The GauchoBlog » savings http://blog.gaucho.com The Smartest Ways to Save Money Thu, 12 Aug 2010 16:00:26 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Cash and Couples: Banking, Bargaining, and Not Breaking Up (Part Two) http://blog.gaucho.com/cash-and-couples-banking-bargaining-and-not-breaking-up-part-two http://blog.gaucho.com/cash-and-couples-banking-bargaining-and-not-breaking-up-part-two#comments Mon, 31 May 2010 17:00:42 +0000 Jessica http://blog.gaucho.com/?p=2651 Part Two: Getting Your Sweetie to Start Saving

The first time I lived with a significant other, I was entirely unprepared for the number of things about him that A) I didn’t know, and B) bugged the hell out of me. It turns out that his ability to put the toilet seat back down was a pre-moving in ploy to win me over or something, but that totally went out the window once we shared a home. And, more importantly (and annoyingly), it turns out that the man didn’t have a savings account. Which never occurred to me since he never seemed to be low on money (hint: he was spending every dime he made) and, in general, seemed like a pretty responsible person. This whole situation was disconcerting; what if he lost is job? What if something unexpected happened and we needed to spend money on an emergency home repair?

When you move in with someone, or get married, you’re in such a blissful state of romantic suspension that few people stop to consider the fact that you when you choose to mix your life so closely with someone else’s, you could be asking for trouble. At least in some ways. No matter how long two people have been involved, if you don’t live together, chances are you still have your little secret bad habits. You know – the things you really don’t want your significant other to know about you. But it’s fine; the process of finding these things out can be hilarious and, if you go about things with patience and acceptance, you should both make it out alive.

Among the more troubling bad habits to discover your sweetie possesses are ones pertaining to money and spending – especially if you find them out after you’ve moved in together. By this point, at least to some degree, your finances are tied together. It’s now important to you that their bad saving habits (or total lack thereof!) be cured. So how to deal? Let’s discuss:

Problem: The Non-Saver

Situation: There exists a great number of people in the world who simply don’t think about savings. You definitely either know this type of person or you are this type of person. And most of the time, this kind of financial approach isn’t a conscious decision to be irresponsible; usually, people who don’t actively try to build up a savings just figure that they don’t make enough money to do so. Money comes in, money goes out. And then they wait for more money to come in. These are the paycheck-to-paycheck types. If you happen to be a saver and find yourself in a domestic situation with someone who decidedly is not, problems can definitely arise: perhaps your love is perpetually needing to borrow small amounts of cash from you until their paycheck arrives, or the bills don’t get paid on time, or you want to save for a vacation and they don’t know how to contribute, or some emergency unexpected expenditure comes up and the weight falls on you, the one with a savings cushion. All around, co-habitating with someone who doesn’t have any kind of savings plan can leave you both with a handful of “what if” stress.

Solution: Teach them! Assuming that you know how to develop a savings plan, share what you know, and how you go about things. Don’t get on your high horse – always approach these issues with sensitivity and a “hey, we’re in this together so let’s help each other be more awesome at life” mentality. Not a good teacher (or a good saver)? Here’s a simple beginning plan that can work for both of you: when money comes in, spend nothing until all the monthly bills and living expenses are paid for. After that, put everything that’s left into a savings account so you can’t easily access it by ATM or debit card. Then allot yourselves a spending allowance for the week – and spend no more. Eventually, living on that amount will seem natural to you. This can work whether you are budgeting that allowance just so you can break even at the end of the month without running out of money, or spending a small enough amount that you can accumulate savings. If all else fails, talk to your bank – they know your individual financial situations and can help both of you figure how the best way to maximize the money you’re making, and start saving.

Do you save as a couple?

I got lucky – I got the aforementioned boyfriend to start a savings account and budget his money better before his lack of a safety net compromised my financial safety. What about you? Have you been a relationship with someone who was equally financially unsound? How did you handle it? (And also, feel free to pass along any clever tips for saving on a budget!)

