Hate the Black Friday lines? Score deals online

I love getting a deal as much as the next person, but I’m really not willing to risk being trampled to save a buck. Luckily CNNMoney.com is letting us in on some online bargains. All the savings, none of the waiting in line at 3 am!

From CNN Money.com:

It has become as traditional as turkey, stuffing and pumpkin pie: On the day after Thanksgiving, shoppers bundling up and heading out before dawn for retailer's eagerly awaited Black Friday doorbuster deals.

And after two years of dismal holiday sales, retailers are upping the ante to bring shoppers into the stores this season. This year the National Retail Federation estimates that holiday sales will increase 2.3% to $447.1 billion, much improved from last year's 0.4% uptick and the dismal 3.9% sales decline in 2008.

But for those who don't want to face the stores, don't despair. Many of the doorbuster deals will be available online, too.

"This Black Friday, I would like to stay in the comfort of my bedroom possibly online bargain shopping for maybe a table and some things to decorate my new apartment," said Kaitlynn Blyth, who waited outside last year from 7 p.m. until midnight to get Zhu Zhu pet accessories for her younger sister.

Here's where to score the deals:

Best Buy: The same products promoted in its Thanksgiving Ads -- including doorbusters -- will be available on BestBuy.com starting Thanksgiving Day. Best Buy is also offering free shipping on online orders through Dec. 21, excluding laptops, iPads, iPods and some major appliances.

20 Rules to Live By for Cheapskates

In our tough economy, living frugal has become a lifestyle for many American taxpayers. Earlier today one of my favorite finance blogs, WalletPop.com, put together a helpful list of 20 rules to live by in order to save money. I have included a few of their “cheapskate” tips below, but you can find the full list at WalletPop.com.

Use technology to help you compare prices and look for coupons. Josh Smith, our resident tech guru and the editor of Notebooks.com, says that if you have a smart phone, "there are plenty of apps that will scan the bar code --- ShopSavvy is one -- and will find the best prices for you. And if you're online, visit RetailMeNot.com and enter the store name to see current coupons."

Think ahead with your child's friends' birthday parties. Bonnie McCarthy, who writes a lot about family and money, suggests that people buy "cool gifts that are age-appropriate to your own darling children." That way, "the next time they're invited to a birthday soiree, you'll have a well-priced gift ready to go." That's a definite help with the "time is money" factor. Plus, if you do buy gifts ahead and really put some thought into it, you might find some good choices on sale, making your inner cheapskate even happier. And you have to love Bonnie's other advice: "Let your child make the birthday card, or craft a simple tag to put on the gift. Unless there's money inside a birthday card, it will be quickly tossed aside by even those with the best manners, and those cards cost upwards for $3 a piece!"

Skip the Groupon and mass e-mail coupon sales. Yes, they're loads of fun, concedes Vera Gibbons, who writes about women and money for WalletPop, but she says, "People are buying all sorts of stuff they never thought they wanted, and there's way too much impulse-buying going on. I know social buying websites like Groupon.com are extremely popular right now, but we're ending up with all sorts of stuff we never thought we wanted, from horseback riding lessons to harbor tours."

Continue reading at WalletPop.com…

10 Annoying Charges Consumers Face

No one likes hidden fees, but in today’s economy hundreds of companies have turned to fees in order to make up for lost revenue. Americans all over the country are becoming more aware of these hidden charges. So, to help everyone prepare ahead of time for these expenses WalletPop.com has put together a list of the top 10 annoying fees on consumers. You can find a section of the article below, but be sure to click here for the full list.

Airline Preferred Seat Selection Fee

Airplanes are designed to cram passengers into undersized seats like sardines in order to maximize profits. Savvy (and tall) travelers have long opted for emergency row seats for some precious extra legroom, while others like to be near (or far) from the bathroom. And while the ability to choose a window or aisle seat has traditionally been a standard courtesy while purchasing a ticket, some carriers are now charging for this non-service. According to Expedia, the worst offenders are United Airlines ($14 to $109 for domestic flights, and $89 to $109 for international flights) and Virgin America ($15 to $50), while others, like American and Delta, still let you choose your seat for free, both domestically and internationally. At this rate, pay toilets are probably inevitable. Don't laugh, it's already been proposed by Ireland's Ryanair.

Dealer Preparation Fee

Anyone who's ever purchased a new car has probably noticed a "Dealer Prep Fee" in the sticker, which usually runs anywhere from $500 to $2,000. So what exactly does "dealer prep" cover? Typically, it involves peeling the plastic off the seats and hood, vacuuming the interior, a wash and wax, and maybe topping off the fluids. Most people just pay it, but you can try negotiating or just flatly refusing to pay it, consumer advocates say.

Ticketmaster Service Fees

If you've ever bought a ticket to see a concert, play or sporting event, you've almost certainly dealt with Ticketmaster, which enjoys a near-monopoly on live events in the U.S. Ticketmaster is also notorious for assessing various fees to the price of tickets. For instance, two $90 tickets to a recent Broadway show wound up costing $203.70. That included a facility charge of $1.50 per ticket, a convenience charge of $7.50 per ticket, an order processing fee of $3.20 and perhaps the most egregious one, a "TicketFast" fee of $2.50. "TicketFast" allows you to print your own ticket and save Ticketmaster the cost of printing and mailing them to you.

Shop Smart on Tax-free Weekend

For those of you who may now know, next weekend (August 21-23) is the back to school tax holiday for the state of Texas. While the tax holiday itself will be your biggest savings, there are several steps you can take to save even more cash next weekend. El Lider USA has written up some great tips for Texas citizens wondering how to stretch their savings next weekend, check out a few of them below.

1. Do your research. In addition to clothes, footwear and some backpacks, Texas families also receive a sales tax break on most school supplies up to $100 for use by a student in elementary or secondary school. The 81st Texas Legislature recently passed HB 1801 (2009) expanding the list of items qualifying from exemption from Texas state and local sales during the August holiday. Know what items are included before you shop by visiting http://www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/taxpubs/tx98_490/tx98_490.html.

2. Stick to your budget. Just because it’s tax-free doesn’t mean you should go on a spending spree. Consider the savings are less then 10 percent. Develop a budget and stick to it. Don’t let the stress and crowds lead to overspending.

3. Don’t stress. If the stress is too much for you to handle, don’t worry. Retailers will likely have sales promotions throughout the first month of school. Check store Web sites and weekend circulars to find the best deals.

4. Stack your savings. Keep your eyes open for specials on top of tax-free items. Combine coupons, store specials and tax savings to receive a significant discount.

5. Don’t open department store credit cards. Retailers will be pushing you to open a store credit card this sales holiday by promoting extra savings. Be aware that these cards usually come with high interest rates that can easily create debt. The one-time 10 or 20 percent savings you’ll receive by opening one of these cards is not worth the debt and credit rating damage it could cause for years to come.

6. Don’t cram it all in. You don’t need to pick everything up during tax-free weekend. Back-to-school sales will usually extend into the first month of school so you have plenty of time to find those deals.