendors like Amazon and Walmart.

Shari’s Berries

Even if you’re not a caffeine junkie and don’t wear makeup, everyone loves chocolate covered strawberries — or the ease of giving an edible gift.

If you make an online purchase at Shari’s Berries through Swagbucks, you’ll earn a whopping 570 SB — enough to immediately snag a $5 gift card!

Careful trying to stack deals with this one, though — the offer isn’t valid if you use coupons.

No matter which of these deals you try, take advantage of Swagbucks when you’re doing online shopping — or “watch” videos in background tabs to slowly build up usable sums of SB!

It really pays off after a while.

Your Turn: Which of these holiday Swagbucks deals will you take advantage of this year?

Disclosure: We have a serious Taco Bell addiction around here. The affiliate links in this post help us order off the dollar menu. Thanks for your support!

Jamie Cattanach is a junior writer at The Penny Hoarder and a native Floridian. She’s passionate about learning, literature, chocolate and finding ways to live the good life as cost-effectively as possible. You can wave hi to @jamiecattanach on Twitter.

This post originally appeared on our special Black Friday site.

The post 3 Swagbucks Deals We’ve Got Our Eyes On: Peet’s, The Body Shop and Shari’s Berries appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.

source The Penny Hoarder http://ift.tt/1XlfJdc

How to Make More Money Next Year: Shop for Discounted Online Courses on Black Friday

What’s on your shopping list this Black Friday? A TV? New PS4?

Those are good investments if you find a great deal and really need the product.

But what about spending your Black Friday money on a skill that’ll help you earn more cash in the future?

Self-Study and Save

Unfortunately, we haven’t found many colleges offering Black Friday tuition waivers.

But the Internet has made education widely available — and much less expensive.

Plus, with digital learning platforms like Udemy and edX, there are no required filler classes or minimum credits. You choose and take only the specific courses you want — ones that will give you the best professional boost.

Better yet: Many of these learning platforms are running sweet deals this Black Friday.

Invest in optimizing your professional development in the new year — or give the gift of learning to a loved one.

You can even use your shiny new laptop!

Great Black Friday Deals

Put on your thinking cap, and check out these awesome opportunities:

Udemy

One of our favorite online course marketplaces is Udemy, and it’s running a massive sale this Black Friday.

Over 17,000 courses are available at a steep discount — just $11 at the time this article was written!

And with titles like “Become a Web Developer from Scratch” and “How I Wrote a Best Selling Ebook in 72 Hours,” you’re sure to pick up a few lucrative tips.

But hurry — like Cinderella’s carriage, this deal could turn into a pumpkin if you’re late! The prices inflate every two days until midnight on Black Friday, and then return to full price.

Code School

Want to start a career in one of the best-paid fields out there?

Code School is one of the biggest online sources for web development courses and is offering a subscription sale this Black Friday — get six months of membership for just $99.

You’ll save 43% off the original price.

Codeacademy

Another great option for aspiring techies, Codeacademy has a powerful free version. And, although it’s not specific to Black Friday, the digital school just dropped their “pro” price to $19.99.

So if you want access to their exclusive pro content, personalized learning plans and real-life projects, you still won’t break the bank.

Thinkful

Want one-on-one mentorship to kickstart your new development career? Check out Thinkful!

Black Friday through Cyber Monday, you’ll get 25% off the first month of any course.

General Assembly

Follow General Assembly’s advice and “gift yourself some me-time” this holiday season.

Depending on your location, you might be able to attend one of their Holiday Bootcamps — some are priced as low as $35.

edX

A leading MOOC source (that’s “massive online open course” — I didn’t know, either!), edX can get you an education from Harvard, MIT or Berkeley… for free.

And not just on Black Friday! Most edX courses are available for free all year — some just require a minimal fee, and others have optional paid credentialing.

Looking to level up your penny-hoarding skills? Check out free courses like Purdue’s Personal Finance Planning or Finance for Everyone from the University of Michigan.

Khan Academy

It’s never too early to get a brain boost — or a quick review.

Khan Academy is a nonprofit whose mission is to brings world-class education to the world — cost-free.

It’s a great resource to share with your kids. It includes math tutorials broken down by grade level and test prep for the MCAT, SAT and more.

With higher-level subjects like organic chemistry available, you could even use it to help you through your tough college courses — or just to refresh knowledge that may have faded.

Invest in Your Future

There are lots of opportunities to learn for less this Black Friday — invest in increasing your earning potential in 2016!

