http://www.couponshack.com/blogs/show/10063/Take-Charge-Small-Changes-Can-Lead-To-Big-SavingsAre you familiar with vampire power, phantom loads, idling standby current, and wall warts? Sounds scary huh? Well it should. These terms apply to the things that are literally sucking the power out of your home! It's those red, green, or blue lights on all your electronics that glow when the device is turned off. It's the wall charger that stays plugged even when it's not charging. It's the clock on your microwave, the light on your DVR, the mis-managed power strip. Added together, these items account for more than 10% of your monthly electric bill. Here are some tips to on how to protect yourself from these nasty things that go bump in the night: <br> <ol> <li>Unplug all your devices. Pull the plug on the TV, DVR, DVD player, etc. <li>Unplug all your wall chargers when they are not in use. They consume 0.45 W of energy (on average) even when not in use. <li>Turn the main power off. Many devices just remain in standby unless the main power is turned off. Check to see if there is a main power switch on the back of the device. <li>Use power strips. Plug all your devices into a power strip and when you are done, just flip the power on the power strip. <li>When buying any new device or appliance, always check to see if it is <a href='http://www.energystar.gov/'>energy star qualified</a>. <li>Invest in an Auto Switching Surge Protector. These surge protector strips can sense when the device (i.e. computer or TV) is turned off and automatically severs power. You can find one for less than $30 at <a href='/stores/show/1271/Sears'>Sears</a>. <li>Get a Home Power Monitor. It can give you an up to the minute power usage reading of every plugged in device, displayed in either kilowatt hour or actual dollar amount. Black and Decker makes one for under $100 and is available at <a href='/stores/show/1323/BestBuy'>BestBuy</a> <li>Get a solar charger to charge those small electronics. <a href='/stores/show/1014/Ritz-Camera'>Ritz Camera</a> has one called the Juice Bar that comes with 12 different adapters, including a USB connection for $27. <li>Don't just get a batter charger, get a solar battery charger. <a href='/stores/show/914/Smarthome'>Smarthome</a> has one that charges AA, AAA, C, and D batteries via solar power. <li>Replace all your incandescent bulbs with CFL bulbs. Prices continue to come down on these. Check your home improvement store or office store. If you're buying in bulk (the best way to save), check <a href='/stores/show/4536/1000Bulbs'>1000Bulbs</a>. They sell them in packs of 6 for a discount. <li>Make sure you enable power management features on all your electronics. Customize these features to save even more energy. </ol> <div align='center'> <img src='http://couponshack.s3.amazonaws.com/images/smart-strip.jpg' height='125' width='125'> &nbsp;&nbsp; <img src='http://couponshack.s3.amazonaws.com/images/juicebar.jpg' height='125' width='125'> &nbsp;&nbsp; <img src='http://couponshack.s3.amazonaws.com/images/home-power-monitor.jpg' height='125' width='75'> &nbsp;&nbsp; <img src='http://couponshack.s3.amazonaws.com/images/solar-battery-charger.jpg' height='125' width='125'> <br> <a href='http://www.couponshack.com/products/compare/1514360/BITS-Ltd--LCG3-2225-Joules-10Outlet-Smart-Strip'>Smart Strip</a>, <a href='http://www.couponshack.com/products/compare/12583962/JuiceBar-JB01S-Pocket-Solar-Charger'>JuiceBar</a>, <a href='http://www.couponshack.com/products/compare/9356068/Black--Decker-Home-Power-Monitor'>Home Power Monitor</a>, & <a href='http://www.couponshack.com/out/use/151945?type=coupon'>Solar Powered Charger</a> respectively. </div>http://www.couponshack.com/blogs/show/10062/Gearing-Up-or-Uploading-for-Cyber-MondayGeesh...Thanksgiving isn't even here yet and it's already time to start counting down to Cyber Monday. For those of you who like Black Friday, you are going to love Cyber Monday because you get to take advantage of all the great deals and discounts, but you get to shop right from the comfort of your home or office! That's right, forget about fighting the crowds, lines, and insane patrons, and grab a cup of coffee, relax, and kick off your holiday shopping right from your own desk. <br/><br/> For those of you who are new to or unfamiliar with Cyber Monday, it's the Monday following Thanksgiving and Black Friday. It's just like Black Friday, only all of the deals, discounts, and price cuts are available online. All of your favorite online retailers will be slashing prices, and when you