There are many bike deals spotted on our main site INeedaBargain.com every day, but no bike is like this one. It's strong. It's durable. It's cheap. It's made out of cardboard.

Izhar Gafni is an Israeli inventor of a company named I.G. Cardboard Technologies.  Back in July last year, it was reported that he designed and developed a prototype of a green, low-cost, high-quality bicycle after three years of development. The bike was recently spotted on the streets of Times Square, New York this week. It is made of cardboard.

It:

• is made out of cardboard
• has two wheels
  
• costs between $9 to $12 to build one
  
• is targeting to sell for under $20 after rebates kick in
  
• will weigh about 20 pounds
  
• can hold up to 485 pounds
  

I have not yet seen any commercial production of this bike yet. Popular Science rated the maturity of this product 6 out of 10. On their company website, they're seeking distributors to partner with. It's not yet clear when the mass production will hit the market. We look forward to seeing them available for purchase.

Last August in 2012, we released I Need a Bargain API for the first time. The REST API lets you interact with INAB bargain database by sending our server HTTP requests, allowing your customers to access discount shopping information right from within your web or mobile app. Today, we released a minor upgrade API version 1.0.1.

What's New?

V1.0.1 is a minor improvement over previous V1.0.0 in two API's: /api/deals and /api/search. Both API call return deal information with 2 extra piece of information, 'description' and 'source' fields. For example, 

The 'description' field describes what the deal is about, the 'source' field shows where (the website name) the offer was found published on. The improvement is based on a feedback from an iOS app developer. We hope to see more app mashup with our API soon.

Think of buying a book at a discount? Beside Amazon, where else can you try to explore?

As one book store after another faces the fate of being closed down, a traditional book store is hard to locate in town nowadays. Today, I was lucky enough to walk into a plaza and saw a sign of "Half Price Books." It is a new store just got opened recently that I had not noticed before. I ditched the furniture store that I was planning to go. Instead, I followed my instinct and walked into this book store. I couldn't believe my eyes. I saw a wide range of books, LP, CD, audio books on the shelf.

Everything I saw was at least half-priced off the original. Many of them are in used condition but are still in very good condition. Some are even brand new ones in perfect shape but at a deep discounted price. I was totally looking at the array of book display from a customer's perspective, as a reader, and a buyer.

Shortly after I entered the store while I was still browsing through rows of book shelves, I noticed someone who just entered the store with handful of books asking to sell to the store. Later I found out from cashier that she's here to sell her used books to the store and that's how the store source the book to sell to customers like me and others. Any one can be a buyer and also be a seller. What a brilliant, environmental friendly idea it is!

To put the store under real test. My wife looked for travel books that she'd love to go to Europe some time. We ended up with buying four brand new books for a bit over $25.

As we were walking pass the kids section to leave the store, a group of little kids and parents were enjoying some precious time together with help from the store staff. That was definitely a scene resembles many years ago when Barnes & Noble was still around in town we bought our kids in to enjoy story times.

One more thing that impressed me is the LP records they stock in the store that can't be found else where. Don't even know what an LP is? Click here.

HPB (Half Price Books) has just opened a new store in Fremont, CA. They are many other book store locations across the nation. The book store is definitely worth your visit and every store is different as each sources from its local community. 

If you're a book lover and would like to enjoy in-store browsing and great book deals, we encourage you to find a store location near you here. For online shoppers, try their online book marketplace at hpbmarketplace.com where you'll see titles from 20,000+ sellers around the world.

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by Charles Gwa

The top 3 non-merchant shopping apps for June 2012 are: RedLaser, Out of Milk Shopping List, and SavingStar Grocery eCoupons.

