Do This: Log Into Your AT&T Wireless Account to See if the Price of Your Plan Dropped

If your cell phone carrier is AT&T, I recommend logging into your account at wireless.att.com to see if the monthly price of your plan dropped.  If the price did decrease, it will literally take you two minutes to make your changes and save significant coin.  

AT&T Wireless: You Won't Get Any Complaints From Me

Yesterday, I logged in to change my auto-pay credit card's expiration date and, to my surprise, was immediately given an option to select a new price point for my shared mobile plan.  For the same plan of two iPhones with shared 2gb of data, unlimited calls, and unlimited texts, the price decreased from $140 to $90 a month.  For the exact same plan! Again, AT&T lowered the price of our plan by $50 a month and even gave me the option to back-date the change a month.  Yes, please!

I read about the price cuts a few weeks ago, but hadn't checked to see if the changes applied to me, a customer still under contract.  I assumed they wouldn't and boy was I wrong.  

I've never seen any service provider voluntarily offer a price reduction in such a customer-friendly manner.  Kudos to AT&T and apologies to its shareholders.  

Do This: Save Money on Valentine's Day Flowers

First image when googling "flowers"

Flowers, especially on Valentine's Day via a retailer like 1-800-Flowers, are a rip-off.  I know.  However, when it comes to Valentine's Day, birthdays, and other holidays, the cost is a small price to pay to show a loved one that you adore them, appreciate them, etc.  That being said, there's nothing wrong with saving a little money on your flower purchase.  

Below is a quick step-by-step approach to save some money (approximately 36%) on Valentine's Day flowers, in this case from 1800Flowers.com. 

1. American Express: This will only work if you have an AmEx, but log into your account and check your "Offers for You".  You should find a $15 off $50 offer for a purchase from 1800Flowers.   Save the offer to your card.
2. Plink: Make sure the 1800Flowers offer is loaded in your plink account and you'll get 600 plink points for a $50 purchase.  500 points gets you a $5 gift card to merchants like Amazon.  If you have an AmEx and followed Step 1, make sure your AmEx is linked with your Plink account since you'll be paying for your flowers with that card.  If you don't have a plink account, follow this link and you'll get 300 points when you sign up. 
3. Mr Rebates:  Go to MrRebates.com and search for 1800flowers.  You'll see that the site is offering 15% back on your purchase (not including delivery fees), which is the highest rate of the cash back portals.   Follow the link to 1800flowers and choose your flowers.
4. Online Coupon: Before checking out, add the coupon code REBFIVE to take 5% off the cost of the flowers.  This coupon code should stack with the Mr Rebates cash back. 
5. Pay: Be sure to check out with your AmEx with the saved $15 off offer and/or linked plink credit card.  

The Math

To wrap it up, here's the math.  Let's say you buy a $60 arrangement with a $20 delivery fee and no tax.  

1. Take 5% ($3) off the $60 cost of arrangement and you're down to $77 with the $20 delivery.
2. Mr. Rebates will return you 15% of the $57 ($8.55) for the arrangement.  Now you're down to $66.45.
3. AmEx gives you a statement credit of $15 for your purchase with your AmEx card, dropping the cost to $51.45.

Bottom line: You decreased the original cost of $80 to $51.45, a 36% savings!  Plus you scored enough plink points to redeem for a $5 Amazon gift card.  And, of course, you made your significant other a happy lady/gentleman!

Use This: Ebates and Amazon to 3% On Clothing and Baby Items

I just checked Ebates and noticed that they're currently offering 3% cash back on clothing and baby items from Amazon.com.  Personally, I'm not buying clothes on Amazon, but I buy a ton of baby stuff from there.  If you're in the market for baby items (or clothes) set up an account at Ebates and start using the cash back portal to earn 3% cash back on your purchases.  Combine this Ebates 3% cash back with 2-3% from credit card rewards and you're saving a good percentage on your purchases.  

I wish I knew about this before some recent purchases.  Note exclusions are Diapers, Wipes, Bathing, Skin Care, Monitors, Toys, Formula and Food.  I'm not sure how long this 3% will last, but I do know Ebates is the only cash back portal with Amazon deals.  If you need instructions on how to use cash back portals, check out my primer on Cash Back Portals for Online Spending.

Guest Adviser: Use OpenTable Reservations Every Time You Go Out to Eat

Here's a tip from a new Our Tips and Tricks Guest Adviser.  You too can be a Guest Adviser: Simply send in a tip, and if it makes the cut, up it goes.

Matt's Tips and Tricks: My mother told me never to turn down free money. With the wealth of redeemable point deals currently on the market, there are many opportunities to earn "free money" in the form of credit card points, frequent flier miles, and the like. 

Are you doing the same everytime you go out to eat?

OpenTable is another opportunity for you to earn free money and you should use it every time you eat outside your home. 

The deal is simple:

1) Sign up for a free online account at www.opentable.com.

2) When you make and honor an online reservation at any participating restaurant, 100 points are automatically awarded into your account. Special offers at participating restaurants can earn you up to 1,000 points in one visit.

Earn 2,000 points and get a free $20 gift certificate from OpenTable. Earn 10,000 points and get $100 free. 

