Music Lessons for Less

RobinRaven March 10th, 2010

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Learning how to play music well is largely a matter of practice. Regardless of what instructors you have, the one criterium most likely to help you to play well is how often you practice. Nevertheless, having the right instructor can go a long way toward helping you practice well.

Unfortunately, music lessons are often quite expensive. Luckily, there are a few ways you can help to keep the cost of your lessons down, if you’re willing to work a little harder in finding the right instructor and use a few less common methods of learning.

By far, the cheapest way to keep your costs down is to use a free service. Believe it or not, YouTube has a number of videos geared toward teaching all kinds of musical instruments, and all are available for viewing for free. While it is not a proper substitute for learning from a teacher, it’s still a good way to help make your practice sessions more productive.

You can also find some quality music books, CDs, and DVDs at your local library. By borrowing these materials from the library, you can save on what it would cost to buy them. However, you should be sure to purchase any materials that you plan on using extensively, so that you have access to it continuously, rather than having to trust no one else will try to borrow it from the library. Amazon is a great place to look for gently used materials that you can then keep and make your own. You can get even further savings on Amazon products when using these Amazon.com Coupon Codes.

When choosing an instructor, it isn’t always best to pay as little as possible. The more experienced teachers generally command a larger salary, and it isn’t always possible to get them to lower their rates. However, if the tutor you want to use quotes a rate that does seem a little too high, don’t forget that haggling over the price is perfectly valid in the music tutor industry.  Also, you can sometimes get a substantial reduction in rate if the tutor feels that they are teaching a prodigy. This won’t always work. However, if the lessons are for a small child who already knows how to play well, the right teacher may be willing to instruct for little more than expenses. The honor of being able to teach a prodigy is payment enough in most music teachers’ minds.

You can save even more money on an instructor if you hire someone very young. It isn’t always the best idea to hire a teenage music tutor, because they generally know how to play more than they know how to teach to play. In the absence of any other tutors, it can only help to make you a better musician.

If you are looking to buy an instrument, check out our Musician’s Friend Coupons Codes for Free Shipping on your order.

Regardless of what methods you use to save money, always keep in mind that the best way to get better is to just practice. No amount of instruction, videos or workbooks will help you to become a better musician without extensive practice. If you ever need to skip a practice session, don’t. Instead, try to just shorten it as much as is needed. Consistency is as important as how often you practice. If you commit to practicing twice a week, then be sure to practice twice a week, every week, no matter what.  Remembering these short tips should help you to learn music inexpensively.

Ebay Auction Tips & Tricks

Checkout Chick March 9th, 2010


I’ve been an active “EBay-er” buyer for several years now, and like most people I’ve gotten some incredible deals just by being on the website “in the right place at the right time”. Everyone has an “eBay story”, about how they got a fantastic deal and basically “stole” an item for pennies, and I myself am no exception. I’ve saved on just about everything from designer handbags, to electronics, to clothing lots, to even household items. That old saying “One person’s trash, is another person’s treasure” rings especially true with eBay…There is a buyer for everything on EBay. As a matter of fact, I log into my EBay account just about every day just to scroll through the auctions and see what’s happening, whether I have an idea in mind for a purchase or not. I can usually be persuaded to make a purchase if the deal is simply too good to pass up. It certainly helps that in my years as an EBay-er, I’ve learned a few tricks and shortcuts to help save myself money on auctions, and since today is your lucky day, I’m going to share some of those tricks with you:

1. First off, auctions that end over the weekend usually have more bidders and higher prices than those that end mid week. Reason being is that more people are home, and more likely online browsing over the weekend than during the work week. If you’re looking to save on an item, find ones that end mid week, preferably late at night as they’ll more likely have less bidders driving up the cost of the item. I lucked out once by bidding on an item that ended in the middle of the night, and I’m not ashamed to admit that I actually set an alarm clock to make sure that I didn’t lose that auction!

2. One thing that annoys me about EBay is that some listings have shipping costs that are higher than the actual item for sale. Free shipping is one of those “luxury items” on EBay, so anytime I come across a listing for free shipping, it instantly makes me a whole lot more interested in the item. Think about it this way: if there are two identical items for sale, one for $15 with $7.50 shipping, and one for $20 with free shipping, the $20 item is obviously the better deal. If you’re interested in saving on shipping costs, check out our eBay coupon here for all items marked free shipping.

