I’ve known about redbox some time ago but never even really knew how it worked until recently, when a redbox showed up in front of a gas station a block from where I work and I decided to try it out.

Redbox is basically a vending machine for renting DVDs, and the great part of it is that it is only 99 cents for a one night rental, if you return it by 9 pm the next night.

It is a great alternative to the video stores or pay-per-view on cable, that charge 3.99 or more  for a rental.  Also,  if you are like me and don’t rent very many movies at this point in your life, it is a cheaper alternative than netflix if you don’t rent enough movies over the course of a month (I probably average 1-2 per month) to make their subscription plan worthwhile. I actually love watching movies, I just can’t seem to find the time in my life with two small kid, work, and everything else going on in my life. At some point I could see netflix being a worthwhile option, just not right now.

As an added bonus I discovered that there are free redbox rental codes that are good for a free one night’s rental that are put out from time to time (seems to be about monthly), that show up on deal finding websites such as slickdeals. Just search a site like slickdeals or even google for “free redbox codes”, and you are likely to find some. They will also send you a code for a free rental if you sign up for redbox email list.

I’ve only rented 3 movies from redbox over the last 2 or 3 months, but my experience has been a good one thus far with redbox.

What service do you use to rent movies? Netflix, redbox, or something else?

Credit Crisis Concerns? Get 20% off FICO credit scores now

• Is Lifestyle Inflation Keeping You in Debt or from Saving More Money?
• Finding Great Deals on the Internet and How to Avoid Buying Things You Don’t Need
• The Five Types of Money-Saving Tools and Resources
• Book Review: A Million Bucks by 30 by Alan Corey
• Book Review: Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich

Spending money online is easy: you just browse online catalogs, provide your credit card details and buy whatever you need or want. Luckily there are quite a few resources that help you save money as well.

This post overviews the 5 types of sites that you may want consider for learning to save money online:

1. Bargain Hunting Social Media Communities

Pros: Web 2.0 sites allow for the wealth of cool tools like ratings, voting and comments. This helps to easier spot great deals and leaves almost no room for manipulation (fake submissions and sponsored reviews) as the deals are shared and voted by real people.

Cons: Users may get really spontaneous when it comes to categorizing and tagging shared deals, so it may be hard to spot special offers in the niche you are interested in.

Example: Buxr.com (a heavily moderated, high-quality resource where coupons are submitted by users)

2. Coupon codes and deals blogs

Pros: Blogs (maintained by one or several authors) are more organized and up-to-a-point that user-generated resources. They have less updates and are thus easier to keep up with.

Cons: The above advantage can actually be the disadvantage at the same time: blog authors usually use one and the same source (or sources) where they find new deals, so they thus lack variety.

Example: Coupon lady (for female audience) and Coupon Dad (for male shoppers)

3. Freebie aggregators

Pros: These sites collect freebies around the web and list them for you to take advantage of them.

Cons: Is there actually anything really free under the sun?

Example: List Free Samples (a high-quality collection of completely legal free samples, printable coupons and more)

4. Coupon codes directories

Pros: These are usually run by the team of bargain hunters who collect the deals either manually or automatically.

The sites are usually really well-organized and complete.

Cons: It is hard to filter really good deals without knowing what other readers think about each deal.

Example: Cheap Stingy Bargains (one of the richest and most complete, daily updated coupon codes resource)

5. Coupon codes forums

Pros: Like social media communities, the forums are updated by the active community of enthusiastic bargain hunters.

Cons: These are hard to control, so often heavily spammed and manipulated by sellers promoting their products.

Example: The Coupon Cupboard (probably not the most active one but one of the most useful and targeted coupon code forums out there).

To sum up:

Which one(s) do you prefer?

This guest post was provided by Ann Smarty, a search blogger and social media enthusiast. Ann has recently started the community of guest bloggers: go ahead and join the beta testers!