Good Posts Require Images!

The trick is discipline. Going out for a quick bite at your local eatery that's always empty? Make a reservation with OpenTable. Heading out for drinks and think you might get food later? Make a reservation with OpenTable. Grabbing takeout and have a bit of time to kill? Make a reservation, sit down for a soda, pay your tab, get your carry out, and BAM...100 points. 

Free money is all around us if only we have the discipline to take advantage of it. 

Editor's Note: There can be good double- and triple-dip opportunities by combining OpenTable with Airline Dining Programs and restaurant category bonuses with credit cards.

Use This: Cash Back Portals for Online Shopping

Happy New Year!

Everyone's list of New Year's resolutions should include something along the lines of "save money."  One of the easiest ways to save money is to use online portals to earn cash back on your online (including in-store pick-up) purchases.  Simply, sign-up for the following online cash back portal sites and start using them.  

• Mr Rebates
• Ebates
• Big Crumbs

To read more details about how to use these cash back sites, visit Part III: Use This: Cash Back Portals for Online Spending of my Primer: Stretch Your Spending.  Meanwhile, I'm off to the bank to deposit my latest $2.32 check from Ebates.

Buy This: Bose Quiet Comfort 15 Noise Cancelling Headphones for $179.81

UPDATE: I just received an email from Sharper Image informing me my order was cancelled as the item was out of stock [editor's note: funny because it said it was in stock when I purchased it, otherwise I wouldn't have bought the Living Social gift card].  

As an added touch, the woman I spoke with at Sharper Image hung up on me when I called to question the cancellation.  So, Mr. Our Tips and Tricks is instituting a global boycott of Sharper Image.  Please join me by refusing to do business with this company.  

-------------------
It's late (9:30pm) on December 18.  I'm tired, so this will be relatively quick and dirty.  If you're looking for a last second Christmas gift, I have a good one, especially if the recipient is a traveler.  It's the Bose QuietComfort 15 Acoustic Noise Cancelling Headphones.  They're currently on sale on Amazon for $269.99, but the following step-by-step guide will show you how you can be like me and use MrRebates.com, LivingSocial.com, and American Express to score yourself a pair of these headphones for $179.81.  I don't know how long this will last, so if you're interested, don't dilly dally.  

I have the older model, but it's been showing wear

1. Open two tabs on your browser. Go to MrRebates.com in both tabs.  Make sure you're logged in to your account.
2. In the first tab, search for "Sharper Image".  You'll see MrRebates is offering 10% cash back on SharperImage.com purchases.  Note the coupon code "AFF30" that offers $30 off purchases of $250 or more: You'll be using that code.
   
3. Follow the MrRebates link to SharperImage.com.  Search for "Bose Quiet".  Follow the link to the Bose QuietComfort 15 headphones and add them to your account for $269.95.  Go to Checkout.
4. At checkout, you'll see it's $269.95 for the headphones plus $10.95 for shipping.  Apply promo code "AFF30" and the price will drop to $239.95 plus shipping.  Make sure this works as planned before moving on to the next step.
5. Before checking out from Sharper Image, you're going to buy a $50 Sharper Image gift card for $25 via a LivingSocial.com offer.  So, switch to your other tab that's still at MrRebates.com.   Search for Living Social.  You'll see they're offering 4% cash back for Living Social purchases.  Follow the link to LivingSocial.com and find this offer for a $50 SharperImage.com gift card for $25.  Complete your purchase and the gift card number will be emailed to you right away for immediate use.  You'll earn $1 cash back for this purchase via MrRebates.
6. If you have an American Express, open a new tab and log in to your American Express account at AmericanExpress.com.  In the "Offers for You" on the bottom of your main page you should see an offer for SharperImage.com for a $25 statement credit on any purchase over $125 from SharperImage.com.  Find that offer and save it.  I've been taking advantage of a bunch of these offers via my Starwood AmEx and they've given me statement credits without fail.  
7. Now, go back to your original tab with your Sharper Image purchase.  By now, you've certainly received your gift certificate number from Living Social.  In the Sharper Image checkout screen, click the "Apply a gift certificate" hyperlink and enter your number.  $50 dollars will be subtracted from your total, which should now read $189.95, plus $10.95 for shipping and no sales tax, for a total of $200.90.  
8. Check out with your American Express that has the saved offer for $25 off $125 and make your purchase.
9. Congratulations.  You should get your new headphones in a couple weeks.

The Math

To wrap it up, here's the math.  

1. Original total of $269.95 + $10.95 shipping = 280.90
2. Minus $30 via AFF30 coupon code = $250.90
3. Minus $50 for Living Social gift certificate = $200.90
4. Plus the $25 you paid for the $50 gift certificate = $225.90
5. Minus $1 for the 4% cash back on the Living Social purchase = 224.90
6. Minus $20.09 for the 10% cash back on the Sharper Image purchase = 204.81
7. Minus the $25 statement credit from American Express = 179.81

Total cost of $179.81 for the Bose QuietComfort 15 Acoustic Noise Cancelling Headphones.  Plus, since I used my Starwood AmEx for both the Living Social and Sharper Image purchase, I earned 226 Starwood points, which are probably worth about $5.  That's a great deal if you ask me.   And on that I'm going to bed to get ready for my 4am wake-up call.

