Is This a Scam? 3 Signs of Bad Financial Advice

Not all financial advice is created equal. But how do you know what to follow and what to ignore?

Before taking action, consider the following:

• What is the source?
• What steps are you supposed to be taking and why?
• What is the promised outcome?
• Have you seen others achieve this outcome?

CreditCards.com offers some red flags that should pique your concern about financial advice. If you encounter these characteristics, consider running in the other direction.

1. The Advice is Confusing

Simply put: Make sure you know what you’re getting into. If the advice you’re following is unclear, you’re bound to run into problems.

Worse, confusing advice might actually be a scam. Some companies “benefit from the fact that people don’t understand how they work,” says Thomas Nitzsche, a spokesperson for ClearPoint Credit Counseling Solutions in Atlanta.

To avoid being taken by confusing financial advice, do your research before taking any action.

Look up the organization offering the advice to see if it’s reputable. A search for “[company name] scam” should let you know whether other consumers are complaining about it.

You can also check with the Better Business Bureau and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau for complaints.

2. The Adviser Has a Vested Interest

Question the motives of the people offering you advice: What do they have to gain from you following it?

If they’re selling a book meant to help with your financial situation, they may just be trying to make a sale.

Check the links from websites offering advice — are they getting a kickback for referring you to financial services? If an adviser isn’t upfront about the benefits he or she receives, consider it a red flag and be leery of the advice.

To avoid following faulty advice that only helps the adviser, evaluate them. Check their track record to confirm their claims. If the advice is coming from a friend, make sure they’ve actually followed it and seen the results they’re promising.

3. The Advice Comes Unsolicited

When someone reaches out with financial advice you weren’t seeking, be cautious.

Scammers will often come to you, asking you to take action concerning your finances, threatening dire consequences if you don’t.

Don’t simply jump to action out of fear. A major financial scam last year involved exactly this tactic — scammers called Americans and posed as the IRS, demanding repayment of “back taxes.”

If you receive a call, email or even text like this, contact the organization directly. Before you make any moves with your money, double-check the claim is real.

You can also vet someone while you have them on the phone. Simply asking follow-up questions once they’ve explained the “problem” to you could bring the lie to light.

“Someone worth listening to will have more than surface knowledge,” says author Tamara E. Holmes, “and if they don’t know something, they will be able to refer you to someone who does.”

For more signs of scammy or just plain bad financial advice and how to avoid it, read the full article at CreditCards.com.

Your Turn: Have you or has someone you know been approached with a financial scam? How did you handle it?

Dana Sitar (@danasitar) is a Staff Writer at The Penny Hoarder. She’s written for Huffington Post, Entrepreneur.com, Writer’s Digest and more.

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Women to ‘work for free’ until 2016

Tom Wilson

A stressed office lady.jpg

Women will effectively work for free from today until the end of the year due to the difference between average male and female earnings.

Women will effectively work for free from today until the end of the year due to the difference between average male and female earnings.

‘Equal pay day’ falls five days later this year than in 2014, as the gender pay gap has closed slightly, but women working full-time still earn 37% less than their male counterparts.

Women to ‘work for free’ until next year

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Women will effectively work for free from today until the end of the year due to the difference between average male and female earnings. ‘Equal pay day’ falls five days later this year than in 2014, as the gender pay gap has closed slightly, but women working full-time still earn 37% less than their male counterparts. The median salary for a woman working full time is £17,103, compared to £27,162 for men, according to the latest Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, from the Office for National Statistics. The Fawcett Society, a campaigning group for women’s rights in the workplace, says at the current pace it will take 50 years for the gender pay gap to close completely. Sam Smethers, chief executive of the Fawcett Society, said: “There has never been a better opportunity to close the pay gap for good. Progress has stalled in recent years but with real commitment for government and employers, together with action from women and men at work, we could speed up progress towards the day when we can consign it to history.” Separate research out today from the Trade Union Congress (TUC) says the pay gap is greater among high earners; while the gap is greater still among older workers – meaning as women progress in their careers, they face greater pay disparity. Among the top 5% of earners, men typically earn 45.9% more than women, rising to 52.9% among the top 2%. "It is shocking the UK still has such a large gender pay differences at the top of the labour market after more than four decades of equal pay and sex discrimination legislation," said Frances O'Grady, general secretary of the TUC. Both the TUC and Fawcett Society called for greater transparency around pay to close the gap further. Smethers added: “The message to women and men at work is – it’s OK to talk about pay. How can we achieve pay equality if we don’t even know what our colleagues earn? It is time to have the conversation and ask your employer if they are ready for the new pay gap reporting requirements.”

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Your Credit Score Might Be Better Than You Think. Here’s Why

Nobody’s perfect.

You aren’t, and neither am I.

But neither are the credit bureaus who compile your credit history or the creditors who report to those bureaus.

If you have some splotches on your credit report, the odds are at least some of those black marks are there by mistake.

The good news is, it’s not that difficult to repair a flawed credit report. While accurate, verifiable and complete data must stay on your credit report for up to 10 years, you can wipe clean a lot more negative data from your credit report than you might otherwise expect.

And you can do this yourself. You don’t have to hire anyone to do this for you or make this into a part-time job.

With a little study, diligence and determination, anyone can clean up and repair their credit report. Let’s go through the steps together.

1. Know the Main Players and How Credit Information Is Used

Before trying to correct your credit report, take a minute to understand what you are up against.

There are four main participants in the credit world:

You

You are the first and most important, because you decide where and how to spend your money using credit. Most (but not all) of the information that’s in your credit report is there because of something you did or did not do.

The good news is you have the power to determine what your credit future is going to look like. And as you’ll see, you also have the power to clean up a lot of your ancient credit past.

Credit Bureaus

The credit bureaus are the keepers of your history. They collect data from creditors, vendors and stores.

They record how punctual you’ve been paying your bills, among other things. And they have kept records about your transactions ever since you started using credit.

They also collect information from the local, state and federal government with regards to any liens, bankruptcies or criminal convictions against you.

There are many regional credit bureaus, but there are three large national credit bureaus, and they are the organizations you should focus on: Equifax, TransUnion and Experian.

These are tremendously large firms. They collect data on hundreds of millions of people, and each year they gather billions of data points.

As you’ll see, they often make mistakes. If you don’t catch those errors, you’ll be the one who ends up paying for it.

Creditors

Your creditors are the next participants to consider. They tell the credit bureaus about their financial experiences with you. The tricky part of this is not all creditors report to all three bureaus and some don’t report at all.

Creditors are only human. They also report false negative information to the bureaus quite often. In fact, a recent study done by the Federal Trade Commission determined that one in five credit reports have material errors.

Again, it’s up to you to call attention to these mistakes and demand they be corrected.

People and Organizations Who Use the Information

The final player in your credit world are the people and organizations who use the information that the credit bureaus collect (and sell). Those organizations include potential creditors, would-be employers or business partners and insurance companies.

With so much on the line and so many opportunities for errors, it makes sense to do everything you can to make sure your credit report is as clean as possible.

