Attention, recession weary shoppers! You can save money buying toys this holiday season. With a little effort and some planning, you can buy great toys and save some money doing it. Start shopping early this year. With this recession, less inventory will be stocking the shelves during the holiday season.
How to figure out what the hot toys for 2009 will be. Mark October 28th on your calender. Its the day that Toy Retailers Association will announce the Hot List of "It" toys for the upcoming holiday season. Return to this entry on 10/28, select "Toy Retailers Association" and you'll get redirected to the list!
A Few Thoughts on Where to Shop...
Toys R Us. While the rest of the country celebrates Christopher Columbus, you'll find me at Toys R Us annual toy sale where Buy One Get One Free Hasbro Games is happening.
Michaels. Almost every week, Michael's Craft Store offers a 40-50% off one item at the retail price. Great selection of arts and crafts, puzzles, and model toys. And at this price, why not pick up something you can donate to your local Toys for Tots campaign.
Wal-Mart. Wal-mart will be offering more than 100 toys for $10 each during the holiday season. Additionally, Wal-mart will match any local competitor's advertised price on the same toy product if it falls below $10.
Borders and/or Barnes and Noble. Good selection of speciality toys and games which can often be bought at 20% - 30% discount when you use a coupon. Just google "Borders" or "Barnes and Nobles" and "coupon" to find the latest promotion.
Showing posts with label deals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label deals. Show all posts
Monday, October 5, 2009
Friday, September 25, 2009
The Perfect White Shirt
Time to re-stock the closet with timeless classics for work and play. This week, my focus was on affordable white shirts with classic style. Why? I'm dashing out of the house awful early these days, and I just want to grab something that always looks good with whatever I'm wearing for the day. My favorite look for fall is a stark white French Cuff shirt. Classic. Timeless. And looks as good worn with jeans as it does with a designer pantsuits. Luckily - it doesn't have to cost a fortune. Check out my finds below...
Lands End Modern Long Sleeve: $49 (and currently 20% off at Lands End Shops within Sears). Affordable no-iron dress shirt with a bit of stretch. Nice French cuffs too! An excellent basic utility dress shirt.
Ann Taylor Cotton French Cut Shirt. $70. Nice V neck and rhinestone button cuff links. If you can't afford diamond cuff links, rhinestone buttons may be the way to go!
BrooksBrothers French Cuff Shirt. $89 or 2 for $149. Tailored fit. with French Knot buttons at the cuff. Definitely a prepster's fashion statement and one of Oprah's favorite picks for Fall last year. Seems pricey, but its quite a bargain. High quality. Maintains it shape. Great cut of fabric. I buy one every year. Love them!
FYI - What's old again is new. You can always update that old white shirt you have hanging in your closet. Spruce it up by replacing the buttons with french knot buttons (sold at JoAnn Fabrics. 4 for $1.89). Tres trendy (and thrifty too!)
Lands End Modern Long Sleeve: $49 (and currently 20% off at Lands End Shops within Sears). Affordable no-iron dress shirt with a bit of stretch. Nice French cuffs too! An excellent basic utility dress shirt.
Ann Taylor Cotton French Cut Shirt. $70. Nice V neck and rhinestone button cuff links. If you can't afford diamond cuff links, rhinestone buttons may be the way to go!
BrooksBrothers French Cuff Shirt. $89 or 2 for $149. Tailored fit. with French Knot buttons at the cuff. Definitely a prepster's fashion statement and one of Oprah's favorite picks for Fall last year. Seems pricey, but its quite a bargain. High quality. Maintains it shape. Great cut of fabric. I buy one every year. Love them!
FYI - What's old again is new. You can always update that old white shirt you have hanging in your closet. Spruce it up by replacing the buttons with french knot buttons (sold at JoAnn Fabrics. 4 for $1.89). Tres trendy (and thrifty too!)
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Tent Sale. Cheap Deals on the Holiday Weekend
When most folks think of Labor Day; they think Back to School. When I think of Labor Day, I think great Tent Sales where the bargains are many, the merchandise is good, and the deals are cheap. Here are a few great tent sales that I'm aware of. If you know of any great warehouse sales or tent sales this weekend, let me know and I'll post the information.
Restoration Hardware. Sept 3 - 7. Rugs, lightening, furniture, and linens available at steep discount. Additionally, Restoration Hardware is offering an additional $25 for every $100 spent.
Eastern Boarder. Sept 4 -7 in Leominster, MA. 40 - 50% off all things snowboarding related. Great opportunity to upgrade your bindings, buy new boats, or grab a fashion jacket at discount.
Reebok and Rockport. Thru Sept 7. Stoughton, Ma. Shoes, hats and workout gear. You'll never look so good heading out to the gym!
LL Bean Outlet Sale. Sept 4 - 7. Concord, Nashua, & Claremont NH. Save up to 70%. Technically, this isn't a tent sale, but honestly, the discount too good to pass up.
Happy Shopping.
Restoration Hardware. Sept 3 - 7. Rugs, lightening, furniture, and linens available at steep discount. Additionally, Restoration Hardware is offering an additional $25 for every $100 spent.
