I've Tried That » Ways to Save Money

Cardpool: A Genius Idea That Saves You Money

Steve — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 23:13:10 +0000

This post couldn’t have been timed any better. Last week I put out a call for positive programs to review and someone requested I check out Cardpool, a site to buy and sell gift cards. It only took me a few minutes of browsing the site before I realized I was hooked on the idea.

You can buy gift cards at a discounted price or you can sell gift cards you don’t want or need to Cardpool. They will sell the gift cards at a discount to people who will actually use them. The beauty of it all is that you can save money and still receive the same product, or you can make money on a gift card you don’t want to use and put that money to better use elsewhere.

The most reassuring factor of the whole site is that you deal with Cardpool only. If you buy a gift card, it has been 100% verified to have the correct amount on it. If you’re selling a gift card, you get paid in cash upfront for gift card. You don’t have to deal with other users at any time. Not to mention there are no shipping or processing fees when buying or selling gift cards.

The gift cards also do not expire, there are no extra fees associated with them, and you have a 100-day return policy. Yeah, I’m going to check this site before I do any shopping from now on.

Buy Gift Cards and Save Money

There are two types of gift cards for sale: electronic and physical gift cards. Both types are on sale at Cardpool for up to 35% off their value. Electronic gift cards are emailed to you and you can use them online instantly. Physical gift cards take a few days to arrive by mail.

So far, I’ve only purchased one gift card from Cardpool. It was an electronic gift card to Pacsun worth $95.70. I only paid $80.39 for it, saving me 16% off of my order. Here’s a screenshot of my transaction:

Not bad right? I had an order in my shopping cart ready to be checked out worth $105. I checked Cardpool at the last minute and saw that Pacsun had gift cards available. I bought one right away and instantly received an email with details on how to redeem the gift card online. Before checking Cardpool, I was ready to pay $105 for an order. 10 minutes later, that exact order only cost me $89.69. Same items. Same order. Cardpool.

Click here to browse the available gift cards.

I am planning on picking up a few extra gift cards this weekend for Christmas. I have two sisters that insist on clothes for presents. (I believe this is a clever way of asking for gift cards honestly.) Both shop at a store called Ann Taylor Loft and Cardpool happens to have gift cards there for 20% off.

Now, I can go to Ann Taylor Loft and spend $100 on a $100 gift card, or I can go to Cardpool and buy a $100 gift card for $80. Seems like a no-brainer right? You’re getting a $100 giftcard to Ann Taylor either way, it’s just that you save $20 if you buy it through Cardpool instead.

One thing to note is that you’re not getting some sort of Cardpool branded piece of paper or something like that. You’re getting an authentic gift card that is absolutely no different than the one you’d pay for in the store.

Sell Gift Cards and Make Money

You can also sell gift cards you don’t no longer want. You aren’t going to get full price for your gift cards, but they do make reasonable offers depending on the supply and demand of that particular store.

Since you’re selling the gift cards for less than what they’re worth, definitely make sure it’s a gift card you aren’t going to use. I currently have a $25 gift card to a chain restaurant that I don’t particularly like. Cardpool offered to pay me $20.25 for the card. I think I’m going to sell it because even though I’m losing $4.75, I can use that $20.25 at a restaurant I actually enjoy.

Cardpool does cover the cost of shipping the gift card for you. Once they receive the gift card and verify the correct amount on the gift card, they’ll mail you a check for the price you agreed upon. They are a trustworthy company and have been reviewed by CNN, NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX, NPR, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and many other highly reputable publications. I haven’t sold a gift card there yet, but I may have a few gift cards I don’t want in about two week’s time.

Click here for more information on how selling works.

Is Cardpool a Scam?

Absolutely not.

I have personally bought and used gift cards from Cardpool and HIGHLY recommend you do the same. It’s a great way to save money and receive the same exact product you would have received in a store. I can’t wait for December 26th because the gift card market is going to be flooded and I plan on saving a bit of cash.

Click here and check out Cardpool now!

If you have any experience with the company, please leave a comment below!

A Few New Ways I’m Saving Money From Home

Steve — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 20:14:09 +0000

I like to think of myself as a pretty frugal person. I try not to spend my money lavishly and am always looking for ways to save money and reduce my bills while maintaining the same quality of life.

