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Month: November 2018

  • Is Your Card This Good? Best Credit Cards with No Annual Fees

    Is Your Card This Good? Best Credit Cards with No Annual Fees

    It can be hard to build your credit. Credit cards come in so many varieties. How can you figure out which one is the best for you? To help you decide we’ve rounded up a selection of some of the best credit cards with no annual fees. These are some of the best credit cards you’ll find for building credit!

    Best Credit Cards with No Annual Fees

    Discover it Cashback Match Card

    This no-fee cashback card is an interesting one. You get one percent cashback on all purchases, which is standard for cashback. However, each quarter a new category of five percent cashback is in effect. For example, some quarters will have restaurants as a five percent category while others will have gas stations in that slot.

    While the quarterly bonus rewards are nice, the best part is the introductory period. For the first 14 months the card has zero interest! After that it reverts to between 13.49 percent and 24.49 percent APR.

    Citi Simplicity Card

    This straightforward no-fee credit card is great if you just want a simple card for daily use. It offers an 18-month period of zero interest and has no annual fees. To get accepted for the card it’s recommended that you have credit between 690 and 850. Overall, this card is a fantastic deal. On the downside, there are no rewards associated and the rates are somewhat high after the introductory period.

    That said, this card is worth it for the introductory period alone. No annual fees and no interest for 18 months is a hard deal to beat!

    Citi Double Cash Card

    This Citi card has no annual fees and is one of the best cashback cards you can get. It’s recommended you have between 690 and 850 for your credit score to get approved for the card. This card charges zero interest for the first 18 months, which makes it very attractive for new cardholders.

    The card gives you one percent cashback on all purchases. While it doesn’t have rotating cashback categories, you do get the awesome 18 months of no interest. Additionally, there is no limit on the amount of rewards you can receive. After the introductory period, the card reverts to between 14.99 percent to 24.99 percent APR.

  • Cyber Week 2018!

    Cyber Week 2018!

    Cyber Week isn’t just for Black Friday leftovers. Every year, Black Friday gets a ton of attention for being the best time to save on holiday shopping. However, some of the best deals you can find come courtesy of Cyber Week! The week after Black Friday is a fantastic day of online deals and it can be so easy to forget the online phenomenon.

    The deals don’t just suddenly end with the passing of Black Friday, and your excitement about them doesn’t have to either. Cyber Week is filled with great savings and sales, without the lines and occasional negativity that come with Black Friday. If you’re looking to do all of your shopping online rather than in stores this year, make sure to bookmark the latest offers all week. We will be scouring the depths of the web to bring you the best of Cyber Week.

    Cyber Week 2018

    This year, Cyber Week is Monday November 26th through Sunday December 2nd. Most online retailers offer their best deals from Monday through Friday, though not everyone does this. Keep your eyes peeled for great deals! For what it’s worth, many retailers have largely begun to conflate Black Friday and Cyber Week deals as online retail has become more lucrative.

    Cyber Monday has historically been a single day of online deals, but since online shopping has become so huge in recent years, this shopping holiday has become more of a shopping holi-week. You can expect to see many of the same deals on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday that you will see on Monday.

     Here are some examples of deals you might see on Cyber Week from top retailers!

    Amazon
    Best For: Gaming and toys, smart home, and almost anything else you can buy online.

    While plenty of other retailers offer Cyber Week sales, none of them match Amazon’s. Last year, we saw three times as many Cyber Week deals at Amazon as the next highest retailer.

    Amazon also has a large number of Black Friday deals on their Fire tablets, Fire TV Stick and Echo devices, among other things. Expect these huge discounts to continue during  Cyber Week. There will likely also be Lightning Deals all throughout the week that you can save a ton on, so stay posted!

    Walmart
    Best For: Parents (and kids, too) and homeowners.

    Like Walmart’s sprawling stores, you’ll find sales on just about every product category on Cyber Week. There were also steals on more practical purchases for parents, including car seats and children’s bedroom sets, as well as household necessities.

    Walmart will be offering sales on a number of things to compete with Amazon’s line. Items like Google Home, 4K TVs and the like will all be discounted through their website. Also, expect to see discounts on home appliances like microwaves, toasters and the like. This is a great opportunity for buying gifts for new homeowners, or just updating your own home!

    Target
    Best For: The hottest Cyber Week TV sales.

