Bargain Babe» Gifts + Gift Cards

What do you want for Mother’s Day? An iPad.

bargainbabe — Thu, 10 May 2012 11:00:57 +0000

My Mother's Day gift to myself!

This post is brought to you by Coupons220.com, offering coupon codes for thousands of online stores.

What do you want for Mother’s Day? One popular Mother’s Day gift is an iPad, according to a recent TechBargains survey.

Of 1,500 respondents, 91% said they would prefer an iPad over flowers this Mother’s Day
13% of moms want flowers
26% of respondents will buy mom flowers
31% of moms want a tech gadget
11% will get their mom a tech gadget

Seems there is a sizeable gap between what moms want and what they will receive. I suppose that is true of any gift exchange.

For Mother’s Day I bought myself a sterling silver necklace, above, that says “I love Lucy.” I told me husband that I wanted to get a card from him and Lucy. I’m easy to please – partly because I know exactly what I want!

What do you want for Mother’s Day?

Reader question: missing discounted gift card

yazmincruz — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:30:06 +0000

Chu's / Flickr

Reader Teresa cried out for help on our Facebook page and then emailed me her question about a missing discounted gift card. What would you do if you were in her position? Leave your suggestions in the comments.

Sorry can’t recall which freebie site I ordered a Barnes & Noble gift card from on sale @Christmas. Charged my Visa.

I talked to a man & my order had not been completed & was then on the way I thought. My sister in AZ has never rec’d it though. Ideas?

Thx. Teresa

Teresa, some simple detective work will help you figure out the site’s name so you can set things straight. If your Visa was charged, I suggest you check your bill to find out the name of the site. If it’s not on there because (some companies charge a card with another name), check the date you made the purchase. Then go back through your browser’s history to find the site. If you have time try to get in touch with the vendor.

If it’s almost 60 days since you bought it, get your credit card company involved, fast! Have them cancel the charge and deal with the vendor. For future reference, make sure you keep a record when you reach out to a company because of a problem. If they don’t want to refund your money, go to your credit card company! Do it within 60 days of the purchase date. Your credit card issuer then has 10 days to restore the charged amount and 45 days to investigate the case. Everything should be resolved within 90 days.

Five solutions for unwanted gifts

yazmincruz — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 13:10:11 +0000

I wonder what this person received. jessamyn / flickr

This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.

Okay, so you didn’t get exactly what you wanted for Christmas or Hanukkah. So what’s a cheapskate supposed to do? Below I share five options to deal with unwanted Christmas gifts and gift card.

Re-gifting

I’m not a fan of re-gifting because I’ve received really bad gifts. But, I confess I’ve done it – the right way. The trick is to make sure you pass the gift to the appropriate person that will appreciate it. When done properly, it

shouldn’t hurt anyone’s feelings. Note that not everything can be re-gifted. Don’t pass along one-of-a-kind items or anything that is monogrammed, unless you know someone with your initials. If you’re going to find another home for a gift, make sure to read my five rules for re-gifting.

Returning / Exchanging

Heading to the mall after the holidays can be a hassle, but if you feel up to the challenge make sure to take your gift receipt with you (if you got one). Otherwise, before you head to the mall, go online to familiarize yourself with the store’s return and exchange policy. Some stores are lenient with their return policies after the holidays, but others won’t budge. Doing some research will help you avoid the crowds. Head to the mall pronto! I’ve stood in the checkout line for about 45 minutes to get the right size of a gift I loved, but was too snug. If all that waiting is not worth it for you, how about you make some dough from that gift?

Selling

Try putting the gift up for sale on Craigslist, eBay, or Amazon. There’s someone bound to like it and want it. Don’t expect to make back the full price, but, hey, a few bucks is more than what you had. Someone give you a gift card to a shop you’ll never patronize? You can also sell gift cards online. There are several sites where you can put the cards up for sale, if there’s no one you know who can use them.