Here are a few tips that I practice on a daily basis to help cut down on my spending.

How I Turn a Few Minutes of My Time Into $50 Once a Week

This tip is an absolute favorite of mine and it requires no extra spending on your part and can save you a ton of money each month. You may be familiar with the website Instant Cash Sweepstakes. They pay you to participate in online polls a few times each day. Well, I spend a few minutes here and there throughout the day answering their questions and racking up money. By the end of the week, I will have a few dollars to cash out. It’s not a lot of money, typically around $3 or $4 dollars.

I then take my earnings and head on over to CouponDede.com and use those earnings to buy coupons for groceries and other items. Each coupon costs only a few cents, but will end up saving me a few dollars. By the time I’m finished, I’ll have spent around $3 to haver 30-40 coupons shipped and will save around $50. Combine these coupons with grocery store deals and I ultimately end up saving close to $200 EACH MONTH on my shopping bill just by spending some time each day to answer a few questions. I highly recommend you try and replicate this process.

Save Big at Amazon.com

I shop online. Often. I may even be edging into the territory of too much but I find it hard to pass up on a good deal. I compulsively check deal websites like SlickDeals and FatWallet, but I’ve recently taken it one step further.

I created my own deal tracking plugin for Google Chrome. If you aren’t familiar with Google Chrome, it’s a free web browser like Internet Explorer or Firefox, but it’s generally faster and more secure to use. It’s designed to open up instantly and be very simple to use. You can click here and try it out now. It’s free to download and installs in seconds.

Well, I created my own extension for Google Chrome that tracks all of the latest deals at Amazon.com. It’s a great way to get an up-to-date list of awesome deals right in your browser. Every time I update the plugin, the icon will instantly change to notify you that there are new deals available. It’s non-obtrusive and can save you a few bucks on popular items. Click here and install my Amazon Deals extension now!

How to Save Money with Daily Deals

Daily deal websites have been all the rage this past year with more and more popping up all the time. These types of websites offer one deal a day at a huge discount. Depending on which sites you follow, you can save big on clothing, restaurants, electronics and so much more.

Here are a few sites that I check every morning.

Groupon – They post huge deals each day for local businesses in your area. Great way to try new things and save some money.
LivingSocial – Similar to Groupon. I suggest signing up for both.
Woot – They sell one item per day at a huge discount. Usually something electronic.
Amazon’s Gold Box and Lightning Deals – Amazon sells one item at a huge discount all day then offers ‘Lightning Deals’ which are even bigger discounts, but they’re only available for a limited time and in small quantities.

You have to be careful here because this tip can cause you to spend money you otherwise wouldn’t have spent. I try and limit my purchases to things I would be likely to buy in the near future even if I didn’t have a deal offered. That way I’m not spending any extra, but saving instead.

Okay! That’s just a few tips I have for you. Feel free to share your frugal tips in the comments below!

Save Money and Try New Things with Groupon

Steve — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 03:25:32 +0000

If you’ve been anywhere online in the past few months. you’ve probably seen ads for a company called Groupon. They are everywhere and if you haven’t taken the time to learn a bit more about the company, I highly suggest you read this post in full. It could save you hundreds of dollars and introduce you to new things to do in your area.

What is Groupon?

Groupon is an online company that works with local businesses to negotiate huge discounts on either goods, services, or events. Groupon then offers these discounts to its subscribers (people like you and me) in the form of a “group coupon.” When enough people agree to buy the Groupon, the deal goes live and you receive a big discount at a local business. You save money, the business receives new customers and everyone is happy.

I’ve really grown to love Groupon. It’s a completely free service. I get an email each morning notifying me of the latest deal and have plenty of time to decide if I want to buy it or not. It’s a great way to save big on money I would otherwise be spending anyway. You can also send Groupons as gifts allowing you to save even more money without having to sacrifice anything else.

Here’s a quick video that was put together by Groupon to explain the whole process in more detail. If you’re reading this in an email, you might have to click here and visit our website to get the video to play.

My Experiences with Groupon

I’ve been subscribed to Groupon for a few months now and have since bought three different Groupons.