    Two-thirds of Target’s Cyber Week sales last year were the best bargains on televisions anywhere. Last year’s sales saw fantastic prices on sets ranging from 40″ to 80″, but the best prices were on high-end 70″ and 80″ 4K sets, some of which hit the lowest prices we’d ever seen on TVs in that class.

    Target will have similar sales to Walmart and will likely be selling things at a similar price. We recommend double-checking against Walmart when shopping Target to make sure you find the best deals. Target also has a wide range of electronics you can expect to see on sale, which are the hot-ticket items this time of year!

    Best Buy
    Best For: Electronics of all kinds.

    Last year, Best Buy didn’t offer a ton of Cyber Week sales, but the majority of them were stellar. Look for bargains on home security items and last-generation smartphones — last year’s sales offered the lowest price on the iPhone 7 we’d ever seen. Expect some excellent TV sales, too.

    Expect to also see discounts on high-end PC gear like gaming keyboards and mice. Chairs for computer gaming are also likely to be discounted at a great rate! Consider checking Best Buy if you’re looking for electronics that Target and Walmart don’t usually sell.


  • Top Reasons You Should Travel to Europe Now

    Top Reasons You Should Travel to Europe Now

    European vacations are on most people’s list of things to do when they have some spare time and leisure money. Who can blame them? There are ample monuments, historical places and vistas just begging to be visited in the beautiful continent. Here are the top reasons you should travel to Europe now if you’ve been holding off!

    Why You Should Travel to Europe

    Less Tourists

    Lately there have been way fewer tourists to Europe in general. The reasons why are varied and largely hinge on local European politics. For the most part it has a lot to do with the economic impact of Brexit and disagreements over refugees. While that might sound like an unstable political climate to visit, don’t let it scare you. For the most part, European tourist destinations are completely safe. The governments of the EU remain completely stable and there’s nothing to worry about traveling there.

    Lower Travel Costs

    For similar reasons as above, travel costs have dropped pretty significantly in the past few years. The impact of Brexit has dropped the value of the British pound pretty significantly. Similarly, the lower number of tourists visiting means there are lower prices at resorts and such. That’s simple economics: less demand means lower prices.

    Top Destinations

    There are a few places you should make sure to visit on your European vacation. When you’re plotting your course, make sure you consult a map of Europe. For instance, you could start in Iceland, which is pretty far to the west of Europe. Then, after visiting the stunning vistas of Iceland you could travel east to England and visit London and the Globe Theater!

    From there you could travel south to France and make a stop in Paris. A trip to Germany, enjoying the gorgeous landscape and delicious cuisine, could follow. Then a stop in Rome to the south would be in order! After visiting the ancient city you could head further east into Russia and enjoy the historical sites in St. Petersburg before returning home.

    That’s just one example of a few top destination organized from West to East. You get the idea! There’s never been a better time to plan your own European vacation. Travel to Europe has never been a more appealing prospect!

  • How to Save Money on a New Car

    How to Save Money on a New Car

    Buying a new car comes with a huge cost. You shell out tens of thousands of dollars, or take on the burden of an auto loan. Being able to afford a new car requires years of saving money, researching your options, and digging deep to find the right deal.

    Yet there’s something you should know: car manufacturers are cutting prices. A new car doesn’t cost as much as you might think. Thanks to increased competition among automakers, prices are dropping. Every car manufacturer wants your business, but they know you’re too smart to go after the first low price you see. You want the lowest possible price and the best car in the market.

    The average car on the road is about ten years old. Cars are becoming less expensive across the board to compensate as manufacturers struggle to get new cars on the road. Dealerships are even scrambling to get old cars off of their lots to make room for new models. Are you taking advantage of this advantageous climate? Here’s the insight about the auto industry you need to stay ahead of the curve and take advantage of these incredible deals.

    How to Save Money on a New Car

    Different Choices Equal Lower Prices

    Every car company is trying to stay ahead of the pack by creating more new options every year. This could work to your advantage. With so many different options, you could choose anything you want. Want an SUV or crossover? There’s one available from every car manufacturer, from affordable to luxury. Looking for a sedan or convertible? Each automaker has their own take on these types of cars. Special features, add-ons like warranties and maintenance packages, even upgrades on car interiors can all be compared too.

