Nothing like winter-weather-induced cabin fever to get your home decorating juices flowing. Spurred on by your utter contempt for everything you currently own, these inexpensive living room decorating tips will keep both your local donation center and bank account happy. Once you’ve charitably pilfered your goods away, keep reading to shop for some creative albeit budget-friendly decoration upgrades.

Carry About Vase

Toss your grandmothers keepsakes that you never wanted anyway. Replace them with these Carry Around Vases, sold as one but worth buying a couple extra. Adding height and reflective surfaces to your living room is a quick and simple way to open up the room.  These will do wonders for your coffee table or curio cabinets. Pop in a trio of wild flowers or start a miniature succulent garden to capitalize on their airy, clean appearance.

Check Prices on All Modern

Olivia + Poppy Simoney Peonies Floral and Botanical Peel and Stick Wallpaper Roll

It’s not for commitment phobes, wallpaper that is. So this gorgeous Olivia + Poppy peel + stick is a great starter version for those interested in upgrading their living room without the responsibility or expense. This type of inexpensive decoration works for dorm rooms, apartments, rentals, and small spaces. With a super sharp pair of scissors and a couple extra ounces of patience, a steady hand and weekend are all you need to master this temporary, impactful upgrade.

Check Prices on Perigold

Tucson Console Table

High on stuff but low on funds? This Tucson Console Table slides behind your sofa and gives your Roku remote, library book, Kindle, cell phone, tablet, wine glass, and growler a resting place for the evening while you Netflix and chill without the clutter. For less than the cost of a night out on the town, this gives you just one more excuse to stay in. #treatyoself

Check Prices on Target

Sunnydaze Decor Zen Ventless Bio Ethanol Tabletop Fireplace

If your recent outdoor Tinder date went as well as you expected, there’s a chance your going to want to bring them over for a glass of wine by the fireplace. But as luck would have it, your condo didn’t come with a fireplace. Or washer and dryer, but that’s another issue entirely. This sweet little tabletop fireplace brings some zen to your den on the cheap, firing up the night in a safe but affordable kind of way.

Check Hayneedle for Prices

BelleBotanica Watercolor Herbs Print Set No. 1

There is something so elegant and ethereal about this print set from BelleBotanica. It’s simple. It’s clean. It’s quick. Pick up some 5×7 inch frames from Hobby Lobby on the super cheap to square out your new art gallery. Bonus points to the weekend warrior that also plants some of these varietals on their back porch for a true upgrade.

Check Prices on Etsy

Litex Brushed Nickel Mesh Min Pendant Shade

Here’s a bright idea! Replace all the lamp shades on the pendant lights suspended from the ceiling above the coffee table in your living room! This inexpensive upgrade will make the whole room shine in a brand new way! The brushed nickel mesh also helps to give your living space a more masculine feel, which works well in conjunction with the more flowerly items seen earlier in this post.

Check Prices on Bed, Bath, & Beyond

6 Inexpensive Items to Upgrade Your Living Room this Weekend

During your teen-age years, if you ever asked your dad for 20 bucks to go to the movies, you probably received a lecture about spending and saving money at the movies. And if grandpa was around, he probably contributed.

They might tell you a story about how they could buy popcorn, see a double feature — with a good opening cartoon — and still receive change from a $1 bill. (You may have already figured this out, but grandpa was telling the truth; dad was lying for effect.)

Those days are long gone. Average movie tickets are up to $9 apiece, but if you’re going to a 3D movie with reclining seats at night as an adult, you’ll play several dollars more than the average. And, based on the concession stand prices, who knew popcorn had become such a rare and valuable commodity? (Oil producers are jealous of movie popcorn producers in today’s economy.) It all adds up in a hurry.

Still, we pay these prices, because we love movies. To help you enjoy movies even more, we’ve compiled a list of nine ways that you can save money at the movies today. (That’s one tip for each dollar you’re spending on an average ticket.) These tips won’t allow you to go for $1 like grandpa did, but you’ll hopefully save enough that you’ll be able to tell your grandkids some of your own stories about how cheap things were in your day.

1. Join the Theater’s Loyalty Club

You will have to give out some personal information to join the loyalty club, but the rewards are worth it for frequent movie goers. Many theater chains offer discounts based on how much you spend over time. Others have special discounted tickets and concessions nights for loyalty club members.

2. Try a Monthly Pass

One interesting idea that may be worth it for frequent movie goers is MoviePass. It allows you to pay a monthly subscription fee and you then can see one movie per 24 hours all month long. You’ll manage all aspects of using MoviePass with a smartphone app.

Subscription prices vary depending on where you live, whether you want to lock into an annual contract, and whether you want to see fewer movies per month.

Not all theaters work with MoviePass, and even if your local theater does honor MoviePass, it may have restrictions. And you cannot see the same movie more than once. But on the plus side, some theaters will credit your ticket purchases at full price for their loyalty programs, rather than what you’re actually paying through MoviePass, which is great.

Before signing up, read through the details closely to ensure it’s a good deal for you at your local theater. And if your theater does not participate in MoviePass, it never hurts to ask if they will partner with the service or if they have their own monthly pass deal.

3. The Earlier, the Better

If you don’t mind going to the movies a little earlier than most people, you could save 15%-25% for a matinee movie ticket. Even if you only go to the movies every other week, you could save around $50-$60 per person annually. Most theaters offer these slight discounts before 6 p.m. on weekdays and before 4 p.m. on weekends. So consider flipping the traditional script and going to the movies first before going to a late dinner. (And you probably won’t have to fight for the best seats if you go earlier.)

4. Special Discount Nights

If you’re a senior citizen, a member of the military, or a student, your local theater chain may have a special night of the week where you’ll receive a discount. It probably will be on a weeknight, so don’t plan on this idea for a cheap Friday night date. My local theater chain offers $5 movie tickets on Tuesday nights for students, for example, which is half price. Some discounts for seniors are available at all times and can be as much as one-third off the regularly priced ticket. You just have to see what’s available at your local theater and then ask for the discount.

5. Gift Card Discounts

Don’t feel guilty about using this tip! There’s nothing wrong with buying a gift for yourself on occasion.

Around the holidays, your local theater chain may offer a discount for gift cards purchased in bulk. If you buy $100 in gift cards, you may receive a $10 gift card for free, for example. That’s like receiving a nearly 10% discount on your tickets.

Another option for cheap gift cards is a local warehouse club. They often sell gift cards for many places like restaurants and movie theaters at a discount to the face value of the gift cards. These discounts range from 5% to 15%.

Finally, you can visit sites like CardCash to find discounted gift cards for movie theaters. Just make sure the gift card is for your local theater chain and not a theater 30 miles away.

