If you haven’t already signed up for my latest prize giveaway – one lucky reader will get an Xbox 360 – join my email list by October 21, 2009 to be eligible. You can also win a $50 gift card to Amazon.com and a hot pink Bargain Babe T-shirt.
Three winners will be chosen at random. If you already receive my emails, you are automatically entered to win. You do not need to sign up again or email me to double check. If I am in your RSS feed, you are not eligible to win, unfortunately. But you can sign up for my email list to be eligible!
The fabulous coupon web site Savings.com is sponsoring this reader giveaway and has generously donated an Xbox 360 for your winning pleasure! They are recruiting everyday “deal pros” to blog on their site and appear on Savings.com web TV shows. The top 30 Deal Pros will get an all-expense trip to San Francisco Nov. 5-6, 2009 for the first ever Save Up event, where there will be other money-saving experts, prize giveaways, a Savings.com-sponsored tourist outing, and parties. I’m going to be there too!
Make sure to apply to be a Savings.com Deal Pro by Oct. 20. The application is very simple and you can include a video if you want!
To sum everything up, join my email list to win the Xbox and apply to be a Deal Pro for a trip to San Francisco! Bonus points for doing both!!!
I recently read The Digerati Life’s post on using a CNN Money tool to gauge her family’s financial health and just had to try it for myself. The tool asked me questions about my household income, how much I pay for housing and to service my debt, and how many months of emergency savings I have.
The questions were broken into in seven categories and I got instant feedback when I finished each category. Overall I got a B+ grade and this report: “Looks like your finances are in good shape, but there are still a few areas you could improve.”
The two areas where I need to improve, according to the tool, are the percentage of my income that goes to housing and my stock diversification.
Los Angeles is an expensive place to live, so I’m not sure how much I can lower my rent. As for diversification, I can review my portfolio with my financial advisor.
How financially healthy are you? Check out the CNN Money tool here. I highly recommend it!
I don’t even have cable and I can tell this works! Lower your cable bill just by asking (Money Talks – avoid the two video ads by just reading the story.)
Personal finance courses at the University of Iowa…online…for free! (Bargaineering)
Opposites attract, including savers and spenders. Do you have different money habits than your mate? (FiveCentNickel)
Getting rich is simple, just pay attention to these basics (Free Money Finance)
No Costco membership? No problem. (A post I wrote for The Digerati Life)
Planning fall travel? Wise Bread has 7 tips to keep airfares low.
For your vicarious bargain hunting pleasure – two recent “gloats” from readers who scored some major deals!
For the past year, I have been planning on buying a new TV for my bedroom (the old one took 7 minutes to show a picture). I planned on getting a 32″ LCD 720p (my receiver is standard def anyway) and I was not going to spend more than $300.
I found a website called Liquidation.com that has auctions of various types of items. Some of the auctions are for multiple items. I began to track the auctions and see what what TVs were going for. I found an auction that had 4 Vizio TVs (32 inch, 26 inch, 22 inch, and 19 inch). I placed a bid of $480 and won. After sales tax and something called a buyers premium I spent $549 on the 4 TVs. I put the 32 inch TV in my room (looks and works great), and sold the other 3 TVs ($200 for the 26″ $150 for the 22″ $100 for 19″) for $475. So, for about $75, I got my 32″ TV.
The description of the TVs on the auction site said they had good screens and some mine frame damage. After getting them, I was unable to find any damage to any of the TVs (although the 22″ was missing the remote).
Sorry about rambling. Keep up the good work. I visit your site daily and love seeing what you find.
Then there’s the story about losing a cell phone:
Dear Bargain Babe, My husband just lost his iPhone on a ride at Disneyland. Any ideas on how to get a new one at a discount price?
I replied:
That’s awfully tough because they are so in demand. Definitely check eBay and if you can, wait until closer to the holidays. It’s likely there will be a new product – which means later models will probably see a price drop. Good luck!
She updated me:
We just got back from the AT&T store. A great thing we learned, if you already had an iPhone and lost it, they will give you the new 3G worth $500 for only $99! But you have to pay tax on $500. Still a HUGH savings, we were pleasantly surprised :O)
What’s the best deal you’ve scored? Send me your story.
Bev Mo’s nickel wine sale is on! Buy one bottle and the second bottle of the same wine is $.05. Not too shabby – as long as the original price is not jacked up out of proportion. Valid on select wines only.
Caveats: you must join their free loyalty program to get the deal. Limited to supplies on hand. Unclear when the sale ends.