2. Know Your Rights

We’re almost ready to start scrubbing your credit file.

But before we do, you’ll find it helpful to understand the laws that protect you against what credit bureaus and creditors do with and to your credit file. T

here are only a few statutes to take a look at, and you don’t have to be a legal genius in order to understand these laws.

Fair Credit Reporting Act

The first and most important to consider is the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Among other things, this law requires credit bureaus to provide a free credit report to you each year if you request it.

This same law mandates that the credit bureaus and creditors must correct any entry that is not accurate, verifiable and complete (more on that in a bit).

Fair Credit Billing Act

The next law is the Fair Credit Billing Act. This guards you against unfair billing practices.

For example, if you are charged for something you didn’t buy, are charged the wrong amount or never got what you paid for, the merchant must make the correction both to your bill and to your credit report if they reported negative information about you.

Fair Debt Collection Practices Act

The next statute to understand is the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. This specifies what bill collectors are and are not allowed to do.

In a nutshell, collection agents are not permitted to harass you. In fact, if you write and tell them to leave you alone, they must do so.

3. Know What You Can Contest

Obviously, any blatant inaccuracies (detailed below) need to be corrected. But it goes far beyond that.

As I mentioned above, the information in your credit report must be verifiable and complete too. Let’s look a little closer to really understand what that means.

Verifiable

By law, creditors must be able to prove the negative information they report is true. If they can’t produce evidence, the information must be removed.

At first glance, this may seem like a small matter, but it’s actually one of your strongest weapons in getting the bureaucrats to remove false negatives.

As a matter of fact, this burden of proof becomes more and more difficult to satisfy over time. That’s because as the years pass, companies go out of business, merge with others and/or lose information as they update their data systems.

In other words, time is on your side.

You might consider disputing a negative item if you think the vendor won’t be able to prove their claim.

Incomplete Information

You might have a negative item on your credit report that while technically true, doesn’t tell the entire story. If that is the case, the item must be wiped clean.

What is “incomplete”? The best way to explain is by way of example. Let’s say you delayed paying a bill because the vendor sent you the wrong product.

Did you pay on time? No. But simply listing this as a late payment isn’t fair or complete.

You didn’t pay on time because you didn’t get what was promised. Because this data is incomplete, you can direct the credit bureaus to remove the negative item and they have to comply.

4. Go Through Your Reports

Now that you know how the game works and you are familiar with your rights, it’s time to order your credit reports and go through them with a fine-toothed comb.

I suggest you get all three reports at the same time, because not all credit bureaus have the same information. If you only order one but a mistake only shows up on one of the others, you won’t know about it, yet it will pull your score down.

As I said earlier, there is a 20% chance that your credit report contains material errors, so look through your reports carefully. Here’s what to look for:

• Look at your personal data. Is it right? Is your name spelled correctly? Is your birth date listed accurately? The report lists your residences. Did you really live in those places?

• You are held responsible for all the credit accounts listed on your report. Do they really all belong to you? Do you see a mortgage or other loan listed that isn’t yours? Credit bureaus are notorious for misapplying credit accounts. Don’t pay the price for their carelessness.

• Go through the activity on each account. Do late payments or charge offs show up that never really happened?

• Review each account’s details and look for inconsistencies on credit limits and types of credit accounts.

• Are all the accounts they list still open? Sometimes the bureau falsely reports closed accounts as being open.

• Look for outdated information. If you have negative items on your credit report the law says they must be removed after 7 years. Does your report present data that should have come off your report long ago? Keep in mind that bankruptcies stay in your file for 10 years. If you have any unpaid judgments, they stick to your report for either 7 years or until the statute of limitations expires — whichever is greater.

• As mentioned above, look for any information that is either incomplete or unverifiable.

Of course there are other justifications for disputing credit report history but this gives you a sense of what to look for. Inspect all three of your reports and mark those items you want to dispute.

5. Assemble Your Evidence and Make Your Claims

Now it’s time to build your paper trail. Get any documentation you can that proves your argument. It might be difficult to corroborate all of your claims but just do the best you can and don’t be deterred by lack of evidence.

Remember that the bureaus and creditors are responsible to prove their case against you — not the other way around.

Contest the misinformation with both the creditor and the credit bureaus. Much of the information you read about the dispute process suggests that you first contact the bureau and reach out to the creditor if that fails.

I disagree with that advice. You are better off if you contact both parties at the same time. There is no downside to doing so, and it saves you lots of time and frustration as you don’t have to put up with the credit bureau run around.

Send them a registered return letter with your request that they fix the items you dispute. Include your reasons for your demand and a copy of your evidence (including a snapshot of the credit report that contains the mistake). End the letter by telling them what you want them to do — remove the item from your credit file.

Some creditors allow you to dispute claims by telephone or online, but I suggest you stick with snail mail. That’s because if you contact the other party via internet or phone you might surrender some of your legal rights.

Some of the rights you maintain by writing a letter include the right to see a copy of the other party’s evidence backing up their claim against you and the right to be treated fairly by collection agencies. If you don’t write, you could give up those protections and more.

And while we are on the subject of letter writing, please use your own words rather than using a template you download from the internet. The bureaus get lots of requests all day long. You have a higher chance of being taken seriously if you compose your own letter.

You can use templates to get an idea of what your letter should look like, but don’t copy them word-for-word.

As long as the credit bureaus think your case has merit, they will investigate your claim within 30 days. If they think your claim has no merit, they won’t even look into it. This is another reason why it’s so important to be thorough when you make your claim.

If the bureau takes you seriously, they’ll forward your grievance to the creditor. If the creditor admits they made a mistake, they have to tell the bureau and the bureau must repair the information on your credit report.

If the creditor simply tells the bureau that their negative data is accurate, the bureau will close the case on the creditor’s word alone. Then they inform you of the results of their investigation.

This is why it’s so important to file your complaint with both the bureau and creditor at the same time. If you do, you can force the creditor to show proof. The credit bureau doesn’t push the creditor as far as you can.

Once you write a letter to the creditor and ask for proof of their claim against you, they have to provide it. The creditor will also copy the bureau on the results of their investigation. Then, if the bureau changes your history as a result of the inquiry, they must send you a copy of the results and a new copy of your fixed credit report.

In addition to sharing the good news with you, the bureaus have to send a letter to anyone who inspected your credit file over the last six months. The letter must explain that the change was made. And if you ask, the bureau has to send a similar letter to any potential employer who saw your report over the last two years.

Even if the negative item stays on your report, you win. That’s because the bureau has to include a note on your report showing that you dispute the item. And that notation must be on the report when people review your credit history in the future.

They also have to inform anyone who saw your credit information in the recent past and tell them that you dispute the item. You may have to pay to have them do this but it could be well worth it.

Of course, you don’t have to accept defeat, either. You can either sue the creditor or credit bureau or you can hire a reputable firm that specializes in fixing consumer credit reports and they will take the fight up a notch.