Consider This: American Express Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card

I have the Starwood Preferred Guest American Express Credit Card.  It's consistently ranked as one of the best travel credit cards, but for some reason I'm kind of ashamed that I pay the $65 annual fee every year to keep it.*  However, this month, I've finally accepted that this card is worth keeping and I'm ready to admit it.  Here's why :

• Valuable Starwood Points**: Each dollar charged earns 1 Starwood point, while charges at a Starwood property earn 2 points per dollar.  I just redeemed 36,000 Starwood points for 3 nights at the W French Quarter in New Orleans.  If I paid cash for a discounted room rate there, it would have cost me $1,197.41.  In this case, each Starwood point is worth 3.32 cents.  That's some good value! 
• Starwood Gold Status After Charging $30,000 Per Year: Basically, every year I stop using the card once I hit the $30,000 threshold to earn SPG Gold Status.  This year, after charging enough to reach Gold again, Starwood gave me a bonus gift of either double points for a month or 25% off a rewards stay.  I took the second option and applied it to my upcoming New Orleans stay.  So, that aforementioned stay is now only costing me 27,000 points, upping the value to 4.43 cents per point.
• Special "Offers for You": When you log into your American Express account, there are a bunch of special offers that you can apply to your credit card with a click of the mouse.  I just used a $10 off $50 at Lowes, which I applied to my account about a month ago and forgot about.  About 15 minutes after I placed my Lowes order this morning, American Express sent me an email confirming that I used the offer.  I don't think I'll use the $5 off $25 at Forever 21, but it can't hurt to save the offer to my card just in case.
• Twitter Specials: If you follow me on twitter (@OurTipsAndTrick), you'll know I don't really know how to tweet.  However, even I was able to figure out how to take advantage of an AmEx twitter deal to earn a $5 statement credit each time I charge $25 or over at a BP gas station.  First, go to sync.americanexpress.com/twitter and sync your AmEx with your twitter account.  Second, tweet #AmexBP.  If you receive a reply from @AmexSync, you did it.  Deal expires December 31.  I'll probably save at least $20 with this.  

I Did It!!!

• Small Business Saturday: Each year, American Express sponsors Small Business Saturday, which provides credit card users statement credits for shopping at a small business.  This year, users who register will receive a one-time $10 statement credit after spending $10 or more at a qualifying small business on November 30.  Last year the amount was $25, but free money is free money.  You can register every AmEx you have and will receive one $10 statement credit per card.  Registration starts November 24.  All I know is I'll be getting myself an essentially free Pork and Fries from Earl's.  

If you don't have this card already, I'm not advocating that you rush out and grab it.  Wait until they offer a 30,000 point sign-up bonus, which if memory serves me, happens at least once a year during the late spring / early summer time frame.  Furthermore, I still can't recommend this as a primary credit card, as I continue to prefer the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Barclay Arrival as a principal card to earn travel rewards.  

If you do have this card or another AmEx, be sure to take advantage of some of the benefits posted above, as they're not all unique to the SPG AmEx.  

* First year annual fee was waived, second year they gave me a $40 statement credit to keep the card, and the last couple years they called my bluff and wouldn't waive or decrease the annual fee.

** Until the next devaluation.  You can also turn 20,000 Starwood points  into 25,000 airline miles, but it can take up to a couple weeks for the transfer to go through.  

Read This: Our Tips and Tricks Power Ranking

To celebrate Our Tips And Tricks' 80th day in existence anniversary, we present a Power Ranking of of our top 10 tips and tricks.  If you haven't read these tips, you should.

1. "Stretching" Your Spending series of articles.  So good we compiled them all in a primer.  Follow these simple tips by signing up for an airline dining program, using cash back portals for online purchases, and maximizing credit card rewards.  A recent study conducted by OurTipsAndTricks.com shows that not following these tips costs American consumers $3.5 billion per year.*
2. Replace Your Incandescent Light Bulbs with LEDs.  Good long-term, home investment tip.  Depending on how many bulbs you replace, the decrease in your energy bill can be noticeable.
3. Hang Ikea Ribba Frames Easily.  Genius, original Our Tips and Tricks fix to a problem.  Gets a lot of love via Google searches.
4. Panasonic FlashXpress Toaster Oven.  Fantastic toaster oven.
5. Target REDcard Debit Card.  Save 5% on all Target purchases without a hard credit inquiry.
6. Let's Dish.  Includes an exclusive, Our Tips and Tricks coupon code for $10 off and free cookies.
7. Tips for Home Improvement Projects.  Some good stuff here.  Learn from my mistakes.
8. Window Blinds from SelectBlinds.com.  A good tip that should have been included in the original top tips for home improvement projects.  
9. Avoid Credit Card Annual Fees.  Too many people I know needlessly pay their credit card annual fees. Don't be another victim.
10. Price Protection and Other Credit Card Benefits.  Knowing your credit card benefits can save you some serious money.  

* Study may have no basis in reality and may be fictional.