Your Turn: Will you snatch up any of these online course deals this Black Friday?

Disclosure: We appreciate you letting us include affiliate links in this post. It helps keep the beer fridge stocked in the Penny Hoarder break room.

Jamie Cattanach is a junior writer at The Penny Hoarder and a native Floridian. She’s passionate about learning, literature, chocolate and finding ways to live the good life as cost-effectively as possible. You can wave hi to @jamiecattanach on Twitter.

This post originally appeared on our special Black Friday site.

The post How to Make More Money Next Year: Shop for Discounted Online Courses on Black Friday appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.

source The Penny Hoarder http://ift.tt/1MVvWvf

Our Favorite Electronics Deals on Black Friday: Save Up to 58% on TVs, iPads, Laptops and More

Have a TV or tablet on your shopping list? Perhaps your family could use a new laptop, or maybe you just want to upgrade to a new PS4 for yourself.

Black Friday has hundreds — no, thousands — of deals on electronics. Everything from MacBooks to Xbox Ones are on sale.

So once you come out of your Thanksgiving food coma, you might want to consider stopping by your local retailer. Or, stay put in your pajamas and just hop online for sales.

Here are a few of our favorite deals on this year’s hottest electronics.

1. PlayStation 4: $249 at Best Buy or Walmart

Whether you’re headed to Walmart or Best Buy this Black Friday, you can get the 500GB console complete with “Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection” — all for under $250.

2. iPad Mini 2: $199 at Walmart

iPads are one of the hottest gifts around, and this iPad from Walmart is a steal at $199. That’s a savings of 26%, which is unusually high for Apple products.

3. 55” Westinghouse 1080p LED TV: $249.99 at Target

Who needs the movie theatre when you’ve got this in your living room? Unlike its price, this TV is MASSIVE. You can grab it in person at your local Target for 58% off.

4. Dell Inspiron 15.6″ Laptop: $279.99 at Staples

You’ll find a lot of laptop deals out there this Black Friday, but we like this Dell Inspiron laptop from Staples because it has ample processing power and is made by a reputable brand. And at this price, it’s 37% off!

5. Xbox One Bundle: $299.99 From GameStop

This Xbox One bundle from GameStop comes with the console, a full-game download of “Gears of War: Ultimate Edition,” the Superstar Cole multiplayer skin and early access to the Gears of War 4 Beta.

6. Apple MacBook Pro 13-Inch: $899.99 at Best Buy

It’s tough to find a better-priced MacBook Pro than this one from Best Buy. Regularly priced at $1,099, this is a savings of 18%.

Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. We would have shared them with you anyway, but a true “penny hoarder” would be a fool not to take the company’s money. =)

This post originally appeared on our special Black Friday site.

The post Our Favorite Electronics Deals on Black Friday: Save Up to 58% on TVs, iPads, Laptops and More appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.

source The Penny Hoarder http://ift.tt/1Ov6Mq7

Black Friday CAN Be Eco-Friendly… If You Do It Right. Here are 6 Ways I Stay Green

I’m a huge proponent of frugality and green living. So why do I think Black Friday is one of the best days of the entire year?

Simple: I get to save a lot of money on products that are usually out of my price range — products that are environmentally friendly and can help me save money in the long run.

Here’s how I turn Black Friday green, using its deals to support my frugal and eco-friendly lifestyle.

1. I Invest in Energy Star-Rated Appliances

Black Friday offers the opportunity to purchase appliances at low prices, so I take advantage of the chance to upgrade some of my appliances to newer and more energy-friendly versions.

Switching to an Energy Star appliance can help you save anywhere from $25 to $110 a year, according to DealNews, depending on the age of your current appliances and how many of them you plan to replace.

Plus, if you add the Black Friday savings and the fact that you’re much less likely to need repairs for newer housewares, you can save even more in the long run.

2. I Buy Faux Fur and Faux Leather on Discount

Just because I live frugally, it doesn’t mean I don’t like to look good.

On the contrary, actually. I am quite fashion-savvy and I love creating fun and polished outfits.

I love quality clothes and I don’t like buying cheap items that won’t last for long, won’t look as good, and have serious environmental and other impacts.

The good news is many clothing stores have great sales for Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and it’s worth taking a look whether that item you’ve been lusting after is marked down, so you can get a quality product and stick to your budget.

