Sale signs were posted in so many store windows on State Street, Santa Barbara’s main drag, that I stopped counting. Sur La Table, Rip Curl, Urban Outfitters, Cost Plus, Men’s Warehouse, and on and on. Instead, I checked out small chains and independent stores to see what prices they offered.
Random - The store’s name perfectly describes the inventory, which included dishes, figurines, beads, and sequined masks when I stopped by. All sales final. 1207 State St. 805-966-3257.
Tuesday Morning – You never know what you will find at this chain of steeply discounted left over inventory. I saw dog collars, toys and pillows, among many other items. 1 W. Cannon Perdidio St. 805-963-4055.
Italian Pottery Outlet – Prices were not low at this store but you may be able to find an accent piece or gift among their limited sale items and seconds. A large vase with a repaired handle, above, was $250 (orig. $589). 929 State St. 805-564-7655.
Silver and Jewelry Outlet - Silver rings, charms and bracelets are $5, making it a good spot for a cheap souvenir or gift. 616 State St. 805-564-1496.
Natasha - This small boutique had clearance shoes and clothes for 50% off, including an embroidered coat that was marked down from $265 to $79. 1231 State St. 805-965-4542.
Santa Barbara Outfitters – Think active but upscale clothing and you have a good idea of what this store sells. A black sweater made of soybeans and cashmere caught my eye; luckily it lacked a pricetag or I would have thought about buying it. A brown leather purse with a buckle and detailed leather work was $250. Many racks of clothes were 50% and tents are 30% off. Even so, I recommend checking you wallet at the door. 1200 State St. 805-564-1007.
For reviews of shopping malls and strips, go here.
There is a lot to do at night in Santa Barbara without spending too much, though it requires some self-restraint not to ring up a big tab if you go to a bar.
The Winehound – This wine store hosts bi-monthly tastings at the Natural History Museum. A flight of 10-14 wines runs from $15 to $25. Call ahead for dates and times. 1221 Chapala St. 805-845-5247.
First Thursdays – A select group of art galleries are free on the first Thursday of every month from 5 to 8 p.m. Some locations have snacks, wine, and music.
The James Joyce – Free live music every night. Sunday and Monday is karaoke. Also on Sundays, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., there is traditional Irish music. Tuesday to Saturday expect live bands. 513 State St. 805-962-2688.
Santa Barbara Dance Center - Newcomer classes are… (more…)
I spent Monday in Santa Barbara poking my head into shops, restaurants and bars. It is a schmancy town, but there are plenty of ways to visit and not part with too much cash.
Below I share ideas for free and low-cost activities in Santa Barbara, and where to eat on a dime. Tomorrow look for posts about nightlife bargains and shopping deals.
I hope you can use my tips the next time you visit Santa Barbara. The trip was so successful I may be going to San Diego as well!
Your bargain babe,
Julia
Here are a few low-cost options when you want to have fun in Santa Barbara.
Santa Barbara Museum of Art – The art museum is free every Sunday. On other days adults are $9, seniors, students and children 6-17 are $6. Children under 6 are free. Closed Monday. 1130 State St. 805-963-4364.
Coronado Butterfly Preserve (aka Ellwood Main Monarch Grove)- From December to February, stop in to see thousands of monarch butterflies wintering among sage scrub and eucalyptus groves. Visiting the 9.3 acre preserve is free. At the end of Coronado Dr. on the right in Goleta. Come with it is sunny for best viewing. 805-966-4520.
The Santa Barbara Natural History Museum is free the third Sunday of every month except in June, July and August. Normally adults are $10, teenagers and seniors 65 and older are $7, children aged 3 to 12 are $6 and children under 3 are free. Planetarium shows are $4. 2559 Puesta del Sol. 805-682-4711.
The Cheese Shop – For an afternoon snack… (more…)
One of my highest priorities is food. Period. So I took special care to find many places where fellow bargain hunters can eat well on a dime in Santa Barbara.
My top choice is Norton’s Pastrami and Deli. They have six sandwiches that are $5 each when you order them to go, including a B.L.T., an American sandwich with bologna and salami, an Italian sandwich with ham and salami, a meatball sub, a vegetarian sandwich with four types of cheese, and tuna. Order to stay and you are required to buy a drink. Other sandwiches run $6 to $7.50.
I chose the meatball sub. Ordering at the counter was brisk and efficient. My sandwich, above, had four large meatballs, marinara sauce, melted provolone cheese and was served on a thick, fresh baguette. The meatballs were soft and mildly flavored. There was just enough… (more…)
Hi folks,
I’m in Santa Barbara today looking for bargains. The city is a favorite vacation destination but a pricey one, so I have my work cut out for me. I’m looking for cheap places to eat, shop and be entertained. If you have a tip, please leave a comment. I’ll let you know what I find!
Your bargain babe,
Julia
Car insurance rates for Southland drivers covered by AAA are dropping by 5.4%, or about $100 per vehicle, says a recent story in the LA Times. Even if you are not covered by AAA and live outside California, you may be able to get a lower rate. For AAA policy holders, the change takes place April 1 and applies to policies renewed or created after that date.