]]> http://blog.gaucho.com/cash-and-couples-banking-bargaining-and-not-breaking-up-part-two/feed 1 GauchoTV: WalMarv http://blog.gaucho.com/gauchotv-walmarv http://blog.gaucho.com/gauchotv-walmarv#comments Thu, 20 May 2010 17:00:21 +0000 MarvPratt http://blog.gaucho.com/?p=2611 Some people are so proud that they shop there they are willing to shout it from the rooftops, others slink in under cover of night and try desperately to maintain their “cool” or “hip” factor by either denying that they shop there, or that they are shopping there to be “ironic.” Either way, it is impossible to deny the savings juggernaut that is Walmart. If you fall into the latter category, but still want to save Walmart-style, Marv shows you how to maximize the usage of Walmart’s website. But he wholeheartedly apologizes that you will still have to go in to buy your hotdogs, as they don’t offer those on the site. So much for the wonders of modern technology! Sheesh!
But to incentivize you to go in, Marv also shows you where to find freebies on the Walmart website. It’s a whole lot easier going in when you know you’re going to walk out with something for free. If only banks were like that.

Additionally, you will get the Top 5 Things To Never Buy New. See how patience is rewarded by purchasing things used or after the initial rush can save you a bundle. It’s more of a guideline really, since Marv contradicts himself hardcore with #1. But give him a break. He’s been having a crisis of facial hair. These things happen to men his age.

Also hot Gaucho/iPhone rumors! (Actually, they’re not rumors at all. Go to the iPhone app store and download the Gaucho app and take it for a test drive and let us know what you think. Marv will be covering it in an upcoming episode.)

]]> http://blog.gaucho.com/gauchotv-walmarv/feed 1 Grocery Shopping: Ways to Cut Down On Your Food Budget http://blog.gaucho.com/grocery-shopping-ways-to-cut-down-on-your-food-budget http://blog.gaucho.com/grocery-shopping-ways-to-cut-down-on-your-food-budget#comments Tue, 04 May 2010 17:00:22 +0000 Jessica http://blog.gaucho.com/?p=2183 Okay, friends. We’re going to conquer this beast together. Grocery shopping (and food consumption habits in general) is one areas of our lives where we are perpetually wasting money – and there’s really no need for it. I have to admit that I am not the best at this; I’m always running around, I’m terrible at cooking and remedying these issues always falls to the bottom of my priority list.

Well, all that stops right now. It turns out, there are so many simple ways to take little chunks out of your food budget – and once all is considered, the savings add up in a pretty significant way. So let’s embark on this pocket book challenge together: we’ll all abide by the following rules for shopping, cooking and eating!

Don’t shop when you’re hungry

This might seem like a minor detail to consider but it can honestly make a big difference. When you go shopping sans a grumbly tummy, you’re less likely to make purchases with your stomach and more likely to make selections with your brain. It’s a proven fact that hunger actually changes the way your brain functions and can impair your ability to fully utilize your capacity for reason, planning and logical thought… including considerations of your budget!

When you shop, you want to use smart meal planning and purchase items that give you the most bang for your buck – not buy $10 specialty cookies because macadamia nuts sound so good right now. And on the note of not being distracted when grocery shopping, try to go at a low-traffic time of day. Hitting the market on noon on Saturday when you haven’t eaten all day is likely not going to yield the most money-savvy results.

Make friends with real cooking

I get it; it’s a modern age full of all kinds of quick eating conveniences that make it easy to never have to use your kitchen (I’m guilty of this; my kitchen doubles as an extra closet. Seriously.) Many grocery stores are even well-stocked these days with prepared food options, salad bars and even fresh sushi – why would anyone want to cook? The grocery store is doing it for you!

While these options (plus the obvious fast and junk food stand-bys) might save you time in your busy life, they absolutely can do some serious damage on your wallet. When compared to the actual cost per ingredient, it’s ridiculous how much cheaper it is to actually buy the components and prepare food yourself at home!

