Not Everyone Has Hassle Free Return Policies Like Costco and Amazon

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I’ve become accustomed to the hassle free exchange policy of the most popular retail giants. Returning something ordered from Amazon is as easy as bringing it to the nearest UPS store, scanning a QR code and having the refund sitting in my Amazon account by the time I get home. I once returned an unused air mattress I decided I didn’t want to Costco nearly a year after I purchased it. No questions asked. But not all retailers are the same. Consumers need to research  the return policy of unknown retailers, especially if ordering online. I was reminded of this […] Read more »

I Got the Deal of a Lifetime on a Snow Blower – You Can Too!

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  I made an unexpected purchase over the weekend. I was presented a deal I just couldn’t pass up. At the age of 46, this lifetime Minnesota resident purchased his first snow blower. For years I vehemently stated I would never have a snow blower. I thought I could clear my driveway with a shovel faster for the average snowfall. I poked fun at people spending all their time unclogging snow blowers while I kept making progress with a shovel. Those snowfalls for which a snow blower would actually be useful were too few and far in between to justify […] Read more »

Four Reasons Brick And Mortar Stores Are Killing Themselves

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“You’re probably one of those people that complain about stores going out of business,” a friend said to me during a discussion about something I had ordered online. I do enjoy shopping online but I’m certainly not opposed to shopping at a brick and mortar store. In fact, many times I prefer it. Unfortunately, the fact is brick and mortar stores are killing themselves. I ran into four different scenarios just over the weekend that prove it. Item Online Only I need something to hold down the tents I’m using for an outdoor party. A well known big box home […] Read more »

Prom Dress Shopping 101

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My daughter is looking forward to her Junior Prom, just about a month away. I had a budgeted amount in mind I was willing to spend on a dress, but braced myself for the possibility of sticker shock. I had some reserve funds I could use if absolutely necessary. Our first stop was a bridal store, where she tried on half a dozen dresses. I happened to see the price tag on one, happy to see it fell within my desired price range (at the high end, however). When her heart settled on a different dress, I was scared to […] Read more »

What’s Your Shopping Style?

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Many different styles of shopping exist. Of course I knew this, but it slapped me across the face over the weekend when my wife and I went Christmas shopping together. Our shopping styles sit on the opposite ends of the spectrum, and it takes a big helping of patience for us to not get annoyed with each other. I thought we’d have a little fun today and compare the shopping styles of my wife and I. Shop Like It’s A Military Mission I do the vast majority of my shopping online, but for the few things that force me to […] Read more »

Black Friday Shopping Done Right

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For years I’ve bragged about the good night’s sleep I have the morning after Thanksgiving, portraying an attitude of non-interest regarding Black Friday shopping.  But, it’s time to come clean. I am a willing participant in the Black Friday madness, including this year.  Well, sort of.  Let me explain. Two Black Friday “Secrets” To say I slept in on Black Friday was no lie. I woke up well past eight o’clock, a full 4 hours past my normal weekday waking time.  I fought no crowds, visiting exactly zero stores that day.   There are two very important things to remember when […] Read more »

6 Tips To Keep In Mind When Buying A Vehicle

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I recently purchased a car for my daughter. Although she was super excited for her first car, I was less than enthused to go through the financing process again. I pulled out all my mental notes from past experiences on things to be on the look out for when buying a car. Have The Kelly Blue Book Handy Have the website for the Kelly Blue Book bookmarked and ready to go. It will help you determine if the price of a vehicle is within fair market value, as well as show you other cars of the same type for sale […] Read more »

How Good Is The Lifetime Warranty on Zagg’s InvisibleShield Cell Phone Screen Protector?

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  The screen protector on my daughter’s cell phone was cracked, peeling off and in need of replacement. With some cell phone prices skyrocketing near $1000, it’s no surprise people want to protect their mobile devices, and a $40 screen protector can prevent a screen replacement costing hundreds of dollars. My daughter’s screen protector is an InvisibleShield from Zagg with a lifetime warranty, but to my dismay I discovered I had never registered the product. I’d gladly shell out the cash for a new protector if necessary, but would Zagg honor the lifetime warranty even though I’d never registered the […] Read more »

4 Things To Check When Returning Items

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I do it whenever I return something to a store, and this situation was no different. The cashier requested I sign a slip of paper to authorize the return of funds to my debit card, which I did without even giving half a glance to the return receipt. She handed me my copy, and I was out the door. I had no idea how that lack of attention to detail would affect me just a short while later. I was returning some large candles my wife had purchased through the retailer’s website. The cashier scanned my receipt, scanned each candle […] Read more »

There’s Always Another Sale

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For all my ranting about sleeping in again on Black Friday, this year I found myself almost being sucked into it’s mystique. I didn’t go out into the craziness of brick and mortar store shopping, but I was looking at the Black Friday laptop sales at a major electronics retailer. I almost spent hundreds of dollars on something I didn’t want. Almost. My daughter’s laptop, purchased 4 years ago, had been a Black Friday door buster that we were able to buy hours after all the insanity of the morning shopping had subsided. It’s performance doesn’t impress a now 15 […] Read more »

3 Rules You MUST Follow When Shopping

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I love lists. I mean, I really really love lists. Especially when shopping. To me, going shopping is like a military mission. I have my orders…I mean my list, I get in, fulfill my orders, and get out as quickly as possible. Having a list has several advantages: It keeps me on track. I know what I’m supposed to buy and give me a clear path to success. A list is representative that there has been a discussion regarding what we can afford and that we have properly weighed value against cost. A list, and a plan, is sometimes not […] Read more »

How I Saved 45% and Got Free Yoga Pants At Lane Bryant

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I had been shopping with my wife for nearly four hours when we walked through the doors of Lane Bryant. She was looking for some new clothes, but was encountering some trouble finding what she was looking for. Within a few minutes of walking in the door, she found several things she wanted to try on. When she looked at the prices, however, she thought they were a little more than she was willing to spend. I pointed at a sign advertising a “Buy One, Get One 50% Off” sale. The smile returned to her face and she excitedly headed […] Read more »

Can You Use Expired Kohls Cash?

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My wife and I drove to Kohls on Black Friday to look for some long sleeved shirts for our son. He needed a winter wardrobe refresh (darn teenagers grow like weeds) and the shirts were advertised at 75% off. We made sure we had the coupon we got in the mail for an additional 15% off, as well as a $20 Kohls Cash coupon we had received a few weeks ago from buying a new Keurig coffee maker. On our drive to Kohls, my wife noticed that the Kohls Cash had expired. My wife shook her head in disbelief. This […] Read more »

4 Lines Of Defense Against Impulsively Buying Neon Green Compression Tights

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I was at Target picking up some last minute school supplies when I shockingly found myself walking through the men’s athletic wear section. Some black and neon green running compression tights caught my eye. I have a blue pair of the same kind and like how they look and fit. My mind envisioned how they would look together with a shirt I already owned of a very similar color. I had talked myself into buying them. Into the cart they went. I’m a conservative dresser, going with mainly darker colors and things that don’t attract a lot of attention. But […] Read more »