written by: The Budget Bee

As much as I love Steve Carell and Tina Fey, this is not a review on their latest movie together. I’m talking about a night out with my husband. Going out to dinner is something that we, like many other people, love to do. We absolutely enjoy all that it entails, whether it’s trying new restaurants, sharing exotic entrees or ordering our favorite thin crust pizza. When we first started dating, we used to go out to dinner several times a week and continued to do so in our first year of marriage. When the economy started to sour, we had to make some adjustments so we started to make dinner in order to save money. Now, we cook dinner at least 5 times a week and occasionally order take out on the nights we don’t have time to prepare meals.

But every two weeks, we make it a point to go out to dinner and have Date Night. This is important to us for many reasons: it puts something on our “social calendar” to look forward to, it allows us to be a couple and continue the “courtship” (which shouldn't end even if you are married) and it keeps our pallets inspired. Plus since we eat out less frequently, we appreciate it that much more. Date Night doesn’t have to be dinner at a 5 star restaurant in Beverly Hills, but it's more than going to Applebee’s. With that being said, we try and follow 5 guidelines that make date night budget friendly.

1. Blackboard Eats. If you haven't subscribed to Blackboard Eats, go to www.blackboardeats.com and register to get weekly emails for discounts of up to 40% at some of the best spots in town to eat. You'll receive email with an offer to get a passcode, which you redeem when you dine at the restaurant. Blackboard Eats is available in Los Angeles, New York and a host of other cities. For last week’s Date Night, we dined at one of our favorite tapas restaurants, Orris (www.orrisrestaurant.com) and got 30% off the bill with our Blackboard Eats discount.
2. Happy Hour. An increasing number of restaurants are now offering Happy Hour. Case in point: The Cheesecake Factory now has Happy Hour specials from 4-6pm and offers a multitude of appetizers and drinks for just $5. Pink Taco has an incredible half off Happy Hour until 7pm. Sure, that means going out to eat a little bit earlier, but it's well worth it when the bill comes. My husband and I often go to restaurants with Happy Hour specials on our Date Nights.
3. OpenTable. When making dinner reservations, we like to visit OpenTable.com, an online real-time restaurant reservation service. The membership is free and it allows you to make online reservations with a click of a button. OpenTable is great for 3 reasons: (i) You get points for every reservation you fulfill. Most reservations are 100 points, with the exception of some that are 1,000 points during non-peak hours. Points equal restaurant dollars in the form of a Dining Cheque that is redeemable at any restaurant on OpenTable.com. (ii) You can make reservations based on price and how expensive the restaurant is. A link to the menu is usually provided which is helpful when budgeting for dinner. (iii) It’s a fast, efficient way to find available reservations at restaurants that meet your criteria for cuisine, price and location at a specific time. Last year, we redeemed a 10,000 point Dining Cheque (which took about a year and a half to achieve) and enjoyed an amazing meal at an expensive steakhouse with $100 taken off the bill.
4. Corkage fee. Restaurants with small corkage fees are hard to find, and ones with no corkage fee are rare, but they do exist. Sometimes, I will call a restaurant to inquire. One of my favorite restaurants with no corkage fee is Houstons, a national chain that belongs to the Hillstone restaurant group. Visit www.hillstone.com for locations. If you are vino lovers like us, wine is essential with dinner. Enjoy a bottle that you've been saving for a special occasion, or go to Bev Mo or Trader Joe's and choose from a terrific selection of wine for cheap. This can make a huge difference on the bill.
5. Share an entree, get 2 appetizers. This is a mantra we live by. We’ve learned that our eyes really are bigger than our stomachs and often find that sharing an entree is enough. My husband and I each pick an appetizer, which is much more economical than each of us getting an entrée and sharing an appetizer. For instance, when we dine at CPK, I get a small Caesar salad, he gets a cup of the tortilla soup and we share a pizza.

Whether you apply these tips to your own dates or dinners out with friends, these guidelines will help you save money. We’ve saved many dollars this way. Happy budget and happy bellies… it doesn’t get much better.

About this Author:

The Budget Bee writes about how she lives a more frugal, yet fun and fulfilling life in Los Angeles in her blog Budget Bliss LA. Follow the Budget Bee on Twitter @BudgetBlissLA

Posted by Sok on October 20, 2010     Tags: Deal

written by: Brian McEwen

Many of us are working on one or both sides of the home cash flow equation. (Income – Expenses = Cash Flow) For such a simple equation, there is a high degree of confusion and difficulty when it comes making lasting improvements. There is no shortage of ideas out there to help you improve. Sometimes I let myself wander around the web looking for ideas to improve the family finances and often come away with nothing but a headache. It’s not that most aren’t good. There is just so much. What should I do, where do I to start?! From clipping coupons, thrift stores, yard sales, growing my own vegetables, selling all my stuff on Craigslist, rewards programs, picking up another job, to getting rich quick on the internet (no shortage of offers for that in my inbox), there is a long list of ways to help you improve your family finances.

