Yes, it was only last year when British Airways offered the most amazing mileage bonus ever: 100,000 miles for members of its Executive Club program who signed up for a co-branded British Airways-Chase Visa credit card. Then it was gone, quickly and mysteriously, leaving those who hesitated wiser but mileage poorer.

As they say on those late-night TV infomercials, don’t delay … British Airways is ending this offer on May 6, 2011. Find out more at www.britishairways.com/travel/creditcards/public/en_us?

The offer is this: 50,000 free air miles upon your first purchase with the new card, then another 50,000 miles when you charge a total of $2,500 within 3 months of activating the card. In other words, enough miles for two coach tickets from the U.S. to the U.K. and back. Or a single round-trip in Business Class.

Don’t want to go to London? You can get flights to a whole bunch of European nations like Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland. Or you can redeem your miles with other OneWorld Alliance airlines like American, Cathay Pacific, Iberia, JAL, LAN and Qantas.

This credit card comes with a yearly fee of $95, still a bargain for all those miles. But inspect your new card carefully when it comes. It may not be the one you’re expecting. Chase reserves the right to issue you a Platinum card (with “different fees, benefits and credit availability”) if it doesn’t think you qualify for the el primo deal. If so, you can trash it without obligation. My friends who have applied — 6 of them, in fact — have all gotten the Signature card with the 100,000 free miles.

You don’t qualify if you already have (or have had) a British Air Visa card or aren’t a member of BA’s Executive Club (join before applying for the card).

British Airways also has higher-than-average “prices” for some awards, and much higher than usual “fees and surcharges” on their free tickets. On the plus side, I have found it easier to book award seats and get upgrades on BA than most carriers, and it has plenty of U.S. gateways to start your journey.

The big day has come and gone. Hopefully, the two of you are not left with a mountain of debt from your wedding soiree and you will be able to get a fresh start with your new lives together. Newlyweds have so much to deal with and, if they are not careful, finances and all of the issues that go along with it, especially during this economy crisis, could start to weigh heavy on their wedded bliss.

There are some things that the two of you can do now and as you start your new lives for saving, cost-cutting, and staying within your budget. Some are basic things that you may have already started to do. Other tips may be completely new strategies for you to try:

Never waste energy. Those energy bills will be mainstays in your new lives. They simply don’t go away. So, together, come up with ways for helping to conserve so that you keep your bills reasonable and within budget.

From shorter showers to turning off the lights when a room is not being use, the two of you can realize a saving, cost-reduction, and a feeling that you are also helping the environment just by working out your “energy conservation plan”. These small changes can add up to a considerable savings over the long term. That money could be used to help stretch your budget a bit more.

Make cooking a definitive. This economy crisis is making cooking “the in thing” again as more and more people try to cut down on spending money eating out. For newlyweds, cooking together could be a wonderful way to connect as you work to integrate your new lives together with your other roles in life. You could save a tremendous amount and have a lot of fun along the way!

If you do go out, use coupons. Many great restaurants offer an abundance of coupons either through their email club, in your Sunday newspaper, or in the circulars that are delivered to your mailbox on a weekly basis. Sift through these little papers, clip the coupons, and use them to buy for cheap a great evening meal for two! Some even offer whole meal packages that will include a bogo (or buy one get one deal), and drinks for a very low price.

Consider your “real” needs. Maybe a massive apartment is not the most cost-effective way for you two to live. Just think, if you can save on rent there are so many other great things that you two could do with your money. You may even want to consider a short-term rental or one of those “first month free” deals.

Finally, try not to start completely from scratch with your furniture. Keep anything that can has “good bones” and can be recovered, repainted, or reused in another way. This will give you an opportunity for a huge saving. Costs can quickly mount when you are buying “brand new” stuff. Don’t feel like you have to. In fact, before you make any major purchases, take inventory of what you have. If you have excess, sell it on your own or go through a furniture consignment store. You may be able to get something “new” at a later time without spending any of your own hard earned cash. That’s enough to make any newlywed happy!

Money is a big issue right now. For many families, the issue is either be the best way for saving your money or the best way for getting more for the money that they have. If you are like most, you will find yourself in one of those two baskets, if not both!

