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Jackie Cohen

13 Browser Add-Ons That Save You Money

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Will these browser add-ons save you money

You might think twice about availing yourself of money making — or saving — opportunities if you have to go out of your way to claim them. But when they fit into things you already do or use, then it’s on! Here are 13 browser add-ons that save you money shopping online.

The Camelizer

This browser extension gives you a price history of anything you’re looking at on Amazon — if you see fluctuations that means the product could go on sale again in the future.

Which browsers: Chrome, Firefox and Safari.

CouponCabin Sidekick

This extension hooks you up with savings and cash-back offers on over 1,800 retail websites, including Amazon, Kohl’s, Best Buy, and Target. Any time you shop at a website that has deals available, you’ll see a notification right above the store’s logo that includes any coupon or cash-back details.

Which browsers: Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari

Cently by CouponFollow

This plugin makes it a little bit easier to use coupon codes online: Anytime you check out from a participating online store, the coupon code box will automatically be highlighted in red. Click on it to access a drop-down menu of all the current codes, from which you select the one you want to use and it gets added to the box.

Which browsers: Chrome, Firefox and Safari

Ebates Cash-Back Button

Automatically activate cash back deals at every online store you visit — coupon codes automatically apply at checkout, so you don’t have to key in anything yourself. Cash-back percentages at different retailers vary but you see the amounts when you visit the sites in question.

Which browsers: Chrome, Firefox and Safari

Fakespot

This clever add-on sifts through user reviews to weed out products that were only reviewed by people who received the item for free. The plugin also approaches fake reviews on Yelp in a similar fashion.

Which browser: Chrome

Gumdrop by GoodShop

This plugin finds coupons for you and automatically applies them wherever you shop. All you have to do is click a pink button labeled “save money” whenever you see it pop up on your screen.

Which browsers: Chrome, Firefox and Safari

Honey

Find the lowest possible prices on Amazon as discount codes are automatically applied to all your transactions. This saves you from having to scour coupon aggregator sites for the latest deals. You can also earn up to 100% cash back on eligible purchases by joining HoneyGold.

Which browsers: Chrome, Firefox, Opera and Safari

InvisibleHand

This one tracks prices while you shop and informs you of where you might find better prices than what you might currently be looking at. It also tells you whether the store you’re shopping at has any current coupons available, but you have to enter the discount code manually.

Which browsers: Chrome, Firefox, and Safari

PriceBlink

Whenever you shop online, PriceBlink lets you know if there’s a better price elsewhere online. If it finds something that is, you see a small bar at the top of your screen with a drop-down menu of other choices, including coupons. All you have to do is click to go right to the better deal.

Which browsers: Chrome, Firefox, Safari

Pronto

This plugin puts a floating button into the lower right corner of your screen — click on it for price comparisons of products that compete with whatever you are looking at online. This saves you time finding the best price on just about anything you browse.

Which browser: Chrome

SliceWatch

This shopping plugin notifies you when items on your wish list go on sale. Whenever you visit participating retailers’ sites, you see a teal colored icon in the top right hand corner. Click it when you see a product you want to monitor and the app will notify you via email when the price drops.

Which browser: Chrome

Wallaby

If you have multiple credit cards with different rewards schemes, this plugin’s for you: It tells you which of your pieces of plastic to use for each transaction to maximize your cash back or other incentives. This is especially helpful for the cards that have multiple tiers of payout percentages for different product categories. To use this browser extension, shop online like you normally would, and at checkout time, click the Wallaby icon to see which card to use.

Which browser: Chrome

Wikibuy

This plugin will let you know if anything you’re looking at on Amazon is cheaper somewhere else — a window pops up in the lower-left-hand corner showing you the better deal. When you install the extension into your browser, it asks you whether you are an Amazon Prime member and your zip code — to help it figure out pricing details.

Which browser: Chrome

Browser Add-Ons Will Save You Money

As you can see from reading this article, there’s no shortage of plugins that promise to save you money while shopping online. Whether any of them will help you get rich depends on what you do with your savings.

Readers, which of the browser add-ons mentioned above have you tried yet, and which ones are you considering checking out? Please let us know about your experiences with these technologies by posting about them in the comments section beneath this article.If you enjoy reading our blog posts and would like to try your hand at blogging, we have good news for you; you can do exactly that on Saving Advice. Just click here to get started.

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Which Stores and Restaurants Are Open on Mother’s Day?

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Which stores and restaurants are open on Mother's Day?

When a holiday falls on a Sunday, it’s easy to get confused about which businesses are open that day. So, which stores and restaurants are open on Mother’s Day? Just about all of them are, as it’s a busy day for retailers and restaurants alike.

Restaurants

Most restaurants do a lot of business on Mother’s Day– they’re open but they may be packed too.

The ones likeliest to be crowded have promotions like free meals for moms. Click here to see which eateries are offering deals that day.

So it’s a good idea to make reservations to anyplace that accepts them.

