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-GreenAs 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!http://www.couponshack.com/blogs/show/10052/Saving-on-Holiday-TravelThe holidays are quickly approaching and this year will probably be one of the toughest to get through. Most of us are strapped for extra cash at this point, which makes it especially hard to travel over the holidays. However, if you do travel over the holidays, here are some tips to make things easier on your wallet. <br><br> If you are traveling by air, book your flight well in advance. Typically, flights are cheaper if they are booked 21 days or earlier before the departure date. Also, when you are booking your flight, don't just check the prices on the travel discounters. Checkout the airline's website too. Sometimes their prices are cheaper than the discounters. Another thing to keep in mind when booking a flight is compare the prices for each day of the week. Typically, weekend flights are cheaper than weekday flights because of the higher demand for business travel. Also, Sunday morning flights are typically cheaper than Saturday evening flights. <br><br> Once you've reached your destination, if you need to rent a car, check the rental agencies first to see who has the best deal. As a side note, weekend rentals are much cheaper than weekday rentals. I know <a href='/stores/show/1469/Enterprise'>Enterprise</a> offers a 50% discount on their weekend rentals. Also, if you are booking online, print out the entire price list. Then choose an economy car as your rental. Once you are at the rental counter, ask about an upgrade. Most of the time the rental agent will give you a better deal than your printout on an upgrade. <br><br> If you are driving this year and are handy with your automobile, do the maintenance yourself. For maintenance tools and equipment, check out <a href='/stores/show/250/JC-Whitney'>JC Whitney</a>. Not only do they have good prices, but we almost always have a coupon for them. If you need new tires, check out <a href='/stores/show/1436/Tire-Rack'>The Tire Rack</a>. There are great deals for standard (not winter) tires this time of year, especially if you buy them as a set of 4. <br><br> Finally, if you need a place to stay and no-one will put you up (joking) check out the deals with each of the major hotel chains such as the <a href='http://www.couponshack.com/stores/show/2964/InterContinental-Hotels'>InterContinental Hotels Group</a> or the <a href='/stores/show/1421/Choice-Hotels'>Choice Hotels Group</a>. Many of these major hotel chains offer early booking discounts of 20% or more. Early booking means as little as 3 days or as many as 21 days in advance, so it's not too late to book!http://www.couponshack.com/blogs/show/10051/Wedding-Savings-Lower-the-Bill-on-one-of-the-Most-Expensive-Dates-of-Your-LifeI don't know if it's just me, but I've noticed a lot of weddings taking place this Fall and Winter of 2009. I figured Spring would be the most popular time of year to get married, but it seems that everyone, or couples that I know anyway, are choosing the cooler months this year. I have already attended one wedding earlier this Fall, been invited to three more throughout the rest of the year, and I know of about five more which I wasn't invited to (thanks guys!). Just kidding! I know how expensive weddings can be and how important it is to remain within a strict budget, down to the last pennies. <br/><br/> It is estimated that the average couple is going to spend between $15,000 and $25,000 on their wedding, yet their budget is generally 50% less than the amount spent. This calls for some serious budgeting and there are plenty of ways to save some money while still giving the bride and groom a lovely time on one of the most important dates of their lives. The first, and maybe most significant way to cut back on wedding costs is your guest list. Although you want to include everyone on this special occasion, keep in mind that each person on that list can be adding hundreds of dollars to your wedding costs. Of course you want to invite your immediate family and closest friends, but don't feel pressured or obligated about inviting certain people. Also steer clear from allowing singles to bring dates and families to bring kids. <br/><br/> Another way to save a little cash on your wedding budget is to shop around and compare prices. Chances are you will need to hire a caterer and/or a wedding planner. Don't be afraid to tell them right off the bat that you aren't looking for the most expensive and fancy items. Let them know exactly what your budget is and have them provide you with product lists and prices, allowing you to make the best decision based on your preferences and budget. Also, shop around to find as much as you can on your own. Online stores such as <a href='http://www.couponshack.com/stores/show/2714/Invitations-by-Dawn'>Invitations by Dawn</a>, <a href='http://www.couponshack.com/stores/show/4833/AmericanBridal'>American Bridal</a>, and <a href='http://www.couponshack.com/stores/show/4407/The-Knot-Wedding-Shop'>The Knot Wedding Shop</a> are terrific resources when it comes to finding wedding supplies and accessories, and their prices are very competitive, especially when combined with available coupons. <br/><br/> Getting crafty and doing what you can on your own is also a great way to lower the price tag on your wedding. Items such as invitations, decorations, and centerpieces can easily be done by hand, and doing them yourself allows you to decorate just the way you want. This would even be a nice opportunity for the bride and bridesmaids to get together and spend some quality time before the wedding. <br/><br/> There are few days more special than one's wedding day, but there are few that are more expensive as well. By taking your time and utilizing a little creative planning, you can save a bundle and remain within your budget.http://www.couponshack.com/blogs/show/10050/Small-Business-Savings-Tips--Part-8<img src="http://couponshack.s3.amazonaws.com/images/smb.png" style="float:left;padding:10px;"> The most effective way to bring both bring in new customers and to retain existing customers is to go online. It used to be fairly difficult and expensive to start an e-commerce site, but if you check out sites like <a href='/stores/show/5680/Yahoo-Merchant-Solutions'>Yahoo Merchant Solutions</a> you'll see that you can save 35% on their merchant solutions packages. <br><br> It can be fairly difficult (and not to mention time consuming) to find the right web hosting service, set up your website and shopping cart, and integrate it with your inventory. Yahoo makes it really