Friday, February 18, 2011
Thursday, February 17, 2011
What to do if you're textbook is late in the mail
You ended up buying your textbook online. The only thing is that the darn thing has yet to arrive. :( You can pray and hope that it will get there by tomorrow, but that can only do so much.
If you're book is at least five days late contact the company and seller and explain their situatuion to them. This can either get you a refund, a discount, or possibly nothing ,but communication is key in these situations and can honestly make you're life a tad bit easier.
Try and get in contact with someone in you're class and see if they will be kind enough to let you borrow the textbook overnight one week so you can get caught up. Just try and remember to return the favor.
If you're taking a history,science, etc. class most books on the subject matter have very much in common and you might be able to get away with reading a book on the same subject that wasn't assigned. This can get through for a week or two so you're not completley lost or it might work out for the whole course and you find out you never needed some stupid $100 book. It's a bit of gamble to be honest.
Check and see if you're library has it. (If you're library has it available for youe even for an hour or so at a time then you probably shouldn't even bother purchasing the textbook, but it depends on what class you're taking I suppose.)
See if you're textbook is available online at Course Smart. Course Smart is a website that is dedicated to providing onlinw textbooks for students. They will let you download a two-week free trial for certain textbooks. This can be helpful because two-weeks should give you're book enough time to get to you.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Chegg Review
I currently had the opportunity to use the widely known text book renting site known as Chegg. Chegg is a website that's been known to help reduce the cost of school books for students everywhere, but does the site live up to its reputation.
First off, Let's start with a little history of Chegg shall we?
The first business model didn't work; in 2003, the founders modeled the company as a quasi Craigslist but for college campuses where "students would buy and sell everything from used mattresses to textbooks."[1] The plan was to make money from advertising[1] but their biggest seller was used textbooks.[1] The problem faced by most college students is that textbooks are expensive, often priced higher than $100 per book; students usually didn't need the heavy books after each semester, but there was no good way to sell them. One estimate was the college students spent, on average, $667 annually on books in 2009.[3] A second estimate was $1000 per year,[4] with signs that the prices of books were increasing faster than inflation.[4] Some college bookstores would offer to buy back the used books for a fraction of their original price.[1] The founders noticed how people were becoming accustomed to renting things online because of services like Netflix.[5]
In 2007, Rashid and Phumbhra repositioned the company along the lines of Netflix as a way to rent textbooks to students.[1][6] But there was little money initially. When an order came in, Rashid would buy the book using a credit card and have it shipped to the student; automation came later.[7] At one point, with a huge volume of traffic on his credit card, his credit card firm suspected fraud, but Rashid was able to persuade the credit supplier to extend credit using multiple numbers of cards.[7] Books normally rent around half the retail price; for example, a macroeconomics textbook priced at $122 at a college bookstore would rent for $65 at Chegg.[8] But savings varied from book to book. Round-trip shipping costs, paid by Chegg, average about $4 per book.[8] The simplicity of the model helped the marketing; investor Ted Schlein said "when you describe this idea to someone, they immediately get it."[9]
Stories in campus newspapers helped spread the idea. One senior at Arizona State University calculated he would spend about half as much renting books than buying them for one semester.[2] The idea clicked. In 2008, the firm hired the former chief executive of Match.com Jim Safka to run the firm.[10] In 2008, revenues were about $10 million; in 2009, revenues in January alone were $10 million, according to Safka.[10] The firm has raised additional capital from venture capitalists.[11] In January 2009, USA Today reporter Julie Schmit described Chegg as a "leader" in the "burgeoning arena of college textbook rentals."[12] The firm had 55 customer service reps at that point.[13] The firm employs software engineers to improve its website.[13] The four-story office building in Santa Clara "hums with the sounds of clicking computer keys, ringing phones and snippets of conversations" and has "trash bins burst with soft-drink cans, paper plates and discarded snacks."[13] It has a cat named "Mongo."[13]
The name Chegg is a contraction of the words chicken and egg, based on the founders' experience after graduating from college: they couldn't land a job without experience, but couldn't get experience without a job, or a chicken and egg type quandary.[
I only rented from Chegg because when it come to just purchasing and then reselling the text book it just wasn't cost effective. If you want to be good with your money never go off to Chegg right off the bat. Do a little research and see if you could actually rent or purchase your copy instead.
Check out my post on ways you can save on college textbooks.:
http://collegesurvivalplease.blogspot.com/2010/07/college-surivival-vol2-how-i-saved.html
Chegg is a pretty basic you register put in the title, author, or ISBN # of your text book. You can choose to rent the text book for a 90 to 120 days. You pay via credit card and Chegg notifies that your order has been received and the text book will be shipped out on such and such a date.
It also notifies you that by renting a textbook that a tree has been planted in your honor. Chegg has a deal with American Forests. Even though I doubt a tree is planted for each text book the gesture is still nice.
First off, Let's start with a little history of Chegg shall we?
