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July's Birthstone -Ruby

Monday

Recession Proof Prescriptions: Wal-Mart $4 30 Day Prescriptions!



Find Today's Daily Deal on Your City's Best Things To Do at Groupon.com!

About two years ago, Wal-mart started offering a $4 prescription drug plan. It was previously limited to 30 days but now is offered for 90 day supply for $10. This is an amazing savings.

This pricing is offered without having a pharmacy plan on your health insurance. All you need is a valid prescription that ALLOWS substitutions from your doctor. You go to a Wal-mart with a pharmacy present your script for one of the eligible drugs and your savings begin.

Check walmart.com to see if your medication is eligible in these categories:
Allergies, Cold & Flu Ear Health Other Medical Conditions
Antibiotic Treatments Fungal Infections Skin Conditions
Arthritis & Pain Gastrointestinal Health Thyroid Conditions
Asthma Glaucoma and Eye Care Viruses
Cholesterol Heart Health & Blood Pressure Vitamins & Nutritional Health
Diabetes Mental Health Women's Health

Details from Wal-mart:
The $4 Program covers up to a 30-day supply of eligible drugs at commonly prescribed dosages. $10 Program covers a 90-day supply of eligible drugs at commonly prescribed dosages. Prices for less than a 90-day supply are prorated based on $4 Program price, not to exceed $10. Prices for more than a 90-day supply are prorated based on $10 Program price. Physician permission may be required to change 30-day prescription to 90-day prescription. Not all drugs eligible for $4 Program are eligible for $10 Program. Certain plans, including government-funded programs, may not cover a 90-day supply.

Prescription Program available at all Wal-Mart, Sam's Club & Neighborhood Markets except in ND. Only eligible drugs are covered. List may change and vary by state. Prescriptions must initially be filled in person. Refills must be picked up in store. No substitutions or mail orders. Prices may be higher in some states. Certain plans may entitle you to pay less. See Walmart.com or pharmacist for details.

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Thursday

Tips For Fueling Your Frequent Traveler Points And Miles



Find Today's Daily Deal on Your City's Best Things To Do at Groupon.com!

As fuel prices continue to rise and traveling becomes more expensive each day, people are finding ways to decrease the cost of their vacation plans because they are strapped for cash. In a recent survey by Kayak.com, 79 percent of respondents said that while the recent economic downturn caused them to alter their vacation plans, they are still planning to get away. Of those who changed the destination of their vacation, 28 percent said they will stay closer to home, 23 percent will drop a star from their usual standard and 20 percent will choose a location where friends and family can offer room and board.

While Americans are considering alternative ways to cut back on their travel costs, one often overlooked way to bring down the cost of a vacation is to utilize frequent traveler points and miles from loyalty programs. Travelers can take advantage of their hotel and airline rewards programs to redeem for discounts, upgrades and free rooms and airfare.

"I think that many travelers don't maximize their hotel point earnings because hotel rewards programs often seem more complicated than they actually are," said Adam Burke, senior vice president and managing director, Hilton HHonors Worldwide. "Most travelers are well aware of the opportunity to earn and redeem airline mileage, but travelers who are truly interested in maximizing the earning power of their travel should enroll in a hotel rewards program in addition to their frequent flyer programs."

Frequent travelers who have points or miles sitting in their program accounts should consider redeeming their points to help alleviate the cost of future travel expenses. Travelers who haven't taken advantage of customer loyalty programs are missing out on a world of rewards and free travel. From vacation packages to car rentals, members can use their points and miles as a new form of currency to plan for their next trip. When planning for your next vacation, consider the following tips on how to make the most out of frequent traveler points and miles:

1. Choose A Rewards Program Carefully and Stay Loyal-All customer loyalty programs are not created equal, so take the time to research which hotel and airline programs are the best fit for your travel needs. By staying loyal to one hotel and one airline program, you will earn more rewards faster and can receive various VIP privileges and special recognition.

