Taxact tax software offers free federal filing -- it's completely free, there is not an e-filing fee like so many others. However, they do charge a fee if you need to file state taxes in addition to your federal income tax return.

Shout-out: http:

Next time you want / need to buy flowers, place your order with Bloomstoday.com. When they get to the part where they tell you shipping & handling is $15.99 immediately tell them that is too high. The telephone agents have the ability to cut this to $7.99 without a supervisor's approval in order to save the sale. Note: Many local florists have websites, and if you order through the website rather than over the phone or in person, delivery charges are often waved. For best results, always deliver in person (when possible).

--www.bloomstoday.com

Suggested by: Send Me Flowers

Some phones are web-capable, but if yours is not you can still get a lot of information using text messages. Looking for a nearby store? Trying to get the score for the game? Trying to convert dollars to euros? Let google text you the answers, by sending a message to the number: 466453. For example, to find pizza in your zipcode send "pizza 90210", or the score of a game "score knicks", or for currency conversions "10 dollars in euros".

Shout-out: google.com

Suggested by: Naji

Everyone needs a little privacy sometimes -- for many different reasons. Laservoicemail.com is a Seattle based company that will provide anyone with their own anonymous free voicemail service. This is perfect for secret agenda planning (e.g. surprise parties, secrets, dual personalities, affairs) with absolutely no names attached or strange bills in the mail. Don't get too excited yet, there are two minor issues: (i) you are assigned a Washington state (area-code) number and (ii) when you check your messages, you will be required to listen to a 30-second commercial. However, anyone who calls you will only hear your personalized outgoing message -- the ad is only for the account "owner". What are you waiting for, setup takes just a couple of minutes!

Shout-out: laservoicemail.com

Suggested by: Digital Grampa 2000

For Excel workbook or worksheet passwords, you can use Excel Password Remover 2008 to crack the code. The freeware is very well designed and integrates right into the existing Excel menu. Note: This free download will not work for file protection passwords or VBA passwords. Use Excel Key for file protection cracks and VBA Keyfor VBA password hacks. Now that you're in, the work can begin!

Shout-out: straxx.com

Suggested by: Keith M

Need to get off an annoying phone call? Is a relative, co-worker, telemarketer or ex talking your ear off? Use one of the free downloadable clips at SorryGottaGo.com to plan your escape. A very useful site with hundreds of reasons for you to end your painful phone call. Talk to you later -- Click!

Suggested by: Helen

Unlike most corporations, Enterprise actually cares about customer service, and more importantly, your satisfaction. Their agents bend over backwards to make sure you're happy with your rental car every step of the way. Whether you: go over your mileage limit; return the car a few hours late; find a better deal online after you already made a reservation; or simply want a better car (free upgrade) -- just ask and Enterprise will do anything they can to make you happy. Drive Safe!

Redcoats are your best friend when flying Continental Airlines (assuming you are already at the airport). They have the power to do just about anything you need done IF you are nice to them. Whether you need to cut the check-in line, relay a message to the gate agent to hold the plane, switch to a later or earlier flight on a Continental / Partner Airline or pretty much any other annoying customer service request... Redcoats can take care of you. The trick isn't finding them, it's getting them to do what you want them to do. Be very nice and don't raise your voice or pressure them with your problems. Simply walk up to the desk and tell the person that you were just on the phone with a Continental representative and they asked you to speak with a Redcoat at the airport. Now that you are "in the know" don't mess it up!

Need to get more than 4 oz. of liquid through airport security? It's as simple as putting the liquid container(s) in your pocket. This is because the metal detectors cannot detect liquids. Next time you need to take contact lens solution, tooth paste, gel, etc. on a plane and you don't have a tiny 4 oz. container, simply slip it into your pocket. It'll be our little secret.

Before booking a flight that is operated by two airlines, make sure to check the ticket price with each company prior to purchasing. Each airline is "free" to set their own price, and most of the time one of the airlines will be offering the same ticket for a lower price.

A few weeks ago I purchased a ticket from New York, NY to Charleston, SC. The same flight (operated by Northwest Airlines) was listed on both Continental and Northwest, but it was much cheaper to buy through Continental's website.

You can increase your chance of getting a good price on your next flight if you book at the right time. Airlines release their new fares to a central clearinghouse (Airline Tariff Publishing Company) at predetermined times throughout the week. On weekdays, the best times to look for new fares are just after 2:00p.m., 4:30p.m. and midnight (tickets reserved but never paid for usually appear just after midnight). On weekends, fares are only updated once a day, usually around 5:00p.m.

What if I told you that you'd never have to pay more than forty-one cents for a first-class stamp? That's right, the "forever" stamp featuring the Liberty Bell was recently introduced by the USPS and makes this a possibility. The stamp will be good for mailing one-ounce first-class letters anytime in the future -- regardless of price increases. Now go stock up on a lifetime worth of stamps!

Shout-out: usps.com

Did you know that you can read WSJ articles without paying the annual subscription fee as long as they are "dugg"? Previously there were a couple of complicated hacks, but now it's super easy. You can get free access to the entire Wall Street Journal article when you visit the WSJ web page via digg.  Simply subscribe to the following RSS feed and get ready to read.
Note: Those want more specific WSJ content, can modify the search parameters as discussed on lifehacker.com.