But which one is right for me?

Improving your family finances requires a change from what you are currently doing. Change is hard. Any change. That’s why many changes don’t last. How are your New Year’s resolutions doing? We are creatures of habit and tend to drift back to our comfort zones. They say it takes 8-12 times for a single behavior to become a new habit. That kind of commitment is tough to come by in today’s fast paced, immediate gratification world but that’s what it takes to make lasting improvements to your financial situation.

Plan to make lasting change. Start small. Start now.

There are a lot of great resources out there to help you improve. Pick one. It’s ok to start with a path of least resistance. This is a long journey but it starts with a single step… Start with something that doesn’t feel like a major sacrifice. Does the thought of entering a thrift store make you cringe? That’s ok for now, how about washing your own car ($1.00) instead of the car wash ($7.00)? Have you had some success couponing? Take it to the next level. Make an early Sunday morning routine with store flyers, a few go-to coupon sites, your coupon organizer and a calendar capturing your specific actions for the week that will save you money! Find the cheapest gas in town, find a “Thrifty Thursday” or “Wacky Wednesday” for an additional 5cents off and plan it into your week. Plan your meals according to what’s on sale at the local markets. That’s a safe one and no one will know… Make sure you are enrolled in every Rewards program you can find for the stores you frequent. Find a new discount store and check it out. Been in the Dollar Store? I found a Pepperidge Farms factory outlet store close to me. Day old Pepp. Farms bread and discount Goldfish rock! We reupholstered our dining room chairs for a whole new look ($65), instead of buying new ones ($450), saved big and they look great! Be creative, start small, and plan to save money by changing a specific behavior.

What are 2 behaviors will you change?

Write them down in detail (what, when, where, how often). Reinforce your changing behaviors in writing, keep them in front of you and talk about them. This will give you a better chance to improve than if you just thought about it. Be sure to monitor, adjust when necessary, and celebrate successes. That acknowledgement of success is the fuel that will drive lasting improvement. Can you afford to have any money saving improvements go the way of your New Year’s resolutions?

Create a new habit of Continuous Improvement. Make progress everyday.

About the Author:

Brian McEwen is a former successful business leader now focusing his efforts at home. His advice for family financial and emotional well being can be found on his blog, (www.daily-saving.blogspot.com), or follow him on Twitter (@DailySaving)

Posted by Sok on October 20, 2010     Tags: Deal

written by: Brielle Rajkovich

Approximately $30 billion in unused gift card balances are likely sitting in US kitchen and sock drawers, an average of $300 per household. Founded in 2006, Plastic Jungle is the best place to sell, buy, exchange, and donate gift cards online. It's the most innovative, convenient, and safest way to get the most out of gift cards. Shipping is always free, and all transactions are guaranteed. Along with offering the best prices, Plastic Jungle can help you replace your gift cards in case they are lost or damaged. Whether you are planning a vacation or stay-cation, Plastic Jungle wants to help you stretch your dollar further for the fun filled summer days ahead.

We’ve searched for sizzling summer deals that you can combine with discounted gift cards to have a fun time, all the while saving money. See our favorite picks below:

Pier 1 Imports

12-Bottle Wooden Wine Rack, need I say more? Stock this with your favorite wines and enjoy all that summer has to offer you with friends and family. This is currently on sale for $33.68, and it’s even better when you use your Pier 1 Imports Gift Card from PJ at 13% off and walk out the door with the Eco friendly rack for only $29.30.

Coleman

Rain or shine, this store has you covered! Take your family on an adventure-filled camping trip and enjoy all that nature has to offer. Stop by Coleman and pick up the Instant Tent 8 which has more than enough room for the family (and there’s probably enough extra space to bring Fido along). But first, grab a Coleman Gift Card at 10% off from PJ and enjoy this great family experience for only $179.99!

Northern Tool + Equipment

Be the coolest parents on the block. Plan to spend the cool summer nights with the kids in the garage putting together the Stingray Complete Go-Kart Chassis. Shop with a Northern Tool Gift Card from PJ and save 13%, and pay only $348.00 for your new toy!

