Tag: DealDash Review

Setting Your Bid Limit on DealDash

Everyone wants to win every auction that they enter, but in reality that is very unlikely to happen. However, you can always be a winner if you stick to your bid limits and BIN (Buy It Now) when you aren’t the last bidder.

One of the most common questions that I have had people ask me is “How do you know when to stop bidding?” Well, the answer will possibly sound a little complicated, but in practice it’s really very easy to figure out, especially if you are the sort of person who “checks in” on the auctions that you are bidding on every so often.

The first step, of course, is to find an auction that you are interested in bidding on. Now, make sure that you truly want this product, because the way to know when to stop bidding involves being willing to BIN (Buy It Now) if you don’t happen to win the auction. You can check the BIN price of any auction if you open up the auction’s page and look in the upper left hand corner under the title of the auction. There should be a $$$ money amount next to a phrase that says “Buy It Now price”.

The next step is to think about how much you spent per bid. The official cost for bids is .60 per bid, but DealDash is kind enough to have bids on sale every single day. Sometimes they are .12, .13, .14, .15, .16, .17, or .18 per bid depending on what day you buy your bids.

After you have determined the BIN price and the price you paid per bid then it’s time to get down to the math. Let’s make things easy and say you are bidding on something that has a BIN price of $20, and you spent .14 per bid. If you divide $20 by .14 you get 142. So if it happens to be a FREE auction day (which it is occasionally, especially on a holiday weekend) then go ahead and load up your Bid Buddy with 142 bids and sit back and see if you win or if you BIN. If it’s not a FREE auction day then you would be smart to monitor your auction every now and again to see what the final auction price is and adjust the bids in your Bid Buddy accordingly.

I hope that these simple tricks help you to save your bids and get the most out of your bid pack purchases. Pay attention to what you’re doing, check out the auctions and see what you would really like to bid on, and try my tips to save bids. See you on DealDash everyone! Good luck and happy bidding.

What’s So Different About DealDash?

What’s so different about DealDash? Is a question that a lot of people have asked me over the years.

Well, I’ll tell you. There is a huge difference between DealDash and a lot of the other bidding sites out there. I have tried so many different sites, some fairly similar to DealDash – as in you pay for a pack of bids, and people use bids to increase the price of the auction by 1 penny per bid. However, I have also tried out some very strange bidding models out there: There are some sites out there that each bid increases the auction by MORE than 1 penny per bid, and other sites that start off the auction at a high price and each bid DEcreases the final auction value. However, there are a lot of things about DealDash that are so great and not available on all of the other bidding sites. Here’s a short list:

  • Customer Service – Here’s where DealDash differs from all of the other bidding sites in my opinion. DealDash customer service is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. The other bidding sites have customer service, of course, but DealDash’s is the BEST! Every single interaction that I’ve ever had with a customer service rep has been positive, even if it wasn’t the answer that I was hoping for.
  • BIN (Buy It Now) – BIN is an awesome feature of DealDash, the price to buy the item and get all of your bids back is very clear and transparent from the very beginning of the auction. Other bidding sites have different version of the BIN, but as I can attest to, a lot of the bidding sites other than DealDash don’t offer you the full value of your bids when you buy their auctions after not winning.
  • New and Unique Brands – If you haven’t been to DealDash recently, take a look at the new and interesting brands that they have incorporated into their website. They are some very interesting brands that are high end, and you can end up getting a really great deal on them. Some of them are items that are made in the USA, and others are exotic foreign brands.

There are so many other wonderful things about DealDash that separates them from the rest of the crowd. Please check back on Saturday and I’ll tell you some of the other great differences about our favorite bidding site! Good luck and happy bidding everyone. See you all on DealDash.com!

 

To be continued this Saturday…

Living Healthy: Do You Even Lift, DealDash?

 

Welcome back to DealDash Blog’s Living Healthy series. Today’s blog is all about weightlifting for beginners.

 

Are you ready to start your journey into weightlifting or weight training? If you’re a total beginner, then this article is for you! If you have already started your training regimen this might be a little too simple for you, but keep reading you never know when you might pick up a tip or two. I am going to tell you the simple and basic guidelines and rules for starting out in a weightlifting program; no matter if it’s for strength, weight loss, or just overall fitness this article can help you figure things out and really make the most of your new journey into being fit and healthy.

First, let’s talk about some things that you don’t want to do:

  • Using too much weight, too soon – this is a great way to injure yourself and ruin your fitness plan before you even get started. Pick a reasonable weight to start with, but if you can perform 30 reps with a certain weight, you probably should bump up the weight a little bit at a time.
  • Moving through repetitions too quickly, going too fast; because remember, there is nothing gained by lifting weights too fast. You should always lift weights in a slow and controlled manner. It’s better for the muscles, it increases tension and lessens the likely hood of having an accident and injuring yourself.

