The price of flights is a moving target – there are no hard and fast rules to getting the cheapest options. The prices that you pay can vary from year to year, i.e. you could book your Thanksgiving or holiday flight on exactly the same day every year and sometimes you will save money, and sometimes you won’t. But are there any guidelines that you can follow to help you get the best deals?

Best Time To Book Thanksgiving Flights

The cheapest time to book your Thanksgiving flights is in August. If you can buy your flights this early you could save anything from five to seven percent compared to buying the same flight the week before Thanksgiving.

Buying in September and October is also generally cheaper, but the savings that you make become smaller as airlines start to fill up their places and approach capacity levels.

There are two other things that you should consider when thinking about your Thanksgiving flights, though. The first is any promotional codes or discount coupons that you have. The savings that you can make with an offer code can far exceed any saving you can make by timing your purchase just right.

The second thing to consider is the day that you plan to fly. If you want to fly on the Wednesday of Thanksgiving week – the day before Thanksgiving – and you then want to return on the Sunday ready for going back to work the following week, you will pay the most expensive fares. This is because those are the days that most people want to fly. If you have flexibility with your dates – leaving a day or two earlier, and staying a day or two later, for example – you will save money.

Best Time To Book Holiday Flights

Similar advice applies to booking holiday flights – you should always use promotion codes and vouchers where possible and you should avoid flying on the busiest days. The latter is a little harder to nail down because Christmas falls on a different day of the week each year. To get it right you should think about when most other people will be flying. If Christmas is on a Friday, the Thursday and Wednesday before are going to be busy, as is the first Sunday in January.

But when is the best time to book holiday flights? The most expensive time to buy is in December. Buying in the preceding months is the best option – even in November you can buy tickets for four or five percent less than if you wait until December.

The cheapest time to buy a ticket, however, is in August. This is the same as for Thanksgiving flights, although the savings for holiday flights are much greater – you will save as much as 14 percent if you can buy your holiday flights in August.

The trick to getting the cheapest possible flights around Thanksgiving and the holidays is to buy early, use promotional codes when you can, and avoid traveling on the really busy days.

Getting your children ready to go back to school is expensive, and it gets more expensive every year. It is possible to keep a lid on the costs, however. You should stick to a budget, and explain that budget to your children – it will help them to learn the value of money. Then, to get what your children need within your budget you should follow the five tips on this list.

1. Check What You Already Have

Can you reuse uniforms, schoolbags, lunch boxes or other equipment from last year? Sometimes all you need is a bit of creativity and some thorough cleaning. Also check through all your drawers and cupboards – you never know what pencils, pens and other bits and pieces you will find in there that you forgot you ever had.

2. Buy Used

Consider buying some items used. School uniforms are one thing that you might be able to save substantial sums of money if you buy second hand. You can get a uniform that looks just as good as one that is new, but you will pay a lot less. You can shop for used items at garage sales, thrift stores, and online at websites like eBay and Craigslist.

You will have to buy some things new, however. For these items you should be careful which stores you use. Always check places like dollar stores and supermarkets first as you will find that they usually have lower prices.

3. Use Coupons

Keep an eye out for online coupon codes, promotional codes, and vouchers. If these are general discount codes you can save them throughout the year, or you can start looking out for back to school specific offer codes and coupons at times when children normally return to school.

4. Buy In Bulk

You might be able to save money if you buy in bulk. When you apply those savings across multiple children and a number of different supplies, they can be substantial. But how can you buy in bulk? One option that you have available is to buy enough for a full year instead of as-and-when you need. Another option is to team up with another parent or group of parents to buy supplies together. And remember if you have a discount code or coupon you will save even more.

5. Buy Off-Peak

The best deals on school supplies are usually not available when you need them – just before the children go back to school. This is peak trading time for retailers, so prices are often kept high. It is better if you buy throughout the year whenever you see a good offer. And if you combine this tip with the previous two – buying in bulk and using discount coupons – you will maximize your savings.

One final thing that you should do to ensure you save as much money as possible when buying back to school supplies is to make a list. This will ensure you get everything that you need but it will also keep you focussed – stick to the list no matter what.

In most lists of the best tablet computers, iPads and Samsung Galaxy models dominate the top slots. These are undoubtedly great tablet computers, but they are also among the most expensive. Even with a voucher code or other discount offer they are still pricey. So if you are looking for the most bang for your buck, what is the best tablet computer?

