How to Get To Disney World for Almost Free

How to Get To Disney World for Almost Free

How to Get To Disney World for Almost Free

Below you’ll find a blueprint for a family of four to go to Walt Disney World for almost free, including airfare, 5 nights at a hotel on Disney property and 4 days in the parks. This trip has a street value of $4,000-$5,000 and should take less time to put together than the average Disney-bound family needs to save for their vacation.

Where I would’ve been in March…

Walt Disney World has been steadily raising the cost of their vacations over the last, well, forever, but now more than ever it can cost a small fortune to visit the Mouse. With the free Fastpass service now swapped out for the $20 per day Genie+, upcharge experiences like $200+ lightsaber building, and not-to-miss dining adventures like Oga’s Cantina on the very real Star Wars planet of Batuu, there’s a lot to spend money on.

I know that a Disney vacation for nearly free sounds too good to be true to anyone new to travel hacking, but for those that have been following Brad’s Deals for a while know that good deals do exist, especially using points and miles. Travel editor Mark used some of his Chase Ultimate Rewards points to take a honeymoon using many of these same tactics. When used properly, credit card rewards are a great way to travel inexpensively. If you’ve never done anything like this before it requires a bit of a leap of faith but you’ll soon realize that smart travelers don’t merely use Travelocity and Hotels.com to get slightly better fares, they use free points and miles to pay little or nothing at all.

Before we get started, I want to address five common questions and concerns that people new to travel hacking often have.

This Will Take Some Planning and Work

Let’s get one thing straight right off the bat: My plan will NOT get you to Walt Disney World next week. It will take up to a year of careful budgeting and credit card management to accomplish, but in the end it will get you a 4-day 5-night Disney World vacation for roughly $100. Assuming a $4,000 value, you would have to put away about $308 per month for 12 months to pay for the same trip out of pocket in the same time frame, and many families would find that a daunting prospect. Once you get used to this and build up a nest egg of points and miles, the next trip won’t take nearly as much planning or lead time. Keep in mind, to fully maximize any time spent at Disney World, advanced planning (think 3 months or more) is key!

You and a partner will be applying for multiple credit cards.

Using this plan, you and a partner each will be applying for for a few credit cards, each of which has minimum spending requirements which must be met to cash in on the reward. Can you get to those minimum spends quickly? Yes, but we’re not advocating that since for most families that means going into debt. This is not about going into debt.

If you follow my plan to the letter, you won’t be doing that. You’ll be shifting your common everyday household expenses on these new credit cards – expenses you’re already paying for, like groceries, gas, pizza Fridays, your morning Starbucks run, your cable and cell phone bills, maybe even your monthly utilities – and paying off the entire balance every month. And once you’ve met the minimum spend that unlocks the reward that gets you to Disney World almost for free, you can use the ongoing benefits of the cards to save for your next vacation or make your trips a little more comfortable (more on that in a bit).

Yes, new applications can affect your credit score, but more credit makes it even stronger

Hard and soft inquiries into your credit score do affect your score, but it’s temporary. Credit inquiries are only 10% of what make up your FICO score, for example.

Yes, this is all perfectly legal

The plan definitely takes advantage of several generous credit card sign-up offers, and you may be beating the credit card companies at their own game, but there’s nothing illegal or immoral about adhering to the terms and conditions they themselves wrote.

Your mileage may vary

Consider this plan a blueprint. It will work best for a financially disciplined family of four with 2 children under the age of 10, good credit and little existing credit card debt, but ultimately we cannot guarantee your credit card application will be approved at any stage.

Likewise, airfares and credit card offers change daily, and I can only report on what offers are available right now. My airfare estimate, for example, is based on what it would cost a family of 4 to fly from Chicago to Orlando on Southwest sometime in mid-September. But even if you can’t get exactly the same deal that I’ve outlined, you should get pretty far using similar tactics. If any of the credit card offers I mention are expired, see my updated list of the five top credit card sign up offers or our favorite credit cards for air travel to find the best options.

On that note, you could easily swap out Disney World and Orlando for Hawaii, London or any destination you like. This is really just as a demonstration of how to use credit card rewards for travel hacking as a general concept.

The Plan

Hotel: Pick A Points Hotel On Property (Saving $2,000)

Step one is to secure 5 nights at a hotel located on Disney property with specific benefits that make your Disney stay worthwhile. The Walt Disney World Swan, Dolphin, or Swan Reserve, located on Disney property next to Epcot are my first pick. When you stay at the Swan and Dolphin, you’ll enjoy benefits including:

• Access to Extra Magic Hours at the parks, which now is 30 minutes at each park each morning, and select nighttime hours only for guests of Deluxe hotels (like the Swan and Dolphin).

• Complimentary shuttle service to and from Disney Parks and Resorts

• Walking distance to Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios

The Swan, Dolphin, and Swan Reserve are Marriott properties, which are part of the Marriott Bonvoy rewards program, so you can use their Bonvoy points to book room. Marriott is about to switch to demand-based pricing, but in low season, I’ve seen rooms at these hotels go for 40,000 points a night. With Marriott Bonvoy’s fifth-night free, that’s 320,000 Marriott Bonvoy points needed. With current sign up offers for the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card from American Express at 150,000 points for spending $5,000 in the first three months, that’s not quite enough to get five free nights.

