"Anti-Valentine's Day: 6 Ways to Un-Celebrate"

Thanks to the barrage of advertisements featuring pink hearts and devoted boyfriends -- coupled with endless floral deliveries received by yoursmitten coworkers -- there's no way to avoid Valentine's Day today. But before you resign yourself to a lonely evening at home, consider these six anti-Valentine's Day celebration tips.
1. Host an "Ex Roast"- Going out with your single friends on Valentine's Day is not a bad idea, though you'll quickly find yourself immersed in affectionate couples.Host an at-home event instead and take turns roasting your exes over a glass (or bottle) of wine.
2. See a Slasher Film- Skip this season's latest romantic comedy for a good ol' fashioned slasher movie. Though it's becoming a bit of a trend, nothing drains that romantic feeling faster than watching people get chopped to bits. Hit up Fandango.com for local listings.
3. Go Shopping- Just because you're not celebrating Valentine's Day doesn't mean you can't take advantage of retailers' heartwarming deals. Avoid the kissy couples buying each other trinkets and shop online. Find coupons for Macy's and other retailers from CouponSherpa.com and fall in love with a new pair of shoes or killer dress.
4. Volunteer- Though Valentine's Day is pretty challenging for singletons, consider how challenging every day is for lonely residents of nursing homes or struggling patrons of your local food kitchen. The best way to combat your personal blues is to make someone else’s day, so get out their and volunteer!
5. Cozy Up to a TV Series- Nothing takes your mind off reality faster than ongoing plot lines in your favorite series. Rent from your local movie store or better yet, seewhat's available to stream from Netflix or Hulu. If you're in the mood for some serious eye candy, check out Matt Bomer in "White Collar," or hone your lie-detecting skills with "Lie to Me."
6. Save on Goodies- Let the doting dingbats pay full price for candy and flowers on Valentine's Day. You can satisfy your chocolate craving for 50 percent off onFeb. 15, plus pick up a festive bouquet to brighten up your dining room. Beat that, suckers!

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Andrea Woroch 

 nationally-recognized consumer and money-saving expert for Kinoli Inc.

Frugal Foodies: How to Save on Dining Out

Enough with the home-cooked meals. It's time to get out of the house and let someone else prepare your food for a change.

In response to tight budgets, frugal advisers have recommended for some time now that we stay at home to save money. But such deprivation grows old fast, so maybe it's time to consider these six tips to help you spread your dining wings without crash landing your budget.

1. FourSquare Deals
Members check-in to various locations on their mobile phones using this service, but did you know you can also receive offers for freebies and discounts simply by letting FourSquare know where you are? Check out a recent segment on FOX & Friends for a "how to" on using the app for restaurant savings.

2. Track Daily Deals
Restaurants are one of the most common frequenters of daily deal offerings, so it pays to keep an eye out for vouchers that can greatly reduce the cost of dining at a new or favored eatery. Just make sure you read the small print and are aware of expiration dates and exclusions. For example, most restaurant vouchers don't include drinks.

3. Get Happy
Eating early isn't just for our elders. Happy hour ad early bird deals have become more common as restaurants try to fill in slow-traffic times. For example, Applebee's Neighborhood Grill offers full-size appetizers for under $5 before 6 p.m., plus $3 drink specials.

4. Split It Up
American restaurants usually overload our plates -- unless they're into nuvo cuisine -- so there's often enough food for two in a single order. You can cut your costs down to around $20 by simply sharing an appetizer, entree and dessert with a friend or date.

5. Gift Yourself
We tend to think of gift cards in terms of what we can offer others, but they're actually very useful for individual purchases. Sites like GiftCardGranny.com let you purchase gift cards for several restaurants at a discounted rate, yielding immediate savings of up to 50 percent.

6. MatchPin
If you live in one of nine major cities, you might download the free MatchPin app. Membership brings you offers, rewards, contests and announcements from a variety of local restaurants.

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QR Codes on HSN Yet Another Innovation in Mobile Commerce

If you watched the Home Shopping Network (HSN) this weekend, you might have noticed QR codes appearing in the corner of your screen. These codes are the strangely patterned squares -- similar to bar codes -- that provide data on a product or service when you zap it with your smartphone or tablet.

You've seen the codes littered amongst print publications, in shop windows, and even on restaurant menus. Well now, thanks to the miracle of modern technology, the QR codes have come to TV. Scanning the code on your screen brings you to a product page on the network's abbreviated mobile website or to its application, where you can easily link to the checkout page.

QR codes have come a long way since their inception. Major brands like Rachel Zoe and Ralph Lauren have added color and their own logos into the standard black-and-white mix.

The system is very slowly catching on, but other older forms of mobile commerce have become second nature for many shoppers. For example, technology research firm Gartner predicts mobile application downloads will reach 17.7 billion in 2011, up 117 percent from the estimated 8.2 downloads of 2010.

1. Orvis Is On It -The outdoor-adventure retailer is leading the merchandising pack with an upgraded system launched last week for iPhone and Android apps to complement its mobile commerce site. While the apps appear similar to their m-commerce site, complete with an internal search engine, they also include a store locator function that uses smartphone GPS capabilities to identify the closest store.

