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How to Get Low Airfare At the Last Minute?

12/7/2019

You need (or really want) to travel soon, and you need to book a flight. How can you find something like a deal or at least the lowest fare out there?

First, you can rely on the search engines to do the initial search. Google Flights has become a go-to, as it lets you search by destination, date, and alternate airports and easily alter search variables. (It includes flights from most, but not all, airlines.)

After that, turn to a trio of similarly useful online tools, Skyscanner, JustFly, and Momondo. These websites focus on price first and are constantly updated.

After you find a fare you like, click or tap over to that airline’s website. You may be surprised to discover that the fare is even lower than what these search engines report.

If you are the type who likes to be on the lookout for a cheap fare, consider web portals like Airfarewatchdog and Scott’s Cheap Flights.

Lastly, think about following an air carrier or two on social media – another avenue through which an airline can suddenly unveil a good deal.

What Is The 5/24 Rule For Credit Card Applications?

5/31/2017

Q. What is the so called 5/24 rule for credit card applications?

A. The 5/24 rule refers to certain credit card issuing banks that bar you from opening certain new credit cards if you have already opened 5 other credit cards (from any bank) within the past 24 months. One of the banks who follow this rule is Chase Bank which has many good rewards-based credit cards. It's important to plan ahead your credit card applications.

Shareholder Benefits Programs

1/30/2017

Q. I heard some public company offer perks to shareholders, is it true?

A. Yes, it's true, and here are some good shareholder benefits programs:

Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-A) (BRK-B)
Owners who can afford at least a single share of Berkshire Hathaway also are entitled to discounts on Geico insurance. The rate varies by state, but it can be as much as 8 percent.

However, the biggest perk of Berkshire Hathaway ownership is access to the annual shareholder meeting. Beyond getting to be in attendance while Buffett and his partner Charlie Munger offer investing insight for hours, shareholders also get to shop at the exclusive store during the meeting that offers markdowns from Berkshire Hathaway subsidiaries.

Carnival Cruises (CCL), Royal Caribbean (RCL)
Shareholders who own at least 100 shares of CCL or RCL can apply for a stateroom credit on sailings. How much investors get in onboard spending money depends on the length of the cruise. RCL is more generous than CCL in terms of credits given out.

Ford
Investors who own at least 100 Ford shares for at least six months can get a few percentage points off on some new car models.

Free Reliable Tech Support Resources

1/29/2017

Techguy.org
This is a FREE site that has existed for over 20 years by now! You can get free advice on any tech issues - laptop, mobile, hardware, software, virus ...

iFixit.com
This is a site with FREE repair guide for everything, written by everyone.

CClearner
If you want to speed up your PC, this is a site with a FREE program you can download to get it done!

Free Shipping Day is December 16

12/10/2016

December 16 is Free Shipping Day!

About 1,000 retailers will waive delivery minimums and offer free shipping in the continental U.S., guaranteed by Christmas Eve.

Check out FreeShippingDay.com for coupons and a list of participating retailers.

How to Have Frugal Fun?

10/1/2016

October 1 is International Frugal Fun Day!

Can you challenge yourself to enjoy the day without spending a penny?

There are plenty of ways to do it, such as:

Check out books and movies from your local libraries
Visit local parks and enjoy a picnic there
Cheer the players at a community sports event
Invite friends over to play board games at night
...
...

4 Websites to Learn to Code On Your Own Time

5/10/2016

4 Well known sites with slightly different focuses for different people who want to learn code on own time:

Coursera
If you want to expand your knowledge on many different areas, including computer science, this is the one. Coursera is a for-profit open course organization offering free and low-cost online classes from hundreds of universities.

Codecademy
If you want to switch career and learn coding on the cheap, this is the one. Codecademy offers user-friendly online coding classes range from novice level to advanced level. It's totally free!

EdX
If you are looking for online courses from a famous university, this is the one. EdX is an open-source online-course platform from Harvard and MIT.

General Assembly
If you want to learn in a traditional classroom setting, this is the one. General Assembly offers 8- to 10-week-long immerseive courses in web development, data analytics, etc at 15 locations.