Response to Reader: Quick Savings for Marriott Stay

A couple days ago, I received a complaint constructive criticism from a loyal reader who told me I was recently slacking on money saving tips.  While some (e.g., me) may argue that he is just flat wrong, I take my readers' comments seriously.

The following (forced) tips are tailored for this individual, who I know is in the midst of planning a trip, but anyone can/should use them.

Issue:  Individual is booking a trip for two to New Orleans and would probably appreciate saving some money on his airline tickets (US Airways) and the hotel (Marriott property).  Redeeming miles/points for the flight or hotel is not an option.    

Money Saving Tips and Tricks: Big money saving tips on airfare and hotels aren't easy unless you're talking about events like mistake fares or redeeming miles/points for high cost tickets/hotels.  In this case, neither of those avenues are currently available.  Nevertheless, below are some easy tips, most of which are covered in the "Stretch" Your Spending primer, to save some money on travel costs for your trip.

Fancy Graphic: How Saving and "Stretching" Will Add Up

• US Airways Tickets: As I mentioned, there's not much you can do to save on a plane ticket, especially when you know exactly what flights you want. All I can recommend is:
• Be sure you're signed up for USAirways Dividend Miles or a Star Alliance partner program to earn some miles.
• If you have one, pay for your ticket with a credit card that offers increased rewards for US Airways flights or travel in general.  Examples include the US Airways Dividend Miles Mastercard, Chase Sapphire Preferred Visa, and Barclay Arrival Mastercard.
• Furthermore, the aforementioned US Airways Dividend Miles Mastercard provides cardholders an annual companion certificate good for roundtrip, domestic travel for up to two guests for $99 each.  If you have the card, use the companion pass.  If you don't have the card, you could apply for it if you have enough time.  I previously had this card and used the companion pass to travel with two buddies to Las Vegas.  It can really cut the per ticket cost.
• Marriott Hotel Stay: There are some easy money saving options for hotels, which are:
• Use a cash back portal when you book your room.  Mr. Rebates links will earn you 3% cash back on Marriott reservations.  Log-in, search for Marriott, follow their links to Marriott.com, and make your reservation. After your stay, you'll see 3% of the total charge deposited in your Mr. Rebates account.*  Theoretically, you could use a cash back portal to book your flight on a site like Travelocity or Priceline, but I can't recommend it because I'm not sure/don't think you'll earn frequent flyer miles for your flight.
• If you're a member of AAA, Marriott often offers a nightly discount.  Use it if you have it.  I believe this discount is combinable with the Mr. Rebates cash back, but I'm not 100% positive.  It can't hurt to try.
• See credit card point above.  There's also the the Marriott Premier Rewards Visa, which earns 5x points on Marriott spending
• Make sure you're signed up for Marriott Rewards.

Anyone have any other money saving tips or tricks for this gentleman's upcoming trip?  Leave a comment.

* Not all Marriott properties are included in the cash back offer and specially negotiated rates don't apply.  Check the restrictions.

Buy This: Window Blinds from SelectBlinds.com

The following is another tip to add to our ten considerations for home improvement projects.  If you need window treatments (e.g., blinds), buy them from SelectBlinds.com. Not only are SelectBlinds.com window treatments significantly less expensive than Home Depot, but they are also fully cut to order, which is a significant time saver.

88" x 16" Faux Wood Blinds from SelectBlinds.com

Why SelectBlinds.com for Window Treatments

• For the same quality, SelectBlinds.com is significantly less expensive than Home Depot.  Furthermore, you can use Mr. Rebates (3%) or Big Crumbs (3.5%) to get a cash rebate on your order.  I successfully double-dipped a cash back rebate with a coupon code.  
• Instructions for taking measurements are provided and ordering is easy. Not to pick on Home Depot, but the Select Blinds process is less time consuming.  If you make a mistake measuring, they'll correct your mistake for free.
• The blinds are fully cut to order. That means the both the length and height are cut to your specifications.  While Home Depot will cut the blinds lengthwise, it's an at-home, ugly, and time intensive process to remove slats and cut cords so that the blinds' height match your window.  However, when you order from Select Blinds, you specify the window's height so the blinds (and cord) are cut to your specification.  Believe me when I tell you this is a HUGE time-saver during installation.  This point cannot be emphasized enough.  

Height and Cord Cut to Specification

• They have a large selection of window treatments.  Notably, they made me 88 inch-long blinds, when Home Depot maxed out at 72 inches. 
• Their customer service is great. My father didn't like the type of valance that was included in his order of about twenty sets of blinds.  In response to his phone call, Select Blinds sent him a different style valance for his entire order free-of-charge.  
• Recommendation based on my father's experience above: If you're buying window treatments for a lot of windows, I recommend initially ordering blinds for just one window to ensure you're purchasing the desired quality and style.  They have a large selection and the differences among the various options (e.g., express, priority, premium, select) are unclear.  After you receive your initial order and confirm you're purchasing the desired style, make your complete order.  This may be a good lesson for all bulk online purchases.  
• They offer free shipping with no minimum purchase.  I wasn't charged tax when I made my purchase, but I don't know if that's changed due to recent Virginia legislation.