They are…

$20 for $40 at a Local Restaurant
A new restaurant opened up near my place a few months ago. I’ve heard good things but never really got around to trying the food. About a month ago, a spend $20 and receive $40 Groupon appeared and I just had to buy it. I got to try a new restaurant and save $20 on date night with my girlfriend. Win-win-win.
$25 for $50 at Gap
Back in August, Gap ran a $25 for $50 Groupon and I pulled the trigger as soon as I saw the notification email come in. I like the clothes at Gap and more or less saved $25 just by following Groupon.
$35 for $125 at Levin Furniture
My latest Groupon is going to save me $90 on a new coffee table from Levin Furniture. I’ve been in desperate need of a new table, but have been putting it off for a while now. I’ve bought the Groupon but just need to get my butt to the store to make a purchase.

Here are my numbers if you haven’t been keeping track…

Total Spent: $80
Total Received: $225
Total Saved: $145

So, overall I’ve saved $145 just by subscribing to Groupon. I was able to try a new restaurant and save a bunch of money at stores I usually shop at anyway. This is a no-brainer as I give Groupon a must-join recommendation. It’s completely free and can save you a bundle of cash. At the very least, click here, have a look around Groupon, and subscribe to your city’s daily deal email. You’ll get an email once a day notifying you of the latest Groupon in your area.

I do recommend that if you purchase a Groupon, to wait a few days or even a week before using it. The business will get flooded with customers and calls for the first few days after a Groupon goes live. I try to stay away and let the heat die down before using my Groupons. It makes for a much better experience overall.

I know there are a few sites out there that follow a similar business model; however, Groupon is the only one I’ve tried so far. If you know of any more or just want to share your experiences with Groupon as well, please leave a comment below! Thanks!

Click here and see the latest Groupon in your area today!

FTC Shuts Down Major Debt Relief Scam

Steve — Sat, 16 Oct 2010 00:03:12 +0000

Although this blog’s main focus is finding ways to make money from home, I often receive questions regarding tax relief and debt consolidation. Unfortunately, this is no where near my area of expertise. But seeing as it comes up in emails often, I’m sure this post will interest quite a few of you.

Apparently a bunch of dudes who go by the name “American Tax Relief” have been telling non-qualifying consumers that they qualify for different tax alleviating programs and then proceed to charge them upwards of $25,000 to help them settle their debts and cut back the amount of money they owe.

You have to be pretty twisted to prey on and steal from people who are suffering in debt. A handful of people have asked me about this company specifically and I sincerely hope the FTC helps them recover any lost funds.

For the record, the FTC has outlined a few ways to help you handle any tax issues including tax relief. You can check them out by clicking here.

It’s good to hear of some justice in the world. The FTC writes…

At the request of the Federal Trade Commission, a federal judge has halted a national operation that allegedly bilked consumers out of more than $60 million by falsely claiming it can reduce people’s tax debts – the company’s California state business license was suspended last year for not paying its own taxes, the FTC alleges. The FTC is seeking to make the defendants pay restitution to victims.

“We’ve made it a top priority to go after scammers who try to exploit the financial hardship of others,” said David C. Vladeck, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “For people having a tough time paying their taxes, the last thing they need is to lose more money to a fraud.”

According to the FTC, in TV, radio and Internet ads, American Tax Relief LLC falsely claims it can settle consumers’ delinquent federal and state taxes for a fraction of the amount they owe. The company also falsely claims that it can remove tax liens and stop wage garnishments, bank and tax levies, property seizures, and “unbearable monthly payments.” For example, the company’s website states, “The IRS is currently accepting a fraction of back taxes owed to them (sic) for those who qualify. The IRS is allowing the people with delinquent tax liabilities a ONE-TIME opportunity to settle the debt ONCE AND FOR ALL. But at the same time, the IRS does not advertise, promote or even voluntarily suggest this program.”

The FTC alleges that the company has continued its deceptive practices even after federal agents executed a criminal search warrant on the operation’s Beverly Hills business premises in April, 2010. At that time, criminal authorities seized money from bank accounts and a Ferrari from the company’s owner, and placed liens on two residences, including a $3.4 million house. At the time, one of the company’s owners was leasing six other vehicles, including a Rolls Royce, a Bentley, two Porsches, and two Mercedes-Benzes, according to exhibits the FTC filed in court.

