From the category archives:

cheaper

Hagglers get a better deal 9 out of 10 times

by Gabrielle on March 8, 2010

And the savings aren’t only on items at tag sales. A national study by Consumer Reports finds that more than 90% of folks who asked for a better price got it on brand-new [more…]

The best day to shop online is…

by Gabrielle on March 4, 2010

Wednesday! That’s when you’ll find the steepest discounts on women’s accessories, shoes and clothing, according to a recent study of 100 online retailers by shopittome.com. [more…]

Do diamonds or chocolate make us happier?

by Gabrielle on March 2, 2010

According to a survey of wealthy lottery winners who could easily afford both, chocolate is the bigger happiness-booster hands down. And when University of Nottingham psychologists asked what else makes them happiest, the lottery winners overwhelmingly chose other free or low-cost indulgences—such as a long bath, an afternoon nap and a stroll in the park—over high-priced luxuries like flashy cars and exotic vacations. “Spending time relaxing is the secret to a happy life. Cost-free pleasures are the ones that make the difference—even when you can afford anything that you want,” says study author Richard Tunney, Ph.D.

[photo: pixietart]

Watch your wallet around this salesperson

by Gabrielle on March 1, 2010

It’s the one you drool over. A study published in the Journal of Consumer Research reveals that not only are shoppers more likely to purchase more products when we’re attracted to the salesperson, we’re also willing to pay more for the items! The reason? We subconsciously rate products as being higher in quality when the person selling them to us is good-looking.

[photo: atp_tyreseus]

Try a new local deal locator

by Gabrielle on February 24, 2010

You don’t have to travel far for great discounts. Offeretti.com rounds up all the sales and promotions from stores, restaurants, salons and other businesses right in your own neighborhood, then pinpoints them on a map so you can easily find them.

Are you an easy target for salespeople?

by Gabrielle on February 22, 2010

You are if you wander aimlessly through a store, randomly pick up products and appear distracted. This sends the message “I’m an impulse shopper” to salespeople, who then [more…]

Save on prescriptions by timing them right

by Gabrielle on February 20, 2010

If you have a medication you take every day—for instance, statins or antidepressants—buying 60 or 90 pills at once rather than just one 30-day supply at a time may lower the cost per dose, says [more…]

Slim down with indoor workouts

by Gabrielle on February 19, 2010

Find that you’re less active during the colder months when blustery weather makes it hard to bike, hike, garden, swim and do all your usual outdoor exercises? Then, you’re also missing out on the great benefits from being active—such as a stronger heart, more energy, a smaller waistline, a brighter mood and less stress. Luckily, there are lots of easy, inexpensive ways to make indoor workouts just as enjoyable as outdoor ones:
* Relive your childhood with a hula hoop. They’re not just for kids anymore. Adult-sized versions are slightly heavier to give you an easy workout that tones your hips and tummy. [more…]

Enjoy free IHOP pancakes on February 23

by Gabrielle on February 19, 2010

Heads up, pancakes lovers: On Tuesday, February 23, IHOP restaurants are offering customers a complimentary stack to help celebrate Pancake Day—an annual holiday that began hundreds of years ago as a way to use up milk and eggs before fasting for Lent. Simply show up between 7 am and 10 am and you’ll be treated to three yummy buttermilk biscuits in return for a donation of any amount to support local children’s hospitals. [more…]

Free tunes to change or match your mood

by Gabrielle on February 18, 2010

Want to listen to music that makes you feel happier? More energized? Relaxed? Or simply enjoy tunes that match your current mood? Log onto stereomood.com and click the mindset you’re in or want to be in. You’ll be given a list of hundreds of popular songs that match that mood in tempo and lyrics that you can listen to immediately free of charge.

[photo: bigpresh]

3 surprising ways to save on groceries

by Gabrielle on February 18, 2010

New research shows that grocery stores are using some pretty sly tactics to get you to bulk up your bill. To avoid falling for them…
1. Skip the suggested add-on. According to a new study, we tend to buy complementary products that are placed next to each other on the shelves—such as blueberries and whipped cream, chips and salsa, soda and pretzels and ice cream and chocolate syrup. Yet, when we pass by the same products in different aisles, we don’t put them in our cart, reports the Journal of Marketing. [more…]