    Car manufacturers are at war over their prices. Facing stiffer competition across the market, car companies know they need to capture your attention. No one manufacturer wants to miss out on luring new customers, new car buyers–and when one automaker is lowering its prices, the rest of the pack follows. This trend could potentially save you thousands of dollars.

    You Can Afford a Luxury Car

    Luxury car brands are competing with each other as well, trying to offer the best features at the lowest prices. They know you have a lot of options to choose from, so they want to stay ahead of the game. Affordable automakers’ cars are catching up to luxury brands. With fancy, tech-savvy features like backup cameras, lane assist, and infotainment systems now the norm, luxury brands are starting to scramble. They know you could score a similar car from another company for less, and they don’t want to lose your business.

    Anyone can afford a luxury car thanks to this race amongst automakers. You simply need to know what a brand’s competitors are offering for a given model, and you can use that information to get a significantly reduced rate on the luxury car you’ve been eyeing for years.

    Do Your Research

    Don’t just walk onto a dealership lot looking a good sticker price. You’ll end up overspending by a lot and driving home with an outdated model you spent too much on. Car salespeople are really good at hyping up nothing at all and getting you to part with your hard-earned money. Before you get swept up by a sales pitch, do your research. You’ll want to know all of your options.

    Get a feel for what different brands and features cost. If you like features like lane assist, back-up cams and infotainment systems you’re in luck. Those features have become standard on pretty much every car. From luxury cars to affordable options, high-tech features are now the norm.

    Compare and Shop Online

    You don’t even need to head into a physical dealership. You can shop for cars entirely online if you so choose. That way you not only avoid the salespeople but you also get to shop at a slower pace. Slower paced shopping means you get to compare prices at your leisure and decide on which features you really want.

    Talk to Your Friends

    If your friends have nice cars or recently bought new ones, talk to them! They’ll be able to tell you way their shopping experience was like and how much they spent. If you’re looking to upgrade to a new vehicle this is a good way to get a feel for what people like. Your friends can even tell you which features they use a lot and enjoy and which ones aren’t really worth the money.

    Just remember that you should shop at your own pace! You’re in no rush to get a new vehicle. If you shop at your own place and avoid the typical car-buying process you’ll end up saving a lot of money.

    Local Dealerships Don’t Want You to Know About These Deals

    Visit your local car dealerships, and you won’t find these amazing deals. Why? They’ll lose money if they let you in on their secret and sell you a car at the manufacturer’s reduced rate.  If you walk into a car dealership today, they will try to sell you a new car for the highest price possible. You could spend all day at a dealership trying to convince a salesperson to lower their price.

    Why waste your precious time when there’s an easier way? Armed with the right research, you can skip settling for bank-breaking dealerships. There are other options for buying a car at significantly lower prices. If you follow the tips above and do your research, shop online for different prices and talk to friends you will be armed with everything you need to know–and they’ll show you sticker prices far less than those at the dealership.

    Stop being jealous of all the new cars on the road–you can purchase one too for the best price on the market. You simply need to keep searching the top money-saving sites. In the age of technology, there are many online resources to help you buy the car of your dreams!


  • Having Trouble Finding Love? Tips on Being Successful at Online Dating

    Having Trouble Finding Love? Tips on Being Successful at Online Dating

    The wide world of online dating can seem daunting to a newcomer. How do you make yourself stand out? How can you be successful at online dating? Don’t panic just yet, we’re here to help. Here are some quick tips to help you be a bit more successful at online dating. This one’s a freebie: act natural!

    How to Be Successful at Online Dating

    Be Yourself

    Seriously, this one is a big deal-breaker. You need to relax. Just take a deep breath and present yourself as you are. There’s no need to try to act like someone else. If you want to have a successful time meeting dates online you need to present yourself truthfully. That means that you need an up-to-date, accurate profile picture. You shouldn’t lie about what you do or how much money you make. It’s okay to omit these things if you think they’re boring or irrelevant, but don’t lie.

    Take it Easy

    There are literally countless people in your very city who will want to go on dates with you. Take it easy. Patience and confidence can go a long way in the world of online dating! Just remember that there’s no rush and you can meet people at your own pace. If you have a few bad dates in a row, there’s no reason to freak out. You’ll meet more people, you’ll go on more dates and you’ll meet someone awesome.

    A lot of prospective dates are scared off by people acting desperate or without confidence. It’s highly disconcerting if your date is constantly bashing themselves, isn’t it? People who exude confidence, calm and surety are much more magnetic and likeable.