In fact, once you do a little bit of comparison and realize how much more you’re spending on prepared foods just to save a little hassle, it’ll be hard to not feel guilty about it. Cooking doesn’t have to be all that problematic; the internet is full of simple, fresh recipes. Try this: plan your week’s meals, cook food that can be stored easily and last as long as possible without spoiling. Suddenly, your own refrigerator becomes the source of quick meals on-the-go. Fresh ingredients always cost less than packaged foods – you can strive to save money and eat better!

Rethink protein

When most people think of protein, they immediately think of animal meat and fish. While these are healthy options, they can also eat up a huge chunk of your grocery budget. Taking a hint from your vegetarian pals is a great way to diminish the protein hit on your wallet; beans, eggs, tofu, and legumes are all excellent sources of protein (and often have other health benefits containing less fat) and almost always cost less than animal-derived products.

As an added bonus, they tend to keep for longer, too. Look for recipes that emphasize leftover-ability – that way, you can buy in larger quantities, prepare a bigger amount and have quick and easy meal options at your disposal.

Fear no generic brand

Good marketing can be extremely affective. Companies spend millions of dollars every year with one real goal in mind: trying to convince you that their product, over all the other products, is the best one. The only one. And it works! People are comfortable with labels and names they know and far too often, will put out the extra cash to buy them, under the wrong assumption that name recognition means better quality.

This is probably the most serious culprit in grocery over-spending. The truth is, there are quality standards that all food (pre-packaged and otherwise) providers have to adhere to. It’s okay to let yourself splurge every now and then on that one special fancy granola that makes your life slightly better in the morning, but in general, you should shop with the knowledge that generic and name brand products are essentially the same.

]]> http://blog.gaucho.com/grocery-shopping-ways-to-cut-down-on-your-food-budget/feed 0 Teach a Man to Fish, and He’ll Save Money (With Recipes!) http://blog.gaucho.com/teach-a-man-to-fish-and-hell-save-money http://blog.gaucho.com/teach-a-man-to-fish-and-hell-save-money#comments Mon, 03 May 2010 17:00:59 +0000 Redd http://blog.gaucho.com/?p=2325 Grocery shopping is one of my least favorite things to do. I always leave it as long as possible because I know that once I get to the store, I’m going to spend way more money than I want to. Groceries are a necessity, and trust me…. I love food. It gets draining, though, spending money on something month in and month out. Recently though, I’ve started eating even healthier than my pescatarian diet calls for. I’ve cut out most of my dairy, dropped back to skim milk, and I’ve amped up the amount of fish that I eat because it’s a great way to get healthy protein and help my genetically unfriendly cholesterol levels.

I didn’t realize until recently how much eating fish and other seafood is really helping my budget. I buy shrimp, salmon and tilapia. Probably four meals a week contain one of these because it’s a great way to eat healthy and save money. I buy the shrimp that you have to peel but do not have heads. I get about 60 frozen shrimp for $4.29 at my grocery store. That is about four servings, so that’s my primary protein for just over $1 a meal. Then I buy salmon, frozen, for $10. I get four big fillets in that package which can actually be split in half, so again, 8 servings at just over $1 a piece. Now the Tilapia, that’s another $10 a bag, and another 8 fillets or so. With a well-stocked herb and spice cabinet, you can do so much with just these nice base proteins. Any of these can defrost in water in about 15 minutes, or can be left in the fridge for the day. Mix them with rice and vegetables, maybe some stir fry sauce or a mix of spices on the seafood and you have simple and good food.

