http://www.couponshack.com/blogs/show/10078/Super-Bowl-XLIV-CouponsWe always think of big screen TVs and tailgating when it comes to the Super Bowl. Every year, retailer slash prices in these product categories as a way to kick off the new year. It's no different this year. Stores like <a href='/stores/show/902/WalMart'>Walmart</a> and <a href='/stores/show/1323/BestBuy'>BestBuy</a>, as usual, are offering exceptional deals with prices on 42" HDTVs dipping below $500. Now, <a href='/stores/show/1271/Sears'>Sears</a> has upped the ante by offering an additional 5% off TVs priced $499 and above. Deals aren't limited to just TVs and electronics. Here are some other Super Bowl XLIV related deals. <br> <ol> <li>For the women, <a href='/stores/show/3973/eDressME'>eDressMe</a> is offering 30% off all purchases made on Super Bowl Sunday. Just use coupon code: superbowl10 <li>Need appetizers? Check out <a href='/stores/show/1096/Appetizerstogo'>Appetizerstogo</a> as well where you can save 20% on Super Bowl appetizers with coupon code: TAKE20 <li>How about steaks? Save Up to 20% off Super Bowl Favorites at <a href='/stores/show/4164/Kansas-City-Steak-Company'>Kansas City Steak Company</a>. <li>For snacks, check out <a href='/stores/show/997/Popcorn-Factory'>The Popcorn Factory</a> where you can get commemorative Super Bowl XLIV Popcorn Tins. Plus, get 10% off with coupon code: HEART10 <li>If you are looking for fan gear, check out <a href='/stores/show/444/Online-Sports'>OnlineSports.com</a> or <a href='/stores/show/589/Kohls'>Kohl's</a>. Both are having Super Bowl sales and offer coupons of 3% (code: OS3) and 10% (code: NEW6437) respectively. <li>Don't forget your Super Bowl memorabilia. You'll find great deals on authentic Super Bowl memorabilia at <a href='/stores/show/3483/Pro-Sports-Memorabilia'>Pro Sports Memorabilia</a>. Save an additional 15% with coupon code: PSMSUPER <li>How about a <a href='/stores/show/3619/Fathead'>Fathead</a> Indianapolis Colts or New Orleans Saints wall sticker? Right now you can get an Super Bowl bundle of 3 for just $199 with coupon code: NFLBUNDLE <li>Still need tickets? Believe it or not, they are still available. Yes they are pricey, but they are still available. All the online ticket brokers are still offering Super Bowl tickets. Both <a href='/stores/show/4848/Ticket-Network'>Ticket Network</a> (valid on future purchase) and <a href='/stores/show/2335/RazorGator'>RazorGator</a> (with coupon code: ORDR20RG) are offering $20 off purchase. <li>Not a fan of Indianapolis or New Orleans? Now is the best time to get gear for next year. Check out <a href='/stores/show/2233/NFL-Shop'>NFL Shop</a> and get 15% off purchase with coupon code: SPRINTVIP2 <li>If you'd rather be in the game then watching the game, check out <a href='/stores/show/1007/Eastbay'>Eastbay</a> for the most popular football gear. Plus, for 15% off use coupon code: AFNAIVE1 <li><a href='/stores/show/1377/GoDaddy'>GoDaddy</a> continues to push the envelope in ther Super Bowl ads and this year will be no exception. If you want to start your own website, then take advantage of their Super Bowl promo: $0.99 domain registration with coupon code: BOWL2010. Instead of watching the Super Bowl, register your domain and build your own web site! </ol>http://www.couponshack.com/blogs/show/10077/Family-Vacations--Activities-on-a-BudgetWe may not be able to take as extravagant of a summer vacation as in years past, but we still should set aside some time for a little rest and relaxation. I know for me, this will be the first summer I'll have as a Dad. I'm getting excited, just thinking about all the things that we could do as a family, but I have to temper that excitement some due to budget. With that said, there are still many options available that won't cost you an arm and a leg. Here are some tips for family vacations and activities on a budget. <br> <ol> <li>If you live in a tourist area like I do, always be sure to ask for a local discount. For us we get half price tickets to the aquarium and a similar discount at the water park. <li>Look for activities with coupons or discounts first. Get a coupon book such as the <a href='/stores/show/505/Entertainment-Book'>Entertainment Book</a> or a discount card such as <a href='/stores/show/2116/Go-Card-USA'>Go Card USA</a>. These are full of discounts for shopping, dining, and entertainment. <li>When booking a hotel, look for vacation package deals. As an example check out the Disney vacation package offered by <a href='/stores/show/2113/Funjet-Vacations'>Funjet Vacations</a>. Just book a 5 night vacation to Walt Disney World and you'll get a Disney gift card worth up to $750 for all kinds of dining and activities. <li>If you are flexible with your dates, sign up for fare alerts and book your vacation on the promotional dates. Two years ago I found a flight to Orlando