3. The next suggestion can be a bit of a pain, but a little effort on your behalf can add up to considerable savings, and that is to reconsider bidding on items that don’t accept PayPal as a payment term. Most bidders won’t bother with listings that do not accept PayPal as it takes quite a bit of effort to go out of their way and purchase a money order. Therefore, if you bid on items that do not accept PayPal, you’re bound to save yourself a nice chunk of change since they’re more than likely being ignored. Once again, if you resolve to do the legwork, the savings can be substantial.

4. Stake out an item, add it to your “watch list” and then place your bid in the last few seconds to “steal” an item from another bidder. This is known as “sniping”, and though it sounds harsh, it is fully supported by EBay as part of “the EBay experience”. All bids are valid, even in the last few seconds of the live auction, and as a matter of fact most auctions garner the most activity in the last couple of minutes. It can be very gratifying to know that your patience and due diligence paid off, so sneak in there and grab it while you can!

Saving on Luxuries: Living Well in Hard Times

RobinRaven March 8th, 2010

As the economy fluctuates to different levels of a tough time for many, it’s only natural to want to keep your own situation steady and safe. As such, you’re probably determined to set a budget of same kind and work on saving money. Even with budgets and saving plans, you don’t have to deny yourself the little luxuries that can bring great excitement and enjoy to ordinary days. In fact, it’s possible to save money while still indulging in the excesses that can make life much happier.

Continue to see all of your favorite bands live. Although finances may not allow you to see every single band that comes to town, there’s no reason that you shouldn’t see the ones you like the most for every concert tour they have. Few forget concerts that inspire and enthrall them. Giving yourself a memory that will last a lifetime is worth a high price, yet you can pay a low price through several discount ticket sites, such as Stub Hub. To take it a step further and save even more on ticket websites, see the ticket coupons from Shop Gala.

Be a jet setter while scrimping and saving. The internet has opened up a world of possibilities for travel savings, and it has opened up many options that were only widely available through travel agents in years’ past. Search for the deal, instead of waiting for the deal to be advertised to you. Priceline, which is famous for its Priceline Negotiator, a hero who travels far and wide to find you the best deal. Luckily, it usually does live up to its hype, and it’s one of the best websites on the internet for reliability and savings. To further the savings even more, first check out these Priceline.com deals.

Home improvements may need to be done by yourself–or by friends and relatives–if money is tight. However, it’s still possible to make small and large improvements and changes all by yourself. By shopping at the Home Depot, you can get all the materials that professional painters, carpenters and workers use. Never buy pieces of equipment that you don’t know how to operate well and safely, but this is a great destination for paint, lamps and all the basics for home improvement and design. It’s already known as a lower priced store, but take the savings a step further by checking out these Home Depot coupon codes .

Invest in Sunday’s newspaper. You can find coupons that will help you save significantly on different luxury items, from furniture to gourmet food products. You will also want to read the “free” ads on websites like Craigslist. Use it to look for items in great shape available for less or for nothing. Wealthier families and individuals often list gently worn items for those who may be in need or struggling financially. Before answering any ad, however, know that you should never meet someone alone. When meeting up with a stranger for a transaction of any kind, always meet up in a public place.

Sears Coupons & Savings Tips

RobinRaven March 5th, 2010

Sears is a department store that’s known for good deals on appliances and household decor. Yet, it sales all kinds of things to fulfill the day-to-day needs of your life. Instead of going for inferior appliances at marts or everything stores, plan ahead before going to Sears to get maximum savings on premium quality merchandise, from washers and dryers to the latest fashions.

The best time to shop at Sears is during the sales days and sales periods that they have at different times throughout the year. Black Friday, the shopping day after Thanksgiving—and the most busy shopping day of the year—offers especially good deals at Sears. There are sales near major holidays throughout the year. Call ahead to your local store, and a customer service representative is usually very happy to explain to you when the next sales period begins. If you don’t want to wait, check out the various types of Sears coupons offered by Shopgala.

