August 2016 – Page 2 – user's Blog!

August 17, 2016

10 Best Learning Apps for Kids

Everyone’s eyes are glued to a phone or a tablet these days – and for your kid, this can actually be a good thing. By downloading one or all of these top ten educational apps for children, you can make sure your kid is doing more than having fun on their device – they could be learning and advancing their knowledge.

1. Angry Birds

Angry Birds has a reputation for giving adults a distraction from work, but in all actuality, it has something to offer kids of all ages. Whether you have a five-year-old or a teen, getting them to launch these colorful little birds at pigs teaches about physics so effectively it’s hard to believe it’s fun.

2. Elmo Loves 123s

For the little ones, there’s no one better to teach them the essentials than Elmo. This friendly app gives your child all the fun of Sesame Street videos and takes it to a more interactive level with coloring and puzzles. With bright colors teaching your child to recognize and name numbers 1 through 20, it upgrades according to their level to teach them addition and subtraction, rewarding them with prizes.

3. Pixie

Sometimes book reports just aren’t fun. For younger children who find it more difficult to get engaged – or who simply aren’t strong writers – Pixie makes it possible for kids to embrace all of their creativity and strengths. This app (available in the App Store with coupons from Ebates) allows kids to record their voice, add text, and include paintings in their book report, as well as other projects. So if your child is more skilled in colors than they are in words, they can still add their own unique and fun touch to their work.

4. School Zone Time, Money & Fractions On-Track

A next step up on the learning ladder, School Zone Time, Money & Fractions On-Track (available on iTunes with coupons from Ebates) gives your older children more age-appropriate information without skimping on color, activity, sound, or fun. With unique and friendly characters teaching about different coins, math, and how to read a clock, the more your child plays this game, the faster they’ll be able to recount these facts, with upgradable levels to keep them moving forward.

5. Cookie Monster’s Challenge

Every kid needs to know the Cookie Monster, and with this app, he’s here to teach the opposite of what he’s good at – how to stay focused, how to manage your impulses, and how to follow outside instructions. With the ultimate reward of a cookie machine, your child will be encouraged to progress through all the mini games and continue learning.

6. Minecraft for iPhone

While adult YouTube stars made it particularly famous, Minecraft (available on iTunes with coupons from Ebates) teaches children of all ages about architecture, proportions, problem solving, and, at the very core, encourages creativity. Your child will learn creative solutions for the surprises the game throws at them, and will be encouraged to broaden their imagination to make their creations look more interesting and accurate to real life.

7. Habitat the Game

Teaching about animals and the environment, this app allows your child to adopt a friendly polar bear. With fun sounds and bright colors, they’ll learn about responsibility as they care for the creature, as well as about energy and water conservation.

8. Fish School HD

The modern and more educational version of Red Fish, Blue fish, this app helps your child to learn their number and letters, identify and arrange shapes, and sort and remember colors, all while interacting with a cast of bright and friendly underwater creatures.

9. Dexteria Dots 2

Hand-eye coordination and more advanced math is important, and Dexteria Dots 2 serves as the perfect introduction, with vibrant colors and engaging activity on the screen to keep children captivated as they learn. It’s played as your child evaluates the numbers on the screen – represented by the dots – and then adjusts and divides them to solve a problem.

10. Stack the States

Combining the fun of puzzles with an educational map of the United States, your child will learn more about the shape of the country, the capitals, and the location of each state with this colorful app. With each state characterized by a quirky personality, the more accurate matches your child makes as they piece together the map, the faster they’ll progress to newer, more exciting levels with special bonus rounds.

August 16, 2016

How to Save a Fortune on Textbooks

The campus bookstore is a great place to buy certain items, such as a giant foam finger to wave spiritedly at the homecoming game or a sweatshirt emblazoned with your school’s logo. As most seasoned college students know, however, it’s usually just about the last place you want to go to purchase textbooks.

On top of collecting tuition from students, most public and private institutions seek out secondary sources of revenue to help fund operations, maintenance and other costs. College campuses often are designed as mini cities, with food courts, corner shops, hair salons and more, in addition to the primary bookstore. Most of these serve a dual purpose: to provide students with the convenience of on-campus services and to provide supplemental income for the school.

Many students, especially those who live on-site, opt for convenience and spend much of their money on campus at such establishments. Sometimes this is a smart move, like taking advantage of the discount barbershop operated by student stylists or buying in to your school’s meal plan if it is affordable. But if you’re like most college students, you’re likely a bit more concerned with your own financial well-being than that of the school — as you should be.