for $18 (one way) through <a href='/stores/show/2880/Spirit-Vacations'>Spirit Airlines</a>. Another one to keep an eye on is <a href='/stores/show/1966/Southwest-Airlines-Vacations'>Southwest Airlines</a>. <li>Always check to see if kids can stay or eat for free. I know this is available at all Disney Park hotels as well as many resorts Mexico and the Caribbean. <li>Book direct with the resort or airline. Hotels and airlines are really offering some great discounts to compete with the online travel discounters. <li>Check out all inclusive family resorts. <a href='/stores/show/4238/Beaches-Resorts'>Beaches Resorts</a> offers some really good rates as well as resort credits. Plus, there are a lot of kids activities at the Beaches Resorts. </ol>http://www.couponshack.com/blogs/show/10076/Business-Resolutions--Small-Business-Savings-While-Going-Green-part-2Well, we're through the first month of the new decade and hopefully everyone is hangin in there with your new year's resolution. Whether it be to lose weight, quit smoking, or save money, all personal resolutions lead to a positive result (hopefully anyway), so stick with it. <br/><br/> How about resolutions for your business? I bet not too many people think about this, but why not? The new year is all about new beginnings, and I'm sure if you took some time to think about it, there would be a number of changes you could make to help your business run more efficiently. It's not too late to make a new year's resolution for your business, and I thought I'd help you out with a couple friendly suggestions: <br/><br/> 1. Reduce spending. Here's a resolution I'm sure every business could afford. 2. Go Green. Not only is this good for the environment, it can help to reduce costs. <br/><br/> So how do you implement these resolutions? Well, I'm glad you asked! There are a great deal of tools and resources available to help businesses, as well as households, reduce costs and become more eco-friendly. For starters, you can check out CouponShack's <a href='http://www.couponshack.com/blogs/by_tag/16'>Small Business Savings</a> and <a href='http://www.couponshack.com/blogs/by_tag/18'>Go Green</a> blogs, where Sok outlines a number of helpful hints and tips. Additionally, here are a few more ways to go green and reduce spending. <br/><br/> In one of his previous posts, Sok discussed vampire or phantom power which is energy that's used by electronics and appliances that are kept running or idle. The remedy for eliminating phantom power is simply to turn off or unplug these items when you're not using them. A power strip is the easiest way to accomplish this because with the flip of one switch you can turn off five or six devices. Well the EcoStrip 2.0 from <a href='http://www.couponshack.com/stores/show/914/Smarthome'>Smarthome</a> takes the convenience of a power strip one step further and makes reducing phantom power that much easier. The EcoStrip 2.0 is USB controlled and acts as a normal power strip and surge protector for your computer and peripheral devices. But because it's USB controlled, when your computer is shut off it automatically shuts down all the peripheral devices as well. So this means at the end of the day when you shut down your computer, you will also be turning off your printer, fax, copier, or any other peripheral device that would normally drain idle power if left on. You might not think that phantom power adds that much more to your energy bill, but reduce it for a month and you'll be surprised at the savings. <br/><br/> Another great tool to utilize if you want to make your business more eco-friendly is <a href='http://www.couponshack.com/stores/show/6049/DocuSign--Electronic-Digital-Signature-Service'>DocuSign</a> which is a service that allows you to send, receive, and electronically sign important documents and contracts. Now, I love this service because it not only reduces the use of paper, it allows you to network, negotiate, and close deals faster, and on a much broader scale. For instance, I could send a contract from New York to a client in California and he or she could sign it and have it back to me that same day. This process would normally require either one of us flying cross country, or waiting a couple weeks for snail mail. DocuSign allows your business to run just a little smoother, and would certainly reduce the monthly cost of paper, not to mention you'd be going green! <br/><br/> New year's resolutions often take time and don't always yield immediate results. They require planning, implementation, and stick-to-itness. Make this year one of positive change, both on a personal and occupational level. By reducing costs and going green, you'll be surprised at the changes you can make! <br/><br/> <a href='http://www.couponshack.com/blogs/show/10054/Small-Business-Savings-While-Going-Green'>Small Business Savings While