The first business model didn't work; in 2003, the founders modeled the company as a quasi Craigslist but for college campuses where "students would buy and sell everything from used mattresses to textbooks."[1] The plan was to make money from advertising[1] but their biggest seller was used textbooks.[1] The problem faced by most college students is that textbooks are expensive, often priced higher than $100 per book; students usually didn't need the heavy books after each semester, but there was no good way to sell them. One estimate was the college students spent, on average, $667 annually on books in 2009.[3] A second estimate was $1000 per year,[4] with signs that the prices of books were increasing faster than inflation.[4] Some college bookstores would offer to buy back the used books for a fraction of their original price.[1] The founders noticed how people were becoming accustomed to renting things online because of services like Netflix.[5]
In 2007, Rashid and Phumbhra repositioned the company along the lines of Netflix as a way to rent textbooks to students.[1][6] But there was little money initially. When an order came in, Rashid would buy the book using a credit card and have it shipped to the student; automation came later.[7] At one point, with a huge volume of traffic on his credit card, his credit card firm suspected fraud, but Rashid was able to persuade the credit supplier to extend credit using multiple numbers of cards.[7] Books normally rent around half the retail price; for example, a macroeconomics textbook priced at $122 at a college bookstore would rent for $65 at Chegg.[8] But savings varied from book to book. Round-trip shipping costs, paid by Chegg, average about $4 per book.[8] The simplicity of the model helped the marketing; investor Ted Schlein said "when you describe this idea to someone, they immediately get it."[9]
Stories in campus newspapers helped spread the idea. One senior at Arizona State University calculated he would spend about half as much renting books than buying them for one semester.[2] The idea clicked. In 2008, the firm hired the former chief executive of Match.com Jim Safka to run the firm.[10] In 2008, revenues were about $10 million; in 2009, revenues in January alone were $10 million, according to Safka.[10] The firm has raised additional capital from venture capitalists.[11] In January 2009, USA Today reporter Julie Schmit described Chegg as a "leader" in the "burgeoning arena of college textbook rentals."[12] The firm had 55 customer service reps at that point.[13] The firm employs software engineers to improve its website.[13] The four-story office building in Santa Clara "hums with the sounds of clicking computer keys, ringing phones and snippets of conversations" and has "trash bins burst with soft-drink cans, paper plates and discarded snacks."[13] It has a cat named "Mongo."[13]
The name Chegg is a contraction of the words chicken and egg, based on the founders' experience after graduating from college: they couldn't land a job without experience, but couldn't get experience without a job, or a chicken and egg type quandary.[
I only rented from Chegg because when it come to just purchasing and then reselling the text book it just wasn't cost effective. If you want to be good with your money never go off to Chegg right off the bat. Do a little research and see if you could actually rent or purchase your copy instead.
Check out my post on ways you can save on college textbooks.:
http://collegesurvivalplease.blogspot.com/2010/07/college-surivival-vol2-how-i-saved.html
Chegg is a pretty basic you register put in the title, author, or ISBN # of your text book. You can choose to rent the text book for a 90 to 120 days. You pay via credit card and Chegg notifies that your order has been received and the text book will be shipped out on such and such a date.
It also notifies you that by renting a textbook that a tree has been planted in your honor. Chegg has a deal with American Forests. Even though I doubt a tree is planted for each text book the gesture is still nice.
I'm feeling all warm and fuzzy inside.
The shipment was relatively fast and was around 4 dollars. It took about three days to get the textbooks. The textbook also came with a nifty little pen. ( I loose pens all the time so a free pen is pretty nice.) There was a tiny rip in the textbook, but besides that the book was in pretty good condition.
It turns out I didn't need the textbook as much as I thought, which is great news because I get to review their 21-day return refund guarantee. This will happen at least once in everyone's college career. A teacher tells you to purchase a book. You purchase the book just like the teacher told you an it turns out that you really didn't need the darn thing as much as you thought you did. This is where Chegg's return policy comes in handy. To return the book log into your Chegg account and look at your purchases. Click the book you wish to return and there should be a return option that lets you print out a return slip. Put the book back in the box Chegg orinially sent the book in and insert the return slip. Tape the return shipping address ontop of the box and drop it off at your nearest UPS.
I was glad to see that Chegg had given me my refund after their book arrived at its proper destination.
In all honesty if anyone asked me about Chegg I'd actually reccomend it. They seem to be pretty reliable and most of the rentals are at a fair price. Their process is actually quite simple and makes life a little bit less stressful for college students.
I never get tired of promoting this site, but if you're renting from Chegg check out RetailMeNot.com. Chegg almost always has a promotional deal going on that can save you a bit of money.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Updates and a new blog
Sorry no new updates yet, but I will be posting some entries in the future.
The things you will see in the future are
*A Chegg review (Expect this one to be up in a week or so.)
*Getting music for cheap/free
*What to do when a class textbook is late in the mail.
I've also started a horror blog with a few of my friends. If you are interested in horror films, literature, and other okky spooky tidbits check it out. http://dreadfuldreary.blogspot.com/
The things you will see in the future are
*A Chegg review (Expect this one to be up in a week or so.)
*Getting music for cheap/free
*What to do when a class textbook is late in the mail.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Free/Cheap Creative Arts Software
We all have our creative side and the computer is a great tool for personal, business, and school projects. Most computers come with the extra ordinary paint program that allows users to perform simple creative tasks, but the common user wants to do more without shelling out the extra cash to do so.
Free Photo shop Alternatives
You don't need photo-shop for photo editing you can download many programs off the internet that can produce many of the same results photo-shop can deliver. My advice would be to test out each program and see which one works best for you.
Gimp:
This program is probably to closest to photoshop. It might not be able to do all the things photoshop can, but it comes pretty close. The program can be a tad bit complicated at times, but once you get the hang of it things aren't that difficult.
http://www.gimp.org/
Gimp Tutorials:
http://gimpology.com/
http://www.gimp.org/tutorials/
http://gimp-tutorials.net/
Aviary:
Another image editing program that I honestly don't know much about,but I've heared good things about it.
http://www.aviary.com/
Tutorials:
http://www.aviary.com/tutorials
flaunr R:
A simple photo editing program that is probably best used for personal projects than scholarly ones.
http://www.flauntr.com/
Pixlr:
This program is supposed to the mist popular editing program on the web.