One of my favorite eco-friendly investments is high-quality faux fur and faux leather products. These clothes look just as great as natural fur or leather ones, but they are much friendlier to our fauna — and on Black Friday, I’m much more likely to find a price I like.

3. I Bring My Own Reusable Bags

Plan on shopping for things you’ll carry away with you? Don’t leave home without your own shopping bags.

It may feel a bit odd to bring a bunch of them with you, but it can help make a huge difference. Every year, we throw away enough plastic to circle the planet four times, according to some sources.

Instead of contributing to plastic debris in the oceans and toxic emissions generated when manufacturing plastics, bring and reuse your own bags.

4. I Walk or Cycle to the Store

Why drain energy resources when you don’t need to?

Walking or biking to the stores you plan on visiting for Black Friday is a great way to see how cheap, healthy and environmentally friendly leaving the car at home can be. As long as I don’t have to carry large objects, I will be more than comfortable — and you will be, too.  

If you don’t have a bicycle, why not look for a Black Friday deal on a new one? A fairly good bike doesn’t cost a lot of money, but it can help you save a lot, both in terms of finances and environmental impacts. Here’s a cool calculator for the financial part.

5. I Keep an Eye on Eco-Friendly Products

Many green technologies and products cost a lot upfront, even though they can help you save money in the long run.

On Black Friday, however, you can often find these products on sale, so I usually keep an eye on them.

For example, I have always wanted to buy a solar battery recharger and I’m hoping this Black Friday might be my chance!

6. I Don’t Buy Everything That’s On Sale

The best way to save money on Black Friday, and to be green, is to avoid buying absolutely everything you see on sale.

As tempting as it seems, you probably don’t actually need all those items, and you might wind up tossing them out before their expected lifetimes are actually up.

This would be a waste of both environmental and financial resources — so take a moment to consider whether you really need that item, or whether you’re just excited about the deal.

Your Turn: How do you stay green on Black Friday? Share your tips in the comments!

Savanna Oconner is a frugal-living computer systems analyst from Memphis. She enjoys hiking or any kind of outdoor physical activity. In her spare time, she loves to write and cook.

This post originally appeared on our special Black Friday site.

The post Black Friday CAN Be Eco-Friendly… If You Do It Right. Here are 6 Ways I Stay Green appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.

source The Penny Hoarder http://ift.tt/1Xl2VDD

Are Retailers Destroying Black Friday?

Will the real Black Friday please stand up? Why the 'most insane shopping day' keeps shifting dates.

Source U.S. News - Money http://ift.tt/1PfIyn2

7 Ways to Save Time, Money and Stress This Holiday Season

Forgo shopping mania, spend time with loved ones and let the deals come to you with these tips.

Source U.S. News - Money http://ift.tt/1YxJK6B

The Cuddliest Black Friday Deal: Zappos Will Pay for You to Adopt a Pet This Weekend

Zappos wants you to get a puppy this weekend. Yes, you read that correctly.

The company is looking beyond shoe sales this holiday by sponsoring Home for the Pawlidayz, a free pet adoption promotion running through Monday.

How to Get Zappos to Pay for Your New Pet

To participate, all future pet owners have to do is visit Best Friends Animal Society or any of the organization’s partner rescues around the country. Zappos will take care of the rest.

But the shoe retailer isn’t just sponsoring the cost of your adoption. Zappos will also donate an additional $150 per pet adopted to help Best Friends Animal Society take care of more adoptable pets.

WilleeCole Photography/Shutterstock

Zappos has earmarked $1.1 million for the campaign, which it says will cover an estimated 4,000 pet adoptions at approximately $100 each, along with the costs of caring for hundreds more adoptable pets housed by shelters and rescues.

To start your pet adoption process this weekend, find your nearest Best Friends Animal Society location or one of its partner rescues near you.

Lisa Rowan is a writer, editor, and podcaster living in Washington, D.C.

This post originally appeared on our special Black Friday site.

The post The Cuddliest Black Friday Deal: Zappos Will Pay for You to Adopt a Pet This Weekend appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.

source The Penny Hoarder http://ift.tt/1kWZUZa

This Mom’s Black Friday Budget is $1,000. Here’s How She Saved the Cash — and How She’s Making the Most of It

What’s your Black Friday budget, and how do you stick to it?

For Tracie Fobes at Penny Pinchin’ Mom, sticking to her $1,000 Black Friday Budget involves making a list, comparing deals and paying in cash.