Trading / Swaping

Today is gift card exchange day, scheduled for Dec. 26 because “cardholders will receive the best rates from resellers,” according to GiftCardGranny, which arranged the event. Christmas yields one or more gift cards for most Americans, and recipients are eager to part with unwanted cards in exchange for cash. You can also trade your gift cards for ones you’ll actually use online. Sites to try are GiftCardRescue.com and PlasticJungle.com. We’ve mentioned these before as you can buy discounted gift cards from them. If you have clothes or electronics, you can also swap or trade them. Check out Swap.com as you’ll find local swap enthusiasts looking to exchange goods. I’ve also hear that Best Buy has a trade-in center online and in-store where you can get gift cards for your electronics.

Donating

Gag gifts that include cleaning supplies can be donated to local homeless or animal shelters. A good website to check is TheGivingEffect.com, which lists about 1,450 charities that are in need of a wide range of items like blankets, books, and even art. To boot, you may qualify for a tax deduction.

Trashing

Any homemade goodies that look past their prime should be trashed. Don’t even think of donating them! Giving volunteers at soup kitchens or other donation centers more work by going through useless donations is a big no-no.

I’m dying to know… What’s the worst present you received and what do you plan to do with it?

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Free and fun holiday crafts

Bobbisbargains — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 10:00:08 +0000

By Bobbi Burger Brunoehler of BobbisBargains.

Soda bottle lantern/Things Deb Loves

I LOVE holiday crafts! They are so sparkly and fun to make with kids of all ages.

Here is a list of 8 of my favorite holiday crafts.

Soda bottle lanterns. Cut the top off a 2-liter soda bottle. Take off label. Decorate with tissue paper put on with watered down Elmer’s glue. Punch two holes on top and string wire or string for a handle. Put a battery operated tea light or glo-stick inside. This is more beautiful than you can image.
Tongue depressor/Popsicle stick snowflakes. Buy the sticks from a Dollar Store or craft supply store. Paint them white. Let dry. Glue together in a star shape. Decorate. Can be used as a unique party invitation or decoration.
Recycled wreaths. You can make a wreath out of just about anything from an old bicycle tire wrapped in garland and lights to red buttons glued onto a round piece of cardboard.
Hang tags. Repurpose last year’s holiday cards into this year’s name tags for your presents. Just cut off the side with the message and put a hole into the picture side. Tape to present to use ribbon through a hole to hang.
Heart house ornament. Another use for last year’s cards. Make a beautiful house shaped tree ornament. Clever idea.
Victorian Christmas crackers. These aren’t the crackers that you eat. These are the crackers that make a popping noise with a toy inside. Make these delightful small gifts out of toilet paper rolls and tissue paper.
Paper bag Santa. This is a super easy and cheap craft that kids love. Just takes a paper bag, crayons, scissors, glue and a cotton ball.
Paper chains. Cut some red and green construction paper into strips and start connecting those circles. Kids love making paper chains and it is a cheap project. I found a nice paper cutter at a yard sale several years ago and I love it and use it all the time.

These craft ideas along with my earlier Frugal and homemade holiday gifts should keep you all busy making all sorts of holiday creations. Have I forgotten something that you love to make during the holidays?

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Inexpensive DIY stocking stuffers

yazmincruz — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 10:00:10 +0000

BaconThenEggs / Flickr

This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.

Want to save even more money on Christmas? Here are eight homemade stocking stuffer ideas you can make if you are on a tight budget. The best part is that you don’t have to be super crafty to make them.

DIY facial in a jar – Pamper your friends with this mildly exfoliating, anti-bacterial and moisturizing fall facial recipe! This is easy to make as you should have all the ingredients on hand. You can package this in a Mason jar and tie a ribbon around it, if you want to go all out. Mason jars can be pricey sometimes. On a budget? A clean Gerber glass bottle will work just as well.

Monogrammed handkerchief – With the cold and flu going around how about you make and give a gift that is sure to be used. You can buy handkerchiefs and then follow the easy instructions to monogram the person’s name or initials. If you are good with a sewing machine, you can buy the fabric and sew the handkerchiefs yourself.

