The Bible is packed full of verses about financial lessons.  For example, did you know that the Bible talks about money over 2,000 times?  Pretty crazy huh?  It’s evident just from my last Bible study that money is an important subject to our Lord.

It’s so important, God even says that it’s the hardest thing for a rich man to accept Jesus as his savior.  Hard to swallow, but oh so true.

I got to thinking about verses dealing with finances and I’ve hand picked five that are not only applicable but hit me close to home.  I’ll share each verse and what it means to me in my life.  Hope you enjoy!

Deuteronomy 8:18

“Remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth.”

When I’m feeling selfish or feeling like hoarding possessions, I think of this verse.  It’s easy to forget that God gave me certain skills to produce wealth in the first place!  It’s always encouraging to come back to this verse and remember that I’m nothing without Jesus.  If I get a bonus at work, praise God, if I make extra money on some side jobs, praise God.  All the praise should and will always go back to Him.

Proverbs 13:22

“A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children.”

Although I don’t have any kids yet, this verse is already convicting me!  My sinful nature doesn’t want to give ANY money away!  It’s a beautiful thing to not only give an inheritance to your kids but also to your grandchildren. It’s also an image of God’s love for His children.  I pray to God that I can honor Him in this way someday!

Luke 12:15

“Then Jesus said to them, ‘Watch out!  Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.’”

I see greed all around me.  I’ve seen people stab other people in the back (not literally!) and lie to people’s faces to get ahead in life.  It’s just not worth it.  It’s also refreshing to come back to this verse and realize that life is more than the stuff we own.  It’s about how we steward the stuff!

Proverbs 3:9

“Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.”

This is all about tithing and giving the Lord your best “crop.”  You should set aside money for your church or missionaries first, then pay your bills.  Using your money to further God’s kingdom should always come first.  I like to do checklists to make sure I’m still on the right track.  If certain things like entertainment or eating out are cutting into my tithing, it’s time to cut back on those things, not tithing!  I don’t want to stand in front of the Lord someday and be embarrassed about my poor stewardship.

Leviticus 25:23

“And remember, the land is Mine, so you may not sell it permanently.  You are merely My tenants and sharecroppers!”

In closing…

We own nothing in this world!  We might think we do from time to time, but everything is God’s.  This verse helps me remember that and it also keeps me humble.  I’m simply a “tenant” wherever I am.  Nothing is really mine.  Convicting isn’t it!

Well, I hope these verses affected you for the better.  I know they’ve had  a big impact in my own life and have seen them change the way I view the world and my own personal finances.

photo by smemon

It’s 2012 and you’re still eating donuts?  Put that croissant down and get serious about your fitness goals!  Yes, I did just call you out.  You set a resolution this year and you’re not about to fail, that’s why I’m writing this article!

If you tell me money is holding you back, well that’s a bunch of nonsense.  All I hear is excuses, excuses, excuses.

Thankfully, getting fit requires little to no budget at all!  It’s all about your personal drive and ambition.  As I’m a huge fitness nut myself, I thought I’d share my top 7 tips for getting fit on a small budget.  I understand what it’s like to be strapped for cash, as I’ve been poor most of my life.

So please check out the following tips and go reach your personal fitness goals.  Time to start sweating!

Run for free

Go buy a pair of your favorite running shoes and hit the local trails!  If the trails scare you, you can go on the open road.  Whatever you choose, it’s all free!  If you’re just starting out, you’ll want to start small and gradually work your way up.  Start with one mile a day for a week and slowly increase the distance each week.  Running can also be a fun group activity to do with your friends.  Running is one of the best workouts anyone can have.  It works every part of your body and requires some serious effort.  I highly encourage you to start running as it’s easy on the wallet.

Get paid to workout

What if you want to work but also want to get paid for it?  Well, you could become a fitness instructor at a local gym!  Not only would you get a free membership to the gym but you will get a good workout in while teaching others how to do the same.  It’s a win-win in my book.  Go to your local gyms and ask around.  Some don’t require credentials; they just want to see a drive and passion for working out!  What better way to reach your fitness goals than by teaching other people and getting paid for it!

