So a couple months ago I’d finally had enough. I decided someone must have already tackled the problem, and sure enough there it was buried on the very bottom row of the deodorant aisle: Speed Stick Stainguard for men and Lady Speed Stick Stainguard for the ladies.

I’m happy to say that the stuff does work as advertised and my shirts come out of the wash stain-free. I realize it’s not glamorous, but sometimes you feel compelled to share a tip with your fellow man (and woman).

You don’t have to fall for it, though. As usual, the Internet can save you tons of cash if you’re willing to wait a day or two (or better yet — plan ahead) when you need that all-important cable or obscure connector. For some more common cables you could do a lot worse than Amazon, which offers decent prices and free or cheap shipping. But the real deals are found at Monoprice.com, the online mecca for super-cheap, good quality cables. Unlike most brick and mortar stores, Monoprice carries even the most obscure connectors and cables in just about any length you could possibly need without stringing three smaller ones together. And while the site’s enormous selection can be a bit overwhelming, once you’ve drilled down to the cable you want and seen the price you’ll feel like you’ve won a huge victory — if only for your wallet.

• All holiday merchandise at Target stores gets discounted to 50% right after Christmas, then 75%, then 90%. The exact days these discounts kick in varies by store, so expect to visit multiple stores on multiple days to hit them just right.
• Even though decorations and other obviously seasonal merchandise will be moved to a clearance area near the back of the store, the discounts apply on merchandise in every department. Toys are an obvious place to find leftovers, though they may get discounted on a separate schedule after the primary wave of holiday discounts. Also look for holiday discounts on paper goods, storage bins, food — just about everywhere. That expensive can of cashews may be 90% off just because the box is red and that dog bed may be on sale because there’s a holly leaf stitched onto it. Other items are included in clearance pricing for no apparent reason at all.
• In the toy area look for items marked “Only At Target” that are often included in clearance sales.
• The seasonal dollar bin items near the entrance also go on sale, though not always on the same schedule as the rest of the store. The colored dot near the bar code indicates the item’s age, more or less, so look for items with a color different from most others on the dollar shelves.
• Pay special attention to end caps (the display at the end of an aisle) facing the less popular outside walls. Clearance merchandise often gets dropped there but overlooked by shoppers.
• Don’t trust sale signage or shelf prices to be correct. The signs often lag behind automatic discounts.
• These same tricks apply to other holidays, too. Look for similar discounts after Halloween, Valentine’s Day, Easter, etc.
• When in doubt, carry items to a nearby price scanner and SCAN SCAN SCAN to discover hidden deals.

Good luck!

First, make sure you’re not overbuying service. If your local phone company is like ours (Verizon), then their default plan includes unlimited local phone calls. This is usually more than folks need, but don’t count on the phone company to mention that they probably offer cheaper metered plans that include a parcel of local minutes for a lower monthly fee. As with many things in the land of Cheap, it can’t hurt to call and ask if you can downgrade.

Also, be sure you’ve ditched any add-on services that can push up your monthly bill quite a bit. We find caller ID indispensable at nearly any price, but can do without annoying call waiting, which is only a service to those calling you. And if you’re paying the phone company for overpriced voice mail service, consider getting a modern cordless phone system with digital answering for the same features and no monthly fee.

Finally, for those long distance calls you’re not making with a cell phone, look into a cheap alternative long distance provider. Their rates are almost certainly cheaper than your local phone company’s rates for both in-state and interstate calls.