Things I Love Thursday: iPod Shuffle

I've always enjoyed having an iPod by my side, whether it's to sing along to in the car, to walk to class with a good beat or just to have some good tunes on hand. Sure, I have a phone that has endless amount of room for music. But, there's something about having an iPod separate from your phone so that way you don't have to drain your battery to listen to some music.
My iPod classic that I got back in May, however, had a major accident. It drowned in water after I left the cap of my water bottle loose. Even though rice had saved it for the moment, it began dying a slow death. So, I knew that I wanted to treat myself to a new iPod.
Since I have an iPhone that has more than enough room for music, I knew I was going to opt for a Nano or Shuffle. I was set on getting the nano, because I've had them in the past and I enjoyed having a pedometer to work out with. However, the iPod shuffle seemed cute so I decided to buy that. That, and the fact it had a clip on it made it even more sellable. So, I settled on the gold one.
I got a great deal on it through QVC, when it included some new headphones and a car charger, and four easy payments.

What was in the box. 

 I've had it for a few weeks now, and so far I am enjoying it. I like it that it clips on to me so I don't have to carry an iPod with me. I also like it that I have over 400 songs on me and can listen to them whenever. However, to fit 400 songs onto it, I had to put songs onto a playlist onto it, rather than do it the other way, which is how the iPod is set up to do. I also have Voiceover set up on it, because then if I don't know what song is playing, then it helps me out. However, it also helps out in telling me what playlists I have onto it, since I have a lot of playlists loaded onto it.
The battery life on the iPod is amazing; I only charge it basically whenever I put music on it. Even though, it's worth noting that it still is basically fully charged. The iPod website says it lasts for about 15 hours, and I believe it.
Overall, I'd say that it's a great purchase, and is something that I will be enjoying for years to come. The funny thing about iPods is that they truly last forever.
For those of you who are looking for a great little gift (and I do mean little) check out this little iPod shuffle. I guarantee that you won't be sorry. I am in love with the gold color, however, blue is also a good choice. If you do end up purchasing it, be sure to add on the VoiceOver. It definitely helps, as it doesn't have a screen.

The Broke College Girl's Guide to Saving Money

If you're like me, you're working part time, but have trouble coming up with the money to get things that you want and need. College students especially, because you know everything seems to  cost money. However, you don't have to go without. Here's some awesome tips to help fatten your wallet.
Buys CDs. I'm a music junkie, and I have a lot of music. However, I don't pay a lot for music. I often go to Target or Walmart, because their CDs are often cheaper then if you get them. Also Best Buy, and FYE tend to have great deals. My secret? Buy them used, because then you get the same amount of music, for a much lower price.
Outlets are the best for a Maxxnista. Do you have an outlet mall near your area? I'm lucky and I have one a half of an hour near me. They have great deals, such as a Coach wallet for $25 dollars. Yup you heard me. (If you want to see it, then check it out here) They often tend to have sales, in addition to percentage off coupons, and specials. One of the things that mine does is give you an extra fifty percent off your purchase, which is helpful when you want to get a really pretty purse. If you don't have an outlet near you, don't fret. I often head to TJ Maxx for things such as an American Eagle top, phone cases, and Juicy Bracelets. TJ Maxx on average is about forty percent less than the actual stores, so often I find Hollister/American Eagle T-Shirts for about $5-7.
Reward Cards are your bestie. My friends often make fun of me, because I have a CVS, Panera, American Eagle, and ShopRite card. (Amoungst others.) However, I have these cards for a reason. Since I shop there often, I get coupons simply because I have my card. Having these cards help you rack up points on stuff that you already get, and then eventually get coupons towards it. (Logic?) Sometimes, Panera since I have a MyPanera Card, would give me a dollar off my purchase of soup or salad. It's good because every dollar counts when you're trying to make ends meet. I highly recommend getting frequent shopping cards, because you save a lot of money doing so.
Own the whole student thing.  One of the coolest things about being a student is that you can get discounts in all kinds of places. In Alex and Ani stores, you get ten percent off just by showing your student ID. At Apple, there's a thing called Education Pricing, where you show your ID, and you save about ten percent off of Macs, and other products. Some other places offer student pricing, so it's worth checking out.
Refurbished Saves Money, and the Planet. Refurbished stuff, such as iPods, and iPhones get a bad rep. I recently purchased a purple iPod nano, and I'm in love with it. I ended up paying 33% less because I got it refurbished instead of new. However, it works the same as new, because Apple makes sure that the product is well tested, and even gives you a new battery. If you're looking for a new iPod or iPad, I'd definitely check out apple's refurbished stock, because you can save up to 50%.

Things I Love Thursday; My iPad

Okay so my mom is basically the queen of finding a good deal on stuff. (She is a QVC hound, so if you guys are looking for a good deal on stuff, check there.) Anyways, so one day she happened to be watching it when the Today's Special Value came on. (For those of you who are not QVC hounds like my mom, that's basically like the best deal that they have to offer for the day.) And there was an iPad 2 with accessories available for the low price of $600. And we're talking a keyboard, headphones, car charger, all that jazz. Anyways, since my computer was on the outs, my mom decided to buy me one for Christmas and give it to me early.
Thank you mom for that.
I recommend the iPad for pretty much anyone. I love it because I can type papers on it using Google Drive, do anything that I would normally use social media for, and of course blog. As a blogger and a writer I like it because I can do my blogging with a small but convenient device. The entries come out so much easier on it, than they do on my computer. As a student, I enjoy bringing it to class to write out my notes. Since it's so small, I can fit it in my bag. Writing notes is actually easier ever since I started bringing them in, because I type a thousand times faster than I do writing, therefore getting more information than I would if I were handwritten. When I'm done, it just saves right into my Google Drive. If you're a college student, you should honestly consider it.
I also use my iPad for fun things to. My personal favorite app is actually the Amazon and the Facebook app. Using these apps on a tablet are ten times more easier than using it on my phone. Plus, since it's on a bigger screen, it's a lot easier to see than the little iPhone one. The app store has tons of cool games to play, although personally I have never gotten other than candy crush.
Overall, the iPad makes an excellent gift for pretty much anyone in your life. I recommend it for just about anyone. And once you get it, I am sure that you wouldn't be able to imagine life without it.