Eastern Boarder. Sept 4 -7 in Leominster, MA. 40 - 50% off all things snowboarding related. Great opportunity to upgrade your bindings, buy new boats, or grab a fashion jacket at discount.
Reebok and Rockport. Thru Sept 7. Stoughton, Ma. Shoes, hats and workout gear. You'll never look so good heading out to the gym!
LL Bean Outlet Sale. Sept 4 - 7. Concord, Nashua, & Claremont NH. Save up to 70%. Technically, this isn't a tent sale, but honestly, the discount too good to pass up.
Happy Shopping.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Staples Back to School Sale
April showers bring May flowers and Staples Back to School sales in July. aBck to school deals are a great way to stock up on supplies and save money too. Last year, I stock my home office completely with the weekly deals at Staples.
This week's weekly flyer features $.01 (penny) deals, $1 deals, Easy Saver Rebates, and a special $5 off $20 purchase coupon. Most deals are limited to 2 items per customer (so don't forget to drag your spouse along, ring his purchases separately, and double your supplies and savings). These deals end on July 15. Read Coupon Sudoku (below) to max. saving money.
Penny Deals
Staples pencils 8ct. 1¢ (until 7/15)
Staples Copy Paper 1 ream for 1¢ (Final price after you submit $3.68 for an online rebate)
Dollar Deals
Photo Paper 4″x6″ for $1 (Final price after you submit $8.99 for an online rebate.)
Pencil cases, $1
Stapler, $1
5 " scissors 2pk., $1
BIC Wite-Out Quick Dry, 2 Pack, $1
Pink Wedge Erasers, 3 Pack, $1
Sharpie Major Accent® Highlighters, Assorted, 6 Pk, $1
BIC Velocity Stick Fashion Pens, Assorted, 5 Pack, $1
Scotch Magic Tape, $1
Coupon Sudoku
And now for alittle Coupon Sudoku - my term for how to line up your purchase to maximize your savings in minimal time:
Scenario #1: Spend less, Save 50%+
Buy the tollowing items:
(2) of every dollar deal ($16)
(2) reams of Copy Paper ($3.69 each)
==========================
Subtotal: $23.38
Less $5 off $20 coupon = $18.38
Less $7.36 in rebates($3.68 x 2, for the reams of paper)=
$11.02 (final price)
Scenario #2: Get more money back than you actually spent.
Buy the following items:
(2) Staples Photo Paper ($9.99 each,)
(2) Staples Pencils 8 Ct ($.01)
========================
Subtotal: $20
Less $5 off $20 coupon= $15.00
Less $17.98 in rebates ($8.99 each x2 for the photo paper) =
$2.98 net profit - Yes, you make more money than you spent
Random Note: And since there is almost always a McDonalds near a Staples Store, you might as well celebrate Free Coffee Monday. Get a free 7 oz iced Mocha or an 8 oz hot McCafe Mocha at participating McDonalds from 7 am to 7 pm.
This week's weekly flyer features $.01 (penny) deals, $1 deals, Easy Saver Rebates, and a special $5 off $20 purchase coupon. Most deals are limited to 2 items per customer (so don't forget to drag your spouse along, ring his purchases separately, and double your supplies and savings). These deals end on July 15. Read Coupon Sudoku (below) to max. saving money.
Penny Deals
Staples pencils 8ct. 1¢ (until 7/15)
Staples Copy Paper 1 ream for 1¢ (Final price after you submit $3.68 for an online rebate)
Dollar Deals
Photo Paper 4″x6″ for $1 (Final price after you submit $8.99 for an online rebate.)
Pencil cases, $1
Stapler, $1
5 " scissors 2pk., $1
BIC Wite-Out Quick Dry, 2 Pack, $1
Pink Wedge Erasers, 3 Pack, $1
Sharpie Major Accent® Highlighters, Assorted, 6 Pk, $1
BIC Velocity Stick Fashion Pens, Assorted, 5 Pack, $1
Scotch Magic Tape, $1
Coupon Sudoku
And now for alittle Coupon Sudoku - my term for how to line up your purchase to maximize your savings in minimal time:
Scenario #1: Spend less, Save 50%+
Buy the tollowing items:
(2) of every dollar deal ($16)
(2) reams of Copy Paper ($3.69 each)
==========================
Subtotal: $23.38
Less $5 off $20 coupon = $18.38
Less $7.36 in rebates($3.68 x 2, for the reams of paper)=
$11.02 (final price)
Scenario #2: Get more money back than you actually spent.
Buy the following items:
(2) Staples Photo Paper ($9.99 each,)
(2) Staples Pencils 8 Ct ($.01)
========================
Subtotal: $20
Less $5 off $20 coupon= $15.00
Less $17.98 in rebates ($8.99 each x2 for the photo paper) =
$2.98 net profit - Yes, you make more money than you spent
Random Note: And since there is almost always a McDonalds near a Staples Store, you might as well celebrate Free Coffee Monday. Get a free 7 oz iced Mocha or an 8 oz hot McCafe Mocha at participating McDonalds from 7 am to 7 pm.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Surviving Black Friday
Lining up my strategies for surviving the holidays while on the austerity budget. Decided to share with you my time tested tactics for getting the most for your dollar on Black Friday. Here are my 12 tips for surviving Black Friday.