Reader Jennifer won a copy of TheSmartestWay to Save, which I reviewed on Tuesday, by leaving this comment:
Funny, I have had a friend telling me for years…when I share a deal with her, how much percentage I saved, etc, her response was always, well, I saved 100% because I didn’t buy it… I got a better deal than you! I often don’t consider things when I buy… I just see, “pretty, I like, I want,” then I have it collecting dust. I would be very interested in seeing what else is in this book. I won’t be able to buy it though, as I am on a layoff budget… no money coming in means no money going out. I might have to wait for the library copy!
I hope the book helps Jennifer become an even savvier spender!
Every Tuesday I review a book about saving money and give it away to a reader who comments on the review. Next up is The Frugal Foodie Cookbook!
Related:
Book review – Secrets of a Stingy Scoundrel
Irene’s comment about the waitress debacle really struck me:
If you compromise your integrity because of peer pressure, you’re on a slippery slope. Your blog and your readers depend on your honesty, so get back on track by admitting the error, returning the money to the owner, and being scrupulously honest in the future.
Her point is that my actions extend beyond merely misbehaving in a social setting. My actions set an unprofessional precedent for BargainBabe, which absolutely requires total honesty.
I publicly confessed that I gave into peer pressure when my friends dismissed my suggestion to let the waitress know she undercharged us by $11 for two beers. But that admission – and the flogging that followed – is not enough. I must make right the wrong.
I’m heading by the BBQ joint on Saturday and intend to hand over $15 (which accounts for tax, tip and interest!) to the waitress or the manager. How does humble pie taste? I’m going to find out.
Related:
A better credit system up north? (comment of the week)
The value of art (comment of the week)
Ads suck? (comment of the week)
A few weeks ago I was buying running shoes at a runner’s store – the kind where the salesperson watches your stride and recommends shoes based on how your ankles bend – when I got a discount even though I had no negotiating chips.
- I told the salesperson I badly needed new shoes
- I said out loud how much I liked the pair he recommended
- I told him I had previously paid full price for shoes at another running store
Mentally I had decided to buy the shoes when I asked if he had any promotions going on. I was committed, but why not ask anyway? The store wasn’t exactly busy. The salesman immediately replied he could knock 10 percent off. Wow!
It was almost too easy. I had to wonder if the economy played a role.
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Get 40 percent off the list price of one book at Borders now through Monday, Oct. 12, 2009. Print the coupon here. Online use code BSA1671X. Good at Waldenbooks, too. Some caveats.
Get 80 percent off restaurant gift certificates at Restaurant.com through Monday, Oct. 12, 2009. Use code FOUR. The $25 certs are $10-$15 so this code makes them $2-$3 each. Until now the certs have always been so it looks like the website is gaining steam. Read redemption rules carefully before you purchase.
Save up to $25 on select outerwear at Gap.com and get free shipping on $75 orders with the code GAPSHIP75.
Torrid is having a weekend sale on their plus-size clothing with prices up to 50 percent off clearance prices at Torrid.com through Monday. You can also take 10 percent off your entire order with any Breast Cancer Awareness donation when you use code POWEROFPINK, good through October 31.
REI members can get 20 percent off one full priced item with coupon code FALLDEAL through Oct. 18, 2009.
Get $5 off a purchase of $50 or more at Sears with coupon code SEARS5OFF50. Unclear when this expires.
Shop online through eBates, an automatic cash rebate site, and get double rebates for a limited time including, 3 percent back at Dell, 4 percent back at Sears, 4 percent back at White House Black Market, 5 percent back at Ann Taylor, 6 percent back at HP, 8 percent at SmartBargains, .
Thanks to Corrinne at Search by Inseam for a heads up about sales at the Gap, Torrid and REI.
Reactions to my post about keeping quiet when a waitress undercharged me and five friends runs the gamut from cutting me slack to dubbing me the “Bad Ethics Babe.”
I can tell reader Diana is wagging her finger at me:
You’re a nice lady, Julia. You know that was a scummy thing to do. I hope this is one of your regular eateries and you get the chance to do the right thing and make it up to the server.
I bet you and your friends would have leapt all over the server if she had overcharged you.
Pam thinks the waitress was fond of us:
I usually think the server liked us so much he/she is giving us a deal, so we make sure and tip the server at least as much as the deal they gave us and some more on top of that. I have worked in the hospitality industry and that seems to be understood, especially when you are a regular. Giving a deal always helps your tip, though owners of the establishments aren’t too happy about the practice, but it does keep customers happy and coming back!
Ashton says my gain is the waitresses loss:
Please go back to the restaurant and repay her! The money will be deducted from her tips. Times are hard for everyone, we shouldn’t try to get ahead off of other people’s mistakes.
Yvonne says beer on tap is cheap!
I wait tables. Let it go no biggie. Beer on tap is so cheap…
Scott’s says the dollar amount would determine his actions:
As the saying goes: “Buyer beware.” Sometimes it works out “Seller Beware.” If it’s a small amount I might not bother to point out the difference. If it would cost someone their job that’s another story.