Southwest Airlines

With so many deals on Southwest it would be a shame not to travel over the weekends. Surprise your friends or family in Los Angeles and fly to LA for only $39! This deal is a PJ employee favorite, enjoy summer travel at a discount, purchase a Southwest Gift Card from Plastic Jungle for 6% off and you could fly for only $37.60!

It doesn’t stop here… Check out all the great gift card deals on PlasticJungle.com.

What have you saved on this summer by shopping with discounted gift cards? Share your savings below!

About the Author:

As Plastic Jungle employees, Brielle and Robyn are dedicated to teaching shoppers how to save money with discounted gift cards. We share insights about gift cards, whether you have a drawer full of gift cards you are not going to use or are looking for ways to save money. We help savvy shoppers save money by strategically combining discounted gift cards with coupons and promotional sales. You can also follow along on Twitter @PlasticJungle and Facebook.

Posted by Sok on October 20, 2010     Tags: Deal

written by: Andrea Pendleton

The recession doesn’t have to ruin romance. Whether a couple is on a first date or has been married for years, an evening for two doesn’t have to be expensive. It may take some extra time and creativity to plan an affordable date, but a well-planned cheap date can often be more memorable than outings that cost a lot of money. Here are eight ideas for free or low-cost dates:

1. Museums - Numerous museums offer free admission once a week or month. Also be sure to check out the Smithsonian Magazine’s Museum Day in September. Hundreds of museums across the country offer free admission for two people during this annual event.
2. Wine Tasting - Many wineries have inexpensive tours that are followed by wine tastings. Not only will you get to see how wine is made, but you can sample some too. AllAmericanWineries.com has a listing of wineries throughout the United States. Many local wine stores also hold free tastings to help expand your wine knowledge.
3. Outdoor Movies - Several cities host free outdoor movies during the summer. Pack a picnic for an inexpensive opportunity for dinner and a movie.
4. Eating In - Starting with appetizers and ending with dessert, plan a romantic dinner for two. Make your favorite meal together, and then set the mood by using your nicest dishes and lighting some candles. You’ll spend more quality time together and spend less money than you would if you were eating out at a fancy restaurant.
5. Bowling - Many bowling alleys have daily specials for a cheap and competitive date. GoBowling.com has a list of bowling alleys across the country and their promotions.
6. Volunteer Together - Give back to a cause you both care about by volunteering your time together. Whether it’s stocking the shelves of a food pantry or building a house for Habitat for Humanity, have a fun time while helping others. VolunteerMatch.com can help you find a nonprofit organization that can use your help.
7. Factory Tours - From ice cream to beer, get a behind the scenes tour of how your favorite products are made. Factory tours are often free and include free samples. Visit FactoryToursUsa.com to see where tours are in your area.
8. Sporting Events - Cheer for your favorite team on the cheap! Major sports teams often have promotions like two-for-one tickets during weeknight games. Also check out a minor league team’s games for an affordable outing.

About the Author:

Andrea Pendleton is a single gal on a budget and blogger at singleandsaving.com. You can also follow Andrea on Twitter @singleandsaving for more of her thrifty tips.

Posted by Sok on October 20, 2010     Tags: Deal

Written by: Bonnie Kline

I was embarrassed by my lack of success. Was it an exercise program that I had failed? No, not that. I had failed, miserably, at removing the calcium build-up from our windows.

When God isn’t watering the flowers in front of our home, we do it ourselves, with the help of our sprinkler system. Unfortunately, the calcium-laden water also lands on our windows making for a very cloudy view of the world once the windows dry.

One part of me wanted to be environmentally friendly when cleaning them. The other part wanted the windows free of calcium build-up no matter what had to be used.

Water and vinegar mixed with a bit of dish soap did nothing. The big-name cleaners, whose smell could knock you over, had the same results.

As our oldest daughter’s high school graduation neared, I was determined to remove the thorn in my side. We were having guests over for Open House and I wanted those windows clean. It was going to happen one way or the other. On a whim, I decided to try washing them with vinegar, again. I put the vinegar in a spray bottle. This time, I decided to use the vinegar alone-no dilution and no added products.

I sprayed the first victim and went back inside the house to wait for a couple of minutes. Upon my return, I wiped the window with one of my microfiber cloths. I immediately noticed that the calcium was disappearing, but wasn’t entirely gone. Seeing that my first application worked a miracle, I decided to follow the same steps listed above for a second time. When wiping them again, the build-up disappeared completely. Let me be honest and say that lots of elbow grease was applied when wiping. I worked up a sweat. Did I care, though? No!! I had clean windows! Yippee!!

I continued with the same routine until all four windows were crystal clear.