combine these great deals with available coupons, your savings can really add up. <br/><br/> Although many online retailers wait until Cyber Monday to cut prices, you don't have to wait until November 30th to start shopping around. As I mentioned in a previous <a href='http://www.couponshack.com/blogs/show/10060/Counting-Down-to-Black-Friday'>Black Friday Blog post</a> you should always have a plan. Now the great thing about Cyber Monday is that you don't have to plan around frantic crowds, but you should be prepared so you can take advantage of the best deals possible and remain within your budget. Just begin poking around in the next couple of days, see which stores are going to have the best deals. Visit CouponShack's <a href='http://www.couponshack.com/savers/show/15/Cyber-Monday-Deals'>Cyber Monday</a> and <a href='http://www.couponshack.com/savers/show/14/Black-Friday-Deals'>Black Friday</a> Pages where you will find some very useful shopping information as well as available coupons which can lead to some huge savings. Taking these steps will allow you to have a smooth and efficient shopping experience. You'll know which online stores you would like to visit, and you will have a list of all the coupons you would like to use. <br/><br/> Black Friday and Cyber Monday are the official (unofficial) kick-off to the holiday shopping season. Try to get the majority of your holiday shopping done on these days, especially Cyber Monday. You can't beat the deals and price cuts that are made available, and the additional savings from online coupons really add up. Not to mention, the majority of online retailers throw out shipping costs during the holiday season; many already have. http://www.couponshack.com/blogs/show/10061/The-12-Money-Saving-Tips-of-Christmas<ol> <li><b>Sell your junk</b> - Look around your house and take inventory of the things you either don't need or don't use anymore and sell them on <a href='http://www.ebay.com/'>eBay</a>, <a href='http://www.craigslist.org/about/sites'>Craigslist</a>, or your local classifieds. You will be surprised with what you can get for items like old clothes, furniture, appliances, CDs, DVDs, etc. <li><b>Open a Christmas savings account</b> - No, it's not too late as long as you contribute to it each week. When this Christmas is over, just continue saving for next Christmas. Just check out <a href='/stores/show/1404/ING-Direct'>ING Direct</a> for some of the most competitive high interest savings rates. <li><b>Buy gifts in bulk</b> - Look for opportunities to purchase gifts in bulk. Not only will you save on shipping, but it also allows you to use larger discount coupons because of the minimum purchase requirements. This doesn't mean just buy multiple quantities of the same item, but also applies to multiple items from the same online store. <li><b>Buy gifts for hours of pleasure</b> - Give a magazine or newspaper subscription. It doesn't cost much and provides hours of enjoyment each month. Check out <a href='/stores/show/1/Best-Deal-Magazines'>Best Deal Magazines</a> for a huge list of magazine subscriptions with discounts up to 85% off the newsstand price. A subscription to <a href='/stores/show/1201/Wall-Street-Journal'>The Wall Street Journal</a> makes a very nice present to a college student. <li><b>Buy pre-owned or refurbished</b> - Buying "new" really doesn't matter that much when buying items like books, movies, CDs, video games, etc. Check out stores like <a href='/stores/show/295/Alibris'>Alibris</a> and <a href='/stores/show/2287/SecondSpin'>SecondSpin</a>. You'll save 50% or more without any loss of quality. For other items such as electronics and appliances, consider buying it refurbished. Practically all the factory direct retailers offer refurbished items now. Plus, they back these items with their own manufacturer's warranty. To name a few, check out <a href='/stores/show/624/Dell'>Dell<a/>, <a href='/stores/show/1120/HP-Home-Store'>HP Home</a>, <a href='/stores/show/1008/Apple'>Apple</a>, <a href='/stores/show/542/Abt-Electronics'>Abt Electronics</a>, and <a href='/stores/show/4170/RefurbDepot'>RefurbDepot</a> for these refurbished deals. <li><b>Make your own gifts</b> - Making your own gifts are not only cheaper, but can also be more meaningful. Some ideas are making your own Christmas ornaments (<a href='http://michaels.com/art/online/home'>Michael's</a>), recipe books (<a href='/stores/show/854/Shutterfly'>Shutterfly</a>), calendars (<a href='/stores/show/2747/Snapfish'>Snapfish</a>), scrapbooks (<a href='/stores/show/2387/S_S-Worldwide'>S&S