She’s got tips to help us all stay within our Black Friday budgets and avoid debt this holiday season.

Make a Monthly Budget

“Our overall holiday budget this year is $1,000 for three kids, adopting a family and our family and friends,” Fobes explained.

Although $1,000 sounds like it could be an arbitrary number, Fobes chose it deliberately.

“In January of each year, we look at what we spent for the holidays and then budget to set aside an amount every single month so that we can pay for it in cash,” she explains.

“We always add about 10% to what we spent, to allow for increases in costs and additional people we may want to buy (something) for the next holiday season.”

We’ve recommended holiday budgeting before, so it’s nice to see someone successfully using this technique!

If you want to save $1,000 between January and November, you need to save around $91 a month.

Planning ahead and saving early helps Fobes understand exactly how much she has available to spend during Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Once she has the cash saved, she checks the deals, makes her shopping list and starts comparing prices.

Make a List and Check it Twice

Fobes uses a Black Friday shopping list to keep her shopping within her budget.

“It helps keep me on track so I know what I need to get and about how much I will spend,” Fobes explains. She also compares Black Friday deals before she begins shopping and while she’s in the store.

“I always check online prices for the things I need to see if I can find it less expensive elsewhere,” she says.

“Since no one will price match on Black Friday, I will actually sometimes place an order through another retailer, right in the aisle of a competitor’s store!”

Fobes tries to find Black Friday deals that are 40 to 50% off the original price. She prefers not to buy items that are not on her shopping list, but she does make exceptions.

“If I do see something that I know someone wants and it’s not on my list, but it is such an amazing deal I can’t pass it up, I will go ahead and get it,” Fobes explains.

“I make sure it’s something that we know we will need, not just a purchase only because of the price.”

However, Fobes’ $1,000 budget trumps all.

“If there are things that fall outside of my budget, I just pass,” she says. “The holidays are not a reason to go into debt.”

Pay in Cash

If you want to make sure you don’t go in debt this holiday season, there’s one foolproof way to do it: Pay in cash.

“If you use plastic, you can (and usually do) overspend,” Fobes told us. “Paying with cash has more emotion attached to it. When I have to hand over $200 in cash, it certainly hurts more than swiping a credit card for $300!”

Plus, when you pay in cash, you have a physical signal that you’re running out of money.

When the cash is gone, stop shopping — no matter what deal you’re passing up!

If you want to combine the “pay in cash” technique with online purchases, consider removing cash from your wallet as you make purchases online.

For example, if you go to a big-box store, use your smartphone to compare deals and decide to purchase online from another retailer, make the online purchase and then take the equivalent cash out of your wallet and put it in another part of your purse or jacket.

Later, you can put that cash back in the bank!

If you pay in cash — even online — you’ll be acutely aware of how much money you’re spending, and less likely to accidentally go into debt this Black Friday season.

Your Turn: How do you determine your Black Friday budget? Do you set aside money every month to help you get there?

Nicole Dieker is a freelance writer focusing on personal finance and personal stories. Her work has appeared in The Billfold, The Toast, The Write Life and Boing Boing.

This post originally appeared on our special Black Friday site.

The post This Mom’s Black Friday Budget is $1,000. Here’s How She Saved the Cash — and How She’s Making the Most of It appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.

source The Penny Hoarder http://ift.tt/1SnFiDM

5 Holiday Store Return Policies You Need to Know

Best Buy, Target and other retailers are giving the gift of extended return periods.


Source U.S. News - Money http://ift.tt/1kWNHDJ

Our Favorite Strategies for an Inexpensive Holiday Season

Over the last several years, Sarah and I have had a very busy holiday season. We’ve celebrated Christmas with our three children and many different holiday gatherings each year with family and friends. We decorate our house each year for the holiday season, usually on the first weekend of December.

Those activities, from the decorating and the traveling to the gift-giving and the eating, add up to some serious expense. Each year, Sarah and I plan ahead for these costs, both in terms of saving money and in terms of implementing methods for spending less.

Here are eight strategies we implement each year to cut back on our holiday spending.

If you’re unsure what to give, give consumable gifts, ideally homemade ones

If your social circle is anything like ours, your gift list is a fairly long one and includes at least some people that are … shall we say, difficult to buy for.

The problem with hard-to-buy-for people is that it’s really easy to wind up giving them a gift that just fills up their closet – and that item ends up just being an expensive waste of everyone’s time.

Our solution is much simpler – give consumable gifts, ideally ones you’ve made yourself.