Read your paper. Check Black Friday sites. Thursday’s paper will be stuffed like a thanksgiving turkey with ads, coupons, and circulars. It's your best source for Black Friday savings in your local area. Take a few minutes to map out the savings for the items you’re looking for. Pay attention to the times of specials listed as most stores will be offering special discounts that are time sensitive (e.g, doorbuster or early bird sales.) further capitlize on the coupon deals. Don't have a paper, visit one of the aggregator of Black Friday sales such as blackfriday.info, black-friday.net or Dealtaker
Do your research before Friday. Make your list of big ticket items. Research the product beforehand. Save yourself some buyers remorse caused by buying a bad product at cheap price.
Map out your shopping trip. Map out your travel route based upon your buying priorities. Many of the deals offered this season will be time-sensitive deals requiring early visits (e.g., earlier bird specials) to the store. These deals are offered with a “no rain check” condition. When the supply is gone, it's gone.
Check your prices. Use an online price comparision site like Pricegrabber, Bizrate, Shopping.com, Streetwise, or Dealtaker to help you compare the sales flyers prices for your item. Pay attention to the product options included in the product. Sometimes stores offer a stripped down product at a low ball price to get you in the door. Sounds like a good deal until you start to tally up the costs of the extras needed to make the product run as you’d expect it too. In store and need to do a price check? Dial up FruCall (1.888.d0.frucall), enter the bar code for the item, and learn the price that online retailers are offering the product at.
Be the early bird. The best deals are likely to be the early bird or doorbuster deals. Know when your stores open, get in line at least 1-2 hours in advance of the store’s opening, and run to whatever items you need to buy.
Make nice with your neighbors in line. If you’re standing in line for a few hours, make friends with the people in line around you. Offer up some of your dougnut holes, exchange shopping tips, and most importantly, save your spot in line should you need to dash off to use a restroom.
Order online. pick up at the local store. Lots of retailers will be posting their Black Friday specials before the actual day. Take advantage of the ability to order your items online and pick them up at the local store to save on shipping and the headaches of crowds.
7 days of Black Friday. (Tues – Monday) Stores will start marking down items on Tuesday for the rest of the week to entice consumers into their stores, so it makes sense to shop early if you can. Also, check retailers’ websites in the days prior to Black Friday as there are often “web special” deals in advance of the in-store promotion.
Return and rebuy. If there is a product that you really want and you know its going on sale for Black Friday, buy it in advance. Return it to the store during the sales promotion and rebuy it at the lower price. Make sure you understand the store’s price adjustment and return policies before doing this tactic as the store may have a “no returns” policy or have a time-limit on price adjustments.
Bring the proof to get the lowest price guarantee or a price match. While many stores will offer a “lowest price” guarantee, in order for you to get it, you’ll need to provide proof in order to get it. This means you’ll need to produce a copy of the sales ad where the product is being advertised for less. Save yourself some time, by taking advantage of a store’s price match guarantee. If it’s on sale at a competitor but also at the store you’re at, ask for a price match. This can save you several car trips to other stores on Black Friday.
Know the return policies. Knowing the stores return policy while you figure out where to buy an item. Given less consumer spending due to the faltering economy, I’ve noticed a few changes in store return policies that I’d like to share with you: (1) Elimination of the extended return timeframe. Standard or short return timeframes have been implemented. (2) Implementation of re-stocking fees for big ticket or large items. (3) No receipt; No Return. Also, retailers are clamping down on requiring receipts for returns/exchanges so make sure to ask for gift receipts for hassle free returns.
Charge It. Charge cards like MasterCard, Visa, and Discover offer free benefits that drive up the value of your products above and beyond that offered from a store branded card. Benefits include: extended warranties, Return production, and sales price protection. Of course, charge only what you can afford to pay off.
Happy Shopping!
Read your paper. Check Black Friday sites. Thursday’s paper will be stuffed like a thanksgiving turkey with ads, coupons, and circulars. It's your best source for Black Friday savings in your local area. Take a few minutes to map out the savings for the items you’re looking for. Pay attention to the times of specials listed as most stores will be offering special discounts that are time sensitive (e.g, doorbuster or early bird sales.) further capitlize on the coupon deals. Don't have a paper, visit one of the aggregator of Black Friday sales such as blackfriday.info, black-friday.net or Dealtaker
Do your research before Friday. Make your list of big ticket items. Research the product beforehand. Save yourself some buyers remorse caused by buying a bad product at cheap price.
Map out your shopping trip. Map out your travel route based upon your buying priorities. Many of the deals offered this season will be time-sensitive deals requiring early visits (e.g., earlier bird specials) to the store. These deals are offered with a “no rain check” condition. When the supply is gone, it's gone.
Check your prices. Use an online price comparision site like Pricegrabber, Bizrate, Shopping.com, Streetwise, or Dealtaker to help you compare the sales flyers prices for your item. Pay attention to the product options included in the product. Sometimes stores offer a stripped down product at a low ball price to get you in the door. Sounds like a good deal until you start to tally up the costs of the extras needed to make the product run as you’d expect it too. In store and need to do a price check? Dial up FruCall (1.888.d0.frucall), enter the bar code for the item, and learn the price that online retailers are offering the product at.
