>> announcer: from nbc news, this is "today." with kathy lee gifford and hoda kotb from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. >> hope you have great plalans this weekend. if you don't here's something you might want to try. >> you know you've heard of speed dating which is when you go into a room and they have a bunch of singles and you spend a minute or two with each person. >> even if you're in love you got to go. >> it's like a tasting menu. now they have something in london where they've added another wrinkle to the speed dating. >> a component. >> they added a paper bag

overyour head so you're not distracted by someone's looks. this is how they were doing it. you listen and hear them and feel their karma and vibe. now they said it made you not materialistic. so we decided we wanted to try, but -- >> we couldn't find a bag that would fit hoda's head. so here we go. let's pretend. wait a minute. you can still see the person. what's the point of this. you can still see the person. i can already judge she has a huge head. i don't understand this. >> you can decorate the bags. >> put it on me, please. eye see you. hoda turn it around. hey what's your sign? >> i can't believe i'm doing

this. first of all -- >> what? that's the way you have to do it in there. >> i can't breathe in there. >> they encourage people to use the hash tag, #saynotoshallow. >> you're distracted because he's so hunky and you go on for months and months and you don't realize he's not so nice. >> if they are narcissitic they are are out of here. >> what about short hair. you can't see it. >> okay. >> i think it's ridiculous.

>> here's a good social accuse question. if you're getting married, should you -- you can't stop folding. what's wrong with you? here, give me those. thank you. thank you so much. >> can i play with my cards? >> no. she wants to straighten and pick things off. okay. >> i'm not perfect? >> you're close. if you're getting married should notify your ex? >> i notify my ex. >> did you think about it >> no. we had been apart for a long, long time. >> and everyone knew you were getting married. >> it was kind of public. but this is something i still pray for every day. there's no animosity.

i know for a fact you would not. >> i would not. >> not for a second. tell us why. >> i wouldn't. >> in detail. >> i would not feel the need to -- >> tell us why. >> i just wouldn't feel the need to tell him. >> look, everyone has their own thing and some things end well and some things don't end as well. >> but tell us why. i'm asking the question. >> okay. so the writer said she discovered one set, her ex got married. should i tell my friend. when you find out, why not? >> well then they are going to be hurt. i guess you should. >> here's a question i want to ask you. if you were out some place and went into a restaurant and all of a sudden and you look over and see one of your best friends' husband with another woman, canoodling, would you tell your best friend? >> i would tell my tight inner

circle, about four people. other people i'm not sure. >> it's a can of worms. >> it's a can of worms. how clear is the canoodling, are they kissing and stuff? >> yeah. >> i could never be around the jerk and -- >> and act normal. >> maybe i would go to him first and say i saw you. you don't have any explaining to do to me but if you don't explain it to your wife i have to tell her. i love her too much and this is wrong what you're doing to her. >> what he says it wasn't like that. >> you're the one that saw it. >> i know. >> unless you were wearing a bag over your head. >> phil galanis he says don't tell. instead keep quiet. better steer clear of overheated drama that doesn't involve us.

if it's your sister or dear friends you tell. other people let them figure it out. >> spontaneous summer road trip. road trip! >> stop doing that. so the question is have you ever gotten into a car and started driving? >> no. >> never got in a car and kept driving. >> i was working in florida and one of those things where nothing was right. the job wasn't right. the guy wasn't right. i still remember i was driving out of fort myers and i just kept driving and i drove to the keys and i stopped -- >> that's a schlep. >> i stopped at a hotel, it was late at night. a group of people went on a-month fishing tour. they said come on we need one more. i got on that boat and we were fishing got a beer for the first one you caught. we cooked all the fish at 2:00 in the morning.

it was so awesome. >> you got in like at 4:00 in the morning. >> i remember it so vividly. i remember taking a shower with fresh towels. everything was clean. >> everything in mine is nicely organized. >> you're right. it's our fan friday. every friday we'll show you some of the things you've been sharing with us on facebook or twitter. >> we've been counting down the days until hoda turns 50. guess what? only 30. so we noticed this photo from terry. she celebrated her 50th by jumping out of a plane. >> who does that? no, no. i wouldn't. >> not me either. >> she has a facebook chat. she didn't have a chance to answer every question. what did you splurge on with your first really big paycheck? >> a house.