easy now to e-commerce store up and running in no time for a minimal cost. <br><br> If you have a small business and are just starting out, try the Yahoo merchant starter package. It costs just $25.97 a month for the first 3 months. After that, the cost is just $39.95 a month. It makes for a low barrier to entry for e-commerce. You cost is fixed and with it, you get a free domain name with email and unlimited storage, secure shopping cart integration with credit card and Paypal processing, powerful and easy to use store design software, and more. The cost of payment processing ($20 per month w/ <a href='http://www.authorize.net/solutions/merchantsolutions/pricing/'>Authorize.net</a>) and e-commerce web hosting (costs $7.49 a month with <a href='/stores/show/317/Yahoo-Hosting'>Yahoo Web Hosting</a>) alone just about makes up for the monthly cost of the complete package with Yahoo Merchant Solutions. <br><br> If you do not already have an e-commerce site then I urge you to do so. It doesn't cost much and is not nearly as intimidating as it used to be. It's a sure fire way to both retain your current customers as well as gain new ones. <br><br> P.S. make your payments automatic with your American Express card and get an additional 5% off the monthly cost.http://www.couponshack.com/blogs/show/10049/Going-Green-While-Saving-Green--Part-3<img height='125' src="http://couponshack.s3.amazonaws.com/images/go-green.jpg" style="float:left;padding:10px;"> I love this time of year. It's not too hot and it's not too cold and energy bills are "just right"! It's a welcome change from that $200+ electric bill. With all that said, now is the best time to look for ways to reduce that energy bill. The first place I'm looking is the thermostat. <br><br> <img height='125' src="http://couponshack.s3.amazonaws.com/images/thermostat.jpg" style="float:right;padding:10px;"> If you just have a basic thermostat with manual settings, then you're wasting a lot of money with heating and cooling. Do you really need the house to be 72 degrees while you are at work or when you are asleep? Programmable thermostats can end up saving you hundreds on your electric or gas bill. They're not expensive either. You can get a programmable thermostat for as little as $40. Just check out <a href='/stores/show/914/Smarthome'>Smarthome</a> to see how inexpensive they can be. I do suggest at least going with a 7 day programmable thermostat with at least 4 segments each day. To get the most energy savings look for the ones that can be programmed to specific times each day. That way, you can program the thermostat to your exact schedule and conserve as much energy as possible. <br><br> Just think about it this way. For every 1 degree that you lower your heat or raise your air condition, you save about 1% off your monthly energy bill! That means if you can keep the thermostat at 68 degrees in the winter and 78 degrees in the summer, you could save 5% or more on your monthly energy bill.http://www.couponshack.com/blogs/show/10048/Breast-Cancer-Awareness-MonthFor those of you who didn't know, October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. 2009 marks the 25th anniversary of NBCAM, and since its creation it has been a leader in the promotion of breast cancer issues and awareness. NBCAM is dedicated to educating and enabling women to take charge by scheduling regular appointments and knowing the facts about breast health. Breast cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in women, and it is estimated that 192,370 new cases of breast cancer will occur among women in the United States in 2009. Although there is no cure for this terrible disease, being aware is the first step towards reducing the number of deaths and continuing the battle for a cure. <br/><br/> Susan G. Komen for the Cure is an organization that supports breast cancer awareness and provides funds for research and education. Since its foundation in 1982, Komen for the Cure has managed to raise more than 1.3 billion dollars for research and health services(Dallas Morning News). <br/><br/> Visit CouponShack's Breast Cancer Awareness Month Page where you'll find a number of stores dedicated to the fight against this disease. Many stores allow you to donate with your purchase, and some are even donating percentages of orders for the entire month of October. Some online retailers are also offering Breast Cancer Awareness gifts to encourage donations and spread awareness. http://www.couponshack.com/blogs/show/10047/Small-Business-Savings-Tips--Part-7<img src="http://couponshack.s3.amazonaws.com/images/smb.png" style="float:left;padding:10px;"> One of the most over-looked ways to lower overhead costs is to reduce energy consumption. Simple habits such as turning off lights, computers, and copying machines can save hundreds of dollars annually for small business. Take for instance a copying machine. When left on standby overnight, the copier consumes enough power in one month to print 1500 pages. That's just one copier! So just turn the copier off at night and save yourself the money! <br><br> Light bulbs also consume a lot of energy. Go ahead and switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs. A 65W equivalent compact fluorescent light bulb consumes just 15W. These bulbs are a bit more expensive up front but the average savings over the life of the bulb is around $200 each. Save yourself even more money by buying them in bulk from online retailers such as <a href='/stores/show/4536/1000Bulbs'>1000Bulbs</a>. You'll save about 80 cents a bulb (includes shipping). <br><br> <img width='125' src="http://couponshack.s3.amazonaws.com/images/samsung-syncmaster-xl2370.jpg" style="float:right;padding:10px;"> Another way to lower energy costs in the office is to replace all CRT monitors (those old bulky monitors that take up half the desk) with LCD monitors. Take for instance the Viewsonic G220fb 21-inch CRT Monitor (top rated CRT monitor on Cnet). Power consumption is 115W in operational mode and 4W in standby mode. Compare this to the Samsung SyncMaster XL2370 (top rated LCD monitor on Cnet) which only consumes 21W in operational mode and just 1.42W on standby. That's over an 80% reduction in power consumption! By the way, <a href='/stores/show/91/Buy_com'>Buy.com</a> seems to have the best prices (when using a coupon) on LCD monitors. <br><br> There are a ton of other ways to reduce power consumption such as adjusting the thermostat 1 degree. All of these actions, when added up, can save you a tremendous amount of money on your energy bill and bottom line. It's easy to come up with ideas. You just have to be more conscience of the normal every day items.