Be the early bird. The best deals are likely to be the early bird or doorbuster deals. Know when your stores open, get in line at least 1-2 hours in advance of the store’s opening, and run to whatever items you need to buy.
Make nice with your neighbors in line. If you’re standing in line for a few hours, make friends with the people in line around you. Offer up some of your dougnut holes, exchange shopping tips, and most importantly, save your spot in line should you need to dash off to use a restroom.
Order online. pick up at the local store. Lots of retailers will be posting their Black Friday specials before the actual day. Take advantage of the ability to order your items online and pick them up at the local store to save on shipping and the headaches of crowds.
7 days of Black Friday. (Tues – Monday) Stores will start marking down items on Tuesday for the rest of the week to entice consumers into their stores, so it makes sense to shop early if you can. Also, check retailers’ websites in the days prior to Black Friday as there are often “web special” deals in advance of the in-store promotion.
Return and rebuy. If there is a product that you really want and you know its going on sale for Black Friday, buy it in advance. Return it to the store during the sales promotion and rebuy it at the lower price. Make sure you understand the store’s price adjustment and return policies before doing this tactic as the store may have a “no returns” policy or have a time-limit on price adjustments.
Bring the proof to get the lowest price guarantee or a price match. While many stores will offer a “lowest price” guarantee, in order for you to get it, you’ll need to provide proof in order to get it. This means you’ll need to produce a copy of the sales ad where the product is being advertised for less. Save yourself some time, by taking advantage of a store’s price match guarantee. If it’s on sale at a competitor but also at the store you’re at, ask for a price match. This can save you several car trips to other stores on Black Friday.
Know the return policies. Knowing the stores return policy while you figure out where to buy an item. Given less consumer spending due to the faltering economy, I’ve noticed a few changes in store return policies that I’d like to share with you: (1) Elimination of the extended return timeframe. Standard or short return timeframes have been implemented. (2) Implementation of re-stocking fees for big ticket or large items. (3) No receipt; No Return. Also, retailers are clamping down on requiring receipts for returns/exchanges so make sure to ask for gift receipts for hassle free returns.
Charge It. Charge cards like MasterCard, Visa, and Discover offer free benefits that drive up the value of your products above and beyond that offered from a store branded card. Benefits include: extended warranties, Return production, and sales price protection. Of course, charge only what you can afford to pay off.
Happy Shopping!
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Playing Sales Sudoku
Doing well between work assignments by managing my budget and buying smart. Thought I would share with you a few of my shopping tactics so you can save money too. It looks like I bought a lot, but I only bought what I really needed this week.
Here’s a quick recap of what I informally referral to as Playing Sales Sudoku (aka how I line up all the saving opportunities to maximize my deals margin)
Search for online coupons before you buy. If you don’t have it today, go online tonight, and look for an online coupon to use tomorrow. Print multiple copies of the coupon, if permitted.
- $5 (15% off any one book ($27) at Barnes and Noble)
- $ 12.80 (4 Free cappuccinos at BN, one per visit, 4 visits in total)
- $6.00 (20% off one item at Borders Café. (Note: I bought a 2009 Entertainment Coupon book with the purchase to save even more money!)
- $4 (40% off coupon from Michael’s Online weekly email. Christmas Gift for my secret Santa!)
Stop by the Customer Service desk for in-store coupons. A quick stop can net you more than just a few dollars. Here's the tally for a quick trip to my local BJs:
- $ 3 ($3 off multi-vitamins)
- $4 ($2 x2 for shampoo & conditioner)
- $2 ($2 off semi-sweet chips)
- $6 ($1 coupon x 6 2-packs of paper towels. Note: BJs allows you to use multiple coupons on multi-pack items packaged for resale.)
Check-out the coupons you receive in the mail. Don’t toss the Value-Pack coupons that you receive in the mail without at least glancing through the offerings for a potential deal. I did and saved big as a first time customer at the new hair salon in town.
- $70 ($70 off a cut, color, and highlights. Hey -a gal has got to look good when interviewing!)
Same Stores – Multiple Coupons. Many coupons state 1 coupon per customer visit, requiring you to go through the line multiple times in order to maximize the deal. While it might not be a time saver, it certainly can be a money saver. If you hesitate to do repeat visits to the same store, just go to another nearby store location. Or do a visit to the store in your hometown, and the one store closest to your workplace. If you’re pinching pennies, it’s worth the effort
- $12 (40% off Michaels coupons x 3 items each $10. Great savings on Christmas gifts)
Coupons and In-store Promotions combined. If you wait 3-4 wks after the Sunday circular flyers, you’ll find several stores offering the same featured items on sale.) And don’t forget to show your rewards cards for even more savings. Hate carrying extra cards, ask your favorite stores if they can provide you with a key fob version of the loyalty card for easy access.
- $5 ($2 off 4 bags of candy + $3 off 2 bags for members only. Note: Happy Halloween to the kids in Chelmsford. Great candy bars coming your way!)