Crochet hat and scarf – I’m amazed at how expensive crochet hats and scarfs are in stores. If you can crochet, put your skills to work! You can find all sorts of free crochet patterns online. All you have to do is buy the yarn. Make sure to find out what color the person likes before you start.

Candles – I love candles, especially the ones that make the room smell nice or have a beautiful design. I was in elementary school when I made a candle using a small milk carton so it’s not that hard to make. Candle making instructions can easy be found online. All you need is a free weekend and some materials you can find at craft stores. To make the candles pretty try adding a dried leaf or flower. You can also add a couple drops of essential oil.

Soap – Don’t you just love the colorful soap at fancy shops? You can easily make your own by following easy soap making instructions. The process is not that difficult and you can easily find soap making kits at craft stores if it’s you’re first time. You can wrap the soap in wax paper and tie it with a small ribbon.

DIY chocolate truffles – You just can’t go wrong with a chocolate truffle recipe. There are so many possibilities with truffles or any other kind of homemade candy. You can add them to baggies and include the recipe for an extra sweet surprise.

Bath salts – Another inexpensive Christmas gift are homemade scrubs. You’ll most likely have all the ingredients on hand so give it a try. This is a perfect gift for beauty junkies.

T-shirt ring – In the past I shared easy instructions to make a T-shirt necklace and ruffled T-shirt. Now you can add a T-shirt ring to the mix. All of these would make a cute present for a fashionable girlfriend. You can buy T-shirts at the dollar store. All you need is a little bit of time.

Have more ideas? Don’t forget to share them with us!

Top gift cards with holiday bonuses

yazmincruz — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:01:13 +0000

Leo Reynolds / Flickr

This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.

If you’re still on the look out for the perfect gift, I’ve found some awesome gift card with perks you might want to consider. I share those below. Want to save even more money? You can also purchase discounted gift cards.

AMC Theatres – Free $5 concession bonus card when you spend $30 on gift cards. Offer is available in theaters, while supplies last.

Applebee’s – Get a $10 gift card when you purchase $50 in gift cards. Not valid for digital purchases. The bonus card is good through Feb. 29, 2011.

Ben & Jerry’s – Get a free scoop with every $10 of gift cards you purchase. You can also get a $10 gift card for $5 for joining Saveology for a VERY limited time.

Benihana – Get a free $10 promotional card with every $50 you spend on gift cards. Offer valid Nov. 14, 2011 through Dec. 31, 2011 on Gift Card purchases that are placed within the same order. Promotional Cards are valid from Jan. 2, 2012 through March 31, 2012.

Black Angus – Get $5 bonus bucks for every $50 in gift cards you purchase through Dec. 31, 2011. Get Free shipping and Bonus Bucks if you spend $75 or more. Bonus Bucks are good Jan. 1, 2012 to Feb. 13, 2012.

Boston Market – Get a $5 bonus card for every $25 you spend on gift cards while supplies last. This deal was advertised in the Nov. 13 Smart Source coupon insert.

California Pizza Kitchen – Get a free $20 bonus card when you spend $100 on gift cards. The bonus card is good Jan. 3, 2012 through March 6, 2012.

Carrow’s – Get a free $5 gift card when you purchase a $25 Carrow’s gift card by Dec. 31, 2011. You must use the $5 gift card by Jan. 1 through Mar. 31, 2012.

Chuck E. Cheese – Get 20 free tokens with every $25 gift card purchase. This deal can’t be found on their website, but it was advertised in the Dec. 4 Smart Source insert.

Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf – Buy a $25 gift card and get a free drink. I’ve only seen this deal in store.

DSW – Get a free $5 bonus card when you purchase a $50 gift card through Dec. 24. The bonus card is good Jan. 14, 2011 through Jan. 29, 2011.

Fleming’s Steakhouse – Get a free $20 bonus card when you spend $100 on gift cards through Dec. 31, 2011. The bonus card is good Jan. 1, 2012 through Feb. 10, 2012.

IHOP - Get $5 off your next purchase when you spend $25 on gift cards through Jan. 31, 2012. I couldn’t find an expiration date for the $5 discount. You might want to ask if there’s one.