Retailers

Barring any extenuating circumstances, all retailers are open on Mother’s Day, so you still have time for last-minute gift purchases.

Places open for business include florists, candy and chocolate stores, discount stores, department stores, specialty stores, drug stores and supermarkets — ranging in size from locally-owned small businesses to large chains like:

  • Albertsons
  • Costco
  • CVS
  • Kroger
  • Publix
  • Rite Aid
  • Safeway
  • Target
  • Trader Joe’s
  • Walmart
  • Walgreens
  • Whole Foods

That said, it still doesn’t hurt to call ahead to see whether stores near you are going to be open on Mother’s Day. You might be able to find out by phone how crowded it is in the store so you can plan accordingly.

One driver of crowds includes the special discounts many retailers are offering on Mother’s Day — click here to see which ones have the best deals.

Gas Stations

All gas stations that normally operate on Sundays should be open on Mother’s Day.

Financial Institutions

Since Mother’s Day always falls on a Sunday, that means most banks, credit unions and brokerages are closed on the holiday.

One important exception are branches located within supermarkets that have Sunday hours of operations — please click here for a list of them.

Otherwise, you can still use ATMs and online banking even when your preferred financial institution is closed — although the actual transactions won’t go through until the next business day.

Post Offices

Since Mother’s Day always falls on a Sunday, that means no post offices are open that day.

However, some postal locations keep their lobbies open seven days a week so you can buy stamps from machines and drop letters into the chutes.

It doesn’t hurt to call ahead to confirm whether a self-serve lobby near will be open on Mother’s Day.

Yes, All Stores and Restaurants Are Open on Mother’s Day

Yes, every retailer and eatery you can think of should be open on Sunday for Mother’s Day.

Most of what you may want to do that day should be possible — except, perhaps, for avoiding traffic.

Readers, what sort of plans are you making for Mother’s Day this year?

If you enjoy reading our blog posts and would like to try your hand at blogging, you can do exactly that on Saving Advice. Click here to get started.

Read More About Mother’s Day

 

The Best Mother’s Day Deals and Freebies of 2018

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Here are the best Mother's Day deals and freebies
If you haven’t yet gotten a gift for your mom, you’re in luck: there are plenty of great sales you can check out in time for this Sunday’s holiday. And if you’re looking into treating her to a meal, there are plenty of deals at restaurants too. Read on for highlights of the best Mother’s Day deals and freebies this year.

Food and Restaurants

Last year, 92 million people dined at restaurants on Mother’s Day, according to the National Restaurant Association.

This year, lots of the restaurant deals involve gift cards — apparently a reflection of what mothers have indicated is their preference, according to annual surveys about the holiday by the National Retail Federation.

With all of these restaurant promotions out there, you would do well to assume that anywhere you want to go this year will be busy — so make reservations ahead of time. That said, here’s a look at what’s on offer.

Applebee’s

Get a $10 bonus card free with the purchase of any $50 gift card — this offer is valid through July 1, while the bonus card is redeemable through August 12.

Arooga’s Grille House & Sports Bar

Moms eat free on Mother’s Day when you buy a full-priced entrée of equal or greater value.

Baskin-Robbins

Now through May 13, save $3 on a cake order of $15 or more when you redeem the your cake order of $15 or more when you use the Mother’s Day coupon available on Baskin-Robbins’ website.

Bahama Breeze

Get two free dine-in gift cards for $10 apiece when you buy a $50 gift card; the first free card is valid May 28 through July 31 and the second one is good from July 1 through August 31.

Baker’s Square

When you buy a $25 gift card (through June 17) you get a $5 bonus card that’s redeemable June 27 through August 10.

bd’s Mongolian Grill

For every $25 gift card you buy, you get another free $5 gift card to use on a future visit; this offer is valid through June 30.

Beef ‘O’ Brady’s

Moms eat for free on Mother’s Day when you purchase an entree for someone who isn’t a mother.

Benihana

For every $50 worth of gift cards you buy through May 13, receive a free $10 gift card redeemable May 14 through June 17.

Burger 21

When you buy $20 in gift cards, you receive a coupon for a free order of fries or a shake redeemable on your next visit; valid through June 18.

Carrabba’s Italian Grill

The restaurant has a family-style Mother’s Day Menu from May 11 through May 13, with meals that serve five people at a time. Plus if you buy $50 worth of gift cards you’ll receive an additional $20 in free gift cards.

Fogo de Chao

Bring your mom to Mother’s Day brunch or dinner at this Brazilian steakhouse and she’ll receive a free voucher for a meal valid if she comes back between May 14 and July 12.

Hooters

Moms eat for free on Mother’s Day — choosing from a menu of six different entrees — with the purchase of any cocktail.Best Mother's day deals and freebies to check out

JC Penney

Buy $75 worth of gift cards through May 13 and receive $10 off $10 coupon that’s valid through the end of the month.

LaMar’s Donuts and Coffee

Moms receive a free doughnut and small coffee on Mother’s Day.

