Easy and cheap way to clean your eye glasses

If you wear glasses it may seem almost impossible to clean them so that they don’t have streaks or smudges.   I’m not sure if it is the Anti-Reflective or Scratch coatings that make it difficult to get your glasses clean.

Out of desperation, I tried hand washing my glasses under warm water in the sink using a mild clear hand soap.  After rinsing with warm water, I used my fingers to apply the liquid soap to the lenses.  Likewise, I used my fingers during the rinsing process to ensure that all of the soap has been removed.  My final step was to Blot (NOT rub) the water off of my glasses and that did the trick.

Huge markup on Prescription Glasses (how to save)

So, a member of our staff went shopping for a new pair of progressive prescription eye glasses and quickly discovered the similarities share by our experience shopping for a new car.  Big sales pitch, huge markup and attempts to create a sense of urgency by stating that their “fantastic”  offer will expire the minute I exit the premises.

For us, the big dramatic pitch signaled the presence of  a huge markup as well as the realism that the staff are open to negotiation.  If you like negotiating, this is good news.  However if you’re like most folks, you find the situation both annoying and deceptive.

So, after comparing, prices, quality and customer service, we actually decided to pay a little more and get them from Costco.   A major factor was that Consumer Reports recommends Costco because of the quality job that their lab does.
We found the quality of the glasses as well as the opticians at Costco to be top quality.

That being said, you’ll have to wait at least a week for your new pair of glasses to arrive at your local Costco store.

We also checked online optical options, but we were apprehensive about purchasing such important item online.
That being said, the prices appeared to be much lower.  We simply could not find enough independent evidence to suggest that it was a safe bet.  So we stuck with what we know.

Paying Less at the Pump (gas mileage tips)

Gas Mileage Tips

According to fueleconomy.gov there are a few simple things that you we all can to improve our fuel economy.

Tip#1:  Keep your cool and lighten up on your foot.

Changing your driving habits can improve your MPG  from 5 to 33% percent.  Simple things like sticking to the posted speed limit and avoiding lead-foot starts and stops can help keep cash in your wallet.

“You can assume that each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.24 per gallon for gas.”

—- FuelEconomy.gov

Tip #2  Avoid using your truck as a storage locker

“An extra 100 pounds in your vehicle could reduce your MPG by up to 2 percent”

—- FuelEconomy.gov

Tip #3  Use your cruise to sail into savings.

Making use of your cruise control on the highway will keep your gas pedal under control  (helping you to avoid the on and off and on gulping of gas).

Tip#4  Idle engines are the gas hog’s workshop.

Let’s say that there is a line at the gas station’s automated car wash.  Turning your vehicle off during the wait can help keep the green in your wallet. While there isn’t much you can do about stop and go traffic idling,  hanging out in your car with the engine running while your waiting on a passenger is probably not a wise choice.

Tip #5  – Put your fuel savings into overdrive

If you car is equipped with an overdrive (or 5th gear for manual transmissions),  make use of those feature whenever practical.  Just like your old ten speed bike, less energy is used while in the higher gears.

How to get and keep your finances in order [Simple Stuff]

Keeping your finances in order

1.  Pay as you go.

Credit cards can really grease the slide that leads to crippling debt.  So limiting their use can be important first step.   The trick to is to pay close attention to what you are really spending.

On trick is to always pay cash with actual hard currency (aka money).  The painful act of  lightening your wallet and handing over the green stuff to someone else will give you pause to think about if your really need to make the purchase.  Some would argue that paying with an ATM or debit card would be just as good.  However, studies show that they don’t involve the same feeling of pain.

2.  Always know what your “Really” paying.

When purchasing an item on credit (credit card, loans, etc.), it’s critical to understand what you are really paying.  For example, if you choose to charge a purchase using your credit card and plan to make minimum payments, run the numbers first.

Example.

• You charge a $500 purchase onto your credit card.
• Your credit card interest rate is 18%
• Your minimum payment is $15 a month

It will take you 47 months to get rid of your debt and you’ll pay $198.34 in interest, which will bring the total cost of that $500 purchase to $698.34 (which means that you are paying  39% of the purchase price in interest).

Here is a handy calculator provided by Bankrate.com to help you figure these calculations for yourself.

TIP #3 Free or cheap video rentals at you local library

Free and Cheap Stuff at your local library

Libraries aren’t just for borrowing books anymore.  Now days you can borrow or rent DVD’s and audio books at super low costs.

ATM Fees (never again pay to get to YOUR money)

ATM Fees

Wondering where banking fees will show up next?…….Look no further than you ATM card.