After tuition and room and board, textbooks are likely the most expensive item on your school shopping list. As books are required by most professors, there’s really no way to avoid buying them. However, there are plenty of ways to save a good chunk of change. Ebates is a portal to an array of awesome offers, such as discounts at and Cash Back from hundreds of retailers, including booksellers like Amazon. Ebates also offers some great deals at certain university bookstores, such as Auburn University and Texas State University, where you might find specialty texts unavailable elsewhere.

Here are a few tips to help you save a fortune on textbooks.

1. Purchase an Older Version

Many professors are quite specific about the text they require for their class, and they will indicate an issue number for those texts that have been revised multiple times. In some cases, this is important; you wouldn’t want future surgeons relying upon medieval medical literature as their primary source of knowledge. Many books, however, contain very little variation between printing editions. Sometimes books are reprinted to fix typos printed in the first issue, or to add a longer preface or addendum.

Professors often ask that each student purchase the same version of the text to ensure everyone is on the same page — literally. But, particularly if your class involves more independent rather than in-class reading, your professor may be willing to let you purchase an older version of the text, assuming there is no major variation between editions. Most professors are quite familiar with these texts — having studied them thoroughly before requiring them of students — so they will be able to advise you whether this will be an issue. Older versions of textbooks are generally quite a bit cheaper, and are also easier to locate in used book stores.

2. Shop Online

Amazon and eBay have become hubs for back-to-school shopping, particularly because of their extensive selections of discounted books. Be sure to look at the multiple buying options each of these sites lists, as other used book stores and independent sellers often list their copies of the book on such websites as well to reach more potential buyers.

Many new and used online book retailers offer back-to-school discounts as well. Some sites like BetterWorldBooks.com even offer the opportunity to do good while scoring a deep discount. This particular retailer uses funds raised to promote world literacy, donating books to children in need. AbeBooks.com is a great source for those hard-to-find, rare texts, as well as many others.

3. Look for Used Books

All of the aforementioned online retailers offer a hearty selection of used books, some of which even come with free shipping. You can also check out your local Craigslist listings for some good deals on used materials. To support local business and get a great deal, check out your local second-hand book store. The other benefit to going this route is you may be able to take in some of your own used books for in-store credit, affording you even more savings.

Many university hallways are lined with boards of student announcements. These aren’t just excellent places to find and sell tutoring services or seek a roommate. They’re also often filled with notes from students looking to sell used books to make a few dollars to put toward the next semester’s texts. You may also be able to find such offerings by searching Facebook for groups associated with your university. “Buy, sell, trade” groups have become quite popular for communities, and are also a good source for college students looking to save.

4. Get an Electronic Version

In the modern era, it seems just about everything has an e-alternative, and books are no exception. Thousands of books are available on Kindle and Nook, as well as many other e-readers. These can easily be downloaded to a smartphone, tablet or laptop, so you can read on the go without the hassle of toting around a bag full of heavy books. The other upside to this option is it can save you a whole lot of cash. Amazon and Barnes & Noble are good places to check for e-books.

August 16, 2016

10 Organization Tips for Teeny Tiny Dorm Rooms

It’s back-to-school season and students everywhere are busy packing and getting ready to move into their new dorm rooms. Everyone knows that while living in the dorms can be a ton of fun, extra space is hard to come by so you’ll need to get creative with both your storage and organization ideas. Whether you’re heading off to college for the first time or returning for another year, check out this list of awesome organizational tips and tricks to help you get your room set up in style and comfort in no time. Be sure to activate Cash Back at Ebates for those organizational essentials that you’ll need to pick up to ensure that you’ll still have some pocket money left come moving day!

Tip # 1: Get Your Room Measurements & Dorm Rules Ahead of Time

If you can get the approximate dimensions for your room or visit a sample dorm room on campus before your move-in date, you can start planning out your dorm room early. Even a rough estimate of the space and a list of the rules will let you know how much to pack, whether you’re allowed to bring things like a mini-fridge or a microwave and will help you start brainstorming dorm room ideas and dorm décor.

Tip # 2: Pack Your Items in Organizers

Once you figure out how much space you have to work with in your dorm room, you should organize your stuff into bins as you pack. The dorm will probably provide a dresser and a desk but all your other odds and ends will need a dedicated spot. Prepping your storage ideas ahead of time is also a great way to hit the ground running and get unpacked quickly when you get to campus. Get all the bins and storage solutions you’ll need online at The Container Store and keep an eye out for a storage bin promo code.

Tip # 3: Label Your Boxes

Don’t forget to label your boxes as you pack, especially for the bins that you’ll be using as a part of your ongoing storage system at school. This will help you unpack the essentials first, maintain the organizational system you’ve already set up and quickly get to hanging out with your new friends.