Final Word

Credit bureaus and creditors process billions of transactions each month. They are bound to make mistakes. Unfortunately, when they do, you pay the price — unless you force them to do the right thing.

Keep in mind that the law is in your favor. Demand that any information on your credit report be accurate, verifiable and complete. If the information doesn’t pass any of these tests, you have the legal right to demand that the negative information be removed.

Familiarize yourself with the rules that govern consumer credit information and follow the process. Be calm and patient but persistent. It’s well worth it.

Your Turn: Have you ever disputed items on your credit report? Are you going to take these steps to make sure yours is accurate?

This post originally appeared at SeedTime. Stop by to get signed up for a free 3-week email course to help you get control of your money, save more, and payoff debt!

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Choose Sutherland and start your Career in the Comfort of your Home!

Sutherland Snapshot Established in 1986 with the headquarters in Rochester, New York, Sutherland Global Services is one of the largest independent BPO (Business Process Outsourcing) companies in the world, employing over 36,000 professionals across 19 countries. We are a diverse company devoted to extending career opportunities to individuals even if it means working from home. […]

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Baking Her Way to Work at Home Success – Interview with Kelli Fusaro

How did you get involved with Photo Bake Shop? In 2005 I went through a divorce. The working world was new to me, because like many woman, I chose to be a stay-at-home mom for 10 years. I realized when I was forced to earn money, that my confidence was extremely low. Maybe I’d been outside […]

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Silvio Calabi: Feeling silly about fuel efficiency? Don’t

A Florida reader questioned the gas mileage that I reported for Honda’s minivan, the Odyssey: “Don’t you feel the least bit silly,” he wrote, “telling people that this car gets 28 mpg highway? If it gets 23 at 70 mph I will eat my hat.” I wrote back that the vehicle gave me 23 mpg in town, and on the interstate the Odyssey averaged 28 mog — or so its trip computer informed me. I was going to finish with something like, “and who [...]

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This kid is earning more money than you

MEET the 11-year-old who’s rolling in it, pulling in $2000 a week. Here’s how the mini mogul does it.

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Dog bites girl at Bunnings after pets welcomed

OH NO! A five-year-old girl has been bitten by a dog at Bunnings, just days after the hardware chain launched its new pet-friendly policy.

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Latest weapon in the grocery war

COLES has fired another shot in the supermarket wars, unveiling a new “pick and pack” technology which promises to cut down delivery times.

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David Gyngell quits Nine, new boss announced

NINE Entertainment has appointed a new chief executive, ending speculation over outgoing boss David Gyngell’s future.

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Two films that could save year of flops

SAN Andreas, Pan, Man from U.N.C.L.E — it’s been a year of box office stinkers for Warner Bros. There are just two films that could save it.

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‘What is that?’: Worst shopping centre Santa ever

MANAGEMENT’s bid not to offend shoppers backfires badly as thousands rail at ‘sterilised’ Christmas display that looks more like Star Trek.

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We’re all porn stars: The online revolution

MEET the woman who is disrupting the porn industry. Could her vision of a future become a reality? WARNING: NSFW ADULT THEMES.

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100+ Awesome Discounts for Veterans and Military Members

Servicemen and women, we salute you — and so do plenty of companies who are happy to show their gratitude in the form of discounts and other offers.

In addition to Veterans Day-specific discounts (stay tuned for our post on this year’s batch), lots of companies offer year-round special savings to active-duty, reserve and retired members of the military.

For many of these discounts, you just have to ask. Most establishments will ask to see valid military ID as proof of service, however, so keep yours handy if it isn’t already.

Restaurants With Miltary Discounts

Whether you’re looking for a meal, snack or treat, these eateries will give you a break on your bill.

1. Ben & Jerry’s

Discount amount varies by location, but it’s usually around 15%.

2. Famous Dave’s BBQ

All active and retired military save 10% on Famous Dave’s authentic, pit-smoked BBQ and made-from-scratch sides. Ask your server for details.

3. Dairy Queen

Participating DQ locations offer 10% off your order.

4. Denny’s

Denny’s 10% discount is available to “first responders” — which includes active-duty military personnel.

5. Hooter’s

Discount amount varies by location, but it’s usually around 15% and is good for both active and retired service members. It might only be available on certain nights, though, so you might want to call ahead to check.

6. Golden Corral

Show your military ID and get 10% off an endless buffet dinner at Golden Corral.

7. Lone Star Steakhouse

Mondays are discount days for military members, police officers and firefighters — and the 15% off applies to your whole table!

8. Texas Roadhouse

Discount amount varies by location, but it can be as much as 20%.

9. IHOP

Show your military ID to your server and get 10% off your entire meal.

10. Panda Express

In the mood for some Asian food? Active-duty personnel can enjoy a 10% military discount at this nationwide chain.

11. Dunkin’ Donuts

In addition to sending free coffee overseas for troops, Dunkin’ offers Veterans Advantage members 10% off on online orders.

12. Burger King

Present a valid ID and ask for a manager at The Home of the Whopper and get 10% off at participating locations.

13. Hard Rock Cafe

Flash your ID and get 15 percent off.

“Go Have Fun” Discounts

Whether you’re craving a family adventure or a date night, you can enjoy a discount on your entertainment.

14. Busch Gardens / SeaWorld

The Waves of Honor program grants free one-day admission for all military service members (active, Guard and Reserve) plus up to three family members. This offer is good at a variety of SeaWorld and Busch Garden parks across the U.S.

15. AMC Theaters

Flash your military ID after 4 p.m. for a discount on movie tickets (discounts vary).

16. Carnival Cruise Lines

Whether you’re active or retired, you can get a discounted rate on any Carnival cruise line (Carnival, Princess, etc.) by submitting a copy of your discharge papers via fax, mail or email.

This offer is also available for spouses of active-duty personnel — see the Terms & Conditions page for more details.

17. Disneyland

Visit Disneyland Park and Disneyland California for $132 with Military Promotional 3-Day Park Hopper Tickets. Ticket must be purchased by December 18, 2015 and are good for admission through December 20, 2015.

18. LEGOLAND

Visitors to LEGOLAND California can save up to 25% off admission and receive a second day free with the basic military discount.

Or check out LEGOLAND, LEGOLAND Water Park and SEA LIFE Aquarium and save up to 37%, in addition to getting a second day free, with the Resort Hopper military discount. Both offers are good through December 31, 2015.

LEGOLAND Florida also offers free one-day admission to active-duty personnel — just show your ID at the ticket window the day of your visit. You may also be able to purchase discounted tickets in advance for friends and family by ordering through your on-base ticket office.

19. PGA Tour

As part of the Birdies for the Brave outreach and appreciation program, service members can receive complimentary or discounted tickets to select PGA tour events.

20. Major League Baseball

In addition to special military appreciation days, many MLB teams also offer discounted tickets throughout the year. Check out the full list here.

21. U.S. National Parks

Enjoy America the beautiful! Military members and their dependents are entitled to a free annual pass that grants them access to all U.S. national parks. 