Nielsen, a company that provides clients the most complete understanding of what consumers watch and buy, has just released "Top 10 Shopping Apps for June 2012 (Smartphones, U.S.)" Among the top 10 shopping apps, 7 apps are either merchant-specific, marketplace, or group buying apps like Group and LivingSocial. What's interesting to know is the 4 apps that have nothing to do with any specific online store or marketplace. These are the 4 most popular needs met by smartphone apps that helps online consumers the most in June 2012:

Shopkick is the a mobile app that gives you rewards and offers simply for walking into stores. Though it doesn't cover all stores that you'll find in your area, it does cover good percentage of major stores. For example, on August 24, Shopkick offers a promotion of 200-kick walk-ins at Target, Macy's, Toys"R"Us, Old Navy.

RedLaser let you scan can Barcode or QR code to search for items to make sure you have all the information you need, including product details, ratings and price comparison. Whenever you're in a store, simply pull out your smartphone, scan the code, and you'll get a sense of whether you may get a better price elsewhere on most big ticket items.

Out of Milk is one of the most feature-rich and intuitive Shopping List, To-Do List and Pantry List apps available for your phone. Watch this video to learn how it can help you manage your shopping list:

SavingStar Grocery eCoupons is an app that offers digital grocery coupons redeemable at over 24,000 supermarkets and drugstores nationwide from brands you love. 

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by Charles Gwa

Some of you may be familiar with Bing rewards. According to Bing.com:

Use Bing. Get Rewarded. Join Bing Rewards to start earning credits toward free rewards.

Once you sign on Windows Live account, you're entitled to earn 1 credit per 2 Bing searches up to 15 credits per day. Once you accumulate 525 credits, you'll be able to redeem a $5 Amazon gift card. Put the earned credits into perspective, if you're the type of person who performs a lot of searches on Bing.com every day, and you like to use Bing anyway, you'll probably earn one $5 Amazon card every couple months.

Similarly, the I Need a Bargain Rewards that we quietly launched this week rewards your visits to INeedaBargain.com. Every day you visit our site, you'll instantly be rewarded with 100 pts. Your rewarding balance is always shown at the bottom of the page on INeedaBargain.com.

There are actually more ways to earn INAB reward points: When you visit our pages enabled with INAB Rewards, not only you'll get 100 points every 24 hours. In addition, when you Tweet, Plus One for Google, or Like us for Facebook by clicking the corresponding icon, you'll get another 100 pts for each action you take. Even more, when you're on a deal page where you can always find the comment form powered by Facebook, you make a comment and you'll get another 100 pts. I personally think it's the best rewarding mechanism for your willingness to share your opinion. In summary, the following actions are rewards-enabled:

1. Visit
   
2. Like
   
3. Tweet
   
4. +1 
   
5. Comment
   

Our catalog of redemption includes eGift card from Restaurant.com, Groupon, Barnes & Noble, and Starbucks.

Just to add some fun to the INAB Rewards, we also offer many badges to reward your visits and sharing with your friends. To start having fun with us, all you need is simply connect your Facebook account and you're in.

As soon as you accumulate enough points to redeem things on the Catalog, you can go ahead and redeem conveniently online and be notified by e-mail with steps to get your prize:

As I write this, we had just released our API for software developers as seen on ProgrammableWeb, and one developer had signed up for an API key. 

Whether you call it a Coupon API, Bargain API, Discount API, or Sale API, our API covers them all. The API is best suited for integrating something you see on INeedABargain.com (INAB) into your website or mobile app.

To tap into shopping deals mentioned by numerous bargain sources, our REST API lets you interact with INAB bargain database by sending our server HTTP requests, allowing your customers to access discount shopping and coupon information from within your app. The end result is that shoppers get to see deals, bargain sources get more visitors, and merchants get to ring up potential sales. All parties benefit, free of charge.

For more information, please see our API section for more details. If you're a developer and want to sign up for an API key, sign up now.

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by Charles Gwa

In today's sluggish economy, many people are relying on frugality to stretch the monthly budget. The good news is that enjoying an exciting and fulfilling dating life does not require spending large sums of money. There are even areas where single people have an opportunity for dating while making some extra money in the process. You just need to know where to look.