Use E-book Deal Sites to Save on Book Costs

1/10/2016

Q. What are good free or deeply discounted e-book sites?

A. You can sign up the following major e-book distribution sites. They will send you daily emails about free or discounted e-book deals, including some of the top hotsellers.

A Must Have for Power Smartphone Users

12/22/2015

Q. My smartphone runs out of juice quickly as I am a heavy user. What can I do?

A. If you use your smartphone and camera a lot, you may find from time to time your gadgets run out of power quickly, and it seems always happen when you don't have access to an outlet. What to do?

Get a portable power pack!

These external batteries are about the size of a deck of cards, and they can charge your phone or camera on the go - just plug the device into an available USB port on the backup battery.

When shopping for a portable power pack, the higher the milliamp number (e.g. 10,000 mAh), the more times you can charge your device, but the bigger backup battery will be.

In the holiday season, these portable power packs are usually on sale with big price discounts - as high as 75% off on Amazon.

Where to Get On Demand Repair Services

11/13/2015

Q. Other than Geek Squads, where can I get help to fix my broken laptop and smartphone?

A. There are companies that try to beat the Geek Squads by offering repairs faster and cheaper. Below are some prominent ones:

Fixya.com
It covers over 150 categories of services, you can ask a question and get expert answer.

iCracked.com
It sends a technician to your site to fix your broken smartphones on the spot.

TryTechy.com
It fetches your broken laptop, fixes it, and hand delves back to you.

Otobots.com
Its mobile mechanics will come to you to fix your broken car.

The Best Lightweight Portable Laptop

10/6/2015

Q. What is the best lightwight portable laptop for an average user?

A. If you are an Apple fan, the 13-inch MacBook Air at $1,000 is probably the best choice.

However, if you are okay with a MacBook clone that runs on Windows and less weight, most importantly, with a bargain price, Asus Zenbook UX305FA is the choice!

How great is the price? Its nearest Windows competitor Samsung ATIV Book 9 costs nearly twice.

Best Cash Back Credit Cards

10/4/2015

Q. What is the best cash back credit card?

A. If you can carry the following 3 credit cards in your wallet and use them smartly (you will see how from the description below), you will be maximizing your cash back from credit card purchases:

1. Citi Double Cash Card

Annual fee: $0
Rewards: 2% cash back on all purchases, with no limit

2. Discover It

Annual fee: $0
Rewards: 5% cash back in categories that change every quarter, 1% back on all other purchases

3. American Express Blue Cash Preferred

Annual fee: $75
Rewards: 6% cash back on up to $6,000 spent at supermarkets annually, 3% at gas stations and other department stores, 1% everywhere else
Sign-up bonus: $150 after spending $1,000 in 90 days

How to Tether By Using a Smart Phone?

10/1/2015

Q. How to make my phone a hotspot so I can save money?

A. There are two ways you can use your smartphones to tether (share internet access with other devices):

1. Use a Tether App
Download one of the following apps to your phone which can turn it into a hotspot and tether:

PdaNet: free
TetherMe: $5.00
CarrierCrack: $3.00

2. Configure Your Phone
You can start with calling your wireless carrier and ask how to turn your phone into a hotspot and then follow the instruction

If you have a shared plan, you can do it by yourself:

a. iPhones
Got o Settings, then "Personal Hotspot", slide the button to the right. You are done. Your other devices, such as a laptop could detect your phone, just enter the WiFi password, you will have a hotspot in use.

b. Android Phones
Go to Settings, under "Wireless and Network", select "More", then "Portable hotspot". Check the box next to "Portable Wi-Fi hotspot", tap the hotspot notification, and select "Set up Wi-Fi hotspot". You are done.

An Easy Way to Keep Track of Your Loyalty Points

8/21/2015

Q. Is there an app that tracks all the different kinds of loyalty programs I have signed up?

A. Yes. As a smart shopper, you have taken advantage of the different loyalty programs, but managing all the points, miles, discounts, and coupons could be a headache.

Not anymore!