Join a local workout league

OK, so if you’re a group type of person (I’m not), then joining a local workout or running league would make sense for you.  There is typically a small fee associated with this, so it will have a minimal effect on your wallet.  Cities should offer an organized program and there are private organizations that do this as well.  They understand that you want to work out, so you shouldn’t be searching too long before you find a fun group to workout with.

Rent workout DVDs from your library

You know those funny kick boxing DVDs and P90X programs?  Well they are actually a great workout!  Where should you rent them though?  From your local library of course!  You’d be surprised about the large selection at libraries.  They have every workout DVD you can think of.  Stop wasting time and go rent one of these DVDs!

Build a home gym from used equipment

Go hit up some garage sales and start building your own home gym!  This idea only works if you have large property or a big house.  You’ll need some room to make this happen.  You can find some awesome equipment at local garage sales.  Who didn’t have a workout bench growing up?  I see workout equipment at garage sales all the time.  I’ve even seen semi-brand new equipment for pennies on the dollar!  No excuses. Go build yourself a gym if you’re too lazy or too stingy to go to the local gym.

photo by superfantastic

Before you rush to the grocery store to pick up another cheap bunch of flowers (you know who you are) take a look at these homemade Valentines Day gift ideas.  Forget the idea that Valentines Day gifts needed to be expensive?  Whether you’re looking to make a thoughtful gift for your girlfriend/wife or just need a few ideas for homemade valentines gifts for your boyfriend / husband, these suggestions should get your creative juices flowing.

Homemade Valentines Day Gifts for Her

Breakfast in Bed

Serve up her favorite breakfast and deliver it before she gets up in the morning.  Sure, it’s been done year after year…but when was the last time you did it?

Homemade Cards

Hallmark cards can cost upwards of $6 a pop! If you desperately need some inspiration, spend a few minutes in the card aisle the next time you’re at WalMart.  You don’t need to write out a book – you just need to tell her how much you appreciate her.

Picture Frame

If you’re really creative, you might pick up some wood from the hardware store and make a custom picture frame.  Pick out a picture of you two that she likes and frame it for her.  If you have Photoshop skills, add a verse like Proverbs 31:29 “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”

Coupon Book

Cut out 5 hearts and turn them into coupons that she can redeem at any time.  Say things like, “good for one relaxing night off” or “you get the TV remote today.”  Get creative, but don’t forget to write an expiration date in really fine print at the bottom.  I’m kidding! (sorta)

Scrabble Collage

Print a few pictures of the two of you and create a collage that uses scrabble pieces to spell out words like “love, forever, together, happiness.”

Make a Nice Dinner

Take the reigns in the kitchen and make her favorite dish.  Tell her that she has the night off and let her enjoy it with a book or with her favorite movie.

Homemade Valentines Day Gifts for Him

Popcorn and a Movie (for him)

He would love to go one Valentines Day without “The Notebook” being suggested as a movie for the night.  Surprise him with his favorite action movie or comedy from Redbox.  Wrap it in something frilly to throw him off.

Make a Card

Keep it low-key with a nice handwritten card that tells him how much you appreciate him.

Bake Something Sweet

Put together a batch of delicious cookies or a cake with a Valentines Day feel.

Frame a Picture

Update his office décor with a new picture of the two of you.

Jar of Candy

Find his favorite candy and fill up a glass jar or coffee cup with it.

Design a fun shirt

Find a plain shirt and decorate it with an inside joke or a funny phrase.

What are some creative homemade Valentine’s Day gifts that you’ve made?

image credit

Spending money is easy – and saving it? Not so simple.

And the reason for that one way equation is that the odds are firmly stacked against you when you are out on the front-line of shopping. Stores and malls have had decades in perfecting their strategies to part you from your dollar – so it’s hardly surprising that they can fly out of your wallet so readily.