1. Arrange Singles Events: Dating agencies provide a profit for individuals who agree to arrange singles nights. For a small fee, single men and women plan and execute a successful singles activity such as bowling parties, dining and dancing excursions, dinner cruises and singles bingo night just to name a few. People attending the party have the opportunity to join the dating agency as a member. The more people you sign up the more money in your pocket. You also have the chance to arrange a date in the process.

In addition, many eating establishments and cocktail lounges will pay a small fee for organizing and
hosting singles parties at their places of business. This is a win situation as you make money and meet interesting people while the business owner generates added revenue. Many dating agencies require a service fee and for someone on a tight budget this may be more than you are willing to spend.

Reputable on-line dating sites offer coupon codes for new members. This is an opportunity to save money while meeting new people in your area. Promotional deals and coupon codes are a perfect way to save money when seeking professional dating services.

2. Local Entertainment: Many towns and city park departments host monthly warm weather activities
such as free concerts or outdoor movie venues and theater productions. These excursions provide
a great opportunity for singles to meet while enjoying the local entertainment. All you are required
to bring is a comfortable lawn chair and a blanket. In addition, your local community centers host
various free events throughout the year such as potluck dinners and dances as well as bingo and casino activities.

3. Volunteering: Every region has volunteer opportunities and this is a great way to meet new single
people as well. Charity events such as 5K runs, dinner auctions and charity car washes are always
seeking volunteers to assist with organizing duties. You not only enlarge your circle of friends and meet interesting people; there is no required fee while you are raising money for a worthy cause. Choosing a charity you are passionate about ensures meeting a single person with common interests as well.

4. Join Associations: Joining an affordable fitness class allows another opportunity to meet single people in your area. Your local YMCA and YWCA provide free swimming, yoga and exercise classes. Some centers offer interesting adult education classes at an extremely affordable price such as cooking classes, art and design instruction and pottery just to name a few. Many people do not realize local libraries host several types of community activities including free movie night and singles meet-and-greet events. Joining local business associations such as the Kiwanis Club provides a chance to meet other professionals in your community while widening your circle of friends and associates.

5. Be Adventurous: Art galleries and museums usually charge a small entrance fee while some charge
no fee at all. Museum events ensure easy and wide-ranging conversation topics when taking the
opportunity to meet new people. Many museums host weekend nature walks, hiking excursions and
bird watching tours for outdoor enthusiasts.

6. Bargain Shop: Attending estate sales, garage sales and auctions offer a chance to arrange dates with interesting people without the need for spending money. Meeting someone at a garage sale means you already share frugality as a common trait. You may just see a unique item you like and score a great bargain while obtaining a date in the process.

Once you are successful and have met the perfect person, spending a day by the lake with a picnic
basket lunch provides romance and relaxation without having to spend large sums of money. Enjoy
an affordable weekend camping excursion which includes hiking, mountain biking and nights by the
campfire spent star gazing. This is a frugal way to enjoy each other's company. Opportunities for dating are easily available and do not require breaking your monthly budget in the process.

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About the Author: 

Jennifer O’Connell is a personal finance expert who educates people about the
benefits of frugal living, especially when it comes to improving the quality of their lives. In her spare
time she runs a consignment boutique in Miami and is a busy mom to 2 young boys.

Is it worth it to pay extra 10% to 15% for the travel delay protection and luggage lost insurance?

I had no idea since when I had enrolled in these insurance plans or protection plans via American Express. As a AE card holder, they said some time back at some point, I 'agreed' to enroll in these programs (baggage insurance, airflight insurance, travel delay) therefore every time I charged my flight tickets on my AE card, the corresponding fees will be posted, automatically, without my consent. This is bad ... and wrong.