Mimi’s Cafe

The restaurant is serving a three-course prix fixe meal on Mother’s Day starting at 11:00 am, for $18.99 for adults and $8.99 for kids — including a beverage, appetizer, entree and dessert.

Olive Garden

Many Olive Garden locations open earlier than usual on Mother’s Day — starting at 10:00 am. Get an additional $10 bonus added to any purchase of a $50 gift card.

Outback Steakhouse

For every $50 in gift cards you buy through June17, get a free $10 gift card redeemable on a subsequent visit May 14 through July 20.

Panera Bread

For every $50 worth of gift card you buy now through May 31, get a free $10 gift card redeemable June 1 through June 30.

Shoney’s

Moms get a free slice of strawberry pie when you dine in at a participating location.

Spaghetti Warehouse

Bring your mother to this restaurant on Mother’s Day and she’ll receive a coupon for a free lasagna on her next visit and a chance to win $1,000.

Texas Steakhouse

Bring your mom to the restaurant on Mother’s Day and she’ll receive a voucher for a free entree valid on her next visit.

TCBY

Moms get a free six-ounce frozen yogurt on Mother’s Day.

Tim Hortons

Wienerschnitzel

Moms eat for free on Mother’s Day at this hot dog chain — which will give your mom a chili dog, small fries and small soda as part of the deal.

Gifts

1-800-Baskets 

Save up to 50% on Mother’s Day gifts and also get free shipping.

1-800-Flowers

Save 20 percent on flowers when you key in the word MOM at checkout.

Bed Bath & BeyondMother's day deals and freebies to check out as soon as you canMother's day deals and freebies to check out as soon as you can

Promotions include 35 percent off all Nespresso barista machines through May 14; a $10 gift card bonus for every $100 in gift cards you purchase through May 14; up to $100 off Dyson products through June 9; a free $25 gift card with any purchase of Mikasa, Noritake or Lenox dinnerware through June 11; and free shipping on all orders over $29.

Best Buy

Save $100 on the Apple iPad Pro, $150 on a MacBook Air, and $200 on a MacBook Pro. Also, if you buy a $100 gift card now through May 12, get a $10 savings code via email that’s valid May 29 through June 11.

Charming Charlie’s

Get $10 off any purchase of at least $30; $20 off purchases of $55 and up; or $30 off purchases of $85 and up; the offer is valid through May 13. Additional sale items may vary by store.

DSW

Save up to 80 percent on women’s shoes marked as clearance items; other styles have savings ranging from 20 percent to 70 percent.

From You Flowers

Save 20 percent when you key in the discount code 11M at checkout.

FTD

Select bouquets on the site are listed as up to half off.

And if you your order by May 11 the flowers you can arrange for delivery by Mother’s Day.

Gourmet Gift Baskets

Save 15 percent on any order when you use the promotional code MOM15 at checkout. Save 25 percent on cheesecake sampler gifts when you key in CHEESECAKE4MOM at checkout. Both promotions are valid through May 13.

Hallmark

Save up to 50 percent on gifts and cards with Mother’s Day themes.

Jewlr

Save up to 50 percent on select personalized jewelry; plus get an additional 20 percent off when you use the code EXTRA20 at checkout.

Kate Spade New York

Get a free perfumed lotion with any fragrance purchase of $95 or more.

Kay Jewelers

Save 30 percent on everything in the store — and up to 50 percent off clearance items through May 13. Also save 30 percent on all personalized jewelry when you key in the code PJ30 at checkout.Best Mother's day deals and freebies to check out as soon as you can

Kohl’s

Get $10 when you spend at least $50 on Mother’s Day gifts by inputting the coupon code MOMDAY10 at checkout; plus get an extra 25 percent off Under Armour apparel for women; 20 percent of women’s jewelry with the use of the code SHINE20 at checkout, and 10 percent off women’s watches with the promo code WATCHES10. All of these offers are valid through May 13.

Macy’s

Enjoy free shipping on all orders over $49. Save 20 to 35 percent when you key in the promo code mom at checkout.

Massage Envy

Buy $125 worth of gift cards by May 13 and get a free 60-minute facial that’s redeemable by August 11.

Murad

Spend at least $65 on the site and get two skincare products; step it up to $85 and get three freebies, while a purchase of at least $100 gets you four gifts; the first of the offers is valid through May 17 and the rest through the end of the month. Also enjoy free shipping with any order of at least $50.

Pandora

About 55 different pieces of jewelry are on sale — and some of the clearance items are up to 75 percent off.

Reebok

Save 20 percent on all apparel, footwear and accessories when you key in the word mom at checkout; valid through May 13.

Spa Week

Save 10 percent to 75 percent on gift cards and spa packages at participating spas.

Target

Save 20 to 25 percent on women’s handbags, jewelry, picture frames, kitchenware, outdoor furniture and bluetooth speakers. Additionally,  some women’s dresses are up to 50 percent off.

Walmart

Save up to 30 percent on select Mother’s Day cards and gifts — and get free two-day shipping on many items.