Banks figured out that one of the safest ways to increase revenue is to side-step offending their own customers and hike up ATM for non-customers who use their ATM machines.  Can you imagine paying $4.00 to access your own money?

The easiest way to avoid these fees is to know which networks that your bank or credit unions belong to.  In many cases you can locate the participating networks on your financial institutions web site or in some cases just look for the networks on the back of your ATM card.

Once you know the ATM Network Names you can Google them and locate the closest ATM to where you are via the network’s ATM search feature.

Also, some grocery stores will give you free access to your cash when you purchase items at the store.  Just be sure to ask about fee up front.

Here is a list of the most popular ATM Networks.  Most sites include an ATM search feature.

• ACCEL/Exchange
• AFFN
• Alliance One
• Allpoint
• Star · Annie · ARN · Award · BankMate · BOH · Cash Station · CashStream · Checkokard ·
• CO-OP
• Discover / Pulse
• Visa/Interlink
• Jeanie
• NYCE
• Presto!
• Pulse
• SHAZAM
• SUM

[Quick Tip] Off The Menu Ways to Save

restaurant discounts

Well the family went out to dinner tonight and after all of that Thanksgiving Pie and Mashed potatoes, we were in the mood for something lite like soup and salad.

I found the soup that I wanted and it was priced at about $3 for a cup and about $5.50 for a bowl.  Next, I scanned the salads on the menu and to my surprise, they all were pretty fancy with some sort of meat on them and priced fancy as well at around $10 +.   So, I asked the waiter if they had a soup & salad combo for dinner.  He politely nodded no.  So, I asked him if they had just a plain old garden salad.   This time he nodded yes, and the unpublished house garden salad was a good size for only about $3.75.   Just want I wanted to both eat and pay.  Note to self….done assume that everything is written on the menu.

Unbelievably Cheap Cell Phone Offers

Our family was looking for another cell phone for the family, but didn’t want to break the bank. It was also important that the phone work well throughout the United States.   So, here is how we went about making our decision.

1. We called up our existing cell phone carrier to see how much money it would cost to add a line sharing the minutes.  Since we had a basic plan with them with only one phone attached, they wanted us to upgrade to a pricey plan with features that we did not need or want.
2. Next, we started looking at pre-paid (pay-as-you-go) plans.  We were pleasantly surprised at how much the services and prices have improved in the last couple of years.
3. So, we started digging deeper and discovered tons of pre-pain plans offered by different phone carriers.  We wanted to focus on plans that cost the least over a twelve month period of time.  Since we’re not going to be using the phone very much, the annual cost is what decided to focus on.
4. Ok, so after considerable research, we ended up with two companies that are owned by the same parent company, but offer different plans (TracFone and Net10).
5. We found that Net10 and TracFone were the most competitively priced and offered us the most flexibility in terms of coverage.
6. Since we’re  light-weight cell phone users, TracFone ended up being the best bet for us.  Plus we really liked the fact that they offered an option that allowed us to keep our pre-paid minutes for 90 days.  If we re-filled our minutes within that 90-day period we get to keep our unused minutes. Nice……
7. Our best bet was to go with a phone that came bundled with the double-minutes for the life  feature.  The LG phone we purchased with that feature only cost us $21.89 (including free shipping and sales tax)…..Sweet.
8. After looking at Wal-Mart, we found the best deal online at the TracFone.com web site.

If you plan to use your cell phone more often, you may want to look into the Net10

As always, things change over the months and years and it pays to double check what’s being offered right before you sign up.

Avoiding expensive airline luggage fees

How to avoid expensive airline luggage fees

1. Weigh your bags on your bathroom scale BEFORE you go to the airport to see if they are under the 50 pound weight limit that most airlines consider their maximum weight for a standard priced piece of luggage.
2. Check as few bags as possible.  So, for example, if you have several bags that combined are under 50 pounds,  placing everything in a single bag will allow you to pay a single bag fee.
3. Consider flying on an airline that doesn’t charge a baggage fee for the first one or two bags.  As of the writing of this article, we found Southwest Airlines to be the best bet.
4. Check what the cost  would be to ship your bag ahead using UPS, FedEx, etc.  Depending on the weight and size, you may find it to be cheaper and less of a hassle to simply ship your bag to your final destination.
5. Consider traveling light with just carry on luggage.  Remember, many business friendly hotels now provide washing machines and dryers.  Seasoned travelers plan on just hand washing the wrinkle free clothing that they pack in their hotel room tub and just air dry items on a hanger.
6. Remember, its all about choices.  When you consider the cost of checking a single bag round trip is on average about $50, it may actually be cheaper to  purchase some of the items that you usually pack at your destination instead.