In past years, Sarah and I have made numerous homemade gifts, many of which we’ve turned into visual guides. Some of my favorites include vanilla extract, homemade soap, caramel apple jam, homemade beer, wine jelly, jar meals, crocheted clothing, personalized stationery, handmade ornaments, homemade cookie bundles, and photo cubes. Each of these gifts is pretty inexpensive to make and, although some of them do take some time, most are pretty easy.

If making a gift isn’t your style, simply give an edible gift of some kind. A nice bottle of wine, a six pack of good craft beer, a couple bars of delicious chocolate, summer sausage and cheeses, some popcorn and seasonings… there are many, many edible gifts that people will actually appreciate. Not only that, it’s pretty easy to shop around for appropriate food items.

Make your own gift tags

Rather than buying gift tags, we just take small squares of matching wrapping paper, write the “to:” and “from:” information on the white side of the paper, then fold it in half and tape it to the wrapped gift.

These “tags” are essentially free and visually melt right into the wrapping paper, making them almost unnoticed. I like the visual appeal of a gift without a tag on it anyway, so we often put the tags on the bottom of gifts.

Decorate naturally

Rather than buying expensive decorations for Christmas, decorate as naturally as possible, using the bounty of the outdoors to make your home beautiful (and often add a wonderful subtle aroma). The best part? It’s free.

Just gather cuttings from pine trees, leaves, gourds, pine cones, berries, acorns, and so on and use them for the basis of decorations. They can make the mantle and the windowsills look wonderfully festive.

At the end of the season, such decorations can easily be discarded to the compost pile or in the trash, as such items decompose quickly.

Save classic decorations from previous years

Every year, our children make a few handmade decorations – ornaments made out of salt dough, paper snowflakes that are colored and laminated, and so on. They add a certain childlike wonder to the decorations. Sarah and I usually make a few decorations, too.

Some of them are pretty forgettable, but we each usually produce an item or two each year that’s really memorable. Those items get saved for future years.

Thus, the next year, we open up our decoration boxes and find that we have tons of interesting and memorable things with which to decorate our home. We literally have more things than we can use right now, which gives us some choice, and we nave no reason whatsoever to buy any more.

Plan your meals way in advance

The best time to make your holiday meal plans is right now. That’s right, start sketching out your holiday meal plans today, not on December 20th or so.

Why do it so early? Throughout December, most of the ingredients you’ll actually need for the meal will go on sale at some point. If you have a meal plan (and the resulting grocery list) already prepared, you can buy most of the items as they go on sale during the month. (Some of the items may require freezer storage, but that’s perfectly fine.)

Another useful part of this strategy is sometimes you’ll have everything you need for one of the side dishes in the middle of the month, so you can actually go ahead and prepare it, just freezing it just before the final cooking. Then, you can pull it out of the freezer a couple days before the big meal, meaning your only responsibility on the big day is to simply toss the item in the oven.

Replace big gift exchanges with a Secret Santa

At some family holidays, everyone is expected to give a gift to everyone else, so the end result is that everyone has several cheap gifts while also feeling financially tapped out because of all of the gifts they were supposed to buy.

A much better approach is to institute a Secret Santa exchange. Just allow everyone to draw a name out of a hat of someone else in the exchange, then put a bit higher total on the exchange than you might have spent on individuals in the past.

That way, everyone spends less overall and everyone winds up with just one gift that they may actually really like.

Another idea is to do a “themed” Secret Santa – like exchanging DVDs or food items – or to do a “white elephant” exchange where people can swap items during the gift opening.

The whole point is to reduce the expense for everyone while maintaining the fun.

Make your own holiday cards

Over the last few years, we’ve been lucky to have some gift cards which make cards from Shutterfly incredibly cheap, but in years prior to that, we printed our own holiday cards at home.

We simply purchased some inexpensive card stock and envelopes from a local store (we started watching for sales early in the year), made a very simple design in Microsoft Word, and printed them on our home printer. They turned out very simple but tasteful and beautiful.

According to our calculations, these cards – including the cost of ink – were less expensive than only the cheapest dollar store holiday cards.

Buy all of your wrapping paper and other holiday supplies for the next year on December 27th (or so)

Wrapping paper can be a big expense, especially if you’re wrapping a lot of gifts. I’m often shocked at the cost of holiday wrapping paper during late November and early December.