Instead, I’d look to the Disney Springs area hotels. Some of these hotels are associated with the Hilton Honors program, and much more easily bookable with points. They also run on demand pricing, and I actually stayed at the DoubleTree Orlando Disney Springs for 32,000 points a night, plus a fifth night free. There’s also the Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek, Hilton Bonnet Creek, and Waldorf-Astoria Orlando, which cost more in points but offer a few more amenities. All feature early park access, but at time of writing, none offer the extra magic hours at night that deluxe Disney resort guests receive.

The Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express features a 150,000 point sign up bonus when you spend $4,000 in three months after account opening. After meeting the minimum spend required, you’d have enough points for a five-night stay at the DoubleTree, which offers two-room suites that can easily fit a family of four. Plus, you get free Diamond status with Hilton, which gives you a daily food and beverage credit to save on some in-hotel meal costs.

Flight: Save $1,600

There are several ways to look at saving on flights, but the best offer right now for families that can fly Southwest are the Chase Southwest co-branded cards, all of which are offering a companion pass good to fly one person free any time the passholder is flying the airline!

Each parent applies for the Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card by spending $1,000 in the first 3 months to receive 40,000 points. Multiplied by 2, that’s 80,000 points (you can use your benefits on award flight too!).

Disney World Tickets: $1700+

Disney admission is not cheap. They now operate on a dynamic pricing model, with add-ons like Park Hopper, Park Hopper+, Genie+, and more. For a family of four on a budget, picking one park per day may be the right call. This post being written during the pandemic, we’re still seeing slightly more limited park opening times, as well as a 2 PM park hopping restriction, making the extra cost per day for that benefit less worth it. For a family of four in off-peak times, adults and kids will run about $1,700 for four days of fun in the parks. That’s a lot of cash!

The Citi Premier Card offers as 80,000 point sign up bonus after spending $4,000 in 3 months, which is worth $600 towards Disney tickets when booked through the Connexions Travel agency that Citi partners with. With each parent getting this card, that’s $1,200 towards park admission right there. For the rest of the balance, you could consider a cash back card for each adult that would cover the rest of your Mickey tickets.

What’s NOT included:

Rental car

We didn’t include a rental car in our plan because our plan doesn’t include leaving Disney property at any time except to go to and from the airport. The plan of 5-nights and 4-days is counting on the idea that you would be spending one day in each of the four Disney Parks. But if you want to spend a day away from Disney, check out our collection of coupons and offers for Enterprise and Avis. Uber and Lyft are of course available (and if you have the Amex Platinum card, you could use their monthly Uber benefit to cover some of the cost!)

Spending money

Sadly, our plan doesn’t include how to save on churros, Mickey Ears, or corn dogs. Disney does allow guests to pack a picnic in the parks, so don’t think you’re on the hook to have to eat every meal cooked by Mickey. However, a lot of fun experiences in the parks now involve an extra cost (lightsabers at Galaxy’s Edge, droid design at the Droid Depot, character dining), so maybe our guide will help you save on a lot of the up front costs so the “on-the-ground” budget is bolstered a bit.

If you give my Disney World travel hack a try, I’d love to hear how it goes!

The post How to Get To Disney World for Almost Free appeared first on The Brad's Deals Blog.

9 Cheap Makeup Alternatives to Expensive High-End Brands

9 Cheap Makeup Alternatives to Expensive High-End Brands

Makeup seems to be the one beauty item that can withstand a pandemic and rising costs of inflation. People just keep spending money on beauty and we completely support it! But, give these cheap makeup alternatives a try to get more bang for your buck.

For those of us who enjoy stocking our makeup bags despite any dwindling finances, we’ve compiled a list of drugstore makeup that is just as good (or better!) than the high-end stuff.

With some help from Brad’s Deals managing editor Casey Runyan and a few other beauty lovers on the team, we’ve compiled a list of quality cheap makeup alternatives to expensive brand-name beauty products. Enjoy!

Liquid Eyeliner

Swap Lancome Artliner Precision Point Liquid Eyeliner ($31 at Nordstrom) for Wet ‘n Wild MegaLiner Liquid Eyeliner ($3.19 at Target)

Lancome Precision Point Eyeliner has an easy-to-use minibrush and long-lasting style, but shelling out $31 is just not doable for some budgets. The Wet N’ Wild liner found at most drugstores will likely be the best $3.19 you’ll ever spend! Just like the Lancome liner, it’s easy to apply, stays on all day, and, given how small the bottle is, it lasts a freakishly long time. Save yourself the $22, seriously. No one will notice the difference.

Mascara

Swap Benefit BADgal Lash ($27 at Sephora) for L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Mascara ($8.99 at Target)

Benefit’s BADgal Lash, thickens without clumping and stays on all day smudge-free. L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Mascara does the EXACT same thing at a fraction of the cost. A bottle of this stuff also lasts way longer than its more expensive counterpart, which can noticeably dry out rather quickly.

