Memorial Day is part of a long-weekend holiday created to celebrate the men and women who died serving in the United States military. Somehow, it has morphed into an unofficial celebration of summer - complete with cookouts, pool openings, and amazing sales to help us start our summer off under budget. This is a great weekend for bargain hunters no matter what you're shopping for. You'll find plenty of yard sales, blowouts, knock-down discounts, and Memorial Day sales to satisfy the deal chaser in you. Click through for 7 snag-worthy items to help you save big! -By Heather Sokol

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moneyOwning a home has long been part of the American Dream. For many, that dream means sacrificing for up to 30 years to ensure the mortgage payment is made on time each and every month. Many financial experts highly recommend paying off a mortgage loan before planning to retire to keep monthly living costs as low as possible.

Here are 5 tips for alleviating mortgage debts earlier:

1. Set Up Automatic Payments

If your lender allows it, you can set up your mortgage payments to coincide with your payroll dates. Many lenders will let you pay weekly or bi-weekly based on when you get your check. The good part of this method is there are some weeks where you are paid three times in a month which would mean extra payments are going towards your loan.

Related: 10 "money-saving" tips that actually leave you broke

2. Send a Little Extra

When you make your monthly loan payment, write the check out for more than what is required. For example, if your loan note is $735

dogsIf you're looking for the best pet-friendly restaurants, vets, and apartments, the new app "Where My Dogs At" is here for you. It's kind of a Yelp for dogs, and their people. The app also helps people find a myriad of other dog-related services: dog walkers, groomers, dog parks, pet supply stores, you name it.

The app has many of the features of other social networking tools, although instead of checking in, you "mark your territory." Businesses and locations are rated on a scale of zero to five paws.

Like Facebook, Where My Dogs At can also be used to share photos and meet other dog-minded people.

The app is free and available in both iPhone and droid formats. Co-founder Jonathan Kolker told the LA Times that he plans to monetize the app by offering geo-targeted ads, and offering an upgraded version people would pay for.

Kolker said he already plans to update the current app with sections for pet-friendly hotels and pet-related events.

Related: 12 reasons why dogs are

Before you book your summer vacation, check out what these hotels with the best kids' clubs have to offer. While you are relaxing on the beach, the kids can take surf or snorkeling lessons in the water. These top-rated kids' clubs are filled with fun and educational activities for children of all ages. All are safe and guaranteed to show you kids an amazingly fun time, whether in the sun, indoors, or whatever venue you choose. You are both sure to have a vacation to remember. Click through for 7 of the best hotel kids' clubs in the world! -By Jamie Morrison Curtis

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scandalousDid you or have you been paying attention to the scandals that have plagued the White House and Washington? Do you care? Well, here's the skinny on each 'scandal,' and I'll leave it up to you to decide what to think and how much brain space you'd like for it take up.

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The IRS

I have strong opinions about this one based on the Citizens United case which opened the door for 501(c)( 4) organizations to allow for endless amounts of money into the political process because corporations are people, too. The IRS was caught targeting organizations who apply for 501(c)(4) status based on the political leanings of the organization. The IRS decided by filtering organizations that used the words "tea party" or "patriot". The White House claims that they had no knowledge of this practice considering that it was occurring during the 2012 election cycle. The acting IRS Commissioner, Steve Miller, resigned last Wednesday but was fortunate enough to

America Ferrera graduated last week from USC, ten years after she started going for her BA in international relations. The Ugly Betty star understandably got a little side-tracked by her TV and film career, but she was thrilled to be crossing the finish line. Let's face it, many actors who become successful when they're young don't even finish high school, let alone college. But there are a few who've wanted to experience life as a co-ed -- you know, beer in plastic red cups, the freshman 15 -- at least for a little while. Here's a look at 7 celebrities who've sampled the undergrad existence with different degrees of commitment. --By Sarah Bernard

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