The next part of my window-cleaning adventure was to begin. If anyone knows me, especially through The Coupon Junkie, they know that I like to save. Saving can consist of more than just money, though. We can save ourselves time. That time that can be spent with those we love or doing things that bring us joy.

Years ago, I’d heard of using Rain-X on windows and mirrors to keep water from beading up on them. Why not give it a try? If it worked as I hoped, the calcium-laden water would roll off the windows, thereby lessening their need for cleaning. I’d have more time to enjoy life and I’d be able to see out of the windows.

I followed the directions on the bottle and secretly anticipated the next time we would water the plants.

Embarrassment gave way to elation as the once-detested water droplets from our sprinkler rolled off our windows. The formerly cloudy view of our beautiful flowers was gone. In its place was clarity.

About the Author:

Bonnie Kline is a wife and SAHM who homeschools her three children. Her passion for saving (be it money or time) led her to share what she knows with others. You can read more of her tips at: The Coupon Junkie and the up-and-coming Bonnie’s Heart and Home which will cover home-management/money saving issues along with: matters of the heart, having elderly parents and coping with loved ones who have Alzheimer’s. Bonnie is also available on Twitter @Frugalbonnie

Posted by Sok on October 20, 2010     Tags: Deal

written by: Brian McEwen

We can all do better when it comes to living within our means. I read something somewhere that, "70% of Americans live like they are in the top 1%"

That is a bold and un-scientific statement, but it does paint a clear picture. A wild picture supported by a noisy backdrop of ugly economic numbers.

Recently, my wife and I have made some major life changes, resulting in a "focus on what you can control and recognize what you cannot control" kick with our kids. Whatever your circumstances, it’s a great reminder and starting point to make some changes, for all of us right now whether you are in that 70%, or think you are in the other 30.

For us, that focus means taking control and getting back to BASICs. I have worked through these steps for the last year and have cut our family spending by 40%! It has been a positive financial and emotional journey for our family.

Step #1: BASELINE: accurately determine your current economic reality. This is your baseline from which all of your progress will be measured. When you get rolling and implement your plan, you will see significant changes from this starting point and everyone will breath a bit easier...

     -1- Keep track of everything you spend. Everyone gets a blank tracking sheet, a calendar page will work. Capture every penny spent. Two months is a fair sample size.

     -2- Calculate Cash Flow. Income(minus)Expenses= Cash Flow. There are a lot of expenses out there that you might not think about. Use the tracking logs from above to make sure you have an accurate picture of what you spend. There are plenty of good, free spreadsheets out there, or you can make your own.

Step #2: ASSESS: Now you’ve established an accurate baseline, you must assess your priorities. Before making sweeping changes, make sure that important areas for your family have been identified and discussed. Communication through any type of change is critical.

Give everyone an assignment. "Tomorrow night after dinner, we will each share a list of 3 things that are truly important to you, or that you love to do, or what you just can’t do without." The idea is to find a conversation starter to help identify what’s most important to your family.

Step #3 STRATEGIZE: Now that you know where you stand and what’s important to your crew, it’s time to brainstorm and research ideas on ways to improve both sides of the cash flow equation. You need a game plan, a strategy. "How can we earn more dollars?", "How can we save more of the dollars we spend?", "What can we do without, what could we use less of, what are our wants vs. the needs?" Consider everything. Have that conversation and then turn the talk into action! It doesn’t have to be perfect and it doesn’t have to be major but it does have to be specific. Write down the improvements (just a few to start, easy ones. Change is hard. You want to have some early wins to get things rolling) that you all agree you can take action on immediately.

Step #4 IMPLEMENT: Right now you are well on your way to making great improvements that will have a profound impact on your family! The communication that has taken place so far is important and very eye opening. It is a wonderful exercise and learning experience for the whole family. But all of that work means very little if the plan is not implemented. You must take action. Action will happen if you plan for it. Don’t assume it will happen. Take the family calendar out and write in what changed behavior will take place and when. I heard it when we started this leg of the journey, "yeah, yeah, we don’t need to do that, we got it, this isn’t rocket science." It’s common knowledge: "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail." Too much work has gone into this BASIC plan, don’t take this critical step for granted!

Step#5 CIRCLE back: Circle back and evaluate how things went. What went well? Celebrate your success (within the budget of course!) You must take the time to recognize your efforts. That is the fuel that will keep things moving forward. What didn’t work this week? Why didn’t it work and what can we plan to do differently next time? This is how you will improve next week and the next week, and the week after that. Eventually this will become a routine, second nature. That’s when you really start to see results that make a difference.