Worldwide</a>), fresh baked bread (<a href='/stores/show/1333/Cooking_com'>Cooking.com</a>), & personalized gifts (<a href='/stores/show/858/PersonalizationMall'>PersonalizationMall</a>). <li><b>Create your own Christmas cards</b> - Create a photo card or design your own Christmas card for that extra touch. Save by printing in bulk from an online printer such as <a href='/stores/show/280/VistaPrint'>VistaPrint</a>. Also, consider sending postcards this year instead of a folding card. Not only is it cheaper to print, but it's also cheaper to mail! <li><b>Conserve energy</b> - This is often the thing that gets overlooked when it comes to saving during the holidays. Everyday things such as turning off lights and lowering the temperature on the thermostat are obvious, but one thing that is not so obvious are the Christmas lights. Replacing your existing Christmas lights with LED lights provide as much as 80% in energy savings. Just check out <a href='/stores/show/1977/Christmas-Lights-Etc'>Christmas Lights Etc</a> for everything related to Christmas lights. <li><b>Stay in this year</b> - Don't go out. Entertain at home. Get out the cards and board games. Have a family movie night. Consider a <a href='/stores/show/1057/Netflix'>Netflix</a> subscription. With their new service you can instantly watch and rent movies right from your <a href='/stores/show/1922/Tivo'>Tivo</a> or computer. <li><b>Check for double and triple coupons</b> - The best way to find out is to visit your local grocery store's website and subscribe to their alerts. Once the promotion begins, just visit <a href='http://www.couponshack.com/coupons/printable'>CouponShack.com</a> to print out your grocery coupons. <li><b>Plan ahead on your meals</b> - Go ahead and decide on your Christmas menu. Make a list of all your ingredients and start stocking up now whenever you see a coupon for an item or a sale on the item. Stock up on pantry and freezer items now and perishables later. <li><b>Early doorbusters</b> - Doorbusters are not just for Black Friday. Retailers are offering these doorbuster deals early. Keep <a href='http://www.couponshack.com/savers/show/14/Black-Friday-Deals'>CouponShack.com</a> bookmarked for updates on all the early doorbuster deals. </ol>http://www.couponshack.com/blogs/show/10060/Counting-Down-to-Black-FridayAs you'll see from from our timer on the home page, there's only about 14 days left until Black Friday. That means only 14 more days until the entire country simultaneously converges on all of the most popular retailers. Hopefully everyone has studied up and done their homework so the day doesn't have to be any crazier than it already will be. By homework I mean having a plan and taking the necessary steps in ensuring that the day goes by as smoothly as possible (if at all possible!). Taking on Black Friday without a plan is like walking into a gauntlet. It's very important to be prepared by knowing who you're shopping for, where you will be doing your shopping, and what your budget is. Sit down and actually write these down. List all the stores you plan on visiting, then beside each store list the names of family and friends which can be shopped for at that particular retailer. This will allow you to efficiently shop for everyone on your Christmas list, and it eliminates frantically running around or having to go back to a store you've already been to. And as always, it is important to have, and remain within, a budget. The best way to make sure you don't overspend is by carrying cash and leaving the plastic at home. <br/><br/> You should also be sure to check all your newspapers and catalogs to see which stores actually have the best deals. Stop by CouponShack's <a href='http://www.couponshack.com/savers/show/14/Black-Friday-Deals'>Black Friday Page</a> where you'll find newspaper ads to all of the most popular Black Friday retailers, Black Friday shopping and savings tips, and some great Black Friday Deals and coupons that are available online. Remember, the majority of retailers open extremely early and CouponShack has a list of store hours for Black Friday so be sure to check it out and beat the crowd.http://www.couponshack.com/blogs/show/10059/Veterans-DayNovember is just a great month to give thanks. We have Thanksgiving which gives us the opportunity to gather with those closest to us and give thanks for the things that really matter in life. Then we have today, Veteran's Day which allows us to give thanks for all those, past and present, who have fought for our country. We should all stop and take a moment