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.

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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.

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Jiffy Lube $5 off Coupon (requires submission of email and regular address)

Jiffy Lube $5 off Coupon  (requires submission of email and regular address)

EXPIRES: 1/1/11

Get $5.00 off a Jiffy Lube Signature Service^® Oil Change.

Each Jiffy Lube Signature Service^® Oil Change includes up to 5 quarts of quality motor oil, an oil filter, and more:

• Clean exterior windows
• Vacuum interior floors
• Check tire pressure
• Check and top off the following fluids:

  -transmission/transaxle fluid

  -differential fluid

  -power steering fluid

  -windshield washer fluid

  -battery water (excluding sealed batteries

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FREE Printable Aveda Stimulus Coupon

FREE Printable Aveda Stimulus Coupon Includes:

* Free lavishly sized sample* of Aveda Hand Relief.

* Free Aroma Sensory Journey

* Free Cup of Comforting Tea

* Free Stree Relieving Hand Ritual

* Free 5-minute Stress-Relieving Neck and Shoulder Massage

* Free Makeup Finishing Touch

EXPIRES: : August 31, 2010.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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).

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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.

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Could you be paying more than you figured?

Most people don’t take the time to check their cash register receipt before they leave the store.  Folks tend to trust the computer scanning equipment and don’t give it a second thought.

As more and more news reports have revealed, mistakes made at the cash register are not at all uncommon.  Some areas of particular concern involve ringing up

• Produce – Since many produce items don’t contain bar codes to scan, it is easy for the clerk to enter in the wrong price.
• Sale and Clearance Items – Items on the clearance rack may ring up at full price at even though a clearance price sign is displayed on the shelf.
• Multiples of the same item – Clerks tends to grab one of the multiples and drag it across the scanner the several times until they believe the number of scans matches the number of items in your card.

Here are a few tips that might help

• Write down the shelf price of the sale and clearance items that you’re buying and compare the cash register receipt against the prices that you wrote down.
• Watch the clerk as they scan your items (especially if you’re buying multiples of the same item)
• Take a couple of minutes to double check the entire receipt before you leave the store.  If you find mistakes, point them out to the clerk or the staff at the customer service desk.

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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 %.”)

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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.

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Taxing your brain may be worth it this year (your 2009 tax return)

Most people equate doing their annual income taxes to enduring a root canal.   We can’t say that we really blame them.  Even with some pretty cool tax preparation software out there, you still have to wrangle and organize all of those paper documents before you even get started.

OK, here are just some of the goodies that Uncle Sam setup for you for the 2009 tax year.

• First-Time Homebuyer Credit Expands. Homebuyers who purchased in 2009 can get a credit of up to $8,000 with no payback requirement. New legislation extends and expands this credit to homes purchased by April 30, 2010.

• Money Back for New Vehicle Purchases. Taxpayers who buy certain new vehicles in 2009 can deduct the state and local sales taxes they paid or other taxes and fees they paid in states with no sales tax.

• Education benefits. The new American opportunity credit and enhanced benefits for 529 college savings plans help families and students find ways to pay higher education expenses.

American Opportunity Credit

Audio file for podcast: Education Tax Breaks

Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), more parents and students will qualify over the next two years for a tax credit, the American Opportunity Credit, to pay for college expenses.

The new credit modifies the existing Hope Credit for tax years 2009 and 2010, making the Hope Credit available to a broader range of taxpayers, including many with higher incomes and those who owe no tax. It also adds required course materials to the list of qualifying expenses and allows the credit to be claimed for four post-secondary education years instead of two. Many of those eligible will qualify for the maximum annual credit of $2,500 per student.

The full credit is available to individuals whose modified adjusted gross income is $80,000 or less, or $160,000 or less for married couples filing a joint return. The credit is phased out for taxpayers with incomes above these levels. These income limits are higher than under the existing Hope and Lifetime Learning Credits.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) also added computer technology to the list of college expenses (tuition, books, etc.) that can be paid for by a 529 plan. For 2009 and 2010, the law expands the definition of qualified higher education expenses to include expenses for computer technology and equipment or Internet access and related services to be used by the designated beneficiary of the 529 plan while enrolled at an eligible educational institution. Software designed for sports, games or hobbies does not qualify, unless it is predominantly educational in nature.

What “computer technology or equipment” refers to. This means any computer and related peripheral equipment. Related peripheral equipment is defined as any auxiliary machine (whether on-line or off-line) which is designed to be placed under the control of the central processing unit of a computer, such as a printer. This does not include equipment of a kind used primarily for amusement or entertainment. “Computer technology” also includes computer software used for educational purposes.

• Up to $2,400 in Unemployment Benefits Tax Free in 2009. Individuals should check their tax withholding.

Tax Exemption for Unemployment Benefits in 2009

Audio file for podcast: ARRA Tax Credits

Video: Unemployment Compensation

Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), the first $2,400 of unemployment benefits an individual receives in 2009 are tax free. This provision applies only to benefits received in 2009: Normally, unemployment benefits are taxable.

Individuals who receive unemployment benefits this year should check their withholding to ensure they are not having unnecessary tax withheld. IRS News Release 2009-29 has more detail on this provision.

For the full scoop from the IRS, visit this web site http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=204335,00.html?portlet=6

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Quick Tip: Free e-learning from MIT

While you won’t be able to obtain credit or an MIT college degree, the MIT Open Courseware online e-learning curriculum provides lecture notes, exams, and videos from MIT.  No registration is required and there are 1900 courses published so far.   So, if you’re the curious type that craves learning, this freebie may be for you.

http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/web/home/home/index.htm

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Rebates. Great way to save or just a marketing trick?

Rebates

If you’re a disciplined person rebates can be a great way to save.  The folks offering those rebates are betting that you won’t mail them in within the required period of time.  Their also betting that even if you mail in the rebate, you won’t  follow all of the instructions and/or remember to follow up later to make sure that you received your check.   The fact is that it’s  a safe bet for them a good amount of the time.

Most people believe that they’ll remember to mail in the rebate, but the fact is that life offers many interruptions and distractions and it’s  really easy to forget.

The moral of our rebate story:

If the only reason that you’re buying the product is because of the rebate,  figure out a way to alert yourself to follow up later.  You can do this on a wall calendar, PDA or just sticky notes posted in a location that you frequent often.  Also, be sure to read all of the instructions carefully and follow them carefully.

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