Use your AAA membership card – take advantage on one of the best kept secret. Show your AAA membership card to participating retailer and take advantage of extra savings. For my region, there are 70+ retailers offering additional discounts to AAA members on everything from shoes and clothing to restuarants, from movies tickets to lodging;from museum discounts to flowers:
- $13.72 (20% off $50 FTD floral bouquet for my fabulous Mom. Happy Birthday #79!)
$142.53 – Total savings. chia-ching!
Monday, September 15, 2008
Rug Sale To Die For
Managing to a budget, but not willing to scrimp on a quality rug purchase?
Add a little colour to your home and save yourself some money in the process by visiting the Company C's Annual Tent Sale this weekend at the Flagship Store located at 102 Old Turnpike Road, Concord, NH., (800) 818 - 8288. Closeout deals and clearance items at up to 75% off. All sales are final. (Rugs are retail are somewhat pricey, so 75% off is a really good deal!)
I've been a Company C fan since 2000. Great quality. Fabulous color combinations. Terrific textures. Somewhat pricey. Website gives you a sense of rug offerings, but you really need to see the rugs in a store to clearly appreciate the colors and design. In some cases, the rugs that look ordinary, underwhelming, and/or ho-hum in the online photos look extraordinary when you see them in person.
I love the rug collection, but bedding, pillows, throws, and furniture are also available at this tent sale. As an added bonus, bring a can good for the NH Food Bank and you'll be entered to win a Company C holiday rug!
In addition to the Flagship store, there are also retail stores in Portland, ME and Hingham, MA. Products are also available through dealers (e.g., Pottery Barn, Boston Interiors, Jordan's Furniture, and Board and Bowl) and interior designers, and the Company C website where there is also an online outlet.
Tent Sale hours are: 8am - 5 pm (September 20) and 11am - 5 pm (September 21).
Happy Shopping. See you there!
Add a little colour to your home and save yourself some money in the process by visiting the Company C's Annual Tent Sale this weekend at the Flagship Store located at 102 Old Turnpike Road, Concord, NH., (800) 818 - 8288. Closeout deals and clearance items at up to 75% off. All sales are final. (Rugs are retail are somewhat pricey, so 75% off is a really good deal!)
I've been a Company C fan since 2000. Great quality. Fabulous color combinations. Terrific textures. Somewhat pricey. Website gives you a sense of rug offerings, but you really need to see the rugs in a store to clearly appreciate the colors and design. In some cases, the rugs that look ordinary, underwhelming, and/or ho-hum in the online photos look extraordinary when you see them in person.
I love the rug collection, but bedding, pillows, throws, and furniture are also available at this tent sale. As an added bonus, bring a can good for the NH Food Bank and you'll be entered to win a Company C holiday rug!
In addition to the Flagship store, there are also retail stores in Portland, ME and Hingham, MA. Products are also available through dealers (e.g., Pottery Barn, Boston Interiors, Jordan's Furniture, and Board and Bowl) and interior designers, and the Company C website where there is also an online outlet.
Tent Sale hours are: 8am - 5 pm (September 20) and 11am - 5 pm (September 21).
Happy Shopping. See you there!
Monday, August 18, 2008
Flipping Pages
Looking for a few places to find books cheaply on a regular basis? Check out the places listed below to find good quality used books at a fraction of the full retail price (often for a $1 or $2).
Why go the low cost route for books?
- Cost savings. $1 versus $14 for a trade paperback.
- Low price point of most books will allow you to experiment with new authors or genres that you might otherwise pass on
- Find a book you've been looking for that is no longer carried in a traditional bookstore
So, with these advantages in mind, take a book adventure at one of these bookstores within the Boston Area:
Got Books 104 Glenn St., Lawrence, MA, 01843
(978) 664-6555
Http://www.gotbooks.com
Runs a charity book sale each weekend. Each weekend, the sale benefits a different non-profit organization. Hours are 9AM-6PM on Thursday and Friday) and 9AM - 4PM on Saturday. Most books run $1 each. Store also accepts donation.
Used Book Superstore
256 Cambridge Street, Burlington, MA
http://www.usedbooksuperstore.net
(781) 27 - BOOKS
This superstore is a subsidiary of GotBooks.com. (see above). Larger selection of books generally offered at 90% retail. DVDs and CDs are also sold. Large store, nothing glamorous - just shelves and bins of books.
The hours are: 10AM - 8PM (Tuesday - Saturday); 10AM - 6PM (Sundays)
Wellesley Booksmith Used Book Cellar
82 Central St, Wellesley, ma
http://www.wellesleybooksmith.com/
(781) 431 1160
The Used Book Cellar is open during regular store hours. Purchase "gently used" books at deep discounts. (FYI: excellent inventory of current good reads). Sell books back to the store for additional store credit on the 1st and 3rd Friday and Saturday of each month.
Local Library/Friends of the Library Book Sale.
Your local library
A hidden gem within your own neighborhood. Most libraries offer a bin or shelve of good reads for $1 or less. Books are usually placed near the front door or circulation desk. Donations usually welcomed. Exact change preferred.