Tutorials:
https://sites.google.com/site/pixlrgrabber/pixlr-tutorials
Picasa
http://picasa.google.com/
A much more simple editing tool, but is great for photo touch ups.
Other:
A list of even more editing programs not listed. There are many out there so find which one is best for you.
http://www.guidetoartschools.com/tips-and-tools/free-photo-editing
http://www.snap2objects.com/2007/07/20/45-best-freeware-design-programs/
Illustrator Alternatives
Illustrator is an amazing program that allows you to create spectacularworks of art that you can't always produce by hand. Unfortunantly the program is really expensive, but there is good news! There are now several sites that allow you to download their creative drawing software for free.
InkScape
Inkscape is a vector graphic editor that is kown for it's great uder interface. It's basicly the GIMP of Illustrator.
http://inkscape.org/download/?lang=en
SmoothDraw
SmoothDraw is another great program that allows you to create works of art onyour very own computer screen.
http://www.smoothdraw.com/product/freeware.htm
Serif
Another great illustrator like program. This program makes it easy for you to create the quality type of work you'd find on other Adobe Programs.
http://www.serif.com/free-graphic-design-software/
Still want Adobe Software?
All of the programs listed above are descent or excellent subsitutions for the Adobe programs, but they still can't replace them 100%. There are loads of ways you can save money when puchasing these programs. Check out the student discounts that Adobe offers on their website.
http://www.adobe.com/education/students/
Check with your school as well and see if your school can offer you an even better discount than the Adobbe website provides. If you are an art student make sure to check with your school because many times the schools offer spectacular deals on Adobe software. Also feel free to check out http://www.academicsuperstore.com/ and http://www.gradware.com/
I bought my creative suite from http://www.journeyed.com/ for only $200. That's five programs for under the price it would cost to puschase one program.
If you are not currently a college student chek out http://www.buycheapsoftware.com/ and purchase most of the Adobe aftware at a discounted price.
Like all things it's best to shop around and compare prices. Always check out RetailMeNot.com to see what coupons are available for online purchasing. You can purchase last years edition for a fraction of a price and many times the programs are just as good as the brand spanking new edition.
Try Corel
Corel is another software company renound for their creative software. It might not be just like the Adobe programs, but they are most likely just as good and not as costly. http://store1.corel.com/corel/?storekey=us
Good Luck!
Free Photo shop Alternatives
You don't need photo-shop for photo editing you can download many programs off the internet that can produce many of the same results photo-shop can deliver. My advice would be to test out each program and see which one works best for you.
Gimp:
This program is probably to closest to photoshop. It might not be able to do all the things photoshop can, but it comes pretty close. The program can be a tad bit complicated at times, but once you get the hang of it things aren't that difficult.
http://www.gimp.org/
Gimp Tutorials:
http://gimpology.com/
http://www.gimp.org/tutorials/
http://gimp-tutorials.net/
Aviary:
Another image editing program that I honestly don't know much about,but I've heared good things about it.
http://www.aviary.com/
Tutorials:
http://www.aviary.com/tutorials
flaunr R:
A simple photo editing program that is probably best used for personal projects than scholarly ones.
http://www.flauntr.com/
Pixlr:
This program is supposed to the mist popular editing program on the web.
Tutorials:
https://sites.google.com/site/pixlrgrabber/pixlr-tutorials
Picasa
http://picasa.google.com/
A much more simple editing tool, but is great for photo touch ups.
Other:
A list of even more editing programs not listed. There are many out there so find which one is best for you.
http://www.guidetoartschools.com/tips-and-tools/free-photo-editing
http://www.snap2objects.com/2007/07/20/45-best-freeware-design-programs/
Illustrator Alternatives
Illustrator is an amazing program that allows you to create spectacularworks of art that you can't always produce by hand. Unfortunantly the program is really expensive, but there is good news! There are now several sites that allow you to download their creative drawing software for free.
InkScape
Inkscape is a vector graphic editor that is kown for it's great uder interface. It's basicly the GIMP of Illustrator.
http://inkscape.org/download/?lang=en
SmoothDraw
SmoothDraw is another great program that allows you to create works of art onyour very own computer screen.
http://www.smoothdraw.com/product/freeware.htm
Serif
Another great illustrator like program. This program makes it easy for you to create the quality type of work you'd find on other Adobe Programs.
http://www.serif.com/free-graphic-design-software/
Still want Adobe Software?
All of the programs listed above are descent or excellent subsitutions for the Adobe programs, but they still can't replace them 100%. There are loads of ways you can save money when puchasing these programs. Check out the student discounts that Adobe offers on their website.
http://www.adobe.com/education/students/
Check with your school as well and see if your school can offer you an even better discount than the Adobbe website provides. If you are an art student make sure to check with your school because many times the schools offer spectacular deals on Adobe software. Also feel free to check out http://www.academicsuperstore.com/ and http://www.gradware.com/
I bought my creative suite from http://www.journeyed.com/ for only $200. That's five programs for under the price it would cost to puschase one program.
If you are not currently a college student chek out http://www.buycheapsoftware.com/ and purchase most of the Adobe aftware at a discounted price.
Like all things it's best to shop around and compare prices. Always check out RetailMeNot.com to see what coupons are available for online purchasing. You can purchase last years edition for a fraction of a price and many times the programs are just as good as the brand spanking new edition.
Try Corel
Corel is another software company renound for their creative software. It might not be just like the Adobe programs, but they are most likely just as good and not as costly. http://store1.corel.com/corel/?storekey=us
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Gift Giving 101
Still don't know what to give your loved ones for the holiday season? Well here are some more gift giving tips and ideas for the holiday season.