Tip # 4: Vertical Storage is Your Friend

When it comes to keeping your dorm room organized and tidy, don’t forget about going vertical! The ceiling is the limit when it comes to stacking handy storage cubes and other vertical storage options like tall shelves or over-the-door hanging pantry racks. Just make sure your storage cubes and shelves are not at risk for tipping over!

Tip # 5: Optimize Your Closet Space

Get the most out of your dorm room closet space with the help of useful hanging racks and organizers. Whether you add a hanging shoe rack like the one above from Macy’s or some hanging drawers, you won’t regret the extra space it frees up. Pack seasonal stuff in a designated box to pull out when you need it to help keep clutter out of your closet organization system.

Tip # 6: Invest in a Shower Caddy

Keep your bathroom supplies tidy with a water-draining shower caddy that you can easily carry in and out of what will likely be a shared dorm bathroom. Bed Bath and Beyond has a great selection of dorm-ready bathroom caddies online that come without a hefty price tag.

Tip # 7: Prep Your Desk for Success

Gather all the school supplies plus the important organizational tools, trays and accessories you’ll need to make it to the top of your class. Pack these supplies in their own dedicated and labeled box to help you find them easily when you arrive on campus. Start shopping early and keep an eye out for an awesome back to school promo code online at Dollar General to get the most bang for your buck.

Tip # 8: Get a Whiteboard With a Calendar

Help yourself and your roommate stay organized with a white board with a calendar to keep track of your social events, room cleaning to-dos and your shared shopping list. Pick one up at RoomMates Decor, add in a pack of colored dry erase markers and you’re good to go!

Tip # 9: Make Use of Space Under Your Bed

With the limited space available in your dorm room, help keep the floors and surfaces clear by making use of the valuable space under your bed. There’s ample space under your bed to store your extra dorm bedding, seasonal apparel or other things that are most often tucked away. If your beds are bunked, divvy up the space under the beds with your roommate and consider getting some drawer-style under bed organization to help keep your stuff separate and organized.

Tip # 10: Keep Things Tidy With a Housekeeping Caddy

Keep all your housekeeping items in one place so you can freshen up your dorm room in a flash. With a dedicated place for cleaning sprays, you and your roommate can easily spruce up your room for any impromptu social gatherings in your awesome dorm room.

What are your favorite ways to keep your dorm room organized? Share your best tips in the comments below!

August 15, 2016

Be a Paid Pupil: How to Earn Cash Back on Your Textbooks

We know the life of a college student involves a lot of penny pinching, and cheap textbooks are a big help when it comes to staying on budget. If you’re embarking on the arduous journey of textbook shopping, start with this list of stores that will give you Cash Back at Ebates! Get paid to be a star pupil with Cash Back on textbooks and textbook rental orders. Shop through Ebates at stores with textbook buyback options to slash prices even further while putting a little lunch money back in your pocket.

Cash Back Textbook Stores

BetterWorldBooks, 3% Cash Back
Save up to 90% when buying used textbooks at BetterWorldBooks. Plus, with its Book for Book program, BetterWorldBooks will donate a book to a reader in need for every book you purchase. BetterWorldBooks is committed to eco-friendly business practices by saving used books from landfills.

James Publishing, 12.5% Cash Back
Law students always look to James Publishing for legal books pertaining to California, Florida, Illinois, New York and Texas jurisdictions. Search law titles in litigation, business, criminal, employment, family and more.

Cash Back Textbook Stores With Buy Back

AbeBooks, 2.5% Cash Back
AbeBooks’ buy-back service can usually beat your local bookstore’s prices. Shipping is free on many used books, and payments are processed by check or PayPal within one to three days of your books’ arrival. That will certainly take the sting off the cost of your textbooks.

Barnes & Noble, 1% Cash Back
Buy new and used textbooks on an enormous variety of subjects — from accounting to visual arts — at Barnes & Noble. When the semester is over, get a quote for your books from Barnes & Noble and sell them back directly. Barnes & Noble also has a textbook-rental program that allows you to rent books for between 60 and 130 days. You can even extend your rental period if you need more time or buy your textbook any time during your rental. Plus, return shipping on rental books is free!

Cash Back Textbook Rental Stores

Bookbyte, 4% Cash Back
Rent your textbooks through Bookbyte for between 30 and 150 days, and get free shipping both ways on orders of $49 and up. You can always extend your rental if needed.