West Elm

Rugs and bedding are 20 percent to 60 percent off. Plus, get 25 percent off candles, diffusers, planters, terrariums and decorative accessories; and 30 percent off furniture and outdoor items.

Williams Sonoma

Save up to 75 percent on spring-themed cookware, plus get free shipping on all orders of at least $49.

Zales

Save up to 50 percent across the store — and clearance items are up to 60 percent off. Plus get free shipping with no minimum order size.

The Best Mother’s Day Deals and FreebiesBest Mother's day deals and freebies Mother's day deals and freebies Mother's day deals and freebies

As you can see, choosing which are the best Mother’s Day deals and freebies is no small feat. There are more of them than you’ll ever have time to take advantage of. If you get in on one or two, your mother should be in for a great day on Sunday.

Readers, please share with us your experiences in taking advantage of the Mother’s Day deals listed above. And if you see any we’ve missed, please let us know by posting about it in the comments section beneath this post.

Read More About Mother’s Day

If you enjoy reading our blog posts and would like to try your hand at blogging, we have good news for you; you can do exactly that on Saving Advice. Just click here to get started.

58 Resources for Digital Nomads To Make Money While Traveling the World

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Digital nomads can earn a living while traveling

If you are self employed, an independent contractor, or work for a company with an entirely virtual workforce, you might be able to travel the world while you work. Some call this lifestyle being a digital nomad, due to the fact that internet access enables these people to simultaneously travel and earn a living.

It’s gotten easier than ever to do this thanks to explosion in resources that cater to this lifestyle — namely, travel companies that specifically cater to people who want to work on the go; job portals that cater to freelancers and roving temp workers; payment and insurance apps that are geared toward digital nomads; and online communities where working travelers can find one another and learn about the aforementioned other resources.

If you’re open to learning more about how to earn a living while traveling, read on for a list of the aforementioned resources, starting with a section on sites for finding temporary work around the globe. Then there’s a section of travel companies and communities for those who want to work on the go. Finally, the last section offers up a couple of insurance providers that have coverage suited for digital nomads.

Work Anywhere

A growing number of industries have jobs that can be done while you travel around the globe — the possibilities range from odd jobs to temporary assignments to longer-term telecommuting work. Listings of all of these opportunities appear on the following websites.

1. Affilorama

Sign up for affiliate marketing opportunities that you can do from anywhere in the world.

2. AG Careers

Find farm-related gigs on every continent of the world.

3. All Cruise Jobs

Like the name suggests, this site lists job opportunities on cruise ships around the globe.

4. Au Pair Finder

Get a gig working for a family in just about any part of the world.

5. Cambly

Teach English as a second language to students located around the world using a mobile app; no experience is necessary and the pay is about $10.20 per hour.

6. Caterer Global

Find catering gigs at resorts in exotic locations.

7. CoolWorks

This site lists a variety of gigs at tourist lodges and resorts around the world.

8. Crewbay

Post a profile on this site and you might get hired to join the crew of a ship.

9. Cruise Ship Jobs

Find work on cruise ships and get paid to see the world.

10. Dive Zone

Find jobs related to scuba diving around the globe.

11. Diverbo

This outfit helps you find overseas jobs and volunteering gigs.

12. Englishunt

Teach English as a second language to Korean students online, for about $10 an hour; you can do this work from anywhere in the world.

13. ESL Cafe

Find gigs teaching English as a second language around the world.

14. Fiverr

List your services for hire, set your own prices, and you’re on your way to finding work on this site. Note, however, that abundant competition in many fields may require you to start out with lower rates until you get customer reviews to prop you up.

15. FlexJobs

This job listing site focuses on freelancing, temporary assignments and telecommuting gigs around the world.

16. Freelancer.com

Find freelancing gigs anywhere in the world and in just about any field.

17. Global Work and Travel

This outfit helps you find volunteer or work arrangements in foreign countries, including working for families as an au pair.

Digital nomad earn a living anywhere you can

18. Help Exchange

Work in exchange for free room and board — and sometimes extra cash. Look on the Help Exchange website to find listings of farms, ranches, hostels and even ships that trade accommodations for a few hours of your time per day.

19. Hostel Travel Jobs

Find jobs at hostels around the world including work exchange arrangements, where you can get a free stay in exchange for putting in a few hours a day.

20. Hotel Career

Apply for opportunities in hotels around the world using this site.

21. Hotel Jobs

Find work in hotels around the world on this directory.

22. Italki

This language instruction site lets you set your own pay rate and your own schedule. You can work anywhere in the world and choose from 100 different languages to teach.

23. Jobs and Work Abroad Programs

This site jobs around the world in such fields as teaching, nursing, marketing and engineering.

24. LodgeWorks

This site lists seasonal jobs at resorts and tourist lodges around the globe.

25. Patreon

While you travel the world, you can crowdfund your creations by getting people to subscribe to your content on a monthly basis

26. Payoneer

This company positions itself as a low-to-no-cost alternative to PayPal, saving you up to 71 percent on cross-currency transactions. Signing up on this site enables you to do business with a wider assortment of counterparties on sites like AirBnB, Fiverr, Upwork and Wish.