Why go the low cost route for books?
- Cost savings. $1 versus $14 for a trade paperback.
- Low price point of most books will allow you to experiment with new authors or genres that you might otherwise pass on
- Find a book you've been looking for that is no longer carried in a traditional bookstore
So, with these advantages in mind, take a book adventure at one of these bookstores within the Boston Area:
Got Books 104 Glenn St., Lawrence, MA, 01843
(978) 664-6555
Http://www.gotbooks.com
Runs a charity book sale each weekend. Each weekend, the sale benefits a different non-profit organization. Hours are 9AM-6PM on Thursday and Friday) and 9AM - 4PM on Saturday. Most books run $1 each. Store also accepts donation.
Used Book Superstore
256 Cambridge Street, Burlington, MA
http://www.usedbooksuperstore.net
(781) 27 - BOOKS
This superstore is a subsidiary of GotBooks.com. (see above). Larger selection of books generally offered at 90% retail. DVDs and CDs are also sold. Large store, nothing glamorous - just shelves and bins of books.
The hours are: 10AM - 8PM (Tuesday - Saturday); 10AM - 6PM (Sundays)
Wellesley Booksmith Used Book Cellar
82 Central St, Wellesley, ma
http://www.wellesleybooksmith.com/
(781) 431 1160
The Used Book Cellar is open during regular store hours. Purchase "gently used" books at deep discounts. (FYI: excellent inventory of current good reads). Sell books back to the store for additional store credit on the 1st and 3rd Friday and Saturday of each month.
Local Library/Friends of the Library Book Sale.
Your local library
A hidden gem within your own neighborhood. Most libraries offer a bin or shelve of good reads for $1 or less. Books are usually placed near the front door or circulation desk. Donations usually welcomed. Exact change preferred.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Kitchen & Bath Surplus
For anyone looking to do a kitchen or bathroom renovation, I recommend checking out Designer Surplus for potential cost saving deals. Designer Surplus is a sister company of Lumber Liquidators (you know, the guys that donate the flooring on the Extreme Makeover). Find some extraordinary savings on great products. Check out the website (http://www.dsurplus.com/) for the current deals and visit a warehouse location in Florida, Georgia, or Massachusetts to buy. Where else can you find a claw foot tub for $699?
Happy Shopping!
Happy Shopping!
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Power of the Pennies
Restock your home office with back to school deals for a fraction of the price. "Tis the season for great office supply bargains for pennies on the Dollar at both Staples and OfficeMax. Whether you need to get school supplies for your kids, or restock your household with basic office supply items, start shopping the Staples 5 cent deals or Office Max's Power of the Penny Deals and save money! Sign up online for the weekly sales announcements so you can plan your shopping trips in advance. For maximum savings potential, plan to shop weekly; and shop for sale and/or clearance items only; and of course, buy only what you need.
Here's a quick summary of this week's Staples deals - You can get a 12-pack of Staples cap erasers, a 6″ plastic protractor, or two-pocket paper folders for a nickel each. You can also get a 10-pack of Zebra Cadoodles mechanical pencils FREE after Staples’ easy rebate! Easily, you save more than $5 dollars on these basic supplies. At Office Max, you'll need to buy one to get another like item for a penny. Deals include glue sticks, staples, children' scissors. In cases, Office Max requires you to purchase 2 items (e.g, post - its; sharpies, filler paper, etc.), in order to get the third item free.
Feeling generous? Buy extra of the weekly specials and donate the supplies to your local school, child's classroom or to a child in need of school supplies but who can't afford to buy their own.
Here's a quick summary of this week's Staples deals - You can get a 12-pack of Staples cap erasers, a 6″ plastic protractor, or two-pocket paper folders for a nickel each. You can also get a 10-pack of Zebra Cadoodles mechanical pencils FREE after Staples’ easy rebate! Easily, you save more than $5 dollars on these basic supplies. At Office Max, you'll need to buy one to get another like item for a penny. Deals include glue sticks, staples, children' scissors. In cases, Office Max requires you to purchase 2 items (e.g, post - its; sharpies, filler paper, etc.), in order to get the third item free.
Feeling generous? Buy extra of the weekly specials and donate the supplies to your local school, child's classroom or to a child in need of school supplies but who can't afford to buy their own.
Monday, July 7, 2008
How to Save with Hidden Deals
What ordinary girl doesn't like a good bargain? Get in touch with your inner savvy shopper and score great shopping deals with a few of my favorite shopping strategies below. Have any great tips, send them to me and I'll post them! Let's share the wisdom!
Get the inside deals. Many stores periodically offer 10-20% discounts to friends and family of sales associates. Ask a sales associate for the timing of the next sale, or check websites that track these deals such as (http://www.fatwallet.com/; http://www.dealmaker.com/; or http://www.pricetracker.com/)
Shop before the Sale Starts. It takes alot of time and effort for a store to get ready for a markdown sale. My favorite merchants typically start the afternoon prior to the sale. So, I often make it a point to stop the afternoon/evening the day before the sale starts to purchase a specific item. If it's not marked down, I'll ask if I can get the discount today rather than travel back tomorrow.