The trick, of course, is to buy those kinds of items a few days after Christmas when the stores put their wrapping paper, bows, tags, and other such holiday items on steep discount in order to clear their stock. We just buy plenty for the following year, then stow it in the basement storage area with the other holiday items when we put away our holiday decorations.

That way, when we unpack things next November, we’ve already got all the wrapping paper we need for that year’s gifts.

If you’ve made the decision to purchase an artificial tree for next year, buying that right after the holidays is similarly smart. Stores will discount their trees quite steeply in the last week of December in order to move stock so you can get one at just a fraction of the price.

Final Thoughts

There are many, many clever little things you can do throughout December to save on the holiday season. The tips above just scratch the surface. These strategies just happen to be the ones that Sarah and I have used successfully in our own lives over the past few years in order to cut back on the costs of the holiday season. Hopefully, some of these moves will help you keep more of your money in your pocket or help you to direct it to more useful things.

The post Our Favorite Strategies for an Inexpensive Holiday Season appeared first on The Simple Dollar.

Source The Simple Dollar The Simple Dollar http://ift.tt/1TalZxU

Want to Work at Home? These 11 Courses and Guides are Up to 50% Off on Black Friday!

Out of all the questions our community asks, the one we hear the most is, “How can I work at home?”

With families and households to care for, many of you crave the flexibility a work-at-home job can offer.

As someone who worked remotely for several years, I understand the allure: The freedom to create your own schedule and work whenever and wherever you want is hard to beat.

But getting started is a lot of work, and knowing how and where to begin can quickly get overwhelming.

What kind of business do you want to create? Do you want to be a freelance writer? A virtual assistant? A coach? Or do you want to sell a product?

And that’s just the beginning.

Once you know what kind of home-based business you want, you have to figure out how to launch it. That’s where a course or guide might be able to help.

11 Courses and Guides to Help You Work at Home

So we scoured the web for resources on a range of work-at-home jobs — and also got the scoop on their Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales.

Here you go!

1. The Unconventional Guide to Freelance Writing

“You will be paid. You will be published,” promises Chris Guillebeau’s 55-page freelance writing guide, which covers everything from determining your rates to pitching editors to handling rejection.

Black Friday to Cyber Monday: $29.25 using code “GRAVY” (was $39; save 25%)

2. Create a Profitable Online Store

Want to open up a digital storefront — but not sure what to sell or how to do it?

Steve Chou says his Create a Profitable Online Store course will walk you through the process step-by-step.

Though this course is a hefty investment, he does offer payment plans and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Black Friday to Cyber Monday: $897 using code “pennyhoarder” (was $997; save 10%)

3. Coaching Biz Badassery Bootcamp

Do you dream of becoming a coach?

Whether you want to help people create healthier habits, start their own business or get control of their finances, Coach Jennie says her Coaching Biz Badassery Bootcamp will help you get your nascent coaching business off the ground.

Black Friday to Cyber Monday: $150 using code “blackfriday” (was $250; save 40%)

4. Get Started for Freelance Blogging Success

Sophie Lizard’s Get Started for Freelance Blogging Success is a 28-day email course with one task per day to help you slowly build your business.

By the end, she says you’ll be “a freelance blogger on the right track for long-term success.”

Black Friday to Cyber Monday: $48.50 (was $97; save 50%)

5. Empire Building Kit

Have you heard of a lifestyle business? Chris Guillebeau’s Empire Building Kit is a 365-day video and email course for creating a business that goes around your life — and not the other way around.

Black Friday to Cyber Monday: $111.75 using code “GRAVY” (was $149; save 25%)

6. Get Paid to Write for Blogs

Catherine Alford, a Penny Hoarder contributor, created her very own course: Get Paid to Write for Blogs. In eight modules and 29 videos, she takes you from creating a portfolio to making the leap into full-time writing.

Black Friday to Cyber Monday: $167.45 using code “pennyhoarder” (was $197; save 15%), plus receive a FREE 20-minute Skype session with Alford (normally valued at $100)

7. The Suitcase Entrepreneur Freedom Bundle

Maybe you don’t dream of just working from home; maybe you dream of creating a business you can run while traveling the world.

That’s Natalie Sisson’s specialty, and her freedom bundle includes four online business guides and a digital and audio version of her Suitcase Entrepreneur book.

Black Friday to Cyber Monday: $94.50 (was $189; save 50%)

8. Proofread Anywhere

Are you a grammar nerd? Do all your friends ask you to edit their resumes?