Bottom Line: If you need window treatments, you should consider SelectBlinds.com, especially if you're interested in saving money and time.

Consider This: If Buying the New iPhone

As requested by one of our Canadian readers, you should consider the following money saving tips if you plan to buy the new iPhone 5s or 5c:

• Craigslist: Use Craigslist to post and sell your old phone.  I've done this every time I upgrade my phone and would assume I could get around the cost of the new iPhone for my iPhone 4s.  You could also use eBay, but than you'll have to pay seller fees and deal with shipping.  If you use Craigslist, be careful, don't post your phone number, use an anonymous email address, and meet the person in a public, populated place when you make your sale.    
• Wipe Old Phone: If you sell your old phone, be sure to completely wipe your information from it.  To erase an iPhone, you can find instructions here.  
• Cash Back Portals: Use a cash back rebate portal like Mr. Rebates or Big Crumbs if you make your iPhone purchase online.  For instance, you can earn 1% cash back on purchases from Apple if you use Mr. Rebates.  If you want more information on cash back portals, read here.
• Credit Card Extended Warranty Benefit: Use a credit card, like an American Express or the Chase Sapphire Preferred, that provides an extended warranty beyond the original manufacturer's coverage.  I've never cracked my screen, but I'm sure we all know someone who has.  
• Target: If you don't have a credit card that provides an extended warranty, you could use a Target REDcard.  While you can't buy the new iPhone from target online, you can buy it at a Target store.  If you use your Target REDcard debit card or credit card, you'll immediately save 5% on your purchase. 

Have another tip for a potential iPhone buyer?  If so, leave a comment!

Do This: Haggle with SiriusXM

*Ed. Note: I don't know why this old post is posting again.  This isn't an intentional repeat.  If I wanted to repeat a tip, it would be this. 

SiriusXM radio is a pretty good source of entertainment and provides a comprehensive selection of music, but it's far from a necessity.  Moreover, in my opinion, it is not worth the advertised cost of $14.49 or $17.99 a month.  

In my case, our car came with a free trial of SiriusXM.  Once the free trial was up, they wanted a total of $184.66 per year to continue the service.  At a little over $15 a month, that was simply not going to happen.  

So, I simply called their customer service department and told them I wasn't willing to pay $185.  

"Would I be interested in their service for $100 for a year?" they asked.  

"Unfortunately, no..." I responded. 

"How about $30 for five months of service, to give you time to reevaluate?' they countered.

"Sold!"

I have now had this same conversation with SiriusXM about six times and continue to renew my subscription for $30 every five months.  They made me an offer I was willing to pay and I accepted it.

My guidance here is simple: If you're paying full price for SiriusXM, or any service provider like Comcast, etc., and feel that you're not getting good value, call them and speak to a customer service agent.  Explain your situation, and more often than not, this simple phone call can save you substantial money, and in their case, keep a happy customer. 

Create This: Coupon Binder

If you're an Our Tips And Tricks reader, you already know I always try to use coupons when feasible.  What you may not know is that until recently my coupon stockpile was haphazard and disorganized.  Those bi-weekly Bed Bath and Beyond coupons were scattered in various drawers, behind car seats, and in other nooks and crannies.*  BJ's, Babies R Us, Carters, Pampers, and other coupons were all over the house, but I could never find them when I needed them.

My Solution

If you have a similar problem, take five minutes and a few dollars to create the obvious fix: Create a binder for your coupons.  While I've seen people use accordion folders to organize their coupons, I prefer using a 3-ring binder ($2.48) with clear plastic dividers with pockets ($3.42) so that the coupons are visible to quickly skim through.

Since the coupons are visible, your binder doesn't have to be too organized.  Just bunch similar coupons together.  For instance, I have seven folders: Bed Bath and Beyond, Babies R Us, baby clothing, BJ's, car maintenance, restaurants, and random.

The OurTipsAndTricks Coupon Binder

The result is all of my coupons are in one place, stored in my binder at the end of a counter.  When I get a new coupon, I just throw it in the correct folder.  Every month or so, usually coinciding with the delivery of a new BJ's circular, I'll clean out the expired coupons (minus the ones you can use when expired).  

That's it.  Easy (and admittedly obvious)!

*lack of commas in Bed Bath and Beyond is their grammatical error, not mine

Use This: Let's Dish

Be sure to check out an OurTipsAndTricks-exclusive coupon towards the end of this tip!*

We have a serious problem at our house...I have limited time for cooking and I don't think Mrs. OurTipsAndTricks knows where our kitchen is.  

Enter Let's Dish.  Essentially, Let's Dish is a kitchen in a storefront where you can buy fully prepped, gourmet, and healthy meals for a reasonable price.**  Once you select meals from their extensive menu, either you or a store's employee use the Let's Dish kitchen to prepare the meal's ingredients, which often includes marinating a protein, chopping vegetables, and mixing grains with spices.  Once each meal is prepped and bagged, it's frozen.  All you need to do at home is the actual cooking, which is purposefully made to be simple. 