That’s a good, BASIC start for now, to get better today and set your crew up for success tomorrow. There are a million details you could add or consider left out of this BASIC plan but don’t hesitate. Put a BASIC plan together and add your own flavor but take action now. "A good plan acted on today is better than a perfect plan executed next week"

About me:

Brian McEwen is a former successful business leader now focusing his efforts at home. His advice for family financial and emotional well being can be found on his blog, (www.daily-saving.blogspot.com), or follow him on Twitter (@DailySaving)

Posted by Sok on October 20, 2010     Tags: Deal

When people talk about the unimaginable disaster of an inferno within their homes that ultimately destroys every single thing they ever had to call their own, it is often surprising to find out which items really mean the most to some individuals. There is normally some kind of trinket or keepsake that had been stored inside a drawer for the past thirty years, or maybe an irreplaceable gift that carried some kind of sentimental value. Often times these treasured items had little to no monetary value, but the personal cost of having these items stripped away so suddenly can add up to more than all of the appliances, computes, and televisions within the home put together.

One of the most frequently talked about items after some type of natural disaster is losing old photographs, and since the days of the internet and backup servers are such a relatively new technology a tragedy such as this can make the faces of your loved ones from the past disappear forever if they have not been saved within a secure location. This week Coupon Shack will look at ways to preserve and even restore old photographs and family albums so those memories can last forever.

Save your photographs forever

The first step any homeowner should consider when protecting their family photographs from time is to purchase an inexpensive printer/scanner like they sell over at CompUSA that allows you to backup your memories to a hard drive. From there they can either be burned to a CD or DVD then stored in a safe place (like a safe deposit box) so you know that they will always be there for your family to enjoy. Homeowners should really consider getting in the habit of backing up all of their photographs (and important documents) every few months so that they will remain timeless, and once the pictures are stored on your computer there are several programs available that will allow you to make a photo collage with your screensaver so your memories are displayed automatically every time your CPU is idle.

Many consumers are taking this protection even a step further by signing up for free online storage at Mozy, which gives you 2 GB of storage at absolutely no cost. Depending on the average size of the picture this can equate to as many as 550 photos stored online forever, and if additional space is necessary then additional storage can be purchased for a nominal monthly fee. Mozy is by far the most economical way to store your photographs online, and once an account it created it can be accessed from any computer in the world; allowing you access to your memories anywhere.

Make old photos new again

Believe it or not, technology has come so far in the past ten years that even the oldest of photographs that are torn or smudged can be restored to perfect quality and appear as if you just took the picture a few minutes ago. Picture Evolution specializes in restoring old photographs to brand new condition once again and their prices are very reasonable for the quality of work that is ultimately delivered. Using computer rendering software their process can restore discolorations, ripped areas, or even small holes caused from the natural aging process all pictures go through, which is an incredible benefit to those of us who have loved ones that are no longer with us yet we want to preserve their visual memory. Picture Evolution also carries a number of novelty gifts that can feature your timeless photographs, which makes a great holiday gift idea.

Another popular service is the Kodak EasyShare Gallery, which allows you to make online slideshows for all of your friends to view at their leisure. Once your pictures are uploaded, they go through a similar process that digitally corrects them to provide the maximum clarity within any photograph, and if the hard copies of the pictures are ever lost they can be ordered once again directly from Kodak online. Your friends and family all over the world can also order copies of your snapshots, so this is a fantastic way to share your most treasured memories.

Turn Pictures into Magic

While storing your pictures online or on disk is a fantastic way to ensure that they remain within your family forever, sometimes a certain photograph is so special that it needs to be transformed into something timeless. Canvas Press has built their business model around this exact sentiment and the product that they create is simply fantastic. They can transform any picture into art by transferring the image onto a canvas, which can then in turn be framed and displayed on the walls throughout your home. Their prices (starting at $30) are much less than you would expect for such an innovative and time consuming service, and they have among the best customer service in the industry.

If you are seeking an exact replica then Canvas Press is the way to go, but if something more original meets your fancy then you may wish to take a different approach. Another viable alternative is to hire an amateur artist that will replicate the details within the photograph through their brushstrokes, and a good place to begin your search is at local colleges where aspiring art majors are often strapped for cash. Before deciding on any one particular student, request to see their portfolio in order to determine their skill level and do not be afraid to talk to numerous candidates since each of them will produce an original final product.

Remembering your Legacy

Perhaps the most important part about preserving your old photographs is actually getting them out and looking at them, and each item contained within this post is designed to do exactly that. When it comes down to it, there really is no difference between sharing your photographs online, reliving an old photo album within your home, or even displaying old memories within your screensaver or digital photo frame; the key is to remember those key moments that shaped your life and helped you become the person you are today. Enjoy your pictures and keep them safe!