Time is Money at Disney World

Time is Money at Disney World

Planning Ahead

Let’s start out by seeing if we can all agree on the following:

1)      Tickets to Disney World are not exactly cheap.

2)      The more days that you add to your ticket, the more you’ll pay (total cost, that is)

3)      There are only so many park hours to see what your family wants to see (per day).

4)      The more time that you spend waiting in line for each attraction the fewer attractions that you will be able to visit each day.

Assuming that we can all agree on the four points (above), let’s take a look at some ways get more for each dollar that you spend for Disney World tickets.

1)      Check out the park hours:  http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/calendars

2)      Contact Disney to find out what (if any) attractions are closed:  http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/contact/

3)      Write down the attractions (visit  http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/) that you want to visit before your vacation starts

4)      Prioritize each identified attraction into 3 categories

a.       Must visit

b.      Like to visit

c.       It might be fun to visit

5)      Take a look at this handy web site:  http://m.disneyworld.go.com/

a.       Select your Theme Park

b. Select Attractions

c.       Select Browse by Wait Times

d.      Select High Demand

e.       Write High Demand” next to each attraction that you identified (above).  These are the attractions that are most likely to have long lines.

6)      Ok, now that reality is starting to set in, now is a good time to map out attractions that are close to each other.  Take a look at the Disney World maps page http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/maps/

7)       Now figure out where and when you are going to eat at the park.  Of course fast food options will not only save you money, but they will save you precious time as well.

While on vacation

1)      Plan to try to arrive at the park gate at least 20 minutes before they open.

2)      If you have an internet capable mobile phone, check the wait time for each attraction using this web site http://m.disneyworld.go.com/ to get an idea of which of the attractions within each park are “High Demand”, “Moderate” and high demand.

3)      Be flexible and ready to reprioritize which attractions to visit.

4)      Make use of Disney FASTPASS which allows guests to make ‘reservations’ for a popular ride to avoid
waiting in long lines.

How to buy smart on eBay

How to buy smart on eBay

If you’ve never used eBay before visit the eBay how-to-buy page.  Otherwise, jump right into our step-by-step article.

Step 1   Decide on the specific product that you want to purchase (brand, model, etc.)

Step 2   Use Internet Resources like google and Amazon.com to determine the going retail and used prices on the specific product that you decided on in step 1 (above).  While researching, be sure to check on return policies and warranties being offered on new, used and refurbished products.  These considerations should be taken into account before you buy.

Step 3  Armed with the information that that you collected in steps one and two above, you need to consider how much the product is worth to you.  Write down the maximum dollar amount that you are willing to spend on this product.

Step 4  Consider the shipping costs.  If the shipping costs include insurance and/or rapid delivery, slightly higher than normal shipping costs may be worth it.  However, keep an eye out for sellers trying to boost their profits by adding costly shipping and handling charges.

Step 5 Know the risks and how to deal with them.

Step 6   Bid or Bail. Now that you’ve completed your homework assignments, it’s time to decide if biding on eBay is right for you.

10 Quick Tips to finding Cheap Lift Tickets (Skiing and Snow Boarding)

10 Quick Tips to finding Cheap Lift Tickets

1. If you’re a down hill maniac (ski or snowboarder you might want to consider purchasing a season pass (if you plan on skiing at least 20 times at the same location during a season).
2. Buying books of lift tickets early in the season (before you hit the resort) may save you 50%?
3. Check out the ski packages being offered by the resorts where you plan to ski or snow board.  If you plan on renting equipment, taking lessons and/or staying at their lodge, it might be cheaper to purchase a package deal. Just like at Disney World, multi-day tickets can save you money if you plan ahead.
4. Always inquire ahead of time to see if the resort offers discount tickets for seniors, students and/or kids.
5. Checkout the continuously updated ski and snowboarding deals on  http://www.Snowbomb.com discount coupons.
6. Keep an eye out for lift ticket discounts at gas stations (e.g. Shell)
7. It is not uncommon to find lift ticket discount deals at participating Mc Donald’s restaurants.
8. Grocery and drug stores can also be great sources of cheap lift tickets.
9. Give the resorts in the area that you want to visit a call ahead of time and ask them if they are offering any ski or snow boarding deals online and/or through business or restaurant establishments.
10. Ask your fellow snow craving friends as well as local sporting goods stores if they know of any good deals.