Jamba Juice – Get a free 16 oz. smoothie with the purchase of a $25 gift card through Jan. 3, 2012. Get the freebie on the same visit or get a coupon to use before Jan. 10, 2012.

Macaroni Grill – Get a free $5 bonus card when you purchase a $25 gift card. The bonus is good Jan. 2, 2011 through Feb. 29, 2011.

Maggiano’s – Purchase $100 in e-cards and receive a $20 e-bonus card plus a one-year subscription to Food & Wine Magazine. Available online till Dec. 31.

Orange Julius – Get a free 12 oz. smoothie when you spend $15 gift card through Dec. 31.

Outback Steakhouse – Get a $20 bonus card when you purchase $100 on gift cards through Dec. 31. The bonus card is good Jan. 1, 2011 through Feb. 10, 2011.

Red Robin – Get a $5 bonus buck reward when you spend $25 on gift cards. The reward card must be used Jan. 1, 2012 through Feb. 29, 2012.

Rubios – Get a $5 bonus coupon with $50 gift card purchase. Not sure if the $5 bonus coupon expires.

Ruby Tuesday – Get a $15 bonus coupon for every $50 you spend on gift cards through Dec. 31. The bonus coupon is good Jan. 2, 2011 through Feb. 28, 2011.

Taco Bell – Get a free Chicken Flatbread Sandwich combo with a $20 gift card purchase. Not sure when this deal ends.

TGI Friday’s - Get a $5 Bonus Bites card for every $25 you spend on gift cards. Nothing specific is stated as to when $5 off can be used or when it expires.

Uno Chicago Grill – Get a $5 bonus voucher for every $25 you spend on gift cards. The voucher is good Jan. 2, 2012 through April 1, 2012.

Frugal and homemade holiday gifts

Bobbisbargains — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 15:52:59 +0000

By Bobbi Burger Brunoehler of BobbisBargains.

Romantic Crafts/flickr

I love homemade holiday gifts the best. Anyone can go to the store and buy something, but it takes time and thought to give someone a gift that you made.

Here are 7 unusual frugal and homemade holiday gifts. For more gift ideas, check out the Bargain Babe Hot Holiday Gift Guide.

Firewood. With all the recent storms, it is possible that you are now in possession of lots more wood than you need. Bundle it up and give it as gifts to those you know with fireplaces. Include a couple of mugs, hot chocolate mix and marshmallows.
Truffles. I received a small box of two gold paper-wrapped homemade truffles once. They were given and received like the best gift ever. Delicious. Here is a truffle recipe.
Lessons. If you are an expert at something, offer a set of lessons to someone as a gift. Perhaps you are a good cook, photographer, artist, or handy man.
Personalized stationary. Create a hand drawn or digital graphic that represents the recipient. Find wonderful paper at a yard sale. Transfer the graphic onto the paper. You can even make handmade envelopes for a real personalized touch.
Fabric covered boxes. My sister-in-law gave me one of these the first time I met her and I still have it.
Make a secret family recipe book. Get each family member to write up the recipe of the dish they make that is loved the most. It can be as simple as getting recipe cards and taping them into a note book or you can get carried away in photoshop with pictures. Make a copy for each family member. Believe me, years from now this will be a cherished book.
Chunky yarn bracelets. This is a super easy craft that can be done with any kind of yarn, but looks best with the new Martha Stewart Mambo Yarn. You can make this craft out of any old cheap bangle covered by any kind of fabric.

Do you have favorite handmade gifts?

Check out these related posts:

How to make homemade gift tags

Homemade gift envelopes

Recipe for homemade sugar scrub gifts

Homemade gift ideas (picture frame earring holder, memory jar, candles)

Gifts that keep on giving

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Three creative ways to wrap gift cards

bargainbabe — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 14:12:12 +0000

I was surprised by how creative this lady from CreditCards.com wraps her gift cards. Very inspiring!

Best holiday gifts – Gift cards and more!

bargainbabe — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 14:08:33 +0000

Gift cards make a great gift!