Credit Crisis Concerns? Get 20% off FICO credit scores now

• Finding Great Deals on the Internet and How to Avoid Buying Things You Don’t Need
• Take Couponing to the Next Level With Printable Coupons from the Web and Email
• Guide to Finding Black Friday Deals Ahead of Time on the Internet
• The ABC’s of Personal Finance, Saving Money, and Investing on the Internet
• Weekly Personal Finance Links- Networking and Social Media Edition

The other day I pointed out an offer thorough MSN Money where you could get a free copy of your credit report, all 3 credit scores, and credit monitoring service for a year for free if you were one of the 1st 10,000 people to sign up. Well, apparently that only lasted about 12 hours before the limit was reached.

But there is a program sponsored by the federal government where you can get one free credit report from each of the 3 credit bureaus once a year.

The 3 credit bureaus are:

• Experian

• Transunion

• Equifax

Each of these 3 credit bureaus maintains a credit report on you based on your past borrowing habits and other financial traits. While they are usually similar in the information they contain, they can be slightly different and can contain errors. When you borrow money from a bank, most banks use a FICO score (your credit score) based on information from one of these credit bureaus.

The problem is, you don’t always know which one, especially ahead of time. That is why you want to review your credit report from each bureau and make sure it is accurate. The site to obtain a totally free, no strings attached credit report is annualcreditreport.com.

Don’t confuse this with freecreditreport.com, or any other service, many of which are not totally free with no strings attached-you normally have to sign up for some type of monthly service, which you will be charged for if you don’t cancel within the allowed time frame.

You can obtain a credit report from each of these once a year for free using annualcreditreport.com. Checking your credit reports is a good thing to do on a regular basis, especially if you think you will be borrowing money in the near future. You should check them for accuracy, and correct any mistakes you may find. Some people like to get one report every 4 months, so that they are monitoring their credit report every 4 months throughout the year.

It is important to note, however, that these credit reports do not contain your credit score. Normally, you have to pay for your actual credit scores, although there are a couple of ways to estimate your credit score that are free, such as myFICO score estimator, or a newer service called Credit Karma.

The myFICO Score Estimator estimates your score based on questions you answer. Credit Karma, on the other hand, gives you an estimated credit score for free based on actual information from the credit bureaus. I have not tried Credit Karma yet- but will in the near future. Credit Karma is relatively new-as far as I know- but has gotten good reviews thus far and appears to be legit-you do not have to give them a credit card number, so there is no way for them to charge you.

If you want to be absolutely sure you are getting your FICO score that a bank would see if you are getting a loan, you are probably going to have to pay. myFICO offers all 3 FICO scores and credit reports as a package deal, but I would only pay for these if you really need it.

It’s a good idea to monitor your credit reports on a regular basis, since it is free to do so using annualcreditreport.com. It is also free to get an idea of what your actual credit scores are, using an estimator such as myFICO score estimator, or Credit Karma so you can make informed decisions and manage your credit wisely.

Credit Crisis Concerns? Get 20% off FICO credit scores now

• Free- One year of Triple Advantage Credit Monitoring, Experian Scores and Credit Reports from MSN Money
• The ABC’s of Personal Finance, Saving Money, and Investing on the Internet
• Get $25 Free From Lending Club Plus a Chance to Win $2500
• 10 Great Ways For College Graduates to Start Off on the Right Track with Their Finances
• Weekend Roundup- Xmas Edition

For some hardcore shoppers, and even frugal people, Black Friday, or the day after Thanksgiving, is the best day of the year to get out and shop.

While I have never been a hardcore black Friday shopper, almost every year I find several gifts for people in my family at really good prices on black Friday. I am not the sort of person to go wait in line at a store at 2 a.m. to catch the door busters (where stores usually only have a very limited supply), but I do get up early on occasion to pick up a few gifts.

Over the last few years, several online sites have made planning your Christmas shopping early even easier by posting sale ads for black Friday ahead of time, which allows you to peruse the ads before Thanksgiving day and plan your Christmas shopping even earlier than you might be able to otherwise. Even more recently, some stores offer the same deals online, which can save you from getting up early and gas money!