The way out of this dilemma, which is especially important in these days of tightened finances, is to turn the tables. Become the warrior in the retail conflict –  understand the enemy’s motives and learn tactics to put you on the winning side. And rule one of any conflict is to know your enemy.

No, not the guy behind the till – but the retail organization that backs him up. The techniques of persuasive retailing revolve around convincing you that you need the products on display. And also that the store is your friend, helping to make sure you get to own these wonderful things.

It’s all about identifying you with the product, careful product placement, and making the sale seductive. The whole process starts long before you even get out of the door, to go to the mall.  Here’s how to respond:

1. Stay Skeptical

So to start your quest to save money, you need to disengage from the propaganda war waged in your front room. Treat adverts with a healthy skepticism; don’t be drawn into product envy by what the neighbors have; and decide before you go out shopping – your mission is to save money, not spend it.

2. Do Your Homework

Make sure you do your intel. Check out what discount, thrift and close-out stores are in your area, and compare their prices to those on offer in the mainstream stores. These can provide you with useful basement-price information, which will come in handy when you try to negotiate prices down. Decide on your tactics before you go into the store, and then focus on getting the results you want.

3. Find Substitutes

One approach that many seasoned grocery store scrimpers take, is to cherry-pick. That means casting your net of food-stores as wide as practical, and then shopping in each for only those items on offer. If you’re prepared to substitute your usual brands and items, like-for like, for those on discount only, you will easily be able to fill your basket with bargains. Combine that tactic with a fistful of coupons, and you have an ideal double whammy –  capable of slashing you grocery bill right down to size.

4. Buy More Save More

Another line of attack to is to work the volume bartering angle. This works well in clothing stores. Here you tempt the shop assistant with a relatively large sale, for several items. Then insist on a discount – or you walk. If you can back this up with evidence that similar products are on offer at lower prices in other stores, the counter-staff can quickly cave-in. Obviously this requires you to have the money for multiple purchases –  and a definite need for all the items in question. But the savings can be spectacular.

5. Find Lower Prices First

Along similar lines is the commission counter-attack. This is of use when buying big-ticket items, like cars or sound systems. If you’ve done your research, and know what you want, go to the store and find the lowest price possible.

Once the salesperson thinks they’ve convinced you to buy, and has counted on your purchase for their commission, let them know about the better deal elsewhere. Once you start to move out store, the price ticket will come tumbling down.

Retail outlets will always be making money off of the every-day combatant. Just don’t be one of them – be hard-nosed, with precise tactical skill, and the best deals will be yours. Remember – war is dirty!

This article is a guest post from Edward, a blogger who writes about freeware reviews at http://www.bestfreeonline.net/

Many people are still struggling to cope with their new economic reality after the most recent recession. One of the fastest and most effective ways to make a financial change is to lower your cable bill, or even eliminate it completely. 

Here are several options that you have to lower your cable bill. 

How to Cut Your Cable Bill

Get Rid of Unwanted Channels

Look at your bill and cut out all of the channels that you don’t need. It doesn’t make sense to pay for 800-1000 channels when you only watch about 6 or 7 regularly! Many times the company will try to force you to buy packages rather than individual channels; however, you may have some success with paying for only a few stations. 

Take Advantage of a Bundle

Most service providers offer more than one related service. You may be able to combine your cable service, Internet connection, land-line phone, and maybe even your cell phone into one bundled service. Sometimes you can find significant savings by going this route (but not always), so make a quick phone call to your various service providers to see if any of them offer bundles. 

Call and Ask for a Discount

Pretty much all cable companies offer various promotions and discounts. Usually these offers are extended to new customers, but not always. If you are a current customer, call up your cable company and ask them if they have any promotions available for existing subscribers. If not, ask to receive the promotion for new customers. 

