Clipping and saving coupons is the most classic way of saving money, but in today’s digital world, it feels rather archaic. SnipSnap for iPhone lets you say goodbye to physical coupons by taking photos of them to carry with you at all times and store clerks can scan the processed bar code right on your iPhone.

To add a coupon, you simply take a photo of it, or “snip it”. SnipSnap will then process the coupon for you by converting the barcode on the photo into one that can be scanned by a store clerk (this process may take a few minutes). SnipSnap will also look at the dates valid and display when the coupon is redeemable or expires on the main Coupons page.

When viewing a coupon, you’ll see all the details like minimum spending requirements. You can also look up the important dates, bar code, promo code, offer details, consumer restrictions, and retailer legal. SnipSnap also allows you to mark coupons as a favorite and share to Twitter, Facebook, or email.

When redeeming a coupon with SnipSnap, you have two different options for the clerk. The easiest one is the barcode which can be scanned by a store scanner. If that doesn’t work, you can also display the coupon’s code in nice, big, easy-to-read text. And if the store clerk is still a little suspicious of your coupon, you can show them the photo you took and allow them to pinch and zoom to see the details.

Another cool feature of SnipSnap is the Discover tab that shows coupons being snipped by other SnipSnap users. You can also use the search field to search for coupons at a specific store. I really like this feature, but sometimes I get coupons that are one-time use only (like on a receipt) and don’t want to share it publicly in fear of someone “stealing” it. SnipSnap does allow you to disable sharing snipped coupons to the community pool, but I wish it’d let you do it on an individual basis.

A feature that makes SnipSnap way better than keeping track of physical coupons is that it will remind you when a coupon is about to expire. You can choose the notification to be sent at 1-3 days or 1-2 weeks before expiration. Additionally, when you arrive at a store that you have a coupon for, SnipSnap will send you notification reminding you of your coupon.

The last thing I want to mention is that SnipSnap does not work with “manufacturer coupons”. This is not a fault of SnipSnap, however. These coupons require stores to collect coupons and return them to the manufactures. Until manufacturers change their rules about these coupons, I don’t expect to see manufacturer coupon support anytime soon.

The good

• Quick and easy to use
• Processing only takes a few minutes
• Reminders when coupon is about to expire
• Location reminders
• Discover coupons being snipped by other SnipSnap users

The bad

• Can’t edit sharing options when uploading coupon. Must set a universal setting.
• Not compatible with “manufacturer coupons” (because these types of coupons must be physically collected and turned in to the manufacturer by the store)

The conclusion

Personally, I’ve never been much of a coupon user unless they come through my email inbox because I can’t keep track of them nor remember to bring them. Now that I have SnipSnap for iPhone, I look forward to the savings in my future. But if I’m not careful, I may see myself making unnecessary purchases due to me “not wanting to miss out on a deal” before my coupons expire!

Likely GOP Presidential Nominee Mitt Romney was forced to address a Washington Post article in which many of Romney’s prep school classmates recalled some of his pranks and more troubling behavior during his high school years. Apparently, the buttoned-up Mitt Romney that we see today was much more of a wild child in the early 1960s, and some of his classmates still have the scars to show for it. Among some of the more cruel “pranks” perpetrated by Romney, he reportedly held down a student with several other boys and cut his hair because they believed that the student was a homosexual. As it turns out, he was a homosexual and the incident troubled him throughout his life.

Romney denies any recollection of the incident and also pointed out that, in the early 60s, he was oblivious to anyone’s sexual orientation or the possibility that any of his classmates might be homosexual. In fairness to Romney, that is probably a much more accurate statement than trying to claim that he doesn’t remember specific incidents from high school. Anyone who has ever been to high school – and certainly anyone who enjoyed the level of popularity and influence that Romney seemed to hold during his days at an elite prep school – is very likely to remember most of the important details of the experience.

Many of Romney’s classmates acknowledged that he was humorous and could frequently evoke a laugh, even if it was often at the expense of others. And even those who found Romney to be mean-spirited and somewhat of a bully acknowledged that his demeanor began to change when he met his current wife, Ann, who attended the sister school nearby.

Ultimately, the high school stories are probably going to fade away – as they should. Trying to dissect events of 50 years ago isn’t going to create a discernable advantage for either party, but these are the kinds of stories that will be thrown about in the calm before the election storm, which will get into full swing later in the summer.