Where to find Black Friday deals ahead of time

Slickdeals Black Friday Forums- A great destination for discussion, speculation, where to find certain or hard to find items, etc. Check out the index of already released Black Friday ads for ads that have already been released or posted for Black Friday sales.

Black Friday Ads- Another site listing black Friday and pre-black Friday sales, in an easy to read blog type format.

Blackfriday.info- My fellow PF blogger PT from Prime Time Money turned me on to blackfriday.info, which has a neat list of black Friday ads and a whole list of retailers with pending ads, so you can quickly scan which ads have been released and which have not.

Remember to shop wisely if you venture out on Black Friday, so you don’t end up working yourself into a shopping frenzy like the retailers want you to.

• Make a list and stick to it
• Don’t fall for the hype-while many things may be great deals, others are not-know what you are buying
• Get what you went for, and get out-too much shopping can be tempting!

Share your experiences- Are you going out on Black Friday? Do you do it regularly? Where do you usually find the best deals?

Credit Crisis Concerns? Get 20% off FICO credit scores now

• Top 10 Reasons to Avoid Shopping on Black Friday
• 10 Tips for a Financially Stress Free Christmas
• Finding Great Deals on the Internet and How to Avoid Buying Things You Don’t Need
• Weekend Roundup- Cyber Monday Edition
• Start Your Christmas Shopping Early With a Free 30 Day Trial to Amazon Prime Free Shipping

One thing I learned last year at Christmas time, is that I really enjoy ordering gifts online. Staying out of crowded shopping malls and other big box stores helps me maintain my sanity during the holidays. Not to mention the time and money savings that can be realized by shopping online.

I can shop at Best Buy, Target, and dozens of other stores in a matter of minutes instead of hours. Last year though, I really discovered the amazing number of items and selection at Amazon.com. I ended up ordering 4 or 5 Christmas presents, and was most pleased with both the service and the quality.

Well, Christmas is coming, and I have already started keeping my eyes open for online deals at great prices. One thing that caught my eye recently, that I hope to use to my advantage, is a great deal on a trial offer to Amazon Prime. Now through the end of October, you can get a 30 day trial offer for free 2 day shipping through Amazon. Normally priced at $79 per year, Amazon Prime allows you to get free shipping on any item, even those priced under $25. Normally, you can get free “super saver” shipping when you spend $25 or more, but that means if you are buying individual items less than $25 you will have to pay for shipping, and super saver shipping can take up to a week or more.

Get a Free 1 Month Trial to Amazon Prime-Free two day shipping on all items

Click here for a free 30 day trial to Amazon Prime:

Free Trial to Amazon Prime

Note: Amazon will automatically charge you for the 1 year membership ($79) if you do not cancel before the end of the 30 day trial. Many people find the regular price well worth it, so if you do a lot of shopping online, you may want to consider it.

To cancel your Amazon Prime membership trial, visit the Manage Your Prime Account section of your account and click the “cancel membership” button. Make sure to do it before the 30 day trial is up if you don’t want to pay for a whole year.

Credit Crisis Concerns? Get 20% off FICO credit scores now

• Weekend Roundup- No A/C Needed Edition
• Finding Great Deals on the Internet and How to Avoid Buying Things You Don’t Need
• Determining Your “Next Action” with Your Personal Finances
• Guide to Finding Black Friday Deals Ahead of Time on the Internet
• 10 Tips for a Financially Stress Free Christmas

Here are The ABC’s of Personal Finance, Saving Money, and Investing on the Internet. A list of websites for learning about saving and investing, sites that save you money, help you budget or manage your finances, and other great resources, services or information sites that I have read, used, or had recommended to me. I know this list isn’t totally comprehensive; I plan on adding to it in the future, but here is my take on it. If you have any suggestions, leave them in the comments below and I’ll add it to the list. Hope you enjoy!

A

Annualcreditreport.com- This is the place (the only place where you can get it free with no strings attached, that I know of) to go to get your credit report, from all 3 credit bureaus for free once a year.
America Saves- A non-profit group focuses on helping Americans save more. Strategies, tips, and resources on saving more money.

