personal finance in a coupon blog

Happy October! Fall is officially in session and that means shorter days, warmer clothes and a mad dash towards the impending holiday season. October 1st also kicks off National Breast Cancer Awareness month. Initiated in 1985, National Breast Cancer Awareness month has raised awareness of the deadly disease--championing education, research and early detection. The "Pink Ribbon" campaign has also raised a lot of money to support efforts for a breast cancer cure.

Among the many activities and promotions occurring this month, there will be a number of fund raising events for breast cancer charities. Millions of people will be out and about as they run for the cure, walk for the cure or even shop for the cure.

That's right--I said, "Shop for the Cure." Quite a number of stores are participating in National Breast Cancer Awareness month with special "Pink" products and promotions of which of portion of the proceeds get donated to a breast cancer charity.

Here's a list of all the deals we currently have to support Breast Cancer Awareness:

Do you ever walk by a park and feel nostalgic? Watching little kids going down sliding, swinging, and playing in the sandbox can make anyone wish they were young again. I wish I was here to tell you there was a way to turn back time but I'm still trying to figure that out myself. Just because you can't turn back the clock, who says you can't play the same games you did as a kid?

Many of the games we played as kids are great ways of getting in shape (unless you were like me and were lighting tennis balls covered in gasoline and playing catch with them). Here are a couple of games that are safer than playing Fireball and will get you in better shape.

I love seeing adorable, itty-bitty, munchkin-sized ghosts and goblins making their annual rounds in neighborhoods for their dutiful collection of Halloween goodies. Office parties wouldn't be the same without those oh-so-yummy Fun Size Snickers and other hyper-sweetened candies strewn across every desk.

Let's face it, candy is a universal language. People of all nationalities and cultural backgrounds find amore in this comfort food. It adds a little sweetness to the daily lives of an ever-increasing sour world. OK, I'll admit it--candy makes my taste buds sing opera.

But, I haven't touched a lot of Halloween candy in a few years only because my overall cravings have changed. Also, I don't have tiny tykes to entertain and feed, either--but I know that a 100 Grand Bar will have you knocking on Diabetes door a lot quicker than a dull homemade Pretzel snack. But I'm here to change the common notion that homemade "healthier" versions of Halloween candy is nauseating, rated G, or just plain lackluster.

Halloween is a time for bonding with family, friends, and children, so be creative and lean toward the "Trick" instead of the "Treat" in the Halloween mantra. Here's a list of websites that feature affordable and healthy alternatives to traditional Halloween pleasures, as well as ideas for arts and crafts:

Now that there's only one day left in September, Halloween is lurking just around the bend, leaving you quivering and quaking in fear of just how much all those candies, costumes and decorations can cost. Well, have no fear. This week's Featured Store is BuyCostumes, a happy haven for all party-goers on the prowl for a spook-tacular Halloween without the frightful prices.

It's Murphy's Law: Every time I have an exciting night planned, my skin breaks out. Next thing I know I'm accessorizing with a big, honking zit. I started thinking about important nights out--your high school reunion, a hot date, a special event--and all the last minute snafus that can spoil your look and your mood. How do you deal with these unexpected annoyances?

I asked some of my Savings.com colleagues for their fast, easy fixes for these common problems.

Sometimes it ain't easy being green, particularly when green items are sometimes marked up from regular priced items just because they're labeled "green." But switching over to more eco-friendly products doesn't have to be a choice between extra chemicals or extra cash.

This week, we take a look at some great green make-up steals that make you both look good and feel good for going green.

One of the coolest parts of working here at Savings.com is watching our elite community of deal experts find, post and share the best deals on the Web. From the mom who knows where to get diapers on the cheap to the tech-guru who shows us where to find the best deals on laptops and gadgets, many Savings.com users are the Web's true coupon connoisseurs. We like to call these savvy savers DealPros™.

Autumn is a season that fills the senses. Visions of lush red, yellow, and orange tree leaves are everywhere. So is the scent of smoke trailing from chimneys of cozy homes--along with the cool air on breezy days and chilly nights...To many fall is a time of reflection and respite. To others, however, fall is a time of...well, food.

Fall is also traditionally the season of harvest--which means you can enjoy its luscious bounty for less. Stock up on squash, sweet potatoes and, of course, pumpkin--all rich in nutrients and low in price at this time of year. Starting with yummy Halloween candy, through Thanksgiving dinner and leftovers, all the way to winter holidays, autumn is a time for togetherness, laughter, fun times and delicious food!

The recession has hit all retailers hard. Will "Black Friday" be the cure for the economic downturn doldrums? Or will it be a game of chicken between retailers and shoppers waiting out the flurry of holiday sales and promotions in hopes of scoring the deepest discounts?

As we begin to come out of the worst part of the recession and enter the vital holiday season, there are trends appearing every shopper should keep in mind:

It may still be September but Halloween is upon us. It's seems these days the new holiday season starts immediately following the last holiday. Seconds after Labor Day was over, you could see your local Walgreens stocking up their Halloween wares. Which is just fine because Halloween rules. And these days there's so many more cool Halloween decorations than when I was growing up. Kids today have it good when Halloween rolls around.

But with all the light-up skeletons, talking candy bowls, fake severed hands and so-on, we need a way to pay for those Halloween deals somehow. So today we look at some of the most Halloweenish careers out there today. Trouble is, it's a year-round gig, not just an October thing so it takes a special type of person to make this their livelihood.

Have you been waiting for some stellar deals to help save you money? Have you felt like you deserve a little retail reward but are scared of the retail prices? Have no fear: the Top 10 Deals of the Week are here!

Read on and save...

If you're reading this, there's roughly a 9.7% chance you don't have a job (that's the current national unemployment rate). It's as depressing as it is inevitable here in the bottoming-out phase of the recession, so to help you folks out, we've geared this week's links toward ways to escape the dark clutches of unemployment.

I give you our favorite savings stories of the week, the employment edition!