22. Universal Studios

Both Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Studios Orlando offer exclusive military discounts and packages through local base ticket offices.

Travel Discounts

Planning a trip? Use your ID for deals on planes, trains and automobiles.

23. Amtrak

Active-duty military personnel and their immediate family (spouses and dependents) can get 10% off the lowest available fare on most Amtrak trains. Select “military” for each applicable passenger when using the Amtrak Fare Finder search.

In addition, uniformed service members can move to the head of any Amtrak ticket line.

24. Greyhound

Active-duty and retired military personnel and their immediate family (spouses and dependents) can get 10% off Greyhound walk-up (unrestricted) fares.

They’re also eligible to travel round-trip anywhere in the continental U.S. for a max fare of $259.

25. Hampton Inn

Active-duty servicemembers, veterans and their families can enjoy up to 15% off their stays at participating Hampton Inn hotels and resorts.

Some restrictions apply — see Terms & Conditions for full details on how to claim your discount rate.

26. U.S. Airways

U.S. Airways offers special military leave fares for active-duty personnel traveling on an excused absence or within seven days of discharge. Special rate also applies to military dependents.

27. La Quinta Inns & Suites

Active-duty and retired military personnel are eligible for the government rate for both business and personal travel.

Select “Government” rate type or use promo/corporate code “GOV” when searching for rooms on their site.

28. Hilton Hotels & Resorts

Active-duty and retired military personnel get 10% off personal stays for themselves and their spouses and families. See Terms & Conditions for specifics.

29. Hertz

Enjoy discounted rates, upgrades and complimentary membership in Hertz’s Gold Plus Rewards program when you rent a car with a military discount code number.

30. Norwegian Cruise Line

Save up to 10% on select cruises for yourself and your family by looking for sailings with a blue and red star icon next to them.

31. Marriott Hotels

Active-duty service members qualify for discounted room rates. Select “Government & Military” under the “Special Rates” section when booking your stay.

32. Choice Hotels

Active-duty and retired military personnel and their families get discounted one- and two-person rates.

You’re also eligible for the new Choice Privileges® Armed Services program, which enables you (and your spouse and dependents) to enroll in the Choice Privileges reward program at the “Elite Gold” level.

Banking Discounts

Yes, you can even save money on your bank accounts, loans and credit cards.

33. Loan Interest Rates

The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) restricts interest rates for active-duty service members to no higher than 6%. This applies to everything from credit cards to mortgage to auto loans and protects both service members and their families for the duration of active duty.

For more information on all the benefits of the SCRA and eligibility, see here.

34.  American Express

American Express waives all fees for active-duty military personnel. This includes annual membership fees on all of their cards (including the $450 fee on AmEx Platinum) and may also include refunding late fees incurred while on active duty.

To claim these benefits, call the 1-800 number on the back of your card and ask that your account be designated as “active-duty military” in compliance with the SCRA. If the customer service rep you initially speak with isn’t familiar with the act, just ask to speak to a supervisor.

35. Chase Bank

Opening a checking or savings account at Chase? You can get their Premiere package for free — it’s normally $25 and includes a debit card, free safety deposit box and other goodies.

Just show your ID or discharge papers when you open your account.

36. Bank of America

Bank of America has specific banking solutions tailored to military customers, including checking, savings, credit cards, mortgages and loans.

37.  Capital One

To learn about Capital One’s military offerings, call up their dedicated customer service line at 1-855-CAP1MIL (227-1645).

38. Citi

Citi Salutes has a number of programs and services for military servicemembers, from the HomeRun for Heroes mortgage program to the Disabled Veterans Mortgage Relief Program.

39.  U.S. Bank

Opening an account online with U.S. Bank? All active-duty servicemembers and veterans are eligible for their free Premiere checking and savings package — just use ID code “DD214.”

Houseware Discounts

Renovating or redecorating? We’ve got you covered.

40. Home Depot

Show your military ID at Home Depot to receive a 10% discount. Total savings are capped at $500, and this discount may not be usable in combination with other deals.

You may also be able to get a discount on online orders if you place them over the phone — call the Online Customer Care line at 1-800-430-3376 to speak to a representative.

41. Lowe’s

Active service members, veterans and their immediate family (spouses and dependents) get 10% off in-store purchases. This offer cannot be combined with other promotions.

42. Williams Sonoma

Stock your kitchen with a flat 10% discount at this chain with proof of service or valid ID.

43. Pine Oak Farm

This veteran-owned site selling “farmhouse country” style home decor offers service members a 10% discount if you use the code “militaryservice” when you check out.

Your purchase also helps support fellow veterans — $1 of every order over $25 goes towards organizations like the Wounded Warrior Project.

Clothing Discounts

Going shopping? Don’t forget your military ID, which is good for savings at these retailers.

44. American Eagle Outfitters

Show your military ID and get 10% off any purchase of jeans, T-shirts, shoes and more.

45. Banana Republic

Get 10% to 15% off clothing from this store with your ID.

46. Aeropostale

Flash your military ID and get 10% off casual apparel and accessories.

47. Eddie Bauer

Get 15% off most merchandise (some promotions excluded) with your military ID.

48. Hot Topic

A military ID gets you 10% to 20% off at this alternative retailer of clothing and accessories. (Yes, it’s still around.)

49. Under Armour

This activewear brand offers 10% off online and in-store purchases.

50. Old Navy

On the first of every month, get 10% off the latest fashions for the whole family (may vary by location; in-store only).

51. Wilson’s Leather

Get 10% off your in-store purchase of outerwear, luggage, accessories and more with a valid military ID.

52. Forever 21

Get the latest trendy clothes, accessories and shoes for young women at 10% off with your military ID.

53. Charlotte Russe

Get 10% off at this clothing retailer with your military ID.

54. Alfred Angelo Bridal

Save 15% at this bridal boutique that carries wedding gowns, bridal party gowns and more.

55. Maurice’s

Flash your military ID and get 10% off your next apparel purchase at Maurice’s.

Shoe Discounts

56. Eastbay

Get 20% off athletic footwear, apparel and sports equipment online and by phone if you have a Veterans Advantage Card.

57.  Footaction

This retailer of athletic shoes and apparel for men, women and children offers a 20% discount with military ID.

58. Foot Locker

The sportswear and footwear retailer offers 20% off with military ID.

59. Payless Shoe Store

Bring in your military ID for 10% off your next purchase at Payless.

60. Timberland Outlets

This retailer of stylish, rugged apparel offers a 15% discount with valid military ID.

61. Kid’s Foot Locker

Shop kids shoes and clothing from big-name brands and get 20% off with your military ID.

62. Finish Line

The Finish Line offers a 10% discount to all vets and active military personnel.

Discounts on Electronics

Need a new laptop or printer? Consider these retailers.

63. Dell Computers

Dell offers a 10% discount for all military members and veterans.  Be sure to also check out this page for additional specials and promotions.

64. Apple

Check out Apple’s Military/Government Purchase Program to learn more about the various special offers and discounts currently available.