Going Green part 1</a> http://www.couponshack.com/blogs/show/10075/10-Tips-for-Personal-Financial-SavingsThe most effective way to save money is to take an active role in managing your personal finances. It seems like a no brainer, but when budgets are tight, we just cut spending on the obvious and stop there. What we miss out on is the many other opportunities to reduce our expenses. When taking an in depth look at my personal finances, I suddenly realized the many opportunities that were out there to save even more money. In doing so, I thought I'd share some of these tips with you. <ol> <li><b>Personal Finance Software</b> - Get help. Use personal finance software like <a href='http://www.mint.com/'>Mint.com</a>. It's a free tool that allows you to see all your financial accounts in one place. You can categorize all your expenses in one place so you set up or adjust your budget to reach your financial goals. <li><b>Take Inventory</b> - Look around the house and write down everything that you purchase on a regular basis. You'd be surprised at some of the stuff that you can buy cheaper online. Take for example a 12 pack of Cottonelle Double Roll 2 Ply Toilet Paper, which can be purchased at <a href='/stores/show/780/Drugstore_com'>Drugstore.com</a> for just $10.49. <li><b>Recurring Purchases</b> - Look to save on items you have to purchase on a regular schedule like contacts. You can save as much as 70% on with auto-refill purchases from stores like <a href='/stores/show/763/1-800-Contacts'>1-800-Contacts</a> <li><b>Save on Gas</b> - If you have a membership club such as <a href='http://www.costco.com/Home.aspx'>Costco</a> or <a href='http://www.samsclub.com/shopping/index.jsp'>Sams Club</a> nearby, join the club and purchase your gas from there. The savings in gas alone pay for the membership. <li><b>Track Deductions</b> - Keep track of anything you might be able to deduct. Buy a receipt scanner (available at <a href='/stores/show/2342/Newegg'>Newegg</a>) to help keep track. It's simple to use and scans the receipt right into <a href='/stores/show/3804/QuickBooks'>Quickbooks</a>. <li><b>Record Medical Bills</b> - You'd be surprised at what you might be able to deduct. To help, try using <a href='/stores/show/2810/Quicken'>Quicken Health Expense Tracker</a>. All you have to do is enter your medical bills as they come in, mark them when they are paid, and Quicken will keep track of what items you can deduct. From there, it's just an easy import into <a href='/stores/show/2643/TurboTax'>TurboTax</a>. <li><b>Take an Active Role in Retirement</b> - If you don't have an IRA account, open one up. Sites like <a href='/stores/show/3999/E*Trade-Financial'>Etrade</a> offer a lot of easy to use tools for all types of investors. Taking an active role not only allows you to follow investment trends more closely, but also can help you avoid high management fees. <li><b>High Yield Savings</b> - Don't just keep your emergency fund money in the bank. At least put it in a high yield savings account such as <a href='/stores/show/4215/HSBC-Direct'>HSBC Direct</a>. (currently 1.35% APY) <li><b>Keep Track of Your Credit Score</b> - Actively monitor your credit score and always look for ways to improve your score. Sites like <a href='/stores/show/1328/myFICO'>myFICO</a> offer some really great credit tools such as credit simulators and credit alerts. <li><b>Personal Loan</b> - If you can, get a personal loan and consolidate your credit cards into that loan. This will at the very least lower your interest payments. (and stop using that credit card) Check out <a href='/stores/show/1399/LowerMyBills'>LowerMyBills</a> for loan options. </ol>http://www.couponshack.com/blogs/show/10074/12-Tips-for-Valentines-Day-on-a-BudgetEven with a tight budget, there are still plenty of ideas that will help make Valentine's Day special this year. I've always thought that the personalized touch always trumps the price of anything else. I think that this year, more than any other year, will be the year of personalized gifts. There are more ways than ever to personalize your gifts online and the prices are very reasonable. Here are 12 tips for some memorable gifts and things Valentines related. <br> <ol> <li>Personalized Photo Book: Go through all those photos you have on your computer or on Facebook and create a photo book to share with your loved one. I suggest using <a href='/stores/show/1257/PhotoWorks'>PhotoWorks</a> or <a href='/stores/show/2747/Snapfish'>Snapfish</a>. Both almost always offer coupons like the 20% discount being offered right now. <li>Personalized Candies: Give your Valentine candy with his or her name on it or include a personalized message. With <a href='/stores/show/5228/My-M_Ms'>My M&M's</a> you can write that personalized message (2 lines, up to 8 characters per line) on each M&M. Right now you can get 