27. Picking Jobs

Find seasonal harvest jobs around the world, including picking fruits and vegetables

28. ResortJobs

This site lists gigs at ski and snowboard resorts, camps, national parks, cruise ships, restaurants and hotels.

29. Rev.com

Check out this site for freelance gigs in audio and video transcription and translation.

30. Roadie

Monetize any road trip by delivering packages along the way for courier services.

31. SeasonalWorkerz

Find listings of seasonal jobs all over the world, including hospitality, tourism, and agriculture.

32. Season Workers

Find jobs at different resorts for a season at a time.

33. Simplilearn

Share your skills with students around the world and get paid for your teaching ability.

34. Surf Instructor Jobs

Find opportunities teaching surfing tourists in all sorts of fun locations.

35. Thumbtack

Peddle your services no matter where in the U.S. you’re traveling; this site requires you to buy credits to bid on possible gigs, but you get a few credits for free when you start.

36. Tutor ABC

Teach English as a second language online to students who are based in Asia; the pay is about $20 per hour.

37. UpWork

Formerly known as Elance (and oDesk), this site lists freelance gigs in just about every field that you can perform in a telecommuting capacity.

38. Workamper

This site lists work opportunities surrounding RV campgrounds.

39.  WWOOF

This acronym stands for Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms, as the site enables you to find gigs on organic farms around the globe.

40. Udemy

Sign up on Udemy to teach classes anywhere in the world and get paid for them.

41. VIPkid

Get paid up to $22 an hour teaching English as a second language to an online classroom; although the site says you can choose your own hours, the selection might be dictated by where the clients reside.

42. Virtual Vocations

Apply for all kinds of telecommuting jobs on this site — and also access online training on what else but how to telecommute better.

43. YaCrew

Search from among 684 jobs on yachts or post your resume for consideration by one of these floating employers.

44. Yoga Travel Jobs

Find yoga instruction opportunities at spas around the world.

Digital nomads can earn a living while traveling and save money tooTravel, Lodging and Community

Sign up for tours with other digital nomads and have an instant community; or book your own arrangements using a la carte services.

45. AirBnB

This directory of short-term subletting opportunities — also known as home-sharing — has become the go-to for finding cheap accommodations anywhere in the world. You can use this site both to monetize your home while you travel — assuming you have a friend who can help you accommodate the short-term subletters in your home — and to find places to stay while you travel.

46. Bootsnall

Purchase multi-stop international flights on this site; create a traveler profile; and check out the community section to meet other digital nomads.

47. Couchsurfing.com

Here you can meet people in other parts of the world with a view toward crashing on each other’s couches without having to pay for accommodations. A premium version of this site costs $60 and verifies your identity to make you more trustworthy to others; this in turn enables you to make more meaningful connections on the site.

48. Floatplan

Somewhat akin to the yachting world’s version of home-sharing, this site lets you plan and join sailing adventures.

49. Groupon

The travel section on this discounts site includes deals on accommodations in different parts of the world.

50. Home Exchange

Trade places to stay with people in over 150 different countries; as of this writing, the site features about 65,000 different homes.

51. Hostel World

This site provides a directory of 36,000 youth hostels — with over 10 million verified reviews — in 170 different countries around the world.

52. MindMyHouse

Find house-sitting gigs around the world, so you save money on accommodations.

53. Nomador

Score free lodging in far-flung locales by doing a bit of pet-sitting for people who are away on holiday.

54. Remote Year

This startup may give you a case of sticker shock compared to other options until you compare it with the equivalent amount of time in big city apartment rent — plus expenses and touring. Pay $27,000 for a year of travel, about half that much for six months, and a quarter of the original amount for three months.

55. Trusted Housesitters

This site actually charges an annual membership fee of $119, which entitles you to find pet-sitting and house-sitting arrangements around the world.

56. WifiTribe

Like the name suggests, this travel arrangement comes with a bit of community, and the prices are much more modest than Remote Year. Pay a one-time membership fee of $300 — of which $100 gets credited toward any travel you book — and then pay $800 to $1,800 per month you travel, depending on how often you want to travel during a year and whether you want a private or shared room.

Digital nomads can earn a living while traveling and here's the deal with insurance

Global Insurance Plans

Nothing spoils a trip like accidents — so make sure you’re covered for all possibilities before you set off to be a digital nomad. Look into insurance plans that work in the parts of the world you’re heading to, while covering things that could arise while you travel — from unanticipated cancellations to loss of luggage and healthcare. Below are a couple of options that combine all of these types of coverage.

57. World Nomads Insurance

This company sells travel and health insurance that you can use in over 130 countries. Plans include up to $10,000 in coverage for unexpected cancellation of your trip; up to $100,000 for emergency medical and dental; up to $100,000 for evacuation and repatriation to your home country; and up to $3,000 for lost or stolen luggage and equipment.

