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Groupon’s Biggest Deal Yet! With …. Guess Who??

May18

Groupon Inc. will launch its largest deal ever (today) Wednesday, offering a discount at sandwich chain Quiznos aimed at creating repeat customers.

 

Quiznos is offering a punch card for eight sandwiches or salads, worth about $50, for half price. With the deal, Groupon hopes to demonstrate that its model can go beyond a single, open-ended discount to create repeat business for a merchant.

The deal, which will be offered to Groupon’s 38 million e-mail subscribers, will cover more than 2,100 Quiznos locations nationwide, or more than half of the chain’s restaurants.

Groupon and rival Living Social.com have continued to offer ever-bigger deals, building their subscriber bases and allowing them to offer ever-greater reach. After Groupon sold about 440,000 Gap offers last summer, LivingSocial sold 1.4 million two-for-one vouchers from Amazon.com, which is an investor in the Washington, D.C.-based company.

National deals can bring in a lot of cash, and lots of new subscribers, but they can create headaches, too. The scale required to do national deals puts a strain on the company’s resources. The Gap deal crashed Groupon’s servers.

Source:  Chicago Business

Walmart vs. Target: Who’s Cheaper?

May16

I’ve been asking myself this question for a long time now and today, my appetite has been fulfilled. Check out the article I found below. Any surprises?

 

In the first three months of the year, Wal-Mart’s prices on food, health and beauty products and other general merchandise were nearly identical, if not a bit pricier, than archrival Target.

According to pricing studies conducted by Customer Growth Partners, a consumer research firm, January, February and March all revealed Target’s prices were lower than Wal-Mart’s. The monthly study,was conducted in four states which compared products in segments including  fresh/frozen and nonperishable groceries, household chemicals, paper and other consumables like detergent, health and beauty aids like shampoo and counter medicines, and general merchandise items like apparel and toys.

In CGP’s analysis for the first three months of the year, Target held a 0.6% price differential over Wal-Mart. This was the first time since the firm began conducting these studies in 2006 that Target displayed lower prices. In the past, Wal-Mart has typically maintained a 2% to 4% advantage over Target, says CGP president Craig Johnson.

If you then factor in Target’s new Redcard loyalty program, which offers users a 5% discount, that price difference widens. Of course, not all of Target’s customers are Redcard holders. Johnson estimates that the loyalty program makes up about 13% to 16% of sales.

Wal-Mart does not offer a similar program, which could put the company at a further disadvantage moving forward.

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Track Your Tax Refund Through a Smartphone App

Jan25

Imagine:  You’ve found the perfect pair of shoes but aren’t sure you can afford them. You’re waiting for your tax refund to show up in your account before you use your debit card.

No worries! Whip out your smartphone, click on the new IRS2Go app to find out the exact status of your refund.

IRS Commissioner Douglas Shulman announced today that the agency has its own smartphone app, free in both iPhone and Android iterations.

With IRS2Go you can check on the status of your refund usually around 72 hours after you get the e-mail from the IRS that it received your e-filed tax return.

If you snail mailed your 1040, you’ll have to wait a bit longer. It will take around three to four weeks before IRS2Go can tell you where in the processing pipeline your tax return is.

The app works just like the popular online Where’s My Refund? search engine.

You enter your Social Security number (encrypted, of course, for security), pick the filing status you entered on your return and enter the amount of money you’re expecting as a refund.

 Voila! You’ll find out whether you can purchase the shoes or have to wait a little longer.

 According to the tax commissioner, this is just the latest communications advance by the IRS, which already is on Twitter and YouTube. 

“This phone app is a first step for us,” said Shulman. “We will look for additional ways to expand and refine our use of smartphones and other new technologies to help meet the needs of taxpayers.”

 Source:  MSN Money

Tax Refunds on Debit Cards

Jan13

The U.S. Treasury said on Thursday it is launching a pilot program to deliver income tax refunds on debit cards for low- and moderate-income people who do not have traditional bank accounts.

The Visa prepaid debit cards are designed to allow these taxpayers to receive their refunds much faster than with a paper check and avoid high fees for cashing those checks at currency exchanges or payday loan stores.

