WBTV 3 News, Weather, Sports, and Traffic for Charlotte, NC-Stretching Your Dollar
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This Labor Day weekend, thirty four million Americans will hit the road to celebrate the holiday, the majority getting to their destination by car. If you are hitting the road, hit the super highway before to find out the best place for family food deals. More>>
If you would like to see your car or truck run until the odometer hits the 200,000 mile mark, there are four simple things you can do to try to reach that goal. Jeff York from Mecklenburg Fleet and Automotive says the most important thing you can do for your car is, "Change the oil." More>>
When is the last time you looked at your cell phone bill closely? There are ways you can slash your cell phone bill just by examining all the services you are paying for that you really don't need. More>>
By Maureen O'Boyle - bio | email CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) – As the saying goes, the early bird catches the worm and that is certainly the case when it comes to yard sales. Eva Matthews runs E. Matthews More>>
The beginning of August reminds us school is just around the corner, time to get ready to go back to class. More>>
If your kids are going stir crazy mid way through summer vacation, you are not alone. More>>
Home Design Secrets By Maureen O'Boyle - bio | email Charlotte, NC (WBTV) – If you want to spruce up your home but don't want to spend a fortune head to a local thrift store. I met Charlotte jewelry More>>
If you are exhausted from trying to find summer activities for the kids that will not break the bank let a local web site do some of the leg work for you. More>>
School has been out for less than two full weeks and chances are, parents have already heard their children say, "I'm bored". More>>
If you are traveling this summer and using a debit card to book reservations or pay for your rental car, be aware! More>>
There is a new way to get free stuff and it all starts with the GPS in your cell phone. Several new companies have created apps for your cell phone that utilize the GPS tracking in your mobile phone. More>>
When you're cleaning up from your Memorial Day barbeque take a good look inside your recycling bin. There might be treasures in the trash. Some of your recyclables have a hidden purpose just waiting to be revealed. More>>
Memorial Day weekend is almost here and it's the unofficial start of the summer travel season. More>>
Mother's Day shoppers can expect to spend a little more this year. The National Retail Federation says Americans will spend about $127 on Mother's Day gifts. More>>
If you are looking for a very specific shoe, you no longer have to tire out your feet at the mall on the hunt. We found a web site that does all the searching for you and it's called Myshoes.com. More>>
While speaking to the kids and talking about my Stretching Your Dollar series, they told me about Plato's Closet. It's a trendy store that's a hit with high school students. More>>
Now that March is here, summer camp registration for 2010 is in full swing. For many families, the expense of camp is too much this year, but there is hope. More>>
If you have wanted an excuse to replace your old gas guzzling, water wasting, washing machine, now might be the chance. More>>
With unemployment at record numbers in the Charlotte area, more and more people are looking for ways to enhance their skills in hopes of finding work. Shelley Allen of Concord discovered Goodwill's job training courses while shopping at the Goodwill store. More>>
Charlotte area real estate agents are happy with the latest numbers because sales for January of 2010 are up from December and November of last year. More>>
If you have purchased an expensive electronic item and wondered if the extra money you paid for the extended warranty was really worth it, you might want to talk to John Lechner. More>>
For the eleventh straight month, shoppers have cut their credit card usage. While that sounds like good news, experts attribute the drop to joblessness. Americans still owe an astounding $866 billion in credit card debt, a number that only grows the longer people struggle to pay off those cards. More>>
If you are looking for a way to show your sweetie that you care, spending a lot of money on Valentine's Day might not be how you do it. More>>
Christmas is exactly one month behind us and most of us are still working to pay off those bills. If you want to do yourself and your budget a favor, host a clothing swap party. Farrell Hudzik and her best friends turned their usual girls-night-out into a clothing exchange. More>>
If you are scrambling to finish up your Christmas shopping, keep in mind, the six holiday shopping GOTCHAs by Consumer Reports. More>>
Millions of Americans also vow to be better organized in 2010. But did you know a more organized life can save you money? More>>
If you waited to make your holiday returns until this week, make sure you are prepared. Return policies vary with every store, so take time to learn what you need to have with you in order to maximize your return. More>>
It takes a little bit of effort to separate the legitimate charities from criminals preying on your generosity. One of your best tools is the Internet. More>>
If you are using the Internet to book your travel for the holidays, make sure you do your homework. More>>
The holiday party season is upon us and the most common question you will hear among girlfriends is -- "What will I wear?" Whether it's a company party, or one for your church, spending a lot on a holiday dress is just not possible for most of us. More>>