Hold the Item and Save Yourself a Hassle! Start shopping a few days prior to the sale. Find the items you want. Ask the Sales associate to hold the items until the sale starts. Get yourself the gift of a better choice of the inventory while you purchase your items at the sales price.
Ask when the item goes on sale. Nothing worse than purchasing an item one day, only to discover that on the next day the item is on sale. Sales associates are often empowered to provide you with the sales price in advance of the sale.
Barter for the bargain. Ask the sales associate the simple question"Is this the best price you can do?" Often times, a sales person can knock an additional 10-15% off an item. Never hurts to ask.
Matching the lowest price. Know the competition's pricing. Check your favorite retailer's pricing policies. In many cases, retailers advertise the low price guarantee - they'll match and beat the another retailer's price on an item.
Use a competitor's coupons to get a deal. Retailers will often accept a competitor's coupon if the product you're purchasing is also available at their store.
Refunds by the Retailer. Watch the flyers after you purchase the product, you just might be entitled to a refund. Several retailer's pricing policies will give you a refund if the same model/item goes on sale within a predetermined period of time (usually 30 days).
Get the inside deals. Many stores periodically offer 10-20% discounts to friends and family of sales associates. Ask a sales associate for the timing of the next sale, or check websites that track these deals such as (http://www.fatwallet.com/; http://www.dealmaker.com/; or http://www.pricetracker.com/)
Shop before the Sale Starts. It takes alot of time and effort for a store to get ready for a markdown sale. My favorite merchants typically start the afternoon prior to the sale. So, I often make it a point to stop the afternoon/evening the day before the sale starts to purchase a specific item. If it's not marked down, I'll ask if I can get the discount today rather than travel back tomorrow.
Hold the Item and Save Yourself a Hassle! Start shopping a few days prior to the sale. Find the items you want. Ask the Sales associate to hold the items until the sale starts. Get yourself the gift of a better choice of the inventory while you purchase your items at the sales price.
Ask when the item goes on sale. Nothing worse than purchasing an item one day, only to discover that on the next day the item is on sale. Sales associates are often empowered to provide you with the sales price in advance of the sale.
Barter for the bargain. Ask the sales associate the simple question"Is this the best price you can do?" Often times, a sales person can knock an additional 10-15% off an item. Never hurts to ask.
Matching the lowest price. Know the competition's pricing. Check your favorite retailer's pricing policies. In many cases, retailers advertise the low price guarantee - they'll match and beat the another retailer's price on an item.
Use a competitor's coupons to get a deal. Retailers will often accept a competitor's coupon if the product you're purchasing is also available at their store.
Refunds by the Retailer. Watch the flyers after you purchase the product, you just might be entitled to a refund. Several retailer's pricing policies will give you a refund if the same model/item goes on sale within a predetermined period of time (usually 30 days).
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
April Flowers Bring May Flowers and Raincoats in June
April Flowers Bring May Flowers and Raincoats in June! I've been noticing that there are great deals to be had by saavy shoppers looking for raincoat purchases. Retailers are clearing the racks in prep for the fall clothing premiers rolling out in July and August. So, if you're looking for the latest fashion look or a practical good looking coat to wear in the rain, now is the time to buy!
Monday, June 23, 2008
Dialing for Less Dollars
Are you a chronic “411” dialer like myself? Yes? Then do I have a a money saving tidbit for you…
Program 800-FREE-411 (800 – 3733- 411) into your cellphone. It’s a free/low cost nationwide directory assistance that you can use from your cell phone. Depending on your cell phone plan, you may also get charged for your minutes, but you won’t incur any additional service transaction fees. (example: On my calling plan, a 411 call generates a $1.50 charge per call.)
Here’s how it works –It's free for you to use, but once you’ve dialed in, you’ll need to hear a brief ad (10 – 15 seconds) before a record voice prompts you for “What City and State?” Interested in the ad? Fret not – you have the opportunity to connect and hear more.
Try it. It’s a pretty quick way to save yourself a few dollars. Based on my dialing habits, using this directory assistant program translates into $6 monthly savings - the cash equivalent of 3 Starbuck Coffees, 6 iTunes, or 1 roll of Hallmark self adhesive wrapping paper.
Happy Savings!
Program 800-FREE-411 (800 – 3733- 411) into your cellphone. It’s a free/low cost nationwide directory assistance that you can use from your cell phone. Depending on your cell phone plan, you may also get charged for your minutes, but you won’t incur any additional service transaction fees. (example: On my calling plan, a 411 call generates a $1.50 charge per call.)
Here’s how it works –It's free for you to use, but once you’ve dialed in, you’ll need to hear a brief ad (10 – 15 seconds) before a record voice prompts you for “What City and State?” Interested in the ad? Fret not – you have the opportunity to connect and hear more.
Try it. It’s a pretty quick way to save yourself a few dollars. Based on my dialing habits, using this directory assistant program translates into $6 monthly savings - the cash equivalent of 3 Starbuck Coffees, 6 iTunes, or 1 roll of Hallmark self adhesive wrapping paper.
Happy Savings!