“This pilot program will provide low- and moderate-income Americans with a low-cost option for faster delivery of their federal tax refund,” said Deputy Treasury Secretary Neal Wolin.

The card can be used in everyday financial transactions, such as receiving wages by direct deposit, withdrawing cash, making purchases, paying bills and building up savings.

The Treasury said it will mail letters next week to 600,000 low- and moderate-income individuals in the United States. The letters will invite these taxpayers to consider activating a MyAccountCard Visa prepaid debit card in time to have their 2010 federal tax refund directly deposited onto the card.

Source:  Chicago Breaking News

Holiday Money Mistakes to Avoid

Dec6

The holiday season is about giving – but you don’t want to harm your own financial situation because of the uncontrollable holiday spirit.

If you’re not careful, you can end up taking a year to pay for all the spending. More than 13 million shoppers are still paying off last year’s holiday debts, according to Consumer Reports.

According to a money article I found on MSNBC, there are certain things to avoid so you do not OVER-spend during the holidays. In short, I summarized the important points made in the article below.

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Good News: Gas Prices Dropping for Labor Day Weekend

Aug30

The national average price for gasoline has been falling steadily this month, reaching $2.678 for a gallon of unleaded on Monday, according to AAA, Wright Express and Oil Price Information Service. That’s about 6 cents a gallon less than a month ago and 7 cents less than it was on the Friday before the July Fourth weekend.

West Coast drivers pay the most for gas — between $2.792 a gallon and $3.539 a gallon. The cheapest gas is in Texas, the Gulf Coast states and parts of the Midwest, where prices range from $2.431 to $2.523 a gallon.

The price drop comes as the summer driving season ends, and gasoline supplies remain nearly 12 percent above the five-year average with overall demand below pre-recession levels.

Most analysts believe retail prices will continue to fall into Labor Day weekend and continue to retreat in September, when the roads will be left mainly to commercial vehicles and commuters.

“After the Labor Day weekend, the summer driving season is basically over. We’re going into the weakest demand period of the year,” PFGBest analyst Phil Flynn said.

Source:  Chicago Tribune

Find the Cheapest Gas Around Your Area

Jun1

Don’t you just hate it when you completely fill up your tank at $3.09/gallon and drive past 3 lights to find out that you could have satisfied that sucker at $2.99/gallon instead?

So I found a great link that you can use in order to search for the cheapest gas prices in your area by city, state or zip code. The site will pop out gas prices (regular) all around your area so that you can compare and choose which gas station will best fit your budget and time schedule.

How awesome, right? Follow the link below and save some $!

http://www.chicagotribune.com/classified/automotive/chi-auto-gasmap,0,7753246.htmlpage

Great Find: Organizing Jewelry/Accessories

Dec23

Don’t you just hate clutter and mess? I get really frustrated when I cannot find my cute gold bracelet or long black earrings. I currently put most of my jewelry in a big jewelry box, but I stumbled over a GREAT FIND yesterday while shopping at Bed Bath & Beyond.  The first time I saw this was actually at my girl D’s house – and it’s so convenient. Someone gave it to her as a gift so I wasn’t sure where to get one. You can practically place any type of accesory in each pocket! The best part about it – which is lacking from my jewelry box – is the clear vinyl! You can see where you place everything so it is easy to find what you are looking for every time! You can hang it behind your door or in your closet.  You can even fold it up when traveling. And what else? It’s only $9.99 … and you know Bed Bath & Beyond always sends you those 20% coupons (which I found out today that they NEVER expire even though there is an expiration date on there.  My co-worker saves all her 20% coupons and continues to use the expired ones when needed). I totally recommend this! Efficient and Affordable =]

From Bed Bath & Beyond – $9.99

Crystal Clear Vinyl 37-Pocket Hanging Jewelry Organizer

(from BBB website)

Keep your jewelry safely stored and easily accessible with this hanging jewelry organizer. It features 37 pockets on both sides of the organizer that are perfect for all types of accessories, which can be easily identified thanks to the clear vinyl front. Its heavy wire frame keeps the organizer sturdy, while the easy-slide zippers offer convenience. Measures 23 1/2″ L x 13″ W. Two-year limited warranty.