Posted by Keith on October 20, 2010     Tags: Deal

A high school prom is one of those events that can create memories that people hold onto for a lifetime. Skimping on some of the elements because of costs or skipping the prom all together because of cost is something that many teens and their families face. To help fight the cost of the prom, here are some creative ideas and discount options so you can have a great prom experience, while putting less of a burden on your wallet.

The All Important Dress

Finding the perfect prom dress can be one of the most exciting parts of prom planning, but it can also be one of the most budget busting parts. One tip that can help teens get an idea of what they can afford is to check out PromGirl. With its shop by price tool, you can easily stay within your budget and avoid tempting higher priced dresses. Each price grouping has an excellent range of styles, fabrics, colors and designers. The website offers a price grouping for budgets under $50 all the way to over $500.

For those who want more of a show-stopping dress, check out eDressME. They offer hundreds of styles and brands with great guarantees that include no additional fees at checkout and free ground shipping for all purchased over $150. This site offers styles that range from vintage trends to cutting edge pre-order couture. The site also provides a helpful planner for necessary undergarments to provide one-stop prom dress shopping. Another great feature of eDressME is the sale section which offers discounts of 30%-90% off from original prices.

If you are the type of shopper that just cannot stand to pay full price- and even the sales price isn’t quite discounted enough for you, try TJ Formal. This site offers a ‘make offer’ option for some selections. No returns or exchanges are permitted in these cases but it might be worth the risk for the right price. The site also offers free ground shipping to most U.S. and Canadian locations, another benefit the savvy prom shopper will appreciate.

Shoes, Shoes and MORE Shoes!

Gone are the days of hunting around through the limited inventories of department stores! With sites like ShoeBuy, shoe shopping is not only CHEAP, but there are way more styles, colors and designers to choose from. The site not only offers free shipping and free sales tax, but also offers free return shipping (if you don't like the shoes). This is a great benefit for any shoe shopper who has hesitated to buy online because they cannot try the shoe or match the color with their dress the same as they would in a traditional store. Plus, save an additional 10% when you enter "SHACK10" in the promotional code box during checkout at ShoeBuy.

Another great shoe site that offers coupons is Shoes.com. As an example, enter "MSAVE" into the promo code box during checkout for a 20% discount. The discount has been tested and verified. Shoes.com already has an excellent prices on a huge selection of shoes, so the promo code just makes it even better.

The Guys Need to Look Good Too

The guys used to have it easy when all he had to do was go rent a generic penguin suit. This was the same look that all the other guys had, but it was never that big of a deal. Now, there are far more expectations. Coordinating vests and ties. Jackets of stylish cuts. Tuxedoes that come in colors other than black. The combinations are endless and, of course, must be just right. For this, I suggest Men's Warehouse, where you can find a great selection of complete tuxedoes to rent or buy. The site is a great guide for shoppers before they head into the retail outlets, including providing a tuxedo building tool. Men’s Warehouse also provides tuxedoes at many price points, beginning as low as $49.99.

Men's Warehouse also offers some great cost savings features if you register to become a prom rep. By signing on to the program and following the guidelines, you can earn a free tux simply by getting your friends to rent from Men’s Wearhouse as well! (tip: sign up for the Men's Warehouse newsletter and you'll receive a coupon code good for 10% off your purchase)

Don’t Forget the Flowers!

Saving money is one thing, but pulling some flowers out of your mom’s garden on the way out the door won’t cut it. If you plan ahead and order your flowers online you can save money and please your date. Check out 1-800-Flowers for a great selection of corsages and bouquets at reasonable prices. Boutenirs in many different styles and colors are also available to help couples select coordinating options. There’s also nothing like FORGETTING the flowers at the last minute, so plan ahead and have the flowers delivered for your special night!

Getting a Cheap Ride

Many teens don’t relish the idea of heading to prom in their own junker or even their parents’ car. Nowadays, it's not cool unless you arrive in a limo. But, sometimes, that's just an expense you have to cut. Here are some tips on transportation:

1. Go in on a limo with friends
2. Consider an untraditional or quirky rental which might be far cheaper than a Hummer stretch limo such as an old fashioned car, a refurbished chauffeured yellow cab, motorized trolley car or private bus
3. Contact a local car club for a chauffeured entrance in a classic
4. Get creative and offer to pass out advertisements for the rental company at your school in exchange for a discount.

Finding a great ride to the prom doesn’t have to blow the budget. With a little thought and creativity, couples and even groups of friends can end up being the talk of the party before it even gets started with their unique, yet cheap transportation.