Then you might have what it takes to be a freelance proofreader. In her Proofread Anywhere course, Caitlin Pyle teaches you the ins and outs of this work-at-home career.

Black Friday only: $177.30 using code “save10” (was $197; save 10%)

9. 30 Days or Less to Virtual Assistant Success

Being a virtual assistant (VA) is just like it sounds: You assist business owners around the nation — and world — from behind your computer. Duties can include everything from scheduling social media updates to answering emails.

30 Days or Less to Virtual Assistant Success from VA Gina Horkey is an email course that promises to teach you the ropes.

Black Friday to Cyber Monday: $39 (was $69; save 56%)

10. Make Money With Your Travel Blog

Travel blogging — it’s the dream, right?

Matt Kepnes is one of the biggest names in the industry, and his course includes books about building and making money with your travel blog, as well as case studies and interviews with other successful bloggers.

Cyber Monday (and the Tuesday following): $99.50 (was $199; save 50%)

11. Self-Publishing Success Summit

Have you always wanted to write a book? With the self-publishing boom, it’s easier than ever — but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to do right.

Chandler Bolt’s Self-Publishing Success Summit All Access Pass features videos of 46 authors offering advice on writing, marketing and monetizing your first book.

Black Friday to Cyber Monday: $97 (was $297; save 66%)

Remember: Black Friday and Cyber Monday don’t have to be exclusively about buying things.

If you want, you can also take advantage of deals to further your education or career.

Your Turn: Do you want to work at home? Are you interested in any of these deals?

Disclosure: We appreciate you letting us include affiliate links in this post. It helps keep the beer fridge stocked in the Penny Hoarder break room.

Susan Shain, senior writer for The Penny Hoarder, is always seeking adventure on a budget. Visit her blog at susanshain.com, or say hi on Twitter @susan_shain.

This post originally appeared on our special Black Friday site.

The post Want to Work at Home? These 11 Courses and Guides are Up to 50% Off on Black Friday! appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.

source The Penny Hoarder http://ift.tt/1Hs5GvQ

We Couldn’t Find an Affordable Bed, So We Built Our Own

Beds are expensive. The average spring mattress sells for $1,500, according to the slumber gurus at SleepLiketheDead.com. Once you add in a box spring, a bed frame, and a headboard, that number can easily creep up to or beyond $2,000.

We know that mattresses are something we shouldn’t buy used and shouldn’t skimp on, so I racked my brain to figure out a frugal way to get the bed I wanted. I figured that with a little bit of resourcefulness and the willingness to challenge societal norms, you can create a nice, king-size bed for a fraction of what it would cost going the traditional route.

Because if you thought I was going to pay over two grand for a bed, then you must not know that I am currently wearing generic rain pants that I got for 3 bucks at Goodwill. Do I give a crap that they are technically women’s pants? I do not. If they look good, they feel good, they keep me dry, and they’re affordable, then that’s all I need.

I began my search for a bed using those same parameters, and I found you can create your own DIY bed, including frame and mattress padding, for way less than $2,000. Here’s how we did it.

Question the Dogma

A year ago, when my girlfriend and I first moved in together, we knew that we didn’t want to keep sharing a queen-sized bed. I know we could have, but I’m 6’0″ and she’s 5’6″, and it never felt like we had quite enough room.

As we considered our options, we decided to try sleeping right on the floor. We had nice, new carpet, and once we threw a couple blankets down, it was plenty comfortable. We lovingly called it “The Super Bed” because it was huge and awesome and free. My friends called it “The Gorillas Nest,” which they meant as an insult but I took as a compliment.

But, we weren’t just trying this out because we are weirdos (which we are), but also because I had become obsessed with the idea that mattresses might not be providing me with optimal sleep.

I started doing a lot of research about the sleep habits of our ancestors, and I was particularly struck by a research paper from the British Medical Journal that detailed various ways humans sleep when they are still living in pre-industrial societies. They often sleep on hard surfaces, and they rarely use pillows. The author suggests that these different sleeping postures contribute to the lack of musculoskeletal issues in those societies.

I went from there to the goddess of alignment herself, Katy Bowman, a biomechanist who advocates transitioning out of a mattress to help alleviate chronic pain and facilitate a more natural sleep. Those two sources were enough to convince me to at least give the no-mattress life a try. I’d long had back issues that were exacerbated by sleeping on mattresses. Giving up the mattress made sense to me evolutionarily, orthopedically — and financially. What was the worst that could happen?