6. Avoid Extra Fees

Purchasing your tickets from online movie reservation sites can be convenient. But you may pay an extra $1 or $2 for the tickets. Sure, this doesn’t seem like much, but on a $10 ticket, that’s a 10%-20% surcharge. Buy from the box office or the theater’s own web site to avoid the surcharge. Or perhaps the theater has a mobile app that allows you to purchase tickets directly.

You’ll also pay added fees to see a movie in 3D or in IMAX resolution. Sometimes this extra feature is worth it, but not always. If you’re really fired up about seeing a particular movie, go ahead an splurge for 3D or IMAX. But if you’re unsure if you’ll like the movie, go for the traditional 2D and save a few dollars.

7. Download the Theater’s App

Some theater chains will push discounts to you through their app every few weeks. And if you’re a loyalty club member, it may work in conjunction with the app for other discounts and reminders of special deals. (Just don’t use the app during the movie — rude!)

You also can follow all of your theater’s social media accounts, as they may occasionally announce ticket and concession discounts. But in most cases, using the app and signing up for the loyalty club is an easier way to receive consistent discounts from a particular theater chain.

8. Save Money on Snacks

One of the great things about the theater experience is the snacks. It’s just part of the cost of the movies for many people. But they’re expensive, so it helps to save a bit of money here.

You may receive discounts on snacks as a loyalty club member. And some theaters offer a snack bundle — aimed at kids — for a much lower price than buying the items individually.

Let’s be honest: No one needs as much popcorn as most theaters serve. But perhaps sharing a bucket among a family isn’t overdoing it too much. If your kids will fight over the tub, bring some paper lunch sacks and divvy up the tub, so everyone receives a fair share. And if you have a really big family (or if you’re addicted to movie theater popcorn), many theaters now offer free refills on the largest tub of popcorn.

Finally, quietly bring your own snacks. For example, you can buy theater sized candy boxes at grocery stores usually for around $1. This can be as much as a 75% discount versus what you’ll pay at the theater for the same box. Understandably, theaters don’t tell you to bring your own snacks. But as long as you aren’t obnoxiously flaunting the fact that you brought your own candy, most theaters will look the other way.

9. Deal Sites

There are movie deals floating around the Internet, if you just know where to look. Admittedly, it can be a huge hassle to track multiple sites. But that’s where we at Ben’s Bargains enter the picture, ready to help you save money. We regularly collect special deals on movie tickets, so check with us before you buy those tickets and you’ll be saving money at the movies!

Try These 9 Tricks for Saving Money at the Movies

If you’re interested in installing a smart thermostat in your home, congratulations! This is a great way to control your home’s heating and cooling more efficiently, saving you some money over the long run. (And you’ll save even more if your AC unit is clean and running at top efficiency!) But performing this type of DIY installation isn’t for everyone. Learn how to install a smart thermostat — and whether this is a task you can handle — with our tips.

Time Required

If you have the right wiring in place, you can expect this process to take about 20-45 minutes. If you need an electrician to change some wiring, that task could take an additional up to 60 minutes, depending how easy it is to fish a wire through your wall and connect it to the HVAC unit.

Tools Required

If you’re ready to tackle the process of how to install a smart thermostat, you may need the following list of tools.

• Philips screwdriver
• Flathead screwdriver
• Masking tape
• Voltage tester
• Level
• Drywall repair spackle
• Paint brush and touch-up paint
• WiFi network password
• Smartphone

Savings

Certainly, you could pay to have a smart thermostat installed. Many electricians will do the job, as will heating and cooling system technicians. Electronics stores or hardware stores often will provide technicians too. However, if you need to change out wiring, only an electrician will do this part of the job.

If you purchase the smart thermostat at a store that offers installation, you may receive a break on the cost of installing it. Such technicians may also help you download the right app and connect the unit to your home WiFi network. Without a price break, anywhere from $50 to $100 is a common cost to install a smart thermostat.

If you need to have wiring added to accommodate the smart thermostat, you could pay another $75 to $200. However, some electricians will give you a break on the cost of the installation of the thermostat, because they already will be at the home to install the new wiring.

As long as you have the right type of wiring, this is a pretty easy installation process. So it’s worth saving some money to try it yourself. But if you’re at all uncomfortable around electrical wires, it’s probably worth spending a bit more to have it installed for you.

Do You Have the Correct Wiring?

If you live in an older home or you have an older furnace/AC system, the wiring needed to hook up a smart thermostat may not be present. To check your wiring situation, you’ll have to remove the current thermostat from the wall mount, as described in the next section. (After cutting the power, of course.)

Look at the wiring. You need to see multiple wires available, rather than a large cable with two copper wires inside it. If this is what you see, it’s likely a high voltage setup that’s common in older wiring systems. Most smart thermostats cannot work with high voltage wiring.

If you have small wires of multiple colors available — either separate or within one cable sleeve — this is a low voltage system, which works with smart thermostats. Each wire connects to a certain terminal on the smart thermostat. The “C” wire, short for common or continuous, is the most important wire to find. If you have a low voltage system, but you don’t have a C wire available, you will need to install one that connects to your HVAC unit.

It’s possible — but unlikely — that your smart thermostat doesn’t need a C wire to provide continuous electrical power. Read through the installation materials with your smart thermostat to see if a C wire is required.

A few smart thermostats can work with a high voltage system, but will still need a C wire. (Again this is possible, but unlikely.) You can try to install a C wire yourself and connect it to your HVAC system, but we wouldn’t recommend it. This is a job better served by hiring an electrician. And if you need to convert a high voltage system to a low voltage system, this again is something an electrician needs to handle.

Disconnecting Your Current Thermostat

To disconnect your current thermostat, turn off the circuit breaker for it. It may be the same breaker as for the furnace. It’s also possible that your furnace, AC unit, heat pump, and thermostat wiring are all on separate breakers. (Hopefully your system is well labeled.)

Additionally, turn off the switch that’s mounted near the furnace. (This switch will look like a light switch.) It’s important to cut all power to the HVAC unit and the thermostat before beginning this process, or you could cause damage to the unit.

Understand that some thermostats have batteries to power a display screen. So even if you cut the power at the circuit breaker, the thermostat may still appear to have power. Remove any batteries from the thermostat too. We’d suggesting using a voltage tester to ensure the power is off to the wiring for the thermostat before disconnecting the wires.

Remove the thermostat’s face plate, if it has one. Otherwise, the thermostat should lift away from the mounting bracket.

Once you can see the wires, use the voltage tester. After you’ve ensured the power is off, look at how the wires are connected to the current thermostat. If there are no labels on the wires, use masking tape to wrap around the wires and create your own labels. The labels you create must match what’s printed on the terminals of the current thermostat.

