No Rest for the Weary

Thanksgiving is a day to relax and unwind, to be thankful for our many blessings in life including family, friends and winning NFL team. In all seriousness, it is a time to catch up on new stories and reminisce over old ones, while sitting around the table eating a warm turkey dinner with all the trimmings. Some may gather by a fire and others around the flat screen, but either way it is a break from school and the calm before the storm of the holiday season which officially kicks-off with Black Friday.

For some, Black Friday is a holiday tradition that involves trekking out to the mall in the wee hours of the morning to either begin or complete holiday shopping. For others it is a game of grab and go to avoid the mob scene and insane lines. Either way, whether you love the idea or hate it, Black Friday is a great shopping day for budget conscious people. And, if you are not use this kind of shopping scene then please stay tuned because we have the 411 on how to survive and be successful amongst the crowds.

1. If you are shopping for others Be Prepared. Have your list and check it twice. Plan a course of action and be aware of what each store is offering on Black Friday. Some sales are considered "Door Busters" or are offered in limited quantity only, so you should arrive early to take advantage. Other stores will have day long or weekend long deals, so decide where you wish to exert your efforts.

2. Check out the deals ahead of time. Click here to connect to the official website for 2010 Black Friday Deals. You can also visit slickdeals.net for a comparison of Friday's best deals.

3. Do your research! There are lots of great online resources that break down the best deals for different sale items. For example, check out this CNet page for laptop deals.

4. Shop online.. early! Many stores are offering BlackFriday deals online on THURSDAY.. so after you've eaten your turkey you can get the deals you want without leaving home! See this news article to look at stores that offer this deal.

5. Use connections. If your family member or friend is out shopping too ask them to help scout out deals for you. You can tri-county or tri-state shop very easily this way which can be especially handy for hard to get items such as electronics.

Should you wish to avoid crowds and stay inside you will still be able to snag great deals online for Cyber Monday, the internet follow-up to Black Friday. this year's Cyber Monday event is November 29th.

Happy Holidays!

Savvy Student

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Used Books, and New Ways to Sell Them

Stuck with a book you bought for a dropped class? Or how about that old chemistry book that you never want to see again? Savvy Student knows how to take away the bulk, and for a profit.

As the semester end approaches, all students will want to sell their books as soon as the last final is over. Most go back to the bookstore for the low price because they don’t want to worry about it later on. But for those who are willing to search around and find the highest price, Bookscouter.com is the place to go.

BookScouter, an online book selling blog, has plenty of useful tools to help you track down the best prices for your used books using their ISBN. BookScouter will not help you to necessarily sell your books, but at least you will know how to get the most for your old Calculus friend.

Once you have determined how much you want to get for your books, it's time to go to Half.com
You can post your items online after an easy registration process. The website will show you suggested prices in comparison those advertised by other sellers. Be realistic! Don't expect to get $70 for a textbook that someone else is selling for $30. As you have probably noticed, many supermarkets attract their clients by setting the price at $29.99 for something their competitor is marking at $30. Strategize!

Once someone decides to purchase your book, you will be notified via email by Half.com. Additionally, they will send you a print-out page that you will attach to the book you are mailing. Make sure to follow all the instructions and mail the order promptly! Half.com will refund you for the mailing costs, and you will receive the entire amount you sold the book for. The refunds are disbursed twice a month. Pretty good deal, right?

Also, don't forget to check with your friends; perhaps one of them is planning to take the same course next semester, and is willing to buy it at a reduced cost without any hassle. MyBrandeis has a forum for students advertising their used books.

Happy re-selling,
Savvy Student

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A Deliciously Inexpensive Thanksgiving

As the smell of turkey, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie gets closer by the second, students across the country are faced with many decisions regarding plans for Thanksgiving. While the holiday can be an excellent opportunity to connect with relatives, watch the yearly football games and enjoy Grandma's most beloved dishes, it can also be something of a financial burden for cost-conscious college students. No need to fret, however, because Savvy Student is here to make this Turkey Day just as memorable, and much more affordable.

For students living more than a short drive from campus, transportation often comprises a large portion of Thanksgiving expenses. To minimize the cost of getting home, consider all the transportation options available to you. For lots of students, flying is only one of many options, and the other options may be cheaper. Consider taking a bus, train, or passenger seat in a friend's car if you live near one another.