Lisa says there’s only one thing to do:
Go back…make it right.
Julie thinks I learned my lesson:
If you make a habit out of honesty, then you never have to think about doing the right thing. You just do it and that is that. It is a comforting feeling. None of us are perfect. You slipped up a bit and it is obvious that you had some second thoughts. It is also very out front of you to admit it and have a discussion here. The best thing is a clear conscience. In this case, it was a good deal at the expense of someone else. I have a funny feeling if it ever happens again you will point it out to the waitress.
I am moved by all your comments and am re-thinking why I gave into peer pressure to not alert the waitress. I could have insisted on letting the waitress know or offered to pay for the group’s beer myself.
I’m still on the fence about whether I will return to the BBQ restaurant to correct the tab, but I’m certainly considering it!
Here are some of the best posts from my new site, BargainBabeLA.com. YOOOOOOUUUUUU can share a deal and become a Bargain Buddy, which comes with great perks like a free Bargain Babe T-shirt, an annual Lincoln Lunch on the house, and a never ending supply of bargain karma!
Grocery steals in Burbank at Henry’s, shared by bargainbabe
Super hip T-shirts for little boys are on sale for $10-$15 at Shop Fat Tie, shared by lynn.stringe3535
Lincoln Lunch alert: a classic French dip sandwich is worth every penny, shared by bargainbabe
Major designer jean sale this weekend, shared by bargainbabe
If I can’t sweet talk you into sharing deals on BargainBabeLA.com, I’m going to guilt trip you into it! Help me out folks.
Get 25 percent off home furnishings, decor, gifts and more at Cost Plus World Market during their family and friends sale. It starts tomorrow, Oct. 9 and goes through Monday, Oct. 12, 2009. Get 10 percent off gourmet food and non-alcoholic beverages.
Print the coupon here. Online use code FFCPWMEMAIL. If you are making any gift baskets for the winter holidays, this is a good time to stock up! I haven’t seen many across-the-board coupons for Cost Plus World Market like this.
Caveats: excludes alcohol, gift cards, kitchen electrics, or previous purchases.
I’m really tempted to eat at IKEA. Not just because this weekend, Oct. 10-12, 2009, they are giving away free breakfasts, but because IKEA is teaching people how to cook their food. Yes!
IKEA thinks their food is such hot stuff they are touring the country this month holding two-hour cooking lessons that are free and open to the public. They are making stops in Seattle (Oct. 20, with guest chef Caprial Pence), Costa Mesa, Calif. (Oct. 22, with Katie Chin), Tempe, Ariz. (Oct. 28, Claudine Pepin), Sunrise, Fla. (Nov. 3, Oliver Saucy) and College Park, Md. (Nov. 5, Mary Ann Esposito). The “food university” is part of a partnership with Family Circle magazine.
If you can’t make it to the class, you can get a free cup of coffee and a free “small breakfast” – worth a total of $1.98 – this weekend! Note: breakfast pictured above is larger than a “small breakfast.”
I’m kicking off the latest reader giveaway with an amazing prize – an Xbox 360!!! Plus you can win a $50 gift card to Amazon.com and a hot pink Bargain Babe T-shirt. Wowza!
To enter the reader giveaway join my email list by October 21, 2009. Three winners will be chosen at random.
If you already receive my emails, you are automatically entered to win. You do not need to sign up again or email me to double check.
If I am in your RSS feed, you are not eligible to win, unfortunately. But you can sign up for my email list to be eligible!
The fabulous coupon web site Savings.com is sponsoring this reader giveaway and has generously donated an Xbox 360 for your winning pleasure! They are recruiting everyday “deal pros” to blog on their site and appear on Savings.com web TV shows. The top 30 Deal Pros will get an all-expense trip to San Francisco Nov. 5-6, 2009 for the first ever Save Up event, where there will be other money-saving experts, prize giveaways, a Savings.com-sponsored tourist outing, and parties. I’m going to be there too!
Make sure to apply to be a Savings.com Deal Pro by Oct. 20. The application is very simple and you can include a video if you want!
To sum everything up, join my email list to win the Xbox and apply to be a Deal Pro for a trip to San Francisco! Bonus points for doing both!!!
This post is sponsored by FreeFreebies.org, where you can score the latest free product samples and get them delivered to your inbox.
Buy two boxes of 92-plus count of diapers at Babies R Us or Toys R Us and get a $15 gift card to these stores. Valid Saturday Oct. 10 to Monday Oct. 12, 2009. In store only. Print the coupon here.
Caveats: the gift card must be used on your next purchase. Not valid online.
I am out of touch with diaper prices. How much does a 92-count pack cost?
Thanks for the tip, Shasta!