Shampoo

Swap Pureology Hydrate Shampoo ($35 at ULTA) for OGX TeaTree Mint Shampoo ($7.89 at Target)

Both Pureology and OGX are sulfate-free, use “all natural” ingredients (although anyone who knows about labeling  in this country knows “all natural” can literally mean anything), and have a scalp-tingling feel and a minty-fresh smell. OGX shampoo and conditioner are a customer favorite for both their outstanding scents and the way hair feels after use. Pureology is great, but is it worth $35? Our answer is a resounding no.

Lipstick

Swap AVEDA Feed My Lips Pure Nourish-Mint Lipstick ($26 at AVEDA stores and salons) for REVLON Super Lustrous Lipstick ($8.99 at Target)

A popular high-end lipstick, Aveda’s Nourish-Mint lipstick has a fresh mint flavor but we’ve noticed that customers complain about the length of wear. Instead, try REVLON’s Super Lustrous Lipstick. While it’s not deliciously minty like its AVEDA counterpart, REVLON Super Lustrous Lipstick comes in a much wider variety of colors and stays put for a lot longer. Plus–the price is right.

Face Primer

Swap Smashbox Photo Finish ($42 at Ulta) for Monistat Chafing Relief Powder-Gel ($5.99 at Target)

This is Casey’s holy grail dupe. The key ingredient for most high-end makeup primers is Dimethicone, which gives skin a smooth texture and helps those with normal, oily, or combination skin achieve a semi-matte finish when foundation is applied over it. Monistat Chafing Relief has the same ingredient and does the same thing at a fraction of the price!

Eye Shadow

Swap Urban Decay, Smashbox, Tarte, etc. ($18-65 at Sephora) for Wet ‘n Wild Color Icon Collection ($3.19 at Target)

Some of our Brad’s Deals beauty lovers have long been believers that only pricey eye shadows have the color payout and finely-milled texture that makes for beautiful application. The Wet ‘n Wild Color Icon shadows proved us wrong.

Blotting Papers

Swap Clean & Clear Oil Absorbing Sheets ($7.29 at Walgreens) for Starbucks Paper Napkins (FREE!)

The next time you are at a Starbucks, grab a few spare napkins and use them in place of your normal blotting paper. They do an outstanding job of de-shining areas prone to mid-day oiliness and the price can’t be beat. Cut them down to size and store in a cleaned out compact or business card holder and they will be there when you need them! Just remember to buy a drink in exchange for all the free napkins you’re hoarding.

Nail Polish

Swap Essie Nail Polish ($9.99 at Target) for Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Nail Polish ($5.29 at Target)

In search of the perfect plum polish that dries fast and stays chip-free for days? Sally Hansen’s Just in Wine is on par with similar shades from pricier brands, and the price can’t be beat.

Cream Eye Shadow

Swap MAC Paint Pots ($25 at MAC) for Maybelline Color Tattoo 24hr Cream Gel Eye Shadow ($6.99 at Walgreens)

This is one of those have-to-see-it-to-believe-it swaps. The color selection is different, but both MAC Paint Pots and Maybelline Color Tattoo offer easy-to-blend color that lasts and can be used as a base for powder eye shadows. The biggest difference is in the price. Betcha can’t buy just one.

What are your go-to drugstore brands?

Related coupons:

• Nordstrom Coupons
• Walgreens Coupons
• Sephora Coupons
• Target Coupons
• ULTA Coupons
• Aveda Coupons
• MAC Cosmetics Coupons

The post 9 Cheap Makeup Alternatives to Expensive High-End Brands appeared first on The Brad's Deals Blog.

Top Listens: The Best Conversations from Frugal Living

Top Listens: The Best Conversations from Frugal Living

Looking for the latest episodes of Frugal Living? This weekly podcast caters to smart consumers–people who want to spend less money and live better lives. You can find all the latest episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podvine, and everywhere else you listen.

We also compile transcripts of our conversations on Frugal Living. You can find our most recent episodes here:

• Meal Prep like an Expert (new this week!)

And we’re always happy to share our top episodes. Here’s where to listen to a few of our audience’s favorites:

• On Dumpster Diving with Christina Deierling
• Financial Freedom with Jamila Souffrant
• How Do You Deal with Clutter? with Jennifer Howard
• DIY Home Repairs with Ashley French
• Financial Literacy with John Schmoll

Join the Frugal Living Community

We’d love to connect with you on TikTok, Instagram, or anywhere else you share your thoughts. Brad’s Deals also has an active insider community on Facebook, and there’s a free mobile app where you can find all the best deals online.

The post Top Listens: The Best Conversations from Frugal Living appeared first on The Brad's Deals Blog.

Is It Safe to Invest In Crypto?

Is It Safe to Invest In Crypto?

In this week’s episode, Jim speaks with Andy Wang about cryptocurrencies and whether or not they’re a good investment. Listen to the latest episode of  Frugal Living on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Anchor.fm, iHeartRadio, or anywhere you go to find podcasts.