15% off. <li>Send Flowers: Check out sites like <a href='/stores/show/338/1-800-FLOWERS'>1-800-Flowers</a> where you can find great discounts on Valentine's flowers and gifts. Combine these with a coupon for a double discount. <li>Perfume & Cologne: A staple of any Valentine's, perfume and cologne always make a nice gift. If this is a gift you are interested in, I suggest looking online. Prices are not only lower online, but there are also more coupons available. Just check out <a href='/stores/show/823/Perfumania'>Perfumania</a> as an example. <li>Skincare Products: This is probably equally as popular as fragrances. I suggest going with a gift set. It looks nicer, plus you'll more than likely meet the minimum coupon requirement. <a href='/stores/show/765/SkinStore'>SkinStore</a> has some great gift sets. <li>Personalized Gifts: Check out <a href='/stores/show/858/PersonalizationMall'>PersonalizationMall</a> for some very unique gifts that you can personalize. They have an entire section devoted to Valentines. <li>Make Dinner: Check out the <a href='http://www.foodnetwork.com/valentines-day/package/index.html#'>Food Network</a> for some great Valentine's Day recipes. Don't forget to print <a href='/coupons/printable'>grocery coupons</a> to take with you to the grocery store! <li>Go Out for Dinner: Don't be afraid to use a discount for your meal. Purchase a gift certificate from <a href'/stores/show/497/Restaurant_com'>Restaurant.com</a> and you'll save over 50% on your meal. (You're not being cheap. You're being smart with your money) <li>Valentine's Cards: If you have a bunch of people to send Valentine's cards to, purchase them in bulk. You can get them as cheap as 50 cents each at <a href='/stores/show/858/PersonalizationMall'>PersonalizationMall</a> <li>Book a Trip: A great place for a getaway on a budget is Las Vegas. Rates are as low as $27 a night over Valentine's weekend. If you'll check out <a href='/stores/show/82/Expedia'>Expedia</a>, you'll see that they have an entire section devoted to Valentine's travel. <li>Go on a Cruise: Get a romantic Bahamas cruise package from $239 per person over Valentine's weekend. Just check out <a href='/stores/show/290/CruiseDirect'>CruiseDirect</a> for some incredible deals on cruise packages. <li>Get a Date: Give online dating a try. I've got a couple friends that have had great success with it. One is actually getting married to the person he found on <a href='http://www.jdoqocy.com/8r97ft1zt0GIQINHMPGKHPOKIH'>eHarmony</a> this summer. And yes, there are coupons available there as well. Try CJPROMOBBB for 17% off a 12 month membership. </ol>http://www.couponshack.com/blogs/show/10073/Vacationing-on-a-budget-How-about-taking-a-vacation-that-paysSee if you can try and sell this to your boss: Vacations and time off actually increase productivity. It's true. According to the World Tourism Organization, Americans take an average of 13 paid days off each year. That pales in comparison to the Italians who average 42 paid days off, the French with 37 paid days, the Germans with 35 paid days, or the Brazilians with 34 paid days. What's even more shocking is many Americans don't even use all of their vacation days. It's spurred countless studies on correlations between time off and productivity. All of them yielding the same result: Time off improves worker productivity. It's a no brainer, yet we continue to work and work. Toss in the "Great Recession" and we're taking even less time off. <br><br> I know most of us have already made our New Years Resolutions for 2010, but you might want to amend that resolution to promise yourself to take some time off, even if it is just for a long weekend. My suggestion? Take a cruise. <br><br> Cruises are the best way to vacation right now. Baseline costs are fixed and even if you want to do something extra, cruise lines are so desperate right now that they are throwing in onboard cruise credits for as much as $400. They're paying you to go on a cruise. They just hope to recover the cost by charging you for luxury services, shore excursions, and alcohol or from retail sales and casino earnings. All of this is optional though. You can enjoy the entire cruise for the fixed up front cost and nothing more. <br><br> So how good are these deals? How about a 5 night caribbean cruise for $299 or a weekend cruise for $139? These are available right now through <a href='/stores/show/290/CruiseDirect'>CruiseDirect</a>. Not to be out-done, the major online travel companies are fighting for your precious vacation dollars as well. <a href='/stores/show/150/Travelocity'>Travelocity</a> is currently offering rates from $249 plus up to $500 onboard credit. <a href='/stores/show/82/Expedia'>Expedia</a> is offering 3 or 4 night cruises from $169. Book a last minute cruise through <a href='/stores/show/1067/Orbitz'>Orbitz</a> and you can get