Find Cheap Materials

While the Gorillas Nest™ will always have a special place in my heart, when we decided to make the move from Los Angeles to Madison, Wis., my girlfriend and I agreed that we’d like to see what it was like to sleep on something slightly more classy than a 10-year-old blanket laid down on a carpet. Plus, our new place had hardwood floors throughout, so we would have had to use a lot more blankets.

So, we started talking about a solution. We knew we didn’t want to spend a lot of money and that we liked the extra firmness and room to flop around that the floor provided. The logical solution was to try to build our own bed so that we would could customize it exactly how we wanted.

We figured that pallets would be good for giving our new bed a little bit of elevation. Before we went out and bought some, we discovered my girlfriend’s parents had some lying around in their garage. Even better, my girlfriend’s sister had a couple we could use as well. (If your relatives aren’t sitting on piles of pallets, you can still often find them for free or cheap by inquiring at local small businesses and construction sites or searching on Craigslist.)

We had now acquired four wood pallets for free. Their dimensions when put together were almost exactly those of a traditional king-sized bed.

Besides some two-by-fours ($6.50) to act as connective tissue in the middle, the only missing piece was a smooth covering layer that would provide us with an even sleeping surface.

Sheets of peg board make a ventilated bed platform.

The tricky part was that we needed this layer to be breathable, because we had read that the pad you sleep on could get moldy if there was no air circulation. A quick trip to Home Depot and we found these sheets of perforated wood — sometimes called peg board, which you can use to hang tools in a garage or basement — for $25.

Perfect.

Put on Your Hard Hat and Build That Sucker

Okay, you in no way need a hard hat for this work, but it wouldn’t have been a bad idea for me to wear one.

I am not comfortable around building materials, tools, and machinery. My greatest asset as a handyman is my willingness to admit that I can barely screw in a light bulb, and thus not overstep my boundaries.

This was going to require some work with a power saw, which meant I bit off a little more than I could chew when I confidently announced I would put the bed together.

I pretty much just looked at the plans (that my girlfriend had laid out), looked at the materials, and then said to my girlfriend, “Let’s ask if your dad will help.”

And then her dad came to the rescue. He measured, sawed, and drilled in 90-degree heat for about two hours while I helped where I could.

This meant that I mostly looked on and provided encouragement.

When I asked him how he knew how to do all that so well, he just shrugged and said, “You pick up this kind of stuff when you grow up on a farm.”

I thought farmers planted crops and milked cows. I didn’t know they were also jacks of all trades who could create amazing bed frames in less time than it takes to watch a movie. I always thought I was humble, but I’m clearly not Midwestern-farmer humble.

Think Outside the Mattress

I covered how we wanted to avoid mattresses because of price and for orthopedic reasons, but another big issue was the flame retardant. Every single commercially sold mattress is required to be pumped full of flame retardant to meet state and federal laws.

While this certainly has saved lives at some point, I’m confident we won’t light our bed on fire, so I’m happy to avoid the nasty litany of potential health effects that come along with breathing in flame retardant every night.

Because of these concerns, I’ll admit that we weren’t as frugal as possible when it came to our padding. Plus, we were really looking forward to an upgrade from using 10-year-old blankets as our sole source of cushion. We settled on a down mattress topper ($180 after discounts) on top of a latex pad ($270).

They are both very high quality, free of hazardous chemicals, and should last us a very long time. While those items are pricey, it still cost us far less than the average mattress ($450 vs $1,500).

Total cost for our DIY bed, between “mattress” and frame: $481.

Final Thoughts

Now, $481 is still a lot of money. But if you’re looking for a high-quality, long lasting, king-sized bed, you’re not going to do much better than that. Even the new, “low-cost” mattress startups like Casper and Tuft & Needle will run you between $750 and $950 for a king-sized mattress.

If we start feeling too opulent we can always go back to the floor, as we proved for a year that we are capable of that.

It might not look hip, and it might shock you with it’s stiffness if you’re not used to it, but we personally love the firmer feel. And while it will never make the pages of a Pottery Barn catalog, you’d have to be a pretty fancy gorilla to be sleeping in that thing. For me and my girlfriend, it’s perfect.

The post We Couldn’t Find an Affordable Bed, So We Built Our Own appeared first on The Simple Dollar.

Source The Simple Dollar The Simple Dollar http://ift.tt/1PRWt2E