2. Choose Your Preferred Currency-Whether you want free nights or free flights, choose a program that gives you the flexibility to earn the way you want. Hilton HHonors, for example, offers three different earnings options, which impacts how members earn points and miles. You can also concentrate your earnings into one currency by converting your hotel points to miles or airline miles to points.

3. Don't Get Blacked Out-Since hotel rooms can be more expensive during peak travel seasons, redeeming your points for a free night during these peak periods saves you more money. Look for a hotel rewards program that allows you to redeem during the times of year you want to travel the most and make sure to check the fine print on the program's blackout policies.

4. Redeem Points for Vacation Packages and Experience Rewards-In addition to vacation packages to exciting and exotic locations, some programs also offer a variety of one-of-a-kind experiences that you can redeem for rewards. For example, Hilton HHonors offers members the chance to soar above New York City in a helicopter or test-drive their dream job while on vacation.

5. Other Ways To Earn Points-Staying at a hotel is not the only way to earn points. Most loyalty programs offer a variety of credit cards that allow you to earn points or miles for just spending money you would normally spend. You can even earn points by renting a car from one of your reward program partners. Some programs, such as Hilton HHonors, also offer an Earnings Mall that allows you to earn bonus points for each purchase.
$30 off with 5 night booking!


Tuesday

Save Money on Bottled Water This Summer- Buy Portable Filtering Water Bottle



Find Today's Daily Deal on Your City's Best Things To Do at Groupon.com!

About four years ago, I read a great tip online about how to save money when going to amusement parks. The tip was to buy a water portable plastic bottle with a filter. At places like Disney World, bottle watered can be $3 or more. Take my advice, pick up the Sports Bottle Plastic Portable Water Filter Bottle. Having this portable water filter bottle will save you tons of money when you travel, picnic, go to the beach or anywhere.

TIP: When you know you will be out for a long time, fill your bottle with ice. It will take a while to melt and be cold when you are ready to gulp it down.

Sports Bottle Plastic Portable Water Filter Bottle
Sports Bottle Plastic Portable Water Filter Bottle$35.95


Sunday

Be Environmentally Conscious And Save



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(NAPSI)-Most people are unaware of the simple steps they can take to be more Earth friendly. Changing cleaning habits is one way to make a positive change. Household cleaning products can contain toxic chemicals that pollute the air and have negative effects on the Earth and your family. By changing the products you use and how you use them, you can be more Earth friendly.

Here are 10 cost-effective tips for being more Earth friendly at home:

• Start by making sure your home is properly ventilated to eliminate pollutants.

• Replace thick curtains that keep heat in with light curtains that allow breezes through during warm-weather months. This will help cut down on utility bills associated with running your air conditioner.

• Always read the labels of your cleaning products to ensure proper usage and storage. Use products the way they are intended. In many cases, using more doesn’t improve performance.

• Always keep cleaning products in their original containers with the lids closed. Never mix products together unless directed on the label.

• Use products completely. Don’t buy more than you can use. After use, recycle containers where possible or dispose of them as recommended on the label. Buy recyclable products whenever possible to cut down on waste.

• Clean your windows with a half-and-half mixture of distilled white or apple cider vinegar and water from a reusable spray bottle. Once you have sprayed the window pane, wipe with recycled newspapers for streak-free shine.

• Replace iridescent lightbulbs with compact fluorescent lightbulbs throughout your home.

• Bring potted plants into your home to cut down on carbon dioxide.

• Use refillable water bottles instead of purchasing bottled water.

• Use nontoxic cleaners, such as Faultless/Bon Ami #04410 14OZ Bon Ami Cleanser, to keep the kitchen and bath areas free of mold and mildew, two big sources of indoor pollution. Bon Ami is a cleaner that contains no dyes, chlorine or perfumes and hasn’t since it launched in 1886.


Thursday

Wine.com Two Day Sale



Find Today's Daily Deal on Your City's Best Things To Do at Groupon.com!