Alibris, 2.5% Cash Back
Save up to 90% on your textbooks by renting through Alibris. Get free shipping on all orders, both ways. If you drop a class or change your mind for any reason, return your rental within 21 days for a full refund. You can also search Alibris’ massive inventory to locate rare and out-of-print books, movies and music for all of your extracurricular media consumption — when you have time.

Skyo, 4% Cash Back
Get free shipping on every order of new and used textbooks, and great rates on renting digital textbooks to cut prices even further. If you’re new to using e-books for class and you’re not sure if it’s for you, no worries — some digital textbooks have a three-day trial period for risk-free shopping so you can be sure this is the right way for you to study.

Chegg, 3% Cash Back
Not only can you rent and buy textbooks with Chegg, but you can also access an online tutor or ask simple study questions to make sure you’re on the right track. Your first 30 minutes of online tutoring are free, and it’s only 50 cents a minute after that! Now you can study with your new textbooks with confidence, knowing there is a professional tutor standing by for support as you pore through new information.

eCampus.com, 3.5% Cash Back
Get free shipping from eCampus.com on orders over $59 if you buy textbooks, and free shipping on all orders of rental textbooks. Rental return shipping is also free! Sign up for eCampus.com’s eWards program and earn three points for every dollar you spend, which you can trade in for big savings on future orders.

Prices and Cash Back percentages are subject to change.

August 13, 2016

Why Your Inner Child Needs to Throw a Lisa Frank Party

Close your eyes and try to remember that era in your life when your everyday soundtrack was nothing but boy bands and everything you owned was covered in neon rainbows and cute baby animals. That was the time when Lisa Frank ruled the world of pre-teen girls and she’s making a major comeback. With a new line of Lisa Frank clothes at RageOn and even a few exclusive items at major department stores, we’re getting some serious nostalgia and we think this calls for a celebration. Why not throw yourself the dream party you never had at 13 with some rainbow eats and Lisa Frank party favors and decor that give you Cash Back at Ebates? Can’t think of a single reason? We didn’t think you could.

Homemade rainbow marshmallows and white chocolate make for some seriously psychedelic smores your guest will think are almost too pretty to eat.

Who says colorful food can’t be savory? These fresh-baked rainbow bagels may look like confection perfection but they’re just the carby goodness you know and love.

Tie Dye Cheesecake — via Sprinkles for Breakfast

Pastel and perfectly sweet, this cheesecake and its sprinkled crust will make your dessert table totally dreamy.

Cut some of the sugar with a healthy yet delectable dish like this rainbow veggie pizza.

Top it all off with hearty rainbow smoothies so your guests won’t feel like they spent the entire bash canceling out gym day.

Lisa Frank Party Hats 8 Pack, $3.99 (Birthday in a Box) | Lisa Frank Banner, $2 (Walmart)

Party hats and banners aren’t just for birthday bashes. Spare no cheesy detail when throwing a “just for LOLs” gathering.

Bulk Lisa Frank Coloring and Activity Books Pack of 24, $34.55 (Sears)

Whether this is an adults-only or kid-friendly party, Lisa Frank coloring books will be a total hit.

Unicorn Crayons, $5 (Etsy)

But we have to say that these unicorn crayons will be the show-stopper.

Adult Rainbow Grass Hula Skirt, $4.48 (Oriental Trading)

Now that your house is doused with ALL the colors, you wearing everyday clothes just won’t do. We’re not saying you can’t spend the day in your leggings (with the generous waist to accommodate all those rainbow noms you are about to dig into). Just zazz it up a bit with a rainbow grass skirt…

Rainbow Wig, $32 (Etsy)

…a dreamy mermaid wig you can totally reuse for Halloween (it’s right around the corner!)…

Lisa Frank Juniors’ Patch Denim Vest, $49 (Macy’s)

…and OMG A LISA FRANK DENIM VEST. It may be from the juniors’ department but that can be our little secret.

Ready to throw yourself a rainbow rager? Let us know what your dream Lisa Frank party would look like in the comments below!

August 12, 2016

How to Stay Sane While Flying With Kids

As a parent, traveling becomes a labor of love if it means flying with the kids. Even if your children are usually perfect angels, spending an extended period of time at the airport, waiting in lines or cooped up on a plane can test the limits of any parent’s sanity. Whether you’ve flown with your kids a dozen times or this will be your first flight with a new baby, a little planning can go a long way when it comes to keeping everyone happy. If you’re booking a flight with your kids, you’ve come to the right place! Check out this handy list of tips to help you plan and handle your next family flight like a pro. As an added perk, you’ll get Cash Back at Ebates at each of the stores mentioned to help give your travel budget a welcomed boost.