Budget Friendly Seafood Dinners

Shrimp and Spinach Wrap

Ingredients:

  • 10 Raw Shrimp (defrosted)
  • 1 Flour Tortilla or Wrap
  • 1/2 Cup Fresh Spinach
  • 1 Small Tomato
  • 4 Tbsp Plain Non-Fat Yoghurt
  • Grilling Spices

Take any kinds of grilling spices you like, or just use salt and pepper. Spray a non-stick pan with Pam, or use a small amount of olive oil. Coat the shrimp in the spices an sauté for 6 or 7 minutes until cooked.
Dice the fresh tomato into small piece. Smear the yoghurt over the tortilla, then add the spinach, tomato and shrimp. Roll up and enjoy!

Grilled Salmon with Potatoes and Veggies

  • Salmon Fillet (defrosted)
  • Butter, Salt and Pepper
  • 1 large or 2 small potatoes (yukon gold is best)
  • 1/2 Cup or more frozen peas and corn

Poke the potatoes all over with a fork, then rub them with butter and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place them in the microwave for 7 minutes. Meanwhile, put veggies in a pan on the stove and cover with water. Bring to the boil and simmer.

Put a small amount of butter or olive oil in a pan. Sprinkle salmon fillets with salt and pepper and then saute in the hot pan for about 3 minutes or more each side.
Strain the veggies, put everything on a pretty plate and eat.

Fish Fry Tilapia

  • Tilapia Fillet (defrosted)
  • Fish Fry Seasoning
  • 1 Cup Salad or Veggies
  • 3/4 Cup Cooked Rice

Fish fry mix is wonderful. It’s seasoned well, not as unhealthy as you think, and very inexpensive. If you buy a pack of it, you’re only going to use a couple of tablespoons and you can keep the extra in a jar with your other seasoning.

Coat the tilapia on either side with the fish fry mix. Spray or add a little oil on a pan and get the pan super hot. Add the fillet to the pan and cook, turning it over every minutes or so until it looks cooked and a little crispy. Usually 6-8 minutes. Eat with salad or mixed veggies, and rice with salt and pepper.

]]> http://blog.gaucho.com/teach-a-man-to-fish-and-hell-save-money/feed 0 20(+1) More Savings Blogs You Should Be Following! http://blog.gaucho.com/20-more-savings-blogs-you-should-be-following http://blog.gaucho.com/20-more-savings-blogs-you-should-be-following#comments Fri, 30 Apr 2010 17:00:31 +0000 James http://blog.gaucho.com/?p=2189 How Blogging Helps You Save, we thought that we should give you some ideas to get you started. So this week, we've rounded up for you 20 more savings blogs you should be following in addition to the 7 Sweet Savings Blogs we posted up here a month ago!]]> In light of last week’s article on How Blogging Helps You Save, we thought that we should give you some ideas to get you started. So this week, we’ve rounded up for you 20 more savings blogs you should be following in addition to the 7 Sweet Savings Blogs we posted up here a month ago!

You might be wondering how do I follow a blog? It’s a fairly straightforward question. With this, you have several different options:

  • Some of these blogs will let you sign up to notifications via e-mail. That way, you get fresh content delivered daily, weekly, or even monthly straight into your inbox!
  • Some people prefer to bookmark websites they visit often so that they can visit them at their convenience.
  • My favorite option is signing up via RSS feed. Woah – an acronym – what does that mean? RSS is Really Simple Syndication. It’s a website link that, when given to a web application like Google Reader or desktop application like Socialite, will create a digital inbox of all your different sites. Similar to how you have an e-mail inbox, you’ll receive all new content as it launches in an inbox-esque website or program.

On to the Blogs!

Are We Missing Anyone?

Did we miss a noteworthy blog? Do you have your own you’d like to share? Please feel free to do so in the comments!

Also, click here to find out why we think you should be blogging if you’re trying to save money!

