Finance Friday - PocketSmith

You may remember my previous post about Mint.com. Well, if that site didn't strike your fancy, then maybe PocketSmith will. PocketSmith has many of the same benefits of Mint.com to help you with your budgeting, but with more of a focus on financial forecasting. It has some pretty neat features that show you your account balances on a calendar, to truly show you where you stand in the future. You can even forecast to see if you fix your car today, will you have enough money to get through the month. Pretty cool stuff.

Source: PocketSmith

Stash Hotel Rewards - stay independent

Would you like the benefits of a hotel rewards program without the restrictions of having to use a specific hotel chain? Or maybe you just prefer staying at independent hotels because of the more meaningful experience they can offer. Whatever the reason, Stash Hotel Rewards offers a great new hotel rewards program for independent hotels. With their program, you can earn reward points to be redeemed at their independent hotels, from historic hotels to landmark hotels, all across the U.S.

Finance Friday - Free Shipping Kits Delivered

Everyone say thanks to the United States Postal Office. USPS is offering a Free Flat Rate Holiday Shipping Kit that includes four Flat Rate Boxes, a Gift Card Envelope, and Flat Rate shipping tips. Simply go to www.prioritymail.com/myholiday, and they'll send you the kit. The holiday season is stressful enough as it is; now you take going to the post office off that list!

Flat Rate Postage Rates:
Flat Rate Gift Card Envelope, 10" x 17" = $4.90
Small Flat Rate Box, 8 5/8" x 5 3/8" x 1 5/8" = $4.95
Medium Flat Rate Box, 11" x 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" = $10.70
Medium Flat Rate Box, 13 5/8" x 11 7/8" x 3 3/8" = $10.70
Large Flat Rate Box, 12" x 12" x 5 1/2" = $14.50

Holiday Joy - free in-flight wifi

If you are flying home for the holidays, make sure you bring your laptop along, as you'll now be able to get free in-flight wifi on Delta, Airtran, and Virgin America airlines! From November 20th, 2010 through January 2nd, 2011 you'll get free internet on every single domestic flight with these three airlines. Who do we have to thank for this? Well, the all mighty Google! Check out the details here - FreeHolidayWiFi.com.

Calcmoolator - calculate anything financial

Wondering how the numbers would work out if you stay on unemployment versus get that part time job? Or want to calculate if it's worth buying that more expensive, yet much more efficient car? Well, you can calculate those as well as tons of other things with the Calcmoolator! So, as they put it, "Math is Hard, Calcmoolator is Easy!" So, if your parents or spouse won't let you get a dog because they think it's too expensive, now you can calculate it out and show them exactly what it will cost! Start calculating!

Finance Friday - Mint.com

If you're looking for a great way to manage your money, you need to check out Mint.com. Not only is it a great online tool to plan, budget, save, and do just about everything in terms of tracking your dollars, it's totally free! So, whether you're new at this whole budgeting and saving thing, or you're a pro who wants to take it to the next level, Mint.com has the tools you need to get it done - easily. And that's the key isn't it? If it's hard to do, you're not going to do it! Set-up on the site can take as little as five minutes, and then you're off and running. In this economy, every dollar counts, so don't let one get away without knowing where it went.

Finance Friday - the virtual family bank

How would you like to teach your kids a little more about spending wisely, saving patiently, giving thoughtfully, and setting/achieving goals? Well, dang, what parent wouldn't! Lucky for you, FamZoo created a pretty cool Virtual Family Bank that can do all that and more. So, if you need a little help managing the allowance vs. chores relationship, want to track your kids' personal savings goals, or just want to create some family time and teachable moments around money with your kids, then you need to check them out. They have a two-month free trial period, so there's no risk...other than your kids may actually learn some life lessons that will change their lives!

Here's their video that gives you a little more detail.

Plastic Jungle - sell / buy discounted gift cards

Still have that gift card laying around from Christmas that you'll probably never use? Or maybe you just want the flexibility to use the money from that gift card anywhere, not just the company on the card? At Plastic Jungle, the folks understand the difficulties of gift cards, so they created a site where you can buy (at a discount!), sell (for cold hard cash!), exchange, or even donate gift cards!! Transactions are guaranteed, and the site is very easy to use. With money as tight as ever, don't let those gift cards go to waste, sell them at Plastic Jungle. Or do just the opposite and save money by buying gift cards to places you already go at discounts of up to 30%!

Finance Friday - compare car insurance costs

Thinking of buying that new car you been saving up for? Well, before you do, check out Insure.com's cool new interactive tool that will compares the average insurance rates for over 2,400 vehicles. That great deal you're looking at may actually cost you more than you think, and that slightly higher priced vehicle may really be the way to go. Insure.com obviously wants you to buy insurance through them as well, but you can use the interactive tool without obligation. Always search around before you buy!

The Bargain Watcher - find consignment sales

Tired of hearing about a great kid's consignment sale AFTER the fact? Or maybe you have a bunch of stuff you want to sell, and you're looking for the next consignment sale near you? Through the "labor of love" of a mom who loves consignment sales came The Bargain Watcher. While the site is mostly limited to the Metro Atlanta area, they are slowly expanding their reach to list consignment sales across the U.S. This weekend alone it lists about 15 consignment sales in Metro Atlanta, so get out there and start buying and consigning!

Kiva - loans that change lives

What kind of lessons could you and your family learn by getting involved with Kiva? How about money management, investing, cultural differences, the value of charity...and many many more? Kiva connects people through microloans in order to alleviate poverty. They empower people just like you to lend to an entrepreneur in a developing country anywhere across the globe. This is a great way for you as a single person/family to make a huge impact! Lending amounts are typically $25, so it's easy to get started!

Finance Friday - saving for your child's college

Have you started saving for your child's college? If not, get started TODAY! With college costs rising at more than double inflation, it is increasingly important to start saving early. Whether you choose an ESA or a 529 Plan, just get started! I just opened a 529 for my daughter last night; it took me all of about 10 minutes, and it will alter her future forever! And even if you only put in a few bucks a month, it will add up over time. Just $50 a month could easily be worth over $11,000 in 10 years. Check out SavingforCollege.com for more information about the saving options and where to start. It will be well worth it.

thredUP - exchange kids clothing online

As all parents know, when you have kids, you feel like you are always buying clothes. And the costs can quickly get out of hand as your child grows like a weed. Well, the folks at thredUp have come up with an ingenious solution to help you out! It's an online kids clothing exchange. Simply search their listing for a box of clothes your child's size, pay for the shipping, and it's on its way to you. In return, you just need to prepare a box of your child's old clothes to list on their site, and then send it for free when someone else picks it. So, at the end of the day, you can typically get an entire box of "new to you" clothes for about $13, and you can pass on your outgrown clothes to someone else who needs them.

Groupon - save through collective buying power

For the few of you who have not yet experienced it, Groupon can offer you huge savings on everything from a nice meal out to a rental car. Here's how it works; Groupon negotitates deep discounts with companies based of the collective buying power they can bring to the table. Think economy of scale. Simply sign-up, receive daily email deals, buy the ones you like, and save lots of money!

Gas Buddy - find local gas prices and save

Have you ever bought gas only to then drive down the block and see it for cheaper? Well, that's where Gas Buddy can help. Just visit their site, put in your local zipcode, and waahlah, you can see your local gas station prices. Hey, a few cents per gallon here and there can save you big bucks throughout the year....we're talking hundreds! I know I could find a use for those savings. How about you?