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7 Black Friday Pitfalls To Avoid With Andrea Woroch

With over 150 million consumers shopping over Black Friday weekend last year, it’s clear the love-to-hate event remains a pinnacle of the holiday shopping season. Whether you plan to boycott Thanksgiving retail openings or line up with other eager shoppers before your turkey has digested, there are several pitfalls you should be aware of before blowing your budget. black-friday-image-andrea

Follow these tips to keep your spending in check and learn how to spot deceptive retail practices.

1. Shopping without a strategy.
Heading to the mall on Black Friday without a list or strategy often results in a devastating blow to your budget. That’s because it’s easy to lose track of your spending as you wander from store to store to check out their sales. Shopping with a list keeps you focused on your gift list and keeps you from making impulse purchases. If you don’t have a large purchase on your list, consider leaving your credit cards at home and only bring cash so you can’t spend a cent more.

2. Allowing big discount claims to influence spending.
Store ads will have you believe that nearly everything will be 50% off or more on Black Friday. Make sure you read the fine print and compare prices, keeping in mind that some retailers will inflate the original price to make that doorbuster sale appear to be a better value than it is. Research prices on popular items ahead of the event and don’t allow big discount claims to influence your spending.

3. Falling for derivative products.
Some products are manufactured specifically for Black Friday and may be missing certain features or key components so the brand can sell it for less. This means you could get stuck with an item that isn’t really what you wanted! Last year’s Roku SE is a great example of a derivative product which was released in mid-November and discounted to $25 to Black Friday shoppers, despite barely being on the shelves for $49.99 prior to the holiday weekend. Research model numbers and compare features to ensure the product isn’t missing key components.

4. Battling crowds on Friday.
Most retailers will be starting Black Friday early and opening their doors on Thanksgiving. JCPenney, for example, is opening at 3pm on Thanksgiving, while Macy’s will welcome customers starting at 5pm that day. However, many Black Friday deals will be available online prior to doors opening, with Kohl’s offering online shoppers access to Black Friday doorbusters as early as Monday, Nov. 21. Consult BFAds.net for scans of Black Friday ads from popular retailers to determine what you can buy online, what you must buy in store, and exactly where you need to be and when so you can schedule your Thanksgiving dinner accordingly.

5. Assuming the sale price is the best price.
With prices advertised at all-time lows, consumers are easily convinced that coupons and other discounts don’t apply. However, it’s important to read the fine print and use a deals’ site like CouponSherpa.com to seek out extra savings. For example, a Bon-Ton coupon will be available for an extra $10 off any item of $10 or more (sale or regular price) for purchases made between 5pm on Thursday and 3pm on Friday, according to Bon-Ton’s Black Friday circular. Same goes for online shoppers, who can score an extra 30% off sale or regular-price items at Michaels during certain periods on Thursday and Friday with promo codes.

6. Failing to mail a rebate.
The sale price of select Black Friday doorbusters can be misleading, since some require mail-in rebates to reach the low price. The $10 price tag on JCPenney’s deal for a Pyrex 8-piece bowl set, for instance, requires a $15 mail-in rebate. That means you’ll pay $25 at the register! With over $500 million in rebates going unclaimed every year, this sales tactic gets shoppers through the door and results in huge profits for stores. Make sure to keep your receipt and the packaging for products that require rebates, and complete and mail the rebate immediately.

7. Blowing your entire budget on Black Friday.
While there are plenty of good deals on Black Friday, there are plenty of bad ones, too. Some items are better to buy on Cyber Monday like clothing and beauty products, and you may find bigger savings closer to Christmas as retailers cut prices further to move merchandise before the holiday passes. Wait for sales later in the season and take advantage of Free Shipping Day on December 16, when up to 2,000 retailers will offer free shipping with no minimum order requirements and other discounts, plus delivery by Christmas Eve.

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Andrea Woroch is a money-saving expert who transforms everyday consumers into savvy shoppers by sharing smart spending tips and personal finance advice. As a sought-after media source, she has been featured among such top news outlets as Good Morning America, Today, CNN, Dr. OZ, New York Times, MONEY Magazine, Consumer Reports, Forbes and many more. In addition, Andrea’s stories have been published among leading publications and sites such as Yahoo!, AOL Daily Finance, CNN Money, Huffington Post, LearnVest and New York Daily News. Check out Andrea’s demo reel or visit her website at AndreaWoroch.com for more information about booking an interview or requesting an original written article. You can also follow her on Twitter or Facebook for daily money tips.