As with most of the savings tips we provide on our web site, you should several of the ideas that we list to ensure that you are receiving the rock bottom lowest price on your ski vacation.

>> To find more FREE and Cheap Stuff check out categories to the right of your page or just use our search box at the upper part of the screen.

>>  Let us keep you posted with our latest secrets to finding free stuff  by becoming a
leaptocheap facebook fan Or if you prefer to you can follow us on Twitter.

March could be the best time to purchase these select products.

Every month brings new opportunities for saving money.  In March these are the items that you want to look for to be priced to sell.  Patience and timing are two powerful tools for ensuring that you get the best deal on your purchases.

• Winter coats & sporting goods (gear)
• Luggage
• Frozen food: (during National Frozen Food Month)
• Boats
• Humidifiers
• Mattresses
• Easter Crafts
• Cold Weather Accessories (mittens, scarves, gloves, hats)
• Wedding gifts
• Spring clothing
• Washers and Dryers
• Garden supplies
• Air Conditioners
• China

Let us keep you posted with our latest secrets to finding free stuff  by becoming a
leaptocheap facebook fan Or if you prefer to you can follow us on Twitter.

FREE Conference Call Services (collaborate freely)

FREE Conference Call Services (collaborate freely)

Free Option #1

Need to connect with up to 150 people over the phone at the same time?

Wow, you’re not only popular, but lucky as well.   Just aim your browser over

to freeconference.com .   The only thing to keep in mind is that you may end up with a local conference dial-in phone number.  So, the only expense you should incur is long distance charge from your phone carrier.

Free Option #2

Need to go beyond telephone conference collaboration with 3 people (or less)?  Then  check out

openacircle.com .  According to their web site, here is what all packages include (including the free package).

• Private Collaboration Circles
• System or Free Audio Bridge
• Desktop Sharing
• Scheduling Calendar
• Video Conferencing
• Instant Messaging
• My Feed/Circle Feed

Let us keep you posted with our latest secrets to finding free stuff  by becoming a leaptocheap facebook fan

Or if you prefer to you can follow us on Twitter.

Is your daily cup of coffee costing you $1500?

Your daily trip to the coffee shop could be costing you around $4 per day.  Over 12 months, this could easily add up to $1500 out of your pocket.   Compare that to the cost of brewing your Java at home which amounts to only a few cents per day and decide for yourself.

Here are a few simple steps that you can take to duplicate the quality that you’ve been pay big bucks for.

1. Get a screw on water filter from target or walmart and only use filtered water when making your coffee.
2. Pick up quality coffee from Target, Walmart or even Costco.  Freshly grinding your coffee beans at home will somewhat improve the flavor of the coffee.  So, consider this step if you have the time and patience.
3. Pour the coffee into a well insulated stainless steel (inside and out) commuter mug to keep it warm and your ready to hit the road with one less stop to make on the way to work.

To take advantage of more of our secret money saving tips, be sure to explore the categories listed on the right hand side of the page or use our friendly search box located in the upper right hand side of this screen.

Magical ways to save at Disney theme parks.

family travel

Disney theme Parks can be really expensive since discounts are few and far between.

However we’ve come up with a few tips that can help you save some money on your trip.

• Plan to visit Disney theme Parks on off peak dates. You will save both time and money. The parks are less crowded and hotel prices and are cheaper during off peak times (avoid holidays, spring break and the summer months).
• Plan to arrive early and leave late so that you can get in as many exhibits as possible.
• Food is expensive in the parks and since you are permitted to bring your own food and drinks inside, you may want a pack a backpack ahead of time with sandwiches snacks and a few bottles of water. We’ve been told that Disney will provide guest with a cup of ice and water free of charge whenever you ask for it at one of the fast food restaurants counters (but you may want to verify this before your trip). The cheapest food option in the parks are probably the fruit carts located around the park. Not only will the fruit cost you less than fast food it’s healthier too.
• If you plan to stay several days at Disney World you might save money by booking a Disney vacation package where you stay at one of the resort hotels located within the park. Resort guests also enjoy extended park hours. On the flip side, your dining choices will be limited to the pricey dining establishments that Disney provides. These options can be expensive and could tally up to a sizeable portion of your total vacation costs. One way to get around this is to purchase a Disney meal plan. But be sure you use care when selecting the plan so that you use all of the benefits that you paid for (since unused meal services will not be refunded to you).

Cheap hotels should always provide good value at great prices.

cheap hotels

When selecting a hotel there are three things you need to focus on to ensure that you end up with the best value for your hotel stay.