Andy Wang, the host of Inspired Money, talked with us about how to invest during uncertain times. We spoke about inflation and rising interest rates, and we wanted to dive even deeper into another popular topic for investors. Is crypto worth consideration?

Read a Transcript From This Episode

Jim (01:08):
I see crypto and I see, I think what a lot of people see… Whether you want it or not, crypto’s not going anywhere. Like, the blockchain is a technology that we haven’t plumbed it to its steps. We haven’t mined everything we can out of it yet. There’s a lot we can still do that people are getting excited about. I talked to Andy Wang, who’s, like, a fiduciary financial advisor. And he has an episode of the podcast where, like, I just talked to him about, you know, financial advice and, like, inflation and all the fun stuff that’s happening this year. But I also asked him about crypto. Here’s our conversation. <music> You’re going to have a more informed opinion on this than most people that freely talk about this. What do you think about crypto? People talk about it like it’s the modern gold. You know, it’s like, “It’s a hedge.” But it’s crypto. What are your thoughts?

Andy (02:02):
I think that the challenge with calling Bitcoin specifically because Bitcoin being, like, the biggest market cap cryptocurrency and probably the oldest, it’s often called digital gold. I think the problem is that when you look at the price movement, it’s not really correlated to gold. Conceptually that’s the role that they wanted to serve. But I think that it’s been more closely correlated to other risk assets. We’ve seen that recently. I mean last year, Bitcoin going from 60,000 down to, I don’t know, below 40, right? Maybe close to 30,000. Like, it got cut in half. And that was not in a bear market.

So you’re dealing with something that is extremely volatile. And because of that, as a financial advisor and being a fiduciary, I can’t recommend that people own too much of. I mean, I don’t think it’s prudent to own an asset class that is that volatile, that can get cut in half really for not a really big reason. On the other hand, looking at cryptocurrency, looking at blockchain, I think that there’s something there worth paying attention to. And sometimes I use the analogy of looking at 1999, year 2000 when everyone was so excited about the internet. And those were the days where business plans didn’t matter. Everyone talked about, “It’s a land grab! It’s about eyeballs!” And companies can figure out how to make a profit later. Conceptually, that was kind of true. It just took, like, 15 years for companies to actually realize–like, Google and Facebook to emerge–that had real business models and could be profitable.

In the early days, in the wild, wild west days, you just don’t know which companies are gonna no longer exist. It’s hard to tell who the winners will be because it’s early. I have the sense that crypto, Web3, right? Metaverse, all of that… There’s a possibility that it won’t take 15 years. Just things seem to be happening much quicker. Whether it’s innovation or just information spreading because of the internet. Like, cycles just happen quicker. So what if in, like, three to five years, right now is the early days of something that is transformative to products or services that we’re enjoying or the way that we live? You know, there’s a lot of talk about will there be a digital dollar. Like, will governments hop onto the benefits of having a, a digital currency? And you start reading about that stuff. And it’s fascinating because even during this pandemic when there were stimulus checks going out, if there had been a digital currency and every citizen had a digital wallet, the government could just issue your digital currency. Just the administrative benefits would be huge. And, like, the ease of them putting a stimulus check in every citizen’s wallet, I think that that’s really cool.

Going a step beyond, they could actually put certain criteria or conditions saying that, “All right, we’re gonna issue you this digital dollar. You can only use it for food.” Something like that built into some kind of contract. I think that the implications are really interesting. We don’t quite know what it’s gonna look like, you know, 10 years from now or 20 years from now. But I think that there’s something there. And even blockchain technology for our bank to better verify our identification and to have, like, a better paper trail if it’s stored in the blockchain. I think that there’re really, really interesting things to look for especially as investors. It’s like we’re the opportunities for growth. And I think that there will be opportunities.

Jim (06:03):
I like the optimism. I think you get very different responses to the question, “Is crypto safe?” The answer’s probably no. Is crypto a worthwhile investment? Maybe. It sounds like what you’re is there’s something there. Blockchain has promise. Blockchain currencies have been popular. We’ve seen some growth. We’ve also seen some incredible declines very quickly. But I like the idea of, you know, take a measured approach. This isn’t the whole of your portfolio and it shouldn’t be the whole of your portfolio. And I think that’s what you’re saying.

Andy (06:37):
I think that if you’re a believer in blockchain and crypto, I think it’s worth owning some. I think that you really have to take a look at what percentage of your overall investable portfolio you want to have in it because of the volatility. Bitcoin Market Journal–I think that’s what it’s called–they have, like, a Believers Portfolio. And of course you have the benefit of hindsight, but what they’re recommending is that you look at cryptocurrency like an asset class. And you just allocate, like, 1 to 3% to it. If you’re really bold, it’s, like, up to 10%. But you’re earmarking a portion of your investments that you’re saying, “Okay, I’m willing to lose 10%” if you’re gonna go to, like, the really bold side. But with the benefit of hindsight, you know, you look at the numbers because Bitcoin has appreciated so much since… I don’t know what period they’re looking at. But say they’re looking at, like, 2006, 2007. You know, just having, like, that 1 to 3% allocation, it was like the performance juice to a conservatively positioned, like, 60, 40 stock-to-bond portfolio. You just added a little bit of crypto in there and you didn’t look at it. You completely ignored the short-term volatility. There are times when it gets cut in half. But if you just left it there and didn’t look, over time it did help your performance.