    Listen to Your Date

    Make a point of paying attention to your date. If you’re constantly on your phone, ignoring them or looking at other people it’s unlikely they’ll want to meet with you again. Enjoy where you are! Enjoy the company of the person you’re with and they’ll notice it.

    If you follow these basic tips you’ll likely find your dating situation get a lot better. Just relax, take things easy and remember that it isn’t a race. You’ll meet someone cool! Just be yourself!

  • Sizzling Hot Tub Deals

    Sizzling Hot Tub Deals

    Getting the right hot tub is harder than it looks. Hot tubs are also an interesting market, for a number of reasons. When you go to buy one, you could go through several different avenues.

    You could purchase one through a warehouse retailer like Costco, you could go through a luxury store or even a specialty hot tub retailer. If you’re looking to save money on buying a hot tub, it can be difficult to know where to start. We are here to help though, here’s how you can save money on a hot tub!

    BEST HOT TUB DEALS OF 2018

    Costco

    Costco is a massive, warehouse-style retailer. Those who wish to shop there have to have a membership, but it offers some pretty good discounts for those who do. You can buy wholesale amounts of common groceries. However, there is another reason to be a Costco member: their great deals on hot tubs! They offer great prices on luxury hot tubs, so they’re worth looking at for deals.  For instance, they currently carry the Evolution Spas Oxford 121 Jet Spa which holds up to 7 people for 8,999.99.  This spa has a full body lounger and 4 captain’s chairs with neck and shoulder jets. Costco might not be your first instinct, but it should be!

    Overstock

    Overstock is a wholesaler who focuses on saving users money by selling overstocked items. That’s a pretty standard business strategy, and it might seem like it’s not that good of a deal. However, there are a number of great savings to find. One of the biggest discounts comes through overstocked hot tubs! That’s a thing, believe it or not. New users can sign up and even get 15% off of purchases! Some items are on sale for as much as 70% off, which can really save you some money on a hot tub. One good affordable idea is the Goplus Portable Inflatable Bubble Massage Spa Hot Tub for only $341.99, which normally retails around $400. This hot tub can help save on space too. A much fancier version is a 7 person, 56 jet premium acrylic lounger spa with Bluetooth stereo system with subwoofer and backlit LED waterfall for $5876.99. Great for families or parties, this hot tub can be paid off in 24 months and has free shipping.

    Amazon

    Amazon is a pretty well-known name in the world of online retailers. If you’ve been considering a hot tub, Amazon is actually a great place to look. They have a very wide selection of options, letting you browse to your heart’s content. The best part is, if you have Amazon Prime, you can get free shipping! That can help you save some serious money on a hot tub, as shipping is often a huge expense in shipping luxury items. The Coleman Inflatable Miami Spa has a suggested retail price of $499.99 but can be bought online for $349.99 with free shipping. You can keep it put up at home and take it out when you need it or when you want to bring it on vacation. For $3.999, you can get a 50 jet with a full body lounger and seating for up to 6 people.

    Conclusion

    There are many kinds of hot tubs and several options with each. Hot tubs are also sold in a unique market, in that they may be purchased through a warehouse kind of store, a chain that specializes in hot tubs, or a local store that specializes in luxury products for the home. You will also need to decide where you are going to set up the hot tub and what size you need, depending on how many people you expect to use it. It’s surprising how affordable it can be to have a hot tub, especially if you find a good deal.


  • The 2019 Fiat 500

    The 2019 Fiat 500

    The Fiat 500X is getting a tiny facelift for its upcoming 2019 refresh. The facelifted Fiat 500X has been unveiled in Europe with a lightly refreshed exterior, improved equipment levels, and two new turbocharged petrol engines.There’s also redesigned front and rear bumpers, with the front-wheel drive City Cross and all-wheel drive Cross variants featuring bash plate-like elements. Lets talk about the New 2019 Fiat 500

     

    The 2019 Fiat 500

    The FIAT 500 has the capability to take you wherever you want to go. It is fit, fashionable and prepared to take on the most fun adventures ahead. For about the average price of a compact sedan, the FIAT 500X delivers the luxury of a midsize vehicle and is available with all-wheel drive2. With innovative technology and its telling design, this crossover is ready to roll.