“Part of the reason for the reduction is that people are driving less, whether because of higher fuel prices in the middle of last year, the deepening economic recession or changes in habits, such as taking public transportation,” said Sam Belden, vice president of Insurance.com.
Car insurance rates across the state dropped by 3% in the past six month, which means it is time to call your insurer and check if they offering you a competitive rate. It helps if you have quotes from rivals to (gently) prove your point. When asking for a discount, I recommend asking nicely (no one wants to help a jerk) and pointing out things that work in your favor, like the fact that you are a loyal customer or can pay in cash.
No matter what state you live in, you may be able to lower the cost of your policy.
Here are 10 tips from Edmunds to do just that.
CNNMoney has 5 tips to lower your auto insurance bill.
FinancialWeb has 10 tips to reach this goal.
Here are 13 ways to lower your bill when you eat out. Add your ideas by leaving a comment!
1. Order cheaply. Stick to sensibly-priced entrees and skip the drinks, appetizers and desserts.
2. If you are eating with one other person, split an appetizer and an entree instead of each ordering an entree. Restaurant portions are big enough you will still have plenty to eat.
3. Eat out for lunch instead of dinner. The prices are almost always lower but the portions still as big.
4. Have dinner at home and go out for dessert. Add a glass of wine and your tab will still be lower than eating a full meal out.
5. Buy discounted gift certificates from Restaurant.com, but watch out for tight restrictions on redeeming the certs. The usual deal is $10 for a $25 certificate, but sign up for their email updates and you will get coupons for 50% to 80% off that $10 rate.
6. Halfoffdeals.com sells gift certificates to restaurants (and a few spas and golf courses) for half price and has many fewer restrictions than Restaurant.com.
7. Buy the Entertainment Book, which is stocked with 2-for-1 offers and 50% off deals at many fast casual restaurants. Check that you enjoy eating at the restaurants that are included. Many chains participate, but the coupons are not good at every single location.
8. Become a member of AAA. The cards will get you 10% to 20% off at select restaurants.
9. Take advantage of senior discounts. If you don’t see a sign, ask!
10. Eat at places that serve kids for free.
11. When you eat in a group, instead of splitting the bill evenly and subsidizing your buddies drinks (assuming you ordered cheaply), have cash ready to generously cover your share plus tax and tip. Give it directly to whoever is handling the bill and say “This generously covers my share with tax and tip. I hope you don’t mind taking it into account before splitting the bill.” Yes, your friends will call you cheap. But do it enough times and they will get used to it.
12. At Mexican restaurants, order sides of rice and beans. It will be a filling meal, albeit a vegetarian one.
13. Pick cheap places to eat. It’s an obvious one that can make a big difference. If you live in Los Angeles, each week I write about one place where you can get a $5 Lincoln Lunch.
I went for a run on Saturday past homes I love to imagine are mine to a soft dirt path that circles a golf course. Just before the course there is a street that ends in a roadblock, except for a sidewalk that allows foot traffic through to a cul-de-sac on the other side.
As I approached I could hear children playing a game of kick ball in the cul-de-sac. I was running around it when six more children burst onto the street. The girls wore dresses, stockings and black Mary Janes. The boys wore suits, dress shoes, and had yarmulkes pinned to their dark hair. They were overdressed for kick ball and completely unaware of it.
The thrill of playing in the street consumed them. Oh, to have one last hour of fun before daylight disappears and parents call you inside! A girl skipped high into the air, throwing an arm up with each leap. A tiny fellow who looked to be about 5 flung his arms straight out, tipped his head to the sky and ran blindly forward, screaming with delight. They were showing the world exactly what they felt, without any self-awareness.
I wanted to take a picture, but I had only my eyes to capture the moment. Playing in the street, I decided, is as universal a childhood experience as any. And tonight, I was a kid again.
Name: Katie
Location: Rosemead, CA
Dilemma: “I graduated from college in June of 2008 and I tried to consolidate my student loans after I graduated. I was told by my lender that I couldn’t consolidate my loans until they were in repayment mode (after the 6 month grace period). Now that my grace period is up, my lender isn’t consolidating student loans because of the state of the economy. A woman from their company told me just to Google “loan consolidation” and pick a company to consolidate my loans with. I feel really uneasy about that – I don’t want to just consolidate my loans with anyone, and I want to know I am getting the best interest rates. Right now some of my loans are private and some are from the government and my interest rates are right about 4.21% (one is 6.8%). Do you have any advice?”
Solution: Here are legitimate resources for Katie and anyone else trying to consolidate student loans when lending is as tight as can be.
The federal government has a Web site where you can apply to consolidate your student loans and get info about your options.
FinAid, a reputable private site that has been around for 15 years, has a great page about consolidating student loans that may be helpful.