To go with my post on holiday shopping here are a few articles on other great deals for the holiday season.
Items under $30.
http://shopping.yahoo.com/articles/yshoppingarticles/471/great-holiday-gifts-under-30/
Too Fast is having some great deals for their 12 days of Christmas. From December 10- 21st you can get some spectacular deals.
http://www.toofastonline.com/
Have a geek in your life? Then check out ThinkGeek. You can find the most spectacular and interesting items and you won't just find things for your geeky/nerdy friends. Think Geek is sure to have something for everyone and all at a reasonable price.
http://www.thinkgeek.com/
This coffee mug is perfect for anyone who has gotten into The Walking Undead craze and best yet it glows in the dark. This certainly one coffee mug that wont be dropped off at the nearest GoodWill at first chance. Price: $9.99.
To go with my post on holiday shopping here are a few articles on other great deals for the holiday season.
Items under $30.
http://shopping.yahoo.com/articles/yshoppingarticles/471/great-holiday-gifts-under-30/
Too Fast is having some great deals for their 12 days of Christmas. From December 10- 21st you can get some spectacular deals.
http://www.toofastonline.com/
Have a geek in your life? Then check out ThinkGeek. You can find the most spectacular and interesting items and you won't just find things for your geeky/nerdy friends. Think Geek is sure to have something for everyone and all at a reasonable price.
http://www.thinkgeek.com/
This coffee mug is perfect for anyone who has gotten into The Walking Undead craze and best yet it glows in the dark. This certainly one coffee mug that wont be dropped off at the nearest GoodWill at first chance. Price: $9.99.
You'll love one will be feeling lighter than air when you get them this butterfly in a jar for the holidays. Price:$19.99
If all else fails get that person a gift card. Many shopping centers have a place where you can buy giftcards for Target, Starbucks,AMC theater, etc.
Also check out the gift card mall.
You can also purchase giftcards at a discount at giftcard rescue. You can even sell back those unused gift cards from last Christmas and get a little something from them.
If gift giving isn't your thing or that person on your shopping list doesn't want anything for x-mas, why not take them out to a movie or a meal on you. You'll get to spend time together and have a chance to treat them as well.
Friday, December 3, 2010
Christmas Shopping on a Budget
The Holiday season is a time of giving, but that giving can put quite a huge dent in your wallet. When you have so many people to give gifts to it can be hard to stay on a budget. Here are some tips and tricks on how you can make the gift giving season a little less stressful.
Finding Gifts for everyone on your list for $30 or less.
ABC Distributing is a great place to find useful thong for a reasonable price. If you take a good look around this site I'm sure you can find something for everyone on your gift list and the best thing is they will have no idea that you got their gift for such a low price.
http://www.abcdistributing.com/
Finding Gifts for everyone on your list for $30 or less.
ABC Distributing is a great place to find useful thong for a reasonable price. If you take a good look around this site I'm sure you can find something for everyone on your gift list and the best thing is they will have no idea that you got their gift for such a low price.
http://www.abcdistributing.com/
Cupcake Hats: $4.95 +Shipping
Set of Two Throws: $7.95 + Shipping
Price: $7.95 to $10.95+ Shipping.
Have a Disney freak or a youngin on your shopping list? Check out the Disney outlet; a place to get Disney merchandise at a discounted price.
Nightmare before Christmas Ornaments
Price: $12.95 +Shipping
Tinker Bell Pajamas
Price: $15.00 + Shipping
Personalized Spider-man Backpack
Price: $12.99
These cute little buggers are $10 a piece and there is such a huge variety you'll be sure to find at least one to fit everyone on your shopping list.
All $10.00
Other Great Shopping Sites:
http://www.chocomize.com/ (Personalized Chocolate Bar)
http://www.yourmusic.com/enroll/enroll_200605_maroon_features.html (Hottest Cds for $6.99)
http://us.penguingroup.com/static/pages/shop/index.html (Books classic and contemporary)
http://www.tcm.com/shopping/index/?shopref=TCM.com%20Nav:Shopping%20Home (Find classic and contemporary movies here.)
Does someone on your wish list want something like the new Rock Band or some other expensive item? Why not get everyone they know to pull together $20 each and get the item they really want. Trust me it's a much better investment in the long run.
DIY
If your the crafty type why not take a crack at making some gifts yourself.
If you can sew make something simple like pillows or a totebag.
If you can bake try your hand at making delectible treats.
Other ideas:
Soaps
Jewlery
Knitted Items
Hair Acessories
Just take a look at a craft store like Jo Ann's,Micheal's, and Hobby Lobby for some inspiration.
Finding the Perfect Gift
Finding out what everyone wants can be stressful. If worse comes to worse just ask and get an idea what that person wants. If you don't want to ask you do have options. If they have a Facebook you can see what their likes are and get an idea with that. You can also just ask your friends and family to create an amazon wish list. You can either purchase something off their list or you get a pretty good idea on what they want.
Do you have to send gifts from afar?
If you have to send out your gifts I'd suggest just purchasing a gift card,money or a check. It may not be the most personalized present,but you won't have to pay all insane shipping fees either. If you are buying their gift online in the first place you can probably send it from the website directly to wherever you need and often times you can even get your package gift wrapped.
Wrap it up
I have to admit 'm not too big on gift-wrapping. Thank goodness for those gift bags. The great thing about gift-bags is that you can just keep reusing them. They are fast,efficient, and environmentally friendly.