When you go into Sears, compare the prices of similar items. If something appears to be offered at a cheaper price for similar quality to more expensive items, consider possible reasons why. Talk to a member of the Sears Blue Crew. While they are motivated for profit, they’re more motivated by customer service. If you get to know the local members of your Sears Blue Crew, they’ll be more inclined to trust you and level with you on the products. They have knowledge of the product lines, including what are best sellers and oftentimes which items are ultimately the best deals.

Consider shopping at a Sears Outlet store. Offering the same name brands—and oftentimes the very same merchandise as traditional Sears stores—Sears Outlet stores offer moderate and extreme discounts. You can get almost anything for your home from the outlet store, from a riding lawnmower to a treadmill to a refrigerator to bedding and a miniature trampoline. You can even get toys and gifts for children.

As is advertised by its own website, Sears Outlet sales the items for 20 to 60 percent of their original prices. There’s an outlet weekly ad that’s offered on its own website, which will highlight the maximum savings offerings for that particular week. Also, ShopGala also offers Sears Outlet Stores Coupons.

Sears is more than just a great place to save money on the things you need to live an easier life. There’s also a portrait studio in most Sears stores. Use it to take seasonal family photos or to document how your child changes month to month through the years. Yes, Sears offers that great of a deal and makes being photographed by a professional photographer within the reach of any family budget. Whether it’s a senior portrait or a picture to give your spouse as a present, the photo studio at Sears offers professional quality pictures for far less than you’d pay at most big studios. Shop Gala offers photo savings with Sears as well.

Use PlasticJungle.com To Exchange Gift Cards

Checkout Chick March 3rd, 2010

Buying a gift card seems pretty cut and dry right? Gift cards never go on sale, coupons do not apply to them, nor do earned loyalty “points” or anything like that. If you want to purchase a gift card you visit the retailer either in person or online and buy the card for the full stated amount. It’s a pretty cut and dry process, if you ask me.  Needless to say, there’s no real way to save money on a gift card, right? Well, read on…

What about being a gift card recipient? What are your options if the gift card the simply wasn’t selected well? Say you’re a vegan and you received a gift card to Mel’s Butcher Shop, or you’re a 5 foot nothing male who’s now the proud owner of a Men’s Big & Tall Store gift card. In the past there wasn’t a whole lot you could do about a bad gift card match. Stores won’t offer refunds on gift cards, so at best maybe you could try and pawn it off to one of your friends. Well as with most things with the dawn of the internet age, there’s now a way to gain a benefit from your gift cards that would have once went to waste.

This is where gift card exchange websites come in: There are a bunch of websites out there where you can sell, buy, exchange and/or donate gift cards, but PlasticJungle.com is considered the premier destination to do this.  Plastic Jungle offers the simplest and safest way to buy gift cards at a reduced price, as well as turn your unwanted gift cards into cash. You can even exchange your gift cards for ones you’d prefer by simply logging into the website and using the barter system. PlasticJungle.com guarantees that all transactions are secure and safe and they even offer gift card replacement protection in case they are lost or damaged.

Now you ask, “Why would anybody want to sell a gift card for less than face value? Isn’t that a little like throwing money away?” Not at all. Think of it in the event of the vegan receiving the Mel’s Butcher Shop card above. Somewhere, out there, there’s a meat loving individual who would be happy to buy a $50 Mel’s Butcher Shop card for less than face value. Even buying it for $40 would mean they save $10 off their purchase. The meat loving consumer isn’t going to waste their time logging on and buying a gift card at full value, because buying a gift card at face value is a little like buying cash for cash. There’s no savings – i.e. motivation – in that to bother. With PlasticJungle.com, the vegan has the option to sell it to others, or even trade it at full value for another card for full value. Maybe the meat lover has a $50 gift card to VegansRUs that he simply has no use for. He and the vegan can exchange their cards to one another for a perfect match!

There are some restrictions with buying and selling gift cards online, as some retailers impose a strict no resale clause. Good communication with the seller is important. Also check to make sure there is no looming  or expired expiration date. PlasticJungle.com ensures that the gift card is not used and is at its stated value upon purchase so there are no worries there. Furthermore, they offer free shipping on all purchases. Please check out our PlasticJungle.com coupons and promotions for further savings.

