deals posts

There are some things in life that take priority such as grocery shopping. Whether you like it or not for most people it's a basic weekly responsibility.

I for one don't mind grocery shopping by myself but when I've got my two sons under four with me it's usually a bit of a circus show. I end up losing my scribbled To-Buy list within about ten minutes of pushing the cart around, meaning multiple trips to the grocery store, time wasted and frustrations high. Enter the world of apps, where there are now tools available to help you organize your life and save money without the fuss and... paper. These free apps are quite basic, but really who needs something with a lot of bells and whistles when it comes to a to-do list or a financial summary?

Here are five free apps that will save you time and money when it comes to organizing your finances and your life.

Although there are package deals to be had geared towards
getting away for a romantic night, not all of us are in the
position to jet off to Chicago with our mate on February 14th
for a night of good eating, theatre and a posh hotel.

Who really has the cash right now to pay for the airfare for two, a sitter for the kids and tipping a doorman several times all in recognition of one night?

But that's not to say Valentine's Day shouldn't be recognized -- I've always been a big believer in doing something special for your significant other on the 14th. Even if it is an appreciation that is somewhat forced, it does remind us not to take our partners for granted (at least for one day).

Here are a few ideas on how to treat your sweetheart without getting walloped with a big bill at the end of the night.

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I can spend hours looking for information online.

Sometimes its because of work - researching information and finding out answers to questions - but sometimes its a procrastinator's dream - looking up pretty things to buy, reading interesting blogs or reading the news of the day.

Canadians are busy online - according to Kijiji Canada statistics, we're busy looking through 1300 classified ads per minute, which breaks down to 22 searches per second or 185 listings per second.

The most recent statistics confirm online shopping is increasing, with $15 billion spent in 2009.

So what are we searching for online? What is tempting us to spend our hard earned loonies?

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Can you still find a deal for holiday travel?

For many of us, its not just about finding the right gift for a family member or a close friend, its also about travelling to a destination during the busy festive season.

Although finding a flight or a train ticket may not be impossible, the price in December can be frightful. There are still some deals to be had through Expedia.ca or Travelocity.ca, if you can be flexible about timing.

But there are other ways to save some money and keep your budget in check during the holiday season, and maybe even benefit others, thanks to some hotel promotions now available.

Since we've survived Black Friday and Cyber Monday, for the majority of us, there's still more shopping to do on the horizon.

Have you found a gift for Cousin Susie or Aunt Debbie? Doesn't your best friend deserve a little something more than a gift card?

I find the atmosphere at many retailers starts out festive, with holiday music and pretty displays.

But as the days get closer to the 25th of December, the frenzy of needing to find the right gift becomes the fixation and the niceties of the season are thrown out the window. Shopping becomes a combat sport.

For those shoppers who don't want to dread opening the credit card bill in January after purchasing things in frustration to escape the stores, here's some tips to keep calm and shop on.

You've got a lot of people to buy for this season and not a lot of room in your bank account to do it with.

But you still want to get something nice for each person: your teenage nephew, your toddler's caregiver, your girlfriend, your wife. It's time to give up trying to keep up with the Joneses and get gifts people will enjoy without stressing out about how you'll pay it off in January.

Here are some simple but thoughtful gifts under $30 that won't have you fearing your credit card statement.

To see the gallery, click on the link or picture below.

Great Gifts Under $30 - Photo Gallery

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It used to be something we watched from afar, but thanks to the online retail world, Canucks north of the border can benefit from the United States' number one retail day, Black Friday without getting in the car.

Google.ca knows its true, seeing a 400% increase in online searches for the phrase Black Friday in the past 30 days and so does VISA, who predict Canadians spending an average of $262.00.

The day after US Thanksgiving has traditionally been the official start of the holiday shopping season, and according to a recent survey from American Express Canada, more than half of Canadians plan to shop for gifts online.

So what's on the list? According to Amazon.ca, Canadians are looking for the deals on electronics, but there are a few exceptions.

If the burning log channel at Christmas was too vegetarian for you, you've got to fire up this baby on your widescreen: Swiss Chalet's new rotisserie chicken channel, which was just launched today.

Yes, you read that right: sizzling chickens spinning away on your screen all day. The only thing left to you is the scent (perhaps Swiss Chalet should launch some companion chicken candles).

The channel is available to all Rogers Television subscribers. You can also view it online at www.swisschalet.com/channel.

The deal component is this: while the chickens spin, coupon codes will occasionally flash up on the screen. To take advantage, proceed to Swiss Chalet's Facebook page for further instructions.

Bargain Babe says the next time you need to look good, check out your local drug store for great deals. She says if you do your research, you can find great bargains almost anywhere.

"I believe in getting great deals every day because when you do the math, the little purchases, lunch out, a new top, a tank of gas really add up," says Julia Scott, aka Bargain Babe on her website. "Likewise, I believe in socking away everyday savings to goals, like buying a home in the next five years or retiring near the ocean.

These days, you needn't brave the mall chaos to nab a few Boxing Week deals. Online shopping yields lucrative savings, too, and the best part is you can stay glued to the couch in your post-turkey coma.

If you're looking for some high tech gadgets, surf on over to Newegg.ca, where a clearance sale is underway. Some of the items are marked down by 80% and there's free shipping to boot.

For example:

HP LaserJet Pro Printer - $64.99 (from $149.99)

BlackBerry 8820 Unlocked Phone - $149.99 (from $199.99)

Rosewill Electric 4.2 Litre Water Boiler and Warmer Dispenser - $39.99 (from $59.99)