You may also want to snap a photo of how the wires are connected to the current thermostat, so you can see which wire colors connect to which terminals of the current thermostat. The photo will be a backup for you, should the labels fall off the wires.

Now disconnect the wires from the terminals on the current thermostat. Most will be connected via a screw, although some may fit into a clip.

Some thermostats make use of jumpers, which are short wires that connect one terminal to another. (You can see a jumper connecting the Rh and Rc terminals in the photo above.) You can remove any jumpers without labeling them. If your smart thermostat requires jumpers (which is rare), the unit’s instructions will tell you how to install them.

One problem you may find is that the wires coming out of the wall are very short. Once you disconnect them, it’s possible they could fall back into the wall. If you’re concerned about this, tape the cable to a pencil or screwdriver as you disconnect it so it can’t fall back into the wall.

Now carefully remove the mounting bracket from the wall. As you’re jostling the bracket, this is another time when a wire could slip back into the hole in the wall, so be very careful with this step.

Connecting the Smart Thermostat

The guidelines here for hooking up your smart thermostat are general in nature. Follow the instructions with your particular model of thermostat if there is a difference from our guidelines.

Attach the new mounting bracket to the wall. Make sure you center it properly so the wires from the wall are centered on the bracket. It’s important that the mounting bracket is level. (Some smart thermostat mounting brackets have built-in levels, as shown in the picture here.)

Most smart thermostats weigh very little, meaning you won’t need to drill into a stud or use drywall anchors. However, if your system ships with drywall anchors or if the instructions recommend using them, do it.

If the new bracket is quite a bit smaller than the bracket for the current thermostat, you may have to patch a few holes in your drywall. Depending on the last time the wall was painted, you may have to do some touch-up painting too.

Most smart thermostats will have you connect the wires to the mounting bracket/base plate. Each terminal on the base plate should be labeled clearly, so you know which wires to connect. You’ll either connect the wires to a terminal with a screw or with a built-in clip. After connecting a wire to a terminal, tug on it to ensure it’s tightly connected.

Make sure any extra length of wire is tucked back into the wall, so there’s room for the face plate.

It’s possible you may have extra wires that have nothing to connect to on the base plate. This is rare, but possible. Use a wire nut to protect the exposed area of the extra wire.

Next you’ll pop the face plate onto the mounting bracket/base plate. If the face plate requires batteries (which is rare) install them first. With a smart thermostat, there should be only one way to connect the face plate. If it doesn’t seem to fit quite right, look closely at the instructions. You shouldn’t have to use a significant amount of force to snap the face plate onto the base plate.

With everything hooked up, turn on the circuit breaker again. You should see the screen light up.

Connecting to the Network

Now you can make a connection between your home WiFi network and the smart thermostat. Most devices should give you on screen prompts for making the connection. Have your WiFi password handy. You’ll also may need to have the smartphone app for your particular model of smart thermostat installed before you can connect the thermostat to your WiFi network.

You’re then ready to use the unit! Take bit of time to study how the smartphone app works so you’re of the receiving all energy savings you can reap from using your new smart thermostat properly!

Saving Money With DIY: How to Install a Smart Thermostat

All vehicle batteries eventually fail, unable to hold a charge over time. If you own a riding lawn mower, a golf cart, or an ATV and the battery is several years old, it’s probably time to learn how to replace an outdoor power vehicle battery. Such batteries don’t last much more than three to five years typically.

When you’re ready to replace an outdoor power vehicle battery, you don’t have to call for help. This is a task you can perform yourself, saving quite a bit of money in the process versus having an in-home service call that can cost $100 or more in labor costs. We’ll show you step by step how to replace a lawn and garden battery.

Before You Replace

If the vehicle makes a clicking noise when you attempt to start it, it’s possible that the battery needs replacing.

First though, check the condition of the battery. If you’re lucky, the battery will have a date it was created printed on it. As you can see from our photo above, this battery was created in March 2012, so that’s a strong clue that it’s time to replace the five-plus-year-old battery.

Then check the terminals. (These are the metal posts sticking out of the top of the battery.) If you see corrosion on the terminals, which looks like a white, fuzzy substance on and around the terminals, you need to clean them. Leaking acid from the battery causes the corrosion. A 50/50 mixture of baking soda and water applied carefully with an old toothbrush will clean this leaking acid. Use just a little bit of this mixture at first, only adding more as needed.

You must remove the battery cables from the terminals to perform a proper cleaning. We discuss this process further down in this article.

Once you’ve cleaned the terminals, try starting the vehicle again. It may work now.

If you don’t see corrosion or if cleaning the corrosion didn’t help, you can determine the battery’s voltage level with a digital multimeter.

If you have a 12-volt battery (which most outdoor power vehicle batteries are), any reading less than 11V or 10.5V indicates a battery that needs charging or replacing.

One of the best battery testing options is the Etekcity MSR-R500, because it’s easy to use with a backlit LCD with large numerals.

Check Price on Amazon

If the voltage level is low, you can try charging the battery before replacing it.

Batteries for outdoor power vehicles will lose their charge if they’re left idle for several weeks at a time or subject to cold weather. The more times a battery loses its charge, the faster the chemicals inside the battery break down, eventually rendering the battery useless. So it’s a good idea to charge the riding lawn mower or golf cart battery every month if you aren’t using it to preserve the longevity of the battery.

To charge it, you can purchase a portable battery charger that plugs into a wall outlet and converts that power to charge the battery. Such chargers are smaller than the battery itself and easy to move around. One of our favorites is the Black & Decker BCS10B 10 amp charger, because it’s easy to use. Additionally, a 10 amp charger does the job two to six hours faster than a slightly less expensive 2 amp or 5 amp charger.

Check Price on Amazon

If the battery still will not hold its voltage after charging, it’s time for a replacement.

Finding the Right Type of Battery

The type of replacement battery you choose will depend on the type of vehicle you have. The replacement battery must match the voltage level of the current battery.

You don’t have to purchase a battery from the manufacturer of your vehicle, although you can. Third party battery makers will offer batteries that are compatible with many outdoor power vehicles, and they typically will save you 15% to 35% from the manufacturer’s brand name cost.

Any third party battery should include a list of outdoor power vehicles with which it’s compatible. Only select a battery that is compatible with your vehicle, or you could cause problems with the vehicle’s operation. Additionally, some replacement batteries designate left or right orientation to allow the battery to line up with the power cables from the motor in the outdoor power vehicle, so pay attention to this.

Replacing the Battery

Once you have the replacement battery in hand, you’re ready to proceed. Tools you’ll need for this job include the following.

