The Insurance Doctor

Category: shopping

  • Post-Thanksgiving Holiday Shopping Tips

    As we enter the post-Thanksgiving holiday season, I was thinking about what I am thankful for.  In addition to good health, my family, and friends, I am thankful to “The Wave” for giving me the opportunity to create “The Financial Wave” column back on May 1st, 2020! 

    I saw a piece on the news this week that people are feeling pressure to spend money on holiday gifts.  Chanukah starts this weekend and Christmas is right around the corner.  Heed these 7 tips to save $$$ and reduce holiday shopping stress this season:

    1. Start Your Holiday Shopping Now: There is a saying “Action Diffuses Anxiety!”  Getting into action and knocking off items on your list now will reduce your stress levels.  Also, due to product shortages and issues with standard mail, it is wise to commence now.
    2. JoinHoney.com: On your IPAD, desktop or laptop, click on www.JoinHoney.com (does not work on mobile phones) and add the extension to chrome.  Honey automatically (similar to Capital One and others) searches for the best prices and attaches coupons when you are at the checkout section while internet shopping.  This often can save you more money than using Amazon and Ebay.
    3. Make a Budget:  Budget “X” dollars per person and keep the list with you when you are shopping either online or in brick-and-mortar stores.  Sticking to your budget is just as important as crafting it!
    4. Points, Points, Points: Using points is a very good way to bring prices down.  Credit card points, Verizon, AARP and many other companies and retailers have point programs that can mitigate high pricing.
    5. Buy Hot Toys Early: Research shows that, unlike other items, prices (and availability) of toys are better the earlier you can buy them.
    6. Search Out Free Shipping: There is no reason to pay extra for shipping if you do not have to.  These savings can add up over multiple holiday gift purchases. 
    7. Consider Switching to a Secret Santa:  Years ago, during a family dinner, the topic of doing your own Christmas shopping came up.  When my mother estimated she was buying about 80% of all the family gifts, we decided to adopt the “Secret Santa” program for us adults.  The way this works is that each adult (we still spoil the kids) is assigned one other adult to buy for, with a maximum price cap. 

    Last but not least, I would like to thank YOU, the loyal Wave subscribers and “Financial Wave” readers for your support! 

    For those interested in being added to our monthly email list or if there are topics you are interested in learning about, by all means email me at Rob@InsuranceDoctor.us.  Happy Holidays!!!

  • Fall Shopping Tips for Allergy Sufferers

    Fall Shopping Tips for Allergy Sufferers

    The fall is here bringing with it another allergy season!  The USA loses millions of dollars in annual production from employees calling in sick due to allergies.  Many persons (like myself) suffer from adult-onset allergies, while others have been suffering since childhood.

    Did you know that only 8 types of foods account for approximately 90 percent of allergic reactions? 

    As per the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) the top 8 most highly allergic foods are:

    1. Peanuts
    2. Cow’s Milk
    3. Eggs
    4. Tree Nuts
    5. Fish
    6. Shellfish
    7. Soybeans

    There is no current cure for peanut allergies, the most highly allergic food. The ONLY way to prevent allergic reactions to peanuts is to AVOID ALL FOOD and food products containing peanuts in any form.  Peanuts or peanut products can be disguised on labels as “hydrolyzed vegetable protein,” ground nuts, goober nuts and beer nuts!  Additional foods to avoid include chili, eggrolls, certain Thai dishes such as satay sauce, Chinese food, and macaroons to name a few.

    I suffer from allergies to fragrances, which seem to be in almost everything.  Bathroom and Kitchen products, such as shampoo, hair conditioner, dishwasher fluid, and soaps, as well as candles.   I was forced to change all my household supplies to avoid allergic reactions.

    Heed these 6 shopping tips if you have allergies and/or asthma:

    1. Look for the Asthma & Allergy Friendly Mark: Being selective and attentive to what you purchase can prevent you from creating your own allergic problem.  Look for the AAFA (Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America) mark and go to www.AAFA.org/certified for more information.
    2. Avoid Certain Cleaning Products: Removing allergens at home requires cleaning regularly.  Stay away from fragrances and consider wearing a mask while cleaning.  Detergents like ALL “Free and Clear” have no allergens or fragrances.  Costco’s house brand, Kirkland makes a detergent called “Ultra Clean” that is free and clear of dyes and perfumes!
    3. Buy Breathable Bedding for Better Sleep: We spend almost 1/3 of our lives in bed so it is important to purchase products that will not trigger allergic reactions.  Read labels and consider am “allergen free” mattress cover.
    4. Consider Air Cleaners: Good indoor air quality is critical for everyone in the family!  Read independent testing reports before buying air cleaners and humidifiers.
    5. Use a High-Quality Vacuum:  Cheap vacuums redistribute the allergens during use, and also when changing the cleaning bag.
    6. Gift Toys that Inspire Smiles, not Sniffles: Brain stimulating toys are best for kids.  Try to avoid stuffed animals.  Beware of those stuffed with allergen filled bedding products.

    Label reading is crucial for food, bathroom, kitchen, cleaning, and all products for the home.  The USA does a poor job with labeling and there needs to be an overhaul to the system.  In the meantime, reading labels can prevent getting sick!

  • Lucky-7 Tips 2 Save $$$ in 2021!

    Lucky-7 Tips 2 Save $$$ in 2021!

    By the time you read this, we will thankfully have waived “good riddance” to 2020! Wishing you and your family a Happy, Healthy, and Prosperous 2021!

    Covid-19 has created many behavioral shifts in the year 2020! Some behavioral shifts are temporary, and some could be here to stay. One of those shifts has been toward internet shopping for holidays, tangible gifts, and sometimes large purchases we previously bought at the “brick and mortar” store. Instead of touching, feeling, and trying on, we now click the mouse a few times and “voila,” the item appears. If you are an “Amazon Prime Member,” your purchase is received within 48-72 hours and with FREE Shipping.

