10 Movie Rental Alternatives to Netflix

Thousands of angry consumers recently canceled their Netflix subscriptions over price and policy changes. But what alternatives do they really have? We’ve rounded up the facts about ten other available options for you to consider, and you may soon learn that it’s harder to find a suitable and cheap alternative than first thought. The best choice for you will depend on your preference for media (disks versus streaming video) or selection (movies,TV programming, or independent films), and convenience (whether you like mailed disks or kiosks).

Few of these services can match the Netflix price or selection. Only Hulu Plus offers unlimited streaming for $8 per month, and only Blockbuster provides mailed disks. See more details about each after this table summary.

(more…)

Add commentOctober 31st, 2011

Layaway is back, but is it right for you?

Layaway is being offered again this holiday season, in response to consumer requests. Popular in the ’80s and early ’90s, it disappeared when credit cards and gift cards became popular.  Layaway was costly for retailers to manage and required extra storage space, so they abandoned it. But after recent credit card fee changes and continued slow recovery from the recession, merchants are offering the option again.  They’re hoping the program can ease budget strain for consumers, and counter declining store sales by attracting new customers and retaining old ones. Shoppers can use layaway for apparel, toys, and electronics.

This may sound like good news for shoppers who have no credit cards or prefer not to use them, but does layaway really make good financial sense?  We’ll give you fees and other details for a few popular merchants, as well as alternative options so you can decide for yourself.
(more…)

Add commentOctober 24th, 2011

Have a Frightfully Good Halloween, Even on a Budget

Halloween celebrations will be BOOming this year, according to a recent survey conducted by The National Retail Federation. The results indicate that more people plan to dress in costume, visit a haunted house, host or attend a party, decorate their home or yard, take the children trick-or-treating, and even dress their pets this year. In fact, the NRF poll predicts that 161 million people, the highest number in their 9-year survey history, will collectively spend as much as $6.86 billion on costumes, candy, and decorations. As usual, here on Buxr we have budget-friendly tips and hot deals to help you enjoy the holiday as cheaply as possible.

Costumes

You can find lots of discounts on costumes and decorating accessories this year because many are already on sale at party supply stores, as well as mainstream stores like Meijer, Kohl’s or Macy’s. Some of the most popular costumes this year include pop idols, Captain America, pirates, Smurfs and Harry Potter. An easy way to stay up to date and still save money is to consider buying a costume from last year. The costume manufacturers make new versions every year of the most popular costumes like pirates, princesses and vampires. So if you check the clearance section first, you can save 50% off the price of this year’s version.
(more…)

Add commentOctober 17th, 2011

How to Buy the Right Backup Generator

When extreme weather conditions across the U.S. created widespread power failures this year, many people considered buying a backup generator. But that’s no easy task, since it takes quite a bit of research to figure out what kind to buy, and how much power you need. It’s also a purchase best made in the off season, because generators were either very expensive or in short supply during those power outages.

Selecting the right generator

• Decide whether you want a portable generator that you can also use for camping, or a permanently installed generator that will come on automatically in the event of a power outage.
• Make a list of the items you need to power. The outage may last for an extended period, and saving the contents of your refrigerator and freezer can save you a lot of money. Do you need only small appliances and lights? If you have medical equipment or extra freezers, be sure to add them to the list.
• Add up the wattage to calculate your total power needs. You’ll need to find both the running wattage and the startup wattage, these are usually in the product manuals or on the products themselves. Estimated values for common appliances can be found on websites like Consumer Reports or Home Depot. The Consumer Reports link also helps you match the generator and its wattage to the appliances you plan to power.
• The amount of power required to start an appliance can be 3-5 times the power necessary to keep it running, so you’ll have to add these values together to make sure you have enough total power.  Lowe’s, Generac, and Kohler all  provide handy online calculators to help you estimate the power you’ll need.

(more…)

Add commentOctober 10th, 2011

September Contest Results

The month of September is over and it is time for our usual monthly wrap-up when we look back at what happened during the past month, announce our contest winners, and also give you a heads up at what is coming.

Monthly Contest Results

CouponNut has done it again! Although with a relatively small advantage, CouponNut is the winner of this month’s contest. DebsFreebies and siggy38 follow in the second and third place. Congratulations guys! Here is the complete list of this month’s winners and prizes:

(more…)

Add commentOctober 3rd, 2011