Thanks to the Amazon Echo and Echo Dot it has become much easier to save money in everyday life. These cool tech gadgets from Amazon have become much more than handy devices that’ll tell you how many fluid ounces are in a cup. If you know how to use them correctly, they’ll actually help you save money on utility costs, gas, water, and even expensive car repairs. Let’s break it down…

1. Save Money on Gas

Did you know your Amazon Alexa enabled device can tell you the best way to get to work every morning, saving you time and gas?

Just say “Alexa, how’s my commute?” and you’ll be notified of any accidents or traffic on your normal route and be redirected if necessary.

The days of sitting in stop-and-go traffic burning precious gasoline are a thing of the past.

Note: If you haven’t setup your home and work locations yet, you’ll get a notification on how to do so within the Alexa app on your phone. This will automatically happen the first time you ask Alexa about your commute.

2. Save on Travel

Are you jonesing to take a trip but are stuck on a shoe-string budget?

Have you ever tried saying “Alexa, where can I go for $500?” Or $400? Or $1000? Or $200? You get the point.

Try it and you’ll be notified of some stellar travel deals from KAYAK that will get your research pointed in the right direction.

Alexa will first ask you the airport you want to depart from, then suggest cities within your budget. Pretty cool.

Unfortunately, as of this writing you cannot book via Alexa but I’m sure that’s in the works.

See Also: 140+ Hilarious & Helpful Alexa Commands

3. Save on Electricity Costs

One of the coolest new features of Alexa is how she can connect to smart plugs throughout your home.

For just a few bucks you can buy these smart plugs and make anything you plug into them “smart”.

For example, my sister-in-law recently plugged her Christmas tree into a Amazon smart plug and could tell her Echo, “Alexa, turn on (or off) the Christmas tree lights” and viola it happened.

So, by using these plugs on everyday items and lights that you often forget to turn off, you can quickly save energy around the home.

Because let’s face it, it’s WAY easier to sit on the couch and tell Alexa to turn something off rather than get up and do it ourselves.

4. Get Really Smart with It

The aforementioned “smart plugs” are the tip of the iceberg when it comes to home automation that can help you save.

A few of the more popular smart home devices that work with Alexa include the Nest thermostat, Lutron light switches, Samsung SmartThings, and Philips Hue lighting.

My personal favorite is the Nest as it allows you to set your home’s temperature using Alexa as well as with your smartphone when you’re not home.

Use the Nest wisely and it’ll easily help you reduce your home’s heating and cooling costs by 15%.

5. Save Money on Music

If you’re a Prime member you can access Prime Music for free with Alexa as well as other free streaming options from Pandora and Spotify.

But what I love most is that I can connect Alexa to the I Heart Radio app is listen to all my favorite podcasts for free.

Oh, and while not a big money saver, you can also stream all your local radio stations too.

6. Save Cash on Water

If you’re water bill seems too high, Amazon Alexa to the rescue.

Sync Alexa to the ridiculously cool Rachio Smart Sprinkler and you’ll quickly know exactly how much water your yard needs and be able to adjust your water consumption accordingly.

Rachio lets you set your own watering schedules and input details like plant type and sun exposure.

Then you can let “Rachio automatically water your lawn with exactly what it needs to thrive, and not a drop more.”

You’ll also save money on water costs by using Rachio’s “Wireless Flow Meter” which will detect leaks and maximize watering precision.

The voice automation is also super cool as you can just say “Alexa, water zone three for 5 minutes” when something in the yard is looking a little dry.

7. Save on Costly Car Repairs

Sync your Alexa device with Automatic Pro and “Decode your check engine light like a pro”.

This is a great way to figure out what’s wrong with your vehicle before taking it to the costly mechanic.

The device plugs right into your car and makes it a “smart” car of sorts.

It’s a great device for teenage drivers as well because it gives you location tracking, engine light diagnostics, and even crash detection.

The best part? It comes with a free 3G subscription for 5 years.

8. Save on Household Items

Have you ever tried saying “Alexa, order more toilet paper?”

If you have, you already know that you can order pretty much anything from Amazon via your Alexa enabled device.