65. Hewlett-Packard

HP’s discounts vary and are only available online. Register as a new user upon checkout and use company code “2727.”

66. Microsoft

Active-duty servicemembers, reserve military personnel and veterans are eligible to receive special discounts on a number of military products. Check out Microsoft’s website for more details.

67. RadioShack

The wireless and electronics retailer offers a flat 10% discount to active and retired military.

68. Rocky Mountain Tracking

Need a GPS vehicle tracking system? Get 5% off your order with this company when you use the code “USMILITARY.”

Wireless and Communications Discounts

Save a little cash on your cell phone plan.

69. Sprint

Discount varies but is usually between 10% and 18%.

Sprint will also allow you to put a “hold” on your service when you’re deployed, which will save your phone number while not incurring any fees.

70. Sprint Business

Call 1-888-788-4727 for information on how you may be eligible to receive a 15% to 20% discount.

71. AT&T Wireless

Check out military discounts on mobile and voice data services on AT&T Wireless’s website.

72. Verizon Wireless

Verizon offers numerous discounts to servicemembers and veterans as well as federal employees, including 15% off plans $34.99 or higher.

You may also be eligible for data discounts as well as 25% off accessories in some cases. Apply online, where you will need a DD Form 214 or Veteran Card.

Automotive Discounts

Whether you’re buying a car, getting an oil change or doing a little DIY maintenance, use your military ID to save a few bucks.

73. Toyota

Car shopping? Show your military ID and get $500 off your vehicle, plus an additional $500 off for first-time buyers.

74. Suzuki

Military personnel, veterans and their families get $500 off Suzuki’s motorcycles, ATVs, scooters and outboard marine motors.

75. Autozone

Get 10% off your purchase of auto parts at Autozone.

76. Auto Accessories Garage.com

Active-duty military members, veterans and their families can get 5% to 20% off auto accessories and performance parts from this site.

77. Advance Auto Parts

Get 10% off regularly priced items (in-store only).

78. Meineke

Meineke offers 10% off parts with a military ID (in-store only).

79. Midas

Get 10% off brakes, oil changes, tires and more.

80. Jiffy Lube

Jiffy Lube offers 10% off all services with a valid military ID.

Sporting Goods Discounts

Go play outside with these discounts on outdoor and sports-related gear.

81. Bass Pro Shops

Gear up for your next outdoor adventure with a 10% discount with military ID.

82. Champs Sports

Discounts vary, so be sure to bring your military ID and ask a sales associate at your local store for further details.

83. Dick’s Sporting Goods

Discounts vary, so be sure to bring your military ID and ask a sales associate at your local store for further details.

84. Play it Again Sports

Discounts vary, so be sure to bring your military ID and ask a sales associate at your local store for further details.

85. Sports Chalet

Save 10% off all of Sports Chalet’s equipment, apparel and accessories.

86. SportsMemorabilia.com

Using code “mili10” at checkout will net you a 10% discount.

Education Discounts

Save a little bit on education for yourself or your family members.

87. Tutor.com

Eligible students in U.S. military families can connect to a live tutor online at any time for studying, proofreading, homework, test prep and more.

The service is available for free to K-12 students and some adults in active-duty families.

88. Ashford University

You may be eligible for the Ashford Military Grant, which reduces tuition for all undergraduate courses to $250 per credit.

This grant also covers the sales tax, technology fees and course materials, including standard shipping costs where applicable, required for an eligible student’s program of study when purchased through the Ashford University bookstore or a textbook partner.

Engagement Rings

Planning to pop the question? Shave a little bit off the cost when you buy from these retailers.

89. Since910.COM

Ready to pop the big question? Get 5% off an engagement ring (maximum of $10,000) by providing a U.S. military email address.

90. Helzberg Diamonds

All active-duty military get a 10% discount when placing an order over the phone at 1-800-HELZBERG (435-9237).

Most store locations have the same discount, but be sure to call ahead to confirm. Proof of ID is required.

91. Zales Jewelry

Zales offers a 10% discount for active and retired military.

92. Zoara

Register on Zoara.com with a valid military ID, use code “USMILDISC” at checkout, and receive a 10% discount on fine jewelry.

93. Wedding Rings Depot

Use the code “MILITARY” at checkout and receive 10% off your purchase of wedding rings.

94. Moissanite Bridal

Moissanite Bridal offers military members a 5% discount off the purchase of an engagement ring.

95.  Larson Jewelers

Active-duty military members get a 5% discount off wedding rings and bands.

96. Dreamstone

Military members get a discount on engagement rings when they enter the code “USTROOPS” in the discount box when checking out.

Miscellaneous Discounts

Looking for a few more ways to save? Here are a couple of discounts that didn’t fit our categories.

97. Michael’s

Get a flat 10% off by showing your military ID. Discount varies from store to store, so be sure to ask a sales associate at your favorite location.

98. Maxx HD Sunglasses

All members of the armed forces, veterans and their families can get 20% off by entering the code “vet20” at checkout.

99. Mary Kay Cosmetics

Military personnel and their dependents are eligible for a 10% discount off online orders by referencing their status and service affiliation.

100. GNC

Save money on your vitamins and supplements at GNC. Discounts vary, so be sure to bring your military ID and ask a sales associate at your local store for further details.

101. Inkhouse.com

This online public relations firm offers 20% off a purchase $50 or more if you use code “Mil20.”

102. Sweet Dreams Pillow

Deployments can be tough on kids. Sweet Dreams Pillows offers a free pillow to each military child featuring a picture of their overseas mom or dad.

Parent must be on active duty and deployment must be at least three months.

Your Turn: Are you aware of any other military discounts that should be on our list? Share them 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.

The post 100+ Awesome Discounts for Veterans and Military Members appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.

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5 Simple Ways to Trick Yourself into Spending Less

This is a guest post from Alex Craig of HaveaRichMarriage.com.

Hello. I’m Alex, and I am a recovering spendaholic.

I am not ashamed to admit that. Spending money felt great, I felt stylish when I bought new clothes, I felt like James Bond when I would rent Corvettes for the day, and I felt like the world owed me something.

I knew I had a problem. I wanted to stop spending so much money, but every time I tried to stop spending or keep a budget, I would stick with it for two weeks and then go on a binge spending spree.

I had all of the motivation in the world to stop spending because my bank account was getting lower and my credit card balances were getting higher. I knew I was screwing up financially and would be in trouble soon if something did not change.

I felt powerless and like a failure, because it seems like spending less money should be easy and I should know what to do.

Six months ago everything changed for me. I woke up and started spending less money all without creating some complicated budget and focusing too hard on my spending.

In my efforts to stop spending more money I learned two things:

1. Information alone is not enough.
2. Sometimes you may need to change a different behavior in order to change the one you really want.

I am going to share with you five strategies that I used to start spending less.

You can take these strategies and apply them to your spending habits and adapt them to other habits.

I promise you, these strategies work.

They work really, really well.

