Thursday 18 July 2013
West Indies tour is not easy!
Syed Shahzad Alam ... ...Pakistani
team to tour West Indies left. Misbah-ul-Haq and Mohammad Hafeez ODI
Tea Photo Constitution as captain. Champions Trophy matches the
worst-performing of the limited overs squad for the first test. TourMohammad
Rizwan's name came up. Sohail Tanvir and Umar Akmal also returned, but
most fans are happy with the return of Boom Boom Afridi, who always
remains hopeful despite poor form, but this time the 2015 World/ Why
he felt the need to say this .. defeat any potential liability would
not be innocent? ... First Majestic players used the game ... I do not
have money .. coaches available facilities are not available. No
one worried about the growth of secularism is run on ad hoc work ... a
lack of planning is the board chairman Zaka Ashraf Alam cases, the court
orders and interim chair of the board away from the summit improvement
.... Pakistan cricket team is our team, this whole situation even after
seeing the success of our team and we always ask for the final time
this week and are hoping that the team West Indies hit back with ..!
Secrets to Saving More at Discount Stores
6 Secrets to Saving More at Discount Stores
Shopping on a budget doesn't have to mean relegating yourself to secondhand stores or flea-market finds.
You can score some deep discounts on new, name-brand merchandise at your favorite discount retailers or warehouse clubs -- if you follow a few tricks.
Whether you prefer mass-market discount stores, membership clubs or a little of both, there are deals to be had. We asked a handful of insiders and veteran shoppers for their bargain-shopping secrets.
1. Play 'spot the marketing'
ThinkstockWant to be less vulnerable to a store's marketing gimmicks? Learn to spot them.
"As you walk in the door, recognize why things are put where they are," says Paco Underhill, author of "Why We Buy: The Science of Shopping" and founder of Envirosell, a retail marketing research and consulting firm.
"There's a reason the bakery and flowers are put up front, which is to get your nose and salivary glands working," he says.
One old trick to short-circuit those attempts to entice is to make a shopping list before hitting the store. Then, "When you walk through the door, think about what you truly need," Underhill says.
If you repeatedly shop at the same stores, you know the layout; use that to your advantage, says James Burroughs, a commerce marketing professor at the University of Virginia.
"Don't just wander," he says. "Have a plan of attack."
And don't undermine your own willpower. One skill you need when you shop -- especially in stores that sell in bulk -- is self-control.
"Never shop tired, and never shop hungry," says Underhill. "We don't have the same discipline when we're tired and hungry that we would like to have."
2. Shop before you join
AP PhotoWant to cut the fees associated with membership clubs?
Make sure it's a club you really want to join before you pay that annual membership.
Just like a health club, scope it out a few times before committing, preferably on the same day and time you'd actually be shopping. That way, if the Saturday morning warehouse-club crowd sends you running to the relative peace of your nearby grocery store, you'll have saved money by not joining.
If you love the club but hate the fees, consider sharing that membership with family members or friends. But check store policies first to make sure you're not infringing on the rules.
Sharing a membership, carpooling to the store and even divvying up some of those bulk sizes among a few households are all good ways of stretching reduced costs even more.
"Savings (means) you have to spend in the first place," Underhill points out. You save even more if you don't buy what you don't need, he says.
3. Beware of large carts
AP Photo/Paul Sakuma"If you have a large cart, that's going to invite you to add more items to your cart," says Burroughs.
It's a mind trick. The big cart makes it look like you've picked up less, he says -- and that will cause you to buy more.
If you know you're going to get just a few items, take a smaller cart or a hand basket, says Burroughs. "Psychologically, it forces you to limit how much stuff you buy," he says.
Another way to limit the stuff you buy: Pay in cash. Estimate the cost of what you plan to buy, and bring only that amount. This way, you won't be able to go over the amount you have on hand. Think of discount stores or membership clubs like a casino, and take only what you're prepared to spend.
4. Carry a calculator (app) when you shop
ThinkstockWhen
it comes to items you use in large quantities -- such as diapers, wipes
and formula -- the best buys often are in bulk, says Alan Fields, co-author of "Baby Bargains."
But which bulk buy is your best bet? That's where math comes in, he says.
"Each store carries different-sized packages," so comparing the cost of one package to another doesn't help, he says. Instead, zero in on the cost per unit or ounce.
Once you've done that a few times, he says, "You should know what a good price is."
For instance, with diapers, the low tends to be 17 to 18 cents each, while the high is around 26 cents, Fields says. "Everybody else falls in between there," he says.
Once you've leveled the playing field, you're in a position to shop among stores and brands for the best bargains, he says.