58. Travel Insurance

This site lest you get competing quotes from multiple travel insurance providers — about a dozen of them are on there — so you can pick the plan that best suits your needs.

Are Digital Nomads Mainstream?

The fact that so many different resources have come about for digital nomads suggests that the practice of working and traveling at the same time has become practically mainstream.

The abundance of home-share and house-sitting exchanges in particular make it easier than ever for people to get moving without having to make many compromises. And the ample choices for work and community also make things easier than ever.

Readers, have you contemplated the digital nomad lifestyle — or practiced it at any point in time? And have you worked with any of the resources mentioned here? Please tell us about your experiences in the comments section beneath this post.

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Looking for more great travel advice? Give these articles a try:

If you enjoy reading our blog posts and would like to try your hand at blogging, we have good news for you; you can do exactly that on Saving Advice. Just click here to get started.


Where Are the Best Deals on Mother’s Day Flowers?

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Mother's Day flowers and other gifts are starting to sell briskly.

If at first you see Mother’s Day flowers on sale, read through all the fine print before you click to buy: online florists are advertising discounted prices but they often tack on hefty delivery fees during checkout.

That’s because they can. Demand for flowers surges in the weeks and days leading up to Mother’s Day. And this year’s spending is expected to be the second highest ever, according to the National Retail Federation.

People plan to spend $2.6 billion on Mother’s Day flowers this year, according to the National Retail Federation. Floral gifts represent about a tenth of the planned spending for the holiday this year.

If you’re still deciding whether to buy flowers for the mother(s) in your life, here’s a comparison of 10 online florists to help you chose.

1-800 Flowers

This florist claims it’s offering a 25 percent discount on floral arrangements if you opt to have them delivered early and input the code 25MOM at checkout.

But if you look at the fine print, it turns out that it’s only valid for deliveries between May 8 and May 10.

Without that, items the retailer is promoting for Mother’s Day range from $34.99 to $124.99. That’s not including add-ons like decorative vases, candy, personalized cookies, fruit, mylar balloons, and keepsake gifts — each priced at anywhere from $5 to $40 apiece.

Ava’s Flowers

This site is offering free delivery plus 45% off Mother’s Day orders — plus an additional 10% off that was set to expire within 37 minutes of the time this article was written. Not too surprisingly, the fine print says that the promotion isn’t valid in all geographical areas.

The photos of the floral arrangements, baskets and gifts have a very low resolution that might make you wonder the retailer might be trying to hide. That said, prices range from $34.99 to $149.99 for plants, flowers, food baskets, spa gifts, teddy bears and mylar balloon arrangements.

Bouqs

If you only want to buy flowers for one holiday a year, this florist might not be for you: It operates on a subscription model — you end up with a lot of floral arrangements, even if you choose the most modest options.

The choices include four different styles of arrangements, and then select whether you want the flowers to come weekly, every two weeks, monthly, or every two months. The price per shipment ranges from $32 for eight to 10 flowers; $44 for 16 to 24 flowers; and $56 for 24 to 36 flowers.

From You Flowers

This florist touts savings of 10 percent off every order — plus there are some bouquets for as low as $24.99, and many priced around $50 or less.

However, the site manages to upsell premium options at every turn: increasing the size of the bouquet tacks on another $9 to $10 for each ratchet upward; chocolates put another $10 to $20 onto your order; a teddy bear add-on goes for $15 to $25; mylar balloons cost $5 apiece; and latex balloons give you another $3 apiece. You can also get same-day delivery for an extra charge that varies based on your location.

Flower of the Month Club

Although its name suggests otherwise, you can buy just one floral arrangement at a time on this site, but the florist tries to reel you in for subscription with a popup window saying that if you prepay you save some money: $10 on four shipments; $15 on six shipments; and $25 on a dozen shipments.

But these discounts barely make a dent into what you end up paying if you subscribe: It’s nearly $60 per shipment, which the site lists as $35.95 plus $14 for shipping and handling. And before you’re finished shopping, you’ll see pitches for a cheese-of-the-month club, plus ones for chocolate, wine, cigars  and any custom combination of them you might want.

Best deals on Mother's Day flowers

FTD

This florist lists promotions that make it look like Mother’s Day flowers and gifts are marked down by an average of 25 percent — when in fact they’re actually the same price as always.

Floral arrangements, plants, edibles and baskets range from $34.99 to $139.99; during checkout, the site tries to tempt you with chocolates or stuffed animals for an additional $7.99 to $9.99 apiece.

Guaranteed delivery before noon on the day of your choice adds another $14.99 to your order. Interestingly, the retailer has taken a cue from Amazon by selling an annual subscription of $30 a year to cover all shipping and handling fees — that would seem to commit you to ordering a bouquet for more than one holiday a year.

Just Flowers

A pop-up window offers you a $10 coupon as soon as you hit the site; as soon as you click to claim it, you see an additional promotion claiming that roses cost $20 less than what the competition charges — although the site sells three dozen red roses for $179.99.