Just the other day I did this while sitting on the throne as I was within shouting distance of our Echo and I gotta say I felt like a complete genius.

Once you’ve ordered a particular item from Amazon you can just say, “Alexa, reorder X” or “Alexa, order more X” and they’ll ship it to you again.

Buyer beware as not all household items are a deal on Amazon but most will definitely be cheaper than an emergency run to the overpriced drugstore.

Ask the Reader: How have you been able to use your Alexa enabled device to save money?

Happy savings.

By Kyle James

Disclosure: If you go through any of the Amazon links on this page, and make a purchase, I get a small commission on the purchase. Money I use to keep this blog rolling down the road.

Photo Credit to Stock Catalog.

We all know how popular free samples are at Costco, but did you know that Walmart free samples are actually better? This is the case both in terms of the value of the item, as well as the usefulness of them. After all, Costco free samples are mainly impulse food purchases like 4-cheese raviolis BUT Walmart freebies are for things you actually need. Let’s break it all down so you can score free stuff from Walmart too…

Score Free Samples “Inside” Walmart

This is the most obvious way to score free samples from Walmart.

While not as prevalent as Costco, the aisles at Walmart often have folks handing out freebies.

It happens most often on weekends and during peak shopping hours.

If you see a few people standing around a small table, you’ll want to head over and see what’s going on.

You’ll most often find product representatives handing out samples in the food aisles as those items are easy to hand out and often create impulse purchases.

You’ll also often find samples being handed out for items like shampoo, soap, lotion, and shaving cream.

Also, look for coupons or offers on these products as companies are trying hard to make a new loyal customer out of you.

I also recommend doing a Google search for “Walmart in-store events” and you’ll find details of upcoming free sample days and times.

See Also: These 12 Companies Gladly Send Out Free Samples Via the Mail

Get Free Samples Mailed to You

I never considered getting samples from Walmart mailed to me.

But hallelujah, it’s indeed possible and it’s actually kinda awesome.

A couple years ago you could simply visit Walmart.com and type “free samples” into the search bar and be inundated with freebies.

Unfortunately, this is no longer the case.

But not all hope is lost as Walmart now offers 2 free sample boxes.

They are called the Baby Box and the Beauty Box. Here’s how it works…

The Walmart Baby Box

The Walmart Baby Box is crammed full of cool free samples for babies and expectant mothers.

The only catch? You have to pay a $5 shipping fee but the samples inside easily make up for the cost.

Walmart has three baby boxes: 1 for the expecting mother, 1 for a newborn/infant, and 1 for a toddler.

When you sign-up (for free) you enter your child’s due date and Walmart sends out the boxes on a schedule so you get products when you and your child actually need them.

You’re only charged the $5 when the box is processed for delivery and ready to be mailed.

Brands that are involved include Huggies, Dove, All, Pampers, Neutrogena, and Nuk.

The Walmart Beauty Box

Walmart has beauty product samples too.

Similar to the Baby Box, the Beauty Box from Walmart is a great way to score a bunch of free samples for practically no cost.

You only have to pay the $5 shipping fee and you’ll get free samples mailed to you from name-brands like Cetaphil, Aveeno, Nivea, Biore, Kleenex, Garnier, and Neutrogena.

After all, why pay for an entire bottle if you’re not sure you’ll even like it?

Be aware that many of the samples you’ll receive are for new product releases.

Walmart will mail you a new box once per season (4 times per year) and not charge you the 5 bucks until the box is ready to be mailed.

It’s a pretty cool gift idea as well.

Any Other Walmart “Free Sample” Secrets?

Yes, I have one more important tip.

Be sure to follow Walmart on their social media outlets as they often post free sample opportunities.

Here are the specific ones to follow:

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Pinterest
• Instagram

Over the years I’ve seen many free sample notices on the Walmart Facebook and Twitter pages. Both for in-store freebies as well as the online variety.

I haven’t personally seen any on their Pinterest or Instagram page, but I’ve been told they do indeed exist.

Ask the Reader: How have you received free samples from Walmart? Or are you still looking for your first?

By Kyle James

Photo credit to Mike Mozart.