]]> http://blog.gaucho.com/20-more-savings-blogs-you-should-be-following/feed 7 Freeday: Every Penny Matters With a $25 JCPenny Gift Card! http://blog.gaucho.com/freeday-jcpenny http://blog.gaucho.com/freeday-jcpenny#comments Fri, 23 Apr 2010 15:30:37 +0000 James http://blog.gaucho.com/?p=2332 JCPenny sports a motto of Every Day Matters, and offers a wide range of products that weigh a little on women. What’s more, they have some pretty amazing prices on their website that you should be keeping an eye on. Everything from bedding sets to swimwear. Since we think Every Day does matter, and we love our charismatic women, this week we’re giving away a $25 JCPenny Gift Card to one special reader!

Sorry, but we’ve already chosen the winner on this one! Congratulations to Sophia (SW04)!

How Do I Enter?

Since last week we asked you to sign up for a Gaucho.com account and give us your username, this week we’re going to take things to the next level. Here’s how to enter to win:

  • Sign up for a Gaucho.com account (if you haven’t already – it’s easy and free!)
  • Post a Savings!
    • Sign into your Gaucho.com account, click on Submit Savings in the top-right and fill out the form with a coupon, sale, or deal you found!
  • Leave a link to your Saving in the comments, below to enter!

Pretty easy, eh? Well, hurry up because you only have until April 24, 2010 11:59:59 PM EST!

The winner won’t be announced on Sunday this time. Unfortunately, I’m going to be away until Tuesday night, so the winner will either be announced then – promise!

]]> http://blog.gaucho.com/freeday-jcpenny/feed 6 How To Save Big Cheese on Pizza Night http://blog.gaucho.com/how-to-save-big-cheese-on-pizza-night http://blog.gaucho.com/how-to-save-big-cheese-on-pizza-night#comments Wed, 21 Apr 2010 17:00:19 +0000 azadine0 http://blog.gaucho.com/?p=2308 I’m not talking mozzarella – I’m talking about the cheese in your wallet. You could be missing out on some easy ways to save on your Pizza Night – or any delivery night! Some of these tips may seem like no-brainers, but quite a few people could stand to remember them when Pizza Night comes around.

Order old school

These days many pizza places allow you to place your order online. Super convenient, right? No more being put on hold and speaking slowly to the person taking the order.

But while ordering online has its advantages, you actually have more room to save by calling in. With just a little patience, the operator could guide you to getting a better deal for your order. Wouldn’t that be worth it?

Get Acquainted with the Large Meal Deals

Most pizza places like Dominoes and Pizza Hut have special family meal deals, and even dinner-for-2 offers that include dessert. Get to know what your favorite place offers. Chances are you could get pizza, two sides and even drinks all at a great price.

Check for coupons and ongoing deals before you call.

It won’t take you more than 5 minutes to check their website for coupons. You’d actually be surprised at the savings – not to mention variety – you could get from a promotion. Remember to sign up for email offers and even become a fan of your favourite piza place on Facebook to plan your Pizza Night around a good deal.

Bonus Tip: Most pizza places actually have your last order on record which could cut your phone time down in half! Just ask for your last order, tweak it as you like and be off the phone in less than 2 minutes.

Chances are you could do without half of those toppings.

Do you really need to buy the Hawaiian Deluxe pizza when you can just order cheese, pineapple and chicken? Or the BBQ Special when you could substitute the marinara sauce for BBQ sauce and put some chicken and extra cheese on top? Take advantage of offers to ‘Build Your Own Pizza’, where you can choose 2 or 3 toppings for each and the sauce you want.

Bonus Tip: You already have toppings like mushrooms, tomatoes, green peppers and onions in your fridge! While the pizza is on its way, try slicing and grilling them in less than 5 minutes, and sprinkle them on top when the pizza arrives. Crumble some cheese on top for extra yum!

Don’t order more than you need.

If little Cindy is the only one who eats veggie pizza, she really doesn’t need more than 3 slices. Don’t order a whole pizza just for her! Take advantage of the ½ and ½ option and get 2 pizzas in one.

Know how much to tip.

The rule of thumb for pizza delivery is a minimum of $2. If for some reason the delivery person does a great job, you should give 20% of the total order; if not, 10%. Consider the distance to your home; pizza delivery driving can be a dangerous business!