If you have events through the summer and serve wine, you might want to buy your supply from wine.com and take advantage of the following promotion:

Two days only! Get 10%off any 12or more bottles at Wine.com. Enter Promo Code SUMMER at checkout. Offer ends 6.20.08.

Wine & Spirits Top Values of the Year at Wine.com

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Wednesday

Resort Fees: Make Sure You Use What You Pay For



Find Today's Daily Deal on Your City's Best Things To Do at Groupon.com!

Ah resort fees, the charges you see on you hotel invoice that seem nebulous at best. Depending on where you stay, resort fees could be anything: pool towel service, bottled water, turn down service, daily newspaper - virtually anything.

Three star or higher hotels are more likely to have resort fees than road side motels. Hotels are required to disclose what your resort fee covers. When booking your hotel stay over the phone, ask your representative if there is a resort fee and what it covers.

Last year, I stayed at an Embassy Suites in Puerto Rico that had horrible service. It had a $10 a day resort fee that covered the "free bottled water" at the pool that was advertised as an amenity. The caveat was that water was not all you could drink and you were allotted two bottles a day from the hours of 9 am to 3pm. This really was not the most convenient perk since I was out siteseeing during that time.

Some hotels may remove the resort fee if you say you didn't take advantage of the perks it covers. But don't count on them removing it.

The best thing to do is to find out what you are paying for and make sure you use whatever it is.

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Tuesday

Bed Bugs-The Unwelcome Travel Companion



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Ok this is truly gross but hotels are having a major problen with bed bugs. Before I travelled to Orlando this year, I read on Tripadvisor that a hotel I was considering had a bed bug problem. I opted to not stay at that hotel.

Whether traveling for business or pleasure, many Americans take to the skies or hit the road for vacation during the summer months. In addition to packing luggage and double-checking itineraries, travelers should learn how to prevent unwelcome surprises, like bed bugs, from spoiling their trip or return home.

Pest control leader Orkin, Inc. has seen a rise in the number of bed bugs cases over the past several years, treating infestations in 48 states to date, versus only 43 states in 2004 and 35 states in 2003. Experts believe bed bugs’ return and prevalence in the U.S. are due to an increase in international travel and the change to more targeted pest control applications. These factors, combined with increased media coverage, have also heightened awareness of these blood-sucking pests among the general public.

Contrary to popular belief, bed bugs are not a sanitation issue; they can be found in any hotel--luxury to inexpensive-and any home-big, small, clean or dirty--as well as dormitories and cruise ships.

“Once a bed bug finds its way indoors, it can move from room to room by traveling on clothing and luggage or through pipes and vacuum cleaners,” said Frank Meek, board-certified entomologist and technical director for Orkin, Inc. “This tendency to hitch-hike--as well as a bed bug’s ability to survive more than a year without a blood meal--make proper prevention and control steps even more important.”


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While bed bugs are not known to carry disease, these apple-seed-sized pests can leave behind itchy, bloody welts on the skin.

Meek recommends travelers use the acronym, S.L.E.E.P., to remember the common signs of a bed bug infestation and to help prevent these pests from becoming an unwelcome travel companion or souvenir:

• Survey for signs of an infestation, such as dark brown or red spots on sheets.

• Lift and look for all bed bug hiding spots, including the mattress, headboard and furniture. Bed bugs are nocturnal and tend to hide near their food source-you!

• Elevate your belongings on a luggage rack away from the bed and wall, where bed bugs often hide behind headboards, picture frames and electrical outlet panels.

• Examine your luggage while repacking and when you return home. Remember, bed bugs are only 3/16 of an inch and can easily fit in cracks and crevices.

• Professionals can treat these resilient pests, which are extremely difficult to kill and can survive extreme temperatures.


Don’t let bed bugs spoil your travel. Remember to look for common signs of a bed beg infestation, such as dark brown or red spots on sheets and mattresses.