to honor those who serve and have served the United States of America. Keep in mind, especially, those who were afflicted by the tragedy last Thursday at Fort Hood. <br/><br/> Here's an interesting piece of history that I thought I'd share; the origin of Veteran's Day. World War I officially ended in the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. The Allied powers and Germany signed an armistice which ceased the fighting on the Western Front. The president at the time, Woodrow Wilson, declared the day Armistice Day which was celebrated annually on November 11th. But as the years passed and as veterans began returning from World War II and the Korean War Armistice Day turned into Veterans' Day to honor all those returning from war. So there you have it, just a little something to keep in mind on this special day. <br/><br/> Don't forget to shop around this Veterans' Day because many stores are offering some nice discounts in honor of our troops. CouponShack even has some great Veterans' Day coupons so look around and take advantage. And remember to stop by CouponShack's <a href='http://www.couponshack.com/savers/show/13/Thanksgiving-Day-Savings'>Thanksgiving Day Savings Center</a> for some great Thanksgiving deals and savings tips.http://www.couponshack.com/blogs/show/10058/Online-Savings-For-your-Wallet-and-Personal-FilesWhen it comes to your personal computer, you can never take too many steps in ensuring that your files, data, and information are kept private and protected. With all the viruses floating around online, and hackers looking to take advantage of their next victim, it only makes sense to stay up-to-date and protected from all online threats. There are many reliable products that you can turn to in order to keep your computer protected, but I suggest Internet Security Suite 2010 from <a href='http://www.couponshack.com/stores/show/577/ZoneAlarm'>ZoneAlarm</a>. This is one of the strongest security packages you can find for your personal computer, and right now <a href='http://www.couponshack.com/hot_deals/show/14664/ZoneAlarm-Internet-Security-Suite-2010-with-50-Discount'>ZoneAlarm</a> is letting it go for 50% off, and this price includes the protection of up to 3 PC's. Once you have Internet Security Suite installed on your PC you will be completely protected from viruses, spyware, and other malware before infection. It will even guard your PC from hackers, and you will be warned if you attempt to download any dangerous or harmful programs. <br/><br/> Now, viruses and hackers are not the only threat you have to worry about when it comes to your personal computer. If you're like many individuals, you keep some of your most precious files saved within your computer. Files such as photos, videos, important documents, financial records, and other precious and often irreplaceable material. Although these files are stored safely in your hard drive, the simplest mistake or an unexpected event could remove these files permanently. It is estimated that 43% of computer users accidentally delete irreplaceable files every year, and let's not forget unspeakable events such as fire, theft, or other natural disasters which can destroy your computer and the files stored within. <br/><br/> Well there's a way to protect all of your precious and irreplaceable files, and ensure that they will always be retrievable no matter what mistakes are made or what events occur. Carbonite Online Backup allows you to store all of your most important files in a convenient, secure, and up-to-date backup offsite. <a href='http://www.couponshack.com/stores/show/4140/Carbonite'>Carbonite</a> allows you to take advantage of unlimited storage for one flat rate, so it is one of the most cost-effective ways to protect your most valued files and documents. Once you've saved your files to Carbonite Online Backup, you can retrieve them at any time from any computer with an internet connection. For maximum security, all of your files are double-encrypted so you are the only one with access to them. So no matter what occurs, your photos, videos, and other important documents will be safe and completely retrievable. <br/<br/> Your computer and information stored within are an important investment worth protecting. Be sure that your security and personal information is safe-guarded and all of your precious files are backed up. http://www.couponshack.com/blogs/show/10057/All-I-Want-for-Christmas-is-a-Scuba-Diving-TripI have been sifting through my emails from all our travel partners over the past few days and can't get