For all media inquiries, please contact Andrea Woroch at 970-672-6085 or email andrea@andreaworoch.com.

How to Find the Best Auto Insurance Quote with a Spotty Record

car accident cartoon

If you’ve recently been in a situation that calls your driving record into question – from a car

crash to a speeding ticket, or even something as severe as a DUI – then aside from the financial

and social implications, another serious burden you will have to bear is an increased insurance

premium. Insurance policies are built and priced based on a wide range of factors. Although

each company approaches pricing from a different angle, keep in mind some of these six basic

insurance-rating features.

 Age: Drivers in their teens and early twenties pay the highest rates, due to increased

road aggression and a lack of experience.

 Gender: Although CBS points out that women may experience road rage more

frequently than men, The Guardian asserts that women do much less damage when

behind the wheel – and thus pay less in insurance premiums than their male

counterparts.

 Location: Some states call for higher premiums than others – New Jersey is one of the

most expensive states to insure your vehicle.

 Car Model: New and foreign cars cost more in the insurance business, because their

repairs are harder to finance.

 Car Usage: If you only drive on the weekends, then your insurance rates will go down –

and the opposite is true if you use your car on a daily basis.

 Driving Record: Finally, your driving record can help a company determine what kind of

risk you are on the road – and the riskier it is to cover you for damages, the more an

insurance provider will bill you to stay financially liable.

The spottier your driving record, the higher your insurance rates – that’s the rule. However,

while you might not be able to get the same rates as someone with a spotless driving record,

you do have a plethora of options to try and pay as little as possible.

There are many factors to consider with your driving record – aside from DUIs and speeding

tickets, not having prior insurance while driving also nets you higher rates. Accidents also cause

rates to go up – but only if they are severe. If a scratch, bump or minor fender-bender is the

issue at hand, then your insurance cost won’t see a major hike, that is, if you even want to put a

claim in.

Contest Your Record

Just because you get a ticket for speeding or drunk driving doesn’t mean you were actually

speeding, or driving under the influence. If you were unfairly charged with a ticket, an attorney

can help you contest your ticket.

There are several ways to combat a ticket, depending on the situation. Being charged with a

ticket outside of a checkpoint is one, as is being given a ticket without sufficient evidence, or

due to misleading evidence. Breathalyzers can be fooled by a strong mouth rinse, for example,

and cognition tests can be failed due to medical anomalies rather than alcohol.

In the world of rate hike prevention, getting a ticket for something like a broken tail light can

also quickly be fixed. And it really should be. If you get your car back in shape immediately after

being issued a ticket, then chances are that you could avoid the associated rate hike and let the

incident fly under your insurance company’s notice.

Shop Around

The most important part to getting a good insurance quote – even with a spotty record – is in

shopping around. Compare rates, and compare hikes – some insurance rates barely rise after a

minor accident, while others might punish you by as much as a 30 percent for a single speeding

ticket. Using comparison sites like CoverHound allow you to explore the best car insurance

quotes so you can determine what the best plan for you is. Keep on the lookout for a provider

with attractive discount options, fair rates and customer loyalty programs – and then negotiate,

working with them to build the kind of policy that works best for everyone involved.

Make Efforts to Lower Your Risk Factor

A great and simple way to get yourself labeled as less of a risk is by taking a driving course. A

cheap and quick course can go a long way in showing an insurance company that you’re serious

about improving your driving skills.

Consider All Possible Discounts

Contact your insurance provider and go over all the different discounts you may be eligible for.

If you’re a student, having great grades can in some cases lead to lower rates – alternatively, if

you’re a government worker or in the military, most insurance providers have special discounts

for you as well.

Guest post from writer Jenna Carter.

I’m So Over Winter

Living here in south central, PA, January and February are always the worst months. It’s expected. We expect to see snow, ice, winter storms, and freezing temps. These few months is always prime time for the winter blues. I’m itching to take my kids out for a walk on sidewalks I can see. Right now it’s hard to walk anywhere. Not just because of the temps but not everyone does or is able to shovel sidewalks. Ice patches makes it hazardous. I have to walk about 3 blocks to the hospital I work at from the employee parking lot. Last year I slipped and fell on the ice and landed in a half frozen puddle. The whole side of my leg was wet. My one coworker took the heat gun for our splints and tried to dry off my pants. When they saw that wasn’t working they got me a pair of OR scrub pants to wear for the day. Sometimes though I see it and do see some beauty in it. I took this pic after I parked my car and noticed some poor guy walking down the road (told you the sidewalks weren’t any shape to walk on) in the cold.