up to 75% off the original cruise price. <br><br> Book at least 3 months early and you can also get early booking discounts. Expedia is offering an additional 20% discount for early booking. Travelocity offers a similar promotion through <a href='/stores/show/1558/Carnival-Cruise-Lines'>Carnival Cruise Lines</a>. The deals are out there, whether you book early or late. Just compare early booking discounts, onboard credits, complimentary services, free upgrades, and other bonus offers before committing to that vacation. <br><br> Deal Alert: Book a select cruise with an American Express card and you'll not only get an onboard cruise credit, but also a statement credit for your American Express card!http://www.couponshack.com/blogs/show/10072/10-Commonly-Missed-Tax-Deductions-for-2009It's tax season again. I know, I love this time of year too. (joking) For most of us, it's something we dread doing. I don't know about you, but I usually end up throwing my hands up and taking my documents to <a href='http://www.libertytax.com/'>Liberty Tax</a>. This year, however, I'm seriously thinking about doing it myself. Online services like <a href='/stores/show/2643/TurboTax'> TurboTax</a> and <a href='/stores/show/2442/H_R-Block-At-Home'>H&R Block At Home</a> are making it easier and easier every year. It really makes sense to do it yourself if you have multiple forms to fill out. You could end up saving several hundred dollars in tax preparation fees. As I look through my tax documents, I thought I might highlight some of the commonly used or missed tax deductions because we all how important it is to find every penny's worth of deductions. <br> <ol> <li><b>Points on refinancing</b> - 2009 was the year of refinancing. Interest rates were at historical lows making it almost a no-brainer to refinance your house. Just don't forget that you can deduct your fees and any points you pay towards refinancing. <li><b>Home buyer tax credits</b> - You can get up to $8,000 in tax credits for any home purchased between Jan. 1, 2009 and Apr. 30, 2010. In addition to this, there is also a tax credit of up to $6,500 for qualified move up/ repeat home buyers from Nov. 6, 2009 to Apr. 30, 2010. For more information click <a href='http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/'>here</a>. <li><b>Alternative Fuels and Vehicles</b> - There are tax credits of up to $4,000 for the purchase of any alternative fuel vehicle, including hybrids and golf carts (I know Pennsylvania has a tax credit of $4325 for the purchase of golf carts). In addition, there are also tax credits for any alternative fuels used. This includes Ethanol, Biodiesel, CNG, Propane, and Hydrogen. <li><b>Energy Savings Home Improvement Credit</b> - If you made any improvements to your home that resulted in energy savings, you may be eligible for credits up to $1,500. This includes the purchase of such items as skylights, outside doors, windows, pigmented roofs, high-efficiency furnaces, water heaters and central air conditioning units. For more information, click <a href='http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=tax_credits.tx_index'>here</a> <li><b>Health insurance premiums</b> - Any health or medical insurance premiums paid are considered deductible. Also, many other health related expenses are also tax deductible such as fees paid to doctors and prescription drugs. For more information, click <a href='http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc502.html'>here</a> <li><b>Higher education expenses</b> - I know many people who chose to go back to school after being laid off. Don't forget that all the expenses associated with higher education are also tax deductible. You could get as much as $4,000 in above the line deductions. <li><b>Student-loan interest paid by Mom and Dad</b> - If you are not claimed as a dependent, yet your Mom or Dad, pays your student loans for you, you can actually claim the tax deduction yourself. This could mean a deduction of up to $2,500. <li><b>Child-care credit</b> - If you have a child under the age of 13 and have child care expenses, you could also qualify for a tax deduction of up to $3,000 for one dependent or up to $6,000 for 2 or more dependents. These expenses include costs for daycare, nannies, and help for disabled children. <li><b>Investment and tax expenses</b> - If your investment or tax expenses exceed 2% of your adjusted gross income, you can also deduct most of these related expenses. These include subscriptions to publications, brokerage fees, annual fees, safety deposit box fees, and even long distance fees to your broker. <li><b>Tax preparation expenses</b> - Last, but not least, don't forget that the tax preparation fees (whether you do them yourself or not) are completely tax deductible. </ol>http://www.couponshack.com/blogs/show/10071/7-New-Years-Savings-Resolutions-for-2010Another year is drawing to a close and with that comes another set of New Year's Resolutions. We make them every year, yet most of us never stick to them. That's why my resolution for 2010 is to make a resolution and stick to it. It's bad luck to tell someone what your resolution is so I'll keep that part a secret. I will give you a hint, however. It's one of the 7 New Year's Savings Resolutions listed below. They're in no particular order, just 7 ideas for you to think about for 2010. I wish you the best of luck in keeping your resolutions next year! Here they are: <br> <ol> <li><b>Save on gym costs. Workout at home.