I think that that’s an interesting way to look at it. And the way that they’re trying to paint it is that, “All right, you’re still a value investor. You’re just willing to have, like, a small portion.” And you know, it’s high risk. It might go to zero and be worthless, but you’re like, “Okay, just one to 3%. I’m willing to lose that.” And if it works out, it could be like the lightning in your portfolio. But I guess similarly, I mean, you could have, like, a conservative investment portfolio, but you just earmark, like, a small portion for higher, more speculative stocks in companies, because you’re trying to control your risk. You know that there’s this relationship: risk to reward. So you wanna control how much you’re gonna do. You’re not gonna do too much. So that way it’s still prudent, but you know, I shouldn’t say gamble, but essentially that’s what it is. Right? It’s like this very small portion of your portfolio. And you’re saying, “All right, I’m almost willing to gamble this part.”

Jim (08:58):
Sure. Yeah, you’re hoping it doesn’t drop to zero. You wouldn’t have invested if you thought it was going to. But at the same time, you’re not certain of growth. I mean, crypto is so full of so many scams and there’s so little regulation right now.

Andy (09:11):
Well, wild, wild west, I think. That’s where it is right now. And you know, we do see more regulation happening. Even the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, they’re reviewing crypto and trying to come up with regulation. Different countries are coming up with regulations. I know that some of the Arab countries have gotten some attention recently issuing some, like, policies on crypto for their citizens. And you know, the regulation, I would say, goes against the core principles of crypto, like, when it was created. But you know, one can argue that that regulation is showing that there’s legitimacy there. Or, it’s kind of verifying the fact that if governments are paying attention and starting to regulate, it’s maturing. And you know, may develop into something that becomes more normal and is less fringe.

Jim (10:06):
I mean, it certainly caught the attention of the biggest banks. And when we started seeing, you know, JP Morgan investing in Bitcoin, that doesn’t seem so abnormal now. But when it happened, that’s newsworthy.

Andy (10:19):
Yeah. And Jamie Dimon still says that he doesn’t really advocate owning Bitcoin or crypto. But he knows that his clients want it. You know? So it’s a little bit of an about face, right?

Jim (10:29):
It’s certainly hard to see how that forms. But I know that the conversation we have about crypto is gonna be completely different in five years. This year, in the past 12 months, we’ve seen the conversation around NFTs, you know, explode. Now it’s like talking about modern art. You know, it’s talking about, like, having a piece of art in your house, in the best case. Or it’s like someone selling you a receipt to something they don’t own in the worst case. It’s just hard to have those conversations with a frugal mindset and think NFTs are worth exploring.

Andy (11:01):
Yeah. It’s a tricky one. It’s one that–I don’t know. I mean, when people tell me about CryptoKittys, like, collecting a digital cat. I just can’t wrap my head around it because I didn’t collect Beanie Babies either. In my view, I’m like, “Well now you’ve got a digital Beanie Baby that doesn’t even exist. How does that have value?” But on the other hand, it’s all about supply and demand, right? And I think in any collectible, you don’t have to explain why there’s demand and why people wanna collect it. If that demand is there, the price can go up. And in the view of the collectors, it’s worth something. And that price can increase or decrease. Who am I to say that you should or shouldn’t, or that it exists or doesn’t exist.

I think for people who grew up collecting sports cards or other sports memorabilia, at least it makes sense. At least there’s, like, a little bit of a easier transition to what it is and maybe why there’s value. Again, I didn’t collect sports cards either. But I’ve talked to guys who have some background in art and design and they say, “All right, well, I’m gonna collect some artwork that I appreciate. And I understand that if it goes to zero in value, I’ll at least appreciate the artwork.” And I guess in that sense, it’s no different from collecting actual artwork. Except now you’ve got something on the blockchain and that can at least verify authenticity and scarcity. So maybe there is some pluses there. But these are guys who are trading NFTs, kind of, just for fun. And you know, last year was a good year. So pretty profitable for some. But yeah, you have to be careful. There are a lot of scams and you’ll continue to hear those stories unfortunately.

Meanwhile, the expectation is that China may issue its central bank digital currency sometime this year or next. So I think, you know, with, with great curiosity, I’ll be watching because if China does it as a large economy, you know, the United States will probably follow. We’ll see. And then, you know, suddenly if there’s a central bank digital currency and there’s a digital dollar, it’s something that we’ll be living with. And you gotta look around and say, “All right, well, what kind of implication will that have on crypto acceptance?” I just don’t know what it’ll look like. If there are central bank digital currencies being issued, it just gets complicated, right? Because we already have different currencies. You’ve got the Euro, you’ve got the U.S. dollar, you have Asian currencies. Even within Europe, sometimes you still have, like, European currencies. It’s hard to wrap my head around the number of cryptocurrencies there are. And how, like, there can be different applications for different ones. Like, how many can you have?