    It has been a great while since Fiat updated the 500X and it was in dire need of a mid-cycle refresh. And the Italian carmaker finally heard our voice, and has now teased the 2019 Fiat 500X Facelift ahead of its launch in October. While the teaser image does not speak much about the facelift, but we do know that it is refresh and not a full-blown facelift as such. Nevertheless, the 2019 Fiat 500X facelift gets major updates on the exterior, while continuing with the same powertrain under the hood. But, the question remains, will the 2019 Fiat 500X will only be a facelift or will the company introduce it in a completely new platform is still unclear.

    There are alot of cars in this small crossover market. The jeep renegade is basically the same vehicle with the Fiat rebranded. The 2019 Fiat 500 does stand out with a 1.4L MultiAir® Turbo Engine with Six-Speed Manual Transmission Delivers 160 HP, 184 LB-FT of Torque and up to 33 Highway MP. The 2019 FIAT 500X brings innovation, functionality and Italian style to the crossover market with exceptional space, clever utility, driver-centric amenities, rugged capability and advanced safety and security. Three models make up the lineup—thePop, the Lounge and the more athletic-looking Trekking.

     

    The Updates

    Aside from adopting the more advanced tech, the headlights themselves have a slightly different look to make the pint-sized crossover appear more high-tech when viewed from the front. It’s a similar story at the back where Fiat has mildly updated the LED taillights, but you’ll need a magnifying glass to spot the changes.

    The big changes with the 2019 Fiat 500, as with the similar Renegade, are under the hood. Three gasoline engine options will be available, two of which are turbocharged. The smaller of the turbo engines is a 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine making 120 horsepower and 140 pound-feet of torque. The larger turbo engine is a 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine making 150 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque. Interestingly, there’s no 180-horsepower version of the 1.3-liter engine listed, as there is with the Renegade. There’s also a naturally aspirated 1.6-liter four-cylinder making 110 horsepower that’s a carryover from the old model. Diesel engines will continue to be available on the 500X as well. They’re all four-cylinder engines in 1.3-, 1.6-, and 2.0-liter displacements, from 95 horsepower up to 150 horsepower.

    Fitted with gasoline particulate filters, the two engines are made entirely out of aluminum to keep the weight low. We got the three-cylinder tipping the scales at just 205 pounds. Joining the two new-gen engines is the familiar 1.6-liter E-Torq. The naturally aspirated unit hooked up to a manual gearbox and FWD. This is also  20-percent quieter than the old ones.

     

    The Final Thought

    The updated 500X follows a mid-cycle refresh given earlier to its sister model, the 2019 Jeep Renegade. This ushers in a new family of Firefly turbocharged gasoline engine. 20 percent more efficient than the previous units, the new engines had to endure a grueling testing procedure involving a total of 5 million on roads from all over the world. 60,000 hours of real-life off-vehicle tests were necessary, along with more than 75,000 hours of virtual tests.

    2019 Fiat 500 comes with more built-in personality than most other small SUVs. Although it’s an urban warrior rather than an off-roader. Want something sharp, teched out and easy to park? need to spend less then 25,000. I’ve got just the car for you, how many can I put you down for?

     

     

     

  • What Can You Expect to See on Sale This Black Friday?

    What Can You Expect to See on Sale This Black Friday?

    Black Friday is the biggest shopping day of the year, and shoppers continue to break sales records every year. The massive sale extravaganza is a complete madhouse at certain retailers, and for good reason: the sales are absurd! This year, Black Friday falls on November 23 – but you don’t have to wait until Thanksgiving to start scoring deep discounts.

    Every retailer is trying to grab your attention with incredible deals on Black Friday. If you’re looking to save some money for holiday shopping, here’s what you can expect to see on sale this Black Friday!

    Last Year’s Best Black Friday Deals

    If you want to know what to expect for Black Friday this year, you’ll want to look back to the deals offered in 2017. Each year, retailers keep their sales consistent, offering the biggest bonuses and markdowns on the hottest, most sought after products of the year. Last year, retailers released a host of incredible discounts – and those specials were unveiled as early as November 9th. Some of the top deals shoppers scored included:

      • iPhone + Gift Card Offers: Customers who purchased an Apple iPhone X, iPhone 8, or iPhone 8 Plus received a $300 Walmart gift card.
      • Samsung Galaxy + Gift Card Offers: The popular Samsung Galaxy Note 8, Galaxy S8, and Galaxy S8 Plus came with a $300 Walmart gift card.
      • PlayStation Bundle Discount: Buy a PlayStation 4 bundled with GranTurismo Sport and a virtual reality set for $100 off.
      • Nintendo Discount: The popular Nintendo Switch console with two controllers and a carrying case was priced at $299.
      • Xbox One X Discount: The Microsoft Xbox One X console with 1 terabyte of storage space was priced at $499.
      • Smart LED TV Discount: A Sharp 55” 4K Smart LED TV was discounted down to just $298.