If they say that they can’t, then threaten to cancel your service – you will quickly be transferred to their “customer retention department”, who will try their best to get your to stay. Normally, the first thing that they offer is the discount that you were told that you couldn’t receive. 

How to Eliminate Your Cable Bill

Cancel Your Service and Use Cable TV Alternatives

Were you expecting something a little more complex? This is by far the most effective way you eliminate your cable bill ! However, this is usually the last choice for many facing serious financial trouble. Just cut your cable completely, and learn to find enjoyment out of other things in life. 

Since I know that many of us can’t imagine life without television, I list a few alternatives below. 

Netflix 

Netflix is a service that allows you to rent DVDs through the mail for a monthly fee. The way it works is that they mail you the movies that you wish to see, and you are allowed to keep them as long as you want – with no late fees – and once you return them, they will send you the next movies. You can repeat this cycle for as many times as you are able within the month. 

In addition to this unlimited DVD rental feature is the ability to watch movies either on your computer or on your TV (through the assistance of various devices and consoles). We pay about $10 per month and we are able to watch a huge selection of movies, documentaries, series, and TV shows on our television through our Wii. This is also possible using a PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, iPad, iPhone, and even various Blu-ray players. 

Hulu Plus

If you like to follow television shows on a regular basis and don’t want to fall behind, Huluwill work for you better than Netflix. Hulu allows you to watch many of the currently running shows through your computer. Also, many of the same devices that can play Netflix offerings on your TV can handle Hulu as well. Hulu Plus costs $8 per month. 

Other Services

Netflix and Hulu Plus are probably the two most known options. However, there are a number of other options for you to watch movies and television shows without subscribing to an expensive cable plan. I will just list them here, providing links to their websites: 

• Sezmi
• Amazon Video on Demand
• Boxee
• iTunes

*photo by Renjith Krishnan 

Reader Questions

1. What have you done to cut or eliminate your cable bill?
2. Do you have experience with any of these other options?

You may think that purchasing a new mobile phone worth several hundred dollars in order to become more frugal with your money is tough to justify, but often frugality is tough to implement because you need to be vigilant in every aspect of your life.

With a host of frugal tools at your fingertips on your iPhone, you can help frugality permeate every one of your habits and actions, and be on your way to saving money and being more financially responsible:

1 – Coupon apps

If you are diligent with your coupon cutting you can make affordable bulk purchases and save off your everyday items to cut your shopping bills. However, to make use of your coupons you have to remember to take them with you wherever you go, and you have to remember to present them when you pay.

With these three apps, you will never miss out on a coupon bargain again:

• Coupon Sherpa. This app is linked with a wide range of stores and allows you to access coupons from Bath & body Works or Books A Million for example, on your iPhone.
• Cellfire.  Cellfire allows you to add your shopper cards and then load coupons, which can then be automatically deducted when you use the card at the register. When new coupons are available they can be loaded onto your card, and ready for for use in ten minutes.
• Coupons.com.  The Coupons.com app allows you to access the same coupons you would find on the full Coupons.com website and you can then print them wirelessly from your iPhone. You can also load electronic coupons to your shopper cards.

2 – Shop online

Most people have discovered the benefits of shopping online for the convenience, the time saving and the ease of comparing prices and offers to find the best deal. Now there are a range of apps you can use on your frugal iPhone to make online shopping even more affordable:

• Compare Me. The Compare Me app allows you to compare different products using your iPhone to determine which size or packaging is the best value. Compare Me also gives you an outline of the savings you can make in percentages, across the different stores.
• Better Buy.  This app helps you compare unit pricing and allows you to enter weights and volumes with the price and the quantity to see which item is the better buy – whether it is really better value to buy bulk, or if the small packets on special are the way to go.
• Frugal.  The Frugal app will help you shop more frugally by helping you convert product quantities in either imperial or metric, to find out which product has the best price.

3 – Discounts and rewards

A lot of stores and businesses will offer you discounts and rewards if you sign up as a member – they get your mailing details and you get another card for your wallet.