On the other end of the spectrum, the lowest priced arrangement visible on the site appears to be a vase of sunflowers for $41.99. The site also sells an assortment of gift baskets, candy, fruit, spa kits, wines, and teddy bears — all at prices in this same range.

ProFlowers

Although this florist has been running ads on Google promising floral arrangements starting at $19.99, that price vanishes once you click through to the seller’s website. In all fairness, however, there are several bouquets for $29.99.

But like the others in the space do, ProFlowers peddles an assortment of add-ons that include putting the flowers in a basket or vase, fruit, chocolates, and spa gifts — all of which would drive your final price upward.

Teleflora

A pop-up window offers a $20 coupon on your first purchase from this florist. The site actually lists 24 different arrangements and gifts that cost between $29.99 and $40.

The site has what it calls “deal of the day” bouquets, where you choose whether you want to spend $50, $75, $100, $150 or $200. Then you can add on chocolates for $9.99 to $29.99; mylar balloons for $4.99 apiece; and a stuffed animal for $9.99 to $29.99.

VivaRoses

Get 10 percent off your first order — plus you get 20 percent off a subsequent order if you successfully refer a friend who buys roses from the company, and the referred party also gets 20 percent off. Unfortunately, these discounts barely make a dent in the prices at VivaRoses, which offers some very high quality bouquets that include unusual colors. Expect to pay anywhere from $65 to $180 before the discount.

Interestingly, the site also offers a subscription model that comes weekly, monthly or quarterly. The site also notes that it will soon launch a variation that will remind you about holidays for which you might want to send roses, with offers of 25 percent savings on orders for those dates — although it doesn’t look like it will launch in time for Mother’s Day 2018.

Are Any Mother’s Day Flowers Really a Deal?

If your only criteria for shopping around is to find the cheapest price, perhaps you’re after the wrong category of Mother’s Day gift. One way or another, all flowers are expensive around this particular holiday.

If you don’t want to pay the high prices, you could probably get away with treating your mom to something else on the holiday. Although many women find it charming to receive flowers, others might find them to be frivolous compared to other types of gifts.

On the other hand, for people who have received tax cuts this year, the expense may seem like an easier sell.

Readers, what kind of plans are you making for Mother’s Day this year? Will you buy flowers for your mother or partner?

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Dress To Impress: 33 Subscription Boxes for Women

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Monthly subscription box for womenYou can change your look for less than a Franklin a month and not have to worry about taking them to the cleaners.

The apparel industry has exploded with startups trying to emulate Netflix’s business model. Only instead of sending you DVDs that you return at your leisure, you get a box or bag full of clothing, apparel, jewelry, beauty products, or combinations thereof — some of them for keeps and others you send back for new duds.

Like other types of subscription commerce, these offerings have a very specific appeal: people who don’t have time to shop yet want a regular supply of new duds. In most cases, you’re essentially renting these items with the option to purchase the ones you like (for more money).

This model might not jibe with everyone’s budgets, especially for people accustomed to discounts. Additionally, if you have very specialized tastes, you might not find any of the subscriptions to your liking. However, there’s enough selection available that you might find something that works for you if you shop around.

Apparel Subscription Boxes for Women

Here’s a quick glimpse at 33 different subscription boxes for women.

1. Adore Me

What You Get: Lingerie tailored to your preferences.

What You Pay: $24.95 a month plus free exchanges.

2. Addidas Avenue A

What You Get: Every three months, you get a surprise combination of three to five pieces of  footwear, apparel, and accessories in your size.

What You Pay: $150 quarterly.

3. Barbella Box

What You Get: A box of fitness gear, apparel, snacks, supplements and workout tips.

What You Pay: $49.99 monthly, plus your first box is free.

4. Beau Undies

What You Get: Receive women’s panties in your size and desired style.

What You Pay: $13.99 monthly including shipping.

5. BootayBag

What You Get: A bag of women’s panties in your size.

What You Pay: $12 monthly.

6. Ellie Fit Fashionista

What You Get: Three to five active-wear garments plus an accessory.

What You Pay: $39.95 or $49.95 monthly.

7. Dia & Co.

What You Get: Five plus-size garments that fit your style and budget.

What You Pay: $20 styling fee, then you pay for what you keep and return the rest.

8. Elizabeth & Clarke

What You Get: One to three blouses per quarter, based on the amount you choose.

What You Pay: Starts at $20 per shirt.

9. Enjoy Leggings

What You Get: Receive a pair of leggings every month.
What You Pay: $16.95 monthly.

10. Fabletics

What You Get: Get a complete workout outfit once a month, and if you don’t like any of the choices, you can opt to skip the month so you won’t be charged.

What You Pay: Starts at $49.95 monthly — plus when you join you get two pairs of leggings for $24.

11. Frank And Oak Style Plan

What You Get: Receive garments monthly based on your designated style preferences — you have 48 hours to make any changes before it’s shipped to you.

What You Pay: Cost of clothing (25% off) or $25 styling fee if all items are returned.