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Thrifter Shopping at Target
Lately, I’ve had one eye on my shrinking budget, the other on sales pricing trends at local retailers. Thought I would share with you some of my pricing discoveries for Target that I’ve been tracking for a few months so that you can enjoy some thrifty shopping. Enjoy!
Finding the Discount Amount. The amount the product is discounted is positioned in the top right corner of the clearance tag. (example: A display of “30” indicates the item is 30% off the original retail price.)
Discounting by Supply and Demand. Discounts are based on an individual store’s inventory. Smaller discounts indicate the merchandise is moving faster; larger discounts indicate the merchandise is slow moving. (Good to know when you’re deliberating a purchase now vs sometime later/maybe never.) Also, since the discount is based on an individual store’s inventory, don’t expect to pay the same price at two different stores.
Determining Where You Are in the Markdown Cycle. The last digit of the mark down is an indicator for where the time falls in the clearance cycle. Typically, the price per item in the first markdown cycle ends in a “7” (example: $12.97). In the last round of markdowns, the price per item typically ends in a “4” (example: $2.94). BTW - I think it's rare that merchandise stays around that long!
Identifying Markdowns by Dept. Each department has a day of week when markdowns occur. Markdowns typically happen every 2 weeks.
o Children’s clothing – Monday
o Women’s clothing – Tuesday
o Men’s clothing – Wednesday
o Shoes – Thursday
o Electronics – Friday
Knowing the 5 Step Markdowns. 15%, 30%, 50%, 75% and sometimes 90% . Furniture, electronics, and food items are typically the only items discounted at 15%. Seasonal items/theme based items are usually the only items discounted down to 90%. These items go to 90%markdown pretty quickly (2+wks from first markdown - think Target needs to get rid of the inventory for the next batch of seasonal items.)
Monday, June 16, 2008
Running on Empty - Save your Gas Money
Life's a scavenger hunt these days as my househould is on the constant search for the best place to fill up our tanks for less. Also, find yourself running on empty? Check out these tips for getting more out of your gas budget with some simple yet powerful strategies:
1. Use A Gallon Cost Averaging Approach. Buy smaller amounts of gas, more frequently. This tactic spreads of the cost of gas over a longer period of time at a lower price per gallon.
2. Find the best deals for gassing up. Gas prices tend to be lower in your town center where there is likely to be some competition, than gas stations on highways or next to malls. Check which stations offer the cheapest fuel prices at http://www.gasbuddy.com/, http://www.gasprices.mapquest.com/, or http://www.fueleconomy.gov/FEG/gasprices
1. Use A Gallon Cost Averaging Approach. Buy smaller amounts of gas, more frequently. This tactic spreads of the cost of gas over a longer period of time at a lower price per gallon.
2. Find the best deals for gassing up. Gas prices tend to be lower in your town center where there is likely to be some competition, than gas stations on highways or next to malls. Check which stations offer the cheapest fuel prices at http://www.gasbuddy.com/, http://www.gasprices.mapquest.com/, or http://www.fueleconomy.gov/FEG/gasprices
3. Use your credit card to save at the pump. Buy gas with a credit card that offers cashback rewards for gas purchases. It takes $65 to fill up my thrilly little sports car' by using my Discover card so I'm getting $3- $7/week ( or $12 - 28/month) as a cash back reward. (BTW, this translates into the cash equivalent of a Venti Lattie and a scone at Starbucks; a trade paperback at Barnes and Noble, or a pair of Clark Privo Pennies on sale!)
4. Manage your gas budget, minimize your miles. Plan out your travel routes for errands for the most efficeint travel route to save on mileage. Consider doing errands where shopping is centralized around your basic needs.
Luxury for less
'Tis the season for a good summer sale. Nothing like the rush you get from buying great for less. So, for those of you in need of some retail therapy, here are a few fabulous sales in progress to enjoy!
1. Get your home looking better for less. Stop by Nichols and Stone Going Out of Business Sale in Gardner, MA. Great heirloom quality furniture at a fraction of the price. The sale started Friday, June 13th and continues until everything goes. ttp://www.nicholsandstone.com/
2.Pamper your feet; Pamper your Soles. Clark Shoes store Semi-annual Sale (physical store location only). 40% off for the serious shoe lover with a need for comfort, Remember, nothing better than spending your summer wearing a great pair of Clark Privo Pennies!
3. Dress better for less by stopping by Talbots Semi-annual sale. Sale typically starts July 5th, but stores often start the first phase of markdowns on current merchandise the week prior.
Happy Shopping!
1. Get your home looking better for less. Stop by Nichols and Stone Going Out of Business Sale in Gardner, MA. Great heirloom quality furniture at a fraction of the price. The sale started Friday, June 13th and continues until everything goes. ttp://www.nicholsandstone.com/
2.Pamper your feet; Pamper your Soles. Clark Shoes store Semi-annual Sale (physical store location only). 40% off for the serious shoe lover with a need for comfort, Remember, nothing better than spending your summer wearing a great pair of Clark Privo Pennies!
3. Dress better for less by stopping by Talbots Semi-annual sale. Sale typically starts July 5th, but stores often start the first phase of markdowns on current merchandise the week prior.
Happy Shopping!
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