Even better yet purchase one of those eco-friendly bags. Forever 21 and Disney have a few great ones to choose from ranging from $1.50 to $5.00. The bags are so great looking they are often like a gift by themselves.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Birthday Freebies!
Your Birthday only comes once a year and you might as well take advantage of it. Many businness's have special deals or give out free items on your birthday. I just had my birthday and got a couple of items this year for free without having to pay a single cent.
If you are lucky enough you'll live by one of these malls that are part of the mybdayclub. The mybdayclub will give you a certificate on your birthday month that you can take for a ten dollar gift card at your chosen mall. There is no catch,but you must redeem the certificate that same month. It's a free ten dollar gift card so you would be a fool not to check it out.
Free package of Lofthouse cookies. :)
You can get a free package of Lofthouse cookies on your birthday. All you have to do is join Club Lofthouse cookies. You'll get a coupon in the mail a week or two before your birthday that you can take to pretty much any grocery or food store. (Walmart and Target usually carry Lofthouse cookies as well.) The coupon will cover the cost of cookies to up to $4.00. Lofthouse cookies hardly ever reach the $3.50 mark so you should be fine. Lofthouse cookies will also send you other coupons in the mail through out the year that you can also use.
Many restaurants will give you a free meal or dessert on your birthday so why not check out this list of restaurants and see if there is perhaps something for you.
Disney World and Disneyland give free admission on your birthday all you have to do is sign up and bring your ID as proof. (They might not do this anymore sadly.) Medieval Times also gives free admission as well. AMF bowling also offers a free gift on your birthday. Check out your local museums and zoos as well because many of them give free admission on your birthday.
Want more birthday freebies? Check out this site that is completely dedicated to birthday freebie.
Your birthday doesn't have to be a snooze due to the fact you have a lack of funds. Just check out all the wonderful free things you can take advantage of. You might be poor and broke,but at least your birthday can be something special.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Halloween Costumes Part 2:Putting Together a Great Costume
In our first segment we talked about how you can get a great deal on one of those premade costumes, but in part two we will look at how you can put together with what you already have or just how to make a costume on your own.
The cool thing about putting together your own costume is that there is no limit to what you can actually be. You don't always have to go out and buy something. You can sometimes just put together a costume with the items you already have.
Here are some great sites that can give you ideas to put together your own Halloween costume.
http://www.ehow.com/halloween/costumelist.html
http://www.costumzee.com/how-to-costumes/
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2006/10/diy_halloween_amazing_cos.html
http://www.marthastewart.com/photogallery/our-favorite-costume-ideas
http://www.savers.com/ideas/Costume-Ideas/default.aspx
http://costumeideazone.com/
Sometimes all you need to put together a costume or complete a costume is a little makeup. Here are some links to some great makeup tutorials.
http://www.savers.com/ideas/Makeup-Ideas/default.aspx
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LydTN9bqoYc
If you can sew why not try your hand at making your costume from scratch. Check out these Threadbanger videos for ideas.
Still don't know what to do? Why not watch this Everyday Hardcore video for some inspiration.
The cool thing about putting together your own costume is that there is no limit to what you can actually be. You don't always have to go out and buy something. You can sometimes just put together a costume with the items you already have.
Here are some great sites that can give you ideas to put together your own Halloween costume.
http://www.ehow.com/halloween/costumelist.html
http://www.costumzee.com/how-to-costumes/
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2006/10/diy_halloween_amazing_cos.html
http://www.marthastewart.com/photogallery/our-favorite-costume-ideas
http://www.savers.com/ideas/Costume-Ideas/default.aspx
http://costumeideazone.com/
Sometimes all you need to put together a costume or complete a costume is a little makeup. Here are some links to some great makeup tutorials.
http://www.savers.com/ideas/Makeup-Ideas/default.aspx
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LydTN9bqoYc
If you can sew why not try your hand at making your costume from scratch. Check out these Threadbanger videos for ideas.
Still don't know what to do? Why not watch this Everyday Hardcore video for some inspiration.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Halloween Costumes Part 1:Getting a Great Deal on Your Costume
Halloween is coming and that means its time to work on your costume. (Of course if you're like me you already knew what you were going to be ages ago.) If you are the type who doesn't make their own costume you start realize something, Halloween costumes especially good looking ones are FREAKIN expensive and unfortunately most college kids can't afford to just hand out $50.00 for something that they might only wear once. There is nothing to fear though because I'm going to share with you some tips on tricks on how to get the best deal on your Halloween costume and how you can put together a great costume on your own.
Buying New!
If you want a brand spanking new costume it is important to get a great deal on it. You don't want to buy a costume for $50.00 and turn around and see you could have gotten the same costume for half the price some place else.(Please, do not be one of those jerks who demands a refund on a costume because you weren't smart enough to shop around.)
If you have a coupon for like 10% off, use it. Those two or three bucks really do make a difference.(Three dollars is enough to pay for my lunch.)
You are honestly more likely able to get a better deal on your costume online. It's easier to see where you can the best price on a costume. Try http://www.bizrate.com/ It's easy and efficient. Also check out retailmenot and see if there is a code on there that can get you an even better deal on that costume.
of course buying a costume you have never even seen in real life can be a little iffy. If you already know what costume you want go to one of the big costume stores in your area and try it on. This way you can see how the costume will look on you,the size you need and how the costume looks in real life and not on the model.
Buycostumes.com is currently having some great deals on some of their costumes.
http://www.buycostumes.com/Sale/Adult-Costumes/_/N-3i/results1.aspx
For Example:
You can get these lovely costumes for under $20.00. These are all quite a steal considering how much these costumes usually go for.