I was totally disgusted to hear about the bed bug problem in hotels. So I pick up a cocoon travel sheet below. Check it out:

Sleep Sacks Sleeping Bag Liners - Cocoon Cotton Travel Sheet - Nile


Sleep Sacks Sleeping Bag Liners - Cocoon Cotton Travel Sheet - Nile $32.99

Slip into the comfort of a Cocoon cotton travel sheet on your next adventure. Use this versatile piece of sleeping gear while camping, or while traveling. The lightweight Travel Sheets extend sleeping bag life in addition to providing additional warmth as a sleeping bag liner. Sleep assured your bedding is clean and comfortable as you prepare to continue your journey. The cotton sleep sacks are ideal for use in hostels and hotels for added security in questionable bedding, Cocoon makes the best in travel sacks. Choose your sleep sack from a wide selection of colors. The Cocoon cotton travel sheet is a high value and economical piece of travel sleep gear featuring pillow pocket, double stitched with reinforced gussets, side opening with Velcro closure & nylon stuff bag. Choose from a selection of six color designs. A great companion for budget international travel!

*Reinforced gussets *Size: 86"x35" *100% Cotton *Adds 5.3 deg F of warmth *14.6 oz. *Come in your choice of 6 colors *Easily machine or hand washable The Cocoon TravelSheet is a rectangular sleeping bag liner which can be used as an ultralight sleeping bag keeping you cool in warm weather, or simply a sleep sack for traveling. It is essential and wonderfully useful when staying in hostels and adventure hotels. When you seek comfortable rest when in the tropics this breathable soft cotton sleep sack is all you'll need.

Buy Now for only $32.99 Sleep Sacks Sleeping Bag Liners - Cocoon Cotton Travel Sheet - Nile


Friday

Grocery Shopping Update: Aluminum Foil Prices Rise Significantly



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I was in Shop-Rite this week picking up a few items. I went to go buy my favorite brand of aluminum foil- Reynolds Wrap. Although it can be pricey, I splurge because the 200 Sq Ft roll lasts for so long.

The last time I purchased aluminum foil (about 18 months ago) it was about $5.69. To my horror, a box of Reynolds Wrap 200 Square Foot roll is now $8.99. It's the commodities prices folks. Everything costs more - even foil. I could not bring myself to pay $8.99 for a roll of foil... I just couldn't. I purchased the store brand which is no where near the quality of Reynolds Wrap.

If you decide to take the plunge and by Reynolds Wrap - here is a great tip:

Re-use Foil: I learned this growing up that if the foil is not soiled you can reuse it. You can fold it and put in plastic bag in the fridge for future use. ( I put it in the fridge because if even a little food residue is on it, you do not want to attract critters with it lying out.)

Obviously, if you use foil to wrap a cake with frosting or food with a sauce... you cannot re-use it. A good way to protect your foil is to first use a sheet of wax paper (you can still buy a roll of it for under $1.50 for store brand) to put over the food and then use the foil to secure it. I like to spray a little cooking spray on wax paper before wrapping cake with frosting - it protects the frosting from smudging.

Good Deals:
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Buy $40 of philosophy products and get a free purity made simple facial cleanser ($20 value) at drugstore.com. While supplies last.

Get $3.50 off any purchase over $10.00
Plus free samples!


$100 off Whirlpool super-capacity laundry pair at BestBuy.com. Valid 6/15-6/21.


$100 off Whirlpool super-capacity laundry pair at BestBuy.com. Valid 6/15-6/21.


Thursday

Tips for Staying Cool This Summer



Find Today's Daily Deal on Your City's Best Things To Do at Groupon.com!

The Northeast had a major hitwave in the past week that led to a very damaging thunderstorm. Many homes were without power for days. Here are a few items to buy in advance of the next heatwave and power outage.