Let's Dish: 12 Locations Throughout Virginia, Maryland, and Minnesota

Why Let's Dish and Dish-n-Dash
Long story short, if you're like me and have limited time to go food shopping and prepare a tasty, balanced meal, Let's Dish takes a lot of the work out of cooking while still leaving the satisfaction of preparing a home cooked meal (and avoiding the guilt of take out).  

While you can assemble the meals yourself during an In-Store session, I prefer and recommend the Dish-n-Dash option.  For an additional $15 preparation fee, Let's Dish employees do the customized meal assembly for you, leaving you only the responsibility (and time commitment) of picking up your order.  To make a Dish-n-Dash order,  simply peruse the month's menu, select your 4, 8, or 12 meals, schedule a time for pick-up (e.g., after work), and pick it up when scheduled. 

Our Two Most Recent Orders

Important Hint: When ordering, make a note to split your meals.***  Without splitting, each meal makes six servings.  If you split your meals, the Let's Dish preparer will divide each dish into two separate packages of three servings each.  A split meal will legitimately provide a meal for three people.  

Here are the reasons why you should use Let's Dish:

• The food is good and "fancier" than my usual home cooked meal.
• For Dish-n-Dash, which I recommend, you don't have to do any kitchen prep work.  All the ingredients are prepared (e.g., marinated, chopped, mixed, etc.) and organized by Let's Dish staff based on your customized order.  Just pick it up.
• The meals are relatively easy to cook.  Defrost a meal in the fridge the day before you're going to cook.  Cooking time is usually about 30 minutes.  Each meal's cooking requirements are detailed in the menu.  
• That being said, it's not as simple as throwing a carton in the microwave.  You'll need to have items like pots and pans.  Options are usually provided for cooking meats (e.g., grill, oven, etc.). You'll have to boil water for grains (e.g., rice, couscous). 
• The meals are packaged to order and can keep in the freezer for about 6 weeks.
• The online ordering process is simple and quick.
• Meals are easy to clean and sanitary.  I like how the ingredients are wrapped separately in individual plastic bags (see photos below).  There's no clean-up involved, besides throwing away the bags.

Here are some pictures of a split meal.  

Last Month's Smokehouse Chicken with Sweet Potato Fries: Split Meal

Ingredients Individually Wrapped: Marinated Chicken, Sweet Potato Fries,
Onion Crisps, Bacon & Cheese, and Barbecue Sauce

Cost and Promo Code

The 4-Meal Package (with $15 preparation fee and tax) costs $125.  Since we split our dishes, we actually receive eight meals.  This equates to $15 per meal or $5 per serving.  For the high quality of the food, that goes down as a good deal in my book.  

Now, because I care about you, our loyal OurTipsAndTricks.com readers, I contacted the fine folks at Let's Dish to see if they would provide you a special offer to accompany this tip.  And they have...

When you make any Let's Dish 4-, 8-, or 12-meal order (In-Store, Dish-n-Dash, or DishDelivery), use the promo code TIPSTRICKS to receive $10 off and a free order of cookies.  The only restriction is that there's a two-time limit per customer, but the code doesn't expire until the end of 2014.  

Enjoy!  And if you find this useful, share OurTipsAndTricks.com with your friends.  

* Our Tips And Tricks receives no compensation for this post, except we reserve the right to use TIPSTRICKS on our next two orders.
** I don't know the exact definition of "gourmet" and "healthy," but my gut tells me that Let's Dish meals qualify for both adjectives.  It's certainly more gourmet and healthier than any meal I'd make on my own.
***This is if you have a family of 2 or 3.  If you have a family of 4 of more, you're obviously not going to want to split the meal.

Do This: Avoid Credit Card Annual Fees

When applying for my first credit card fifteen years ago, my only requirement was no annual fee.  If I remember correctly, I got a free Boston Celtics t-shirt for applying for this no fee, no frills card.*

Since then, I've learned to use credit cards to stretch my spending and reap valuable sign-up bonuses and other rewards.  Yes, rewards even more valuable than a Celtics t-shirt.    However, I've also learned that, most often, the best credit cards come with annual fees.  

Typically ranging from $65 (Starwood Amex) to $450 (Platinum American Express), credit card annual fees can make a significant dent in your wallet and negate a card's benefits.  That being said, they can also be worth it if the provided benefits are valued more than the annual fee.

Regardless, I hate paying annual fees on my credit cards.  Therefore, I always try to have them waived and I advise you to do the same.  A quick phone call to a credit card issuer with a request to cancel a card (or a complete bluff) will often save you the cost of an annual fee.

My Advice Regarding Credit Card Annual Fees
In the event you have a credit card with an annual fee, you should always call your issuer (American Express, Chase, etc.) to "cancel" your card right before or immediately after the annual fee comes due.  Even if you want to keep the card, call and bluff.  Often (although your results may vary) credit card companies will offer to waive or lower the annual fee or provide you an opportunity to earn bonus points in order to keep your business.