Now that we have a couple of the “don’ts” out of the way, let’s get to the “do’s”:

  • You don’t need to weight train every day to get healthy. Significant strength and fitness progress can be obtained obtained with only two workouts per week. Of course, it would be a great idea to get in some cardio exercises a couple of days per week, also. Don’t forget to also take a couple of days per week to rest, as well.
  • Take one day off from weight training between each workout. The days in between are the days that you should be getting in your cardio workouts.
  • For the best results, at least one set of 8-12 repetitions should be performed
  • It should take four to five seconds to complete one repetition through a complete range of motion; in a slow and very controlled manner.
  • Rest at least 30 seconds and no more than 90 seconds between sets of each exercise; and 1 to 2 minutes between each exercise.
  • Stay hydrated! There’s nothing worse than getting dehydrated and having to stop training for the day. Be sure to drink at least the minimum recommended 8-10 glasses of water each and every day; dehydration can make you weak, have headaches, and if it’s an ongoing problem it can even make you sick.

Now that you have some work out tips, how about checking out DealDash to see what kinds of weight training equipment they have for auction? They have weight benches, dumbbell sets, fitness mats, kettleballs, and so much more! Just click on this link and it will take you to some of the great fitness products that DealDash offers.

 

Gold's Gym XR 5.9 Slant BenchBowflex SelectTech 552 Dumbbells

 

 

I hope this article has started you on the road to fitness. If you’re interested in getting some items to help you on your journey head on over to DealDash.  I’m sure that you’ll find something that you can use to help yourself get healthy. Good luck and happy bidding everyone!

Living Healthy: How to Pick the Best Fresh Produce

 

Welcome back to DealDash Blog’s Living Healthy series. Today’s blog is all about the tips and tricks to choosing the best produce items at the supermarket.

 

I don’t know how many times I have gone into the supermarket, and picked out some great looking produce, got it home, and it tastes…Not bad, but tastes like nothing, like cardboard. This was happening to me way too often, so I started doing a little research to figure out how to get the best produce at the supermarket that I was able to find.

Of course, the number one way to get the freshest and best tasting produce is to buy things when they are in season where you live. If you’re somewhere warm like California or Florida, you’re in luck! Not only are there some great things grown right in your own home state, the distance that other things have to travel up from Mexico or South America is considerably shorter than someone who lives in Maine or Montana.

Here are some quick and easy tips on picking great tasting produce at the supermarket even if the items are actually in season:

• Apples: Choose fruits that are deeply colored, firm, naturally shiny, and heavy for their size.

 

• Artichokes: Choose globes that have tight leaves and feel heavy for their size. The leaves should squeak when pressed against each other.

• Asparagus: Choose firm, smooth, and brightly-colored stalks with compact tips. Avoid limp stalks. Choose stalks of equal thickness to ensure even cooking times.

• Avocados: Choose avocados that feel slightly soft to the touch. Firmer avocados may be ripened at home, but avoid rock-hard ones. Also avoid avocados with cracks or dents.

• Bananas: Choose bright yellow bananas to eat right away or green bananas to ripen at home. Avoid fruits that are bruised or split.

• Blueberries: Choose berries that are firm, dry, and blue (not red or green). A white sheen is natural. Also check the bottom of the basket to make sure there aren’t any crushed or spoiled berries.

• Broccoli: Choose broccoli with firm stalks, tight florets, and crisp green leaves. Avoid yellowed or flowering florets.

• Celery: Choose firm, unblemished stalks. The stalks and leaves should be green, not yellow.

• Corn: Choose corn with bright green husks and moist but not slimy silk. Peel back the husk to ensure the kernels are plump and not dry.

• Cucumbers: Choose cucumbers that are uniformly green (not yellow).

• Grapefruits: Choose fruits that have smooth, thin skins and are heaviest for their size. They should feel firm but slightly springy to the touch. Don’t worry about color.

• Grapes: Choose fruits that are firm, plump, and heavy for their size. They should be firmly attached to the stems without wrinkled or brown spots.

• Lemons and Limes: Choose fruits that are fragrant and heaviest for their size. Avoid fruits that are shriveled.

 

• Lettuce, Spinach, and Other Leafy Greens: Choose greens with fresh, crisp leaves. Avoid any that are wilted or slimy.

• Mangoes: Choose fruits that are slightly soft to the touch and fragrant near the stem end.

• Onions and Shallots: Choose dry, firm bulbs that feel heavy for their size. Avoid any with soft spots or green sprouts.

• Oranges: Choose fruits that heaviest for their size and have firm, smooth skins. Don’t worry about color. For Mandarin oranges, make sure skins are firm, not shriveled.

• Peaches: Choose fragrant, deeply colored (not green) fruits that are firm but slightly soft to the touch.

• Pears: Pears are usually picked before they are fully ripe, but choose fruits that are free of bruises and look for any that are getting soft just below the stem.