Buy Battery Operated Fans:
I have one of these that I travel with but you should definitely have one on hand for emergencies:

O2 Cool 1054 10

10" Indoor/Outdoor Fan, Over 72 Hours Of Battery Life, Typical Use, 2 Speed, Convenient Flip Up Handle/Hook, Fan Tilts For Directional Air Flow, U Shaped Base For Uneven Surfaces, Portable & Easy To Carry, Folding Design Saves Storage Space, Operates On 8 "D" Batteries, AC Adapter Included. *Manufacturer: GLJ LLC., DBA O2-COOL *Model number: 1054 *UPC Code: 755247010540 *Length: 11.9 *Width: 3.6 *Height: 12.2 Just $19.88
Buy Now -->O2 Cool 1054 10" Indoor/Outdoor Battery Powered Fan

Buy this before going to an amusement park. Amusement parks charge $30 for misting fans. You can buy the one below for $9.99:

O2 Cool 2059 Squeeze Breeze Misting Fan - Assorted Colors

Assorted Colors Squeeze Breeze Water Misting Fan, Pump Action Sprayer, Over 1000 Mists, Ability To Add Ice Provides A Mist 30 Degrees Below Air Temperature, Soft Foam Blades *Manufacturer: GLJ LLC., DBA O2-COOL *Model number: 2059CTR *UPC Code: 755247097022 *Length: 3.74 *Width: 2.7 *Height: 10.4
Buy Now--> O2 Cool 2059 Squeeze Breeze Misting Fan - Assorted Colors


Get a Small Personal Fan for Your Purse or Briefcase:
I commute using public transporation in NYC. It is brutally hot in the subway. Fellow riders always admire me for having a personal fan around my neck. It truly is a lifesaver, especially during a heatwave!:

Cool It Personal Fan

Portable, personal fan has amazing power that keeps you cool and refreshed on hot, humid days. $22

Buy now-->Cool It Personal Fan


Buy this fan from Ulta Beauty and get Get $3.50 off any purchase over $10.00Plus free samples!


Wednesday

Tips On How To Vacation In Comfort



Find Today's Daily Deal on Your City's Best Things To Do at Groupon.com!

For most families, warm weather means fun time, as kids are trading classrooms for campouts, buses for bikes and math lessons for swimming lessons. It’s also the season for family travel-which presents parents with some unique challenges. No matter where you’re going, travel expert and mom Emily Kaufman has tips to help every family getaway be what it should be: fun.

Don’t Stress

Approach your travel plans with confidence and realism. Be prepared and flexible; there are some things you can’t control, such as traffic or delays. When your kids see your confidence, they’ll feel safe and can be calm. In case you get stranded in a traffic jam or an airport, pack “boredom bags”-bags filled with age-appropriate toys (books, electronic games, cards) and snacks to appease (and distract) the kids.

Travel Wear Is Not Your Kids’ “Sunday Best”

To ensure a fun start to your trips, start with comfort-a comfortable family is a happy family. Encourage your kids to layer up with tees and hoodies so they’re ready for any temperature, from air-conditioned airports to the car’s burning backseat.

Vacation In Comfort

“I always make sure Hanes socks, T-shirts and underwear are on my family’s packing list and on my family,” says Kaufman. “Marked with the Hanes Comfort Fit Promise seal, these essentials fit the best and are supersoft to keep my family comfortable when we’re on the move.”

15% Off Your Order at Hanes.com!

24/7 - Underwear that Takes You There in Comfort - Hanes.com

Maximize Your Vacation

Walt Disney World® Resort has enough fun for multiple vacations, so before arriving, decide on “must-do” adventures: Visit the Rock ‘n Roll Coaster® presented by Hanes or experience Expedition Everest™, but also leave time for discovery and surprises; these make the best memories. Kaufman’s favorite insider tip: Disney’s FASTPASS® to avoid waiting at popular attractions in all four theme parks. Take a ticket with an assigned return time and experience the attraction later in the day with little or no wait.

