Save Money with DealDash

I've been seeing posts about DealDash on Facebook recently. People are getting some really good deals on things like cameras, computers, and sewing machines - just to name a few of the deals I've seen. 

The way it works is you sign up for a free account and purchase what they call Bid Packs.  These are sold in packs of 60, 100, or more and usually cost 60¢ per bid, but there are often Bid Sales where you can get them for as little as 15¢ per bid.  Currently they're going for 17¢.

Once you have your free DealDash account and have purchased some bids, you can start looking for deals and start bidding.  All auctions start at $0, and each bid raises the price by one penny.  Highest bidder wins the auction, and that is the price they pay.  I've been watching the front page, and there are lots of items available.  The final prices are pretty good.  Of course, I can't really tell how many times people are bidding on these items, and the cost of the bids would have to be factored into the cost.  Even with that, I think people are getting items for significantly less than they could buy them elsewhere. 

It's risk free to try Deal Dash.  Here's why:

• If you’re a first time bidder on DealDash and use all your bids without winning a single auction, DealDash will return all the bids from your first bid pack purchase, for free, to give you a second chance!
• Bidding on DealDash is also risk free thanks to the Buy it Now option. If you don’t win the auction, you can buy the item you were bidding on for its regular price and get back all the bids you used in that auction for free. This way you not only get the desired item, you don't lose the bids and can use them again to try and win another auction.
• DealDash offers a no questions asked 100% money back guarantee. If you are not satisfied for any reason, DealDash will refund your entire first purchase – no questions asked!

If you're looking for some good deals, be sure to check out DealDash.  If you've already tried it, let me know what you think. 

Sprint 4-Day Sale

This post brought to you by Sprint. All opinions are 100% mine.
 
If you're thinking about changing your cell phone plan and getting a new phone, there's still time to take advantage of this limited time Sprint sale.  Through February 8, 2012, you can get a free or discounted phone when you open a new line of service or add to your Sprint account.
 

Choose the Nexus S™ 4G which features Android 2.3 , comes with built-in Google apps, integrated Google Voice™ service, 4G speed and a super fast processor.  You'll get full web browsing, internet calling and true multi-tasking with the mobile hotspot capability.  This phone is specifically designed to fit perfectly and comfortably in the palm of your hand.  Regular price is $549.99 - but with a 2-year agreement and new line savings (or eligible upgrade), it's free
 

If you're an entertainment junkie, you'll want the HTC EVO™ 3D - only $49.99 if you order it online - with a 2-year agreement and new line savings (or eligible upgrade).  It also runs on Android 2.3, features an oversized screen and lets users take, share and view 3D pics and flicks all at lightning-fast 4G speeds - no 3D glasses required.
 
These deals are only available online and for a very limited time.  You'll get free shipping, and they're even waiving the activation fee (normally $36) on new lines.
 

Save on the Walgreens Prescription Savings Club

This post brought to you by Walgreens. All opinions are 100% mine.
 
The cost of prescription drugs can really add up, especially if your medical insurance does not include drug coverage.  Walgreens offers an option for those people who do not have drug coverage - their Prescription Savings Club.  Benefits of the Club include:

• Savings on more than 8,000 brand-name and generic medications
• Discounts on flu shots, pet prescriptions, nebulizers, and diabetic supplies
• and bonuses on the purchase of Walgreens brand products and photofinishing services

Right now Walgreens is offering a special discount on a Walgreens Prescription Savings Club membership. A family membership that covers everyone in your immediate family, including spouse, dependents 22 and younger, and pets is only $35 a year.  An individual membership is only $20 for a year.
 
Joining is risk free.  If you don't save more than the cost of your membership during the course of the year, they'll refund the difference.  Considering the cost of most prescription drugs, it probably won't take more than a couple prescriptions or refills to cover the cost of your membership - not to mention the other savings.  But it's good to know you'll get that money back if you don't.

Be sure to Like Walgreens on Facebook and follow Walgreens on Twitter to stay updated and learn about even more special discounts and savings opportunities.
 

Walgreens no Longer Part of Express Scripts Network

This post brought to you by Walgreens. All opinions are 100% mine.
 
