Chances are if you're shopping online, many of you are using a credit card that will charge interest on the purchase. Unless you're paying off your credit card in full at the end of the month, this is not the best way to save money--even if you are using Shoes.com promo codes or Best Buy coupons on your purchases.

On the one hand, financial advisers say that credit card users should always pay off their credit cards in full every month to avoid interest charges, but most cardholders will respond with the obvious: If I could pay in full, I'd pay in cash (or by debit card).

If you're really smart, you can use a credit card to earn rewards points and then pay off those balances right away--actually earning money on your shopping. But many people don't do this.

So let's look at the best ways to use credit cards:

Yesterday I blogged about saving with coupons and talked about the different kind of deals (site-wide, category and product) and discounts (percent off, dollar off and free shipping). Today I'm going to explain which deals save you the most money and why--as well as how to find them.

So of the three types of deals, which kinds work the best?

The health care debate isn't the only thing in the news these days. In a recent radio address, President Obama talking about retirement savings and how people can best prepare for the future. The Obama plan has two pretty significant proposals that will help people save who might be avoiding the issue.

In the Obama proposal, employees will be able to add unused sick days and vacation days into a retirement account--something that's normally lost if remained unused. Another proposal is to allow people to deposit their tax refund into savings bonds. This is a kind of forced savings proposal because you can't borrow off a savings bond for five years without a penalty, meaning those savings will be locked tight from people who don't have the willpower.

Now that tried and true investments are not as solid as they used to be, and people lost a significant amount of value in 401(k)s and other investments, retirees need to look into other areas. What it comes down to is that good old-fashioned saving is more important than ever.

Here are some of the basic steps you should take and how the new national initiatives should help people struggling to save.

Since our website has thousands of different coupons and discounts people are always asking: "How can I save the most money?" "What types of coupons work the best?"

So here are some suggestions to help you save the most while using the coupons and deals at Savings.com.

You want to look polished and put together, but you don't have the time or money to spend hours in a salon or spa? Not surprising: In this recession, many women are just not up for paying salon and spa prices.

The result?

Some wild locks, mangled brows and seriously scaly skin. No need, when a spa or salon quality treatment is as close as your bathroom. With a few products (brought to you for less with money-saving coupons!) and a little guidance, you can do many of your favorite spa splurges at home.

Here are a few tips for at home pampering:

Green is a pretty awesome color to see in your wallet, but it's also a great color when associated with our humble little planet. Why can't the two go hand in hand? Actually--they can! Not only is being green great for the pocket book, and the body Earth, it can also be pretty easy too.

Here are a couple of quick tips to put that beautiful green in your pocket and do Planet Earth a little good.

Happy Labor Day! Although it seems an oxymoron to use the word "labor" in the name of a holiday that's usually a blissful reprieve from work, that doesn't prevent us from enjoying the day off. What exactly is Labor Day? You might not know this, but it actually started as a Canadian holiday.

From trusty Wikipedia,

"The holiday originated in Canada out of labor disputes ("Nine-Hour Movement")...In 1882, American labor leader Peter J. McGuire witnessed one of these labor festivals in Toronto. Inspired by events in Toronto, he returned the USA, to New York and organized the first American 'labor day' on September 5 of the same year."

In addition to celebrating the drive and ingenuity of the American worker, let's face it: Labor Day is a day celebrating the de facto end of summer and transition into fall. They say that spring is the time for "spring cleaning." Well, fall may be the time for "fall saving." Chances are you spent a tad more than you wanted to for your summer vacation, so now you're looking for ways to cut costs before the holiday shopping season.

Here are some tips to help you do just that:

The US spends more on advertising than any country in the world--to the tune of $140 billion a year. A quick search on Google returns research suggesting that each one of us receives anywhere from 300-1,000 advertising messages a day in one form or another.

Can you trust any of them to be legitimate? Probably.
Can you trust many of them? Probably not.

To me it all boils down to this:

      Question: Which companies are spending the most on advertising?
      Answer: The ones that are making the most money off of you.

Let's look at Direct Response advertising. In the US, companies spent almost $3 billion on Direct Response advertising and it was the fastest growing sector of the top 10 categories. This sector is the whole reason I wanted to write this blog. There are some great products in direct response like Rosetta Stone, etc., but there are also quite a few nefarious characters.

The top advertisers online are pushing products like online education, payday loans, debt repair, etc. and most of these are on the FTC's "most wanted" list. These are my top offending online scams that consumers should watch out for (you've all seen these ads...):

I have always been a budget traveler. Ridiculously so. Why stay at a fancy pants Holiday Inn when there is a cheaper Holiday Inn Express just a few miles away? Why pay for hotel valet parking when you can find a street spot that's less than a twenty minute walk? A flight that arrives at 5AM with two stopovers? Yes, please! As long as it saves me a few bucks.

Because of this uber-frugal attitude, I never even considered staying at a Bed & Breakfast, thinking that small and boutique-y must equal snooty and overpriced. It turns out (and please make a note of this, as it is the first time it has ever happened...), I was wrong!

Does it cost more or less to be a couple vs. being single? After all, if you're part of a couple, you'll be able to combine incomes. Which means you'll have more money coming in - especially if Mr. or Ms. Right is independently wealthy.

Let's assume your significant other is not a member of the Hilton family: how important is doubling your income?

If you're like me, you love being outdoors. The air is fresher, the sun enhances your mood, and it's great for sports. Belonging to a gym is a great way to get in shape, but they aren't as exciting or refreshing as working out outdoors. Many different activities you can do in the gym are significantly enhanced outdoors. The mountains and the ocean provide the best setting for taking advantage of these activities.

Another bonus provided by outdoor activities: they usually cost far less than a gym membership!