over how cheap some of the travel is. Practically everything is discounted, particularly vacation packages. One of the deals that caught my eye was a scuba trip to Cancun at the <a href='http://www.fiestamericana.com/portal/p/en_MX/FA/FDR/1/0/descripcionhotel/FDRdescripcionhotel.html'>Fiesta Americana Cozumel Dive Resort</a>. <br><br> The best deal I found was through <a href='/stores/show/2112/Cheap-Caribbean'>Cheap Caribbean</a> where rates start at just $479 per person for 4 nights. That includes airfare! There is an all-inclusive option, but it's actually cheaper to just eat locally. Check out <a href='http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/521926'>Chowhound</a> for some really great recommendations on cheap dining like a full breakfast for just $3 USD! <br><br> Here's a tip to tell the person you're giving this gift to. Once there, shop around for dive packages. Go to the waterfront and grab all the dive brochures you can. Try not to speak to anyone until you have gathered all of your data. Rates for a 4 day dive package run around $800 through the Fiesta Americana Cozumel Dive Resort, (cheaper with double occupancy) so this gives you a good gauge, when comparing prices. You will find that you can get a much better deal through one of the local dive outfits. Just check their credentials to make sure they are certified! <br><br> Cozumel is a perfect dive destination for beginners, which makes it a perfect Christmas gift for those aspiring enthusiasts on your list. There are a lot of places to stay in Cozumel, but the best deal at the moment is at the Fiesta Americana Cozumel Dive Resort. Plus, it's a resort that specifically caters to scuba divers. They have their own dive shop on the resort and is right in the center of all the top dive destinations in Cancun.http://www.couponshack.com/blogs/show/10056/Black-Friday-How-About-Black-NovemberEvery year the holiday season gets stretched longer and longer. In years past we wouldn't see holiday ads until Thanksgiving. Then it got stretched to the week of Thanksgiving. Now we're seeing holiday ads the day after Halloween. In the same sense, door buster bargains are now being offered earlier and earlier. Some retailers are trying to get ahead of the game by pre-announcing weeks in advance. In fact, there are quite a few Black Friday ads out already. This has spurred others to go ahead and release some door buster deals prior to Black Friday. <br><br> What retailers have done is offer these door buster deals over a short 2-3 day stretch, usually over a weekend, through their online outlet. Stores like <a href='/stores/show/1023/Macys'>Macy's</a> have been doing this on a regular basis for a while, but in recent weeks have really stepped up their efforts. They recently had a up to 60% off sale on all home items plus free shipping and an additional 15% off on top of all of that! <br><br> Other retailers have taken a more extreme approach in offering door buster deals over a 3-4 hour window, usually around lunch time EST. <a href='/stores/show/3917/The-Great-Indoors'>The Great Indoors</a>, an online outlet of <a href='/stores/show/1271/Sears'>Sears</a>, did this recently from 9am - 12pm EST. They called it their "Shopping Spree Doorbusters". An example sale item was 20% off the lowest price of all Kenmore appliances. <br><br> A third approach by retailers is offer discounts on a later purchase. They're using this method to not only get the sale now, but to also secure a sale for the future. As an example, <a href='/stores/show/2896/New-York-_-Company'>New York & Co</a> has a 30% off sale going on right now through their online store. As a bonus incentive, for every $30 you spend, New York & Co will give you a $15 discount card towards your next purchase. This discount card is only valid in stores and only from November 11-15th. This approach is becoming more and more popular because it gets the customer to continue coming back throughout the holiday season. <br><br> Over the years, retailers have become more and more aggressive in their approach to the holiday season. This year, however, seems almost over the top aggressive, due to the current economic climate. That means we the consumer can expect to see some of the best deals appear not just on Black Friday, but for all of Black November. So, to help our consumers, we've created a section on <a href='http://www.couponshack.com/#deals'>CouponShack.com</a> that highlights each doorbuster deal or promotion that we come across for the entire holiday season. Don't wait until Black Friday for