American Tax Relief charges up-front fees ranging from about $3,200 to $25,000 for the purported tax relief services. The company’s ads include a toll-free number for consumers to call for a “free consultation.” After speaking briefly with commission-based sales people who are supposedly “tax consultants,” virtually all consumers are told that they “qualify” for a tax relief program, and that American Tax Relief can help them significantly reduce their tax debts, the FTC complaint alleges.

In reality, very few of the company’s customers qualify for the promised tax relief programs, which are available only in very limited circumstances. Most people who hire the company would qualify at most for installment payment plans, which still require payment of the full amount owed, and which many taxpayers can easily arrange by themselves.

Click here to read the full press release.

If you’ve been scammed by American Tax Relief or a similar company, please TELL THE FTC. They can shut down scammers, prevent them from ripping off other people and can work on getting your money back. File a complaint on their website by clicking here or call 1-877-FTC-HELP.

New Opportunities to Try Amazon Prime for Free

Steve — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 03:08:38 +0000

My God do I love online shopping.

I’m a hardcore deal hunter. This will come as no surprise to veteran readers of I’ve Tried That. I love saving money and the fact that I can click order and someone will personally hand deliver me my purchases. I check deal websites at least once per hour and have even made a Google Chrome extension that tracks the latest Amazon Deals, (Click here and check it out if you use Chrome!)

Ever since Amazon started offering Amazon Prime, I’ve been hooked and I’ve saved hundreds of dollars. If you’re unfamiliar with Amazon Prime, it’s a membership program that gives you FREE two-day shipping on nearly anything you can buy at Amazon.com. Usually it costs $79/year to join, but you can try it out for free first.

Here are the ways you can try Amazon Prime…

ONE YEAR Free for Students

Amazon Student is a free Prime membership program created especially for college students. You get free two-day shipping on qualifying items for an entire year. You can even get a pro-rated refund on a current Amazon Prime membership. There is one requirement though: you need to have a .edu email address to sign up.

Click here to sign up for Amazon Student.

THREE MONTHS Free and 30% Off Diapers and Wipes for Parents

Amazon Mom is a free version of Prime aimed at helping parents and caregivers use Amazon to find all the products their family needs. You get three months of Prime for free and every $25 you spend in the Baby Store earns you another month of Prime for free! You can also benefit from 30% OFF Diapers and Wipes with your membership. Dads, grandparents, and primary caregivers are more than welcome to join as well.

Click here to sign up for Amazon Mom.

ONE MONTH Free for Everyone Else

If you aren’t a student or parent and haven’t been a member of Amazon Prime for at least 13 months, you can sign up for a free month of Prime. Be warned that unless you opt-out of the renewal, you will be upgraded automatically to a full year Amazon Prime for $79 at the end of your 30 day trial.

Click here to sign up for a 30 day trial of Amazon Prime.

Everyone qualifies for at least one month free of Prime. So sign up and try it out today!

If you’re feeling particularly grateful and want to test out your new Amazon Prime account by sending your favorite blog writer a present for spending over three years and thousands of dollars of his own money to protect you from scams, you can check out my Amazon Wishlist by clicking here. I would love you dearly and greatly appreciate any generosities.

Other than that, enjoy your month(s) of free shipping!

I Tried Buying Prescription Glasses Online — And I Was Pleasantly Surprised.

Steve — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 15:42:49 +0000

There are a few things I’m a little hesitant to buy online. Food, furniture, and pets for example. I had never really even thought to buy glasses online. I didn’t even know you could up until a few weeks ago. The glasses I had were definitely showing their age and the prescription was older than I could remember. A friend recommend I look online and see if I could find a pair for cheap before I spend a few hundred dollars at a specialty store.

So, I began to shop online.

My Experiences with 39DollarGlasses

There are quite a few different shops to pick from online, but after a bit of research, I ended up at 39DollarGlasses.com. One of the biggest selling factors for me was that they’re based out of New York. Most shops seemed to be based overseas. Sure, they offered better prices, but the customer service was lacking, shipping would have taken over a week, and I imagine it would be a hassle to have to deal with returns.