Hanes is offering families the chance to “Vacation in Comfort” during The Year of A Million Dreams at Walt Disney World Resort. See specially marked packages of Hanes products for information on how to enter and your chance to win a Walt Disney World vacation.

The contest runs from June through August 30, 2008, and seven winning families will be drawn on Sunday, September 21. Visit www.hanes.com/vacationin comfort for details and to enter.

Free shipping with $50 order at Hanes.com!


Tuesday

The Ultimate Worldwide Shopping Guide



Find Today's Daily Deal on Your City's Best Things To Do at Groupon.com!

Suzy Gershman's Where to Buy the Best of Everything: The Outspoken Guide for World Travelers and Online ShoppersWhether you want to purchase prepared foods in Hong Kong and Kowloon, scout great architectural salvage yards for vintage tiles, tubs and fireplaces in Cheshire, England, or select the highest-quality sheets from around the world, Suzy Gershman can show you exactly where to go and what to buy.

Gershman, author of the popular “Born to Shop” series, lists and reviews nearly 1,000 stores and brands in her latest book, Suzy Gershman's Where to Buy the Best of Everything: The Outspoken Guide for World Travelers and Online Shoppers (Wiley). While she doesn’t neglect the famous brand-name retailers that everybody loves-names like Louis Vuitton, Saks Fifth Avenue, Ralph Lauren and Disney Stores-she reveals hundreds of lesser-known places and products that appeal to shoppers looking for something different.

The author Oprah dubbed “Super Shopper Suzy” provides additional insight into shopping scams and how to avoid them, the world’s best spa treatments, top U.S. design districts, the best airports for shopping, and more.

Loaded with location listings, online shopping tips and Suzy’s opinionated descriptions, no other guidebook has ever combined shopping, travel and the Web in such a convenient package.

Suzy’s “Born to Shop” series, now over 23 years old, has been translated into eight languages. These books, along with her latest, are available online and in major bookstores.

Get Suzy Gershman's books now and save at Buy.com! Click here to save 10% off Amazon's Prices on over 900,000 Books!


Monday

Recession Buster: More Tips for Saving at the Supermarket



Find Today's Daily Deal on Your City's Best Things To Do at Groupon.com!

Shopping at the supermarket is becoming more and more challenging on the brain.

Recently, I was at a Shoprite picking up a few items. I needed tomato sauce and my preferred brand is Ragu in any flavor. The one pound bottle of Ragu was "on sale" for $2.39. Keep in mind, last year the sale price use to be $1.99.

I grabbed the chunky vegetable flavor in 1lb size, but noticed the same flavor in a larger size. I picked the larger size and it was a 2lb plastic bottle regularly priced for $2.99. So for 1lb more of the same sauce for $.60 more! I put the 1lb bottle back on the shelf and grabbed two 2lb bottles.

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When shopping at the supermarket, make sure you always look at size vs. price. You will find that you will save more with the larger contatiners.

Remember - only buy bigger when you know you won't waste the leftovers. I have pasta pretty frequently at my house, so the sauce will go to good use.


Gas Saving Tip if you live in Chicagoland, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Washington, DC, Milwaukee, Maryland, Virginia :
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Sunday

Free Quick Easy Gift for Father's Day



Find Today's Daily Deal on Your City's Best Things To Do at Groupon.com!

Send an electronic greeting that dad will cherish. Smilebox.com is a wonderful way to do this for FREE. Retail Secrets for Savvy Consumers loves free stuff.

This Father's Day use your personal photos, videos and music to send an extra special Father's Day ecard, scrapbook, or slideshow--free!


Turn your photos into Father's Day magic



Buy Your Golf Loving Dad Something from Callaway:

Free shipping for all your golf clubs and accessories at Shop.CallawayGolf.com now through June 15th! Click Here!

Receive a Free Gas Card with the purchase of any new FT-i, FT-5, or Hyper X Driver.