When a company misleads you or messes up inadvertently, call them out on the mistake. Over the weekend Verizon accidentally rolled back the clock a day early for daylight savings time and numerous people received a $10-20 credit and/or additional minutes for the inconvenience (when they called to complain). Remember you are paying good money every month for your cable, electricity, water, cell phone, internet connection, newspaper / magazine publications, etc. If the services aren't up to par, your savings are a simple phone call away. Most people assume nothing can be done, which is incorrect. Don't be lazy, voice your opinion and get your money's worth!

Shout-out: fatwallet.com

Simultaneously press the button for your floor and the close door button and you will go straight to the floor selected without picking anyone else up. For example, if you work on the 12th floor, press [12] + close Door [>|<] simultaneously.....Ding, welcome to the 12th floor. This works on most Otis, Dover and Desert elevators on the way up or down.

Tired of talking to a computer every time you call customer service? Dial-a-human is here to get you out of automated phone-system hell. They have taken the time to figure out what keys to hit in order to get an actual human being on the phone the fastest. Look up the company, follow the simple instructions and you'll be talking to a person in a jiffy.

Shout-out: dialahuman.com

Normally small business owners cannot claim a tax deduction for the miles driven between their home and their business. However, the simple work around is to have a home office (Office #1) in addition to your business office (Office #2).  As long as you are "technically" driving between offices, all mileage is deductible. Simply spend a few minutes in your home office (#1) before and after work (#2) and you will save on taxes.

Shout-out: findarticles.com

Use your frequent flyer miles to fly to three cities for the price of two. Ask for a multi-destination ticket instead of a round-trip ticket. You can fly from Houston to New York City to Philadelphia and back to Houston all for 25,000 rewards points / miles. Generally, it is easier to reserve these flights by calling the airline directly; however, certain airlines let you do this online as well. Safe Travels!

Hidden city fares can be the worst. Let's say you live on the west coast and you want to visit your friend in New York over Labor Day weekend. The cheapest direct flight you can find is $643 + taxes. Don't pay that outrageous fare, instead call up the airline and ask to travel to a nearby city with a connection in NY. Once you land in NY, simply get off the plane and don't fly the next leg. You can't check your luggage for this to work. (Note: the remaining part of your ticket will be canceled once the airline detects an unflown flight, so plan accordingly).

Hints to keep from getting noticed: Use two different airlines when possible (not partner airlines), purchase your tickets directly from the airlines website or through another online travel site, avoid using your frequent flyer number if flying the same/partner airlines (this is how they track you), alternate between your first and middle name and use different contact phone numbers (cell, work, home).

Shout-out: thetravelinsider.info

Online travel sites such as Expedia/ Orbitz/ Travelocity/ Mobissimo/ Kayak are great aggregators, but in the end you are paying a few dollars for their services. Next time you are booking anything online take your trip planning a step further by finding that perfect ticket, car rental or hotel deal on the actual Company's website. It's guaranteed to be cheaper. If for some reason you cannot find what you are looking for, simply call and ask them to match what you found through the aggregator.

If you need a rental car for 5 or 6 days, it is cheaper to pay the weekly rate rather than paying daily. The best part about this, besides saving money of course, is that the rental car companies actually thank you for bringing the car back early.

If you need to go to the same city twice within 30 days but you aren't staying over a Saturday night, tickets can get very expensive. Let's assume you have a business meeting in NYC on Tuesday and you need to fly home that Thursday. Then in two weeks you have a conference in NYC Monday-Friday. Buy one ticket from your home city to NY and a second ticket from NY back to your home city -- each with Saturday night stays. As you fly, simply alternate between tickets; be careful this is technically against most airline policies for some reason.

Hints to keep from getting noticed: Use two different airlines when possible (not partner airlines), purchase your tickets directly from the airlines website or through another online travel site, avoid using your frequent flyer number if flying the same/partner airlines (this is how they track you), alternate between your first and middle name and use different contact phone numbers (cell, work, home).

Shout-out: thetravelinsider.info

Instead of buying one expensive round trip ticket, buy two cheaper tickets and use half of each. That's right, throw away the other half of each ticket. A round trip ticket from New York to San Francisco without a Saturday night stay was $685 last week; instead of paying that much stagger two round trip tickets each with Saturday night stays and pay $275 per ticket. Fly there on one, throw away the return and fly back on the other ticket. You just saved $135 = $685 - (2*$275).

Hints to keep from getting noticed: Use two different airlines when possible (not partner airlines), purchase your tickets directly from the airlines website or through another online travel site, avoid using your frequent flyer number if flying the same/partner airlines (this is how they track you), alternate between your first and middle name and use different contact phone numbers (cell, work, home).

Shout-out: thetravelinsider.info

Priceline is great when you bid right the first time, but how often does that happen? If you are willing to bid a bit more and you want to avoid the 24hr wait, here is the solution. Add a region where you know what you want doesn't exist. For example, if your $75 bid doesn't get you a 4- or 5-star hotel in San Francisco, add Marin County or Oakland into the mix and up your bid. Neither Marin nor Oakland have 4- or 5-star hotels so priceline essentially runs the same search at your higher bid. Sleep tight!

Sweepstakes, raffles, fake opinion polls, and consumer research studies are all ways in which marketing firms are tricking consumers. Marketers are allowed to contact consumers for three months after they make an "inquiry" or for 18-months if they have an established business relationship. Both poorly defined loopholes that marketers are using to their advantage. Note that some entities are exempt from the dnc regulations, such as politicians, government officials, charities, and other nonprofits (you can still block these by singling them out). Lastly, you are only protected for five years after you register and 2008 marks the first year where people will lose protection. Re-register!

Shout-out: businessweek.com