Have you noticed that certain things are just priced better at certain times of the year?  Seasonal sales and end of year inventories have led me to create a quarterly cheat sheet for shopping.  Now I can keep in mind the big purchases we may have to make and can look up the best months to start shopping.  This makes it much easier to tackle large purchases and I don’t feel like I lost out on easy savings. 

Here is my current annual shopping calendar broken down into quarters.

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I was poking around on Williams-Sonoma the other day when I saw that they have a new program called Williams-Sonoma Reserve. For $30 a year, you get free standard shipping on most items and no minimum purchase. It’s a riff off Amazon Prime, which gives you free two-day shipping on most orders with no minimum purchase. The difference here is that Williams-Sonoma usually charges you shipping, whereas Amazon waives it on orders over $25.

As more and more stores move towards this model, is it worth it?

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When you purchase a product, you assume that it is safe to use. After all, we expect that companies (and the regulatory system) will ensure that products are rigorously tested for safety and sanitation before sending them to stores. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Every year there are hundreds of recalls. It is important for you to consider whether or not there could be a problem. You can get the latest news on recalls from the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Sometimes unsafe or unsanitary products slip through the cracks. When that happens, you might find yourself bitten by spiders, chewing on worms, or having to amputate your child’s finger.

Here are five weird product recalls that might make you pause before making your next purchase:

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When it comes to saving money, one of the most important things you can do is ask for a discount. Many of us have been conditioned to just accept costs as they are. Haggling is not really part of the American psyche right now. (Although some point out that bargaining has been on the rise since the recession.)

There is no reason to just accept the first number offered. There are a number of things open to negotiation, from the price of your car — one the few things we do haggle for — to the interest rates on your loans. Before you shell out, make sure you really are getting a good deal. Here are 4 expenses you should be negotiating:

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Famed Guns N’ Roses (and Velvet Revolver) rock guitarist Slash is auctioning off a ton of personal items in March. He is using Julien’s Auctions to sell his stuff, and it is possible to bid online. The sale doesn’t start until March 26, but you can still look through the items owned by this electric guitar virtuoso. Some of the items up for sale include Slash’s Corvette, his lighter collection, guitars (of course), top hats (also of course) and even toy dinosaurs. There is also the opportunity to bid on clothing, including his outfit from the Super Bowl XLV. (Slash’s appearance was arguably the best thing about the Halftime Show.)

While your stuff probably won’t be as cool as Slash’s, it is still possible to make some money selling online. Here are 6 ways to sell your items over the Internet:

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Have you been putting off planning for Valentine’s Day? If you have been, your day of reckoning has arrived. You’ve probably got less than eight hours to pull off a respectable Valentine’s Day. Chances are, of course, that you are going to be apart from your sweetie all day, so when you meet up later, you can provide a surprise.

Here are some things you can plan for this evening — even if you are behind. (and you’re welcome )

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This weekend, Sam’s Club is hosting an “open house” from Friday through Sunday where non-members can shop without paying the standard 10% service fee on purchases. Typically, when a non-member shops at a warehouse store, like Sam’s Club or Costco, there is a “service fee” tacked onto the purchase. This fee is waived for the weekend at Sam’s Club.

If you’re lucky, this could coincide with a sales tax holiday like it does for my fair state of Maryland (Sunday). Membership at Sam’s Club starts at $35 a year and gets up to $100 for an Advantage Plus membership.

A few years ago, when Amazon first debuted their Amazon Prime program, I thought it was never going to take off. While I don’t know how many people have signed up, I’ve only tried it a few times and I still don’t get why someone would pay $79 for two day shipping when it’s free for 3-9 day shipping. There are very few things I absolutely must have within two days and, if there are, I can go to the local store to get them. However, having tried Amazon Prime on trial on several occasions, I agree that it’s a nice perk to have. I just can’t see myself paying $79 a year for it.

Fortunately, if you’re a student with a .edu email address, you can join Amazon Student. Amazon Student is a free program that gives you Amazon Prime for free for a year.

To sign up, you need to be enrolled in a college or university and have a valid .edu email address. In the signup process you have to give them your .edu address, your school, major, and class information to confirm your eligibility but otherwise you can use your normal Amazon.com account.
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