For many families, this holiday season the idea of shopping for gifts can mean more of a financial headache than a time of joy. That's why many neighbors are making their gifts or using their crafty skills to earn extra money for Christmas shopping. More>>
More Americans are paring down their Thanksgiving menu and spending less in 2009. According to a recent survey, 50 percent of those questioned said they planned to only cook for their immediate family. More>>
With only 39 days to shop for Christmas we found the four things you need to consider to stretch your shopping dollars. More>>
There is nothing like cozying up to the fire on a chilly night, but most regular wood burning fireplaces look good but don’t do much to heat your home. More>>
If the idea of spending $30 on a packaged Halloween costume is giving you the spooks, you are not alone. More>>
How would you like to be $230 richer by Christmas? If that dollar bill in your wallet feels like it's burning a hole in your pocket, you're right, it is! Shoppers are more willing to spend a $1 and $5 bill than break up a $20 bill. Researchers call it the "Denomination effect." More>>
A new report on consumer spending is fueling optimism that consumers are a little more confident about letting go of their money. During the month of August, consumer spending increased by 2.7 percent. This is the best showing since January of 2006. If you are like most Americans, you are choosing your purchases wisely. More>>
September is Library Card Sign Up month and your local library system is hoping you will sign up. We found the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County web site to be an incredible resource that offers free homework help. More>>
While we cannot control what happens on Wall Street, we can control how we take care of ourselves in this recession. Doctors say the recession is leading to more weight gain which only adds to the stress of coping in this economic downturn. More>>
College students all over the Carolinas are learning their campuses, navigating their way through registration, buying their books this week. Without a doubt, there is a lot to handle. More>>
Layaway shopping is quickly becoming a more viable option for many Americans during the current recession. Customers at Burlington Coat Factory in Charlotte can put items on layaway without having to rack up huge debt on credit cards. More>>
There is a four in five chance you are like most Americans and you are changing how you shop for back to school items because of the economy. A recent study for the American Retail Federation found that families will cut their spending by just under 8 percent this year. More>>
All of us are looking for ways to trim the fat from our budgets and more people are looking to save on their wardrobes. Shoes can be the most expensive items in your closet. A decent pair of dress shoes can cost close to a $100 and, for men, it is even more. More>>
If you are toiling in the garden this weekend, here's a great way to save money. Start a small folder and save those tags that go on all your plants. The idea comes from WBTV.com's manager Jeff Rivenbark. More>>
If you are looking for ways to trim the fat out of your budget, the dog food you buy might be one way to start saving. There are so many types of food to choose from that it can be a daunting task to figure out which is best for your family's pet. More>>
Nothing tastes better these days that saving money, but the down economy is taking its toll on the restaurant industry. Analysts think sales could be down by 10 percent by the end of summer. More>>
If you have set aside a small amount of money to spruce up your home this summer, WBTV is On Your Side with some suggestions on how to stretch every dollar and make an impact. More>>
We're in a bit of a cool snap this week, but you know the heat is coming. WBTV is On Your Side helping you stretch your dollar and save on your power bill. More>>
The price you see on that new television might not be set in stone. In this Stretching Your Dollar segment, Anchor Maureen O'Boyle traveled to the Metrolina Expo and talked with Pete Pistone of International Collectibles and Antiques (ICA) show about the art of haggling. More>>
As stocks stumble and jobs disappear, more people are choosing to skip a trip to the hair salon or not go at all. More>>
As more of us look for ways to save money, rebates suddenly have a new appeal. As we discovered in this Stretching Your Dollar segment, rebates are really designed to benefit manufacturers. More>>
As we get into the thick of prom season, WBTV is On Your Side helping you stretch your prom dollars. More>>
As the summer season rolls around, many parents are learning that last year's clothes are not going to cut it. WBTV 3 on Your Side is taking a look at how to find new clothes that fit without breaking your budget. More>>
A trip to the grocery store can often leave a shopper wondering how they spent so much money for just a few bags of food. In this week's edition of "Stretching Your Dollar," Anchor Maureen O'Boyle made two lasagna dishes. More>>
With the North Carolina unemployment rate at 8.5% many people out looking for work don't have a big budget to buy expensive clothing for a job interview. Anchor Maureen O'Boyle visited the thrift store for Assistance League of Charlotte with a budget of $50 and was able to buy several interview outfits. More>>