The Michaels return policy details are worth knowing if you’re into arts and crafts. Having grown up in a “craftsy” home, I know how expensive supplies can be. I also know that it’s common to overbuy in case of emergencies or to save a possible trip later. Thus the need to return stuff arises frequently, at least it did for my Mom when I was a kid. It’s with this in mind that I break down Michaels policy so you can plan accordingly. Here’s everything you need to know.

How Many Return Days Does Michaels Give Me?

60 days.

You get exactly 60 days to make a return to Michaels, down from 180 days that they offered for years.

Their pretty darn generous return policy has gotten a little stricter.

What Happens After 60 Days?

Michaels will give you store credit for the full purchase price once you’ve passed your 60 return days.

PRO TIP: MICHAELS DOESN’T ALLOW EXCHANGES

Since Michaels doesn’t let shoppers do an even exchange, you’ll be stuck having to make a return then rebuy what you need. Keep this in mind when you walk in the store as you’ll want to head straight towards a register and not wander back to the product you want to exchange your item for. By doing this, you’ll save time and reduce potential hassles.

Are There Exceptions to the 60 Days?

Yes, glad you asked. These items have exceptions…

– Cricut Products – Items MUST be unopened, have a valid receipt, and you can only get an exchange.

From commenter Allan, if your Cricut machine stops working you’re going to have to deal with the manufacturer, not Michaels. Even if it’s a brand new item and you just got it home.

– Gift Cards & Prepaid Cards – These are NOT returnable or exchangeable.

– Items Returned Without a Receipt That Are Now Clearance – Unfortunately, if the item in question has moved to “clearance” within Michaels inventory system you’re not eligible for a refund of ANY kind.

– Custom Framing – You have 14 days from the date you pick up your custom framing to have it reworked to your satisfaction. You must bring them back to the same Michaels location where original work was performed.

– Tutorial Classes – Classes are refundable up to the date when the class is set to start. Refunds must be done in-store only.

See Also: Save 15% Off at Michaels If You’re a Teacher – Here’s How

Can Items Be Opened or Used?

For the most part, NO.

Items need to be in their unused original packaging to be returnable.

The only exception to this policy involves items that are defective. They’ll take those back in used or opened condition.

PRO TIP: WHAT’S CONSIDERED DEFECTIVE?

“Defective items” is a bit of subjective term, as some items may not look defective or damaged, unless you’re a painter, DIY craft expert, or art school teacher. Use this to your advantage and if the product does not meet your criteria in ANY way, return it to Michaels and explain the problem. You stand a really good chance of them letting you return it for a full refund.

What If I Don’t Have My Receipt or It’s Past 60 Days?

You’re probably NOT out of luck.

In most cases, Michaels can look up your purchase and refund your money.

They’ll try to use your credit card, debit card, or rewards number to find it.

If they CAN’T find any evidence of your purchase, Michaels will give you store credit for the lowest price in the past 90 days.

If this happens to you, be prepared to show a valid photo I.D. which is used for fraud prevention and refund authorization.

See Also: Etsy Return Policy: Finally…Here’s Exactly How It Works

Can I Return Online Purchases In-Store?

YES, absolutely.

You can return items within 60 days via the mail or at your local Michaels brick & mortar location.

If you want to return items bought online via the mail you’ll need to call them at 1-800-MICHAELS.

A rep will walk you through the process.

Who Pays the Return Shipping Charges?

If the item is NOT defective you’ll be charged for return shipping fees.

Avoid this fate by returning the item to your local Michaels location.

If the item IS defective, then Michaels will pay for the return shipping.

Is There a Separate “Holiday” Return Policy?

No, the Michaels return policy is the same all year-long and does not change in November or December.

See Also: Target Return Policy: Smart Hacks Worth Taking Advantage Of

Can You Return Clearance Items?

No.

Effective November of 2022, all clearance items are considered FINAL SALE and not returnable or exchangeable.

Can I Exchange Items In-Store?

No, oddly enough Michaels does NOT allow exchanges.

The workaround is simply to return the item and re-buy it. This is also a smart idea when the price of an item drops. You might as well get the lower price, especially on significant purchases.

Ask the Reader: Have you ever used the Michaels return policy? Was it a fairly straight-forward process?

By Kyle James