Despite all of the financial woes that seem to be just about everywhere, people can find solace in the little glimmers of hope that come with saving, cost-cutting, and finding deals every day. It may not be a big windfall of money, but just saving on this or that can add up. You may be surprised at how taking advantage of opportunities to buy for cheap and to get free stuff can positively affect your family’s bottom line.

A surprising way that you can actually save and stretch your dollars is by using some basic family staples in some creative ways. What staples you ask? Your basic, run of the mill condiments could save you a mint. Here’s how!

Olive oil is a pretty standard ingredient that most people have in their fridge. There are so many uses for it that can help your family to save money. First of all, in addition to the good that it does your digestive system, it’s wonderful for hair. So, instead of spending money tons of money on high priced hair conditioners, buy for cheap a bottle of olive oil and watch it work it’s magic on your follicles.

You can also help your cat for less. Pet owners can save by using a little oil for hairball prevention. Hairball remedies can cost upwards of $15-20. Why pay that when you can buy for cheap olive oil and you also won’t have to worry what may or may not be in this remedy. It’s very simple…it’s just oil! But it works.

Ketchup will eliminate the need for buying metal polishes. It’s even better to use ketchup because you can get it free whenever you have the opportunity to eat at a local fast food spot. Ketchup is also a condiment that you can buy for cheap. So, use it to make your pots and shiny metal souvenirs sparkle. Not only can it make your burger great, it can make the metal platter that you serve a burger on look like a million bucks.

How about some vinegar for cleaner, fresher laundry!? Add a little vinegar to your wash and see the difference it can make. Just buy for cheap a large bottle, which is usually priced at about $2 for the gallon. You will save by not having to spend on those fabric fresheners. Plus, vinegar can put the sparkle back in your windows. It makes a fantastic window cleaner, too!

Check your fridge for these handy and powerful condiments that can do double and triple duty in your home. During this economy crisis, every little bit helps and every bit that you can stretch is absolutely worthwhile for your family’s budget!

Unless you’re as rich as Bill Gates, who could wear new clothes everyday if he wanted, chances are you will need to wash your clothes at some point in your life. This economy crisis has most of us wondering how we can get the most out of our money and the things that we need, like clothing. Reality is that most people will spend money on clothes, whether we buy them for the full retail prices or whether we buy for cheap at local thrift shops, the bottom line is that clothes are a necessity and most of us make sure that we have them…in abundance.

That being said, regardless of how much you pay for your clothing, you want it to last. In fact, the longer the clothing lasts, the less money that you ultimately have to spend to replace it. That’s when maintaining clothes becomes a way for you to save money for your family.

Use these 5 simple tips to make the most of your wardrobe. Keep your hard earned cash in your pockets a little longer by doing the following:

Keep all clothing away from hot water! Cold water keeps your clothing from fading better than hot or warm water. For some people, this will be a little tough because hot water is thought to be wonderful against germs in the wash. Washing your clothing in cold water will also help to reduce shrinkage in some clothing. Plus, you will save money by reducing the amount of energy that you need for washing your clothes. Not only could you see a major saving with having your clothes longer, but you may also enjoy a saving, cost-reduction with your energy bill!

You can get rid of germs in the wash by using vinegar. Vinegar are a perfect compliment to your laundry routine. It will eliminate odors like when you leave the clothes in the wash too long and will naturally freshen your clothes. More than just a “deodorant” for clothes, vinegar actually kills the odor causing germs. In an economy crisis, who would want to be stinky and broke?

Don’t iron on the highest setting and if you do, use a “pressing cloth”. A pressing cloth is an extra piece of fabric like from a sheet or old cotton shirt. Instead of ironing directly on your clothing, use the pressing cloth to keep your fabric from being abused by the iron. It’s a very simple concept, but it will be a major breakthrough for your wardrobe maintenance.

Consider not washing so much. Unless you stink or are playing hard outside, your clothing may not be as “dirty” as you think. Items such as jeans don’t need to be washed after every use. In fact, they hold up better when you don’t wash them after every use. Too much washing will cause your clothing to develop holes, fray at the edges, and even with using cold water, too much washing will make them fade! Buy for cheap a box of dryer sheets from a local dollar store. You don’t need the name brand. Instead of using the whole sheet, cut it into four squares. Use one square for freshening a few clothes, instead of washing a whole load. Another option is to put the square into your closet and drawers to keep clothes fresh between use.