Gateway Netbook LT3103: Product Review

RobinRaven March 2nd, 2010

The netbook promises to be a great, happy medium to having a cheap computing device and one’s that’s very portable.  At its concept, the netbook is a small version of a regular notebook. It’s smaller and weighs significantly less, often under three pounds. Although it has limited storage space (most netbooks aren’t fit for an iTunes library), it does  regular computing functions well. It’s a great tool for searching the web or bringing along to write in public places. Most simply put, it’s a mini laptop, from the screen to the smaller keyboard to the body.

A few months ago, I got a Gateway Netbook, the LT3103 model. I needed a new computer, and borrowing the Mac of a friend just wasn’t cutting it. I loved the Mac, but I couldn’t then afford to invest that much money in a computer. It seemed that the Gateway Netbook was the solution. It could bridge the time period of when I needed an expensive, main source computer until I could afford one with fast, easy computing. As it turns out, this was a very wise investment.

The display screen on this version of the netbook is 11.6 inches. It was a great feature of the computer. I never had any problems with it, and it served all purposes well, allowing for the easy read of websites and easy view for writing the many articles that I composed on it. It weighs 3.04 lbs. It offers a LED backlit display with a 16:9 aspect ratio and 1366 x 768 resolution.

On the other hand, the miniature keyboard had keys that sometimes stuck a little. Although I’m told it’s not a regular problem for the keyboard, it was for me. I type extremely fast, a result of a passion for writing since childhood and frequently writing and typing, and the small keyboard slowed me down slightly. I’m not exactly sure why, but I found myself working much more effectively when I used the LT3103 model with an regular keyboad plugged into the USB slot. Luckily, it’s equipped to allow you to attach an external keyboard, and that solved my main problem with the computer. However, keep in mind that may look a little silly if you do your writing in coffeehouses.

This computer has a speed of speed of 1.2GHz. It’s definitely not ideal for gaming or video editing. However, it doesn’t exactly come with that promise. It’s a good, functional little computer, and it’s ideal for packing up easily and carrying without a worry.

Overall, I think that the Gateway Netbook LT3103 is definitely worth the money. You’ll want to use the Wi-fi on the computer. Avoid signing up for 3G plans offered with many netbooks, as those are usually more expensive than they’re worth, and you can end up paying much more on the connection than you would save by getting a netbook over a regular laptop.

Other features of this netbook include Windows Vista Home Basic and has some great features, including ATI Radeon X1270 Graphics, 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, 250GB SATA hard drive, 2GB of DDR2 533MHz SDRAM and an AMD Athlon 64 L110 Single-Core 1.2GHz processor.

Look for Gateway Netbook LT3103 deals at PC Connection & Amazon.com.

Olympic Athlete Sponsors Deals and Savings

Checkout Chick March 1st, 2010

I love the Olympics Season. There’s something about watching these incredibly talented young athletes in competition that I find so motivating. They’re all doing what they were born to do – what they love more than anything in this world – and they’re getting paid big bucks to do it through corporate sponsorships. Seriously, where do I sign up for that job? If you’re interested in learning a bit more about some of the brands that sponsor athletes, the products the athletes endorse, and even some of the athletes own clothing and sports lines than read on. Please note that a lot of these sponsors only sponsor the athlete themselves, and not necessarily the Olympic Games.

Under Armour is one of the biggest sponsors of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, with endorsed medal hopefuls in the categories of Freestyle, Skeleton Bob, Bobsled, Curling, Snowboarding, Ice Hockey, Downhill, and Alpine. Under Armour creates clothing for men, women and children athletes that are designed to increase efficiency, reduce fatigue and regulate body temperature. They are currently one of the most popular players in the sportswear segment today, and I can attest that they make excellent gym clothes. If interested in purchasing Under Armour, please see our current Under Armour coupons and promotions.