1. Plan Ahead

Planning ahead for your trip with the kids is the most important tool in your arsenal. You know your kids better than anyone, which means you can anticipate their needs and pack and plan accordingly. Plan your flight around the time that your kids would ordinarily be taking a nap to increase the chances that they’ll sleep on the flight. To make sure you avoid any surprises at the airport, understand what documentation and IDs you’ll need for the trip and what you’re allowed to bring on before you head to the airport. It may also be helpful to walk your kids through the process before the day of your trip so they know what to expect and how to handle it. You probably already know that getting to and through the airport is no piece of cake with little ones. Flying with kids can test even the most patient family’s limits so you may want to ease the trip-related stress with a fun suitcase that your kids can ride along on or sit on while you’re waiting in line. Check out the riding suitcases at Bed Bath and Beyond and travel in style while you add a touch of fun to your airport adventures.

2. Pack Activities

Start packing early to make sure you don’t forget any of the essentials you need for flying with children. A dedicated plane bag full of things to do on airplane rides is a great way to stay organized and have all the items you’ll need on hand for keeping the kids busy and happy. Organize your packing list by the items you’ll need for activities for each of your kids while on the airplane. It may be helpful to block off periods of time with new activities every twenty to thirty minutes to fight the boredom that can lead to less-than-stellar behavior while in the air. An upcoming flight is a great time to invest in a tablet because it means you can predetermine an entertainment playlist that you know will hold your kids’ attention for the duration of the flight. For slightly older kids, game apps are a fabulous way to keep them busy and happy on flights of any length. Out of consideration for your fellow passengers and airport patrons, be sure to pack headphones that you can get from Toys R Us for whatever app or TV show your kids end up watching.

3. Maintain a Snack Supply

Another important step on the list of tips for flying with kids is to keep your gang from becoming a hangry mess by maintaining an adequate supply of ready-to-go snacks. There will obviously be food at the airport but that probably also means waiting in lines, which might not be a no-go for an already stressed out family. Keep a supply of kid-approved snacks on hand in your flight-dedicated travel bag that will help preserve the peace. Stock up on airplane snacks for toddlers or tweens that you know they will love. Now is not the time to obsess about how many vegetables your kids eat – it’s the time to get your family from point A to B while maintaining the illusion that family flights are a fun time for everyone. For younger kids, you may want to consider giving them a small treat for every 30 minutes that they are well behaved to help them focus on surviving small increments of time quietly. Snack cups from Walgreens can help keep the crumbs at bay and the portions just the right size.

4. Stay Clean & Comfortable

When it comes to tips for flying with a baby, keeping your little one clean and comfortable is paramount. In reality, keeping up with sticky messes and keeping hands clean also applies equally to the whole family. Flying with baby or even a tween means you’ll want to pick up a travel pack of wipes available online at drugstore.com to help keep your pack clean and healthy. Keep an eye out for an awesome travel pack promo code to stock up on wipes and other essentials pre-flight.

5. Keep a Wild Card

In case of an emergency meltdown, keep a wild card up your sleeve that you know will catch your kids’ interest and redirect their attention away from that tantrum that everyone fears on an airplane. Air travel with kids means pulling out all the stops to keep your kids calm and happy for the benefit of your travel experience and that of the other passengers around you. Download some new apps from the App Store to add to your travel fund when you shop for the best apps for long flights. If you’re still worried about how your kids may handle the flight, consider packing small Ziploc care-packages with a note for the passengers around you with things like earplugs, Advil and a treat to let them know how much you appreciate their patience.

August 11, 2016

Looking Great at a Wedding for Cheap

Whether you’re one of the betrothed, a member of the wedding party, or simply a guest, you want to look your best on the big day. A high-end ensemble could cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars. That’s not to mention the often high price of other primping preparations like hair styling or a manicure. But if your bank account can’t quite bear the blow of a designer suit or dress, or an expensive beauty regimen, there’s no need to worry. There are plenty of options for looking stunning on a budget. Using Ebates’ Cash Back offers and promo codes, it’s easy to look like a million bucks without spending it.

Mega Savings on Mani-Pedis

Manicures and pedicures are a common beauty precursor to any formal event. Especially at bigger chain salons, getting the full treatment can rack up quite a bill. To save a few bucks, opt for local independently owned salons, which are typically cheaper than their bigger counterparts. You can also request polish only as opposed to a complete mani-pedi. Beauty is at your fingertips, and to save even bigger, you can do it yourself. There are plenty of awesome, high-quality shades to choose from at retailers like Sally Beauty Supply.