Student Loan Consolidator is a private company that is part of Edvisors Network, which has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. The site has info about consolidating public and private loans.
To get the best consolidation deal, compare interest rates from at least three lenders before you decide on one. If you cannot consolidate your loans, prioritize paying them off so you attack the one with the highest interest rate first. Good luck, Katie!
What is your financial dilemma? Write me at julia@bargainbabe.com. Read last week’s dilemma about lowering your home’s assessed value.
Get 20% off one item at H&M now thru Feb. 13, 2009. Print the coupon here (in the bottom right corner). Some caveats.
Get 50% off restaurant gift certificates at Restaurant.com using code CUPID. Expires Monday, Feb. 9, 2009. Cannot be combined with other promotions or offers.
At the Container Store Elfa items are 30% off. Sale ends Feb. 8, 2009.
Winter clearance is 25 to 50% off at REI.
At Shoes.com sale shoes an additional are 15% to 20% off with code SAVE or SMART. Try both to see which gives you the biggest discount. Some restrictions.
Get 25% off natural bedding, pillows and matress pads at Gaiaim now through Feb. 15, 2009.
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A reader named Anthony emailed me with this question.
“My wife and I were talking about places to eat where kids eat free and we couldn’t find any great sites that post where and when these offers exist. In tough times, not having to buy two kids meals adds up. Any advice on a great site to find this info or maybe this can be a future page on your site?”
Like Anthony, I’m betting a lot of folks are looking for deals like this. So I came up with two lists, one for national restaurant chains and one for local eateries. Always call first to confirm the deal is still being offered. You never know when a restaurant might pull the plug on a great offer. These deals are dine-in only unless otherwise specified.
National chains with food freebies for kids: 
Applebee’s: Kids 12 and under can get a $.99 kid’s meal when you purchase an adult entree.
Baja Fresh: Purchase an adult entree on Monday and your kid eats free.
Denny’s: Across the country, kids eat free every Tuesday and Saturday from 4-10 p.m. You must order one adult entree for every two kids eating free.
IHOP: On Wednesdays kids 12 and under eat for free between 4 and 8 p.m. One free kid’s menu item per adult entree.
Marie Callender’s: Kids 12 and under eat free Monday and Tuesdays.
Ruby’s: One free kid’s meal with every adult meal purchased on Tuesdays. Call to check your local restaurant is participating.
Local listings of food freebies:
My kids eat free lets you search by state and city for local restaurants with offers. Definitely call and confirm details first.
Coupon Divas lists freebies at regional chains by day of the week. The listing is quite extensive, though I still recommend calling to confirm first.
Kids eat 4 free lets you search for freebies by city. I’m beginning to sound like a broken record, but call first to confirm.
If you enjoy eating at a particular restaurant, why not call and ask what specials they have for kids?
It has gotten to the point where we all know someone who has been laid off. Which makes it hard not to think about getting laid off ourselves. Transfer all that job-stress into concrete plans for coping if you do get the ax. A collection of stories from Kiplinger covers the basics.
Keeping your health care while unemployed
What if your employer files for bankruptcy?
More resources from Bargain Babe:
Expenses to cut immediately if you lose your job
A quick way to get ahold of your finances
I headed to Chinatown in Los Angeles for a $5 lunch with a friend who said the enclave was so small you can walk the entire length. Even by LA standards, she was right. We strolled down N. Broadway and turned into a small promenade. Many of the stores were not open and there were few shoppers.
A restaurant called Hop Louie, was open and offered a $4.75 lunch special, but instead we decided to check out New Dragon Chinese, which was located at the end of the alley. Outside New Dragon, a whiff of something tasty convinced us to go inside.
The $4.75 lunch specials at New Dragon are all vegetarian. If you are willing to pay $5.75 or $6.75 there are more than a dozen specials with meat. I ordered the eggplant with spicy garlic sauce and my friend ordered the sauteed mixed vegetables. Lunch specials includes rice, soup and tea.
A bowl of hot and sour soup arrived soon after we ordered. Hot and sour soup is not my favorite, but this was either very delicious soup or I was extremely hungry because I quickly ate the whole bowl. The soup had big chunks of tofu and thin strips of mushrooms.
My eggplant dish, above, arrived first and was very large for a lunch special. It had chunks of green peppers cooked al dente, slices of red onion, and was a bit spicy. “This tastes good,” my friend said. “And it looks like meat!”
We ate our fill of eggplant and were still waiting for the mixed vegetables when my friend jumped out of her seat and approached the server. Gotta love a pushy journalist. Where was the rest of our food? It came so quickly I knew they had already been making it when she asked. The mixed vegetables were very fresh and had a mild flavor. They were tasty but not as special as the eggplant dish. The portions were so big that we could not finish either dish so I took home the leftovers.
New Dragon is loud and does not have much decoration. Service was decent but not particularly attentive. The food is definitely the biggest plus. Read more reviews on Yelp. Visit them at 934 N. Hill St. in Los Angeles. (213) 626-6050. The lunch specials are served Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