The glasses at 39DollarGlasses, start at, well, $39. At that price you can get a solid basic frame with prescription lenses. Nothing more, nothing less. This was a far cry from the $250 quote I received for a similar pair of glasses from my optometrist. They have a few different categories, but the flashier glasses with more features do cost more than $39.

I selected a plain metal frame, input the prescription information I received from my doctor, and put my order through. The process was quick and painless. I ordered my glasses on a Wednesday and they arrived the following Monday. Not bad at all considering the amount of work that goes into making a pair of glasses.

As for the glasses themselves, they’re pretty good. The build quality feels a little cheap, but then again, I only paid $39. However, the prescription was 100% accurate and they look good. I prefer contact lenses, but wear glasses whenever they aren’t in. If I had to wear glasses all day, everyday, I probably would have opted for a more expensive frame with glare-resistant coated lenses. But due to my infrequent use, the cheapest pair of glasses fill my needs.

I 100% recommend 39DollarGlasses.com and will definitely be shopping there again in the future. I encourage you to at least take a look around and try out a pair of cheap eyeglasses from an online shop before shelling out hundreds at a specialty eyewear store.

You can also get $10 off your order all you need to do is click here and shop 39DollarGlasses.com. The $10 discount will be applied once you hit the checkout screen!

Have you guys had any success with buying glasses online? Let me know in the comments!

10 Ways You Might Be Getting Ripped Off

Steve — Mon, 24 May 2010 15:00:12 +0000

Forbes has written an excellent article on 10 rip-offs that you could be spending money on. There are a few things that we as consumers are buying into at a ridiculous cost and really are getting no value out of them. Considering the recent economy, why waste money that you desperately need?

Here are a few examples of rip-offs outlined in the article.

2. Fitness Shoes

The Rip-Off: Reebok calls it the EasyTone; Skechers, the ShapeUp. These curved-sole shoes, transforming people into human rocking chairs, cost up to $130 and promise to keep you fit even while grocery shopping. During 2009 sales grew 14-fold to $245 million, estimates market researcher NPD. One problem: “They mostly affect the foot and ankle,” says Dr. Michael Ross, director of Rothman Institute’s Sports Performance Lab, which counts the Philadelphia Eagles, Phillies and Flyers among its clients. “There is no evidence they will help you tone better or quicker than a regular shoe.”

How to Avoid It: Join a gym.

3. College Textbooks

The Rip-Off: Textbooks cost the average American student about $900 per year. New editions often come out every three years and tend to run 45% more than used copies of previous editions. Between 1995 and 2004 textbook prices rose at more than four times the rate of inflation, according to Nicole Allen, a director at Student Public Interest Research Group, a student advocacy group. “Students are a captive audience since professors decide what books they need to buy,” says Allen.

How to Avoid It: Sites like ecampus.com and alibris.com offer better deals than campus bookstores. Then there’s chegg.com, a textbook rental site with an approach similar to that of Netflix

For more details on the ten ways you’re getting ripped off and how to avoid them, click here and read the full article at Yahoo! Finance. There are plenty of good tips to stop you from spending unnecessary amounts of money each year.

Leave a comment below if you follow through on any of their advice!

Tax Deductions for the Slackers

Steve — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 20:22:09 +0000

I still haven’t filed my taxes. All of my paperwork is sitting here in neat organized little piles, but I just cannot bring myself to compiling it all. Is there a more miserable time of year? It probably doesn’t help that I owe a lot of money this year.

I’m always on the lookout for deductions that can help lower what I owe and Mainstreet.com is now offering daily tips on what you can (and can not) deduct. One specific topic of interest for this blog is their article on home office deductions. They write…

Some employees don’t work in an office, store or other business location. A good example is commission salesmen for out-of-state companies — they work out of their homes. They may be able to claim their home office as a miscellaneous deduction on Schedule A.

You can deduct a room, or part of a room, in your residence used as an office if it is:

used “regularly and exclusively” for your business needs,

your principal place of business or where you regularly meet or deal with patients, clients or customers in the normal course of your business, and

for your employer’s convenience.

There must be a genuine business reason for the home office. Simply to make things easier for you and your boss is not sufficient reason to support a home office deduction.