View Tutorials and DIY Makeup and Hair

You can also go the DIY route with hair and makeup. Not everyone can wield an eyeliner pencil and create a flawless masterpiece in a single stroke with the skillful prowess of a professional. But if you have Internet access, a little time, decent lighting, and some quality supplies (available at retailers like Sephora), you’ve got all you need for a fresh-faced makeover. Practice makes perfect. If you usually opt for bare-faced beauty and this is your first time applying a full face, or if you’re feeling a little adventurous and trying something new, give it a trial run the day before the wedding so you won’t have to stress at the last minute. If you’re attending with friends, you can even set up a pop-up beauty parlor the day of the wedding and make it a party. Chances are someone in the group is ace at updos while someone else is probably the champion of contouring.

Find Some Second-Hand Treasures

Whether you’re a bridesmaid whose soon-to-be-betrothed bestie has asked you to select and buy your own dress, or a simply a guest with a keen taste for sharp dressing, finding the perfect outfit is essential. Formalwear is often pretty expensive, especially if you’re buying. If you’re certain that this is an item you’ll only wear once — like that bejeweled, puff-sleeved hot pink prom dress you’ve buried deep within your closet — renting can be a great way to go. For guys, check out Men’s Wearhouse for deals on suit rentals. However, if you’re looking to buy, it’s equally simple to purchase a knockout outfit without maxing out your credit card. Just head down to your local second-hand shop for some recycled fine fashions. Many thrift stores, thrift boutiques, and consignment shops have specific formalwear sections. You’ll find that these are treasure troves of gently used, high-quality items. You may even score some second-hand designer items, tossed off after a single use by a well-off fashion connoisseur with a more generous bank account balance.

Give a Lesser-Known Tailor or Seamstress a Shot

Especially in the Internet age, it’s common to look into reviews of products and services before making a decision. Established businesses with a heavier stream of clientele are more likely to boast a bevy of reviews than those just starting out. It’s easy, and reasonable, to settle the decision between two prospective places of purchase by the number of quality reviews alone. However, it’s often worthwhile to give the little guys a shot, especially if you’re working with a tighter budget. Smaller establishments are typically less expensive and are often eager to earn the loyalty of a new customer, who could well bolster their business with valuable word of mouth. Check out some of the lesser-known shops for your tailoring or seamstressing needs. Shop around, and choose a professional who provides good customer service and can offer you some samples of high-quality work. Similarly, both budding and established shops are often willing to haggle a bit on the price to make a sale. After all, ‘tis better to sell a discounted service than none at all.

August 11, 2016

DIY Home Projects Under $500 To Entertain Your Kids This Summer

School’s out and summer’s here. Along with the more relaxed routine and the warmer weather, many families are finding that they have a lot of time on their hands right about now. If you’re looking for something to do with the kids, why not tackle a few projects around the home? Not only can you keep the kids entertained, you can improve your property values, and make your home more comfortable for everyone at the same time. Best of all, each of these projects is budget friendly and can be done for under $500.

1. Create Homemade Stepping Stones

If you have a garden path, outdoor patio or eating area, consider making some homemade stepping stones with your kids. Stepping stones can enhance the whole area, and you and your kids can customize them to make a personal statement around your yard.

Budget

You can make stepping stones for around $20 a piece depending on the types of embellishments you use.

Money Saving Tips

Make molds out of things you already have in the house such as pie tins, pizza boxes, and bucket lids.
Buy your embellishments in bulk and use them again and again throughout the stones.

Helpful DIY Tips

Mix up only enough concrete for one stone at a time.
Get your mold and embellishments totally ready before mixing your concrete to avoid it beginning to set too soon.

2. Build a Brick BBQ

If your kids are handy with Legos and other building blocks, why not give them a real challenge to build this summer, and take on a family brick barbecue. A brick BBQ is actually not too difficult to build, provided you take your time, and it costs a lot less than some top-of-the-line grills. Best of all, it’s sure to become a point of pride for the whole family for years to come.

Budget

The average cost to build a brick BBQ is around $500, including the concrete pad, bricks, mortar, and other tools necessary to build.

Money Saving Tips

Look for reclaimed bricks or pavers to build your BBQ with. Many can be found for free or low cost at salvage sites.
Rent equipment rather than buying it to save money on set up costs.

Helpful DIY Tips

Pour a level concrete pad that you can build on for stability first.
Hose off your bricks about 30 minutes before you start. This will prevent them from absorbing too much moisture from the mortar.
Remember that you can turn your bricks 90 degrees every so often to create a pattern in the sides of the walls.

3. Install a Fire Pit

Does your family love to entertain in the outdoors? If so, you may want to consider installing a fire pit near your patio for everyone to enjoy. Fire pits can be large and imposing or something simple and minimal, so it’s possible to find something that will fit your landscaping and your family’s needs. Your kids will find that stacking the stone is as easy and fun as creating a block structure indoors.