</b> If you can afford the upfront cost of a home gym it'll save you a lot of money down the road versus a gym membership. Price compare and look for deals on older models. Check out places like <a href='/stores/show/2277/Workout-Warehouse'>Workout Warehouse</a> for great deals on top brands like <a href='/stores/show/2808/ProForm'>Proform</a> and <a href='/stores/show/5118/NordicTrack'>NordicTrack</a>. <a href='/stores/show/2351/Bowflex'>Bowflex</a> is another great brand. Just be patient and wait for a coupon to be offered from them. <li><b>Save on weightloss. Do it online.</b> One of the most popular weight loss programs around is <a href='/stores/show/1488/Weight-Watchers'>Weight Watchers</a>. Did you know that you can do it online? By doing so, you can save 25% versus their regular program. <li><b>Save on energy. Become more energy efficient.</b> I've dedicated a whole section of CouponShack.com to being more energy efficient. Just check out the <a href='/savers/show/9/Go-Green'>Go Green</a> section for some really helpful tips on saving money and being more energy efficient. <li><b>Save on insurance. Review your Insurance Policies.</b> Now is the best time to look at all your insurance policies. If you have too much coverage, scale it back. If you haven't combined your insurance policies, try doing so as many insurance companies offer a discount for this. If it makes sense, raise your deductible. Finally, shop around. See if you're really getting the best deal. Check out sites like <a href='/stores/show/1894/InsureMe'>InsureMe</a> where you can get a free insurance quote from multiple providers. <li><b>Save on your expenses. Manage your personal finance.</b> Check out some of the free tools offered by <a href='/stores/show/2810/Quicken'>Quicken</a>. They recently acquired <a href='http://www.mint.com/'>Mint.com</a> which offers tons of free personal finance tools. Buy the full version and it integrates seamlessly with TurboTax. <li><b>Save on tax preparation and filings. Do it yourself.</b> If you can, try doing your taxes yourself this year. Sites like <a href='/stores/show/2643/TurboTax'>TurboTax</a> and <a href='/stores/show/2442/H_R-Block-At-Home'>H&R Block</a> really make it easy to do it yourself. Heck, if it's just a simple return, TurboTax will do it for free! <li><b>Save on purchases. Become a coupon clicker.</b> Make a more conscience effort to look for coupons first before making a purchase. Even if you already use coupons to some degree, take a moment and re-evaluate what you are doing. See if you can develop better coupon habits. Monitor your favorite stores or brands for coupons. Pull the trigger on the purchase when a coupon is available. If you don't have a CouponShack.com <a href='/users'>account</a>, sign up for one and let us monitor the coupons and deals for you! </ol>http://www.couponshack.com/blogs/show/10070/Holiday-Fitness-TipsOk, Ok, I know it's the holidays and the last thing you want to think about, or be lectured on, is the general unhealthiness of the holiday season. I mean with all the sweets and delicious food made available, it's not unreasonable to be tempted, and even a little reckless from Thanksgiving up until the new year. There are a few quick and simple steps you can take throughout December, and even into Janurary in order to enjoy all the goodies the holidays have to offer, guilt free (or as close to guilt free as you can get). <br/><br/> One of the key, and probably the most basic aspects of preventing weight gain is burning calories. Now the ideal amount of calories to burn is the amount taken in, but I think it's safe to say that this is close to impossible during the Christmas season. Any effort to burn calories puts you one step closer to preventing that 5 or 10 pound weight gain that's around the corner in January. For instance, bundle the family up and take a nice winter walk a couple times a week. Winter is a beautiful season with crisp air, so take advantage. Go caroling and spread the Christmas cheer around the neighborhood (ok this might be stretching it, but you get the idea!). <br/><br/> Now I'm sure all of the Mid westerners and North easterners are laughing at my suggestion of taking a walk during winter, especially