If you have a legitimate home office you can deduct the portion of all the appropriate expenses of maintaining your home — real estate taxes, mortgage interest (acquisition debt only), homeowners insurance, water and sewer, gas and electric, heating oil and depreciation if you own the home (or rent and utilities if you are a tenant) — that applies to the area of the office. You would divide the square footage of the office area by the total square footage of the residence. Or if your apartment had five rooms and one was used exclusively as a home office you could claim one-fifth of the rent and utilities.

Some other deductions they cover include: Education Deductions, Job Hunting Deductions, and Commuting Isn’t Deductible. You can find even more on on Mainstream.com’s Daily Deduction page.

If you’re like me and STILL haven’t filed your taxes yet, I suggest you take the time to read through those posts. It could save you a bit of money.

Stop Calling 411. Save Money and Dial 1-800-GOOG-411 Instead.

Steve — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 21:53:59 +0000

I just got off the phone with my very frantic mother. She was going off on AT&T calling them thieves (among other names I’d rather not share) for raising her service without warning her. It took a few minutes for her to calm down and I told her I’d take a look at her bill to see why they raised her rates.

I logged into her account to check things out (and to change her password from password, but password security is a post for another day.) In the span of one hour, she had dialed 411 ten different times, which tacked on an additional $20 on to her phone bill. She was angry, but entirely at fault. That’s when I suggested she use 1-800-GOOG-411 instead.

Dial 1-800-GOOG-411.

1-800-GOOG-411 is Google’s free 411 service. You call the number, tell them your location and what you’re looking for and they’ll connect you to the business you’re searching for free of charge. You can also have details (phone number, address, hours etc.) texted directly to your phone.

GOOG-411 has been around for over two years now, but most people I’ve met have never even heard of the service and still pay to use the regular 411 service. Well now you can save some money and use an even better service.

Do You Qualify For One Of These 2009 Tax Deductions?

Steve — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 18:18:36 +0000

Taxes.

That’s about all I can say without going off the deep end and alienating all of you guys. I’m self-employed so that doesn’t make things any easier. Keeping track of expenses, deductions, incomes etc is a full-time job in itself. Lucky for me, there are finance bloggers like Mrs. Micah who can help make sense of all of this tax stuff. Her latest post Mammoth 2009 Tax Credit and Deduction List is a god send.

Here’s a quick snippet of just some of the advice she offers. I figure these two bullets will probably interest you guys the most.

Qualified Job-Hunting Expenses – Deductible

This won’t help if you’re changing careers, but if you’re searching for a new job or if you were just laid off and are hunting for a job in your field, you can deduct certain expenses from your 2009 job search. From the IRS website

In order to deduct job search costs, the expenses must be spent on a job search in your current occupation. You may not deduct expenses incurred while looking for a job in a new occupation.

You can deduct employment and outplacement agency fees you pay while looking for a job in your present occupation. If your employer pays you back in a later year for employment agency fees, you must include the amount you receive in your gross income up to the amount of your tax benefit in the earlier year.

You can deduct amounts you spend for preparing and mailing copies of a résumé to prospective employers as long as you are looking for a new job in your present occupation.

If you travel to an area to look for a new job in your present occupation, you may be able to deduct travel expenses to and from the area. You can only deduct the travel expenses if the trip is primarily to look for a new job. The amount of time you spend on personal activity compared to the amount of time you spend looking for work is important in determining whether the trip is primarily personal or is primarily to look for a new job.

You cannot deduct job search expenses if there was a substantial break between the end of your last job and the time you begin looking for a new one.

You cannot deduct job search expenses if you are looking for a job for the first time.

For more information on tax benefits for job seekers and how to claim them, here’s the IRS web page.

Self-Employment Tax – 50% Deductible

One of the downsides of certain forms of self-employment is having to pay a self-employment tax. The good news is that you can deduct 50% of your self-employment tax when calculating your AGI. This was something I had not realized until reporting my blog earnings last year and paying the self-employment tax for the first time. More on self-employment tax from the IRS website.

Mrs. Micah explains many, many more 2009 tax deductions and credits on her blog. I highly suggest you click through and read them all. You’re likely to find new ways of saving money this year.

Which tax deductions are you taking advantage of this year?