• Eye protection
• Gloves
• Old clothing
• Old toothbrush
• Baking soda/water 50/50 mixture
• Stiff bristled brush
• Shop rags
• Pliers or locking pliers
• Socket wrench or another set of pliers

You’ll want eye protection and gloves to protect you from any acid leaking from the old battery. Such acid will put holes in clothing too, so wear old clothes. Even if you can’t see any acid leaking from the battery terminals, it might leak when you move the battery. Keep any acid away from your skin or it will cause burns.

Two cables from the vehicle’s motor should be attached to the battery. Most of the time, the cable attached to the positive terminal is red and a black cable is attached to the negative terminal, just to make things clear and easier for you.

The terminals usually are in one of two shapes. It might be a U-shaped piece of metal with one hole in it that extends out of the top of the battery. Or the terminal is a round post sticking out of the top of the battery. The positive terminal is marked with a plus sign, while the negative terminal will have a minus sign or no sign. The positive terminal also may have a small plastic or vinyl cover that you can lift and slide out of the way.

Now remove the battery cables from the terminals. The end of the cables may consist of a bracket or a simple piece of metal. Either way, the metal end of the cable must be touching the battery terminal or the battery will not work. Both types of cables will attach to the battery terminal with a bolt and nut. You’ll have to hold the nut with pliers while turning the bolt with a socket wrench or another set of pliers.

Once the cables are completely removed, set the bolt and nut aside in a safe place, because you’ll need them again. Look for any straps or fasteners that are holding the battery in place and remove them.

Lift the old battery out of its compartment and set it aside. (It’s heavier than it looks, so you may need help.)

Look at the metal ends of the two cables to ensure they don’t have any corrosion on them. If they are discolored in anyway, clean them with the baking soda/water mix with the old toothbrush we described earlier. If you see rust, clean it with a stiff bristled brush. Dab them dry with a clean shop rag. Clean the nuts and bolts if needed too.

Lower the replacement battery into the compartment. Make sure that the positive terminal on the battery is on the same side as the positive cable from the motor.

Connect the terminals on the replacement battery to the battery cables, using the nuts and bolts that you removed earlier. Make sure everything is tight and that the metal on the battery cables is clearly touching the metal on the battery terminals.

If you’ve attached everything correctly, the mower should start immediately. If it doesn’t, use your voltage tester to ensure the battery has a full charge. (All batteries you buy for outdoor power vehicles should be sold with a full charge.) If the battery is charged and the vehicle will not start, you likely have another problem with the vehicle.

But this is rare. Most of the time, simply swapping out an old battery for a new one will ensure your riding lawn mower, ATV, or golf cart is up and running again.

Don’t Forget to Recycle

Make sure you take your old battery somewhere to be recycled. In fact, many stores where you buy the replacement battery will charge you an extra fee at the time of purchase that you’ll have returned to you once you bring in the old battery for recycling.

Never dump this old battery into a garbage can to be sent to a landfill. The corrosive components inside these large lawn and garden batteries are poisonous and could contaminate soil and groundwater. Recycling is the only safe option.

Save Money With DIY: How to Replace an Outdoor Power Vehicle Battery

If you are looking to save money on exorbitant wedding costs, look no further. Taco Bell’s flagship Cantina in Las Vegas will let you book a venue for $600, provided you can wrap everything up in about 30 minutes.

The Taco Bell wedding package includes 12 Crunchwrap Supremes, a Cinnabon Delights wedding cake, a sauce packet garter and bow tie, a Taco Bell Sauce Packet bouquet (available on loan), “Just Married” T-shirts, & champagne flutes to celebrate your nuptials.

Located on the 2nd floor of the cantina in a private area, you have 30 minutes for your ceremony and reception. Taco Bell will allow up to 25 guests, but any food / alcohol outside of the package will have to be purchased separately. (Perhaps at the Taco Bell down below)

As with most quickie weddings, you only need to give Taco Bell four hours of advanced notice before booking the venue. You also have to go get a Nevada marriage license before heading to the venue. However, Taco Bell will provide a fully licensed officiant to oversee the ceremony.

You can find all the details on this unique, particularly inexpensive wedding venue here. -> TacoBellWedding.com

Want a $600 wedding venue? Taco Bell has you covered

As spring morphs into summer, few things feel as good after a long day as enjoying some wine on the deck. Although the wine tastes great and you could drink the whole bottle, you know you shouldn’t. Have a flight to catch in the morning after all.

Because you’ll be out of town for a week, you won’t be able to return to the deck and enjoy the rest of that wine for a while. This isn’t a problem. There’s no need to throw out the half empty bottle. You can use our tips to keep open wine fresh, so that same bottle is waiting for you when you’re back from your trip … and still tastes great.

Why Does Wine Go Bad?

Wine doesn’t necessary go bad in the sense of it causing harm to you if you drink it. Instead, it just won’t taste as good as it did when first opened.

Different types of wine will maintain a premium taste for different periods of time after being opened. Some table wines are only at their peak of taste for a few days after opening. Fortified wines can last a few weeks.

Once the wine is exposed to the air, a chemical chain reaction begins occurring in the wine. The oxygen begins changing the chemical composition of the wine. You’ll notice two changes that eventually rob the wine of its best aroma and taste.

• Vinegar smell. Wine takes on a vinegar smell because bacteria metabolizes the alcohol in the wine into chemicals that create a vinegar smell.
• Rotted fruit taste. The wine eventually will take on a taste of bruised or rotted fruit after it’s opened too. This occurs after the alcohol in the wine is exposed to air and begins to oxidize.

Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to slow the speed with which these changes occur. Try our five tips for keeping opened wine fresher longer!

Coravin Model Eight System

If you want the top of the line technology in your wine preservation system — along with a system that looks futuristic and just plain cool — the Coravin Model Eight System is the way to go. As an added benefit, if you hate trying to remove the cork from your wine bottle, this system leaves the cork in place.

We won’t delve too deeply in the technology, but the Coravin system pierces the cork with a thin needle, allowing the wine to be poured very slowly into your glass. The system then inserts inert argon gas into the bottle to replace the wine you’ve poured, slowing the process of oxidation. The combination of leaving the cork in place with only a small hole while also inserting inert gasses limits exposure to regular air.

As you might imagine with something this complicated, the Coravin system is expensive.  But it’ll give you several extra days with that expensive bottle of wine, all while providing a cool gadget.

Check Price on Amazon

Vacu Vin Wine Saver

The Vacu Vin Wine Saver has a “best seller” rating on Amazon for a reason. It has a low price point, it’s easy to use, and it’s relatively effective.

The Vacu Vin Wine Saver uses a rubber stopper to block the mouth of the bottle. The Vacu Vin pump then pulls as much air out of the bottle as it can before sealing the rubber stopper. It’ll give you a few extra days of optimal taste and aroma.