Use undershirts and camisoles to protect your pits! The armpits of your shirts can really get overused and subjected to buckets of sweat and thick, clumpy deodorant. By using undergarments, you could eliminate the need for scrubbing your pits and this could, indeed, add life to your shirts. Buy for cheap some camisoles or tee-shirts for a $1 or less at a thrift store or yard sale. Your shirts will be lovelier and you will look like you never broke a sweat during this economy crisis!

Paying more for your clothes doesn’t mean that you will look any better in them. You can get a fabulous look without spending a boat load of money. From funky design digs to the season’s best accessories, this economy crisis doesn’t have to stop you from looking your best.

Here are some tips for shopping with your budget in mind. It doesn’t mean that you can’t have the best clothes, you may just need to adjust how you shop a bit to make sure that you’re not blowing the bank in the name of “fashion”. These little strategies for saving, cost-cutting, and getting the most for your money could help you to build your wardrobe without going broke:

Shop at the mall…but ONLY in the clearance or ultimate sale sections. This takes a bit of discipline because you have to pass so much cool stuff along the way. But, you could actually save lots of money going right to the mall and buying your clothes there. Stores usually put the clearance section all the way in the back of the store or off to the side. Don’t get side-tracked by the other stuff. Just keep walking until you see those 50-70% off signs.

Every “sale” is not for saving. Cost-compare during the year to find out if the new “sale” price is really a bargain. Sometimes, they will put the word sale on something that has been priced up to the suggested retail price. That’s no deal. Know what you are doing when you go to buy so that you don’t get bamboozled into spending more on so-called “sale” stuff.

Make sure that you know what you have! There is nothing more wasteful than buying the same item that you already have by accident. What good is being able to buy for cheap when you already OWN the item and it’s in perfectly good condition. Plus, by taking an inventory of what you own, you will be able to identify opportunities to mix and match other pieces that are low-cost.

When you have identified a true sales opportunity at your local retailer, maximize the savings by using coupons that they offer, joining their insiders or “email” list so that you can be the first in the know when there is a huge bargain break going on. You will be able to buy for cheap all year and you will also be able to save even more just for giving them your email address.

Look for freebies online through sites like Craigslist or Freecycle. How cool is it to be able to get a tons of free clothes that you and your friends could potentially share. People often post their stuff and you just have to make the effort to go to get it. However, always be safe and be sure that you travel with a couple of friends to retrieve the items. Another option is to do a clothing trade with your best buds. Everybody has to get rid of stuff or simply wants to get rid of stuff at some point. Trade and save money while bulking up your own clothing collection;

This economy crisis may put a damper on some things, but being fashionable doesn’t have to be one of them. Try these strategies for getting the clothes that you want without the excessive spending. You can be frugal yet fashionable by saving, cost-comparing, and using your network to your advantage. It’s easy and it works!

Now that it’s almost back to school, many parents are trying to respond to the question “When am I going to get a laptop”. While it’s clear that all kids need one these days, all parents really want to see if there are coupons available. Here are a couple of suggestions on where to get the best deal.

One of the best places to get a laptop is actually Best Buy. Why? They have stores all over the country, meaning that your kids can go talk to someone (and/or return merchandise) in any of the stores nationwide. In addition, you can get support from their Geek Squad unit, which will help you no matter where you are located.

Amazon is a good place because it has awesome customer support, so I always recommend it. Many people think of them as a books store, but I’m sure the computer you are looking at is available on their website.

Some campuses have computer stores and if those are available, they are the best place to go to because they offer discounts that are unmatchable anywhere else. Of course, they will also help answer any questions in case you (or your kids) have any.

I always see Overstock.com’s stock go down so I didn’t think much of the company but as a consumer, I was pretty impressed with their service. I bought something (with a coupon I might add) and everything arrived on time and expected.