doorbuster deals. They are happening now. Let us monitor the deals for you so all you will have to do is make your list, check it twice, and buy when the price is right!http://www.couponshack.com/blogs/show/10055/Small-Business-Savings-Tips--Part-9<img src="http://couponshack.s3.amazonaws.com/images/smb.png" style="float:left;padding:10px;"> Shipping is arguably the largest expense of a small business. Aside from the freight cost, there's the cost of packaging, labor, and inventory management. With all that said, there are ways to drastically reduce the cost. Here are some tips on reducing each aspect of the shipping cost. <br><br> If you ship by the postal service or by FedEx, I urge you to check out <a href='/stores/show/1634/Stamps_com'>Stamps.com</a> for their shipping services. Their software seamlessly integrates with most inventory management software as well as <a href='/stores/show/3804/QuickBooks'>QuickBooks</a> accounting software. If you have an eBay or Amazon store, the software is already equipped and ready to integrate. All of these features can save you both time and money, but the best part is you also get a shipping discount as well. If you ship with the USPS there's up to a 10% discount on all shipping rates and services. Ship with FedEx? If you do, you'll also get up to a 21% discount on their shipping rates. <br><br> The only draw back I could find the the Stamps.com service is that it is currently only PC compatible. If you have a Mac, it's not the end of the world though. You just need <a href='/stores/show/2977/Parallels'>Parallels</a>. If you're not familiar, Parallels allows you to run any PC software on a Mac. The program runs in it's own secure environment so you won't affect anything else on your Mac while running a PC application. <br><br> Need shipping supplies? Get them in bulk from <a href='/stores/show/872/ReStockIt'>ReStockIt</a>. I've found that they've got the lowest prices on mailroom supplies. That includes boxes, tape, packing, and labels. You can purchase in any quantity, but buying them in case quantity gives you the biggest savings, especially when using a coupon for your purchase. <br><br> I hope these tips can help you drastically reduce your shipping overhead. At the very least, take advantage of the 4 week free trial from Stamps.com to see if it's worth it for your business.http://www.couponshack.com/blogs/show/10054/Small-Business-Savings-While-Going-Green<img src="http://couponshack.s3.amazonaws.com/images/smb.png" style="float:left;padding:10px;"> As mentioned in previous posts, there are a number of steps that can be taken to save money while running a successful business. If you look back on CouponShack's Small Business Savings Tips you will find many useful suggestions on ways to make every dollar count, and have a little left over to put back into your business, or your pocket! <br/><br/> Going green, or utilizing eco-friendly solutions, is a huge step that can be taken to better your business, and not to mention the environment. You'll be surprised at how much money can be saved by just being aware of the products you use and the energy your business consumes. In <a href='http://www.couponshack.com/blogs/show/10047/Small-Business-Savings-Tips--Part-7'>Small Business Savings Tips Part 7</a> Sok outlined a number of suggestions that can be helpful when it comes to reducing the energy consumption of your business. <br/><br/> Reducing the amount of energy your business consumes is a great way to save money while going green, but it's not the only eco-friendly solution. Environmentally friendly office products are not only a great way to pitch in to help the environment, they could also be an effective way to stretch your dollar. <a href='http://www.couponshack.com/stores/show/2168/Staples'>Staples</a> is a great resource when it comes to finding office supplies, and they have thousands of products that are eco-friendly. Products such as recycled paper, filing folders, eco-friendly batteries, and energy star rated technology. If it's good for the environment, and you need it in your office, Staples has you covered. They also have programs which allow you to send or bring in your old computers, printers, and ink cartridges for recycling. Staples will even reward you with store credits and new ink for sending in old ink and toner cartridges for recycling. Just visit Staples Eco-Easy center to find all of your environmentally friendly office supplies. So remember to be aware of the energy you consume and the products you use to go green while saving green!