Check Price on Amazon

Private Preserve

The Private Preserve system is another inexpensive wine preservation option. This can almost looks like a can of WD-40 lubricant. You’ll spray Private Preserve’s blend of inert gasses into the bottle of wine through an extension tube.

These gasses will create a layer just above the top level of the wine in the bottle, protecting it from oxidation from regular air. You’ll then replace the cork in the bottle to gain a few extra days of great taste and aroma from the wine.

Check Price on Amazon

Pour It Into a New Bottle

Consider purchasing a few smaller bottles of different sizes that have screw tops. Then pour the leftover wine into the small bottle. Try to pick a size of bottle that will be nearly filled with the leftover wine. This means you’ll have as little air in the bottle as possible, slowing the process of oxidation.

Refrigerate It

For the easiest option to lengthen the lifespan of that opened bottle of wine, make sure to refrigerate it. Regardless of whether you use one of the products listed above or you just jam the cork back into the bottle, refrigerating the leftover wine will slow the process of the chemical changes that begin as soon as you open the bottle.

This is a simple, yet effective option. You’ll preserve the wine for a few extra days by just refrigerating it.

Keep an Open Bottle of Wine Fresh With These Money-Saving Tips

If you’ve put off replacing an old, leaky shower head at your house, you’ll be surprised how quickly this job can be completed. Replacing a shower head is one of the easiest ways to save money with DIY at your home. We’ll help you learn how to change a shower head with so little fuss and mess that you probably won’t even need a shower when you’re finished.

Time Required

This is one of the more straightforward DIY projects you can tackle. As long as everything goes right, you should finish this project in 15-30 minutes. After doing this simple DIY job, you’ll wonder why you put it off for so long.

Tools Required

Replacing a shower head only requires a few tools.

• Pliers
• Adjustable wrench
• Electrical or other thick tape
• Teflon thread tape
• Scissors
• Steel wool

Savings

Even though this is such a quick job, most plumbers are going to have to hit you with a bigger than expected bill. Most of them have to bill a full hour, even if the job only takes an expert 10 minutes. So you could easily pay $75 or more for this job, plus the cost of the shower head.

Additionally, if you have an older, leaky shower head, you’ll save money on water usage with a new shower head because it won’t leak. Newer shower heads are more water efficient than older ones. And if you’re receiving better water pressure from your new shower head, you may take shorter showers, again saving money on water usage.

Here are three great options for new shower heads in varying price points. Just make sure the color of your new shower head matches the color of the pipe where you’ll be attaching it.

• Inexpensive: Delta Single-Function Shower Head

Check Price on Amazon

• Mid-range: AKDY Rectangular Rainfall Jet Shower Head & Wand Combo

Check Price on Amazon

• Expensive: Speakman High Pressure Adjustable Shower Head

Check Price on Amazon

• Supplies: You may have to buy Teflon thread tape too, although some shower head kits ship with the tape included.

Check Price on Amazon

Removing the Old Shower Head

You should be able to remove the old shower head by turning the nut on the shower head counter clockwise. A pliers should do the trick, but if it won’t budge, try an adjustable wrench.

Be careful with this step so that you don’t damage the pipe coming out of the wall. To protect the pipe, you can hold it in place with one hand while twisting the shower head nut with the pliers in the other hand.

Once the shower head is removed, you’ll see the end of the pipe with threads on it. It may also have some old thread tape on it.

Cleaning the Pipe

You need to clean the end of the pipe, making sure to remove all debris, including any old thread tape, rust, or other mineral deposits. If any debris is left on the threads, it could cause the shower head to leak.

We’ve found that steel wool is a good way to remove any debris. It’ll clean the pipe without leaving any additional residue.

If needed, use a flashlight to closely inspect the threads on the pipe for any debris.

Wrapping the Thread Tape

You may have to purchase the Teflon thread tape separately, but it’s becoming more common for shower heads to ship with some Teflon tape in the kit. The thread tape is white and almost has a feel of cloth to it.

Wrap it around the shower head pipe two or three times and cut it with scissors.

Attaching the New Shower Head

Before installing the new shower head, look at the area inside the nut. It should have a washer inside. This washer will prevent leaks, so it’s an important part of the shower head installation.

After checking the washer, spin the nut clockwise onto the threads of the pipe. You may need to hold the thread tape in place with one hand while you get the nut started. Just make sure the nut doesn’t push the thread tape upward and off the threads as you screw on the shower head.

Hand tighten the nut as far as you can. Then use an adjustable wrench or pliers to twist the nut until it’s tight.

Don’t tighten the nut on the shower head too far, or you could damage the shower head or the threads. Once the nut is no longer easy to turn with an average amount of force applied, stop turning it.

Additionally, take care to not scratch the nut with the pliers. You can place a thin towel between the pliers and the nut or you can wrap the nut in thick tape (such as electrical tape) so you don’t scratch it.

Testing for Leaks

Now for the report card on your work: Testing the shower head for leaks. (Have some towels handy, just in case.) Turn on the faucet and the water should flow through the shower head normally. If it isn’t flowing properly, turn off the water immediately. Some Teflon tape may have come loose and is blocking the shower head.

With the water is flowing properly, look at the shower head closely near the nut. If there is leaking occurring, this is where it will show up.

If you find a leak, turn off the water. Try tightening the nut a little more with a wrench or pliers. If you still can’t stop the leak, you may need to remove the shower head and try wrapping the Teflon thread tape again. Start with a new strip of Teflon tape. Wrap it tight. Test the shower head again.

More Complex Installations

If you have a hand-held shower head — one that attaches to the pipe coming out of the wall with a flexible hose — you’ll have to take an extra step. Attach the mount for the hand-held shower head to the arm with Teflon thread tape, just as you’d attach a permanent shower head as described above.

You’ll then attach the flexible hose to the mount and to the hand-held shower head, again using Teflon thread tape. Tighten all of the nuts, but don’t over-tighten them. Then check for leaks in all the spots where you made the attachments.

If you find you simply cannot attach the shower head without causing leaks, you may have to call in a plumber. But if you take care with attaching the nut and wrapping the thread tape properly, you should have no problem completing this DIY project cheaply and quickly!