Your Mind is Holding You Back

Money is like sports. It takes a little bit of skill, but it is mostly a mind game.

It takes determination, a positive attitude and a commitment to win the money game.

A lot of people think the reason many of us live paycheck to paycheck is because of a poor financial education.

True. All of us likely did not get any sort of personal finance training, but most of us know what we should be doing, but most of us do not do it. Why?

For example, all of us know we should spend less than we make if we want to save money. All of us also know we should burn more calories than we consume if we want to lose weight.

This single piece of information is more than enough to save money and lose weight. The problem is not that we don’t have enough information, the problem is our beliefs and mindsets about money.

For example, when I was spending too much money, I was buying clothes and cars that brought me status. My status was so important to me that I was willing to go broke.

It was not the fact that I did not know I should spend less or even how to spend less, it was a status and insecurity issue.

Until you find out why you are spending too much money, spending less will be like pushing a boulder up a hill – possible, but a lot of work.

Here’s how to win the money game…

Step 1: Find your Beliefs

It starts with asking yourself a series of questions that go deeper and deeper to discover the true meaning of why you are overspending your money.

The technique that works is the Five-Fold Why, which is asking yourself, “Why?” until you have discovered the deeper meaning.

To apply the technique, find an area in your spending that you feel guilty about or think you should cut back. This is the area where you know you are overspending.

If you do not feel like you are overspending in an area, then do some research to see if you are overspending or ask yourself if you need to spend $600 per month at restaurants.

Once you find the area, ask yourself, “Why?” as many times as you can until you get to the root of the spending want.

For example, when I was overspending on clothes it went something like this…

“Why am I spending so much on clothes when I have plenty in my closet?”

“Because I want to look good.”

“Why do I want to look good?”

“Because I like when people tell me I look nice.”

Now I am getting somewhere. I can see that it is no longer about spending money on clothes, but spending money because I want people to compliment me.

Once we know the true why, we can begin using it to stop our spending.

Step 2: Acknowledge and Rewrite

If we can discover the real wants behind our spending habits, then we can discover new ways to get our wants.

The first part is acknowledging what our true wants are. Do not feel guilty or ashamed about this. Guilt is a powerful de-motivator. Accept your wants and work to solve your wants in another fashion or rewrite your wants.

For example, I learned that my overspending on clothes was because I wanted to receive compliments. Armed with this knowledge I found different ways to get compliments from others and myself.

Rather than buying new clothes, I would change my hairstyle or facial hair style frequently to get compliments. People always mentioned they liked my beard or me being clean shaven.

The other thing I did is a little bit embarrassing and I thought about leaving it out, but then I felt like I would be doing you a disservice, so I am going to share something I have not told anyone before.

Every day I would look into the mirror and compliment myself. I would pick one good thing, either internal or external, and compliment myself.  I know. It seems kind of lame.

But it was one of the best things I could have done because I noticed as I felt more confident, I stopped trying to cover myself with new clothes.

This technique was a lot more effective than focusing on not spending money, because the desire to spend money decreased.

Step 3: Work on Your Spending Indirectly Through Habits

Ever notice how when one bad thing happens, more bad things happen?

Some habits work the same way. When we form a certain good habit, other habits will naturally form without any effort.

For example, if you workout, you tend to eat better. If you wake up early, you tend to be more productive. When you form a certain habit your brain will begin to redefine your identity.

If you are working out more, you will tell yourself, “I workout. I am not the type of person who eats junk food.”

Charles Duhigg refers to these habits as Keystone Habits. They are habits that, if implemented, will create a ripple effect through your entire life.

Eight months ago I was trying to form the habit of waking up early. For the past two years I had formed terrible sleeping habits which caused unproductivity and overspending.

When I finally started waking up early, my spending went down. I noticed I would tell myself, “I am not the type of person who goes out every night to spend money because I have to be to bed early.”

Instead of trying to form a new money habit, find a habit that will create a ripple effect through your life.

Find a “Keystone” Habit

To find your keystone habit, you could have more than one, you need to find a habit that is highly emotional to you. It can be a happy that you feel constant guilt about or is embarrassingly scary.

For example, I beat myself up all the time over not being able to wake up early, and I was ashamed to admit that I would sleep in until 10 a.m. or later every day.

For you, it could be working out. You might be scared to go to the gym or embarrassed.

Once you find the habit, you can begin working on the habit.

Form that Keystone Habit

I will not spend too much time talking about forming habits because Charles Duhigg does a good job of that.

I will briefly talk about the three components that go into forming any habits – cue, behavior and reward.

To form a new behavior, like waking up early, you have to implement a trigger that would tell your brain it is time to go to bed early. If the behavior was performed, then you would reward yourself with something you really like.

Here is how I formed my habit of waking up early: My internet would shut off at 9:30 p.m., which meant it was time for bed. I would fall asleep and when I woke up in the early morning I would drink hot apple cider.

Do that enough times and the habit eventually forms. If you form a keystone habit it will likely ripple through to your finances.

Step 4: Spend With Intent

This is the only strategy where you will have to put a little focus on your spending, but it should not be much.

The idea of this strategy is to cut your spending on the things you do not care about. It will not make you feel like you are cutting your spending, because you likely will not miss it.

For example, I liked spending money on clothes, but I also spent a lot of money on going out to eat. I did not care about going out to eat and did not enjoy it half the time, so in order to be able to spend some more money on clothes, I cut going out to eat.

Step 5: Cut the Expenses You Do Not Care About

Find expenses that you do not care about. It could be your insurance, your mortgage, the coffee you get before work every day or something else.

Find a way to lower that expense. This site offers plenty of solutions on how to cut your insurance or other expenses.

With the money that you save, you might be able to afford the things you love spending money on and still have money left over.

The goal is not to stop your spending, but to be intentional with your spending.

Takeaways

Sometimes information alone is not enough. The problem might be deeper than being uninformed and more of a problem with your beliefs and views.

Sometimes the best way to change a problem is to change a different problem, because it might create a ripple effect and solve your other problems.

If you find that controlling the money you spend is difficult, then these five strategies might be great for you.

Alex Craig wants to help you find your first profitable idea.  Check out is Side Hustle List here.

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The Best Retirement Account You’ve Never Heard Of

If you’ve done any research into saving for retirement, you’ve almost certainly heard of the most commonly recommended retirement accounts: The 401(k). The traditional IRA. The Roth IRA. Or if you’re self-employed, maybe you’ve looked into the SEP IRA or solo 401(k).

That’s the standard lineup. And they’re all great retirement accounts. They offer big tax breaks that make it easier to save your money efficiently and reach your long-term goals sooner.

But there’s one account that’s missing from that list. One account that almost no one ever talks about, but that can actually be the most powerful of them all if you know how to use it. One account that allows you to save your money completely tax-free.

The best retirement account you’ve never heard of is the health savings account.

How a Health Savings Account Works

A health savings account, or HSA for short, is a special type of account that offers multiple tax breaks when you contribute and use the money for medical expenses.