Alltop.com -Personal Finance- A blog aggregator showing “all the top stories” from great blogs around the web, the personal finance section has some really good personal finance blogs. (And I’m not just saying that because Think Your Way To Wealth is included )

B

Bankrate.com - A great site offering info. on the highest savings accounts and CD rates, mortgage rates, and other finance information.

C

Craigslist- Looking to make some extra cash? If you want to sell something locally, Craigslist is a good place to do it, and listings are free. Also a good place to find used items to buy.

D

Daveramsey.com- Debt reduction guru Dave Ramsey’s website, of Debt Snowball fame. Articles, information and resources to help you get out of debt.

E

EmigrantDirect- Another interest paying savings account option, No fee, no minimum, currently paying 3.0%.
Ebates- Earn cash back when you make purchase, by registering and shopping through ebates.

F

Fatcash- Similar to ebates, a cash back program for shopping and making purchases online.
Federal Reserve-Consumer info- Information on saving, resources on foreclosures, and a lot of other useful information.

G

Gasbuddy.com- Find the cheapest gas nearest you by checking out gasbuddy.

Get Rich Slowly- A personal finance blog by JD Roth, with great insight. Over 60,000 subscribers.

H

HSBC Direct - Online savings account, currently offering 3.5% through September 15th. No fees, no minimum.

I

IRS.gov- Looking for information on taxes or the government economic stimulus checks? Check out the IRS website.

ING Direct- One of the most popular high-interest online savings accounts. No fees, no minimums, currently paying 3.0%.

Investor Village- stock message boards and discussion groups. Discuss stocks, stock research and stock market news.

J

Jumpstart Coalition- Focused on improving personal finance literacy for young adults.

K

Kiplinger- Personal finance, business, and investing info available.

L

Lazy Man and Money- A great personal finance blog about becoming wealthy with the least amount of work possible, with a little irreverence thrown in for good measure.

M

myFICO.com- Check out the myFICO forums-Information and a great place to learn about or get your credit score, lots on info. available in the forums area.

Mint.com- Free Personal Finance Software, Online Money Management, Budget Planner and Financial Planning.

N

Networth IQ- A net worth calculator that allows you to track, share, and compare your net worth.

O

Openoffice- A great FREE alternative to Microsoft office suite. i have been using it for several years at home and really like it.

P

Pricegrabber- Find the lowest prices by comparison shopping for the items you are looking for. Also has consumer reviews by users.

Priceprotectr- Keep track of your purchases, watch prices, and get your money back from stores that offer a “30 day price guarantee” or similar offers.

PFBlogs.org- The personal finance blog aggregator, currently indexing over 1000 personal finance blogs.

Q

Quicken Online-The online version of the popular personal finance software, a 60 day trial is available free,

R

Realtor.com-The world’s largest database of available real estate listings.

S

SlickDeals- A great online site for finding deals, coupons, and freebies both on and offline.

Smartmoney- Website of the popular magazine, information available for investing, money management, and retirement planning.

T

Treasury Direct- Find info on Treasury bills, notes, and government bonds. Series I and Series E savings bonds can be purchased and managed online.

U

Upromise- A cash back program you link to your credit or debit cards as well as shopping/grocery/drug store cards (such as CVS) to earn cash back for college. Also earn cash back when you shop through their site with online retailers. Save money for college, use for your own student loans, or they will mail you a check.

V

Vanguard- A great low fee, investment firm offering IRAs, 401(k)rollovers, or personal investing.

W

Wesabe- A free online money management tool for tracking and organizing your finances. Check out the discussion groups also.

X

Gen X Finance- A great personal finance blog written by Jeremy, a retirement financial planner, geared towards Generation X.

Y

Yahoo! Finance - At Yahoo! Finance, you get free stock quotes, up to date news, portfolio management resources, international market data, message boards, and mortgage rates. A few good money writers also.

Z

Zecco - An online discount brokerage offering free trades with an account over $2500.

Zillow.com- Offers residential property valuations based on tax assessments, guide for buyers and sellers, and listings of homes for sale.

Credit Crisis Concerns? Get 20% off FICO credit scores now

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