Budget

The average cost of a 5’ x 5’ stone fire pit is around $500. The total costs for this project range from $200 for a DIY pit to $1400 for a decorative, granite fire pit.

Money Saving Tips

Look for reclaimed bricks or pavers to build your fire pit with
Buy things like crushed stone to fill the surrounding area with in bulk to save money

Helpful DIY Tips

Use fire bricks or stones meant for this purpose to ensure they will contain the fire safely.
Use curved bricks or blocks for a round pit that doesn’t require any cutting.
Dig out the area around the pit and fill it with crushed stone to prevent fires from stray sparks, and to increase the visibility of the project.

4. Paint Your Front Door

Summertime has everyone running in and out the front door, which can mean that it starts to get a little battered over time. Adding to this, is the impact that your front door has on your curb appeal. Break out the paint and have your kids help you paint the front door to revitalize the entire area.

Budget

The average cost of painting a door is around $100, including the cost of paint and supplies for the whole entryway.

Money Saving Tips

Ask to see odd paint at the hardware store – this is paint that was mixed, but wasn’t sold. Often you can get several cans of high quality paint much more cheaply this way.

Helpful DIY Tips

Use an angle brush around the edges of the door, then roll the paint through the center.
Plan on applying at least two coats of paint for the best coverage.

5. Build a Waterfall

If you have a pool, garden, or small pond in your yard, and you want to enhance your landscaping, consider building a waterfall feature with your kids. Waterfalls add a tranquil, soothing atmosphere to your yard, and can be a real draw for everyone on the property. Best of all, DIY kits are available that allow you to build the waterfall out of lightweight composite materials – perfect for putting together with your kids one hot afternoon.

Budget

DIY a waterfall kits are available for around $450.

Money Saving Tips

Save money by installing your waterfall someplace you already have water flowing like a pool or pond. While you can buy waterfalls without current sources, they cost more money to run when you need to add water to the set up.

Helpful DIY Tips

Purchase a kit with lightweight material that doesn’t require cutting; just follow the stacking and mortar instructions as if you were putting together a block kit with your kids.

Summer can feel endless without enough to do. These five projects will keep everyone busy, and will help enhance your enjoyment of your property this summer. Take on any of these DIY, budget friendly projects with your kids under $500 this summer and beat the summertime blues in style. To find out more about what things cost, be sure to visit Fixr’s Cost Guides.

Get everything you need for these home improvement projects with Cash Back at Ebates here: Ace Hardware, Build.com and Lowe’s.

August 10, 2016

Cost Analysis of Your Favorite Movie Weddings

Whether it’s walking down the aisle in Princess Buttercup’s gown or getting an entire chorus to sing “All You Need Is Love” after your first kiss, you’ve probably dreamed of how your own wedding could be just like the ones in the movies. That got us thinking: How much would it cost to throw some of our favorite movie weddings?

For the full infographic, read on!

First off, we gathered estimates of how much the iconic weddings from our favorite movies would have cost in their respective time periods. In 19th-century Denmark, the wedding festivities of “The Little Mermaid” would’ve set you back approximately 43,297 krones, which is equivalent to $64,496. Vito Corleone’s wedding for his daughter in the 1945 film “The Godfather” was $46,730. Next, fast forward in time to 1987, when getting hitched in “The Wedding Singer” would’ve been $7,763. In 1991, the “Father of the Bride” would be shelling out $34,365 to get his daughter hitched. The “Kill Bill” wedding, in 1999, was a bargain at $500. Then again, they never really made it to the reception. The event all six seasons of “Sex and the City” was building toward in 2008 would’ve been $229,869. Saying “I do” in “I Love You, Man” in 2009 came out to $48,061. Perhaps our most expensive wedding is “The Princess Bride,” which took place in the Renaissance Era and cost 20,000 ducats, which is equivalent to just under $3 million!

The average cost of a wedding today in the United States, excluding the honeymoon, is approximately $32,642. Catering alone costs $68 per guest. With that figure in mind, let’s see how much each of the movie weddings would have cost based solely on the number of guests in attendance: “Kill Bill,” $748; “The Little Mermaid,” $5,100; “Meet the Fockers,” $6,936; “I Love You, Man,” $9,560; “The Graduate,” $9,656; “Father of the Bride,” $10,200; “The Wedding Singer,” $11,900; “It Happened One Night,” $12,376; “The Best Man,” $12,240; “The Princess Bride,” $14,960; “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” $16,320; “My Best Friend’s Wedding,” $16,864; “Wedding Crashers,” $20,400; “Love Actually,” $21,080; “Bridesmaids,” $21,800; “Sweet Home Alabama,” $24,840; “Sex and the City,” $30,600; and “The Godfather,” $37,400.