This year, the Brandeis Student Union will be providing Turkey Shuttles again for those heading off to New York for the holiday. It is not always cheaper to take this shuttle rather than taking the Mega Bus or the Bolt Bus, yet it is much more convenient as you will not have to face the Thanksgiving craziness taking the public transportation in the city.

If you do choose to fly, compare the prices of all major airlines before making a decision. For example, www.kayak.com allows travelers to compare the flight prices from most online booking services simultaneously. Moreover, take when you're buying tickets into consideration. Though there is a bit of disagreement between travel gurus, most recommend either Tuesday or Wednesday as the optimal day to buy airline tickets.

Also, think about getting yourself an ISIC (International Student Identification Card). For a $22 investment, you are eligible to receive an 11% discount off of Jet Blue flights and 15% off the lowest AMTRAK fares. The STA travel web-page, also offers student discounts, so be sure to check it out.

Make sure to check MyBrandeis for car pools before you get any tickets. Other students may be offering a ride to those who are looking for one, especially around the holiday time!

Happy Turkey Eating!
Savvy Student

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Pump Up the Prime...

How many of you have student loans, but no clue who the lender is, what your terms are or even the interest rate? Credit and loans can be quite complicated and too overwhelming to understand without some guidance. Instead of taking the time to research and understand your debts, it may be easier to plug in the iPod and zone out of reality. That is, until graduation when loans become a borrowed reality that require repayment. So, instead of hitting the old snooze button, splash some water on your face and continue reading...

Wells Fargo bank has created a worksheet to layout, in lamens terms the difference between principal and interest and prime rate versus margin, etc. If you have loans or credit cards, but the terms confuse you please take a peek at the worksheet here.

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Planning Your Meals

Buying groceries may be fun at first until you get to the checkout lane. As prices increase for eggs, milk and the like it may be hard to keep to a student budget and even harder to eat good-for-you foods. If you have opted out of the meal plan, then this has become a gross reality, but we at Savvy Student want to turn your frown upside down by providing some tips to help save you money.

1. Buy Local

Not only does it feel good to support local farmers - it can also save you money. Although the farmer's market in Waltham is done for the season, that doesn't mean that buying local isn't possible. Boston still has farmer's markets through November! There are markets near city hall and by south station. Cambridge also has markets going on during the week and weekend.

For more information, including a list of vendors and specific dates and times, check out http://www.massfarmersmarkets.org

2. Buy Big

Those individual serving-size packages may seem nice, simple, and easy, but they can cost you big time in the long run. Instead, buy larger packages (a good example is applesauce: cup versus large jar), invest in some reusable containers (20pk Ziploc at Costco for $10), and portion yourself out a serving whenever you need to bring your lunch. If you're afraid you're buying too much, buddy up and share with a friend! It will cut costs for both of you.

3. Don't Over-buy Perishables

Unless you have room in your freezer, don't buy more fresh food items than you could normally use in a week. While some vegetables may last a bit longer, you should be especially careful with meats, dairy products (other than cheese), humus, tofu, etc. If you're unsure how long a product can last in your fridge, check the package or do some good Google-searching.

4. Cook Your Own

Generally, preparing your own home-cooked meals will be much cheaper than buying pre-made items. Chicken for example, can become rather expensive when you buy bags of pre-breaded and baked strips. Instead, you should buy a large freezer-bag of chicken breasts, and find different ways to prepare them for yourself. This will give you the freedom to add more variety to your diet sparing you the boredom of a routine meal.

5. Communal Eating

Many of these suggestions become easier when made into group activities. If you and your roommates have very similar eating habits, or at least consume many of the same items, you can go grocery shopping together. This way you can share the responsibility, cost, and can buy fresh items in bulk without worrying about waste. You can also share the task of preparing food, which is especially nice if you consider cooking to be a chore. This can save time, encourage group time even during midterms, and add more variety to your pallet with the different cooking styles of your group.