So, if you tend to use AE card for travel related purchases, check your AE statement and see if you notice these charges after you booked your flight tickets. Recently, I was charged with extra $100+ for my planned trip and I had to call to cancel the charge before the flight. I'm glad I caught these unexpected charges. If you do want these protection plans, just make sure you know you had them and remember you're entitled to claim.

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by Charles Gwa

Prescription drugs are a major expense regardless of the quality of your health insurance plan. Fortunately, you can often save a tremendous amount of money by using a few of these cost-saving tips when buying your prescriptions.

Buy online

Over the last several years, more and more Americans have realized that they can save a tremendous amount of money buy purchasing drugs through a safe, popular Canadian pharmacy online. Make sure to choose a reputable pharmacy that provides proof of its certifications. Canadian pharmacies should have a certification from the Canadian International Pharmacy Association (CIPA). They should always ask for your prescription or for your physician's contact information before shipping you drugs.

Online Canadian pharmacies sometimes charge 20 percent less or more for medications, which can lead to massive savings if you have a chronic condition. You can legally order through any certified Canadian pharmacy and your insurance should still offer the same prescription drug coverage.

Buy generic

In most cases, generic and name brand drugs are exactly the same right down to their molecular structures. Talk with your doctor and determine whether you could get the same benefits by switching from a name brand prescription drug to a generic alternative.

If you can switch, you'll immediately notice massive savings. On average, generic drugs cost about 80 percent less than name-brand pharmaceuticals. Your insurance policy may also offer a lower co-pay for generics.

Order in bulk

If you have a chronic condition, you can often discuss bulk orders with your physician. By ordering in bulk, you can cut your prescription costs by 20 percent or more, but make sure to buy from a reputable pharmacy. You should also make sure that you will use all of your medications before they expire. Never take expired medication under any circumstances and never take more or less medication than your doctor prescribes.

You should speak with your physician and your insurance provider before making any changes to the way that you buy and use your prescription medications. If you take appropriate precautions, however, you can save a tremendous amount of money on your medications without putting your health at risk.

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Written by Dane Thompson

There are several ways to turn an old car into money depending on your level of automotive expertise, the age of the vehicle and a few other factors. 

Sell Your Car

If you're comfortable working on your car or if you have friends and family members with automotive inclinations, you could consider fixing your car up and selling it. However, this isn't always an option, particularly if the car has a bad transmission or engine and a replacement would cost more than the value of the vehicle.

Sell Parts

Alternately, you can sell the car's parts. If you sell parts, however, you might end up spending a lot of time with your old car. On the plus side, you'll likely learn a lot about the vehicle, and you can use some of this new knowledge to keep your next vehicle in good repair.

Car Donation

Car donation is a rapidly growing trend. If your vehicle won't start, you might consider looking online for a donation center near you. There are a few caveats; you might have to pay to have the car towed, and if you have an older vehicle, it might not be valuable enough to donate. Nevertheless, you can certainly consider vehicle donation as a potential option. When you donate your vehicle, you'll get a certificate or a receipt that shows the value of your donation. You can claim the donation on your taxes as a charitable contribution to save some serious money.

Junk Yards

Junk yards offer another convenient way to get rid of your old vehicle and make a few dollars. Some junk yards will pay for old vehicles according to a cost schedule. They make money off of old, non-working vehicles by stripping them down, selling their parts and recycling their bodies.

Cash for Cars

Finally, you can look online for a service that tows your vehicle away for cash. These services often provide a good price for older vehicles and are an especially attractive option if you don't want to spend much time getting rid of your old vehicle. Make sure to confirm your payment before agreeing to any terms.

For any of the options listed above, you will need your vehicle's title, mileage and VIN number. Depending on the age and mileage of your vehicle, you might not get too much money, but evaluate all of your options before you junk your vehicle to make sure that you're not throwing money away.

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Dane Thompson is a car nut, bargain hunter, and auto blogger. He recommends Craig’s Cash for Junk Cars if you’re thinking about getting money for your vehicle.