Attention Black Friday Shoppers: Tips & Info for the Most Anticipated Shopping Day of the YEAR!

Nov25

When I think about Black Fridays, the first thing that comes to mind is “I need to have a plan!” Many retailers have started offering Black Friday Savings online today in order to draw you in for what’s in store [literally].  I know Walmart is promoting deals on their site as of now. You need to have a plan because if you plan on venturing out into the malls/stores this Friday, you most definitely need a LIST of things that you need to buy.  With such aggressive and fast-moving shoppers around you, there is no time to browse! You can miss out on some big savings if you do not move quickly!

Black Friday discounts are offered online which is a huge convenience – but the caveat is that there are some unique massive savings occurring in-store only! So, make sure that if you decide to shop online ONLY, you are getting the best deals relative to your budget.

Speaking of budget, if you have a set amount that you are planning on spending, stop by the bank or atm and dispense only that amount from your checking account. Shopping with cash will most likely keep you from OVER-shopping.

So, here’s a summary of what you need to remember:

  1. Make a list of the people you need to buy gifts for and what gift you are going to buy them.  Each person should have at least 2-3 options just in case their one gift is out of stock (you can also compare prices between their options this way). If you are a giving person, include a Miscellaneous section for last minute gifts for (no offense) last minute people. Click on the websites below to perform your research as to what good deals will fit your gift recipients.
  2. Shop online if it is sufficient.  If you can find all the deals that you need online, I encourage you to do so.  Many retailers are offering free shipping at this time, so take advantage.  As I mentioned earlier, there may be better deals in-store only, but if your budget allows you to have some wiggle room – shopping in the comfort of your own home is worth it.
  3. Bring Cash. This is mainly for people on a budget, which is most of us! Credit Cards are EVIL during this time of year!
  4. Dress comfortably.  For all my divas, heels is definitely not wise if you plan on visiting the mall for the massive deals.
  5. Get some rest.  Almost all of the Black Friday deals start at the crack of dawn.  So, please get some rest the night before.  This will definitely help keep you on your toes! You don’t want to miss out on the $235 32″ HD Flatscreen @ Target!

I included a list of websites that will help you PLAN your day this Friday! Also check out the video for some helpful tips as well.

Top Ten Black Friday Websites

http://www.pcworld.com/article/183042/top_10_black_friday_websites.html

Black Friday Ads

http://www.blackfriday.info/

Black Friday Daily Updates

http://bfads.net/

Easy Ways to Stash Some Dough: Save $250 in 30 Days

Nov18

Found this great money saving article from Cosmopolitan.com … These are some great ideas to save money on habits that we forget about.  Since the season of gift giving is coming up, saving money NOW will definitely pay off later. Are you wasting money that you shouldn’t be?  Check out the tips below.

Save $14: Take a “vacation” from Netflix, and borrow DVDs from pals for nada. Netflix lets you pause your subscription for up to 90 days.

Save $21 to $31: Lots of brand-name birth-control pills have generic versions that are way cheaper. Ask your gyno if your designer Rx has a generic twin. In general, generic brands are cheaper and perform the same as the brand name version.

Save $40: Drinking dinner? Bad idea. Getting a free meal while you drink? Awesome. Many bars now serve apps on the house to lure in crowds. Deals vary from a pizza with every beer at Crocodile Lounge in New York City to free quesadillas at any Blue Mesa Grill in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

Save $15 to $20: Little-known fact: The price of your cut includes a fee for drying. So if you ask to leave it wet, your stylist will usually bump down the cost.

Save $10: Unlock your iTunes library—go to preferences and click share—and have friends and coworkers do the same. With so much music at your fingertips, you’re less likely to buy a so-so CD.

Save $5 to $10: At the supermarket, skip things like sliced veggies and precut fruit, and opt for unpackaged produce. DIY slicing and dicing takes a bit more time, but you’ll save a ton.

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