If your credit card issuer will not make you an annual fee offer, you still have options.  These include:

1. The issuer may allow you to switch your line of credit to another one of their no-annual fee cards.  I've taken advantage of this many times, as I want to keep my available credit high for my credit report.  Even if I have no plans to use the new card, this is usually my option.
2. Keep the card if you think the card's benefits outweigh the annual fee's expense.  I'm not telling you to cancel or downgrade all cards with an annual fee.  I usually have at least two cards that I'm paying an annual fee on because, in these cases, the card benefits are worth it.
3. Follow through and cancel the card.  However, before you do this, try calling back a couple times to try your luck with different representatives.  Also, if you have another credit card with the issuer, ask to transfer your available credit to your other card before closing the account.  Closing your card will affect your credit score.  Consider how this decision will affect your credit rating, especially if you plan to refinance a mortgage, apply for a new loan, etc.

My Experience 
Whenever one of my credit cards with an annual fee comes due, I always try and get out of the annual fee...even when I fully plan to keep the card.  Here's a snapshot of my experience with some cards, all of which had annual fees that were waived for the first year as part of the original sign-up offer.

• Marriott Rewards Premier with Chase ($85):  I've had this card for years and paid the annual fee many times before learning this tip.  Last year, upon my call, they gave me an offer of 10,000 bonus Marriott points if I spent $1,000 in three months.  Sold.  This year, they gave me a night certificate for a Category 1-4 hotel if I charged $1,000 in three months.  Sold again.  Even without these retention offers, this card offers one free night at a Category 1-5 Marriott on each account anniversary, so this is a case where the card benefits outweigh the annual fee.
• Starwood with American Express ($65 annual fee): When my first year with the waived annual fee passed, they gave me a $40 statement credit.  The following year, AmEx would not offer me a statement credit or similar enticement, but they gave me the option to transfer my account to one of their products without an annual fee.
• Every Citi Credit Card I've Ever Had ($ varies): I've essentially had the same experience with every one of my Citi credit cards.  The first year I call, they waive the annual fee for another year.  The second year, they don't budge and I downgrade to a card without an annual fee.  However, this year, I got Citi to waive the annual fee on my AAdvantage Visa for a second year in a row.  My call and reason for cancelling (confusion regarding proposed merger with US Airways) bought me a third, annual fee-free year.
• United Signature with Chase ($95): This card was replaced about a year and a half ago by the new United MileagePlus Explorer, but it was one of my greatest success stories.  When I called to cancel, they not only gave me a $100 statement credit (keep in mind the annual fee was only $95), but I also still received the 10,000 annual bonus miles.  Cha-ching!  The following year, they offered me nothing and I cancelled it to make room for a different Chase card.
• Chase Sapphire Preferred ($95): After my first year, I called Chase with a complete bluff because this is one of my favorite cards and there was no way I was going to cancel it.  My bluff was called, and I kept the card.  Speaking with friends, it seems Chase will not make any annual fee deals with this card. 

Tips

• Be friendly and pleasant on the phone.  Ask how their day is going.  Most often, your first customer service representative will pass you on to a specialist to "close the account."  However, those specialists want you to keep your card open.  Engage them in conversation.  Listen.  And if all else fails, openly ask if they have any customer retention options.
• As I mentioned earlier: If your first call is unsuccessful, wait a day and try again.

* For the record, t-shirt enticements no longer work on me.

Consider This: Tips for Home Improvement Projects

As the area's resident expert in most things, my counsel was recently sought by a neighbor looking for advice for their home improvement project.*  I've been stewing on this subject the past few days and have settled on the following ten tips and tricks, in no particular order: 

• Budget smartly and accurately.  Research materials (e.g., tiles) and their actual costs at local stores and get an accurate quote for your budget.  Furthermore, build in a cushion for unanticipated costs.  Figure out where you want to splurge and where you can cut costs, if necessary.  It's very easy to rationalize going over budget on your project, so tread carefully.

• Purchase resold gift cards.  Online merchants (e.g., ABCgiftcards.com) resell "used" gift cards at a discount.  For instance, you can buy Lowes or Home Depot gift cards for 8% off, so a gift card from either store with a $126.05 balance is selling for $115.97.  By buying a resold gift card with a 2% back credit card and coupling your purchase with a 10% off coupon (found via a USPS mover packets or eBay), you can shave about 20% off your Home Depot or Lowes purchases.**  ABCgiftcards.com. which I've successfully used in the past, sends your gift card via free shipping and guarantees that the card will work up to 45 days after purchasing.  You have to plan ahead though as shipping, in my experience, takes about a week.

• Use cash back portals.  Factor in the cash back from portals like Mr. Rebates and Big Crumbs when comparing prices and be sure to use them whenever possible.  If you're doing a big project like a kitchen, the savings can really add up.

• Treat construction staff well.  This probably goes without saying, but treat the crew well.  For example, when it's hot, make some cold drinks available.  Little niceties are certainly appreciated.

• Maximize use of reward credit cards.  If you will not be carrying a credit card balance, use a high-value reward credit card as much as possible.  By the end of the project, you'll probably have earned yourself a free flight or two.  If your contractor will be making big purchases, see if he'll use your credit card and take the amount off your balance.