    2021 could be another difficult year, especially with the uncertainty in the job market. There will always be the need to shop for gifts, seasonal purchases, and necessary items, so heeding these LUCKY 7 TIPS can go a long way to controlling your 2021 expenses:

    1.   Consider Buying Off-Season:  A little bit of internet price studying and patience can go a long way to spot pricing trends. New Year’s Sales are underway and many summer items are now on sale. 

    2.   Consider Setting Up a Gift Closet or Large Draw: A client shared this with me as she turned a little-used hallway closet into a gift closet, which saved her money many times throughout the years. She buys offseason gifts only on deep discount then decides later who gets what.

    3.   Camel, Camel, Camel: Amazon.com discounts by category.  Camel, Camel, Camel (CCC) is an Amazon price tracker. Find the product you are interested in buying, then cut and paste the URL into CCC to look up it’s price history and/or create a “watch-list” for that item.

    4.   PriceBlink: PriceBlink lets you know when the item you are viewing can be bought for a lower price elsewhere. After Amazon, online stores such as Walmart, Target and Ebay account for the majority of internet sales. PriceBlink searches over 11,000 merchants for lower prices, coupons, and FREE shipping.  Give it a try!

    5.   Download the Rakuten FREE App or Browser Extension: Rakuten (formerly EBATES) works like all cashback sites (like IBOTTA) by sharing the commission that they receive from retailers. You are paid every 3 months for purchases made during the spending-period, and you can get cashback bonuses for joining and shopping.

    6.   Consider Using Poshmark as an Alternative to Ebay: Poshmark, (founded in 2011), is a website where one can buy and sell new and used clothing, shoes and accessories. It is FREE to list an item for sale on Poshmark. After the item sells, Poshmark deducts a fee from the final order. For sales under $15, a flat rate of $2.95 and for sales above $15 the fee is 20%. On the higher-priced items, EBAY might be the better choice.

    7.   Add the Honey Google Chrome Extension to Your Computer: On your laptop, IPAD, or desktop click www.JoinHoney.com and add the FREE extension. This extension (not for mobile phones) automatically searches for the best prices (often less than Amazon and eBay) and notifies you immediately at checkout

    Since we are headed into the dog days of winter and quarantining is safer than going from store-to-store, these Lucky-7 online shopping Tips can save you big $$$ in 2021, albeit with a little patience. Give these Lucky 7 TIPS a try!

    To be added to our monthly email (which includes 3 articles) newsletter, email “ADD ME” as well as any feedback, questions, or financial topics you are interested in learning about to Rob@InsuranceDoctor.us.

    Be Positive, Test Negative, Happy New Year!!

  • The 4 Hottest Tech Gifts of 2019

    The holidays are here, which means the shopping season is in full swing. Some of this year’s most popular wish list items are digital devices that entertain and make life easier.  Check out the highest-rated Family gifts and gadgets

    1. iPhone 11: Apple’s newest series of iPhones, the iPhone 11, 11Pro and !!Pro Max was released two months ago and reviews remain the same – the device is the best value for your money. If you’re looking to upgrade from a previous model, the iPhone 11 is the best deal available on the market with its latest processor, OLED.   The 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max come with three camera lenses: wide, ultra-wide and telephoto.
    2. Amazon Fire TV Stick: With the rise of streaming services, Amazon’s Fire TV Stick provides an array of video applications, from YouTube to Netflix. Watch your favorite viral videos, listen to a podcast or binge that show you’ve been meaning to watch. At just $39.99, it is one of the least-expensive streamers you can buy. The device also comes with voice commands, allowing Amazon Echo/Echo Dot owners to control it with Alexa.
    3. The Kindle Paperwhite: The release of the latest Kindle model unveiled some exciting upgrades to the highly acclaimed device. The newest change is water resistance, which allows the device to spend up to one hour in up to six feet of water. Other useful features include adjustable light for clear reading indoors and outdoors, additional storage space (8 or 32GB) and new Blue tooth listening. Even with all the upgrades, the price barely rose, making the Paperwhite a good value purchase.
    4. Tile Essentials: Do you or someone you know have a problem with losing things all the time? The 2020 Tile has some new options to make it easier to keep track of your belongings. The Essentials pack includes the Slim, Mate and two Stickers, a variety that’s a perfect fit for any family. If you haven’t heard of Tile, the devices are registered to you through an app so you can easily locate your Tile. If it’s nearby, the Tile will sound an alarm for you to find. You can find the nee 2020 Tile Essentials on Amazon.
  • 6 Tips to save $$$ on Holiday Shopping

    6 Tips to save $$$ on Holiday Shopping

    Last year people spent on average $1,000 per child for the holidays.  Heed these tips to avoid out of control spending:

    1. JoinHoney.com: On your iPad, desktop or laptop click www.JoinHoney.com and add the extension.  This extension (not for phones) automatically searches for the best price and attaches coupons, often cheaper than Amazon when you are checking out!
    2. Make a budget: Budget X dollars per person and keep the list with you while shopping.
    3. Points, Points, Points Credit cards, Verizon, AAR, and many other companies offer points to discount prices.
    4. Buy Toys early others late: Statistics show prices are best on Toys early so buy those first and wait on other goods and services.
    5. Search out Free Shipping: This can add up over multiple purchases.
    6. Secret Santa: For Christmas celebrants consider a “secret Santa” where each person is assigned 1 person to buy for instead of buying for everyone. Set a price max and watch your stress levels go down.  My family adopted this strategy years ago after my Mother calculated she was buying 80% of all family gifts.