Eating on the Cheap

One of the first budget cuts prom couples consider is their pre-prom meal. Instead of an elegant dinner, many prom goers opt for a cheaper family style restaurant. But with Restaurant.com, you can enjoy a fantastic dinner for a bargain price! As as an example of the savings, Restaurant.com lets you buy a $25.00 gift certificate for just $10.00. Not all restaurants in the area accept these gift certificates, but many do, so it is worth a look for couples heading out for a bite before or event after the big event.

Capturing Memories Without All the Costs

Almost everyone has had the opportunity to laugh at the static and cheesy professional prom picture lying in their parents’ stash of embarrassing moments. Instead of springing for these expensive pics, take your own pictures and share them with your friends. Sites like Snapfish allow you to view and share all your prom pictures from one easy to look at gallery. Then you can combine your pictures for a photobook or keepsake or have Snapfish professionally print it for you. Not only do you get more pictures, but you also get them at a much cheaper price!

Getting Salon Looks WITHOUT the Salon Prices

One of the toughest corners to cut is hair and makeup. A salon appointment can be very, very expensive not to mention difficult to get on prom day. With the website Sally Beauty, the you can find an extensive collection of hair, nail and general beauty supplies that can help you look great on prom night. There are quite a few coupons available for Sally Beauty so be sure to check them out before your purchase.

For prom goers, the night should be about making memories and having fun, NOT about regretting breaking the bank. There are so many more options for saving money and finding creative shopping solutions so teens and their families can enjoy the prom experience without the worry of how to pay for it all. And best of all, looking great is more simple than ever with all the online planning tools. Styles and selection which are cheaper than ever with coupons, promo codes. Throw in free shipping and there's no reason to go to the store for your prom needs!

Posted by Sok on March 19, 2010     Tags: Deal

As a professional photographer, my true passion in life is photography, specifically portraiture photography. One of the most frequent questions I get is “what type of camera should I buy?” I do find a common misconception is that the camera makes the photographer. This is not the case and a theory to leave behind from the start.

My first piece of advice in regards to gear is go Canon. All of my equipment has always, and will always be Canon. Of course there are others, but for me, they simply do not stand up and fall short on too many levels. You can also expect exceptional service from Canon, and if and when you get to the level of purchasing higher end lenses, there is no comparison with the L Series of lens with Canon.

The second piece of advice I can offer is that once you are shopping for your camera is go with a DSLR. What does this mean? Well to make it very simple, they have a wide array of settings to be adjusted. You are in control of your shutter speed, aperture, white balance, flash synchronization and much more. They also have superior sensors to the alternative “point and shoot” variety. What this means to you is higher image quality, and that is what you are after! There is also no lag time in the shutter. What does that mean? It means the delay between the moment you click the button and the time the shutter releases is virtually nonexistent so you get the shot you are after. Of course also on that list are the endless accessories from speed lights, to strobes, and let us not forget the all important…lens’!

A great DSLR is the Canon EOS Rebel XSI Digital Camera available at Abe's of Maine (which by the way even offers a $15 discount with code Loyalty15). This camera is actually similar to the one I use most often for my portrait shoots. If you want to see the results, visit me at www.momentscapturedbykellyrenee.com. Should you be in the Myrtle Beach area and mention Coupon Shack, then you can take advantage of a 15% discount off of my session fees. But onto the Rebel XSI itself...it offers you all of the advantages of a DSLR, and just as importantly of a Canon with a price that will leave room for the lenses in your arsenal. In case I haven’t been clear enough…the lens is where you money goes. You don’t want to skimp on the camera body; however you do not need to buy the highest end either.

This is the first in a series of blogs I’ll be writing concentrating on photography. Next week I’ll focus on the lenses. What to look for and how to determine what you need.

Compare Prices (with coupons) for the Canon EOS Rebel XSi Digital SLR Camera

Posted by Kelly on March 18, 2010     Tags: Deal

Very often, it can be a daunting task to choose a suitable calling plan for your wireless cell phone account. Telecom Carrier advertisements can often mislead and confuse subscribers with their tall claims, ambiguous language and technical jargon. What’s more, all carriers keep adding new variations to their calling pans every once in a while in order to lure customers.

So, should you choose prepaid or postpaid? Is unlimited text and data suitable for you? How about the latest ‘One Rate’ plan? Is AT&T Wireless postpaid plan better than T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless? Or should I rather choose a budget prepaid service like Net10, Cricket or TracFone? These questions can often be mind boggling for subscribers who do not understand the intricacies of these calling plans.