While collecting membership cards and discounts can be a great way to shop smarter and be more frugal, you have to remember to take the cards with you in your already overfilled wallet, and you have to remember to present the, however, with the CardBank app you can store all of your membership cards and customised cards such as your gym membership and you no longer have to miss out on shopping benefits.

If you want to reap even more rewards you can download the WeReward app which pays you when you visit certain locations, or complete certain tasks.

For example, you visit a participating business, follow the instructions on the app and earn points. Each point is worth a penny and you can cash in your points using PayPal.

4 – Save on fuel

Fuel is right up there with your groceries as one of the biggest expenses your family has, so you are probably aiming to drive less, and drive more fuel efficiently to be more frugal.

You can also be frugal when you fill up by shopping around for the best fuel prices, but if you actually have to drive around to all the service stations to find the best price, you will have made your savings moot.

Instead, use the GasBuddy app which locates the cheapest fuel in your vicinity anywhere in the US or Canada. When you search you can compare distance by price and see all grade prices displayed so you never miss a bargain.

5 – Budgeting

It is also very important when trying to live frugally, to know exactly where all of your money is at any time, and how much you have available to spend in the week.

Therefore, a detailed working budget is a frugal family’s most important tool, and with the Budget app you can have all of that information and more at your fingertips.

The Budget app can be a good investment for just $1.99 as there are a wide range of features you won’t usually find with other personal finance apps. The Budget app features:

• Easy to enter transactions. The most effective budgets are the ones which are kept updated regularly, but it can be time consuming to stop and enter a transaction each time you spend money. With the Budget app you can choose from a list of predefined items, which you can add to your budget by tapping the column next to it. You can also set a specific item in your budget by tapping the budget icon, or you can enter recurring transactions for each month. Plus, since you’re probably not the only one spending money from the budget, you can also share transactions between iPhones so everyone stays updated.
• Export the data. You can also export all of your budget information in a CSV file so you can view and compare it later in Excel.
• Graphs. You can also see an expenses vs budget graph if you prefer a visual representation of your progress and position for the month.
• Over budget. The Budget app will highlight any expenses which push you over budget to help keep your spending in check.

This is a guest post by Alban, a personal finance writer at Home Loan Finder, a home loan comparisonwebsite.

Yes, I know that it’s already the middle of December! However, my experience tells me that most of you have not done your Christmas shopping as of yet. That means that you still have time to ensure that you do not damage your finances during the holiday season.

Here are a few tips to help you keep your Christmas spending in line:

Make a List

Think of all the people that you would like to buy gifts for. This includes all family, friends, and coworkers. Be sure to add in those people with whom you interact with often (pastor/church leaders, kids’ teachers, business associates, etc).

Some of you would even like to include various service providers (mailman, paperboy, hairdresser, barber, etc), go ahead! In the next two steps we’ll decide if you can really keep them there.

Make a Budget

I know that it seems simple, but you must do this. I’m talking about a real budget, not just a random dollar amount that you hope to come under. You need to set a spending limit before you even make your Christmas list!

Take a good look at your finances and determine how much cash you have available to allocate toward Christmas shopping! Do not allow yourself to borrow money just to buy gifts (or for any other reason!).

Make it a point this Christmas to be disciplined and avoid a spending hangover in January!

Set Priorities

Your budget should be based on your financial situation, not on emotion! It would be wonderful if you can get a gift for every person in your life, but that is not realistic.

Begin to look through your list, with budget in hand, and make some cuts. You probably won’t be able to get a gift for everyone on your list, so you need to think through the purpose for each gift, and the type of relationship you have with each person on the list.

Keep in mind that you have a couple of options besides simply purchasing a gift (see below).

Get Creative

For some people on your list, consider giving a homemade gift.

For those who love to bake, you can cross of much of your Christmas list for the cost of basic ingredients! This is even something that you can have your children help you with! They will love the feeling of helping you, coupled with making a gift for someone they know. Just make sure that you are good a baking – don’t just take your word for it !

