HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY

We'll be back next week with more good stuff.

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BUYING BACK USED GADGETS

Did you know that stores like Radio Shack and Target will buy back old gadgets? Not only that but there are websites that do the same.

Some electronics stores like Best Buy are offering to buy back your old gadget when a new one is available. The jury is still out on that one.....call TEAM CHEAPIOSITY skeptical, but when it sounds too good to be true......you know the rest.

Take a look:

http://www.azcentral.com/business/consumer/articles/2011/02/02/20110202target-radioshack-buy-back-used-gadgets.html

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HOW TO GET THE LAST DROP OUT OF CERTAIN ITEMS

Team CHEAPIOSITY believes in good to the last drop:

The way some products are packaged—tubes of toothpaste, jars of mayonnaise—encourages wastefulness. Being thrifty, we consider this sort of thing not just an annoyance but a challenge.

Bananas. Don’t toss overripe bananas. Peel them and put them in a sealed bag in the freezer. You can use them later in banana bread or blend them in smoothies.

Bar soap. Use sudsy water to “glue” the last sliver to a new bar.

Condiments. Remove the mayonnaise coating the sides and contoured bottom of the jar with a pliable, long-handled rubber spatula. For tangy condiments like ketchup, mustard, and barbecue sauce, add a few drops of cider vinegar and swish it around. Also, store the bottles upside down for easier extraction. Many now come with large flat lids.

Cookies. Put broken cookies in a food processor and grind into crumbs. Then keep them in a plastic bag in your freezer. When you have enough, use them to make a crust for cream pie or cheesecake.

Cornflakes. Don’t toss out the broken pieces and crumbs that settle at the bottom of the box. Grind them until fine in a food processor, then use the crumbs to coat fish or chicken before cooking.

Hair gel. Carefully cut the tube from top to bottom with a utility knife. Squeeze both ends and scoop out the gel with a finger.

Honey. If the last of the honey has turned solid, put the bottle in a small pot of boiling water until the thick gunk returns to its original viscosity. You can use the same technique on maple syrup that has started to harden.

Laundry detergent. When the bottle seems empty, use water as the machine fills to swish out the remaining liquid detergent and pour it in with the load.

Pump-top hand lotion. Unscrew the pump top and pour what you can into another (nonpump) bottle. Recap the original bottle and soak it in a basin of very hot—but not boiling—water for a few minutes. When the lotion thins a little, shake and then pour it into the new nonpump bottle. Store the bottle upside down until you use up all the lotion.

Shampoo. Store the bottle upside down to prevent as much product from settling as you can. When no more will come out of the bottle, add a few drops of water and swish it around.

Sugar. If a bag of granulated white sugar becomes rock hard, which usually happens over time from exposure to humidity, pummel it with a rolling pin and then toss the chunks in a food processor. Avoid the problem by pouring bagged sugar into a sealed container as soon as you open it.

Toothpaste. Put a binder clip at the end of the tube to dispense the toothpaste more efficiently. When you can’t squeeze any more out, run the smooth, hard side of your toothbrush handle over the flattened tube.

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CHEAP AND NUTRITIOUS

Everyone is nutrition conscious these days. Here are fruits and veggies that won't bust your budget and still give you good nutrition:

VEGETABLES

1. Cabbage
2. Collard greens
3. Mustard greens
4. Turnip greens
5. Carrots
6. Cauliflower heads
7. Brussels sprouts
8. Broccoli florets
9. Spinach
10. Cauliflower florets

FRUITS

1. Watermelon
2. Plums
3. Oranges
4. Apples
5. Strawberries
6. Cantaloupe
7. Grapefruit
8. Bananas
9. Kiwi
10. Peaches

Lots of vitamins and minerals in both lists. Bright green leafy veggies especially pack a wallop, and bright colored fruits do the same.

Eat healthy and don't break the bank.

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HOW TO SELL GROUPONS OR OTHER PREPAID COUPONS

Ever buy a Groupon coupon or deal of the day coupon and realize you'll never use it? You can always try to unload 'em on eBay or Craigslist.

Good news for all you well-intentioned impulse bargain shoppers: you're not alone. Now there are secondary websites specifically designed to sell your prepaid coupons and deals. Some sites charge a fee; others act as a Craigslist-style cyber-bulletin board. Take your pick. And be careful out there. A bargain's only a bargain if you needed it in the first place.

http://www.lifesta.com/ This site charges a fee based on the price of the coupon. They also have a moneyback guarantee if the coupon is fake or expired. It's simple to use.

http://www.dealsgoround.com/ This site charges a 10% fee but is otherwise similar to Lifesta.

http://couprecoup.com/ This site does not charge a fee, but it also doesn't offer a moneyback guarantee, so all sales are at your own risk.

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PAYING FOR COLLEGE

It's never too early to look into paying for college.

One site you should know about is: www.fastweb.com
Mark Kantrowitz is the site guru and really makes his site one-stop shopping.

Another helpful site is: http://www.collegeboard.org/

Between these two websites, you should have everything you need to know.

Never ever pay for help......if someone wants money, it's probably a scam.

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CHEAP CRUISING

Travel experts always say that cruises are the best travel value because everything is included. We don't disagree.

Here's a NY Times article to help you out. Take a look:

http://travel.nytimes.com/2011/02/13/travel/13pracdeals.html?ex=1312866000&en=1fe6a234a3753945&ei=5087&WT.mc_id=TR-D-I-NYT-MOD-MOD-M188-ROS-0211-HDR&WT.mc_ev=click

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