Buying Used!
If you don't mind a little wear to your costume then buying used is the way to go. You can get the same costume that you would have gotten new for the fraction of the price and even in just about the same condition as you would have gotten brand new.
Try your local thrift and secondhand clothing stores. These days you are able to find those prepackaged costumes at many of these places that have only been used once. Try places like Goodwill,Arc Thrift stores,Savers,Salvation Army, and Buffalo Exchange if you have one in the area.
When it comes to buying online its pretty much the same game. You still have to compare prices like you would with buying anything else online,but there is the possibility that what you are buying might not be in the greatest condition. If you buy off of E-Bay I suggest you go with the lots that actually have a picture of the costume in its current state and not just the same promo picture of the item that you see when you are buying the thing brand new. This way you'll know about any imperfections a costume may have without being surprised.
You can also try Craigslist as well under the clothing section many people sell their Halloween costumes that they only wore once for under $10.
In are next installment we will look at on how to put together a costume the old fashioned way.
Buying New!
If you want a brand spanking new costume it is important to get a great deal on it. You don't want to buy a costume for $50.00 and turn around and see you could have gotten the same costume for half the price some place else.(Please, do not be one of those jerks who demands a refund on a costume because you weren't smart enough to shop around.)
If you have a coupon for like 10% off, use it. Those two or three bucks really do make a difference.(Three dollars is enough to pay for my lunch.)
You are honestly more likely able to get a better deal on your costume online. It's easier to see where you can the best price on a costume. Try http://www.bizrate.com/ It's easy and efficient. Also check out retailmenot and see if there is a code on there that can get you an even better deal on that costume.
of course buying a costume you have never even seen in real life can be a little iffy. If you already know what costume you want go to one of the big costume stores in your area and try it on. This way you can see how the costume will look on you,the size you need and how the costume looks in real life and not on the model.
Buycostumes.com is currently having some great deals on some of their costumes.
http://www.buycostumes.com/Sale/Adult-Costumes/_/N-3i/results1.aspx
For Example:
You can get these lovely costumes for under $20.00. These are all quite a steal considering how much these costumes usually go for.
Buying Used!
If you don't mind a little wear to your costume then buying used is the way to go. You can get the same costume that you would have gotten new for the fraction of the price and even in just about the same condition as you would have gotten brand new.
Try your local thrift and secondhand clothing stores. These days you are able to find those prepackaged costumes at many of these places that have only been used once. Try places like Goodwill,Arc Thrift stores,Savers,Salvation Army, and Buffalo Exchange if you have one in the area.
When it comes to buying online its pretty much the same game. You still have to compare prices like you would with buying anything else online,but there is the possibility that what you are buying might not be in the greatest condition. If you buy off of E-Bay I suggest you go with the lots that actually have a picture of the costume in its current state and not just the same promo picture of the item that you see when you are buying the thing brand new. This way you'll know about any imperfections a costume may have without being surprised.
You can also try Craigslist as well under the clothing section many people sell their Halloween costumes that they only wore once for under $10.
In are next installment we will look at on how to put together a costume the old fashioned way.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Daria on DVD!
One of my favorite shows has just recently been put on DVD. If you don't know what Daria is, well its a delightfully 90s show that was a spin-off of the pop culture phenomenon Beavis and Butthead. It became a bit of a cult hit in its own right. The show had a much different tone and brand of humor from Beavis and Butthead. The easiest way to give you an idea on what the show is all about is just to show you.
You can get it off this site for about $45 and also get a Daria t-shirt with it as well.
One of my favorite shows has just recently been put on DVD. If you don't know what Daria is, well its a delightfully 90s show that was a spin-off of the pop culture phenomenon Beavis and Butthead. It became a bit of a cult hit in its own right. The show had a much different tone and brand of humor from Beavis and Butthead. The easiest way to give you an idea on what the show is all about is just to show you.
You can get it off this site for about $45 and also get a Daria t-shirt with it as well.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Keeping Great Looking Hair Without Breaking the Bank!
I suppose when it comes to college certain things tend to get neglected. For some of us this might be hair care or maybe some of us use college to experiment with different hairstyles. Either way its going to cost you some cash and it's best to get it all done at the best deal possible.
There several options out there if you want to get your hair done cheaply and I have made a little list of all of them.
1.Beauty School
The thought of going to a beauty school to get your hair done probably makes a lot of people cringe. I personally have no problem with it. I have recently tried out a beauty school that is real close to where I live at to dye my hair. I must say $15 is quite a deal for a hair dye job that is probably not to far from what a professional hair dye job would be. I have yet to get my hair cut at a beauty school,but I would certainly suggest if you are planning on doing so that you keep the haircut a fairly simple one to cut down on any chance of a major screw up happening. Remember these students are still learning so it is unwise to expect an extremely complex hairdo. Go on into the school and ask for an upcoming graduate student because from my experience the older students are much more professional and are more knowledgeable about what they are doing.
Find a BeautySchool near you here.
I want pink hair.
2. Shop Around
For those of you who may not be quite as adventurous with your hair upkeep might I suggest looking around at the best salons in your area to see which ones seem to have the best deals. You can do this by checking out google for the salons and beauty shops in your area. You might also want to check out your local CraigsList under the beauty section and see what deals you can find. Also see if there are any coupons you can use at your local beauty salon. Try retailmenot for some coupons.
3.DIY
That's right if you are really adventurous why not do it your self. Heck I cut my own hair and even though it's probably not perfect it was a very liberating and interesting experience. Here is a great how to guide on how to cut your own hair.