    Shoppers went wild for these steals – and this year, you can expect Walmart to offer equally great deals for Black Friday.

    Black Friday Sales to Expect This Year

    It’s easy to predict what kinds of deals you can expect to see for Black Friday 2018. Each year, retailers tends to offer similar discounts and bundled packages on new smartphones, TVs, video games and consoles, and so many more tech products. Before retailers releases its 2018 deals in early November, here’s what we’re expecting to see on the list of deals:

    Smart Speakers

    Smart speakers have been some of the hottest Black Friday sellers in recent years, especially now that big names like Amazon and Google are essentially all-in on the connected home. Expect more of the same for shoppers in 2018, with lots of deals on Alexa and Google Assistant gadgets, smart thermostats from names like Nest and Ecobee, home surround sound smart speakers, connected lighting kits, video doorbells app-enabled robot vacuums… you name it.

    Smartphones + Gift Cards

    New iterations of both the iPhone and the Galaxy have been released, along with plenty of other popular smartphones from LG, Huawei, and more. One of the biggest draws Walmart offers year after year is a special on the most sought after smartphones – and for 2018, we can expect to see gift card offers equal to or better than last year’s deals. Expect to see the newest smartphones, from the iPhone XS and XS Max to the Galaxy S9 and Note 9, offered with a gift card of $300 to $350.

    These types of deals reoccur year after year, and they’re a safe bet at large retailers. If you’re planning on upgrading to a new phone or giving one as a gift, keep this in mind!

    Video Game Consoles

    Speaking of the Nintendo Switch, its sure to be a hot seller this year. The little hybrid console is primed for the release of Super Smash Bros Ultimate, Pokemon Let’s Go! and Super Mario Party. Those big-name games will make the console a must-have for gamers this holiday season, so expect to see it discounted.

    For an example, last year retailers had deals including the console, a carrying case and a game for only $300. That’s the normal MSRP of the system, so the carrying case and game were simply all-upside! This year we expect to see similar sales at various retailers. The Super Smash Bros and Pokemon bundles of the Switch are likely targets for big sales. Both include unique docks and controllers based on the games that are bundled in! They’re both likely to be hot-ticket items this year.

    Microsoft and Sony also offer their Xbox and PS4 at $300, respectively. While we don’t expect to see these systems discounted any, it wouldn’t be surprising to see deals including games or controllers as bundles at $300. These sales are more desirable to retailers: they offer value to the consumer while not digging into the company’s profits. In fact, they could even help offload hardware like controllers or carrying cases while increasing traffic around the holidays.

    TV Deals

    You can also expect to see great discounts of TVs. Interestingly, TVs are one of the few things that hasn’t increased in price year over year with inflation. Instead, it’s more affordable than ever to get a big, flat-screen HD TV. That goes double during Black Friday sales when everything has huge discounts!

    Last year large retailers had 55-inch 4K displays as low as $300. Those kinds of prices were around $200-$300 off of MSRP. A lot of retailers even used those huge TV discounts as one of the biggest draws to shopping in their store during the huge holiday sales.

    As crazy as this sounds, you might even be able to pick up 4K Smart TVs for as little as $250 on Black Friday. These deals are sure to be red-hot to boot. Make sure you’re early in line to snag these deals! TVs are one of the fastest-moving items on sale during Black Friday. If you’ve been holding off on upgrading, this year is going to be a really good time to pull the trigger on an upgrade. Given the trajectory of large flat-screens, it’s likely that this year will have some of the lowest prices ever for them.

    There are sure to be dozens of more awesome deals to be found at major retailers this Black Friday. Ads indicating sale prices are usually out by mid-November, so make sure you keep your eyes peeled for early indicators of the big deals this season!