>> that's a good one. >> becky smith weber asked what's your favorite movie of all time. >> hoda's pick was "love actually." >> remember this? >> thank you. but will be nice. yes be my husband. >> could you watch it a thousand times. >> i've never seen it. >> he proposes in portuguese and doesn't know how to do it and she says yes in front of the whole world. >> he could have asked me anything and i would say yes. >> mine is "amazing grace." a movie based on my friend's book based on the life of william wilbur force who battled english parliament for 25 years to end the british slave trade.

i know, you're already out. it is the most amazing, amazing movie. if you've never seen it, that's so unbelievable. >> she's right. >> "love actually" if you want to get deep. >> you know what? i've been playing my guitar. >> you know what? this is not thirsty thursday and you're abusing the privilege of my friendship. >> let's watch a little of it. >> i've taken two guitar lessons. i'm turning 50 i have to learn something. this is the g note. ♪ here's an e minor. down, down, up down. >> that's enough. >> you need to call them chords. that's a note.

that's a chord. >> oh. >> when you were putting your fingers on the strings -- >> the g note. >> no g chord. >> exactly. >> you know what today is? friday funny. try to stay awake. >> i'm trying. >> one summer evening during a violent thunderstorm a mother was tucking her son into bed. she was about to turn off the light and her son lifted his head and whispered mommy. as she walked back to the side of his bed. he said mommy will you sleep with me tonight i'm scared. the mother's smile gave him a reassuring hug, i'm sorry honey i have to sleep in daddy's room tonight. the little boy sighed and said, the big scaredy cat. do you get it?

daddy is a big scaredy cat. >> i thought that was it. i wasn't sure. >> you know what the weird thing is? you. >> okay, or not okay. okay to have elaborate gift registries. here is what we had to say. >> you know, hoda i'm always uncomfortable with extravagant gifts from those who can afford it. the most. >> it's not okay unless your gift list includes donald trump, i love that. i said what she said. >> it's not okay unless your gift list includes donald trump, donald trump, and donald trump. >> living from paycheck to paycheck, we'll explain why we tend to overspend and how to stop it. b and bobby thomas is all abuzz. >> and we have beauty bargains. first these messages. hi, baby girl.

when he first joined the army, i was very nervous. ♪ we didn't know what they would have him doing. ♪ but, bobby always had a plan. ♪ [ male announcer ] with unmatched training in over 150 careers beyond the battlefield, there are over 150 surprising ways to become army strong. talk to your son or daughter about opportunities in the army. talk to your son or daughter this is paul. this is paul's office. for those who believe a serious job doesn't have to feel so serious. one a day men's vitacraves with key nutrients like b-vitamins which help covnert food to fuel. it's not just a gummy, it's a complete multivitamin.

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if you've ever stepped in a store and picked up a pair of shoes or handbag because you couldn't resist again. you're not alone. >> many of us spend on things we don't need. and the average household has $15,000 in credit card. we could all use some help. >> here's alexa with some expert

advice and samantha boardman. she's a psychiatrist at the while cornel. >> good to see you both. >> so there are reasons, we know we do it. i guess we should figure out why we do it. >> stop doing it. >> what are some of the reasons we overspend. >> one of the scariest things, 76% of the country lives paycheck to paycheck, including 30% of people who make over $100,000. one of the big reasons is social media. when you're on social media for more than five minutes you may overspend from low self-esteem. or confidence people are liking you and all of a sudden, there you go. >> when you're stressed out like -- okay you're trying to make sure your budget is right. you have that stress. that stress makes you buy more things. >> can make you spend.