How to Choose

We are not necessarily looking to buy the absolute best tablet available. At the other end of the spectrum we are not looking for the cheapest. Instead we are looking for the tablet that offers the best of both worlds.

Here are some things you should consider.

• Screen: Bigger screens are easier to see, but smaller screens are more portable, so it is not all about size. The quality and resolution of the screen are important though.
• Hardware Specifications: Look out for things such as storage, the quality of the camera, and the processor speed. For example, if you want to use the tablet to take loads of photos and videos, you will need a good camera and a decent amount of storage (unless you store your files in the cloud).
• Software: Most tablets run either Apple software (on iPads) or Android. Android is Google’s operating system; it is on Samsung Galaxy tablets, for example. Make sure the model that you buy has the functionality that you need. For instance, the Amazon range of tablets doesn’t give you full access to the Google Play store like other Android devices.
• Deal: Finally, look at the overall deal you are getting. Is the price the lowest you can find? Do you have a promotional code or coupon code that will make it cheaper elsewhere? Does the website offer free shipping, or can you get a free shipping code? The answers to these questions could sway your decision.

Three Tablet Computers That Give You Bang for Your Money

• iPad Air 2: This is the most expensive tablet on the list but it is one of the cheapest in the Apple range. It makes it onto the list because of its specifications. First, you get the brilliant iOS 8 operating system. The screen is 9.7 inches, it is lightweight and compact, and its functionality is slick.

• Amazon Fire HD: You need to know the limitations of this tablet before buying it (such as not being able to access as many apps as you can with other tablets), but if that doesn’t bother you it is a fantastic tablet for the price.

• LG G Pad 7: If you want to move up a few steps from the Amazon Fire HD in order to get a bit more flexibility, the LG G Pad is a good option. It is still low cost and comes with good specifications. Plus you can access a much wider range of apps.

You don’t have to spend a fortune to get a tablet that will meet your needs—it is about getting good value and the best possible deal.

Prepaid phones vs contract phones. Which one is the right choice for you?

When you are buying a phone you have lots of options to choose from – the type of phone, the network, etc. But before you start looking at any of that you have to choose between getting a prepaid phone or a contract phone. What are the pros and cons of both, and which one is best for you?

Benefits Of Prepaid Phones

Let’s first look at why you should choose a prepaid phone. The main benefit is that you are not locked into a contract so you have much greater flexibility. With a contract phone, on the other hand, it is not uncommon for users to be locked in to their deals for as long as two years.

Another benefit is that you only pay for what you use. In many contract arrangements the user is offered loads of minutes bundled up in their plan, but often they don’t use those minutes. Prepaid phones work on a pay as you go basis, so nothing is wasted.

Often it is also cheaper in the long run to get a prepaid phone, even when you buy an expensive handset. Let’s look at the figures. A typical contract deal might be $35 a month with a free $500 handset included. You have to sign up for two years though so over the course of the contract you will pay $840. Depending on how much you spend each month on a prepaid phone, it might actually be cheaper to pay for the phone upfront.

You can find discounted phones and accessories at Cellular Country Coupons 2015.

Benefits Of Contract Phones

So, why would you choose a contract phone if there are so many benefits to using a prepaid option?

The handset is one of the first things to look at. We have already established that it may work out cheaper to buy the handset upfront on a prepaid deal, but that assumes that you have the money available to buy the phone. If you don’t have the cash to spare, and you want a particular handset, a contract phone is a good option.

Another benefit of contract phones is their convenience. With a prepaid phone you have to ensure that the phone is topped up with minutes, plus it is easy to run out, often at a time that is inconvenient. With a contract phone you don’t have any of these worries.

Which Option Should You Choose?

You have to look at all the details of the deal when making your decision. This includes whether you have a coupon code or promotional code for the website that you are using. You also have to look at the cost of the handset, and how much your actual (not potential) monthly usage will cost. When buying online you also have to factor in things like whether you are getting free shipping or not.

Cost is the most important factor though, because you can use the same phones and the same networks whether you are on prepaid or contract. Monthly costs, costs over time, usage costs, discounts codes, etc. all need to be analysed so you can decide which is best.