Jim (13:51):
That’s a good question. You know, and then there’s also the question–You know, you’re talking blockchain. There’s proof of work versus proof of stake, which have totally different implications. There’s costs for trading cryptocurrency that doesn’t exist for more standard physical currency. I don’t know. There’s just a lot to consider. And it’ll be interesting for sure to see where that goes.

Andy (14:13):
I think that’s a fun part about being an investor. You, you try to keep your eyes and ears open, and observe what’s happening around you, and look for opportunities. What is the risk to reward? How do I control my risk so that there’s some reward?

Jim (14:26):
The rewards I’ll get, but I also don’t wanna go broke while I pursue them.

Andy (14:30):
Right. So protect your downside and be looking for upside. <music>

Jim (14:39):
This is bigger than I was anticipating. Like, from a person who does this professionally.

More About Frugal Living With Jim Markus

This episode was sponsored by Aosom and Highlights. Use our code FRUGAL15 for an extra 15% off your order at Highlights.com.

Frugal Living is a podcast for smart consumers. How do you spend less and get more? The show, sponsored by Brad’s Deals, features interviews, stories, tips, and tricks. Jim Markus hosts season five, out now.

The post Is It Safe to Invest In Crypto? appeared first on The Brad's Deals Blog.

75+ Stores and Restaurants Offering Senior Discounts

75+ Stores and Restaurants Offering Senior Discounts

Gone are the days of your grandmother’s “early bird special” at the local diner. The retail world as we know it is changing and as more restaurants close, we also see more senior discount programs being retired by restaurants and retailers across the nation. We’ve updated our list for senior savings that will help you keep more cash in your pocket, which we know is particularly imporant during these rough financial times.

Note: Give your local store a call to confirm that they are still offering senior discounts. As with many things, the pandemic could have caused a policy change at your store.

Restaurant Discounts for Seniors

• Arby’s: 10% off (55+).
• A&W All American Food: 10% senior discount, varies by location.
• Ben & Jerry’s: 10% off for seniors (60+), varies by location.
• Bonefish Grill: AARP members get 10% off.
• Boston Market: Senior discounts vary by location (65+).
• Bubba Gump Shrimp Company: 10% off for AARP members.
• Burger King: 10% off (60+) plus additional discounts on coffee and soft drinks. Varies by location.
• Captain D’s Seafood: On Wednesdays, seniors (62+) can enjoy one of 8 meals including a drink for $4.99 or less at participating restaurants.
• Carrabba’s Italian Grill: 10% off an entire meal for AARP members. Varies by location.
• Carrows Restaurant: Has a Golden 55 menu where seniors (55+) can get discounted breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
• Chick-fil-A: Free refillable senior drink, not including coffee. Varies by location.
• Chili’s: 10% off (55+)
• CiCi’s Pizza: Many stores offer senior discounts but they vary by location.
• Denny’s: 15% off for AARP members, all other senior discounts vary by location.
• Dunkin’ Donuts: AARP members receive a free donut with the purchase of a L or XL beverage at participating restaurants.
• El Pollo Loco: 10% senior discount (60+).
• Fazolli’s: Join Club 62 for special senior menu items (62+).
• Friendly’s Restaurant: 10% off a meal with free coffee at breakfast or a free sundae during non breakfast hours.
• Golden Corral: Senior discounts vary by location, call your local location for more info.
• IHOP: Discounts on senior menu items (55+).
• McCormick& Schmick’s: 10% off for AARP members.
• McDonald’s: No official discounts, but some locations offer discounts on coffee.
• The Oceanaire Seafood Room: AARP members save 10%.
• Outback Steakhouse: AARP members save 10%.
• Papa John’s: Senior discounts vary by location.
• Rainforest Café: 10% off for AARP members (50+).
• SaltGrass: AARP members save 10% (50+).
• Shoney’s of Knoxville: Join the Shoney’s Golden Age Club for 10% off (60+).
• Sizzler: Offers Honored Guest Menu (60+), varies by location.
• Subway: 10% off, varies by location (60+).

Retail and Clothing Discounts for Seniors

• Bealls: 15% off every Tuesday (50+).
• Belk: Get 15% off on the first Tuesday of every month (62+).
• Goodwill: 10-20% off one day a week, day varies by location (55+).
• JOANN: One day per month, seniors can get 20% off in-store (55+).
• Kohl’s: 15% off  (60+) on Wednesdays, in store only.
• Lens Crafters: AARP members get 50% off lenses, 30% off sunglasses, 10% off contacts, and $55 eye exams.
• Michael’s: 10% off your entire purchase every day (55+).
• Rite Aid: Rite Aid 65+ Rewards membership gets you 5x points on the first Wednesday each month, monthly activities, featured products (65+).
• Ross Stores: 10% off every Tuesday (55+).
• Stein Mart: Get 20% off select items first Monday of every month (55+).
• Walgreens: “Seniors Day” once a month, varying by location. Discounts are available. for Balance Rewards card members (55+) or Balance Rewards card members that are also AARP members. Discounts include 20% off in store or 10% off online.
• The UPS Store: AARP members can save 15% off eligible products and services and 5% off domestic and international UPS shipping services. Varies by location.