If you are really daring why don't you try and dye your own on your own. Here is a guide to help you.
Due to how my hair is I need a bit of a stronger dye in order for the color to stay in my hair,but that doesn't mean it can't work for you.
Remember college is a time for experimentation and experiences. Don't worry about the silly things in life like what people will think if you decided to dye your hair an unnatural shade of orange. As long as you like it that is the important thing. Then of course if you are working a job you might want to ask your boss before you go out and do something that wild.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Girly Freebies
Girly Freebies
As much as I hate to admit this, but I have a subscription to Seventeen magazine. I bought it from my little brother when he was selling magazines for his school. I did this two years ago and I'm still getting an issue a month. They just don't know when to quit. -_- Anyways this isn't about how my subscription to Seventeen never ends this is about how you can gain some freebies and what not.I tend to overlook all the coupons,contests, and freebies the magazine offers,but this time I actually paid attention and I wanted to share them with you.
20,000 people will receive earrings from MakeMeChic from August 2nd to September 13th.
You must be a female between the ages of 13 and 29 to get the earrings. To see if your lucky enough to get a pair go here.
Also check out MakeMeChic as well. They have some terrific deals and everything is fairly priced.
Also enter to win some of these contests on Seventeen.com while you're at it. You never know you could be one of the lucky winners. Also a lot of these contest entries on Seventeen will ask you if you would like a free issue of Seventeen and you might as well. I don't know if yo should subscribe though because you could be like me with a subscription that will never END!
The Famousfootwear Sweepstakes
1. FAMOUS FOOTWEAR "RUNWAY TO HALLWAY” SWEEPSTAKES: How To Enter: Beginning August 3, 2010, at 12:01 AM (ET) through September 11, 2010, at 11:59 PM (ET), go to seventeen.com/famousfootwear and complete and submit the entry form pursuant to the on-screen instructions. Winner Selection: On or about October 15, 2010 one (1) Winner will be selected in a random drawing from among all eligible entries received. Drawing will be conducted by Seventeen magazine, whose decisions are final. Odds of winning will depend upon the total number of eligible entries received. Prizes & Approximate Retail Value: One (1) winner will receive the following prize package: (a) roundtrip coach airfare for winner and one (1) guest from major airport closet to winner’s residence; (b) two (2) tickets to a fashion event or concert the week of New York Fashion week 2011, as determined by the Sponsor, plus one-way limousine service to the event or concert; (c) Hotel accommodations for 2 nights (one room, double occupancy). Hotel accommodations at Sponsor’s sole discretion, accommodations and travel subject to availability and blackout dates may apply; (d) meet-n-greet with the Seventeen style pros at the offices of Seventeen magazine, (e) a $1,000 shopping spree and a $500 Famous Footwear gift card for winner. Total ARV: $4,600. In the event the winner is a minor, guest must be winner’s parent or legal guardian. All travelers must possess valid travel documents. Winner must travel on dates specified by Seventeen, otherwise, an alternative winner will be selected. Arrangements must be made at least 30 days prior to departure. Once scheduled, the itinerary cannot be altered. Winner will be notified via phone, e-mail or postal mail, at Sponsor’s discretion, on or about October 15, 2010. Winner’s List: For winner’s name, send a separate self-addressed, stamped envelope to Seventeen, Promotion Department, 300 West 57th Street, 17th Floor, New York, NY 10019 by November 12, 2010. Entry forms that have been tampered with will be disqualified.
Win a 10,000 dollar shopping spree!
Or Enter
The Ultimate Summer Vacation Sweepstakes!
I kid you not this contest goes all the way to 2012, but you can enter this contest daily. At least one entry is chosen a month to win $1000 so it might be worth a try.
Oh yeah if you are interested check out the Seventeen covers from throughout the years.
Also check out Seventeen's Back to School discount's DIY and Freebie list
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
What do I need for College?
So many are going off to college and are about to live on their own for the very first time and are probably wondering "What do I take to College?".
Well there seems to be a lot of information out there about what you need to take to College and what you don't need to take to college. Since I probably wont be living on my own till next year I've decided to track down a few articles that might hold some of the info you might need.
This article talks about some of the items you might need in college and how to pack for college.
This article talks about some of the items you will need in your dorm room.
What's this? Finding all these necessary items for college it too much work for you?
Well not to worry because there are now kits out there to help you with the basics you need to start off college.
At Charming Cards they have these two kits to fit your college needs.
For $40 you can get the College Survival Kit.
The Kit includes:
Well there seems to be a lot of information out there about what you need to take to College and what you don't need to take to college. Since I probably wont be living on my own till next year I've decided to track down a few articles that might hold some of the info you might need.
This article talks about some of the items you might need in college and how to pack for college.
This article talks about some of the items you will need in your dorm room.
What's this? Finding all these necessary items for college it too much work for you?
Well not to worry because there are now kits out there to help you with the basics you need to start off college.
At Charming Cards they have these two kits to fit your college needs.
For $40 you can get the College Survival Kit.
The Kit includes:
What? That's too much for you? Well you can go with the smaller Dorm Survival Kit that provides you with a lot of the basic items you will need in college and it is about half the price of the College Survival Kit.
This kit includes:book light, caffeine gum, eye mask, earplugs,
Your best bet though is to go with Mom in a Box. A site that provides you with a whole bunch of items that you will need in plastic storage box. There four packs you can choose from you can get the basic kit for $25 or you can go with the gender specific packs that are around $50. You can upgrade each of these kits for $25 and get all the basic medicines you will need when it comes to those everyday illnesses.