With that said, let me walk you through all the details that you need to know about cell phone calling plans in order to choose the plan which is best suited for your requirement and more importantly, the plan which fits your wallet the best.

The Prepaid vs. Postpaid Debate: To put in simple words, a prepaid calling plan requires you to pre-pay (pay before you use) while a postpaid calling plan allows you the flexibility to pay after use. If you are a budget conscious subscriber who wants to keep track of every call and every text that you send out, prepaid is the right option for you. For example, TracFone offers an unmatched low cost prepaid calling plan and the best part is that you get access just about anywhere through major regional and national wireless carriers on the TracFone Prepaid account. If you spend more time texting and accessing the internet, have a look at Cricket Wireless unlimited plans ranging from $25 to $60 – these offer great value at minimal costs. Net10 is another wireless prepaid carrier which offers no frills – no bills, no contract, no overage prepaid accounts which can be easily recharged at your convenience.

Postpaid plans allow you to pay your cell phone bills on a monthly basis. The mobile network will add up your charges on services used and you get a monthly statement with amount due at the end of your monthly billing cycle. Postpaid plans are much better suited than prepaid plans for business users and for home users who talk or text a lot. Nearly all major national carriers including AT&T Wireless, Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile offer a variety of postpaid plans which you can choose from.

When you opt for an AT&T Wireless postpaid calling plan, you can select the handset of your choice – the cool Apple iPhone 3G or even one of the many free phones that come on one, two or thee year contracts. Similarly, if you choose Verizon Wireless, you can opt for a suitable postpaid plan from the ‘Americas Choice’ family where each plan offers a different base package including free minutes, a defined monthly fee, free night talk time, free weekends and a bunch of add-on features like Voice Mail, Caller ID, Call Waiting, Call Forwarding etc. If you want the jazzy Google Nexus One, look at one of T-Mobile’s postpaid plans.

Voice and Data Plans: As their names suggest, Voice plans are calling plans where you get charged for making voice calls. Data plans are calling plans where you get charged for data access, whether it is internet browsing, checking your email or downloading/ uploading data. For example, AT&T offers a variety of voice plans which provide you with nationwide calling at no extra cost with unlimited nights and weekends. The only catch is that you have to pay a one time $36 activation fee. If you are a social networking addict, a data plan would suit you more – look at the AT&T DataConnect plans. Verizon was amongst the first few carriers to pioneer the field of low cost data plans. Many corporate users like to check their emails regularly and Unlimited Email plans therefore suit them the best. For example, T-Mobile offers a ‘Blackberry Unlimited/ Enterprise email’ plan which provides you with unlimited data access and unlimited email access at just $39.98 per month.

Data plans are usually more costly than their voice counterparts, but as carriers are transitioning from old 2G wireless networks to faster 3G and 4G networks, the benefits are beginning to outweigh the costs. It has gotten to the point now that having a data plan is a requirement to feed everyone’s addiction to stay connected.

Unlimited Plans: As the name itself suggests, unlimited plans are all about offering unlimited voice, unlimited data and unlimited SMS (texting). These plans have gained a lot of popularity as compared to old contemporary calling plans which place certain limits on airtime, volume of data and number of text messages that you can send for free.

Unlimited text plans are very popular amongst the younger generations as they allow them to stay active on social networks such as Facebook, Myspace and Twitter. Almost all social networking sites have a text interface where you can do pretty much anything and everything that you would otherwise be able to do on these websites.

Special Plans: There’s no shortage of the so called special plans, almost every carrier offers such plans under fancy names. Many carriers offer family plans which help the entire family hook on to a single plan and offers subsidized/ free air time and/ or texting to all family members.

Many carriers including T-Mobile (with Google Nexus One) also offer one rate plans which allow you to pay the same charges whether you call a person in the same city, a different state or even a different time zone anywhere in the United States.

All leading carriers also offer special plans throughout the year with promotional discounts and irresistible deals on hot new phones. If you are in the market for a new wireless calling plan, take advantage of the new phone offers. Yes you have to sign a 2 year contract to get the deal, but taking advantage of a new phone promotion could save you upwards of $300-$400. Take for example, the BlackBerry Curve 8310 phone that is available through AT&T Wireless with a promotional discount of $340. That means you pay just $9.99 for a new BlackBerry Curve 8310 phone.

To sum it up, there are plenty of carriers and in turn, a large number of calling plans that you can opt for based on your requirements. Just make sure that before you take the leap, you know all the required details about the wireless plan, the contract obligations and promotional discounts for wireless service. Happy Talking!

Posted by Sok on March 18, 2010     Tags: Deal