Many people who have come to rely on their local neighborhood pharmacist at Walgreens are having to scramble to find a new pharmacy.  Why? Walgreens is no longer part of Express Scripts’ pharmacy provider network as of Jan. 1, 2012.   This includes many of our military service men and women because their health and prescription drug program, Tricare is one of Express Scripts’ clients.  If you think you might be affected, be sure to check the back of your prescription card to see if it says Express Scripts, or check with your local Walgreens pharmacist.
 
Walgreens negotiated with Express Scripts for an entire year in an effort to remain part of their pharmacy provider network, but those negotiations fell through.  As a result, patients are having to drive further to get prescriptions filled, at pharmacies with less convenient hours.  Walgreens has more 24-hour and drive-through pharmacies than any other pharmacy in the country - making them very convenient for busy people.  Throughout the negotiations, Walgreens did not seek an increase in rates, and Express Scripts itself admitted that clients will not see any significant savings from excluding Walgreens from the network, but still patients will not be given the choice of staying with Walgreens and Express Scripts.
 
In an effort to help the people who are affected by this situation between Walgreens and Express Script Walgreens is offering a special discount on annual membership for its Prescription Savings Club. Individuals can join during a special January promotion for only $5, or $10 for a family membership.  (Regular annual membership is $20 for an individual and $35 for a family.)  The Walgreens Prescription Savings Club offers savings on more than 8,000 brand name and all generic medications. More than 400 generics are available with a three-month supply for less than $1 a week.  Other benefits include discounts on flu shots, pet prescriptions, nebulizers and diabetic supplies and bonuses for purchasing Walgreens brand products and photofinishing services.
 
You can stay updated on this situation and everything else involving Walgreens by liking Walgreens on Facebook and following Walgreens on Twitter.
 

Amazon Announces the $79 Kindle

If you've been thinking about getting a Kindle but just haven't done it, it looks like procrastination is a good thing in this case.  Amazon has just announced a whole new family of Kindle readers - new, improved, and cheaper too.  You can now get the Kindle with Special Offers for only $79. ($109 without the special offers)

Also available, the Kindle Touch, Wi-Fi, 6" E Ink Display - includes Special Offers & Sponsored Screensavers for $99. Never having used a Kindle, I didn't realize they didn't already have touch screens - but now they do, and they're cheaper than before.

For about $200, you can get the new Kindle Fire, Full Color 7" Multi-touch Display, Wi-Fi that takes you beyond reading to movies, apps, games, web browsing, email and more - all with a gorgeous full-color touchscreen.

The new Kindles will be available in November, but you can pre-order yours now to reserve your place in line - orders are prioritized on a first come, first serve basis.  Which one will you order?  I added that Kindle Fire to my wishlist, just in case you're thinking of getting me something....

*affiliate links

Born This Way - Entire Album 99¢ Today Only

This isn't my normal kind of music, but my son really likes Lady Gaga.  Her new CD Born This Way dropped today, and Amazon is offering the MP3 download of the album for 99¢!  That's 14 songs for less than $1, the usual cost of one song.  So I bought it.

If you're thinking about getting the new Lady Gaga album, head on over to Amazon and get yours for 99¢ - and be sure to do it today, because this deal won't be available tomorrow.

Buying this album will also upgrade your Cloud storage from the free 5GB Amazon offers all customers to 20GB - if you haven't already done so.

Related articles

• Amazon Sells Entire New Lady Gaga Album For $0.99 (hypebot.com)
• Amazon Almost Giving Away Lady Gaga's New Album (allthingsd.com)
• Lady Gaga Sells Entire New Album for $0.99 on Amazon (mashable.com)

A New Wireless Relationship?

I just went to the US Cellular website to send Cory a text and noticed that they are changing a bunch of things. Here's one I'm excited about - no more contracts after the first one.




Of course, we've been with US Cellular for years, so contract of no contract shouldn't really matter.  It does, though.  It means they will work to keep customers by providing the best coverage and customer service and not because they're tied to a contract.


Another thing - I can save 5% on my bill every month just by signing up for automatic payments with my checking account and paperless billing.  I'm definitely signing up for that!


More info on US Cellular's Belief  Project.

Related articles by Zemanta

• U.S. Cellular launches customer service campaign (knoxnews.com)

Who Wants to Pig Out with Me?