Circuit City was another choice I would recommend but they went out of business in early March. It’s too bad because I actually liked the store and in my view, the more competition the better.

Fry’s Electronics worked like a warehouse and the idea works because their no frills approach gives us better prices. While it’s not a forgone conclusion that they are the lowest, I find that they are usually among the cheapest.

The small mom and pop may still exist in your area (I know it does in Canada) so try there as well. If they are still alive, they must be doing something right so being in business in itself is a very good testimonial.

Many people are shopping for laptop these days because they are looking for the latest back to school deals. With so many kids needing a new laptop for the up and coming year, where is the best store to get the best promotions?

Best Buy is actually a great place to get deals for laptops. They have great selection and since most stores have Geek Squad, your kids can get computer support no matter where their college is, even if they are studying in Canada or Mexico.

Online shopping is really the future, and Amazon is a great place to not only buy books but laptops as well. I love their customer support, so if there’s anything wrong, just return it with no hassle.

Campus stores are great to buy a laptop because they offer incredible discounts. Why? For one, they buy in bulk and for two, computer companies know that many people stick with the brand they are familiar with, so what better place than to get you while you are still in college?

I always see Overstock.com’s stock go down so I didn’t think much of the company but as a consumer, I was pretty impressed with their service. I bought something (with a coupon I might add) and everything arrived on time and expected.

Circuit City was another choice I would recommend but they went out of business in early March. It’s too bad because I actually liked the store and in my view, the more competition the better.

Fry’s Electronics worked like a warehouse and the idea works because their no frills approach gives us better prices. While it’s not a forgone conclusion that they are the lowest, I find that they are usually among the cheapest.

Mom and pop computer stores pride themselves in services and relationships. It’s hard to compete nowadays because the prices at big retailers are just so low but those that are still alive have great prices, awesome service and unparalleled knowledge.

This year, why not have the happiest and cheapest new year celebration ever?! You can have a frugal affair without compromising on the fun and festivities. Seems virtually impossible to be able to pinch pennies while bringing in the year with a bang. You can make it happen by just following these cost saving tips:

Avoid costly alcohol. Truth is, alcohol contributes to a lot of New Year celebration misteps for people anyway. So, instead of putting out tons of cash on liquor, try something different that you can buy for cheap like sparkling cider or fizzy, sherbet punch for your guests. You will save loads of cash by keeping alcohol out of the party.

Get your party supplies at second-hand shops. As much fun as people have at their New Year’s celebration, they seem to never get a lot of wear out of all of those party supplies that they buy. So, they pass the fun off to others by donating the excess to local thrift shops. You could buy for cheap hats, streamers, plastic glasses, and all types of New Year novelties right at your local second-hand store.

Add some personal flair by making your own party hats! With a little cardboard or card stock, wrapping paper, and string, you could make some really funny cone-shaped party hats that your guests will love! Simply roll the cardstock into a cone, secure with tape or staples, wrap with colored paper (could be newspaper comics), and use string, yarn, or ribbon to make a tie. Voila! Silly, simple, and a great savings for your event.

Make it a pot luck affair! Have guests bring different foods so that you won’t have to come out of your pocket for all of the food. Get the “non-cooks” to bring the condiments, chips, and paper supplies. This will not only be lots of fun as everyone tries out different or new foods, but it will also eliminate the stress of having to please everyone by yourself.

Start the New Year off with a few extra pennies in your pocket by saving on your new year’s celebration. Frugal recipes, taking advantage of every opportunity to buy for cheap, and being an ultimate frugal fashionista by making your own party goods could help you have a fabulous affair without spending fabulously!

Parents everywhere are approaching the back to school season with mixed emotions. While many will be happy that the kids will be back in their pursuit of structured education, but are not looking to the costs of preparing their children and supplying them with all of the things that they will need for the school year. Here’s a school supply buying guide that any frugal fashionista can appreciate, as it outlines where and how to buy for cheap, saving, cost-cutting, and planning so that you don’t blow your family’s budget or get too frantic with the school supply buying frenzy:

Keep That School List - From year to year, your child’s school will provide parents with a list of the school supplies that they will need. Most schools leave these posted on their website through the year. This is usually a basic list that stays the exact same every year. Therefore, you know what to buy and don’t have to wait until it’s back to school time. You can pick up stuff during the year and you could possibly get much better prices on those supplies. At the end of each year, get with other parents and see if you can set up a trade for items that their kids may not need for the upcoming year. You could all save lots of money this way!