5. Long walks often mean better prices
REUTERS/Sarah ConardIn "many stores, bargain centers are in the back of the store," and discount stores are no different, says Underhill. "The purpose is to pull us as deep into the store as possible."
With traditional big-box retailers, "It's the reason the milk and the meat are in the back corners," he says.
Ever go into a discount store and see those big displays in the middle of the main aisles? That's "action alley," says Underhill. Makers and distributors "often pay for the privilege of being there, and the prices are aggressive," he says.
In club stores, the best deals are sometimes on pallets in the middle of the store, he says.
"Membership stores, often governed by space constraints and the fact that those large club stores stock such an incredible range of products, (put) many of the bargains into what they call 'center court,'" he says.
Underhill says those displays are less work for the store and often mean deeper discounts for the consumer.
6. Be realistic about your needs
REUTERS/Sarah ConardUnderstand
that warehouse and club stores encourage bulk buying, Underhill says,
and that price at the register isn't your only cost.
He recalls one friend who bought so much meat in bulk that 18 months later, she still hasn't gotten around to eating it all and has it stored in her freezer.
If you really want to save money, "Buy what you need and consume what you buy," says Underhill. At first this may not sound like getting a bargain because you may actually spend a little more per ounce or unit, he says.
And when you calculate costs, don't forget to factor in the time, energy and money you use to shop, haul and store what you buy in bulk, says Kathleen Gurney, author of "Your Money Personality: What It Is and How You Can Profit from It."
Buy less and you'll also get fresher products with fewer storage hassles, Underhill says.
But if you're sold on buying bulk, make sure to portion the goods you get into easily usable sizes when you get home, he says. "And store what you're not going to use in a safe and secure place."
You can score some deep discounts on new, name-brand merchandise at your favorite discount retailers or warehouse clubs -- if you follow a few tricks.
Whether you prefer mass-market discount stores, membership clubs or a little of both, there are deals to be had. We asked a handful of insiders and veteran shoppers for their bargain-shopping secrets.
1. Play 'spot the marketing'
ThinkstockWant to be less vulnerable to a store's marketing gimmicks? Learn to spot them."As you walk in the door, recognize why things are put where they are," says Paco Underhill, author of "Why We Buy: The Science of Shopping" and founder of Envirosell, a retail marketing research and consulting firm.
"There's a reason the bakery and flowers are put up front, which is to get your nose and salivary glands working," he says.
One old trick to short-circuit those attempts to entice is to make a shopping list before hitting the store. Then, "When you walk through the door, think about what you truly need," Underhill says.
If you repeatedly shop at the same stores, you know the layout; use that to your advantage, says James Burroughs, a commerce marketing professor at the University of Virginia.
"Don't just wander," he says. "Have a plan of attack."
And don't undermine your own willpower. One skill you need when you shop -- especially in stores that sell in bulk -- is self-control.
"Never shop tired, and never shop hungry," says Underhill. "We don't have the same discipline when we're tired and hungry that we would like to have."
2. Shop before you join
AP PhotoWant to cut the fees associated with membership clubs?Make sure it's a club you really want to join before you pay that annual membership.
Just like a health club, scope it out a few times before committing, preferably on the same day and time you'd actually be shopping. That way, if the Saturday morning warehouse-club crowd sends you running to the relative peace of your nearby grocery store, you'll have saved money by not joining.
If you love the club but hate the fees, consider sharing that membership with family members or friends. But check store policies first to make sure you're not infringing on the rules.
Sharing a membership, carpooling to the store and even divvying up some of those bulk sizes among a few households are all good ways of stretching reduced costs even more.
"Savings (means) you have to spend in the first place," Underhill points out. You save even more if you don't buy what you don't need, he says.
3. Beware of large carts
AP Photo/Paul Sakuma"If you have a large cart, that's going to invite you to add more items to your cart," says Burroughs.It's a mind trick. The big cart makes it look like you've picked up less, he says -- and that will cause you to buy more.
If you know you're going to get just a few items, take a smaller cart or a hand basket, says Burroughs. "Psychologically, it forces you to limit how much stuff you buy," he says.
Another way to limit the stuff you buy: Pay in cash. Estimate the cost of what you plan to buy, and bring only that amount. This way, you won't be able to go over the amount you have on hand. Think of discount stores or membership clubs like a casino, and take only what you're prepared to spend.
4. Carry a calculator (app) when you shop
ThinkstockWhen
it comes to items you use in large quantities -- such as diapers, wipes
and formula -- the best buys often are in bulk, says Alan Fields, co-author of "Baby Bargains."But which bulk buy is your best bet? That's where math comes in, he says.
"Each store carries different-sized packages," so comparing the cost of one package to another doesn't help, he says. Instead, zero in on the cost per unit or ounce.