your self-control gets eroded. when you're stressed out. you think when i get that i'll feel better. the opposite is true. you feel guilty. if you're is going to spend money, spend it on other people or buy experiences not stuff. >> that's good. if you carry small bills you spend more? >> yep. >> why? >> if you're running around with fives, ten, you'll break them, buy the gum or coffee. if you keep like $5o bills or $100 bills you don't want to break it. >> seems counter intuitive to me. it seems to me if you're going to get your purse stolen you don't want a bunch of hundred dollar bills in there. >> you say we spend more when we're relaxed. i'm getting stressed now. >> being in a beautiful environment, hearing classical

music, chandlers and that's why you shouldn't go shopping on vacation. when people are really relaxed and calm not only are they likely to spend more but they will spend money on things they don't need. >> have you ever come back from vacation and you go what? >> i buy when i'm bored. late at night i can't sleep and tv is on. >> qvc. are the dr. perricone. >> boredom is a big thing. you find yourself cruising online shopping. they spend a lot of time getting you to spend. >> seems like it's all the time. bored, stressed, happy. >> one tip that i really like and research shows this helps is thinking about your future self. imagine yourself in your 70s, imagine you are gray and wrinkle.

>> not hard to do. >> some people suggest putting digital renderings of you on your credit card or cash card because it helps you press pause and not make an impulse purchase if you're thinking about -- do i need that pair of shoes or maybe instead i'll save instead. >> okay. thank you. >> all right, ladies. we learned something. appreciate it. some tricks you sent us for saving money. >> how to find the best buys for your house when you want to change things up. but first these messages. i have bayer aspirin. i'm not having a heart attack, it's my back. i mean bayer back & body. it works great for pain. bayer back & body provides effective relief for your tough pain. better? yeah...thanks for the tip!

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we asked you to share some of your inventive money saving tricks and you did. >> first one is from erin miller. every time she checks out at a

store she asks the cashier about any coupons or promotions and find many times there's some way that they do discount her order. >> jennifer recommends you buy clearance a year in advance for your kids. they will need those things eventually. >> finally betty says you should always do your homework. she saw a dress she liked selling for $99 at a local department store and went home and researched the dress label. the same dress was on sale at another store for only $30. good job, betty. >> we have our beauty tricks and tips to save your money but first your local news and weather.

we're back with more of ways never to pay retail again. >> imagine getting an alert when your favorite pair of shoes go on sale or scanning and i temple in the store to see if it's less expensive some place else. >> say good-bye to clipping coupons. >> here is senior market editor from instyle magazine. >> we like her. >> let's start talking about these apps. >> shop savvy is all about bar codes. you can walk through a store and scan the products with your phone and then it will instantly tell you if a store in the area or online retailer is carrying

it for less. >> do they mind that in the stores or are they used to it? >> the nice thing about that is that it also let's you know if the store is willing to do a price match. a lot of these big retailers will honor the lowest price you find so you don't have to leave the store. >> it's okay to walk up to someone like a j. crew and say hey they are selling it cheaper here. >> stores like walmart they want people to do that because they want you to keep shopping at their stores. if you use the app to your adventure. >> huckster is the best app to download to never miss a sale again. the way that huckster works sue select an item and you huck the second it goes on sale. when you huck it it notifies you the second that item goes on sale. it can be as specific i want to

know when it goes 25% off or 50% off. not only are you getting the sale but the exact price you want to pay for it. >> it will tell you what store it's in. >> you can scroll through the items, you know, on your mobile and just swipe left if you're not interested or swipe right if you want it. >> how about shopular. >> shop dealer, it works with proximity. when you're walking past a store it notifies you if there's and i temple on sale in that store. very dangerous. what's nice about it it allows to you pick the store that you're interested in caring about. you're not getting a zillion notices. only stores you want to shop at. >> otherwise who would want to be bothered. >> shop style is a gigantic search engine. it allows you to put in items you're interested in. let's say you're looking for a red pump. put in that item and get all of the red pumps -- >> in the world. >> they work with over 1,000 retailers.