2. Cashing in With Coupons -Coupons are cool once again, thanks to high prices, low incomes and a certain TLC reality show. One innovative app comes from CouponSherpa.com, which also uses GPS technology, but in this instance to locate nearby coupons. Access is instant and includes bar codes and grocery coupons exclusive to the Coupon Sherpa app. Users can customize coupons based on their favorite stores and products and new coupons are added daily.

3. The Perfect Fit - Macys.com is taking the pain out of shopping for jeans -- at least for women. In early October, the department store chain began offering digital help to recommend clothing based on the shopper's body type. The "True Fit" platform, found on the retailer's e-commerce site, asks women the brands and sizes of pants they already wear and which ones fit best. The user then describes their body type (curvy, boyish, etc.) and Macys.com direct them to a "Shop True to You" section for recommendations based on the data.

4. Subway Orders Up Contactless Payments -You'll still have to deal with a human sandwich-master at Subway stores in 7,000 locations, but you'll soon be able to pay by merely tapping a smartphone against a reader. In partnership with MasterCard and Google Wallet, the sub shop will accept the card brand's PayPass contactless payment by March 2012.

5. Text Your Prescription -More than two-million Walgreens' customers now receive text alerts when their prescriptions are ready for pick up, but the pharmaceutical chain now also sends messages letting subscribers know when it's time for a prescription refill, to which they can simply respond "refill." The new service picks up on the momentum built from the original texts, which included 25 percent of all online prescription refills.

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MACY'S BACKSTAGE PASS

6 Frugal Tips for Super-busy Superwomen

 Women lose sleep over lots of things, like kids and work, but a new survey released by Manilla.com reveals money matters keep them awake much more than men. In fact, the study conducted by Catalyst Group revealed "Financial worries are the biggest reason women stay up at night, with nearly one in three females saying they burn the midnight oil over money woes."

Asked what keeps them awake, 35 percent of men replied "nothing."

Ah, to be a man.

Lack of time to pinch pennies is a real problem for most women, particularly those forced into the supermom role, buried in the sandwich generation, or serving as home CFOs. Here are six tips to help all you superwomen make the best use of your time to save money.

1. Co-cook Share cooking duties with another family by creating super-large batches and dividing it for future consumption. You'll save money on supplies by buying in bulk and have the pleasure of a partner's company while you cook.

2. Avoid Multiple Shopping Trips Take advantage of such inexpensive services as Hoseanna, which delivers a run-free pair of pantyhose to customers' doors every month. Or you can reduce time and money on food runs by opting for home delivery of groceries from sites like AmericaGrocer.com.

3. Use Mobile Coupons Extreme couponers spend untold hours organizing and preparing for a shopping venture. Why put yourself through that when you can use mobile coupon apps right in the store? Check out PCWorld.com's list of "15 Shopping Apps That Can Save You Big Bucks" and stock up on digital must-haves.

4. Try Manilla.com The free, web-based service Manilla helps consumers better manage all their household accounts -- including finances, utility payments, subscriptions and travel-rewards programs -- in a single, secure, online location.

5. Reduce Paper Clutter Lack of organization drives more women crazy than men, according to the survey. Roughly half of female respondents said they felt relaxed and 40 percent happy when organized. One way to reduce the clutter that creates havoc is to pay bills online so you can just electronically file the receipts. Best of all, you don't have to write and mail checks, which always entails that lengthy hunt for stamps.

6. Shop for Presents All Year This sounds impossible, but a little organization early on means less frantic shopping at the last minute. Which also means you won't grab an expensive item just because time is running short. And if you do find yourself panicking mid-December, don't forget about Free Shipping Day on Friday, Dec. 16. With free shipping offers from 2,000 merchants, this one-day event gives supermoms the added power of making last-minute purchases for arrival by Christmas Eve.

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Amazon Considers E-Library, Plus Tips to Save on Books

 1. Amazon.com, of Course

The retail giant's prices are often outstanding. For example, a paperback copy of "The Help," by Kathryn Stockett, is presently priced at just $8.80 and the Kindle edition is available at 60-percent off the list price, at $9.99.2. Barnes & Noble MarketplaceIt's sometimes a gamble buying from a Barnes & Noble reseller as you can't always be sure what you'll get, but the prices are stellar. New and used versions of "The Help" are presently available starting at $6.75, or 57-percent off the face value. Register for a Barnes & Noble free express shipping membership and buy a minimum $25 worth of books to save even more.3. FetchBook.infoThis free website allows you to search by title, author or ISBN for the cheapest price on any book. In just six seconds, FetchBook.info found a copy of "The Help" priced at just $4 via eBay, a savings of 75 percent. If you're looking for a rare, out-of-print or international book, check out BookFinder.com.4. Go GutenbergProject Gutenberg was launched in 1971 by e-books inventor Michael Hart as a way of providing free digital access to the classics. Today, readers can download over 36,000 free e-books to PCs, Kindles, Androids, iOS or other portable devices.5. Knowledge for RentIf you're a compulsive reader but not much of a collector, renting via BooksFree.com is a good option. Pay $9.99 per month and receive two books at a time with free shipping both ways.6. Swap or TradeIf your one of those people with a stack of books in every room, consider swapping or trading for unread books on websites like BooksfreeSwap or Chango Books. Each site offers free membership and the cost of doing business is limited to postage, paid for by the book recipient.7. Read and Return a la ParadiesThe Paradies Shops offers a unique program to book buyers on the go, allowing readers to return books at any shop location and receive 50% of the purchase price back. With over 500 shops in more than 70 airports and hotels across the U.S., this program is tailored to travelers who need to feed their reading addicition without taking up valuable luggage space.8. This Place Called the LibraryThis may come as a shock to some readers, but there are these places called libraries that allow you to borrow books and return them after reading. The selection and value of most libraries is tough to beat, plus the facility itself provides an excellent getaway when you're in need of some "me" time.

