Cab Sharing Picks up Speed with Budget Savvy New Yorkers

Public transportation is the best way to save cash, but any New Yorker knows that when you’re in a rush or stepping out of the bar late at night, a cab ride is much more appealing. 

Now you don’t have to feel guilty about your taxi rides with new group ride rates, which cut the costs of taxi fare. NYC taxis will let you share your ride with a few strangers at a discounted group rate. New Yorkers can find these cheap cabs during the morning rush hours (between 6am and 10am), and the taxis will have designated start and drop-off locations like a bus route.

1010Wins has the lowdown on the three designated routes, which are:

- W. 57th St. and Eighth Ave. with dropoffs allowed on Park Ave. between 57th St. until 42nd St.
- W.72nd St. and Columbus Ave. with dropoffs on Park Ave. from 72nd St. to 42nd St.
- E. 72nd St. and Third Ave. with dropoffs on Park Avenue from 72nd St. to 42nd St.

So slide on over, New Yorkers, and get cozy with your neighbors with the new ‘group rate’ taxis. Not only will you save some cash, but you might even make a friend or two.

Sell Off Old Gadgets with Ease with Gazelle.com

Gazelle.com, a Boston-based company, bills itself as an environmentally friendly and lucrative way to discard old electronics (functional and otherwise). The company will actually pay you for unwanted cell phones, video game systems, iPods, and the like. If it sounds remarkably easy, that’s kind of the point. Gazelle aims to carve a niche into an online sales market dominated by sites like Amazon and eBay, whose sites are rather sprawling and more complicated for sellers.

Let’s say you’re trying to get rid of a Sony Reader you no longer use. Search Gazelle to see if it’s in demand (evidently there are few gadgets they won’t buy) and enter a few brief questions about its condition (if there’s water damage, whether it comes with the original accessories, etc.) The system will algorithmically come up with a price offer based on market trends and your responses to the questionnaire. They’re offering about $120 for the Sony PRS-505 Reader. Conveniently, every item features a line graph depicting past, present, and projected prices (and they all seem to be declining.)

If the price is right, Gazelle mails you a postage-paid package in which to send in the Reader (or whatever), and if their inspection agrees with your own evaluation, you’ll get the pre-determined amount via check or PayPal. (If it doesn’t, the company returns the item to you at no additional cost.) They’ll also properly recycle broken items for you at no cost, and shipping is free, provided you have in the pre-paid box at least one item worth $1. Otherwise, you pay for shipping.

So far, they’ve purchased over 20,000 items and recycled “thousands more.” Recent sales, the website reports, include $108 for an Apple iPhone 2G in Orlando and $28 for a Creative Zen Vision Multimedia Device (whatever that is.)

In turn, Gazelle sells the working gadgets they buy from you to other parties. The company calls it “ReCommerce” and claims to be the leader in this relatively new field. The coincidence of increased environmental consciousness and the financial strain of the recession surely have something to do with Gazelle’s recent growth.

It’s hard to argue against a concept that puts extra money in your pocket while utilizing disused items, or recycling them properly. Still, one wonders why you’d go through a middle man when you can just sell items directly (and likely for a greater profit) on eBay and other such sites. On the other hand, Gazelle streamlines the selling process and offers a fixed price, as opposed to the uncertainty of auction websites.   They also deserve credit for providing the unusual benefit of taking broken electronics off your hands and disposing of them according to green standards.

The final word? If you want to maximize your cash, you’re probably better off selling old electronics yourself via online auction, Craigslist, or some other method, but if you want to simplify things or get a sale price and buyer without delay, Gazelle’s the way to go.

Photo credit: LazySunday via StockXchng

Four Amazing and Money Saving iPhone Apps!

Tax Returns Just Got a Little Easier — and Cheaper.

Spread a little love to your bank account this weekend with a limited deal from H&R Block.  H&R Block At Home is giving users a chance to register for any of their online products at the super low price of $14. This means that online users can take advantage of the At Home Deluxe kit for 50 percent off and the At Home Premium kit for up to 70 percent off. But this sweet deal is only available this Valentine’s Day weekend.

The best part of H&R Block’s lovefest is that even if you don’t decide to use their online products until April, you can still get the low price of $14 as long as you register this weekend. With their products you’ll be able to breeze through your taxes with the help of such features as audit support from a live tax professional and automatic data import from your employer.

Register this weekend at www.hrblock.com/valentine to snatch up H&R Block’s products for just $14, and those truffles will suddenly taste just a little bit sweeter.

Going Bust Taking Care of Fido? 5 Ways to Cut Down on Pet Care Expenses

Post-holiday season is one of the biggest times of the year for pet adoptions. It’s also a time when many new pets are suddenly handed back to shelters by their overwhelmed owners. Combine that with the fact that everyone is on a budget these day,s and you have a lot of potential pets without homes.

If you’re looking to adopt a pet in NYC or if you’re hoping that cutting costs doesn’t mean getting rid of Fido, there are plenty of ways to keep your pet care expenses down.

Regular Vet Visits –  Bringing your pet to the vet can get really expensive. But if you push it off, you’ll find yourself facing a very large bill for a procedure that could have been prevented. The ASPCA Mobile Spay/Neuter clinics offer free spay/neuter procedures, rabies vaccinations, nail trims, microchips and more for $75 an animal. Other organizations, like the Humane Society of New York, will direct you to the best clinics for vet care.

Shop Online – Shopping online is your best bet when getting good deals on pet food. Not only won’t you have to lug large food bags back to your apartment, but you can subscribe to merchants like Petsmart for any online specials that include free samples. Try to buy in bulk to get your goods at the cheapest price. If you don’t mind spending a few extra bucks on food to prevent any future illnesses, buy a premium brand that is high in fiber.

For all of your pet’s medical needs, PetRX and 1800PetMeds both offer great discounts on routine or long-term medications. Be aware of any special discounts that these companies offer and see if you can benefit from being a loyal customer.

Hold Off On Treats – Pet treats can be expensive and aren’t always necessary. If your feline needs to shed a few pounds, cutting back on treats is a great way to help her lose weight and help put money back into your bank account. Keeping a bag of treats nearby for training purposes isn’t a crime, but your pet’s health will improve if you don’t throw them a treat more than once a day.

Play Time – Giving your pet a lot of exercise will also help prevent any unnecessary vet visits. Since they’re probably locked up in your apartment most of the day, take time to bring your pet to the park to release their energy. If you have toys that you keep around your house, try to limit your pet’s access to them so they won’t get bored and the toy will last longer. Be creative and make your own toys like toilet paper rolls tied to a string for cats.

Do Your Homework – Don’t be lazy when it comes to your pet care. There are plenty of resources online and in your local bookstore on how to take care of your pet. Teach yourself how to become an expert groomer, and be aware of any diseases your pet’s breed is at risk for. By doing your homework, you’ll become a more confident pet owner — and that change in attitude will certainly affect the relationship you have with Fido.

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