Saving Money With DIY: How to Change a Shower Head

If you are spending money at Best Buy, there are plenty of ways to save your money (and time) when shopping. We’ve put together a list of thirty Best Buy-specific shopping tips to take advantage of when online at BestBuy.com or in a Best Buy store. Check it out:

1. Check during the week for aggressive, 4-Hour Flash Sales

These online sales typically occur on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at BestBuy.com. Timing is always the same, a four hour period between 9 a.m. PT (12 p.m. ET) and 1 p.m. PT (4 p.m. ET). Best Buy likes to theme these flash sales around events like the Super Bowl, thus the product selection will be geared toward that event. (Ben’s 4-Hour Flash Sale Listings)

2. Check Best Buy’s Deal of the Day section for 24-Hour discounts

These online sales are often hit-or-miss (according to the Deal Editors on Ben’s Bargains), but you can occasionally find a deal that’s better than other online retailers. These four to five deals are typically refreshed at 10 p.m. PT (1 a.m. ET) each night. (Best Buy’s Daily Deals Section)

3. Check Best Buy’s eBay store for sales not listed on BestBuy.com

On occasion, Best Buy will aggressively discount products on eBay, usually in order to move a significant amount of product. These sales are often good enough to pop up in eBay’s Daily Deal section, In addition, you can ship to a Best Buy store for free in-store pickup, even if you purchase the item through eBay. (Best Buy’s eBay Store)

4. Check the Best Buy Online Outlet for discounts on items that aren’t new

There are four types of classifications for products that end up in the Best Buy Outlet store:

• Clearance: Items are usually brand new, just not being sold by the manufacturer anymore.
• Open box: Items are nearly brand new, but recently returned by a customer.
• Refurbished: Items that were broken in some fashion, but have been repaired to work correctly.
• Pre-owned: Items are in working order, but will show signs of use from previous owner.

Just be sure to check the warranties that come along with each product as well as the return policy. Of course, you will see a hefty discount off the MSRP in the Outlet store. While more risky than purchasing a brand new item, money saved will be significant. Just FYI, Cowboom has recently been integrated into the Best Buy online outlet, opening up the potential for even more discounts. (Best Buy’s Online Outlet)

5. If you are in college, take advantage of the Student Discounts section

Assuming you are currently enrolled at a college and have a .edu email address, you should be able to qualify for additional student discounts. Products typically discounted for students include laptops and tablets as well as anything that would be used in a dorm room like small appliances or audio gear. (Best Buy’s Student Discount Section)

6. If you play video games, consider Best Buy’s Gamers Club

There are two levels of the Gamers Club, free membership and and a 2-year membership for $30. The free level lets you earn points on purchases and game trade-ins that can be used on future purchases. The premium level adds a 20 percent discount on new games, a 10 percent discount on pre-owned games, a 10 percent bonus on trade-in credit and a couple exclusive coupons. (Best Buy’s Gamers Club page)

However, if you already have Amazon Prime, you may want to skip the premium level of the Gamers Club. Amazon already offers a 20 percent discount on pre-ordered games for all Prime members.

7. Look for free shipping promotions during the holidays

For the past couple years, Best Buy has run a free shipping promotion around the holiday shopping period. Recently, it ran between October 25, 2015 and January 2, 2016. Of course, when free shipping isn’t available, consider free in-store pickup instead. You won’t have to pay a dime for shipping, just for the gas to get you to the store.

8. Avoid purchasing overpriced accessories at Best Buy

This basically goes for any item that Best Buy marks up considerably. Products like HDMI cables (this $1.095 cable for instance), smartphone cases, power strips and power adapters. Margins on these items are huge for Best Buy, thus they attempt to push these items when you purchase electronics. Avoid this at all costs and pick up these accessories for a fraction of the cost on eBay.

9. Don’t get talked into buying the Extended Warranty

In general, the odds of you needing the extended warranty are really low. Brand name electronics usually have a very low failure rate, thus spending more money on a Best Buy warranty is silly. Best Buy also has very low consumer ratings for their warranties, ranging from people complaining about repairs not being covered to repairs that take forever to complete.

FYI, you can extend your warranty with a good credit card. For instance, American Express extends manufacturer warranties by an additional year on all of their credit cards. Other cards from Visa and Mastercard offer a similar extension.

10. Check for Online Coupons, but be Wary of the Limitations

When Best Buy releases an online coupon, it’s usually limited to a specific product category and includes limitations to products that aren’t on sale. This can be frustrating when shopping online as most coupon sites don’t include those details with the coupon. Of course, you can also sign up for Best Buy’s mailing list, only because they occasionally mail out paper coupons.

Price Matching

Price matching at Best Buy is fairly straightforward. It has to be the identical item and is limited to one match per customer. All you need to do is speak with a store associate to show them the price difference and get the adjusted price. Here are several tips for getting your price match every time.

11. When price matching Amazon, be sure it’s sold by Amazon

One point of contention that you may run into when getting a price match is that the price listed on Amazon is from a third party seller, not Amazon itself. While it can be somewhat YMMV on the manager’s decision at your location, most Best Buy’s require the actual Amazon price, not a price from “Joe Sixpack’s Amazon Store.”

12. Besides Amazon, check the six other online sites Best Buy allows

Those sites include B&H Photo Video, Crutchfield, Dell, HP, Newegg and Tigerdirect. Be aware that the price has to be readily listed in the details section of the page. If the price is hidden by the retailer you want to price match, Best Buy may not honor that. Also, any product that’s being sold by a re-seller on one of those sites will not be honored for price matching.

13. Use a price checking app to save time

One of our favorite apps for price matching in the store is ShopSavvy, specifically because it allows you to scan the barcode to get competitor prices in the area.

Of course, there are mulitple options for price matching. Here’s a list of 9 price comparison apps to help you find the lowest price before you talk to a Best Buy associate.

14. Check local warehouse clubs like Costco and Sam’s Club

Outside of the usual suspects like Walmart and Target, don’t forget to check the prices at your nearby Costco, Sam’s Club or other warehouse clubs. Warehouse clubs often have discounts that are more aggressive than other retailers, only because savings are exclusive to people that pay for memberships. Of course, the product has to be in stock at your local warehouse club to get the price match.

15. Double check all model numbers and SKUs

This has popped up as more of a problem in the last ten years. Electronics manufacturers are building specific models for a single retailer, thus making it impossible to price match at a different retailer. This occurs often at warehouse clubs as well as the major retailers. Make sure the model numbers are identical before requesting the price match, otherwise it will be denied.

16. Make sure local competitors are within 25 miles of your Best Buy

This is a specific rule in the terms and conditions of the price match. If the store you want to price match isn’t within 25 miles, Best Buy won’t honor it. Of course, you can always drive to a different Best Buy store that’s within the 25 mile limit.

17. Don’t expect additional discounts on top of the price match

If you have a 10 percent off coupon and expect to get that discount on top of your price match, you will be sorely disappointed. When a price match is approved, that’s the only discount that you will get. The same goes for financing options and any other service that Best Buy offers.

18. Keep your receipt as Best Buy will match up to 15 days after purchase

Ideal for saving money after your purchase, be sure to check competitor prices for the next couple weeks. If a competitor’s price drops before the Best Buy price, you can go back to the store for a price adjustment. Just bring your receipt to the customer service counter and show an associate the retailer that you want to price match.