What’s your money-saving tactic for Pizza Night? How much do you usually spend when ordering in, and for how many people? We want to know! Share them with us in the comments below.

]]> http://blog.gaucho.com/how-to-save-big-cheese-on-pizza-night/feed 0 Top Spring Break 2010 Travel Money-Savers http://blog.gaucho.com/top-spring-break-2010-travel-money-savers http://blog.gaucho.com/top-spring-break-2010-travel-money-savers#comments Tue, 20 Apr 2010 14:00:55 +0000 Jessica http://blog.gaucho.com/?p=1839 and I’m addicted to exploring new places. Thus, I pass on my tips for Spring Break travel-on-the-cheap to you, my friends. Happy trails.]]> The ridiculous amounts of pollen in the air (sniff) tell me that it is undoubtedly sneaking up on Spring Break time once again. This time of year is always just a little bittersweet for me; in one way, I’m reminded that unlike all you book-bound saps, I don’t have to go back to class in a few days, but on the other hand, I don’t get built-in vacation days. So I guess I’m still jealous. Regardless, if you’re in school or simply choosing these newly warm days to take a holiday, you’re likely looking for every way you can to pinch some pennies. Lucky for you, I’m always broke and I’m addicted to exploring new places. Thus, I pass on my tips for Spring Break travel-on-the-cheap to you, my friends. Happy trails.

Fake travel

There really is no substitute for being in a new place and soaking up all that a new environment has to offer. That said, if you and your pals are feeling a little hungry in the wallet, pick your ideal exotic locale and organize a theme party! I swear, it’s not as lame as it sounds. You get to research the local foods, music, dancing, clothes – everything that you would learn if you did have the money to actually go there. It may not be the same thing, but getting your friends in on the action and planning an over-the-top travel-themed party is still a fun and festive way to distract yourself from a homebound Spring Break.

Couch Surfing

Websites like CouchSurfing.org get my vote as the number one greatest thing to happen in travel since the airplane (and actually, I hate flying, so couch surfing still might be number one.) These communities allow you to hook up with people (literally) all over the world who have spare rooms, couches, and hammocks, are let them out to travelers. For free. Seriously, what could be better than free accommodations? Oh, I know – free accommodations with actual locals who are sure to give you an infinitely more authentic experience no matter where you go. And on the flip side of that, you can in turn sign yourself up to host people. A seriously beautiful way to travel for free and make new faraway friends.

Be okay with breaking a sweat

One of the biggest wastes of money when traveling, in my dear opinion, is renting a car. Granted, in some cities, it’s not really optional. But the truth is, too many people simply assume that renting wheels is the way to go because it’s what they’re used to at home. Isn’t the whole point of traveling to experience life in a different way? Word of advice: research ahead and find out how the locals most commonly get around and follow suit. If they bike, rent bikes. If they walk, pack comfy shoes. Research public transportation. Not only will you save money (car rental places just love to overcharge tourists), but when your every move is more of an adventure than just driving from point A to point B, you’ll find you and your companions getting so much more richness from every part of your vacation experience.

Get in trouble – just a little

Perhaps the things that makes traveling during Spring Break such an expensive endeavor is the fact that airlines, hotels and everyone else making a buck off the travel game all know that you want to get away. Because so does everyone else, which makes this time of year especially pricey. If you’re in school, chances are that all the other schools in your city are going on Spring Break at about the same time. Which means that flying out of that city, to anywhere, on that day is going to cost more than pretty much any other day. If you can swing it, and not get in too much trouble in your classes, try booking your flight out for you and your pals a few days before Spring Break actually starts. Flights are almost guaranteed to be cheaper than what the rest of your classmates are going to pay just a couple days later. You might get a slap on the wrist when you get back to school, but you will have saved money…and had a slightly longer vacation than everyone else. Totally worth it.