You can try awardwallet.com, it lets you enter all the major loyalty programs (airlines, hotel points, chain restaurant points, etc.) so you can track them all in once place and don't miss a reward!

Use Online Peer-to-Peer Fashion Marketplaces to Save Money

6/29/2015

Do you want to cash out the brand items that are left behind in your closet? Do you want to bargain hunt the hottest selling secondhand brand items? You should try those online peer-to-peer marketplaces, here are some of the better ones:

Tradesy (only for top designer items)
Liketwice (similar to Tradesy)
Vinted (Pinterest style marketplace)
The Realreal (the consignment store)
Grailed (for men's items only)

3 Best Free Apps For Car Travellers

6/23/2015

If you are planning your summer car travels, here are 3 mobile apps you better download now:

1. Gas Buddy
It provides crowd-sourced guide for the lowest gas prices across the U.S.

2. Scout
It provides turn-by-turn directions and recommendations for where to eat, stay, and more.

3. Road Trippers
It helps you find the best attractions along your route and saves the trip for easy access on the road.

The Worst Fees in America?

6/22/2015

Do you hate overdraft fees that hit you off guard because you are short a few cents in your checking account? How about you have to pay $100 for carry on bags? If you want to see what fees American consumers hate the most, you can check out an article from GoBankingRates.com - 31 Worst Fees in America!

As you pay attention to these annoying and outrages fees, you can take actions to prevent them from hitting you!

Websites Offer Free Tech Support Advices

6/21/2015

If you have some broken electronics, don't throw away, instead, seek free advice from the following reputable websites and fix them -

5 Ways to Reduce Car Insurance Rate Due to Adding a Teen Driver

6/18/2015

Q. I am about to add my teen age son to the family car insurance, how can I minimize the impact on the family auto insurance rate?

A. It's a fact that by adding a teen (especially boys 16-19) to a family car insurance, you could see rates double! Here are 5 ways every family could consider in order to lower such teen-driver impact on auto insurance rates:

1. Increase the Deductible
Increase the deductibles on collision coverage up to $1,000 on the car that is going to be driven by the new driver, this is where most of the premium associated with a young driver is.

2. Get an Accident and Ticket-forgiveness Policy
A new driver with a speeding ticket or an at-fault accident will double your rates. By spending a little more to get an accident and ticket-forgiveness policy, you can prevent rate hikes after an accident or a ticket.

3. Show Good Grades
Many insurers give discounts for students with good grades (usually B or better, and discounts could be as high as 25%), shop around for it.

4. Take a Defensive Driving Class
A defensive driving class is cheap and could be taken online, it could cut your auto insurance rate by 10-15%. Call your auto insurer first to make sure the course is approved by it.

5. Participate Driving Monitoring Programs
Some auto insurance companies offer programs that monitor driving habits, if your teen is a good driver, this will help lower the auto insurance premium.

Where to Put Emergency Funds?

6/2/2015

In our last blog post, we introduced an online tool that could be used to help you figure out how much emergency savings fund you might need. The follow up question is - where to park the emergency fund?

There are a few factors to consider:

1. Safe and Liquid
You need to ensure quick access to the emergency funds, which rules out investing the money in stock market. Why? Because what if the stock market is at a low point, but you need access to the fund?

2. Avoid Costs
Due to consideration above, emergency funds are best to park at savings or money market accounts. It's important to pay attention to monthly fees or minimum required amount requirements. You should look for $0 monthly fee accounts and as low as possible minimum balance requirements.

Here are a few good options to consider, they all offer at least 1.05% annual rate and no or low minimum requirement:

3 Ways to Save on Utility Costs by Using Solar Power

5/31/2015

Q. What's the best way to pay for solar power system and save on utility cost?

A. There are 3 ways a family can pay for solar power installation and use solar power to save on electric bills, which way works for your family depends on many factors, though.

1. Purchase Solar Power System Outright
Cost
In this option, you will invest upfront on a solar power system that could cost $10,000 to $30,000 after Federal tax credit (actual amount varies with size of the system required).

Return
For most families, the solar power system can save your monthly utility bill from $100 to $200.