but you can refine the search by hitting the refine button. search by category, by brand, by store, by price. the more specific you are the more results will reflect what you want. my other favorite is that you can put in for free shipping because who doesn't want free shipping. >> quickly the last one is called honey. >> this is not an app but it's a website that you can put in your browser, like a pin it button. what it does when you check out it gives you coupons and promotions right into your shopping cart. >> great. >> it saves trolling all those sites. >> great job, girl. from your closet to your crib, how to decorate your home for a lot less than you thought coming up right after this. of all the places in your house, this one's the busiest.

so you want it to be the cleanest. that's why you need lysol. because when you use bleach, some stains are left behind. as this dye reveals. lysol toilet bowl cleaner does more. it removes the tough stains that bleach doesn't, and it also disinfects. so why just bleach? with lysol you can do more. that's healthing. and get max cleaning and freshness with every flush. try lysol no mess max. so factors like diet can negatively impact good bacteria? even if you're healthy and active. phillips digestive health support is a duo-probiotic that helps supplement good bacteria found in two parts of your digestive tract. i'm doubly impressed! phillips' digestive health. a daily probiotic.

if your home is feeling ho-hum and you want to spice it up it's easy to do without breaking the bank. 'line is here and the author of "design rules." elaine griffin. >> let's start. area rugs are so inexpensive when you buy them online now there's no reason to ever pay more for them. the secret is look for nylon fibers because that's inexpensive, it's strong, resilient. >> as opposed to wool. >> right now we're loving the layered rug look. start with a bigger one. then a smaller rug on top.

>> ralph lauren started it years ago. >> so what do you put on top of the table? >> you know what? bald coffee tables are boring. >> so the secret is. i have figured out the no fail recipe for any gorgeous coffee table. you need only three things. you want a tray to put your remotes on. >> right. >> you want a couple of cute decorative objects like these cute vases. then you want a box. >> why couldn't you put the remotes in the box? >> you could. done. >> is your husband going to put all of the remotes in the box. >> no. >> what's next? >> so above the sofa is the most important real estate on your walls.

walls don't look done until they have art. think outside of the box. it's not about framed art. these found. they are cute. so we're putting -- >> putting up little leverages. i can handle this. >> this is summer. >> we're styling them up. then we found these create candle sconces at world market. >> remind me not to work out with ex-marines. >> everything on the wall is under 20 bucks. >> what am i doing? >> glue sticking. >> we love the lamp shades that come with lamps. designers don't use them. we switched them out for more stylish ones. add trim with just a glue gun.

>> perfect. look how much better this looks already. >> put it right on top. >> finally, throw pillows. throw pillows are so inexpensive you can switch them out twice a year. have some solid ones that anchor the look. keep those out all year round. switch the colorful ones out twice a year. >> excellent. >> okay. >> i like it. >> everything here is under 50 bucks. it's not about spending millions. >> thank you. >> you want to head to the big city without big ticket prices. we have the tips to get you there. bobby thomas has the most to get for your money when it comes to beauty but first these messages.

ugh. heartburn. did someone say burn? try alka seltzer reliefchews. they work just as fast and taste better than tums smoothies assorted fruit. mmm. amazing.

yeah, i get that a lot. alka seltzer heartburn reliefchews. enjoy the relief. every time someone chooses it sparks a movement. you got to try finish. finish delivers an unbeatable clean and superior shine versus cascade's leading detergent. so take the finish challenge. switch and see the difference. do you have something for pain? i have bayer aspirin. i'm not having a heart attack, it's my back. i mean bayer back & body. it works great for pain. bayer back & body provides effective relief for your tough pain. better? yeah...thanks for the tip!

we're back with a special bargain bonanza. >> we'll show you some beauty bargains that will save you.

