By The most romantic day of the year isn’t just for sweethearts: Bargain hunters will also fall in love with huge discounts soaring as high as 60 percent off! Expect markdowns on holiday-themed gifts like candles, jewelry and luxury chocolates during the week leading up to February 14. Stores use this holiday to slash prices on lots of other products too, such as treadmills, bedding and furniture. Then, on February 15, enjoy even more sales with up to 50 percent off candy, fresh-cut flowers, heart-shaped baking pans and picture frames. Check CouponCabin.com and TheKrazyCouponLady.com for deals.
Save on groceries by freezing more
The average household loses a whopping $1,866 a year to discarded food, often because it spoils before we can eat it. Luckily, there’s an easy way to keep groceries around longer: Pop them in the freezer. Sounds like old advice, but many folks aren’t following it because they don’t realize the wide array of foods that can be frozen or how long they can remain in the freezer. Take buttermilk, for example, which can stay frozen for three months, and hard cheese, which will keep for six months. That’s important since a study from the U.K. shows that freezing perishables reduces waste by 47 percent, saving folks $877 every year! Discover which surprising foods you can freeze by downloading the USDA’s free FoodKeeper app or logging on to FoodSafety.gov/keep-food-safe/foodkeeper-app.
Make an old car feel like new with simple tweaks
With the cost of new vehicles rising to over $35,000, Americans are holding on to their cars longer—than 12.5 years on average. But driving an older car doesn’t mean you have to miss out on today’s tech. Consider upgrading your ride with easy-to-install devices from Amazon.com or Walmart.com. Want a backup camera? Rear camera sets start at $35. Wish you knew when your tires needed air? Pick up a tire monitoring system for $30. Need hands-free smartphone access? Plug a Bluetooth adapter into your auxiliary power outlet/cigarette lighter for as little as $14.
Turn off store notifications
Downloading a store’s mobile app is a great way to score valuable rewards, but it can also tempt us to spend more than we planned. A recent Texas A&M University study found that app users shop 33 percent more often, buy 34 percent more products and part with 37 percent more cash both in the app and in-store. Why? Apps send frequent notifications about sales and new arrivals, which spark our desire to shop even when we don’t need anything new. Save more money simply by turning off those pesky alerts, which you can easily do in the app itself or by clicking on your smartphone’s settings.
Scam beware: Avoid phony account alerts
Got an Email Saying a Business Suspended Your Service? Don’t click links to pay or log in because the alert might be fake. Scammers often copy official company logos to make emails look genuine. Stay safe by typing the company’s website address directly into your browser or calling the number on your invoice.