    Laptop & Tablet Deals

    If you’re looking to pick up one of the best laptops or a new MacBook, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are the best times to do fetch a winning deal. And, with this year’s celebration of shopping quickly approaching, you might want to gear up for the big day and see how you can ensure you only get the best price.

    Big name brands like Dell, Lenovo and HP should all see price drops for their range of laptops, both budget and high-end. Last year, Dell’s XPS 13 and XPS 15 laptops saw liberal price cuts, and we hope to see similar slashing this year. They are two of the best laptops money can buy, so if you find those getting discounted on Black Friday, definitely consider purchasing them.

    Price cuts to Microsoft’s excellent range of Surface devices are also a common sight on Black Friday. Microsoft just announced the Surface Pro 6, and while Black Friday will be too soon for that new device to see price cuts, it means that its predecessor, the Surface Pro 2017, has a good chance of seeing some decent price cuts. Keep an eye out for the affordable Surface Go as well – we suspect Microsoft will make some prices cuts there as well.

    But, what about Apple? Apple’s MacBook notebooks don’t often receive sizable price cuts, but in recent Black Friday events we’ve seen some good price cuts emerging from retailers like B&H Photo and Adorama. If you don’t mind getting somewhat older MacBook hardware from a year or so ago, then you should be able to score yourself a neat MacBook deal on Black Friday. Finally the new iPad Pro was recently unveiled this year so Apple will undoubtedly have Black Friday deals for their most recent flagship product.


  • 5 Google Home Devices You Need

    5 Google Home Devices You Need

    The Google Home is getting better and better and that’s not going to change any time soon, especially considering Google’s artificial intelligence prowess. Google Home is a huge help to people who want a personal assistant for household tasks.

    But perhaps the best thing about the Google Assistant has nothing to do with the Assistant itself, but more to do with the fact that it can be used to control such a huge range of smart home devices. Unfortunately, not all smart home devices are created equal. If you’re looking to control your home with the Google Assistant, you’ll want to make sure you’re getting the right products.  That’s why we’ve put together this guide — to help you find the best Google Assistant-compatible products out there.

    Things like setting the lights, thermostat and music are as easy as using your voice with Google Home. To help you automate all the little things, here are the top 5 Google Home Devices you need for your home!

    Must-Have Google Home Devices

    Nest Thermostat

    The Nest Learning Thermostat is a great smart home device that works with Google Assistant. If you’re the kind of person who likes saving money on your power bill and keeping your home’s comfort front and center, you’ll want the Nest system. You can control your home’s temperature with your voice through Google Assistant or through the Nest app.

    The best part of this system, however, is the “Learning” part. The thermostat should learn your routine as you use it and develop a profile for you. This means that it will try to change the temperature intelligently before you even ask it to. When working properly, this means it keeps your power bill down and works invisibly. You shouldn’t even notice the system, as you’ll always be comfortable in your own home! How great is that?

    Nest Cam

    On the same note as the Nest Thermostat is the Nest Cam. Retailing at $300, the Nest Came is a pretty handy device. For one thing, it comes included with a Google Assistant, so you can control it with your voice out of the box. It’s also a great companion to an existing smart home system! It’s easily one of the best home security solutions for the money.

    If you’re often away from home and want to be able to keep an eye on things, the Nest Cam has you covered. Whether you’re checking in on pets or kids, or just making sure no one is in there when they shouldn’t be, the Nest Cam is super handy. It can even be set to function by being motion-activated. Hopefully you won’t need it, but it’s great to have! You can even view the camera’s feed from your smartphone over the internet.

    Phillips Hue

    The best way to equip your house with smart lights is through the Philips Hue system. These smart lightbulbs are really rather intuitive, and they work well with Google Assistant. The bulbs come with a variety of uses, as they can connect to several different smart home systems. If you have Alexa, for instance, these work well with that system too!

    To get started with Hue you need a Hue Bridge. Once you have that you can simply add more Hue bulbs to your Hue system. You can control the lights entirely with your voice, turning them on or off or even changing their colors. It’s a small touch, but it makes you feel like you’re living in the future when you can control your house with your voice!

    Hue makes it easy to set up and control the lights in your entire house. You need only get a Hue Bridge connected to your Google Home system. Then, you just tell it which bulb is in which room. You can even control the lights from a smartphone app while you aren’t home!