>> absolutely. who better to tell us than bobby thomas. >> who doesn't want free stuff. what i love is that you're going to do something good to get it. all these brands if you bring back containers they will give you a free item. at mack if you bring back six of their primary packaging, you get a free lipstick. and at lush if you bring back this you get a free facemask. this is breaking news, brand spanking new technology. this is called the makeup genius app. it is. you can look into the camera of your ipad or your iphone and you can literally try looks on, complete face looks have been made and you can scan over 300

items from the drugstore. while they play this is basically the idea -- so the people at home who are looking at this. go the drugstore and try before you buy. the drugstore doesn't let you bring back open products. try on the color or stare at yourself all day long. can i just say no one on earth is going to get any work done ever. >> it's fun. >> this is amazing. avon, i love you guys. this is a three in one brush. see the hollow handle. comes with the hair elastic you can hide inside. a mirror on the back and 5.19. >> what took avon so long.

>> a soap saver. you slip the soap into it. it doesn't stoirk counter. and i talked about the beauty spatula. cut open a tube and you basically scrape the very last remnant. you can get every little bit with this beauty spatula. you'll see other ones around. >> can we look at ourselves again. >> everything is online on bobby.com. >> new york, chicago, san francisco, here we come. how to visit a big city on a small budget. but first this is "today" on nbc.

is there a big city you want to visit without blowing your paycheck. if you plan your trip right you could just make that dream trip. >> we took at that look at the top ten most visited cities in the u.s. and chose the best deals. contributing editor of budget travel darlene newman is here with all of the information to get you packing and get you on your way. hello. nice to hear something is affordable. you're talking about san

francisco which is an expensive city. >> san francisco can be expensive but if you visit from november to may you can find some good deals and we suggest doing some fun? inexpensive free things in the city. hop on a cable car and explore chinatown. >> does it cost anything? i jumped on and off and no one asked for any money. >> you lucked out. it will cost you $15 for a one day pass but you can go all over the city. we suggest going down to the waterfront. go down pier 39. hopefully you'll see those iconic california sea lions barking and you got have some clam chowder. iconic san francisco dish. >> what about that market down there? is there a hotel that's affordable. >> hotel del sol. afternoon cookies and milk. heated pool and free breakfast and starts at $120. >> new york city how are you going to get us on a budget. >> new york there's so much

that's free and inexpensive year round. always walking in central park is nice. last night i went and walked the high line. the high line made from old railroad tracks. this is an elevated track. an urban oasis. free activities for all ages. star gazing and story telling. museum of natural history. if you ever brought kids there you know they love it. they want to spend days there hanging under that giant blue whale, checking out the dinosaur fossil. >> jane hotel you like. >> it's a funky cool hotel in the west village. survivors of the "titanic" once stayed there. you can stay there for a great price. this summer it's $105 and up. >> wow. new york is such an expensive city. >> year round the prices at the jane are good. check it out. if you want to stay in manhattan check out the jane. >> orlando is popular. >> orlando always popular.

theme parks can be expensive. those ticket prices are expensive. have you heard about the opening at universal studios. diagon alley. harry potter fans have been lining up. we found you a dale with the hilton orlando. stay four nights and see the harry potter sections. early admission to the parks to beat those crowds. >> that's huge. >> that's huge. it starts at $102 per night. four night minimum but think about the price of getting into a theme park. >> vegas. >> vegas baby. >> vegas baby is known as a party destination but increasingly so also a family destination. and there's a show that's free that you might want to check out. called the viva vision light show.

it's a music and light show that you can walk under. 90 feet up in the air, the length of five football fields and if you're feeling inspired you can zip line through it as well. >> lastly chicago, your final spot. >> chicago is a great city. hit the zoo. go the navy pier which was voted by budget travel as one of the most awesome board walks. huge ferris wheel you can ride in. when in chicago you got to eat. why not try some chicago deep dish pizza. >> delicious. >> we have been polling our twitter fans to find out where people should go to have this chicago deep dish pizza. >> where should they go? >> gino's east. there's many places in chicago to get deep dish pizza. >> we'll have the rest on our website. >> that does it for us today. >> have a great day everybody. bye-bye. >> bye hon. >> nice talking to you. >> i'm here to help.

you and i will get through this together. ♪