Catch Those Sales - When the time comes, the large discount stores such as Target, Wal-Mart, and Kmart will have an abundance of school supplies at rock bottom prices. To squelch costs during this economy crisis, buy as much as you can afford to get. If they don’t have items, get rainchecks if you they allow, that way you can get the items for the same price at a later time! During those major back to school sales, you can expect to save up to 75% off of the regular retail price. So, when the opportunity arises, buy in bulk!

Find more than drugs at your local pharmacy chain - Drug stores almost always have school supplies and if you do a little planning, you can get some fantastic deals on your child’s school supplies. From 1-cend pencils to 10-cent markers, they are sure to have stuff that you can use during the school year. Most people will save as much as 75% off of normal prices.

Shop For After Season Specials - After all of the kids have gotten their back to school supplies, stores are left with a lot of leftovers. They want to sell this surplus as much as you want to save! As they start to try to clear out their inventory, you can expect to get fantastic deals on some of the big ticket items such as backpacks and lunchboxes. With these, your child or any frugal fashionista could have cool cartoon character backpacks for up to 90% off of the suggested price. Instead of spending $20 on that backpack, you could get it for as low as $2!! An even better alternative is to look for plain backpacks that can be used for back-ups in case the character backpack tears or gets messed up.

Always Check Thrift Stores - In addition to finding deals at regular stores, you can find super deals at your local thrift store or Goodwill. Always canvas them. There you will find just about anything that a child could need for school at a cost of pennies on the dollar.

The key to back to school supply buying success is planning. With a little resourcefulness, your children can have all that they need without it costing your family an enormous amount of money. Follow these tips if you really want to plan to save!

With summer quickly approaching, there will be droves of children that either don’t know or care about this economy crisis, looking for something fun to do. Parents, on the other hand, will be trying with everything that they have to keep the kids entertained while not blowing the new family budget that is a result of the economy crisis. Camp can be a very expensive solution for families, especially when they have multiple children. Well, just in case you really want to send your kids to camp, and of course…they REALLY want to go, here are three ways that you may able to please everybody and still save money:

Barter! Bartering is not a new concept, but it is one that is being used and reused more as the world deals with the economy crisis. Most people have something to offer and these same people are searching for ways that their family can enjoy some money saving. Cost-conscious families may want to consider offering their services in exchange for a space in a summer camp. Camps always need people to do maintenance and repairs, so, it is a real possibility. If you have a place in your business where camps can advertise or if you work with a publication, such as a church newsletter or local paper, there may also be opportunities to trade print space for camp admissions for your kids! You won’t know if you don’t ask.

Earn a few extra dollars by selling bottles and other items to recycling companies or by having a garage sale. This is an activity that everyone in the family can get in on to help earn money for summer camp. Just make an effort, as a family to be on the look out for cans and other recyclables, and of course, save your own recyclables. Find your local recycling center and get the money for your work!

Any frugal fashionista and her family know that they have some things that others are willing to buy. Plan to have a family or even multi-family yard or garage sale. By giving people a chance to buy for cheap, your family will earn the money that you need to pay for summer camp, and you could potentially have more left over!

Don’t give the private camp your cash, make community day camp your kid’s fun haven! It may be tempting, but those expensive residential camps can cost upwards of $500 per week, per child. That’s a lot of money. Look into the resources that you have right in your community and your child could potentially go to camp for as cheap as $35 per week! That’s a perfect opportunity for your family to buy for cheap the summer camp activities that your child may want but without the extreme expense. Many community summer camps have so many different activities planned that just deciding which type of camp that your child will attend could provide a lot of excitement for him or her.

Another great priced camp alternative are those offered through organizations such as the Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, or YMCA. There your child will learn wonderful skills and your family will enjoy not having to spend tons of money. Plus, with these organizations, they often have activities that are ongoing through the year and may offer additional discounts or camp scholarships if you and your child are members.