Phew! Today’s post on the best overall gifts brings the Bargain Babe Hot Holiday Gift Guide to a close. After 10 days, I’m all shopped out! We’ve also suggested electronics gifts, gifts at Sears, toys for kids, mens’ shavers, gifts for teens, unique and quirky gifts, All You mag gifts, restaurant gift certificates, and gifts for men and women.

Gifts cards are a thoughtful gift that is easy for the giver and receiver. No guessing what size or brand; no returns. You can make it a thoughtful gift card by picking a store the recipient loves to shop at, and by wrapping it in a special way. (This video has three great ideas for creative gift card wrapping.)

Kindle Fire is HOT!

The most sought-after gift cards,

according to GiftCardGranny, are Target, Walmart, Amazon, Macy’s, Starbucks and Home Depot. Gas and grocery gift cards are also popular. I recommend gift certificates to Mom and Pop shops if you have absolutely no doubt that the recipient shops there.

A great way to buy a gift card for less than the face value is to go through a reseller, like PlasticJungle.com. The site guarantees the value of the cards and has a good selection of retailers for as much as 40% off. I’ve also used GiftCardGranny.com, which isn’t a reseller but aggregates gift card sales listings. It has a larger selection, but includes sellers on eBay, which can be risky. (Incidentally, I recently bought a Home Depot gift card for 9% off through an eBay seller that had a long and outstanding track record.) GiftCards.com sells pre-paid Visa gift cards and regular retailer gift cards at a discount.

The memory jar I made for my Mom.

The Kindle Fire is high on my list of the best overall gifts. For $200, you get a device about as snazzy and well-equipped as the iPad2, which goes for $500. Unlike the iPad, there is no monthly contract, so you’re not giving a gift that requires more spending. Me thinks the Kindle Fire tablet is going to give the iPad a run for its money.

For sentimental folks, nothing says “I love you” like a memory jar (option No. 4). I gave my Mom one for Mother’s Day more than a year ago and it still sits on top of her dresser. You can customize a memory jar by selecting a special container, ribbon, and making other embellishments. When my Mom opened it, we had a beautiful time reading through the memories.

Electronics gifts – Hot Holiday Gift Guide Day 1
Value gifts at Sears – Hot Holiday Gift Guide Day 2
Toys for kids – Hot Holiday Gift Guide Day 3
Mens’ shavers – Hot Holiday Gift Guide Day 4
Gifts for teens – Hot Holiday Gift Guide Day 5
Unique and quirky gifts – Hot Holiday Gift Guide Day 6
All You mag giveaway – Hot Holiday Gift Guide Day 7
Restaurant gift certificates – Hot Holiday Gift Guide Day 8
Men’s and women’s gifts – Hot Holiday Gift Guide Day 9

Clicking on these links supports BargainBabe.com. Thank you for helping make blogging my full time job! This post is copyrighted by BargainBabe.com. Any other site posting this content is violating the DMCA.

Smart gifts for men and women – Gift Guide Day 9

bargainbabe — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 15:21:21 +0000

Makes tending bar easy

The second to last day of the Bargain Babe Hot Holiday Gift Guide is devoted to gifts for women and men. We’ve also suggested electronics gifts, gifts at Sears, toys for kids, mens’ shavers, gifts for teens, unique and quirky gifts, All You mag gifts, and restaurant gift certificates. We’ll finish tomorrow with the best overall gifts.

A smart cocktail shaker set has ingredients to mix the perfect Whiskey Sour, Manhattan, Tom Collins, Martini, Mai Tai or Sazerac printed on the mixing glass, above. A shaker top and strainer round out the set, for $19. The stainless steel shaker cup holds 28 ounces and the glass holds 16 ounces.

An indoor garden herb kit is a fantastic gift for any wannabe green thumb. It’s hard to go wrong with these three 7-inch green ceramic pots that hold oregano, chives, and sweet basil, above. This kit, for $25, includes organic soil and growing directions. The matching 13-inch ceramic drip tray really pulls it all together!

