I have an Orange ING account. Last year, I opened an “Electric Orange” checking account and got a $25 bonus. All I had to do was set up the account and use the debit card feature three times to get the bonus. Today only, Black Friday, they’ve got the same deal, but with $121 as a bonus (this apparently is the average annual overdraft fee paid by the average consumer). Go to ingdirect.com/blackfriday to get this deal!
I like to read magazines, but rarely buy them. I have subscriptions to two magazines that were free from mycokerewards.com. But, having joined a gym, I now have a great opportunity to read lots of magazines.
The gym has a magazine rack near the exercise bikes. I like to grab a few magazines to read while I pedal for an hour. I always enjoy the usual staples - People, Time, Newsweek - but when none of these were around, I started branching into new genres just because they were there, and I wanted something to read.
Luckily for me, the consumer reports that was available was a current issue with camera reviews. I’ve read quite a few car magazines - I’m not planning to buy any of the cars, but it provided insight into what to look for in a car. I read a few alumni magazines from colleges I did not attend - it’s always interesting to read an “insider” view of something you don’t belong to. A few newsletters from animal organizations, environmental concerns, and unions were interesting. And I had a chance to read conservative and liberal magazines.
Since these magazines are there for the reading, I am using them to broaden my perspective. I learned that the car magazines review mainstream “boring” cars in addition to sports cars, so I know one place to look if I end up in the market for a car. I had long ago forgotten about Consumer Reports until I found it on the magazine rack, and it helped my finalize my decision about buying a particular model of camera. While none of the “position” materials have changed my mind, I learned more about other points of view (and I am going to bring newsletters I have finished and leave them for others to read).
My old digital camera gave up, and I decided to finally break down and get a new one.
All cameras are not created equal, so I put some effort into deciding what model to get. I asked around at work, someone recommended a canon pwershot a1100is. Turns out I had used this model as a friend owns it. Then I looked in consumer reports, this camera was a recommended buy. Given this consensus, I decided to purchase this model. I was now on a quest for the best price.,
There was a large price range for this camera. The best was at Amazon.com for $129, but I kept looking around. I found it at Staples for $129, but with a $50 rebate for a staples gift card,.
I ordered it at Staples.com, by going through my continental airlines frequent flyer account, so I will get frequent flyer points. I used in-store pickup so I would receive the item in the store, and could check it there (and immediately exchange it if anything appeared amiss). I went online to sign up for the rebate (not well advertised, I bet a lot of people will forget to get the rebate).
I am now going to read the owner’s manual and set up the time/date stamp, and learn about the extra features.
I love the atmosphere in Whole Foods, but many times the prices seem a bit much. However, today was not such a day. Outside the store was a sandwichboard sign indicating that a certain brand of greek yogurt was $1.25 per container (these are the single serving sizes). In the Whole Foods flyer was a coupon for $1.00 of one of these greek yogurts. So I got the yogurt, which is ordinarily $2.19, for $.25!
I’ve seen this yogurt for $1.00 or so at other stores, but have never seen it for $.25. I’m probably going to get more when I pass by Whole Foods (but I think its one per purchase, since I go into Whole Foods to buy small items and browse, I will probably pick up one of these greek yogurts whenever I’m in there for as long as the promotion continues).