Next we compared where these weddings took place. In “Love Actually,” “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” “My Best Friend’s Wedding” and even “Kill Bill,” the couple decided to exchange vows the traditional way, in a church. The average cost to get married in a church, based on our movie wedding estimates, came out to $32,161.

Some of our on-screen couples decided to go no farther than their own backyards, as was the case with “It Happened One Night,” “Father of the Bride” and the memorable Corleone Estate of “The Godfather,” filmed on Staten Island. The average cost of the backyard weddings from our collection of films came out to $66,565.

Other movie weddings took place in unique locales, like “Sex and the City” in the New York Public Library or “Bridesmaids” in the scenic Los Angeles County Arboretum in Arcadia, California. We even learned from “The Little Mermaid” that the perfect place to marry a mermaid is on a ship. Our average cost for a movie wedding at a venue: $86,013.

So who actually made it down the aisle? Couples in “The Little Mermaid”; “The Godfather”; “Father of the Bride”; “My Best Friend’s Wedding”; “The Best Man”; “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”; “Love Actually”; “Meet the Fockers”; “Wedding Crashers”; “Sex and the City”; “I Love You, Man”; and “Bridesmaids” all were pronounced husband and wife. Meanwhile, fate or just cold feet halted couples in: “The Princess Bride,” “It Happened One Night,” “The Graduate,” “The Wedding Singer,” “Kill Bill” and “Sweet Home Alabama.”

What’s the worst way to crash a wedding, you may wonder? In “The Princess Bride,” it was dashing heroes coming in for the rescue, while assassins stopped the wedding and gave the bride something to avenge in “Kill Bill.” Perhaps the crasher we all remember is Dustin Hoffman’s character in “The Graduate,” banging on a glass panel, screaming, before escaping with the bride. Hopefully your wedding has a far better outcome — and it’s death that makes you part, not Dustin Hoffman.

Want to share our infographic on your site? Just copy and paste the text below!

<a href="https://www.ebates.com/blog/cost-analysis-movie-weddings"><img alt="Cost Analysis of Your Favorite Movie Weddings" class="ngg_none" src="https://www.ebates.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/cost-analysis-movie-weddings_IG.png" width="600px" height="5507px" /></a><br><a href="https://www.ebates.com/blog/cost-analysis-movie-weddings">Cost Analysis of Your Favorite Movie Weddings</a> Created By: <a href="https://www.ebates.com/"> Ebates</a>

Source List

http://qz.com/228518/the-venerable-80-year-tradition-of-the-insanely-expensive-american-wedding/
http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/weddings/Weddings+Through+The+Decades-258745.html
http://www.bridalguide.com/planning/weddings-through-the-ages
http://celyn.drizzlehosting.com/mrwp/mrwed.html
http://www.seeing-stars.com/Locations/WeddingSinger.shtml
http://www.movie-locations.com
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0259446/locations
http://ir.xogroupinc.com/investor-relations/press-releases/press-release-details/2016/Wedding-Spend…
https://www.sovereignman.com/finance/why-dost-thou-whet-thy-knife-so-earnestly-8453/
http://www.apmex.com/spotprices/gold-price

August 9, 2016

Ebates CARES: Back to School Backpack Drive

Back to School can be already be a stressful time of year for parents. Between the endless school supplies list and getting your kids out of summer mode, moms, dads and caregivers have their work cut out for them. But for those who are struggling to make ends meet, this is just another time of year where the need is great and help is most appreciated.

This is precisely why Ebates CARES decided to join forces with Cityteam San Francisco, a non-profit that provides real help and real hope to men, women, and at-risk youth in the Tenderloin and greater Bay Area. Cityteam provides family services, hot meals, job and housing placement and beyond. They gave Ebates CARES the goal of raising 75 backpacks full of essential school supplies for kids of all ages and we are so proud to say we met that goal with a gold star!

While shopping for and assembling the backpacks was certainly fun, the best part was this collection of happy little faces and knowing they had one less thing to worry about this school year. Plus, each backpack came with a hand-written note of encouragement from an Ebates team member on how to reach for the stars, both inside the classroom and outside.

We had so much fun getting together and giving to children in need. If you’re interested in volunteering with Cityteam, they have chapters in San Jose, Philadelphia, Oakland and Portland as well as overseas. And if you can’t donate time, you can always donate a few extra bucks. Everything helps!