Conclusion
The payback time will be 5-10 years. If you will stay at the house for a long time and have the money to invest, this gives you the best ROI.

2. Lease Solar Power System
Cost
You lease the solar power system from the provider, which means you won't be able to claim any Federal credit, but you don't have to pay anything upfront. You pay the solar company a monthly fee or preset discount price for the power generated.

Return
You will be able to lower your monthly utility bill by 10% to 20% ($10-$40 a month).

Conclusion
This option is great for people who don't have the cash and/or don't play to stay at the house for too long.

3. Financing a Solar Power System
Cost
You don't have to pay your own cash upfront, instead, you finance the solar power system through a loan (10-20 years loan with interest rates similar to mortgage rates), and you pay the lender with interest.

Return
You will be able to achieve higher monthly utility savings - after loan payment. Typically, you can cut your electric bill by 40-60% (or $40-$120 a month).

Conclusion
This option providers greater savings over option 2, but not as good as option 1.

3 Ways to Save on College Tour Costs

5/30/2015

Q. How can I save on college tour costs?

A. Here are 3 ways parents and high school students can save on college tour costs:

1. Research at Home
There are websites that enable you conduct virtual college campus tours from the comfort of home, for example: youvisit.com/colleges. You can also join web chats with financial aid officers and admission officers via collegeweeklive.com.

2. Attend Organized Tours
College-visits.com offers trips by region such as New England and California.

3. Let Colleges Pay For It
If your child is in high demand, you can ask for colleges to pay for the travel costs, it's called "fly-in" program. You can find many more such tips from College Secrets for Teens.

3 Top Ways to Save on Air-conditioning

5/27/2015

Summer is coming! What's the best way to save on air conditioning cost? The June issue of the Money magazine recommends the following 3 top ways for families to save on air-conditioning costs:

Clean and replace air filers - this could cut a/c cost up to 15%
Buy a programmable thermostat and keep it at 78 degree when you are home - this could save cost by 10%
Install ceiling fans - this could reduce air conditioning cost by up to 4%

Green and Cost Effective Cleaning Supplies

5/23/2015

Many common cleaning supplies contain harmful chemicals. Below is a list of greener options that are easy and cost effective to do your spring cleaning.

1. Baking Soda
Useful against mold and stains.

2. Hydrogen Peroxide
Use it in a spray bottle to clean surfaces.

3. Borax
A laundry booster, fungicide, herbicide, and general household cleaner.

4. Rubbing Alcohol
Use it to clean sinks, stainless and chrome. Dilute with water to wash windows.

5. Coca Cola
It cleans toilets, rusty parts, and even laundry.

7 Items It's Best to Buy Used

5/18/2015

Q. Which items are the best to buy second hand instead of new?

A. It is a smart move to buy the following 7 categories of items used rather than new -

1. Cars
A new car will lose 20% of its value after 1 year, and lose 40% of its value after 5 years. It's wise to buy a 1-2 year new car.
2. Books
This is especially important for college students, and we have shared an extensive list of ways to save on college books.

3. Furniture
If you are renting for a short period of time, it's wise to buy second hand furniture from places such as:

Craigslist
Freecycle
Consignment shops
Garage sales

4. Tools
Garage sales, Craigslist, and eBay are all good sources for second hand tools.

5. Baby clothes
Consignment shops and garage sales are good places to shop used (or even new!) baby clothes.

6. Fitness tools
If you want to save on gym fees, find used fitness equipment at Craigslist.

7. DVD and game consoles
GameStop, eBay and Amazon are good places for used items in this category.

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IMPORTANT DISCLOSURES
PFwise.com does not provide investment, tax, or legal advice. The information presented here is not specific to any individual's personal circumstances.

To the extent that any material concerns tax matters, it is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, by a taxpayer for the purpose of avoiding penalties that may be imposed by law. Each taxpayer should seek independent advice from a tax professional based on his or her individual circumstances.

These materials are provided for general information and educational purposes based upon publicly available information from sources believed to be reliable—we cannot assure the accuracy or completeness of these materials. The information in these materials may change at any time and without notice.

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