    Belkin WeMo

    The WeMo system by Belkin is a way to turn nearly any device into a smart device. WeMo plugs are smart switches that can simply be toggled on or off. That means if you plug a lamp into one, you can name that switch “lamp” and command it with your voice. Calling out “Google, turn off the lamp,” is a pretty satisfying command.

    The possibilities for WeMo are pretty wide and varied. It’s hard to overstate how handy this is for anything you want to become a smart device. Your speakers, your fans and the like can all be connected via this smart system. Talk about an easy way to get everything connected!

    Chromecast

    Ever wanted to pull up YouTube videos on your TV with your voice? Then you want a Chromecast. Simply tell Google what you want to see on the TV from the internet and Chromecast has you covered. It’s really quite satisfying to control your TV with your voice, and Chromecast isn’t even that pricey!


  • Cyber Week 2018!

    Cyber Week 2018!

    Cyber Week isn’t just for Black Friday leftovers. Every year, Black Friday gets a ton of attention for being the best time to save on holiday shopping. However, some of the best deals you can find come courtesy of Cyber Week! The week after Black Friday is a fantastic day of online deals and it can be so easy to forget the online phenomenon.

    The deals don’t just suddenly end with the passing of Black Friday, and your excitement about them doesn’t have to either. Cyber Week is filled with great savings and sales, without the lines and occasional negativity that come with Black Friday. If you’re looking to do all of your shopping online rather than in stores this year, make sure to bookmark the latest offers all week. We will be scouring the depths of the web to bring you the best of Cyber Week.

    Cyber Week 2018

    This year, Cyber Week is Monday November 26th through Sunday December 2nd. Most online retailers offer their best deals from Monday through Friday, though not everyone does this. Keep your eyes peeled for great deals! For what it’s worth, many retailers have largely begun to conflate Black Friday and Cyber Week deals as online retail has become more lucrative.

    Cyber Monday has historically been a single day of online deals, but since online shopping has become so huge in recent years, this shopping holiday has become more of a shopping holi-week. You can expect to see many of the same deals on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday that you will see on Monday.

     Here are some examples of deals you might see on Cyber Week from top retailers!

    Amazon
    Best For: Gaming and toys, smart home, and almost anything else you can buy online.

    While plenty of other retailers offer Cyber Week sales, none of them match Amazon’s. Last year, we saw three times as many Cyber Week deals at Amazon as the next highest retailer.

    Amazon also has a large number of Black Friday deals on their Fire tablets, Fire TV Stick and Echo devices, among other things. Expect these huge discounts to continue during  Cyber Week. There will likely also be Lightning Deals all throughout the week that you can save a ton on, so stay posted!

    Walmart
    Best For: Parents (and kids, too) and homeowners.

    Like Walmart’s sprawling stores, you’ll find sales on just about every product category on Cyber Week. There were also steals on more practical purchases for parents, including car seats and children’s bedroom sets, as well as household necessities.

    Walmart will be offering sales on a number of things to compete with Amazon’s line. Items like Google Home, 4K TVs and the like will all be discounted through their website. Also, expect to see discounts on home appliances like microwaves, toasters and the like. This is a great opportunity for buying gifts for new homeowners, or just updating your own home!

    Target
    Best For: The hottest Cyber Week TV sales.

    Two-thirds of Target’s Cyber Week sales last year were the best bargains on televisions anywhere. Last year’s sales saw fantastic prices on sets ranging from 40″ to 80″, but the best prices were on high-end 70″ and 80″ 4K sets, some of which hit the lowest prices we’d ever seen on TVs in that class.

    Target will have similar sales to Walmart and will likely be selling things at a similar price. We recommend double-checking against Walmart when shopping Target to make sure you find the best deals. Target also has a wide range of electronics you can expect to see on sale, which are the hot-ticket items this time of year!

    Best Buy
    Best For: Electronics of all kinds.

    Last year, Best Buy didn’t offer a ton of Cyber Week sales, but the majority of them were stellar. Look for bargains on home security items and last-generation smartphones — last year’s sales offered the lowest price on the iPhone 7 we’d ever seen. Expect some excellent TV sales, too.

    Expect to also see discounts on high-end PC gear like gaming keyboards and mice. Chairs for computer gaming are also likely to be discounted at a great rate! Consider checking Best Buy if you’re looking for electronics that Target and Walmart don’t usually sell.