Grocery Discounts for Seniors

• Bashas: 10% off on the first Wednesday of each month (55+).
• Fred Meyer: Depending on the department you can save 10-15% on the first Tuesday of each month, varies by location (55+).
• Fry’s Supermarket: Seniors receive 10% off the first Wednesday of every month.
• Harris Teeter: Every Thursday, you’ll receive a 5% discount (60+).
• Hy-Vee: Take 5% off every Thursday (55+).
• New Seasons Market: 10% off most items every Wednesday (65+).
• Piggly Wiggly: Senior discounts vary by location, contact your local store.
• Publix: 5% discount on Wednesdays (60+) at select locations.
• Weis Markets: Take 10% off participating brands on Tuesdays (60+).

Travel Discounts for Seniors

• American Airlines: various discounts for 65 and up (call before booking for discount).
• Amtrak: 10% off most rail fares (65+).
• Auto Europe: 5% senior discount.
• Avis: AARP members enjoy up to 30% off base rates when renting from participating locations.
• British Airways: AARP members can save anywhere from $65-$200 on flights.
• Budget Rental Cars: AARP members enjoy  up to 30% off base rates when renting from participating locations.
• Carnival Cruise: Exclusive savings vary for senior citizens (55+).
• Choice Hotels: If you are an AARP member or a senior citizen (60+) you can save up to 10% with advance reservations.
• Days Inn: Guests (60+) enjoy a range of special savings varying by location. 
• Hertz: Sign up for their 50+ Car Rental Program (50+) and get exclusive deals up to 20% off.
• Hilton Hotels & Resorts: AARP members receive up to 10% off the best available rate.
• InterContinental Hotels Group: Discounts vary for senior citizens (62+).
• Marriott Hotels: Discounts for seniors will vary by room and destination (62+).
• Myrtle Beach Resort: 10% off most daily and weekly rates (55+).
• Royal Caribbean: Reduced senior prices on select sailings (55+).
• TripBeat: Save up to 40% off on select 7-night resort vacation rentals in worldwide destinations.
• United Airlines: Various discounts for ages 65 and up (call before booking for discount).

Entertainment Discounts for Seniors

• AMC Theaters: Senior discount tickets (60+).
• Cinemark: Seniors on participating days can get discounted prices. Varies on location.
• U.S. National Parks: $80 lifetime pass, $20 annual pass (62+).

Miscellaneous Senior Discounts

• AT&T: Unlimited 1 line for $60 and 2 lines for $80 (55+).
• Consumer Cellular: 5% off discount for AARP members.
• Great Clips: At least $2 per hair cut. Discounts and participation vary by location (65+).
• T-Mobile: Save 50% with an Unlimited Essentials (55+).
• Verizon: Up to $40 off per month; $60 for unlimited for 1 line (55+).

Since many senior discounts are not advertised to the public, our advice to men and women over 55 is to ALWAYS ask a sales associate if that store provides a senior discount. Also, please note that some senior discounts vary by region. That way, you can be sure to get the most bang for your buck.

The post 75+ Stores and Restaurants Offering Senior Discounts appeared first on The Brad's Deals Blog.

70+ Stores with Teacher Discounts

70+ Stores with Teacher Discounts

Teachers sacrifice a lot to help our children succeed in life – whether that means staying up all night grading papers, or spending their own money on school supplies. In fact, recent studies have shown that most teachers spend about $750 out of their own pockets every year on supplies for their students. Read on to find out the best places to get teacher discounts.

We realize $750 is lot of money, especially on a teacher’s salary. We’re here to help. We’ve compiled a list of more than 90 discounts for teachers at bookstores, retail chains, school supply outlets and more. Feel free to share this list with all the teachers and educators in your life!

Bookstore Discounts

• Barnes & Noble – Educators can save 20% off list price every day, and up to 25% off during Educator Appreciation days through the Barnes & Noble Educator Program.
• Books-a-Million – 20% off for educators on in-store purchases, and various online discounts with the BAM Educator Card.
• Half Price Books – Teachers and librarians get 10% off with the Half Price Book Educator Discount Card.

Online School Supply Discounts

• Academic Superstore – Discounted software and technology for classrooms and educators.
• A to Z Teacher Stuff – Features free and discounted downloadable eBooks and printables for teachers.
• Raymond Geddes – Take 30% off any order with code BACK2CLASS30 at checkout.
• The Teacher Store at Scholastic.com – Up to 50% off deals and sales on books and other resources.
• ThinkEDU – Teacher discounts on software, electronics, textbooks, Apple products and more.