Being creative when it comes to gift baskets and other artistic projects, can help you stay within your budget as well. This is also true with knitting and other talents that help you create homemade gifts.

To be honest, homemade gifts show a great deal of thought, and usually come across much better than a Gift Certificate or something else that you picked up really quickly.

Since this does involve some costs and a lot of time, a homemade gift isn’t an option for everyone. Despite the push for you to spend money, a Christmas card (with a nice, thoughtful, personal message) is still a nice touch! It can show the recipient that you were thinking of them, and can really go a long way for a small price. This is especially true when you can include a family photo along with the message (and try to have it signed by everyone).

Compare Prices

Once you determine your list to purchase gifts for, start comparing prices. Search online for various options, considering shipping costs and time. Most of the large retailers have robust online stores that allow you to place an order and have it delivered right to the store! Some of them will even gift wrap the item for you and ship it directly to the recipient, with a card that includes a personalized message from you!

You can can look at freeshipping.org to see what online retailers offer free shipping. Keep in mind that December 17, 2010 is “free shipping day“, and over 1200 retailers have signed up to offer free shipping, and will guarantee delivery before Christmas.

Bundle Gifts

No, I don’t mean that you just blindly make relatives share a gift!  But, if you are shopping for a family, try to find a gift that will bless the entire household. The same can be done with children – buying a board game, video game, or child-friendly movie can be a gift for them all.

Since my wife and I have discovered the fun of board games, we love when someone decides to buy us one as a gift. Of course, if they want to buy mea new bluetooth headset and give her the game, I wouldn’t be mad!

But seriously, instead of worrying about spending money on two people, our friends and family can just consider what to buy us as a couple.

Reader Questions:

1. Do you have a budget for Christmas shopping?
   
2. What are some of the things that you do to ensure that you stay within your budget?
3. Have you completed your shopping already?

photo by Jim Robinson Films

4 Tips to Help Organize Your Financial Life

Taking a Saturday afternoon to organize your personal finances, especially when the sun is shining outside or your favorite team is playing on the television, doesn’t exactly sound appealing to most of us.

However, organizing your personal finances is an important project, and once you create an organizational system that you can live with, you’ll be glad that you did.

There are some simple rules of thumb you can follow that are sure to improve your financial management.

Once you have a system in place, paying bills on time, doing your taxes, and saving up for big expenses will be a breeze.

1. Use the KISS principle

“KISS”, in case you haven’t heard of it, stands for “Keep it simple, stupid.”

In other words, while it may be tempting to run to an office supply store and load up on finance software, binders, filing systems, and trays, the more complex your system is, the more difficult it will be to follow.

You don’t need to turn into an organizational dominatrix to manage your finances; you just need to be “organized enough”.

Tax-related receipts, for example, might all get dropped into a big manilla envelope taped to the side of your desk. The simpler your organizational system, the more likely you’ll be to stick with it.

2. Take advantage of online banking

Most banks these days offer free online banking and online bill pay. If your bank doesn’t, it might be time to switch to one that does. Online bill pay allows you to set up all your recurring payments, and then forget about them.

You can set email notifications that tell you when the bill is about to be paid, when a final bill is paid, and so forth. You can even save a few trees by having your monthly statement delivered online rather than through snail mail.

3. Where does your money go, anyway?

At Debtors Anonymous, the first thing you are told to do is write down every penny you spend. If you make a car payment, write it down. If you buy a candy bar, write that down, too. The truth is, most people don’t really know where their money goes to.

In order to organize your finances so that you can create a budget, start to save, or pay down debt, your first task is to find out where your money is currently going. You don’t need to be complicated about tracking your spending. A pocket-sized notebook and a pen will do fine.

At the end of the month, examine what you’ve written down. You might be surprised at what you discover about your spending.