If you are like me you find the idea of actually buying these kits silly and rather just go off and purchase the items you need on your own. I think that's a great idea,but I do suggest you take a look t these kits and make a list of the items that are included in them so you'll be sure to have everything you need.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
College Surivival Vol.2 :How I saved hundreds of dollars on my textbooks
How I saved money on my textbooks.
College textbooks are expensive by default. A pretty criminal notion considering that most college students don't really have any money to begin with.
I had a ton of school books I had to buy and buying them all could of easily cost me a couple hundred.
Just by shopping around online I was able to get my books for half the listing price or less.
Here are some tips I have so you can also save a whole bunch on textbooks.
I had a ton of school books I had to buy and buying them all could of easily cost me a couple hundred.
Just by shopping around online I was able to get my books for half the listing price or less.
Here are some tips I have so you can also save a whole bunch on textbooks.
Buying:
Amazon:
It's an obvious choice, but Amazon is a great place to find anything cheap especially textbooks. If you are willing to buy a used textbook with some wear to it then this is a great site for you.
Sign up for Amazon Student for these perks.
Amazon:
It's an obvious choice, but Amazon is a great place to find anything cheap especially textbooks. If you are willing to buy a used textbook with some wear to it then this is a great site for you.
Sign up for Amazon Student for these perks.
| Amazon Prime |
 Unlimited FREE Two-Day Shipping on textbooks and millions of other items |
 No minimum order size |
| Upgrades to One-Day shipping for $3.99/item |
It's sadly only good for one year,but it is certainly worth it.
Half.com
www.half.ebay.com/
I've already had a great experience with this company and have gotten some great deals on books. They were used,but they were in great condition and saved me quite a bit of money.
Cheapest Textbooks:
www.cheapesttextbooks.com/
This is a great site to look up textbooks and see how much they are going for on each website. You can choose if you are only seeking new textbooks, used or even rentals. It even tells you the discounts you can receive on each website. This site definitely worth the look.
Deal Oz:
www.dealoz.com
A lot like cheapest Textbooks it shows you how much a books run on each site and tells you any
Alibris:
www.alibris.com/
A cheap discount book site that is worth a look.
Purchase Earlier Editions ( New Insert)
More often than not the textbook you're required to purchase has an earlier edition. More often then not there isn't much difference between a volume from 2002 and a volume from 2006. Ask you're professor if an earlier edition of the textbook is appropriate for the course. (Most math textbooks are automatically exempt from this money saving idea.)
Renting:
Chegg:
www.chegg.com/
I've heard a couple of things about Chegg some good and some bad. The good thing about Chegg is that you are able to rent a text book for pretty much one fourth of the price that it would take to buy the textbook. That makes it pretty cost effective and you don't have to pay to send the text book back. The bad things I've heard about Chegg is that there is the chance of getting a text book in pretty bad shape with the possibility of missing media . Ex:Missing CD. Another downside to using Chegg is that there have been reports of the books arriving late and not always being received on time. You also have to make sure that you send off the book before its return time, but if you don't have many other options Chegg could be the thing for you.
Make sure you take a look at these codes on Retail Me Not to get a discount on your book orders. The average saving is seven dollars so it's well worth it. link
Chegg is also currently giving the opportunity to make five dollars when you promote Chegg so you may want to check that out once you go sign up for the site.
Library
I am surprised how the library seems to slip the mind of so many people. If you don't need to write in the book or plan on keeping the book then the library is probably your best option. If you have access to a library use it. I have already used the library to check out some of my text books and it really is the most cost effective option by far. The only downside to using the library is remembering to renew your textbooks and havi
ng the responsibility to watch over something that is not yours. Also remember to check your school's library they might have what you are looking for.
To find a library near you use this site.:www.publiclibraries.com/
Free E-books:
www.free-ebooks.net/
A bit of a long shot, but check to see if the book you need is being offered online for free.
Closing:
The important thing about getting your textbooks is to make sure you shop around. Check to see if you can get the book at the library or if you can get it for free online before you go out and purchase your book. Make sure you compare prices to see where you can get the best deal. Also account for shipping and any discounts the site is giving before you purchase your book. You can honestly save anywhere between 100-300 dollars each semester if you do this. If you end up having to buy a book you don't tend to keep remember you can always sell it back after you are finished. I'll cover this another time. I hope that these tips have been helpful.
First Aid Kit:
If you are going to go out and live on your own it is probably best to have a simple first-aid kit on hand. You know for just in case.
Target is currently having a deal online where you can put together your own first aid kit. The deal is pretty much if you choose three of the listed items and you get the first aid bag for free, which isn't that great of a deal if you think about it unless you really want that bag. You can check it out here. It can give you an idea on how to put your own first aid kit together. You can also check out your local Target and see if they are offering these kits.
Want a more decorative first aid kit?
Why not try the Angel of Mercy kit at the Victorian Trading Company.
Want a more decorative first aid kit?
Why not try the Angel of Mercy kit at the Victorian Trading Company.
Here is a list of items that you should probably include in your own kit. These are only the basics you can add more to your personal kit if you see need to.
- Band Aids
- Aspirin or some kind of pain reliever
- Thermometer
- Chemical ice pack
- 4" by 4" Gauze pads
- 4" by 4" Dressing bandages
- Q-tips
- Cotton balls
- Medical Tape
- Antimicrobial cleaning wipes
- Cleaning alcohol (Not to be mistaken for that bottle of Jack Daniels you have in the back of the fridge.)
- Chemical Ice pack
- Chemical Hot Pack
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Tweezers
- Scissors
- Sterile Gloves
- Antibiotic Ointment
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)