Retail Store Discounts

• Ann Taylor Loft – Join the LoftLoves Teachers program and get 15% off all full-price purchases every day.
• Cole Haan – Teachers get 20% off their order.
• Colorscience – Take 15% off on skincare and beauty products.
• Crayola – Discounted and free access to educational seminars.
• Crocs – Teachers can get 15% off full-priced items.
• DearFoams – Shop through ID.me to get 20% off.
• GM – Up to $500 off select Chevrolet vehicles for educators.
• Goodwill – Take 25% off on select days of the week. Check your local Goodwill for more information.
• Hanes – 10% off for teachers and retired teachers, up to $10 off.
• Hawes & Curtis – Teachers can get 15% off menswear, womenswear, and gifts.
• Home Depot – Teachers pay no sales tax with tax exempt paperwork.
• Hunter Boots – Get 20% off when you verify your educator status.
• J. Crew – 15% off with employee ID, valid in-store at J.Crew, J.Crew Factory and J. Crew Mercantile stores only.
• JOANN – Get 15% off with their Teacher Discount Program.
• Lakeshore Learning – Rewards Members can save 15% on select items in store.
• LensCrafters – Use ID.me to verify and get 60% off prescription lenses (frames not eligible).
• Levi’s – Teachers take 15% off their order by entering their school information.
• Lowe’s – Teacher’s pay no sales tax with tax exempt paper work.
• Madewell – Get 20% off online and in-store orders.
• Michael’s – Teachers save 15% every day on products designed for the classroom. Some exclusions apply, so make sure to ask a store associate for details!
• Modcloth – Verify with ID.me and get 20% off your order.
• New Balance – Teachers can verify using ID.me for a 25% off discount.
• Puma – Take 10% off your order by verifying using ID.me.
• Reebok – Teachers can get 50% off using ID.me verification.
• Roxy – Use SheerID to verify your educator status and take 15% off.
• Saucony – Verify with ID.me and teachers save 20%.
• Staples – Earn 10% back in rewards on most purchases with the Staples Teacher Rewards Program.
• Thrive Market – Teachers qualify for a one-year free membership.
• Under Armour – Take 20% off when you verify with ID.me.
• Vineyard Vines – Take 15% off everything when you verify your educator status.
• Zappos –  10% off for teachers, discount will be automatically applied for one full year after verifying and registration.

Discounts on Tech and Software

• Adobe – Up to 75% off with the Adobe Teacher and Student Store.
• Apple Store – Use the Apple Education Discount to take 5 to 10% off Apple products.
• AT&T – Usually around 15-20% off your monthly bill for active teachers. Varies by educational institution, you will need to enter your email address and credentials in order to see if you qualify.
• Basecamp – Educators using Basecamp for classroom work can get a free account.
• Bose – Up to 15% off for educators and members of educational associations through the Educators Direct Group.
• HP – Up to 35% off via their Student & Teacher Education Store.
• JourneyEd.com – Discounts on licensed software for educators. Faculty pricing varies by school.
• Lenovo – Teachers who verify through ID.me will get access to weekly Lenovo deals.
• Microsoft – Teachers can get Microsoft Office 365 Education for free.
• PBS – Teachers can get access to hundreds of free videos, interactives, lesson plans, and more.
• Verizon – Save up to $25 per month on unlimited plans.
• Western Digital – Up to 15% off on flash drives, hard drives, and other storage solutions.

Travel Discounts

• Art Institute of Chicago – Free admission for Illinois teachers who have registered for the Educator Network.
• Boston Children’s Museum – Half priced tickets for teachers in the Massachusetts Teachers Association (MTA).
• Dallas Museum of Art – Deals on guided tours for students are available.
• Explorica – Book discounted trips and earn rewards on school-related travel.
• Field Museum of Chicago – Free admission for Illinois teachers with valid ID.
• Kennedy Space Center – Free Educator Study Pass for active teachers in the United States of America,  Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
• LEGOLAND Florida Resort – Free admission for FL teachers to LEGOLAND Florida Resort, Madame Tussauds Orlando or SEA LIFE Orlando.
• Shedd Aquarium in Chicago – Free general admission with teacher ID for educators in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin. Register here.
• Student Universe – Discounted group airfares for groups of ten or more students and faculty members.
• Vacations To Go – Cruise discounts for teachers (vary by line and availability).
• Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Hotel – Teachers and school support staff can get up to 25% off booking. Call 1-888-828-8850 and ask for promotional code TEACHERS RATE or when booking online, make sure Promotional Code ZTC appears in the Corporate/Promo code box.
• Marriott Hotels – Available at select hotels. Discounts vary. Show your ID and say you’re a local government employee when booking.

Other Discounts for Teachers

• e-File – Educators can file their tax returns for free.
• Headspace App – This meditation app is free for K-12 (primary-secondary) teachers and supporting staff in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia.
• National Education Association – Get access to lots of discounts and member benefits when you become a NEA member.
• Pizza Hut – Pizza Hut’s BOOK IT! program motivates children to read by rewarding them with praise and pizza!
• USA Today – Save 45% on a subscription through the Educator Program. This works out to $.40 per copy.
• U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development – Good Neighbor Next Door Program offers a discount for teachers on the list price of homes.
• Wall Street Journal – Professors at select universities can get complimentary access to digital subscriptions.
• Washington Post – Educators qualify for up to 90% off digital subscription prices.

Do you know of any additional discounts for teachers?  Please comment below and we will add them to our list.

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