Google is rolling out its new coupon platform starting in Portland Oregon. Google’s answer to Groupon.com will arrive in San Francisco next, then New York.
Unlike Groupon Google’s new coupon platform will allow business owners to extend offers past the standard 24 hour period. Google promises “50% off or more at places you’ll love. In Portland the response was nothing short of amazing when a local coffee shop called Floyd’s Coffee used Google Offers. 1,700 of the possible 2000 vouchers were snapped up. I’d suggest that this was due to publicity rather than the typical result business’ can expect from Google Offers. I think this is great! The more local coupon sites out there the better. I just hope it’s a win / win situation for the consumer and business. This is the only was business model will stand the test of time.
Today all over the world, the gas prices keep going up and the money on our wallet keeps evaporating quickly. Since people are doing whatever it takes to get by to see the next day and get from point A to B and as gas prices on the rise the cost of life will continue to rise. Gas prices have no intentions on going down and 1 gallon of gasoline is much close to the pay of minimum hourly wage. Up to now, gas prices continue to rise as politics play tug of war in the oil field industry.
The questions here is how to save money on gas that every now and then gas prices are rising eventually and when the price wil go down it is not still enough to manage our own budget for other necessary and basic needs for everyday. Below are some tips or strategies on how to save money on gas:
One is to limit driving where to do a one stop shopping for all foods and other things and if there are unnecessary travel you can have it postpone or either have it for the next day where you add this in your schedule. Another thing is to plan your trips in advance. In this way one can prevent wasting fuel and most of all the time. Plan to use alternative routes. Sometimes back road can prevent you from stopping at traffic lights and more importantly sitting in a traffic jam almost in a day. Be sure to have your trips scheduled and errands when the traffic is lighter. Another important thing on how to save gas on money is one must keep their car in good shape by keeping their tires inflated to the recommended pressure and must check every now and then the spark plugs. Or either way you can have your car park in a central location when you are planning to have a meeting and errands and must walk between them.
These are simple strategies on how to save money on gas. Through this way, you are not only saving your money but also your time.
If there is one thing I can’t stand about airlines and any other company for that matter its hidden fees. I was on a recent trip to Hawaii. Hawaiian Airlines charged me $15 each way for my 1 checked bag. No one travels across the Pacific packing just a carry on bag. I decided today to give you the breakdown by airline for baggage fees so you have ALL the information on the total ticket price next time you book your flight. Thanks airfarewatchdog.com for the chart.
Seems like everyone is a marketer and divulging their secrets for a profit. I’m about to tell you a secret that has been working for me.
If your looking for cheap advertising that converts. Yes, this site actually brings in real visitors that will interact with your web site. Look at EntreCard.com advertising. When I signed up only a couple weeks ago CPC was $0.02 now it’s $0.04 a click. If there is one thing I learned about marketing on the Internet is prices always go up fast. Anything you want to do take advantage the first time you see it or you’re probably too late. Internet marketing is a feeding frenzy. The only thing you can do is stay out in front of the school of fish. The fish will always catch up, if the shark doesn’t get you first (Think algorithm changes/policy changes).
So do yourself a favor if you have a web site or blog promote it with EntreCard.com advertising. Sign up takes minutes and ads are approved within a day. Take advantage of it now while prices are low… my prediction for 2009-2010 CPC will be around $0.10 min.
Are you a Costco member? If you are you can get the Costco American Express Cash Back card with no annual fee and get 5% cash back on fuel, 3% cash back on restaurants, and 1% cash back on everything else.
Application
I just signed up for this card yesterday after hearing about the card from a Costco employee.
How much can I earn?
Lets see the just for an example the 2009 Subaru Outback Wagon AWD gets 20 MPG city and 27 MPG highway for an average annual fuel cost of $1133. If you were to charge that gas on a American Express card you would get $56.65 cash back.
Lets say you eat out at restaurants a lot. Average cost a week $100 x 4 = $400 x 12 months = $4800 per year. If you were to use the American Express Costco Card you would earn $144.00 cash back.
Now charge everything else on your 1% cash back card from your groceries to your mortgage. Lets say $2000 per month x 12 = $24,000 year. You would get $240.00 cash back.
The grand total:
If you were to charge everything on this card from gas, to restaurants, to everything else the grand total would be $440.65. Not a lot, but not bad either. That’s why I decided to get the American Express Costco Card.
Clark Howard is one of my favorite radio personalities. Clark Howard has a talk show all about saving money. Now you can find Clark Howard on CNN. Visit his show page at http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/clark.howard/.
You can also visit the ClarkHoward.com web site for more in depth information. The CNN Howard page has lots of video so both are definitely worth checking out.
2009, It’s a New Year, Time for Exercise Equipment Infomercials!
Have you noticed that the airways are filling up with commercial after commercial selling gimmicky exercise equipment? Hahaha.. was my reaction when I first saw the infomercial for Malibu Pilates.
Malibu Pilates using the power of a single spring and some plastic handles to transform the flabby into cover worthy fitness models. Have you ever been into the As Seem on TV stores in the mall and realized that 95% off of all ASOTV products are crap? ASOTV products are sold on TV for a reason, nobody would buy them if they could actually see them up close. Malibu Pilates is no exception.
The Malibu Pilates reminds me about what’s wrong with As Seen on TV products. Even the name sounds like a marketing ploy. The only reason people lose weight with this type of flimsy equipment, is the accompanying weight lose plan. The dirty little secret in the exercise direct response world is they can make those extraordinary claims because the exercise equipment is always “part of a system.” The “system” includes a diet book that you have to follow. Losing weight with pieces of equipment like Malibu Pilates or any ASOTV equipment usually has more to do with the diet plan than the machinery. You could probably lose weight by blowing up balloons if it came with a diet booklet and sold as part of a system.
If you want to go with a good weight lose ASOTV system that I’ve even used I’d recommend Beach Body’s P90X with Tony Horton. Save your money, don’t buy gimmicky machines like the Malibu Pilates.
At Home Depot you can get your entire house carpeted, no limit, for only $139. This is for any carpet any size house from 1000 square feet to 5,000 square feet. There is no room limit, but house must be a single family house, and you must purchase carpet from Home Depot. Capet will be professionally installed for only $139. If only I needed carpet, I might take advantage of this deal.
Dennys.com free Denny’s Grand Slam Breakfast Feb. 3rd 2009 6:00 AM – 2:oo PM. The Grand Slam Breakfast includes 2 pancakes, 2 eggs, 2 pieces of bacon, and 2 sausage links. Go to Dennys.com for more info.
