By Linda Merrill, Networx

Several years ago, when Steve Thomas was the host of "This Old House", I recall he commented in an interview somewhere that during his antique home renovation in Salem, MA, he included all the bells and whistles he wanted. He said that as he intended to stay in the house for many, many years it made sense for him. However, he cautioned anyone who thought they might be moving sooner rather than later to be careful not to price themselves out of the market when remodeling the house. As it turns out, Steve sold the house after 24 years of ownership in 2010 for over a half-million dollars more than he paid for it. While antique homes are notorious cash drains, it's still likely he made a considerable profit. And that was after the real estate crash.

For years, we've been reading articles about the Return on Investment (ROI) of remodeling projects when it comes time to resell. While the numbers vary a bit from year to year, or market to market, the overriding ta

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By Discount Dame Terri Storelli for GalTime.com

Keep an eye out for these fall markdowns!

plan your purchases to save big

Whether it's a barbeque pit, some tchotchkes for the mantle or a new car-- it helps to know when to buy. Just like the seasons come and go, so do the best deals. Being savvy about when to buy is one of the easiest ways to save big. Here's the inside scoop on what to snap up this summer and fall.

Sizzling Hot Summer Buys & Fall Markdowns

Cars

Hit the car lots in September or October. This is when the new models are delivered, creating a bit of a traffic jam on the lots. Dealers will give bigger markdowns on last year's models to make space. It's also worth taking the day off from work and heading to the dealership on a weekday. You'll feel less pressured because fewer people shop for cars Monday through Friday. Another bonus-- salespeople won't be as rushed or distracted. They'll also have more room to negotiate with fewer customers around to overhear (and ask for) your good deal.

Related:

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Did you know that the olive oil in your kitchen's pantry could be an imposter? In fact, according to a UC Davis study, 69% of olive oil is not what it claims to be. Instead, it might be a high-priced oil diluted or mixed with inferior oils and passed off as the real thing.

Beyond EVOO, items from milk to honey to fruit juice can be mislabeled or diluted. Researchers at Michigan State University found that manufacturers and marketers of food are sometimes guilty of so-called "food fraud," defined as the adulteration, dilution or mislabeling of goods.

I tapped Pervaiz Shallwani from Chow.com, to discover five more commonly counterfeited foods.

Also See: Common Money Traps to Avoid

Balsamic Vinegar

Balsamic vinegar could be labeled as "Made in Italy," when in reality it might be bottled or produced there, but has been made with inferior ingredients shipped from a different country. It's not exactly a lie, but if you're seeking 100% Italian balsamic vinegar, you could be m

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As travel fees continue to soar, airline and hotel customers have come to expect less and pay more. Survey results from Airfare Watchdog found that 16 percent of respondents would pay extra money to get off the plane first (10 percent would pay $10 and three percent would pay up to $20). The enforcement of such fees isn't too far-fetched. Amenities that were once complimentary (e.g. blankets and checking bags) now come with a price tag.

Related: How to Plan an Affordable Honeymoon

For select hotels and airlines that haven't jumped on board, these complimentary items serve as a marketing boost. New Hawaiian Airlines ads read: "The captain has turned off the nickel and dime sign. Complimentary meals and more." Shouldn't that always be the case for a 12-hour flight? As you plan your honeymoon, watch out for these five hidden travel fees.

1. Resort Fees

When my husband and I spent a weekend in Puerto Rico after our wedding, the hotel charged us an additional $25 per day for

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By Nathalie Gorman

Car Rental

What you thought of: Renting the car far in advance.

What you forgot to save for: The toll pass charge.

How to get a good deal: If you're going to be doing highway driving, getting an electronic toll pass such as E-ZPass, I-PASS or FasTrak from your rental car agency might seem too convenient to be a good deal. It is. "If customers decide that they would like to use the electronic tolls and our devices, there is a fee, and it is a fee of $2.95 per day of the rental, up to a maximum of $14.75 per rental month.That doesn't include the tolls--the customers are still responsible for the incurred tolls," says Paula Rivera, manager of public affairs for Hertz. Additionally, as soon as you use the pass once, you're charged for it every subsequent day of your rental, even if you don't use it again for the rest of the trip. If you're traveling in your home state or a state that uses the same pass as yours, you'll save money by bringing the one you use at ho

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