If I’m to find something nice to say about this, it does quiet the sound of the cars that drive up and down the street in front of our house.

Every morning for work I go out and start my car up about 10-15 minutes before I go to work to melt the ice and get my car bearable to drive. I know other areas are even worse but I’m just so over this cold. Got in my car this morning, started it up and this is the temp that popped up

I posted this on facebook. My dad (whose a mailman..my mailman as a matter of fact) leaves early that I do for work. He said his temps said -20 and his radio never turned on on his way to work. I really feel bad for people like my dad who have to work every day in this dangerously cold weather. So glad he’ll be retiring in a few months.

I was asked to write a guest post for one of my car dealership clients for their blog. I felt it was fitting to write about vehicles features I’m thankful for in the winter. I’d love for you to stop and check it out.

So what’s it like in your area. Unless you live in Florida I don’t want to hear it..lol just kidding.

5 Ways to Bounce Back from Bad Credit

Guest Post author Ann Shirley, this post does contain an affiliate link

Tax season is right around the corner. While many people may be excited about receiving
their tax returns, others may be dreading it as it’s merely another reminder that they have to pay
off their outstanding debts. It is common for people to be struggling with debt especially after
the holiday season in a bad economy. Debt is never a good thing as it possesses the power to
destroy your credit which can make it difficult to receive loans or get approved for things like
purchasing a new car or home. However, you don’t have to let debt run your life. Here are 5
ways to bounce back from bad credit.

1. Pay Your Bills On Time. This may sound simple, but when you’re behind on your bills
it may be easier said than done. It’s tempting to want to just pay partial amounts or skip
paying some bills all together when money is limited. However, it is crucial to pay all
of your bills on time so you don’t fall deeper into debt and end up damaging your credit
even more. Worry about paying off your current bills before digging into paying off
debts.

2. Pay Off Debts. Once you pay all current bills then it’s time to worry about paying off
your debts. Don’t delay paying off your debts or you’ll only be allowing yourself to fall
into more debt as you will accumulate higher interest over time, meaning you’ll end up
paying more than you would initially have to. The quicker you can pay off your debt the
quicker your credit will be restored.

3. Cancel Services You Don’t Need. Make a list of all of the bills you pay. Then try to
eliminate some of them based on how often you use them. Look for cheaper alternatives.
For example, can you do without cable? Many people are switching to cheaper
alternatives like Netflix which is less than $8 a month.

4. Consider Getting a New Credit Card. You might be hesitant to open a credit card when
you are in debt thinking that it will hurt you. However, opening a credit card can actually
help you to restore bad credit if you can manage to make payments on time. There are
also some new secured credit cards such as the Unity Visa that aim to help you restore
bad credit. This credit card is not a pre-paid card, but is offered at a fixed rate that is not
variable which will help prevent you from overspending and falling deeper into debt. One
of the highlights of this card is that it sends reports to major credit bureaus which will
show that you are making an effort to restore your credit and pay off your bills in a timely
fashion.

5. Budget. Nobody likes to budget. It’s never fun to cut back on spending and to do without
some of the things we enjoy such as a night out with an expensive meal and a trip to the
movie theatre. However, it is important to save money and put it to good use — towards
paying off debts and paying bills on time. The more you budget now the less you’ll have
to in the future. Once all of your bills are caught up and debts are paid off you can use
your leftover money for enjoyment. When spending money try to plan ahead and think
about not only the things you want, but the things you need. Make lists when going to the
store and try to plan meals ahead of time to cut costs.

What are your best secrets for restoring bad credit and getting out of debt? Have you tried any of these tips?

This is a guest post, author: Ann Shirley

Top 5 Rules of Regifting

I have a helpful infographic from The Gumtree blog that can give you some important rules to remember if you plan on regifting. Just check it out:

Top 5 rules of Regifting is an infographic that was produced by Gumtree

Have you ever regifted? I’ll be honest, I don’t usually. Normally if I get something I already have I’ll let the person know so I can return it and get something else. OR if I’m afraid I’ll hurt their feelings telling them I can use something I’ll just sell it on ebay.