Here’s a quick rundown of how it works.

First, you need to be eligible to contribute to a health savings account, and the truth is that many people won’t be. You’re only allowed to contribute if you’re covered by a qualifying high-deductible health insurance plan, which primarily means that you have a deductible of at least $1,300 for an individual plan or $2,600 for a family plan (as of 2015).

If you’re eligible, you can open an HSA and start contributing And this is when the real fun starts. Because the money you contribute to a health savings account gets the benefit of a TRIPLE tax break:

1. The money you contribute is tax-deductible (just like contributions to a 401(k) or traditional IRA).
2. The money grows tax-free inside the account (just like all of the standard retirement accounts).
3. The money can be withdrawn tax-free when used for qualified medical expenses (just like a Roth IRA, but with the medical expense limitation).

The only catch is that if you withdraw the money for anything other than medical expenses, the money is usually both taxed and subject to a 10% penalty. But there’s an exception to that penalty you’ll learn about below.

So clearly a health savings account is pretty useful when it comes to handling medical expenses. But what does any of this have to do with saving for retirement?

Why an HSA Is Such a Great Retirement Account

While you can use your health savings account to handle all your medical bills, that’s usually not the best way to use it.

Here are five reasons why you should really be using it to turbocharge your retirement savings.

1. The Money Is Yours

Unlike the flexible savings account you have through work, which offers similar tax breaks for medical expenses, a health savings account is not a “use it or lose it” plan.

The money is yours, no matter what, for as long as you want to keep it in the account. You don’t have to use it for your current medical bills if you don’t want to, and the money doesn’t disappear at the end of the year if you haven’t spent it.

You can let it sit there and grow for decades, just like a regular retirement account.

2. You Can Invest It

Some health savings accounts act much like regular savings accounts. Your money is safe and sound, earning a small amount of interest. And that’s a great way to go if you plan on using the money for your current medical bills.

But if you choose the right provider, you can invest your money for the long term just like you would within a 401(k) or IRA. Which means that you have every opportunity to grow it just like you would in any other retirement account.

3. You Will Definitely Have Medical Expenses

You might be worried about the fact that you only get to withdraw money tax-free and penalty-free if you use it for medical expenses. Isn’t that a pretty big limitation?

Not really. The truth is that medical expenses almost always increase as you age, so you can feel pretty confident that you’ll have some medical bills to pay down the line, even after Medicare kicks in.

Not only that, but you can actually use your HSA funds for past medical bills, even if it’s been years since they occurred. You just need to make sure you have good records.

And even if those two options don’t work out, the worst case scenario is still pretty good…

4. Worst Case: Treat It Like a 401(k)

Let’s say that you’re super healthy and you end up with more money in your health savings account than you need to cover your medical care. What can you do?

Well, if you wait until age 65, you can start withdrawing the money penalty-free for any purpose. It will still be taxed, but all that means is that your health savings account will essentially have acted just like a 401(k) or traditional IRA — tax deductible on the way in, taxed as regular income on the way out.

Not a bad worst-case scenario.

5. TRIPLE TAX BREAK!!!

Remember, your health savings account offers a triple tax break. You can’t get that anywhere else.

With a 401(k) and traditional IRA, you get a tax break on your contributions and your growth, but your withdrawals are taxed.

With a Roth IRA, you get tax-free growth and tax-free withdrawals, but no tax break on your contributions.

A health savings account is the only account that’s tax-free the whole way through. It’s money that you will literally never be taxed on if you use it right.

How to Use a Health Savings Account for Retirement

If you’re ready to start using a health savings account for retirement, here’s how to do it:

1. Check to see if you’re eligible.
2. If not, make a note to factor this into your decision the next time you’re able to switch health insurance plans.
3. If you’re eligible, find a health savings account provider that allows you to invest the money in good, low-cost index funds.
4. Open the account and set up automatic contributions. Annual contribution limits range from $3,350 to $7,750 for 2016.
5. Use a separate savings account to save ahead for medical expenses so that your HSA money is allowed to grow for the long-term.
6. Feel awesome that you know this sweet retirement savings strategy almost no one else has ever heard of.

Matt Becker is a fee-only financial planner and the founder of Mom and Dad Money, where he helps new parents take control of their money so they can take care of their families. His free book, “The New Family Financial Road Map,” guides parents through the all most important financial decisions that come with starting a family.

The post The Best Retirement Account You’ve Never Heard Of appeared first on The Simple Dollar.

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Plan to toughen up booze laws

QUEENSLAND looks set to follow the lead of NSW with lock-outs and enforced closing times for bars and clubs.

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13 Black Friday Insider Tips: When, Where and How to Find the Best Deals

It’s hard to believe, but the holiday shopping season will soon be here. It’s time to get ready, because — love it or hate it — the day it officially starts is the day you’ll find the best deals.

Yup, we’re talking about Black Friday. Though almost everyone’s heard of it, few know how to make the most of it.

To help you dominate this bargain extravaganza, we enlisted the help of eight Black Friday experts who have years of experience navigating the day’s madness.

We’ve already shared their secrets for preparing for Black Friday — but what about the actual day?

Where do you find the best deals? When should you shop? How do you stay on budget?

To learn the answers to these questions (and many more!), keep reading. Here are 13 insider tips for scoring big this Black Friday.

When to Shop on Black Friday

Timing your Black Friday shopping right is crucial. Here’s when you should plan to shop.

1. Shop on Thanksgiving Instead

The bad news? Black Friday is no longer just a single day; it has crept into the weeks surrounding.

The good news? If you want to grab the best deals, you may not need to wait until the day itself.

“We actually see not only the most deals — but the best deals — on Thanksgiving,” says Benjamin K. Glaser, features editor of DealNews.

Though that may sound depressing, take heart in the fact you don’t need to leave your house to score big.

“Almost all these deals have completely migrated online… [So] using Thanksgiving as a shopping day to get the best deals is definitely a worthwhile strategy,” he explains.

2. Create a Schedule

Savvy Black Friday shoppers plan their excursions down to the hour; they don’t only know where they’re going, they know when they’re going there.

That’s because stores offer doorbusters (discounts for an extremely limited time) at different times throughout the day.

So once you’ve created your Black Friday shopping list, research the doorbusters at nearby stores to see if any match up.  

Collin Morgan, founder of deals site Hip2Save, says this is also a reason to bring a buddy with you.

“The doorbusters go so quickly,” she warns. “Split off: Maybe break the list in half… It also makes the whole experience a bit more fun.”  

Where to Shop on Black Friday

Want to find great deals? You might want to get creative and look outside the big box.

3. Shop Online

Nearly all of our experts stressed that you don’t need to fight the crowds to get great prices on Black Friday.

Most of the deals available at brick-and-mortars are now available online as well. Not only is it nice to shop from the comfort of your home, but it can also save you money (more on that below).

“Don’t go in stores unless you know you really want to and know what to expect,” says Glaser of DealNews. “Almost all Black Friday deals are available online at this point … which is going to be much more convenient and makes it easier to compare prices.”