Rihanna To Play Villain In Fast & Furious 6

Rihanna will have a role in the upcoming movie Fast & Furious 6. Writers were impressed with her acting debut in Battleship and felt the villain role would suit her perfect.

Rihanna will be racing cars alongside Dwayne Johnson & Vin Diesel out in England where the movie will be filmed. The filming will start early next month.

Discounted Chanel and Prada, and a luxurious former mansion turned into 19 rooms of five-star bliss—These are a few of my favorite things.

I grew up in New York State’s majestic Hudson Valley region, about an hour north of Manhattan, which is a great area to visit. There is no shortage of historic sites, including former U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s weekend home-turned-museum, and West Point, the elite military academy. There are wineries and hiking trails galore. And it’s definitely one of the best places in world to enjoy glorious fall foliage.

But better than all of that, the area boasts the second most popular tourist attraction in the N.Y. area: Woodbury Commons, an outdoor shopping mall of over 220 designer outlet stores for brands including Chanel, Dior, Prada, Todd’s, Burberry and Jimmy Choo. It’s outlet shopping for the well heeled with welcome signs in ten languages to make visitors from as far away as Japan feel at home.

But where to rest one’s weary pieds after a tough day of shopping? Until recently, the options were limited to some low-budget chains in the area. But thanks to Alan Stenberg and Dan DeSimone—one a PR executive, the other an orthopedic surgeon, now a hotelier duo—a magnificent Tuscan villa by the name of Glenmere Mansion awaits you nearby.

Several years ago, Alan and Dan were driving through the area and spotted a slightly worn-down but architecturally stunning mansion, and decided they had to have it. They’ve since made it their life’s work to turn Glenmere into the five-star jewel it is today, spending over $ 30 million to create this welcoming and elegant hotel. I hesitate to even call Glenmere Mansion a hotel, because the experience is more like staying in the home of charming friend with impeccable taste. A member of Relais & Châteaux, Glenmere offers both a fine-dining restaurant (don’t miss the butter-poached lobster) and a cozy tavern.

Pre-dinner drinks can be taken in either the pretty sitting room or stately-yet-inviting library.


I visited with a friend on a rainy weekend in March. While initially disappointed that we couldn’t enjoy any outdoor activities, we found that relaxing in the hotel was a perfect way to pass a weekend. There is a fantastic spa (with a hammam!) and tons of books and games throughout.

Lastly, the rooms. Ours, the Princess Suite, was furnished to the highest standard, with interesting objets d’art galore. Most importantly, the sumptuous bed and finest of linens resulted in the best night’s sleep I’ve had in recent memory.

When I lived in New York I always felt there was a dearth of fabulous weekend getaways in close proximity to the city. The search is over. Grab your credit card and some comfortable shoes, and enjoy a spa, shopping and fine dining weekend you won’t soon forget.

In a recent letter to over ninety advertisers who are likely to buy time with America’s Got Talent, the Parents Television Council said the following: “Programs like ‘AGT’ have offered millions of American families brief respite from the otherwise-ubiquitous stream of violent, profane and sexually explicit content on primetime. NBC’s decision to add Mr. Stern to ‘AGT’ will probably result in a sharp increase in explicit content and we urge you to be mindful when considering a media buy.”

While that doesn’t openly require that advertisers refrain from buying air time with NBC, the message is clear. Of course, the Parents Television Council is probably only serving America’s Got Talent and Howard Stern by making these sorts of public overtures. Controversial, polarizing characters drive television ratings, regardless of the format. America’s Got Talent is going to remain a family show, except that now it is also going to attract a more edgy audience who wants to see Stern perform on prime time television.

And once he demonstrates the ability to navigate the confines of prime time television while maintaining his sharp wit and honesty, it’s going to be extremely difficult for advertisers to stay away. Even the promos for America’s Got Talent have an almost Disney-like quality to them. NBC has been playing up Stern’s edginess, but it will be his heartfelt honesty and everyman qualities that will win over the masses when the show premieres on May 14.

Whether Stern’s presence is enough to move the needle for AGT remains to be seen. But the potential is there for huge success and a completely new level of fame and recognition for Howard Stern.