Netflix Raises Prices: Keep Your Cash With 8 Alternative Options

The Netflix Changes
Here are the basics of the Netflix changes. Instead of having DVD rentals and streaming movies priced together, each portion will be priced as a separate plan. For most users, this will increase the monthly bill by $6-10. Price changes will take effect September 1.

Customer Backlash
Understandably, cash-strapped consumers are not thrilled about price increases. The official blog post announcing Netflix's changes has generated more than 12,000 comments. Most appear to be current subscribers pledging to cancel their subscription.

More Than the Price
On the surface, $6 doesn't seem like an outrageous amount, but customers are hurt about more than the money. Many who've been with Netflix from the start feel their loyalty has been betrayed. Disgruntled loyalists would like prices to stay as they are for current subscribers with increased rates only for new subscribers.

Not Enough Bang for the Buck
Another customer gripe is that the product doesn't justify the higher price. Subscribers have complained the streaming movie selection is lacking. They contend new material is not added often enough and many times the streaming video quality is poor.

Switching to the Competition
The price increases by Netflix are encouraging many users to give the competition a try. Redbox is one of the most popular alternatives, with $1 rentals and locations in just about every neighborhood. Amazon Instant Video is another popular choice. Streaming new releases are typically $3.99 to rent for a 48 hour period.

Price Increase Reasoning
Even though Netflix subscribers are in an uproar, the company isn't entirely to blame. When Netflix started their streaming service, studios who own the movies didn't realize the potential for profits. With the surge in streaming media popularity, studios want to charge a premium for their content. One expert has predicted Netflix's content licensing costs will increase from $180 million in 2010 to $1.98 billion in 2012.

If you don't want to pay these increased costs, here are a few alternatives to help you keep your cash.

DVD Exchange With Friends
Do you have a shelf full of DVDs you just can't bring yourself to watch again? Get a few friends or co-workers in on a movie exchange. Trade movies one for one and trade back when you're all done watching.

Rent From the Library
With the demise of local video rental stores, finding releases from a few years back is growing increasingly difficult. Renting movies from the library can help you track down many titles not available from Redbox. Even better, the rentals are free!

Discount Gift Cards
Going to see a movie in the theatre isn't exactly a steal, but there are some ways around high prices. Popular cinemas like AMC and Regal both have more than 100 discounted gift cards available at GiftCardGranny.com.

Matinee Movies
If you work a 9-5, matinee movies may be out of your reach, but they make for another way to beat high prices. Tickets cost much less and you don't have to deal with the massive crowds you find in the evening.

Neighborhood Movie Night
Consider going in with a group of neighbors and investing in a backyard movie set-up. Hopefully, someone already has a projector they're willing to share. All you need then is a screen. Inflatable, outdoor projection screens can easily be found online for less than $200. This tip might not save a ton of money, but it can help a whole group of people stop paying their money to Netflix.

Free Screenings
Plenty of filmmakers just want their movie to get seen. College campuses are great resources for finding free screenings. Many towns also offer free showings of classic films at parks throughout the summer. A local paper is a good way to find out if there are any offerings in your area.

Get Outside
The natural world was here before streaming Netflix and it will certainly be here long after. Take the money you'd spend on movies and invest it in a national parks pass. The cost is only $80 for one year and it gets you and anyone in the car with you into more than 2,000 sites across the country.

Dial Into Daily Movie Deals
Deal of the day sites like Groupon and LivingSocial occasionally offer discounted movie theater tickets for as little as $2 per person. That's a pretty cheap movie night outing and well worth the price. Just make sure to skip the popcorn and candy - your wallet and waist will thank you.

Consumer Savings Expert, Andrea Woroch, is available to share "Netflix Raises Prices: Keep Your Cash With 8 Alternative Options" with your audience for an in-studio, satellite or skype interview. Andrea has been featured as a media expert source on The Today Show, NBC Nightly News, FOX & Friends, ABC News NOW, MSNBC, Kiplinger Personal Finance, Smart Money and many more. To view recent interviews or for more savings tips visit AndreaWoroch.com.

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