Of course, if you shop on Black Friday for the experience, then by all means, continue to do so — but don’t feel pressured to go just for the deals.

4. Always Check for Price Matches

Spot a great deal in the local circular? Don’t rush out to grab it; you may find it online at the same price.

“If you find a deal in a local store on a top brand name, many times you’ll find that online sites will price match,” says Jenny Martin of couponing and budgeting blog Southern Savers.

“I’ll open up the Lowe’s Black Friday flyer … and then I’ll pull up Amazon and turns out they have the exact same price.”

She says Amazon is the “best at it,” so be sure to check there before hitting the stores.

5. Think Outside the Big Box

When you think of Black Friday, you probably think of what Rebecca Lehmann, content marketing manager for Brad’s Deals, calls “the big four”: Wal-Mart, Target, Best Buy and Toys-R-Us.

But Martin from Southern Savers suggests visiting smaller stores and looking for nontraditional items.

Drugstores top her list: “CVS, Rite Aid and Walgreens all have freebies every single Black Friday — sometimes upwards of 30 items that are completely free,” she says. “They’re easy to grab and they’re things you need, like free toothbrushes and free toothpaste.”

“A lot of the smaller retailers have really gotten into the Black Friday game,” adds Dev Shapiro, spokesperson for GottaDeal.com. If you have a unique hobby or special interest, he recommends checking specialty vendors like Christian bookstores and model train shops.  

Travel is another nontraditional industry offering hefty Black Friday discounts, according to Martin.

“It’s a huge day for cruises, all-inclusive vacations, hotels, even airlines,” she says. “Don’t get yourself stuck on: ‘We’re just looking for a TV.’ Think big picture; there’s savings to be had on almost anything.”

How to Shop on Black Friday

Alright. You now know when and where to shop — but what about strategies for once you’re in the store?

We’ve got you covered.

6. Maximize Your Online Shopping With Rewards and Coupons

Another big benefit of staying home to do your Black Friday shopping? You can earn rewards and use coupon codes.

A great way to quickly compare the cash-back and travel rewards available from each site is with Cashback Monitor. To find coupon codes, we recommend the browser extension Honey, or the shopping portal Ebates.

7. Carefully Consider Cash vs. Credit

This was one point on which our experts disagreed: Some thought you should use cash only (to control your spending), while others recommended credit cards (for the additional warranty).

“When you go shopping during Black Friday, you get engulfed in all that excitement and stores make everything look like it’s the most amazing deal,” warns Morgan of Hip2Save.

“And so you’re thinking, ‘Well I don’t necessarily need this, but it’s such a great deal I’m just going to buy it,’ and then in turn you’re really wasting money — not saving money. Carry cash — then you have to stick with [your list].”

But if you’re going to purchase electronics, plastic might be the better choice.

“All four major card payment networks — Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express — offer similar extended warranties for products purchased with their cards adding up to an extra year to the warranty that came with the item,” states CreditCards.com.

Check their site for a chart detailing the warranties offered by your credit card provider.  

One solution? Use your credit card like a debit card, only spending the amount of cash you have saved up at home.

“Especially with electronics, you do want to pay for those with a credit card, because of the warranties,” explains Lehmann of Brad’s Deals. “We definitely recommend saving up cash for your holiday shopping, but when you’re actually in the store, pay with your credit card.”

But there’s an important next step: “Then, when you get home, pay the credit card off in full. Take advantage of the warranties your credit card offers. Rack up the rewards points.”

8. Wear Comfortable Clothes

If you plan to brave the crowds and shop in-store on Black Friday, make sure your wardrobe is up to the task.

“You don’t want to be wearing heels at three in the morning,” says Morgan of Hip2Save. “Wear workout clothes or something. You can’t be uncomfortable when you’re going from store-to-store and running around trying to find all these doorbuster[s].”

9. Stay Connected

Whether you’re home on the couch or out in the stores, maintaining online access is key to scoring all the latest and greatest deals.

Let the deal sites do the work for you by signing up for price alerts or downloading shopping apps.

“Put your wishlist together; we’ll let you know when those items are coming up for sale,” says Melissa Martin, spokesperson for BlackFriday.com. “You could be out shopping… and [your smartphone] alerts you immediately when that item goes on sale.”

10. Compare Prices in Real Time

Whatever you do, don’t just go to one store or website and call it a day. Use a website or app to help you track and compare prices while you’re out shopping.

“The one thing we know about the holiday is everyone’s participating, and every time you think you’ve found the best price, there’s probably a better one,” says Shelton of FatWallet.

“Don’t make impulse buys this time of the year.” (We’d add to that: Don’t make impulse buys at any time of the year!)

11. Tread Carefully

Black Friday is a huge opportunity for retailers to pad their bottom lines, because they know shoppers are quick to hop on every — and any — deal. So it’s important to do your research.

“Not everything that’s in a Black Friday ad is a great deal,” warns David Varble, manager of BFAds.net. “They definitely sneak in some so-so prices or items that were cheaper even in the off season. … Don’t trust it immediately to be great pricing.”

“Know what you’re buying,” seconds Shapiro of GottaDeal.com. “[The] computers some of these retailers offer, they intentionally don’t put enough RAM in them, and they put a smaller hard drive in them.”

He says it’s important to ask yourself: “Does it have enough processor power to do what I want? Am I going to be gaming with it, or do I just want something to get on the Internet?”

12. If You Can’t Find Something, Ask Customer Service

Can’t find an item you wanted? Don’t despair: That doesn’t necessarily mean it’s gone.

“A lot of people go crazy and come to the register and then decide ‘I don’t want this item,’ so they have carts in the front of the store with all the stuff thrown back in,” explains Morgan of Hip2Save.

“I always go to customer service or I’ll ask if they have any sort of abandoned carts [with] items in them people decided not to purchase.”

13. Stick to Your List and Budget

Lastly, remember to stick to the list and budget you created. You’re bound to see deals that sound appealing, but if you didn’t need it at full price, you probably don’t need it at a discount, either.

“The biggest mistake that people make is just getting caught up in the excitement of Black Friday and buying things that they don’t need,” says Lehmann of Brad’s Deals.

One TPH bonus tip: Don’t stress if you miss a deal or completely sleep through all of the Black Friday madness.

“If you can’t get the product, be patient; there are still great deals all the way through the holiday season,” says Melissa Martin of BlackFriday.com. After all, it’s almost Cyber Monday!

“We see it time and time again, people getting in a frenzy and forgetting what it’s all about,” she explains.

Don’t let that be you. The most important thing is to remember the holiday season is about so much more than new TVs and killer bargains.  

We hope these tips help you prepare for a fun, fruitful and frugal Black Friday. Be sure to check back here at The Penny Hoarder for more Black Friday tips and deals. Happy hunting!

Your Turn: How do you prepare for Black Friday? Any insider tips we missed?

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.

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.

The post 13 Black Friday Insider Tips: When, Where and How to Find the Best Deals appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.

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