There’s no shortage of anecdotes about banks hitting their customers with odd fees. For example, many banks offer free checking accounts for customers who use direct deposit. One teacher says that her bank gives her fee-free checking during the months her salary is direct deposited—but because she gets paid only ten months of the year …
Saving & Spending
It’s a Deal: $15 to $150 Off from Victoria’s Secret
Use the coupon code FALL09 for the following discounts at Victoria’s Secret: $15 off orders of $100, $30 off orders of $150, $75 off orders of $250, and $150 off orders of $500. The code is valid for purchases made by November 18.
Jacking Up Credit-Card Rates and Fees is Cold. Solution? Freeze Them
The final provisions of new credit card legislation aimed at protecting consumers won’t go into effect until February. What this means is that right now, while consumers are relatively unprotected, credit card companies are raising rates and adding fees to reap in as much profit as possible from their customers before such strategies are …
It’s a Deal: Flights from $25 on Southwest Airlines
During a “Fourth Quarter Sale” from Southwest Airlines, short one-way flights start at just $25, and long cross-country flights are $100. Tickets must be purchased by October 29, and travel is valid from December 2 to 16 and January 5 to February 10. More details here.
Scam Alert: No Shampoo or Dietary Supplement Will Protect You from Swine Flu
When people freak out, you can be assured that other people—bad people—will try to take advantage of the situation. Millions of Americans are still waiting for the chance to get the H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine, and amid the hysteria, all sorts of products and websites have arisen that claim they can help prevent or cure the illness. …
It’s a Deal: Free Black Jack Taco on Halloween
Taco Bell is giving out free Black Jack Tacos between 6 p.m. and midnight on Halloween. As the promotion says, it’s their treat. More details here.
Hey Joel Stein, Where Are My Trojkas?
Time columnist Joel Stein asked The Cheapskate Blog for tips on living cheaply for a week—and then fell victim to a classic blunder, right up there with being suckered into buying stuff online because of a free shipping promotion and getting involved in a land war in Asia.
Kicked Out of the Co-op
Food co-ops help you eat healthy, eat well, and eat inexpensively. One couple credits their local co-op, in Park Slope, Brooklyn, for making it possible to bring their weekly grocery bill down to a mere $15 per person.
It’s a Deal: Free Chicken at KFC on Monday, October 26
Stop by a KFC on Monday, October 26, for a free piece of Kentucky Grilled Chicken. The promotion, curiously enough, has something to do with the United Nations. More details here.
Sans Cell Phone: Could It Actually Be Possible to Live Without One?
A stubborn, shrinking-but-still-substantial group of consumers refuses to buy cell phones. Why? Among other reasons, they like to control their availability rather than being “on call” 24/7—and they like the idea of not having $95 monthly bills, which is what the average iPhone user pays.
Cheapskate Wisdom from … Philip Roth
Ten Bizarre Theories on Saving and Spending
Poker teaches important lessons about saving and investing. Foreclosures are better than mortgage modification programs. Debit card overdraft fees are good for consumers. PMS is responsible for impulse purchases. There is no shortage of strange theories out there—and some of them are actually plausible.