Negotiating for a Better Price

While Best Buy certainly isn’t a flea market, it is possible to negotiate discounts on products depending on certain conditions. Here are some tips for getting the best price possible during negotiation.

19. Shop at the end of the month for increased negotiation power

Usually during the last few days of the month, store managers will be more lenient with discounts. This is due to the monthly sales metrics that those managers have to report back to their district managers. The greater the sales volume, the happier the district manager is going to be. This could translate into an additional 5 to 10 percent off the price you would have negotiated at the start of the month.

20. Ask for more aggressive discounts when bundling items

Let’s say you are purchasing a new Ultra HD, 4K television. Perhaps you also need a 4K capable receiver as well as a 4K media player to go along with it? If so, this is a great time to negotiate a discount on the entire bundle of items.

We recommend starting at 15 percent for two items and 20 percent for three or more items. It’s likely that you will negotiate to a minimum of 10 percent off the price of the entire order.

21. Ask a salesperson which brands are more negotiable

While a good salesperson will subtly direct you to the products that Best Buy sales managers want moved off the shelves, you can also just flat out ask them. These products are usually getting ready to head to the clearance section or have been overstocked by the store. This means that discounts on those items will likely be approved (and usually at a higher percentage than other products).

22. Keep an eye out for those Open Box items

Similar to the Best Buy Online Outlet, open box items in the store will be discounted significantly. In addition, sales managers have been approved to offer higher discounts on open box items. This also goes for floor models that are being sold without the box. We recommend asking for a 20 percent discount on open box returns and a 30 percent discount on floor models. It’s likely you will end up with an additional 10 to 15 percent off.

24. Use Price Codes for an extra edge in negotiating

Like Walmart and Target, Best Buy uses pricing codes to identify items that are being discounted. Specifically, any price ending in a .99 is usually full price or just a slight sale. Prices that end in .96 are matching a local or online competitor price and prices that end in .92 are usually being phased out at a price that’s close to Best Buy’s cost. You can also look for the letter “C” on the tag, usually in the lower right corner. That identifies a clearance item. (See Price codes at other retailers)

Using My Best Buy Rewards

If you haven’t joined the My Best Buy rewards program, you should. It’s free and offers up a $5 gift card for every 250 points earned. (It was previously called Rewards Zone.) Here are some tips for getting the most out of the rewards program.

25. If you spend more, the bonuses will increase

At the regular level, a rewards member earns 1 point for ever dollar spent at Best Buy. This metric increases to 1.1 points for each dollar spent at the Elite level and 1.25 at the Elite plus level. Of course, you have to spend lots of money at Best Buy to reach these levels. Elite status kicks in when you spend at least $1,500 at Best Buy during a calendar year. That figure jumps to $3,500 for the Elite Plus level. (Details on Rewards Program)

26. Look for point bonuses / discounts on specific products

Best Buy frequently offers additional discounts or opportunities to earn more rewards points if you purchase specific products. Other offers include the ability to earn gift cards that can be used on future purchases. You can check out each month’s offers on this Best Buy page.

27. Take advantage of the Free Shipping perks

At the base level, all My Best Buy rewards members get free standard shipping (3 to 7 business days) on orders that meet a $35 minimum threshold. At the Elite level, the $35 minimum is removed and free shipping is applied to all orders. At the Elite Plus level, shipping continues to remain free and is upgraded to the expedited level (2 business days).

28. Return periods are extended for Elite members

While the standard return period is 15 days for any Best Buy customer, that period is doubled and tripled depending on your Elite member status. Elite members get 30 days to return items and Elite Plus members get 45 days to return an item to Best Buy. Both of these groups also get a dedicated customer service line, ideal for getting someone on the line quickly when a problem pops up.

29. Reviewing products can earn you additional bonus points

Rewarding up to eight reviews per calendar year, rewards members can earn 25 points for each review submitted to Best Buy’s site. That’s a total of 200 points per year if all eight reviews are submitted. It takes up to 20 days before those reward points will be credited towards your account.

30. Consider the My Best Buy credit card for an additional 5% off

Similar to the Amazon Prime store card or Target’s store card, Best Buy offers a 5% return in rewards when you spend money at Best Buy. This is a solid deal, assuming you pay off the credit card every month. If you do not, you will be financially punched in the gut by the ridiculous 25.24% APR that comes with the card.

Interestingly, Best Buy is currently offering 10 percent rewards on your first purchase on the card as well as a bump to 6 percent rewards indefinitely if you are a Elite Plus member. You can also choose no-interest financing if that’s preferable. Just be aware that store cards often add up all interest over the entire billing period of the no-interest period and hit you with a giant balloon payment at the end if you don’t pay it off in time. (Details about the My Best Buy Card)

30 Ways to Save Money at Best Buy, online and in-store

If you purchased a house using a conventional loan & put up less than 20% for your down payment, you are paying PMI (Private Mortgage Insurance) on top of your mortgage payment each month.  That insurance isn’t for you, it’s for the lender. PMI protects the lender in case the home is sold in foreclosure for less than what’s owed in the mortgage.

So you get to buy the home without putting up a hefty down payment, but you are forced to pay that premium each month to protect your lender. Aargh! PMI is automatically cancelled once you build up equity in your home, specifically 22 percent or more.

Of course, this can take several years depending on your interest rate. For instance, if you want to buy a $250K home, put $10K down and borrow $240K at 4%, you won’t hit that 22% mark in equity for about 8 years. PMI typically costs between 0.5% to 1% of the entire loan amount annually. You could pay between $1,200 to $2,400 a year ($100 – $200 monthly) on a $240,000 loan.

There are a few ways to escape PMI early, if the value of your home rises based off rising home prices or remodeling. For instance, if that $250K home in the example above rises in value to $300K, then the 22% threshold is now at $234,000. Escaping early could translate to saving thousands of dollars over the next several years!

However, your lender isn’t monitoring your home’s value all the time. It’s up to you to make sure they know. To get the ball rolling, contact your lender and see if you can get PMI removed by doing an appraisal. If yes, your lender will send you a letter via snail mail detailing multiple options.

Here’s a sample of options a lender could send over:

• Option 1: Send a check to cover an amount that will reduce the LTV (Loan-to-Value) ratio to 78%. You must be current on all mortgage payments.
• Option 2: Send a check to cover an amount that will reduce the LTV ratio to 80%. You also must provide proof the property value hasn’t declined (appraisal) and be current on all mortgage payments.
• Option 3: If you closed on your mortgage within 2 to 5 years ago & have made structural improvements, an appraisal must show the LTV ratio has been reduced to 80%. You must be current on all mortgage payments.
• Option 4: If you closed on your mortgage within 2 to 5 years ago & have NOT made structural improvements, an appraisal must show the LTV ratio has been reduced to 75%. You must be current on all mortgage payments.