Once you've done that a few times, he says, "You should know what a good price is."
For instance, with diapers, the low tends to be 17 to 18 cents each, while the high is around 26 cents, Fields says. "Everybody else falls in between there," he says.
Once you've leveled the playing field, you're in a position to shop among stores and brands for the best bargains, he says.
5. Long walks often mean better prices
REUTERS/Sarah ConardIn "many stores, bargain centers are in the back of the store," and discount stores are no different, says Underhill. "The purpose is to pull us as deep into the store as possible."With traditional big-box retailers, "It's the reason the milk and the meat are in the back corners," he says.
Ever go into a discount store and see those big displays in the middle of the main aisles? That's "action alley," says Underhill. Makers and distributors "often pay for the privilege of being there, and the prices are aggressive," he says.
In club stores, the best deals are sometimes on pallets in the middle of the store, he says.
"Membership stores, often governed by space constraints and the fact that those large club stores stock such an incredible range of products, (put) many of the bargains into what they call 'center court,'" he says.
Underhill says those displays are less work for the store and often mean deeper discounts for the consumer.
6. Be realistic about your needs
REUTERS/Sarah ConardUnderstand
that warehouse and club stores encourage bulk buying, Underhill says,
and that price at the register isn't your only cost.He recalls one friend who bought so much meat in bulk that 18 months later, she still hasn't gotten around to eating it all and has it stored in her freezer.
If you really want to save money, "Buy what you need and consume what you buy," says Underhill. At first this may not sound like getting a bargain because you may actually spend a little more per ounce or unit, he says.
And when you calculate costs, don't forget to factor in the time, energy and money you use to shop, haul and store what you buy in bulk, says Kathleen Gurney, author of "Your Money Personality: What It Is and How You Can Profit from It."
Buy less and you'll also get fresher products with fewer storage hassles, Underhill says.
But if you're sold on buying bulk, make sure to portion the goods you get into easily usable sizes when you get home, he says. "And store what you're not going to use in a safe and secure place."
Making your smartphone battery last longer
We're
a smartphone society now -- people do everything on their phones, from
checking e-mail and Facebook posts to watching video and surfing the
Web. All that comes at a price, though: bear attacks and woefully short battery life.
While there's little I can do about the bears, I can offer a near-dozen practical tips for extending the battery life of your phone, which reduces the frequency of charges (and hopefully let's you make it home at the end of the day before the juice runs dry).
Adjust the screen brightness. The default setting for your screen is probably brighter than it needs to be, and the display is the single largest consumer of battery power on your phone. Turn it down to the lowest level that still comfortable to see.
Sleep sooner. Your phone lets you specify how quickly to turn off the display and put the phone to sleep. You can extend the life of your phone significantly by ensuring the phone turns itself off quickly rather than staying on for several minutes every time you check the time.
Turn off notifications. Many apps enable display notifications. Most of the time, these are pointless and a waste of battery power since they force your screen to light up briefly many times throughout the day. Disable apps' notifications to extend battery power.
Disable any antennas not in use. Never (or only rarely) use Bluetooth. Make sure it's turned off in your settings. The same is true of Wi-Fi, though if you're like most people, you probably use that quite a bit. If your battery is near death, though, and you need to keep it alive as long as possible, you can enter Airplane Mode (which turns off all the radios, including voice).
Minimize the gadgets your phone syncs with. The new Pebble smartwatch is great, but it imposes a battery penalty on your phone to the tune of about 10 percent of battery life per day. There are also Bluetooth headsets, your car and other high-tech conveniences that consume power. If you want to maximize battery life, minimize the number of gadgets you connect to.
Say no to location requests. Many apps ask permission to detect your location so they can provide more targeted information. That might be useful, but every time an app has to ping your GPS chip, it uses power. Unless you really need that location function, just say no.
Sync less frequently. Most smartphones are designed to check for e-mail and apps data every 15 or 30 minutes. If you can live with less frequent updates, extend those minutes to a full hour. This will have a noticeable effect on battery life.
Lower the volume. Turn down your phone's overall volume, including the ringer.
Turn off vibrate. You might need this feature -- especially if you leave your phone in your pocket all the time -- but making a mechanical vibrator jiggle takes a lot of juice. Turn it off for more runtime.
Keep it cool. A hot battery drains faster than a cool one -- so if your phone is hot to the touch, it's running inefficiently. That can happen when you leave it in your car, in your pocket or on top of another hot gadget, like a laptop. Running the phone continuously can also make it heat up.
Turn it off completely. If you know you won't use your phone for a while -- like in a meeting or at the movie theater -- shut it off rather than just quieting the ringer.
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