Americans Feel Effects of Rising Food Prices

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89832826

The effects of the food crisis are being felt throughout the world. Even American shoppers are seeing a bump in prices at the grocery store. Money coach Alvin Hall and consumer advocate Donna Maria Coles Johnson talk about what's causing the crisis and share tips on how to shop smart.

Donna Maria's Top 10 Tips for Using Coupons

1. Commit to a budget. I withdraw a certain amount of money from the ATM on Sundays, to last all week. This helps me actually see money going through my hands, not a pretty sight. It encourages me to save anywhere and everywhere I can. It's amazing how much more I save when I actually feel the green slipping through my fingers!

2. Accept that couponing takes time. It's worth it. This is the biggest reason people tell me they don't coupon - no time. But if you are struggling to make ends meet, you should have a lot of time so use it wisely. Your kids can help you clip coupons. If you can shave 30 percent to 50 percent off your grocery budget each week, isn't it worth the time?

3. Start small. Don't feel like you have to take couponing on all at once. Start with bottled beverages or dairy products and work your way from there. Soon, you'll be able to set up a system that works for you.

4. Carry your coupons with you. This is the second biggest reason people tell me they don't use coupons - "I left my coupons at home." Keep them in the car. That way, you are never without the chance to save some money.

5. Forget brand loyalty. If, for example, only one brand of deodorant works for you, stick with that brand. Other than that, use coupons.

6. Shop around. Don't just shop at one store. Compare prices using circulars from the paper. Many are also available online so there's no excuse not to know what's on sale where in your area.

7. Use the Internet. I needed a $30 prescription filled last month that was not covered by insurance. I searched a few local pharmacies online and found a coupon to receive a $25 gift card if I filled my prescription at that pharmacy. I paid $5 for a $30 scrip, and got $25 back!

8. Stack coupons. Example: tissue has a regular price of $2. Store has it on sale for $1.50. You have a coupon for 50 cents off. Store doubles coupon. You get $2 tissue for 50 cents after the store discount and doubled coupon.

9. Use rebates. Many manufacturers offer mail in rebates. We're used to them with electronics equipment, but grocery rebates are out there too. Often if you send in for the rebate, not only will you get a rebate check, but more coupons for the product too. Also, save your receipts for at least a month so you can take advantage of rebates on purchases of types of products as opposed to specific brands.

10. Communicate with your favorite brands online. If you like a product, e-mail them and tell them. They'll usually respond with coupons as a "thank you." Likewise, if you don't like something you purchased, take it back to the store and get your money back. Then e-mail the manufacturer about the issue. Again, they'll often respond with coupons for other products you might like.

Home theaters, weight benches, PlayStations, laptops, rugs

Posted Feb 15 2008, 09:34 AM by Karen Datko

Filed under: Hot Deals

Rating:

Here are today's hot deals from partner blog dealnews.com:

Panasonic SC-PT750 1,000W 5.1 home theater system with HDMI for $199.97. With free shipping, that's $124 off last month's mention and the lowest total price we've seen by far.

Marcy Classic mid-size weight bench for $124.88. Shipping adds $35.97 or choose free in-store pickup. Even with shipping, that's $18 off last month's mention and the lowest total price we've seen.

Sony PlayStation 2 system bundle for $99.99. With free shipping, it's a $50 overnight drop and the lowest total price we've seen by $50.

Toshiba Satellite AMD Dual Core 1.8GHz 15-inch wide-screen laptop plus printer for $629.99. A $180 mail-in rebate cuts it to $449.99. With free shipping, that's the lowest total price we could find. Plus, get the Lexmark X2580 multifunction printer, which also scans and copies, for $0 via an $80 mail-in rebate.

Artworks Bountiful 5-by-8-foot rug for $13.49. Coupon code NEW3988 cuts it to $12.14. With $21.95 for shipping, that's $168 off list and the lowest total price we could find.

The Perfect Purchase: Best Time for Bargains

When it comes to making a pricey purchase, there are ways to save money, simply by waiting for the right time to buy it.

Cell phone

Gotta get your hands on that newest, latest cell phone? You might save money if you wait.

"A lot of times when new phones come out, usually after a month, (the price) will drop down on a special," said Steve Marshall, Sprint district manager.

Marshall shares more savings secrets: "New models come out quite often, and a lot of times, we'll discount the previous models, so if you don't have to have the newest and latest, you might be able to find a better deal."

If you're looking for that peak time of year for deep discounts on cell phones, cash in at Christmas time. That's when companies compete for your holiday shopping dollars.

"You might receive an additional mail-in rebate," Marshall said. "Or a lot of times, we'll have specials, like buy one, get one free."

Television

The same goes for TV's. There's a reason that electronics fly off the shelves during the holidays.

"During Christmas time, you're going to have great deals," said Adam Liebling, manager at Best Buy electronics store. "Discounts anywhere from ten percent off, to hundreds of dollars off."

But even waiting until after Christmas can score you a big bargain. "Kind of the big Superbowl time period of January is a great time to buy as well," said Liebling. "We have some great promotions with financing and some good discounted TVs."