I’m obsessed with “Unbroken“ by Laura Hillenbrand right now. She also wrote “Seabiscuit.” If you are looking for a great book that delves in American History, World War II, sports, and the triumph of life, this is your book! The hardcover is only $14 (orig. $17) and the Kindle version is $13.

Who doesn’t love to snuggle up to cashmere? For women, these super discounted cashmere sweaters from Macys come in eight colors and are just $54.50 (orig. $109) each. Use coupon code EXTRA to get another 20% off, bringing it down to $43.60!!! Shipping is free with $99 or more. For men, J.Crew’s classic cotton-cashmere is $60 and comes in nine colors. Use coupon code PRESENTS to get 25% off and free shipping on $150 or more.

If your buying for a sporty guy or gal, check out the REI coupons page to save 15% off or more. I always check out the REI Outlet for major savings up to 50% off and browse the REI sale and clearance page before looking at full price items. Note, coupons for REI don’t always work for REI-Outlet, and vice versa.

KenKen puzzles have overtaken my penchant for Sudoku, which was a mindless way to spend time anyway. At least with KenKen, I’m keeping my multiplying skills fresh. KenKen was created by the New York Times’ puzzle guru Will Shortz and books of the game start at $6.

Free Shipping Day is Dec. 16

bargainbabe — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 15:33:52 +0000

Free Shipping Day is Dec. 16

Just a heads up to let you know that Free Shipping Day, when hundreds of online retailers offer free shipping with guaranteed Christmas Eve delivery, is coming up on Dec. 16, 2011. If you shop online, get a cash back rebate on every purchase by shopping through Ebates.

Some retailers have minimum spend requirements, others don’t. Here is an abbreviated list of the 1,595 participating retailers.

Apple Store

Barnes & Noble

Beauty.com

Bed Bath and Beyond

Best Buy

Bloomingdales

Columbia

Dell

Dockers

Drugstore.com

DSW

Forever 21

Gaiam

Harry & David

JC Penney

Kmart

Kohl’s

Land’s End

Levi’s

Macy’s

Melissa & Doug

Nordstrom

Office Depot

Office Max

Old Navy

Oriental Trading

Radio Shack

REI

Sears

Sephora

Tiger Direct

Walgreens

If you are willing to pay for expedited shipping ($$$), the deadlines stretch as late as Dec. 22.

Best Buy
Standard: Dec. 20, 11 a.m. EST
Express: Dec. 21, 11 a.m. EST
Fastest: Dec. 22, 11 a.m. EST

Cabela’s
Standard: Dec. 16
Express: Dec. 20, 9 p.m. CST
Fastest: Dec. 22, 11:30 a.m. CST

Lands’ End
Standard: Dec. 14
Express: Dec. 19
Fastest: Dec. 21

DSW
Standard: Dec. 17, midnight EST
Express: Dec. 21, midnight EST
Fastest: Dec. 22, midnight EST

JCPenney
Ship-to-store: Dec. 19
Standard: Dec. 20
Fastest: Dec. 22, noon CST

Kmart
Standard: Dec. 16
Express: Dec. 21
Fastest: Dec. 22

Joann
Standard: Dec. 13, 11 a.m.
Express: Dec. 15, 11 a.m.
Express Plus: Dec. 20, 11 a.m.

Kohl’s
Standard: Dec. 18 11 p.m. CST
Fastest: Dec. 21, 11 p.m. CST

Sierra Trading Post
Standard: Dec. 15
Express: Dec. 21, 3 p.m. MST
Fastest: Dec. 22, 3 p.m. MST

Sears
Standard: Dec. 16
Express: Dec. 21
Fastest: Dec. 22

Zappos
Standard: Dec. 16

Restaurant gift certificates – Gift Guide Day 8

bargainbabe — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 14:46:31 +0000

This code expires today!

Eating out is one of my favorite things to do. But aside from fast food joints, restaurant coupons are rare. I use Restaurant.com to drop my tab by 25-40%, an incredible savings. TODAY ONLY, you can get a $25 gift certificate to a restaurant of your choosing for $2, plus earn 30% cash back through Ebates – which means you pay just $1.40!!! Coupon code below.