• Explore Bluebird by American Express.  This is a graduate school-level tip that I don't want to spend a lot of time on, but it goes hand-in-hand with the above recommendation to maximize use of reward credit cards.  Essentially, once you get a Bluebird account, you load your Bluebird card with prepaid Vanilla Reload cards, which you can buy with a credit card at stores like CVS and Walgreens.  These cards cost $3.95 each and can be each loaded with up to $500.  Each calendar month, you can add $5,000 worth of Vanilla Reload cards (10) to your Bluebird account.  Once your money is in your Bluebird account, you can use free bill pay to pay credit card bills or send checks to people like your contractor.  Besides the $3.95 Vanilla Reload costs, there are no fees with Bluebird.

So what's the benefit, you ask?  Well, you're essentially buying credit card points/miles for less than they're worth.  If you use a 2% cash back card to purchase $5,000 worth of Vanilla Reloads in a month, you earn $100 at a cost of $39.50.  This means, you make $60.50 of free money in a month.  Likewise, you could use Bluebird to reach annual spend bonuses on certain credit cards.  For instance, you can use this method to charge $25,000 to your Chase United MileagePlus Explorer Visa to earn the 10,000 bonus miles for reaching that spend amount.  If you solely used Vanilla Reload cards to reach that $25,000 amount, you would have earned 35,000 miles for a total cost of $197.50 or about a half cent per mile.  Whether or not either option is worth it is up to you.

• Shop at Wayfair and Amazon.  As I wrote previously, I'm a big fan of Wayfair.  They carry all sorts of furnishings and fixtures, their prices are good, they offer 3% cash back via Mr. Rebates, and their Wayfair Rewards allows you to earn another 3% back for use on future purchases.  Ditto for Amazon.  Shipping via Amazon Prime is fast and painless and I'm always surprised at their prices.  I recently bought a dimmer for my new LED bulbs at Amazon for $25.72.  Home Depot is charging $29.97 plus tax for the same item.  

• Stay at a local Residence Inn.  If you have to leave your house at any point during construction and don't have a family member or friend's house to crash at, check out a local Residence Inn.  Benefits include a kitchen, separate living space, free breakfast and some dinners, and new construction and good locations in the area.  Sometimes, they'll even offer a "neighborhood rate" for nearby residents.  And they're pet friendly, if that matters.   

• Know your handyman limitations.  One thing I've learned as a homeowner is that there is no such thing as a simple project.  Whether it's installing a ceiling fan or painting a room, there's always a complication and it takes at least twice as long as initially planned.  For that reason, don't think that you'll finish up certain aspects of the job yourself.  If you've budgeted for and want a tile backsplash, just have the contractor take care of it rather than attempt to do it yourself later.  

On the other hand, there are jobs you can do yourself to save money. For instance, if you want to run wired ethernet cords for TVs or computers, buy yourself a spool of some Cat5 or Cat6 cable (I bought 500ft of this Cat5) and run it with a friend before they install walls. Just think it through (e.g., consider where your router will be) and do the required research (choose the right gauge wire).

• Say no to Hampton Bay fan remotes.  Last but not least, avoid using the remote controls that are packaged with most Hampton Bay ceiling fans.  Spend an extra $25 or so on wall switches.  I absolutely hate the remote.   They're an ugly off-white/yellow (why aren't they colored white?!?!) and are a pain to figure out.  In retrospect, this is probably my best tip on this page...

If you disagree with any of the above or have a tip or trick of your own, feel free to leave it as a comment!

* It may also be because they're a former victim of my unsolicited advice.  

** I believe Home Depot gift cards can only be used in-store, not online.  I don't know about Lowes.

Get This: U.S. Bank Cash+ Card

A couple weeks ago, I discussed the credit cards I keep in my wallet during Part IV of my "Stretch" Your Spending primer.  Today, I'm going to focus on my advice for you to obtain U.S. Bank's Cash+ Visa.  

Cash+ Visa Lets You Choose Two 5% Cash Back Categories

The reason I'm thinking about the Cash+ card is that I just selected my 5% cash back categories for the final quarter of 2013 (October-December).  Again, I'm going with Restaurants and Fast Food as my 5% cash back categories and drug stores for my 2% category.  All other purchases will earn 1%, which means I won't use this card for anything other than dining, since I earn 2.22% back on every purchase with my Barclay Arrival card.  Once/if I max out the $2,000 spending on dining during the quarter, I'll mothball the card until January and the new quarter rolls around.

My Selected Categories

Why I Recommend the Card

• No annual fee.  
• I choose my own 5% categories (unlike the Chase Freedom that has a set calendar), earning 5% cash back on the first $2,000 of spending in my selected categories.
• I choose among gas stations, grocery stores, or pharmacies as my 2% cash back category, with no maximum (although I don't take advantage of this benefit, others may).
• I earn a $25 cash back bonus when I redeem $100 or more in a single redemption, but that is limited to one time per calendar year.
• It's a Visa Signature card, so it offers Visa Signature benefits.

The Catch

The only perceived downside of this card is that, according to U.S. Bank's website, you can only apply for this card in-person at a U.S. Bank branch.  That could be a problem for some since U.S. Bank does not have a nationwide presence (e.g., there are no U.S. Bank locations within 100 miles of Washington, DC).  However, I got the card without applying in-person.  Here's how...