Every contract is different, thus you should check with your lender to see their version of the options listed above. Many lenders add terms about not having any late 30-day payments in the last 12 months or late 60-day payments in the last 2 years.

An appraisal typically costs between $450 to $600 depending on your area, so you should be reasonably confident in the value of your home before ordering one. Your lender will typically recommend an appraiser local to your area, but you can take an extra step to shop around if your lender is open to that option.

An appraisal will include a physical home inspection (the interior and exterior of the home), inspection of any additional buildings on the property, a tour of the neighborhood, research into recently sold homes in the area, and a market trend assessment.

Interestingly, there’s a cheaper option than the appraisal (and less in-depth). It’s called a BPO (Broker’s Price Opinion). Your lender will offer this as an option, if available in your area. Typically between $100 and $200, the BPO is performed by a real estate agent.

They come to your house, take pictures of the property and make an estimate of the value based on comps in the area. This is an ideal option if you haven’t made structural improvements (an appraisal is better for that since the that process is significantly more in-depth).

BPO typically takes a few weeks to accomplish, from the time you first contact the lender to the eventual decision. Appraisals can be weeks longer, depending on the complexity. You will receive a full report of the BPO / appraisal from your lender, ideal if you are planning on selling your home a couple years down the line. Your lender should automatically remove PMI from your monthly payment, if you hit the right value.

If your lender doesn’t have any options to remove PMI early based on your contract, consider refinancing your loan (assuming your home’s value has risen). It’s definitely a more time consuming process, but you may be able to reduce your interest rate while also removing PMI.

Good luck!

Real Estate: How to remove PMI early from your mortgage & save money

The Super Bowl checks off a lot of the boxes regarding American-type celebrations. An overabundance of food. Fast-paced concerts. Ads featuring babies and dogs. Perhaps a little bit of beer. And, of course, football.

So if you’re hosting the Super Bowl party this year, there are a lot of expectations to uphold. For the host, most of those expectations center on the food and drink you provide. And while there are quite a few millionaires on the field at the Super Bowl, chances are you don’t have a million-dollar budget for your party. Consider our list of the best ways to save money on a Super Bowl party!

Go Generic for the Basics

Although the fancy name brands will be featured all over the Super Bowl commercials, you don’t necessarily need to pay their prices for your party. Inexpensive store brand potato chips, salty snacks, salsa, dipping sauces, popcorn, and OJ for mixed drinks aren’t going to draw attention from party goers … especially if they’ve already consumed a few of those mixed drinks. They’re more interested in the foods you make yourself. Put the store brands in a bowl, and most people won’t know the difference, allowing you to save money on Super Bowl party planning.

Visit Warehouse Clubs

If you need to shop for ingredients to feed a large set of people, say a dozen or more, you will save a bit of money by shopping at a warehouse club. If  you don’t have a membership to a club, it isn’t financially worth it to buy a membership just for a once-a-year Super Bowl party, but some clubs allow for a trial membership for this type of situation. And if you’re looking for pre-made snacks, they’ll be less expensive in these clubs versus traditional grocery stores.

Alcohol Options

When it comes to breaking the budget of your Super Bowl party, alcohol can do it in a hurry. As long as you aren’t picky about the brand of beer, wine, or hard liquor you’re going to offer, you generally can find some good sales just before the Super Bowl. Shop around, as warehouse clubs, grocery stores, liquor stores, and even convenience stores may offer really good deals on alcohol, using the sale price to draw people into the store. Don’t try to anticipate everyone’s individual alcohol preferences, or you’ll overbuy. Just pick a few different options to provide. Or if you have friends who are picky about their brand of alcohol, make it a BYOB party.

Pre-Made Vs. Self Prep

Yes, it’s cheaper to prepare the food yourself. But if you’re taking two days off from work to cook, you might not be saving money in the long run. Figure out your menu ahead of time, and then determine which foods you can made quickly. If a type of food you want to serve will take a long time to prepare, you may save money in the long run — not to mention save some stress — if you purchase that particular food pre-made.

Pick a Family Favorite Main Dish…

Everyone has that one main dish that they love to prepare, that’s also a family favorite. It usually can be made inexpensively to save money on a Super Bowl party, and you’ve probably made it enough times that it won’t take long to prepare. Perhaps it’s a family recipe for chili or a rice casserole. Let everyone know it’s a family favorite, and it’ll give your Super Bowl party a personalized feel.

…Then Go Small With Finger Foods

After picking your one main dish, stick with small finger foods as complements. Sure, the Super Bowl is all about going to extremes, but your secondary food offerings don’t have to be. Rather than setting out a large pizza with only eight pie-shaped slices, cut it into squares, leaving more, but smaller, pieces. Don’t put out foot-long sub sandwiches; instead, cut them into six 2-inch subs. Small finger foods work well too, such as chicken wings or cut up pigs in a blanket. With smaller portions, you’ll encourage people to sample more types of food. And if there’s something on your menu that someone takes but doesn’t like the taste, they won’t be throwing away 11 inches of a sub sandwich.

Putting Friends to Work

Most of us have at least one friend who always brings food to a party like this … even when they’re told they don’t need to bring anything. Instead of just letting this friend bring a mystery food — a recipe that may match something you already have prepared — ask them to bring a specific item that fits within your menu. Perhaps they’ve brought a recipe in the past that you really liked, so ask them to bring that again. Not only will they feel great that you’ve asked for a specific favorite recipe, you’ll have a better handle on how much food will be on hand, reducing the chance of massive leftovers. And it’ll save you some money and time on food prep (but you can keep that information to yourself).

Avoid Too Many Sweets

Hosts tend to spend too much on desserts at these parties. Beer and hot wings are great together. Beer and nachos are a natural fit. But washing down a fancy football-shaped chocolate cupcake with a beer is not appetizing. Maybe limit yourself to a few candy dishes in the team colors: Green & white M&Ms for the Eagles and blue and red M&Ms for the Patriots.

Decorations

Don’t go overboard with decorations. Consider the local dollar store to pick up inexpensive football related decorations. And instead of spending big money for NFL-licensed Patriots and Eagles items, purchase plates and napkins from the dollar store in the team colors instead.

The TV

Finally, don’t forget about the TV … and the bigger, the better. We’ve collected quite a few deals on TVs you can use to save a bit of money, should you need a new model or a second TV for a secondary seating area. If it’s too late or too expensive to pick up a new TV for your party, consider asking a friend to bring one. Today’s flat screen TVs are light enough that they’re easy to transport.

Best Ways to Save Money on a Super Bowl Party