We’ve also suggested electronics gifts, gifts at Sears, toys for kids, mens’ shavers, gifts for teens, unique and quirky gifts, and All You mag gifts. Tomorrow’s edition covers gifts for men and women. We’ll finish the gift guide on Dec. 9 with the best overall gifts.

If you’re new to this site, here’s how Restaurant.com works. You have three gift options on Restaurant.com:

Buy a gift certificate for a particular restaurant.
Buy a physical gift card, which the recipient redeems online for a voucher at a specific restaurant they want to eat at. (This is a good option if you don’t know their favorite eateries.)
Buy an eGift card, which is the same as physical gift card except that it is emailed to the recipient.
Spice up a Restaurant.com gift with a bottle of wine and/or a babysitting voucher (or cash to cover the sitter).

Restaurant.com coupon codes:

Use coupon code GIFT to get a $25 gift certificate for $2, plus shop through Ebates to bring the cost down to $1.40 each. The code expires today, Dec. 7, 2011.
The same coupon code, GIFT, gets you a physical gift card or eGift card for $3. Again, shop through Ebates for an extra 30% off. Expires Dec. 7, 2011.
Buy five physical gift cards and get one FREE! Offer ends Dec. 7, 2011.

Note, a few restaurants are priced slightly higher, adding a dollar or two to your cost. Pretty reasonable for certain restaurants. You can also buy gifts in $50 or $100 denomination.

Your Q: White elephant gifts under $10?

bargainbabe — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 15:38:54 +0000

What's a great white elephant gift? Credit: col&tasha/Flickr

Maureen has a pressing question that I’m sure many of you share!

Do you have any ideas for a white elephant $10 gift limit?

It’s for a work party. I was perusing online for creative/humorous and would love to hear ideas. So far I have liked buy a loaf of bread and jars of peanut butter and jelly (the food theme). Or buy a bunch of batteries and add a note “gift not included” (humorous).

I hope you get to blog on it soon, our party is next week!

Maureen’s ideas are snazzy. I might even use the battery one myself! Here are a few more ideas that I found online of what to give and where to find a great white elephant gift.

Rummage through your attic for a giftable piece of treasure you never use, but can’t bear to part with. Rest easy knowing its new owner will keep it safe in their own attic!
A framed close up 8 x 10-inch picture of yourself or another famous person with an “autograph.” A close up makes it particularly funny
A box of golf balls containing grass, tees, chipped golf balls, and plastic balls
A giant sausage
A can of spam wrapped super fancy
A fancy box of chocolates that, upon opening, have a few missing bites. Optional: include a picture of the gift giver eating one
A VERY large pair of granny panties or men’s tighty whiteys
A box full of hotel shampoos, lotions, and other freebies
joke hand sanitzer with labels like “Cleaner than shit,” and “Germ-a-phobe”
Food-themed basket with the oddest stuff you can find
$10 worth of toilet paper
A lotto ticket
A beat up bowling pin (you can often acquire them from a bowling alley)
Spooky or very odd holiday decoration

What do you think Maureen should give?

Unique and quirky gifts – Gift Guide Day 6

bargainbabe — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 16:37:50 +0000

Bzzzt. Kills flies with this fun $5 gift!

Unique and quirky is the theme of the Bargain Babe Hot Holiday Gift Guide Day 6. We’ve also suggested electronics gifts, gifts at Sears, kids’ toys, mens’ shavers, and gifts for teens. Coming up are gifts for men and women. We’ll finish the gift guide on Dec. 9 with a roundup of the best overall gifts.

Don’t forget to enter to win a $100 Sears gift card as part of the Bargain Babe Hot Holiday Gift Guide! ENDS TODAY, DEC. 5!

