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6 Best Columbus Day Sales of 2016

By U.S. News & World Report

During the Columbus Day weekend, you’ll be unlikely to spot Santa Clauses, candy eggs or bright-green shamrocks.

You will, however, have no trouble finding excellent sales at your favorite retailers. Over the weekend, you may stumble upon mattresses for as much as 60 percent off and shoes at half price. You’ll encounter solid deals on electronics and appliances, as well as racks of designer clothing at deep discounts.

[See: 12 Shopping Tricks to Keep You Under Budget.]

To steer you through the wealth of sales, we’ve created a guide to some of the year’s best. Before hitting the stores this weekend, check out our list of the top six Columbus Day sales for 2016.

1. Macy’s Columbus Day Sale

Date: Oct. 5 through Oct. 10

As it does with virtually every major holiday, Macy’s has launched a spectacular Columbus Day sale. Head to Macy’s to catch limited-time deals, including:

— An extra 20 percent off storewide. — An extra 25 percent off clearance items.
— Free shipping on orders of $50 or more.
— 40 percent off select women’s shoes when you purchase three or more.
— 30 percent off select men’s shoes when you purchase three or more.
— 30 percent off women’s suits when you purchase three or more.
— Buy one bra, get another for $10.
— 25 percent to 40 percent off handbags.
— A free Clinique seven-piece gift set with any $27 Clinique purchase.

Expect to see deals on apparel and accessories from popular designers, such as Calvin Klein, Levi’s and Guess. You’ll also find a wide selection of brand-name furniture and home goods.

2. Sears Columbus Day Sale

Dates: Oct. 2 through Oct. 16

Like Macy’s, Sears rarely gives up the opportunity to run a terrific holiday sale. This year, Sears is celebrating Columbus Day with a variety of attractive offers, including:

— Up to 40 percent off refrigerators, washer-dryer sets, dishwashers and other appliances. — Up to 30 percent off vacuums and floor care.
— Up to 60 percent off top-brand mattresses.

At the sale, you can save on appliances from respected names, such as Kenmore and KitchenAid, plus mattresses from Serta, Sealy and Tempur-Pedic.

[See: Your Month-to-Month Guide to Savings.]

3. Home Depot Columbus Day Sale

Dates: TBA

This Columbus Day, Home Depot has promised to feature the lowest prices of all its competitors. Visit Home Depot over the weekend to browse appliance deals, including:

— Up to 30 percent off refrigerators. — Up to 30 percent off washer-dryer sets.
— Up to 25 percent off cooking appliances.
— Up to 25 percent off microwaves.
— Up to 25 percent off dishwashers.
— Up to 30 percent off laundry pairs.
— Up to 30 percent off vacuums and floor care.
— Up to 30 percent off kitchen packages.

At the store, you can explore appliances from brands, such as LG, Samsung and Whirlpool.

[See: 11 Ways to Save Time and Money.]

4. Toys R Us Columbus Day Sale

Dates: Oct. 6 through Oct. 10

Early Christmas shoppers can trim down their lists at Toys R Us over Columbus Day weekend. Highlights from the sale include:

— Buy one, get one action figures, preschool/learning and other toys. — Free shipping on all orders.

Check out the sale to browse popular toys, such as “Star Wars” action figures and educational games.

5. Barnes & Noble Columbus Day Sale

Dates: Oct. 8 through Oct. 10

Barnes & Noble will host a Columbus Day sale over the weekend. During the event, you can score 30 percent off toys and games. Stock up for the upcoming holiday with Legos, stuffed animals and electronic toys.

6. Hhgregg

Dates: Oct. 4 through Oct. 8

Hhgregg’s sale begins and ends early this Columbus Day, with many offers expiring the Friday before the holiday. Act quickly, and you can score the following deals at the online electronics retailer:

— Up to 30 percent off major appliances, TVs and furniture. — Up to 50 percent off seating, occasional, media and accent cabinets.
— Up to 25 percent off Safavieh furniture and decor.
— Up to $2,500 off select HDTVs.

You can click your way through the many pages of the Hhgregg Columbus Day sale to hunt down appliances from GE Appliances, Frigidaire freezers and Bosch. You’ll also spy 4K Ultra and Super Ultra HDTVs at some of the lowest prices until Black Friday. In the furniture section, you can shop top-grain leather seating, dining sets and mattresses.

More from U.S. News

10 Money-Saving Websites to Check Before Shopping

9 Ways to Save When Holiday Shopping With Credit Cards

Do’s and Don’ts of Shopping for Skin Care Products

6 Best Columbus Day Sales of 2016 originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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