12. Frock Box

What You Get: Each month, receive five pieces of clothing to try on — keep what you want and send back the rest.

What You Pay: $24.95 to $79 per item that you keep.

13. Golden Tote

What You Get: Choose from the small tote (two to three pieces of clothing) or the large tote (five to six pieces of clothing).

What You Pay:$49 for the small tote, $149 for the big tote.

14. Gwynnie Bee

What’s in the Box: Choose from one to 10 garments at a time; there’s no time limit on how long you hang on to the items; you can wear them and return them, buy ones you want to keep or any combination thereof.

What You Pay: Starts at $35 for a one-garment subscription.

15. Hanee21

What you get: Get two boutique garments a month in your size, favorite colors and styles — plus a free gift when you start.

What You Pay: $35 monthly.

16. Infinite Style by Ann Taylor

What You Get: Rent three garments at a time and return them for a new box.

What You Pay: $95 monthly, including shipping; plus if you decide to keep anything, you can buy it at a discounted price.

17. Le Tote

What You Get: Three garments and two accessories come in a tote each month for you to wear and return.

What You Pay: $49 monthly — plus if you decide to keep any of the items, you buy them.

18. Lootwear for Her

What You Get: Each month you receive a gaming or geeky-themed garment or accessory.

What You Pay: $19.99 monthly, including shipping.

19. Luxe Catch

What You Get: Receive one to three designer garments with a $200 value.

What You Pay: $50 monthly, plus get 15% off your first box.

20. Ozone Socks’ Sock of the Month Club

What You Get: Receive seven pairs of socks over a six-month period or 13 pairs over a 12-month period.

What You Pay: $75 for six months or $150 for a full year — and with the latter you get an extra pair of socks

21. Penny and Grace

What You Get: Receive three items of jewelry per month.

What You Pay: $19.99 monthly.

22. Plvsh Style

What You Get: Receive a few plus-size outfits a month according to your tastes and size.

What You Pay: $25 monthly styling fee that would go toward any garments you choose to keep and buy.

22. Rent the Runway

What You Get: Three tiers of plans, starting with one that rents you one outfit for four to eight days at a time; another that gets you four pieces a month; and a deluxe offering with supposedly unlimited access to designer dresses, accessories, tops, and skirts, including free shipping and dry cleaning.

What You Pay: the first tier is $30 monthly, the next level up is $89 monthly (with 20% off the first month), and the unlimited plan is $159 monthly (but $99 the first month).

23. Rocksbox

What You Get: Borrow three items of jewelry per month and return them for another batch.

What You Pay: $21 monthly, plus if you decide to keep anything you purchase the items.

24. Say It with a Sock

What You Get: Sign up for six or 12 months at a time and get a different pair of socks each month.

What You Pay: $11.99 monthly.

25. Shoedazzle VIP

What You Get: You have until the fifth day of every month to select shoes to go into your monthly shipment or opt to skip for that month.

What You Pay: $39.95 monthly — except for months you choose to skip; that amount serves as a credit toward any of the shoes you decide to keep and purchase.

26. Sock Fancy

What You Get: Receive one to six pairs of socks a month in your size and style.

What You Pay: $11 monthly one pair, $19 for two pairs, or $57 for six pairs.

27. Stitch Fix

What You Get: Five garments a month are chosen based on a style profile you create on the site; after you receive the box, you have three days to decide what you want to buy and what you want to send back.

What You Pay: $20 monthly that’s a credit toward any item you decide to buy.

28. Switch

What You Get: Receive one to three pieces of designer jewelry for rent, and if you decide to keep any of them you get a $10 credit toward the purchase price.

What You Pay: $29, $49, and $69 monthly, depending on which tier you choose.

29. TeeBlox

What You Get: Each month receive a different geek-or-gamer-themed tee-shirt featuring graphics from big entertainment brands.

What You Pay: $12.99 monthly.

30. Wantable

What You Get: Receive seven items to try on and decide what you want to keep and what to send back.

What You Pay: $20 monthly plus you pay for any purchases.

31. Threads Box

What You Get: Either get three accessories a month or level it up to a shirt and three accessories.

What You Pay: $12 or $20 monthly, depending on which level you choose.

31. Trunk Club

What You Get: Receive Nordstrom clothing fitting your size, style and budget, chosen each month by a stylist. 

What You Pay: $25 monthly plus you pay for anything you want to keep.

32. UrbaneBox

What You Get: Each month, receive clothes and accessories worth at least $120 retail.

What You Pay: $60 monthly; save $20 on the first month when you use the code save20.

33. The Zoe Report Box of Style

What You Get: Receive $400 worth of style accessories and beauty products every three months.

What You Pay: $99 quarterly.

So Many Boxes

While the large number of offerings in this space might lead you to believe that the apparel subscription box model is here to stay, don’t be so sure. It’s possible that once the novelty wears off, there may be some kind of correction in the subscription box business.

What do you think about the subscription business model. Readers, have you tried any of the apparel subscription boxes mentioned here?

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