A few weeks ago Wisebread editors Linsey Knerl and Lynn Truong began creating the Dealista podcasts. The Dealista promises insider tips to help you shop wisely, spend less and get more for your money. The Dealista podcast should help you find the best deals and freebies, protect your consumer rights and beat retailers at their own game.

Recent podcasts include How to Double Coupons, How to Get the Best Deals on Baby Stuff and The Basic Rules of Price-Matching.

Don't go shopping without Dealista.

There’s a 654-mile stretch of road leading from West Unity, Ohio, to Gadsden, Ala., that is a garage sale fanatic’s dream. Dubbed the World Longest Yard Sale (WLYS) and recently highlighted in Parade magazine, this U.S. 127 Corridor Sale started in 1987 to pull people away from the interstate back to the scenic highway and its offerings (scenery, river boats, railroads, crafts, horses, bits of Civil War and American Indian history.)

Bargains abound at this unique four-day sale now in its 22nd year. It always begins on the first Thursday in August, so if you live anywhere near this highway, mark your calendars for Aug. 6-9 for a frugal and fun road trip. A map of the route is available inside the annual brochure.

Professional vendors and individuals lay their wares out for the passing public, some scattered on blankets, some organized neatly on tables. Fresh produce, handmade crafts appear alongside normal yard sale fare. You never know what you might find, but this adventure is one without the financial risk.

Bring a cooler with drinks and food, and plot your course for day trips to avoid the extra expense of staying in a hotel and eating out. (Be aware that some book hotel rooms up to a year in advance, making them hard to come by in the first place.)

This year HGTV will be filming on location and is casting now for those who plan to attend. See www.127sale.com for details.

It’s Memorial Day weekend, the time we set aside for remembering those who have given their lives to secure our freedom, and of course … shop. Somehow over the years, like every other holiday, this has turned into a retail opportunity, with stores offering some of their best sales of the season. Here’s a rundown with a few selected sales items from each.

CLOTHING & DEPARTMENT STORES
Kohl’s:
Power Hours: Night Owls 3 p.m.-11 p.m. Friday; Early Birds 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday
• Get $10 Kohl’s cash for every $50 you spend
• 50-60% off swimwear
• $54.99 anti-gravity chairs (orig. $139.99)
• $9.99 polos for men
• $109.99 Nextar GPS
• $4.99 layering camis for juniors
• 55-60% off tops & bottoms for kids and toddlers
• $19.99 Sonoma twin sheet sets

JCPenney:
The sales flyer doesn’t mention anything Memorial Day specific, but it did say new reductions for their storewide clearance (50% off original prices).
• $9.99 women’s & men’s St. John’s Bay shirts; $6.99 Arizona kids’ tops or shorts

Belk:
Preview day Friday; Night Owls and Early Birds hours Friday 4 p.m.-10 p.m. & Saturday 9 a.m.- 1 p.m.
• Extra 20% off all sale purchases storewide with coupon, or 15% off non-sale
• Extra 50% off Red Dot Clearance for savings of 75% or more

Macy’s:
• Extra 10% off regular- and sale-priced purchases in the home store with coupon or rewards card
• Extra 10% off furniture, mattresses and area rugs

Lands’ End:
Sale runs through Monday
• 30% off summer
• $13.65 women’s and men’s polos (orig. $19.50)

Timing is everything, it seems. Knowing when is the best time to buy that new car, house or lawn mower could be the difference between saving hundreds if not thousands of dollars every year. That's why we created the Best Time to Buy Guide for over 40 products and services. Before you make another major purchase, check with this guide to know when the best time to buy is.


1. Air Conditioners
The price of air conditioners rise and lower with the temperature. Most old air conditioners expire when the temperature goes up which creates a high demand in the summer months.

If an air conditioner is a must buy right now, then begin looking for discounts today on last years models. If you have a unit that can make it through another season, then the best option is to wait until stores are clearing their inventory at the end of the summer. As temperatures cool the prices will drop and you can find great deals to keep you cool next year.

You can save money on the purchase of a new air conditioner by having your current system serviced. Early in the season is the best time to find deals on service for your air conditioner. In the heating and air conditioning business, the summer months are the most profitable. Many companies will offer discounts on air conditioner service before the heat arrives to stay busy.

Best time to buy an air conditioner: October
Best time to have your air conditioner services: February

2. Airline Tickets
Increase your odds of cheaper airfare by purchasing well in advance of your departure. Viewing ticket prices up to 4 months ahead of departure will give you the best chance of finding a guide deal. Look for tickets early in the week to find deals as prices have a tendency to rise as the week goes on.

Try to fly on a Saturday and avoid flying on Sundays to get a better deal. Holiday travel is always more expensive so determining a travel schedule can be especially valuable when looking for discounts around the holidays.

Flight discounts are unpredictable so the best advice is to check frequently, and once you find a good deal take it. It might not be around very long.

Best time to buy airline tickets: Tuesdays, months in advance of departure

3. Big Appliances
The new models for large appliances roll out in September and October, so stores will be working to make room by discounting previous models. Some stores will keep older inventory in stock through the holiday months and then reduce what ever is left at the beginning of the new year.

During the rest of the year look for holiday sales around Memorial Day and Independence Day.

Best time to buy big appliances: October and January

Saving money has never been easier than it is now. Technology, especially the iPhone, has given us new, more convenient ways to save money. Check out these 5 money saving applications.

1. Coupon Sherpa
Coupon Sherpa makes hundreds of in-store coupons available to you right on your iPhone. Show your iPhone at checkout to get a discount at many of the most popular stores. Coupon Sherpa has the potential to save people hundreds of dollars every year.

Download Coupon Sherpa


2. Kids Eat Free
This app helps you find restaurants near you that have free meals for kids. They claim to have a list of 8,000 restaurants in the United States. Users are encouraged to submit restaurants that may not be on the app. Give it a try if you eat out a lot and have children.

Download Kids Eat Free

Living frugally is all about finding discounts wherever you can. I believe in getting great deals every day because when you do the math, the little purchases – lunch out, a new top, a tank of gas - really add up. Here are five great deals I hope will save you money.

1. Are you struggling to pay your mortgage? Find out if you are eligible for lower payments under President Obama’s mortgage modification plan using this handy calculator from MainStreet.com.

Those who qualify will also find out what their new payment would likely be. To be eligible for consideration, the property must be owner-occupied, the unpaid mortgage balance must be less than $729,000, the mortgage must have originated on Jan. 1, 2009 or earlier, and you must be having trouble paying the mortgage.

2. Shoppers can return Land's End items bought through the catalog or over the phone at Sears, which turns around and sells them at bargain basement prices. When you wait for a Sears sale on top of these regular markdowns, you can find amazing deals.