Car

In the market for a new car? Try rolling into the dealership toward the end of the year, when car lots face crunch-time for meeting quotas and commissions.

"When it comes to that time, they'll do anything to make the car deal," said Maya Schacht with AAA Automotive Services. "They don't want you to leave."

Schacht says the best time to buy a car is during the months of August, September, or October. That's when current cars must clear out, to make space for newer-year models coming in. Besides slashing prices, some dealers might offer incentives, like maintenance plans or bonuses, to make the sale.

But a warning: this prime time for purchasing doesn't last long. "The longer you wait, the inventory just isn't that great," said Schacht. "And you will get stuck with whatever is out there, and usually it's the more expensive models, and you kind of take whatever color is available."

House

What about when it comes to perhaps the biggest purchase of your life?

"I think 2008 will be a great time to buy a house most anytime during the year," said John Strobeck, with Bright Future Consulting. Strobeck says it's a buyer's market. So if you are house-hunting, he says consider this: "You're probably going to get a better selection in the spring and fall than you will in the summertime."

That's because the summer is when families look to move into homes before their kids start the new school year. It's also when new winter visitors come flocking to Tucson to settle in for the season. So, avoid the summer, and you'll avoid extra competition over available homes."

P&G's brandSaver Races Ahead

By Jean Luo

Procter & Gamble shines the spotlight on its NASCAR ties in the February issue of brandSaver.

The monthly stand-alone FSI delivers $69 in coupons and introduces new products from Clairol, Head & Shoulders, Zest, Olay, Gillette and Bounty. It also introduces the concentrated 2X Ultra formulation from Tide, which P&G has teased for weeks via shelf signs in stores. (See Images at right.)

Elsewhere, Gillette promotes antiperspirants by featuring an outdated lineup of its "Young Guns" NASCAR spokesmen. The feature congratulates driver Jimmie Johnson for back-to-back Nextel Cup victories, despite his departure from the promotional program in December 2007. (Gillette added drivers Clint Bowyer and Denny Hamlin on Feb. 10 after hosting a "Guess the Drivers" sweeps from Jan. 4 to Feb. 8.)

Meanwhile, Prilosec OTC shifts gears from football to racing by billing its ongoing heartburn-relief message as the "NASCAR Block-the-Burn Challenge" and touting its status as the "official frequent heartburn remedy of NASCAR." In last month's brandSaver, Prilosec challenged shoppers to "be heartburn free on the road to the Super Bowl."

In other brand-specific activity:

• Clairol's Herbal Essences enlists Mexican pop group RBD to introduce a Long Term Relationship hair care collection. Shoppers send a text message to receive a free ring tone of the group's song, "Liso Sensual."
  
• Oral-B's Stages line for children hosts a mail-in rebate for $5 off any Baby Einstein or Little Einsteins DVD from Walt Disney with purchase of two SKUs through May 31.
  
• Pampers continues to push its "Bright Mornings" partnership with General Mills' Cheerios. (See Related Articles.) The brand's Kandoo Wipes line offers a free tub dispenser with purchase of any wipes products through March 31.

Retailers such as Ahold USA's Giant-Landover division featured P&G in circulars, while Rite Aid awards Single Check Rebates of $10 and $25 to shoppers who buy $25 and $50, respectively, in beauty brands.

Published: February 2008

Source: In-Store Marketing Institute

AT&T Adds Low Cost HSPA Cards to Its Lineup

AT&T's new HSPA cards available for ExpressCard and PC Card slots

Wireless internet access has fast become a requirement for mobile business types needing to be productive away from the office. Thankfully large providers like AT&T are rolling out faster mobile Internet access with broadband speeds.

To help consumers take advantage of these speeds AT&T announced today that it is adding two new HSPA cards to its lineup for notebook computers. The Option GT Ultra and Option GT Ultra Express are virtually identical with the main difference being support for different card buses.

The Option GT Ultra is designed to be used in notebooks that use Type II PC Card slots and uses a retractable antenna. The Option GT Ultra Express is for notebooks using the newer 34mm ExpressCard slots and uses a flip-up antenna.

Both cards operate on the same tri-band technology supporting UMTS/HSPA at 850/1900/2100MHz and GPRS/EDGE at 850/900/1800/1900MHz. The supported frequencies for the new LaptopConnect cards allow users to access the Internet in more than 140 countries including Japan and Korea.

The two cards allow access to AT&T’s BroadbandConnect wireless network with download speeds between 600 kbps and 1400 kbps. Upload speeds on the network range from 500 Kbps to 800 Kbps. Both of the new notebook cards are compatible with Windows Vista, XP, 2000 and Mac OS X 10.4.10 and later. To use the cards on a Mac requires an additional free download.

The Option GT Ultra and GT Ultra Express will be available for $49.99 after a mail-in rebate and a two-year DataConnect contract for at least $60 per month. AT&T says that starting February 15 both devices will be free after mail-in rebate and data plan for a limited time.

AT&T, the exclusive iPhone carrier in America will be bringing a new version of the iPhone to market with Apple sometime in 2008 that supports the same high-speed 3G data network.