with the recent weather conditions. But come on, you get the best part of winter, snow! Once the weather clears go outside and have some fun. Run around with the kids, pull them in their sleigh, go sledding for Pete's sake! Not only is sledding one of the funnest activities in the snow, walking up that legendary hill a couple times after your thrilling decent is sure to burn some calories. Ice skating is another fun and healthy winter activity. As I mentioned, the key to holiday fitness is just staying active and not allowing those filling dinners and delicious treats to soak into your body. <br/><br/> For those of you who just cringe at even the idea of stepping outside during winter, no worries, there are plenty of effective exercises that can be done indoors. Interval training is the best example and it's perfect for the holidays because it only takes up about 20 minutes of your day, three times a week. Interval training is so effective because it utilizes exercises that burn a lot of calories in a short amount of time. Exercises such as aerobics, e.g. jumping jacks, knee lifts, etc., jump rope, and kickboxing are great examples. Also, if you have a treadmill, bike, or stairmaster, these machines are terrific for interval training. There are a great deal of interval training methods, so find the one that works best for your schedule and lifestyle. <br/><br/> So there you have it. Just a few things to keep in mind during the holidays if you want to save your New Year's resolution for something new this year. I sincerely wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!http://www.couponshack.com/blogs/show/10069/Vancouver-2010-Olympic-Accommodations-on-a-BudgetIt's less than 2 months from the Winter Olympics and believe it or not, there are tickets still available. Accomodations, on the other hand, are quickly disappearing. With that said, there are still options available, even if you are on a tight budget. Previously I talked about travel to and from the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver, BC and offered some tips on how to plan your travel. (see blog <a href='/blogs/show/10065/Budget-Travel-to-the-Vancouver-2010-Winter-Games'>here</a>) Since writing that blog, I decided to put together some more travel tips for the Olympics. This time I wanted to focus on accommodations. So, here are some tips and suggestions on where to stay on your trip to Vancouver. <br> <ol> <li>If you want to stay in a hotel, look for extended stay options. These are hotels that offer discounts and stays of 3 nights or more and come with kitchenette. This is great for budget conscience travelers because you can cook your own meals instead of eating out all the time. <li>Consider staying a hotel, inn, bed and breakfast, or apartment in a suburb such as Burnaby, Horseshoe Bay, or Richmond, which are near the Olympic venues. Not only are prices cheaper, but you may have a better chance of finding something that is available. <li>Check out <a href='/stores/show/4875/BedandBreakfast'>BedandBreakfast.com</a> if this is your type of accommodation. Tip: Use a CouponShack.com coupon to purchase a BedandBreakfast.com gift card at a discounted price. Then book your room using the gift card. <li>Traveling with family and friends? Try renting a home. For large groups you can really save a lot of money per person. Just check out single family homes and condos on <a href='/stores/show/3984/HomeAway'>HomeAway</a> to see what's available. <li>For longer stays, check out apartments for rent. If you are staying for the whole month, it's actually one of the cheapest ways to stay. Just make sure that it is a furnished apartment. Check out <a href='http://www.vancouverextendedstay.com/'>Vancouver Extended Stay</a> to see what's available. <li>Try cruising to the Olympics. <a href='http://www.newwesttravel.com/van2010.cfm?PageID=74'>New West Travel & Cruises</a> offers cruise packages from $650 for 2 nights. Stay longer and you'll get a discount on the per night rate. You got all the amenities of a cruise ship for a fraction of the cost of staying on land. They provide everything but tickets. <li>For those who are a bit more adventuresome check out the RV parks along the way. There are quite a few between Seattle, WA and Vancouver, BC. Just make sure you are plenty prepared. <li>Finally, when booking your hotel, check out sites like <a href='/stores/show/82/Expedia'>Expedia</a> where you can get discounts on hotel stays of 3 nights or more. That on top of their already discounted rates makes for some really great savings! </ol>J McCartneyA wonderful way to enjoy the 2010 Winter Olympics on a budget is by RV. It's a great way to travel and enjoy the trip with lots of leg room. Whistler RV Park and Campgrounds still has some availability so if you are interested check out www.whistlerrvpark.com Mon, 11 Jan 2010