1. 1. The hotel is clean
2. 2. The hotel is in a convenient location
   3. The hotel provides the amenities you need.

Here are a few things that can ensure that your hotel stay will be our only a good value on a great experience as well.

1. Using kayak.com search for hotels in this city that you wish to stay in.
2. Review the search results from each source to determine which hotels have the best guest reviews and prices.
3. First, determine which hotels provide the best prices where the hotel’s that you are considering staying in.
4. Next, from that list determine which hotels have the best guest ratings.
5. Once you have created a short list of the hotels with the best guest ratings and price is your last step will be to check the actual hotels web site to see if they offer a better price.  To locate the hotel’s web page, google the hotel’s name (e.g. ” holiday inn orlando airport”).

And finally, a word to the wise, always check for restrictions and extra fees and taxes that maybe not be clearly stated.  One gotcha that many folks end up paying for occurs when they book hotels on web sites that offer low prices but don’t allow for cancellations of any kind.

Rent your college textbooks and save big!

College students now have a new option to help them escape the high cost of buying textbooks.   Students can now rent their textbooks for the semester or quarter that they need them for and pay a fraction of the price of buying them.  Remember to include shipping when comparing one book store to another.

Here are some of the better known textbook rental outfits:

• http://www.chegg.com/
• http://www.bookrenter.com/
• http://www.collegebookrenter.com
• http://www.campusbookrentals.com/
• www.bookswim.com/

Local textbook rental option

• Textbook rental options may (or will) be available at your local college bookstore.  While some book stores have been renting textbooks for awhile now, the options are getting better with the entry of Barnes and Noble.  Click here to read more

http://www.bncollege.com/

e-Book textbook option

• http://www.coursesmart.com/iphone – over 8500 electronic textbooks you can purchase for use on your iPhone and/or your PC (course smart states “Buy and access your eTextbook instantly. Save up to 50 %.”)

Afraid to Negotiate? Check out our step-by-step guide.

Most of us have been raised to look at what’s being offered and then either take it or leave it. Well, that is easiest route for sure.   But let’s say that you feel that you’re being treated unfairly by your insurance company or by someone that you’ve contracted services with.  Perhaps simple acceptance of the situation may not be the best way to go.

Step I.   Realize that the best resolutions are the ones where both parties win.  So,  whenever possible make this the focus of your negotiations.

Step II.  Do your homework ahead of time.   Research the organization that you are researching.  Understand their lingo and what your rights are.  If  you are planning to sign or have signed a contact, make sure to read over it at least three times carefully.

Step III. Be aware that most front line staff are NOT empowered to negotiate with you and if they are their decision making power will probably be really limited.

Step IV. Be prepared to receive at least one or more NO answers before you will reach that win-win sweet spot.  Don’t assume that they will give you the keys to the castle without some back and forth negotiation.  Structures  are put in place to make you work for better deal than their typical customers receive.

Step V. Remember, it all about the dollars when it comes to negotiating with for-profit businesses.  So, try to put yourself in their shoes and think about at what point holding out on the customer will cost more than just giving the customer a break.  Remember, an organization’s reputation is highly valued because of  it’s ability to attract future customers and income.

Step VI. Be polite, but persistent.   The calmer you are as you escalate your negotiations up the line, the more seriously you will be taken.  Remember, think about what the view looks like on the other side of the desk and figure a way to a win-win solution.

College Textbooks – One of the most inflated costs out there.

Similar to the shocking cost of  your popcorn at your local movie theater,  the price tags on college text books also come as an unwelcome added expense to college students (and their parents).

OK, it may be more convenient to snag your text books from the on the college book store, but like the popcorn, you’ll end up paying dearly for it.  Instead check out these simple alternative options.

1. Cross the street – Closely located off-campus book stores stay in business by beating the prices being charged on campus.
2. Plan ahead and surf the savings – Try to obtain your upcoming course requirements and surf the web to find lower prices.  Check out Bestbookbuys.com .  It’s a great eMarketPlace site that allows people to do one stop shopping through tons of different stores. .  Note:  It is always easier if you have the ISBN number handy for searching. Make sure to pay attention to the price as well as the additional shipping charges and shop total price, not just list price.
3. Go digital and save – Look around for cheaper digital versions of text books (e.g.  ebooks, PDF’s, kindle books from amazon.com, etc)
4. Free is a good price – Check with the college and/or public libraries to see if you can check out the books you’ll need.
5. Previously owned – Check out the prices of used or earlier editions of the textbook.