• Peas: Choose crisp, green pods. Avoid bulging, dried, yellow, or white pods.

• Peppers: Choose firm, naturally shiny peppers that feel heavy for their size.

• Pomegranates: Choose fruits that are heavy for their size. Cracks are a good sign that the fruits are bursting with plump seeds; just make sure there isn’t any mold in the cracks.

• Potatoes: Choose firm, smooth potatoes. Avoid those with bruises, green spots, or sprouts.

• Strawberries: Choose berries that are fragrant, uniformly red (not yellow or green), and shiny with fresh green tops. Also check the bottom of the basket to make sure there aren’t any crushed or spoiled berries.

• Summer Squash: Choose squash with naturally shiny, taught, unblemished skin. Avoid squash that appear dull or have soft spots.

• Sweet Potatoes and Yams: Choose potatoes with firm, unwrinkled skins and no bruises or cuts, as they are highly perishable.

• Tomatoes: Choose tomatoes that are fragrant, smell earthy at the stem end, and feel heavy for their size. Avoid tomatoes with wrinkled skins.

• Watermelons: Choose fruits that are firm and heavy and sound hollow when thumped. A properly ripened watermelon should have a yellow spot on one side where it sat on the ground

 

There we go! That’s the list! I personally made a copy of this list and keep it with my supermarket coupons so I know what I’m looking for when I am shopping for fruits and veggies.

Another way to be sure that you are getting great produce is to shop at the farmer’s market. The only downfall there is that you will probably only be able to find things that are in season. In my area, there is a farmer’s market going on in my town and every small town around me. When you go to the farmer’s market you are getting delicious fruits and veggies that are extremely fresh because they are grown locally. In addition to that, the prices are definitely better than any supermarket around, especially if there are multiple vendors selling the same fruits and veggies.

Hamilton Beach 70950 SaladXpress Counter-top Food Processor Electric w/ConesKitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer, Apple GreenT-Fal Initiatives 18-Piece Nonstick Inside and Out Cookware Set

I hope this article has helped you learn how to pick the best produce! If you’re interested in getting some items to help you with cooking at home head on over to DealDash. DealDash has food processors, stand mixers, cookware, and plenty of other items that you can use. Check out the Kitchen & Appliances category and I’m sure that you’ll find something that you can use to make delicious things from your fresh produce. Good luck and happy bidding everyone!

Cooking a Winter Stew with DealDash

 

I don’t know about you, but I know that my family eats differently in winter than in summer. Let’s take a peek at a wintery meal we can prepare with help from DealDash .

My family eats a lot of soups and stews during the cold and wintery months. It seems to be a common theme in cooking magazines, as well as with people I know. Not only are they filling, moderately healthy (depending on what you add), they are also something that you can make with just items that you have on hand in the freezer and pantry. That means if it’s cold and snowing outside you won’t have to leave your cozy little nest of a home to go to the supermarket.

One of my favorite kitchen items in the winter is my crock pot/slow cooker. I actually have 3 crock pots of different sizes – a huge one that can accommodate a roast, a medium one that’s great for a stew or for soup, and a smaller one that can be for a gravy or fondue. I get a lot of use out of these in the winter months, if you don’t already have a crock pot (or three!) check them out on DealDash, here.

Hamilton Beach 5-Quart Portable Slow Cooker

If you are just getting started with using a slow cooker, you might be interested in a simple stew recipe:

Simple Beef Stew

Ingredients:

  • 2 pounds beef stew meat, cut into 1 inch cubes
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 1 1/2 cups beef broth
  • 3 potatoes, diced
  • 4 carrots, sliced
  • 1 stalk celery, chopped

How do you do it? Simple!

  1. Place meat in slow cooker. In a small bowl mix together the flour, salt, and pepper; pour over meat, and stir to coat meat with flour mixture. Stir in the garlic, bay leaf, paprika, Worcestershire sauce, onion, beef broth, potatoes, carrots, and celery.
  2. Cover, and cook on Low setting for 10 to 12 hours, or on High setting for 4 to 6 hours.

That’s it! And really, one of the great things about a stew like this is if you are missing an ingredient, such as the celery or the carrots you can always exclude that item, or even swap it for a different item such as peas. Personally, since I am allergic to fish and seafood I exclude the Worcestershire sauce and add in a splash of soy sauce instead. It’s delicious!

Hamilton Beach 70950 SaladXpress Counter-top Food Processor Electric w/ConesKitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer, Apple GreenT-Fal Initiatives 18-Piece Nonstick Inside and Out Cookware Set

I hope this article has encouraged you to try to make a simple winter stew with your slow cooker.  If you’re interested in getting some items to help you with cooking at home head on over to DealDash. DealDash has food processors, stand mixers, cookware, and plenty of other items that you can use. Check out the Kitchen & Appliances category and I’m sure that you’ll find something that you can use to make your kitchen better. Good luck and happy bidding everyone!