Although not an Olympic Games sponsor, Burton Snowboards is a huge sponsor of several athletes participating in the 2010 Winter Olympics, including some of the most high profile snowboarder’s Shaun White, Kelly Clark, and Hannah Teter. They are the worldwide leader and manufacturer of snowboards, boots, bindings, outerwear, goggles and protection.  Shaun White actually designs his own line through Burton called “The White Collection”. You can purchase Burton Snowboards at any of nine different retailers offering coupons on promotions on our site.

Oakley is another label you’ll see often while watching the winter games as superstars such as Gretchen Bleiler and Shaun White both have contract endorsements with the label for their sports eyewear. Oakley makes high quality eyewear ranging from sunglasses, prescription lenses and frames, and goggles, and even apparel, footwear, and accessories. Check out Oakley’s “Gretchen Bleiler Collection Lighter Fare Jacket” for clothing designed by the Olympian Superstar herself. We are currently offering an Oakley coupon for free shipping on a $50+ order.

24 Hour Fitness is the official Fitness Center Sponsor of both the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.  24 Hour Fitness is one of the world’s largest health, fitness, and exercise centers, with locations through the United States and Asia, and as the name implies, 24 Hour Fitness locations are open around the clock. Please see our current coupon codes and promotions for 24 Hour Fitness, including a free 7 Day Trial Membership.

Lastly, though not quite sponsorships or endorsements, several Olympian’s have branched out from their sport of choice into opening their own businesses. Snowboarder Hannah Teter created a line of maple syrup called “Hannah’s Gold Maple Syrup”, that she sells through her charitable at hannahsgold.com, proceeds from which support the Kenyan village of Kirindon. Freestyle Skiier Shannon Bahrke sells her own coffee brand “Silver Bean Coffee” at silverbeancoffee.com and has partnered with 24 members of the U.S. ski team so that each athlete has their own coffee label with a portion of sales going to that athlete’s charity of choice. Some athletes – such as Gretchen Bleiler and Oakley above, have partnered with major retailers to create their own lines of clothing or sporting goods. Snowboarder Shaun White has created a line of lifestyle line of clothing at Target called Shaun White 4 Target. The brand consists of both casual and snowboarding type clothing. Please see our current coupons and promotional codes to save further on the Shaun White 4 Target retail line.

Peapod.com – Just do it already

Checkout Chick February 26th, 2010

We buy clothes online, electronics, and home goods etc. We pay bills, do our banking, we even order our prescriptions for delivery.  Grocery shopping seems to be the last, unconquered frontier in online shopping. Sure delivery service has been around for years, but not many people realize its value as both a time saver and money saver. If you’ve been toying with the idea of using a grocery delivery service, now is the time to do it. We’re currently offering a New Customer $10 Off Peapod Coupon Code which should hopefully help to make you a Peapod convert.

Grocery delivery services seem to have a stigma that they are more expensive – even wasteful -because you’re paying for the delivery service. This could not be further from the truth. I’ve been having my groceries delivered by Peapod for the past two years and I’ll never go back to the days of browsing the aisles. The convenience is the most important factor for me. The doorbell rings and my groceries are here, and I’m only paying $6.95 delivery fee (for orders over $100) for the luxury.

Still a skeptic? Let’s see if I can help convince you otherwise:

  1. Impulse purchases! While strolling the aisles of my local grocery store, I can easily rack up an extra $10 in items I didn’t have on my shopping list. Whether it be gum, candy or magazines by the register, or the bag of chocolate chunk cookies I promised myself I wouldn’t buy but I’m going to simply because I’m having a bad day and here they are on sale. Saving on impulse purchases more than makes up for the delivery fee.
  2. Fighting over parking spots, braving the cold, sleet, and snow, broken wheels on carriages, screaming kids, the guy writing a check in the express lane, “what do you mean each banana counts as one item?’ etc. etc. etc. Need I go on? Grocery store hassles are a thing of the past when you’re shopping online in your underwear from the comfort of your own home.  Not to mention that you’ll save on gas spent driving to the grocery store.
  1. Gone are the days of buying in double because you can’t remember if you need it or not. Yesterday I stopped by my mothers’ house (not a Peapod shopper) for lunch. I opened her fridge and was greeted with four jars of mayonnaise, and no mustard. It seems she may have forgotten which one she needed when she reached the condiment aisle – for the past four weeks. Anyway, when  you’re shopping from home it’s very easy to double check and see which items you need in the pantry or fridge. I myself have a half full bottle of mustard, AND a half full mayo as of press time.
  1. Peapod is incredibly easy to use. I’ll admit that the first time shopping on Peapod is the hardest. You have to create your grocery list from scratch, but after the first time it’s saved for future use. You need only cross reference it and add or subtract additional items. For first time Peapod shoppers, my advice is to pull out your last grocery store receipt and use that to create your first shopping list on Peapod. You can ‘browse aisles’, shop by item description, view on sale items, etc. They even have an ‘instant coupon book’ for immediate savings. You can’t beat it!
  1. Prices and quality are on par with grocery stores. Since Peapod is a delivery service of your local grocery store (in the north east it’s a subsidiary of Stop & Shop, in the West it’s Giant, etc. ) the quality and prices are the same as the stores you already know and trust. You can even apply manufacturer grocery coupons to your order.
  1. Time is money. Let’s face it, we’re all busy people. We have jobs, kids, gym memberships, dinner dates, unforeseen events etc. Therefore the time you spend waiting sixth in line in the grocery store, lugging grocery bags up a third story walkup and cleaning broken eggs out of your backseat after being cut off on your ride home adds up to cold hard cash. Well worth the $6.95 delivery fee, don’t you think?

Hopefully I’ve convinced you to give Peapod a try. Try it risk free by using our current coupons and Peapod.com promotional codes.

How to Save Money Dining Out

RobinRaven February 25th, 2010

Dining out is a luxury, privilege and joy for most people. Sometimes, it’s a tradition for seeing friends and family members. Still for others, it’s a routine fact of life, as there are business lunches and dinners for many careers. It’s part of a romantic date night once per month for some couples. Whatever your circumstances, whenever you find yourself longing to eat at a new restaurant or a trusted favorite, you’ll want to do so at a significant savings to yourself. The same meal for half the price can be doubly enjoyed.

Realize that it’s alright to use coupons at a restaurant. If a restaurant advertises with coupons, the host, servers and managers are likely going to be familiar with how to handle them. Use all of the coupons that you can; however, read the fine print. If a coupon states that it can’t be doubled, don’t try to fool a new host or confuse a server. Few people have seen as many jerks as the staff of a restaurant, and you don’t want to go on that list. Be polite and use your coupons fairly. Also, remember that it’s not the server’s fault that you had a coupon; a tip for a server should be 15 to 20 percent of the total cost of the bill before the deduction of the coupon.

Opt to share either an appetizer or a dessert. Picking one or the other saves money (not to mention calories), and it allows you to focus more on your entree. Between delectable appetizers and desserts, the main course often doesn’t feel like it. If you’re picking a really heavy main course, consider skipping appetizers and dessert at the restaurant. Treat yourself later to ice cream at home, and you can save significantly, especially if eating out is something that you do on a regular basis.

Ask for a doggie bag. You shouldn’t be ashamed to take home left-overs. If you make a moderately priced restaurant dinner last for two or three meals overall, you’ll feel much more comfortable about the money that’s been spent on dining out.

Consider using Restaurant.com Coupons. They have amazing deals that can be applied to your local restaurants. For instance, you are able to get meals at far less than half their price by buying gift cards in advance. By paying $10, you get $25 in a gift certificate to use at a restaurant. With coupons like this, you may save more money by eating out than you would grabbing fast food or a microwave meal. ShopGala offers even a more significant savings  with our restaurant coupons such as Pizza Hut and D’Angelo’s

Be nice to your server when eating out. That is common sense and common courtesy. However, you’d be surprised at how many people skip this important part of the dining out experience. Some restaurants have very strict rules, wherein the servers are not allowed to give even the best customers any freebies. Yet, some restaurants are very lenient and allow their servers to treat their favored and good customers to complimentary food, beverages and discounts.

Justice 40% Off Site Wide Sale

Coupon Guy February 24th, 2010

40% Off Justice Coupon Code starts TOMORROW. Click Here To Get Justice Coupon Codes at ShopGala.com

 

 

 

Hurry this offer ends March 3rd. Great time to stock up on spring clothes for your kids.