6. Simplify and Stretch

Make the recipe your own, a lovely college-student budget version. Eliminate any garnishes, make sure the number of servings is appropriate (allrecipes.com will automatically calculate the recipe to the number of servings you want), and trim the rest of the recipe down to the main flavors. If your apple-squash recipe calls for walnuts, you can skip them if they break your budget. You can change various fruits and vegetables (if you already know how they taste) to work in cheaper and in-season ones. Slim down on the amount of seasoning, oil, butter, etc you use to cut costs and calories. If you're nervous, just keep an eye on the consistency, etc as you prepare the meal and adjust the ingredients as you go. If you're big on the boxed meals, stretch them. For example, you can add an extra cup of pasta and a cup of water to your hamburger helper for additional servings. If you can, always add cheap "filler foods." You have your entire life after graduating, paying off loans, and beginning a career to make yourself into a more "gourmet" cook.

7. Nutrition

To cut down on the amount you consume in a week, fill your diet with items that keep you full. Usually this means they have a lot of fiber. You can take a multi-vitamin, and make small changes to your diet. Instead of drinking a few gallons of juice, stick to the actual fruit. The juice is often full of sugar and missing many essential nutrients that the fruits themselves contain, including fiber. This is especially true for orange and apple juice. The longer you stay full, the less you eat, the less you have to buy.

8. Experiment

Use what you have. Did you know you can make delicious peanut butter cookies with just a cup of sugar, a cup of peanut butter, and an egg? There is a great website that will give you recipes for whatever food you have on hand- it's fun to experiment and it's practical for those days when you don't think you have options. Check it out here: www.cuisine.co.nz

9. Clip Coupons and Shop Generic

If you have access to a grocery store cheaper than Hannaford's, take advantage. If you can find coupons online or in the paper for your favorite items and grocery stores, don't forget them. It may help to clip in advance and pin them to the fridge. If your brand isn't on sale, get over that mental barrier and finally admit that a bag of Toasty Oats tastes exactly the same as a yellow box of Cheerios.

Check out these links: http://print.coupons.com/, www.couponmom.com and www.couponcabin.com


Happy eating!

Savvy Student

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Shop 'Till You Drop And Save Money

The Holiday Season is upon us and here at Savvy Student we are investigating new ways to shop for those holiday gifts. With the end of the semester, it is often times difficult for students to focus on anything other than final papers and exams. There is certainly no time to go to the mall and spend time waiting in long lines to check out. Instead, why not save money and go shopping without ever having to leave your dorm room or apartment? Research shows that online shopping does in fact save you more money. Our detectives have uncovered a few websites that we hope you will check out below.

1) Couponcowgirl.com Everyone loves using coupons, but finding coupons for a particular store is very time consuming. Couponcowgirl.com is a website that groups discounts for popular apparel, consumer electronics, books, music, and everything else imaginable into one easy to navigate location. There are tons of online coupons and daily offers that can be found on most sites and are often combined with free shipping deals.

2) Similar to couponcowgirl, some websites will alert you when new sales come up. One such site is dealspl.us which shows you all kinds of deals- sales, free items and coupon codes for online shopping. It updates frequently during the day so check back every so often!

3) The ever-so-frustrating two days after you purchase reduction has met its match with PriceProtectr.com, a website that tracks the price of a product that you are looking to buy. After signing up and entering the URL of the item at the online store, this website will track its price. If there are any changes, you will receive an email notification. What could be simpler?

4) Price comparison sites such as PriceGrabber.com enable the consumer to shop smarter, by compare several retailer's prices of a specific product. The consumer not only gets competitive pricing information, but also product reviews and site reviews in order to help with their decision of what and where to buy online. Learn more about the advantages of online shopping here.

5) Take advantage of free gifts offered with purchase. Many stores, especially during the holiday season, offer free gifts and discounts with purchases of a certain amount. This way, you purchase the holiday gifts you need while also receiving a free gift(perhaps a little well deserved holiday present for yourself!) But be careful to not overspend! Don't splurge on something that you don't need just to receive that bonus flowered scarf that you're never going to wear!

6) Check out auction sites such as eBay.com , Yahooo Auctions, or uBid.com. Scouring these sites will allow you to get the best deal possible for the product you are looking for. And of course, you get the added bonus of watching the countdown of the clock until your exciting victory of that adorable pair of shoes or the LCD TV that you've been dreaming of.

Online shopping is often a fairly simple process, and most retailers have improved their sites to be more user-friendly. It sure beats standing around in long lines, especially during the mayhem of the holiday season. Take advantage of online deals and discounts, making sure you find the gift you're looking for at the cheapest price possible!

Happy Shoppping!
Savvy Student

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