]]> http://blog.gaucho.com/top-spring-break-2010-travel-money-savers/feed 0 Way2Save: Finally Something Good From Wachovia? http://blog.gaucho.com/wachovia-way2save http://blog.gaucho.com/wachovia-way2save#comments Mon, 19 Apr 2010 17:00:22 +0000 Redd http://blog.gaucho.com/?p=2285 I find that when it comes to bank accounts (savings accounts especially), I’m completely biased. I love Bank of America and ING Direct with a fiery passion, and no one can come between us. My savings system has been in place for years, and when someone starts to talk to me about other savings accounts, I scorn them for mentioning another company. I love ING Direct for it’s sub-account ability, for the fact that I gain interest on checking, and for how user friendly their entire system is. Bank of America is my brick and mortar place. I can deposit checks with no envelopes, there is always an ATM near me, and I like their branding. All is well in my banking world and I stand my ground if someone argues with me on it.

So then, you can imagine my surprise and embarrassment when I was informed of the Wachovia Way2Save account. I realized that it’s actually pretty darn good – and not from my favorite banks. I left Wachovia many years ago after a bout of Overdraft fees and awful customer service, and I’ve openly slandered them to people who have asked my opinion on their banking options. But now I’ve found out that they might have finally gotten something right!

The Way2Save account is not for the huge saver. It’s for the little people trying to sock away some money slowly and without taking too much out of their day to day budget. It’s new, it’s nifty, and here’s how it works:

If you use your Wachovia Check Card, $1 is automatically transferred over to your Savings account. The same deal occurs when you pay an online bill. You can also set up a monthly deposit up to $100 to go in to the account. This may not seem like a way to save a whole bunch of money, but here is the kicker. This account has a 5% interest rate. That is, in short, quite ridiculous in these times. It’s hard to get a savings account anywhere over 3% unless you are putting away thousands of dollars. To add a cherry on top of this, Wachovia is also giving a 5% bonus for the first year of savings and to add sprinkles, this account also gives you Overdraft protection on your regular Wachovia account. This means that instead of incurring a $35 fee and bouncing something if you go overdrawn, you get charged a $10 fee and the needed funds are automatically pulled from your savings account.

Now, I’m not saying that you should go and open a Wachovia account today just to go and get this account. I still think that ING Direct is much better organized, user friendly, and stable… but if you already bank with Wachovia I would go ahead and pick up one of these nifty little accounts for the Overdraft protection alone. It’s a great way to sock a few dollars a month away with minimum impact and maximum return.

I’m greatly hoping that other banks look at this account idea and decide to offer similar products because it is terribly attractive. True, you can’t put away tons and tons of money, but it’s definitely a great way to get new savers started with small savings for high returns.

]]> http://blog.gaucho.com/wachovia-way2save/feed 0 Daily Gift Idea: SnapFish Photo Books http://blog.gaucho.com/snapfish-photo-book http://blog.gaucho.com/snapfish-photo-book#comments Mon, 19 Apr 2010 14:00:11 +0000 James http://blog.gaucho.com/?p=2288 Photos are worth a thousand words. Photo books, then, are worth quite a few thousand words, and are always fun to put together. I don’t know about you, but I love going through old photo books with friends and family to remind me of (happy) moments in the past.

It seems you can buy photo albums anywhere, but HP has a pretty cool service called SnapFish that we think you should check out.

SnapFish is an online solution for you to upload photos and get them printed in a photo album. No more getting prints made of your photos, going through all of them, buying an album, and putting everything together. SnapFish allows you to do this all online. It’s quick, easy, and fun, too!

The most amazing part of all of this is that SnapFish is throwing away a ton of discounts and savings your way in celebration of Mother’s Day. We also have a great buy-one-get-one saving on Gaucho.com for these awesome photo books!

Get today’s Daily Gift Idea!

Where do you get your photo books printed on the cheap? Share in the comments, below!

]]> http://blog.gaucho.com/snapfish-photo-book/feed 0