4. Create a budget

Once you have a logical, KISS filing system, you’ve set up automatic payments to take care of paying your bills on time, and you know what you’re currently spending, you’re ready to create a budget.

You can use a budgeting spreadsheet, software, or even a pencil and paper, but a budget is essential to having and organized financial life.

A budget is the cornerstone of any personal financial organization, but for many people, starting a budget is a lot like starting a diet. You begin with grand expectations, only to find yourself sneaking into the fridge, or caving in when the waitress asks if you want dessert.

In order to stick with a diet, two crucial components have to be a part of your plan: first, your diet is realistic. Second, you have a specific goal you’re inspired to achieve, such as fitting into a wedding dress or preparing for an athletic competition.

Budgets are the same way. In order to stick with them, you need to be realistic, and you need to be inspired. If you currently spend $150 per month eating out, for example, telling yourself you’ll only spend $40 per month eating out is unrealistic.

Start by packing yourself a lunch a few times per week, then gradually work your way down. Similarly, find a reason that inspires you to stick with your budget, such saving up to take a dream vacation or getting a new car. Remind yourself frequently of your inspiring reason to stick with the plan, and you’ll be much more likely to keep it.

Although taking the time to organize your finances in the four ways mentioned above may not be nearly as fun as watching a football game, once you’ve done it, you’ll feel relieved and proud of yourself – and you’ll be on your way to improved and stable personal finances.

This article is from Bob who runs ChristianPF – a personal finance blog dedicated to helping Christians become better stewards of what God has provided.

The holidays are upon us! And while it’s most definitely a joyful time of year, the realities of holiday shopping can be stressful.

Crowded malls, long gift lists, and limited budgets just scratch the surface, but there’s hope: the Internet is here to help.

And while you probably can’t buy everything on your list online, there’s bound to be a few.

So here’s 4 tips to help you stretch your dollar while you’re at it:

Comparison Shopping

One of the greatest advantages of shopping online is the ability to do instant price comparisons. But while this may seem like a straight forward idea, there’s more to it than picking the lowest advertised price: shipping, taxes and other fees may apply, not to mention discount codes at check-out.

And be aware that the lowest advertised price online often tends to be refurbished items, particularly for gadgets, so read the fine print! Make sure you are REALLY getting the best deal.

Discount Codes

Whenever you’re checking out online, there’s probably a place to enter a promotional code. So even though you may not have one doesn’t mean you can’t use one!

There are numerous sites that publish discount codes online, and just by performing a simple search for discount codes, you might be able to save quite a bit on your purchase!

It sounds like a “dirty little secret” the stores don’t want you to know about, which is why it’s so satisfying when it works… Is anyone NOT doing this?

Free Shipping

Whenever I ask my family why they don’t do more shopping online, the answer is always the same: Shipping.

When I tell them that I RARELY pay for shipping, they are stunned!

“How?!”, they ask. The truth is, the true secret to my first tip (comparison shopping) is knowing where to find free shipping.

Most often, the lowest price I can find online is when shipping fees have been waived. So where do you find these deals?

Many stores offer free shipping with a minimum order. So if you’re at checkout look for that offer, and if you haven’t reached that minimum yet, see if there is another gift you can find at that store before you check out. Also, free shipping coupon codes are very common.

Cyber Monday

The Monday after Thanksgiving is a (relatively) new online shopping holiday called Cyber Monday. If you haven’t heard of it yet, it’s the online equivalent of Black Friday.

Some of the best discounts of the year (online) happen within this 24 hour period. Cashing in on these deals can potentially save you a bundle! And just think, you won’t have to stand outside, in a line, at 4:00 am, hoping that a riot doesn’t break out when the store opens their doors… You can thank me on Tuesday.

I hope these tips are helpful in saving you some money this holiday season…feel free to share any more you might have in the comments! Happy Holidays!

This has been a guest post by Todd, who writes for dealio.com, a website dedicated to helping consumers find the best deals & coupon codes online.