Image via Wikipedia

A while back I mentioned that we were using Bing Cashback, and getting money back every time we did any online shopping.  It was great.  We got back over $100.  But then they went and discontinued the program.

I hadn't yet figured out what to do next when I saw a commercial for The Pig tonight, so I checked it out. It looks like the same idea - click through from the site whenever you do any online shopping and get cash back.  The percentage varies by store. Unlike bing, it looks like you can use coupon codes in addition to getting your cash back - meaning you can save even more.

Sign up is free and easy - just enter your email address and choose a password, and you're ready to go! Start filling that Piggy Bank and getting back some of the money you spend online. Also, if you use my referral link to sign up and make $25 in qualifying purchases in the first 30 days, we'll both get an additional $5 added to our Piggy Banks.  There's no limit to the number of friends you can refer and no limit to the amount of cash back you can earn.  

If you're going to be shopping online anyway, why not get some of that money back?

Related articles by Zemanta

• Say Goodbye to Bing Cashback feature (searchenginejournal.com)
• Bing Cashback To Be Discontinued (thenextweb.com)

bing cashback

If you do any shopping online, you'll want to check out bing. All you have to do is create a FREE account, and then whenever you do any online shopping, start with bing. You can search for what you're looking for right on the bing site, and bing will list prices at various stores and also show you the amount of cashback you can get, so you can pick the best price. Then just click through to go to the store and make your purchase.

You can also just choose a store from the list of cashback stores, click through and do your shopping on that site. Once you make a purchase, bing will send you an email to confirm your savings. There is a waiting period of about 60 days before you can claim your cashback, but then you can request it to be sent to your PayPal account or have it deposited into your bank account, as long as you have at least $5 in your account.

So far we've earned almost $75 in cashback, shopping at stores like Newegg.com, Buy.com, and Walmart.com. The savings really add up when you order big-ticket items like a laptop computer, but the little things add up, too.

And, through December 2, bing is offering extra cashback, so the savings are even better - 15% cashback at Walmart.com, 14% cashback at Barnes & Noble, and 25% cashback at Footlocker.com, just to name a few. I ordered a bunch of DVDs at Walmart.com this morning at really good prices, free shipping to my home, and that 15% cashback. Gotta love it!

So, if you're going to be doing any shopping, and who isn't? - you might as well get some money back for doing it, right? Claim your cashback from bing.

Good Deal on Sony Vegas

Cory has been wanting Sony Vegas Movie Studio 9 Platinum Pro Pack for a while now. I found it today at Buy.com on sale for $89.99 with a $30 rebate, which is the best price we've seen so far - so I grabbed it. If you're looking for some good movie editing software, this is supposed to be really good.

I'm linking to this here, because searching for Sony Vegas on Buy.com doesn't bring this page up. Instead you get the software for $90-something with no rebate mentioned. I checked Pricegrabber to find the best price, and when I clicked the Buy.com link there, it got me this page with the sale and rebate. It's only good this week, so grab it now if you want it.

ebay!

The battery on my laptop has been quite dead for a while now. It's so dead that the computer shuts down immediately when it's unplugged. I figured I'd have to live with that because a new battery from Dell costs at least $150, and I just couldn't justify that. Then yesterday one of my friends on Facebook mentioned that she had just ordered a new battery for her laptop. We got to talking about it, and she said she had found one on ebay for $35 with free shipping. Ebay! Why hadn't I thought of that?

I've bought things from ebay before, but it's still not my first thought when I need something. I don't know why. You're probably way ahead of me on this and always check ebay first when you need something, but just in case you don't I thought I'd mention it. Check ebay first!

Because when I checked, I found batteries for my laptop starting at $30 with the free shipping. That's a huge savings over the cost at Dell. I wish I had thought of looking on ebay back when the battery started dying. I would have ordered one sooner. I ended up spending a little more than the $30 to get a better quality battery, but still saved significantly. I could never justify the $150 price tag, when I could just plug the computer in to use it, but $40? That I can justify.

Just had to share!

Now it's your turn - what kinds of things do you look for/buy on ebay? Is it the first place you look? What kinds of great deals have you gotten?