We have a gnat

problem in the summer as soon as temps hit 68 degrees. Our indoor compost container seems to hatch gnats and attract flies within an hour. Then our friends told us about their electric fly swatter, above, which you can get on Amazon for as little as $5! Or, go for a bigger electric fly swatter that also has more voltage, for just $10. Not a bad way to have fun getting rid of pests!

Turn a regular photo into Pop Art! Credit: AllPopArt.com

The Rabbit wine opener has been surpassed by the even easier to use electric wine openerelectric wine opener. A handful of companies make these devices, which start as low as $15 and run up to $50! There are plenty to choose from for $20 and under, however. This would make a great hostess gift, or boss gift!

Turn a photo into a work of Pop Art with the website AllPopArt.com. Upload your photo, pick a design (like the Warhol-inspired work above), and select which options you want, if any. A 13 x 13 inch work starts at $154, so it ain’t cheap. But it’s a relative steal compared to original artwork. You can customize photos of your kids, pets, a couple shot, and more. Check out the Pop Art options for less than $150. Upgrades include going from rolled paper to canvas, adding a frame, and increasing the size. You can also combine more than one photo.

This quirky kitchen gift is only $10.

A fun spin on scented gifts is Poo-Pourri freshening scents, which come in various sizes for $8-$20. Give a friend or family member a laugh with these lively spritzers!

If you have the budget, buying a CSA membership will give the recipient months of fresh, organic produce, meat, eggs, fruit, and more. CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture and it basically means you buy food from a local farm, in turn supporting local jobs, reducing your carbon footprint, and eating wonderfully! I’ve written about the CSA my husband and I belong to and I highly recommend it! Find a CSA near you or the recipient you have in mind.

The Food Pod, above, is a curious kitchen tool made of silicone. Use it to boil, blanch or steam food with a built-in water strainer. (How many times have I gotten a steam burn draining off hot water?) It is $10.51 on Amazon ($15 elsewhere) and comes in yellow. The Food Pod measures 9 x 9 x 9 inches.

Gifts for teens – Holiday Gift Guide Day 5

bargainbabe — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 14:32:42 +0000

Spirit Hoods are a unique gift. Credit: SpiritHoods.com

I find teens are the easiest people to buy presents for because when you ask them what they want, they have a long list! Day five of the Bargain Babe Hot Holiday Gift Guide is devoted to buying for these almost-adults.

We’ve also suggested electronics gifts, gifts at Sears, toys for kids, and mens’ shavers. Coming up are gifts for kids, teens, men, and women. There will also be a day devoted to unique and quirky gifts, and we’ll finish the gift guide on Dec. 9 with a roundup of the best overall gifts.

Don’t forget to enter to win a $100 Sears gift card as part of the Gift Guide! Contest ends Monday, Dec. 5!

What is it with teen girls putting

brightly colored feather extensions in their hair? I understand hairstyles are a powerful expression of self, but I’m too old to get on this bandwagon. Luckily, feather extensions start at $2.49 plus shipping on Amazon. This gift is gentle on the wallet!

TOMS shoes are in style.

Take hair feathers to the next level with a faux fur animal hoodie, above. These are not hoodies in the traditional sense, but are over-sized head coverings with limb-like extensions that hang down, forming pockets. Many of the hoods sell for about $30 on Amazon, while you can find more realistic looking ones for $129 and up at Spirit Hoods. (Kids sizes start at $79). Buy a Spirit Hood depicting a wolf, polar bear, panda, or snow leopard, and 10% of profits go to helping that particular animal.

An iTunes gift card is a no-brainer for a generation saturated with media. They can spend it on music, movies, TV shows, and audio books. If you are a Costco member, you can usually find a pack of iTunes gift cards for slightly less than retail (pay $45 for $50 in gift cards, for example).

At $33-$60, TOMS shoes are overpriced, in my humble opinion, but these simple shoes are uber popular right now. The basic model has a rubber sole and canvas top, above. For every TOMS bought, a pair of shoes is given to a child in need. Reviewers say the shoes are extremely comfortable but sizes may run a tad small.

Movie passes through Fandango are super versitile.

Movie passes are another no-brainer. I mean, what teen doesn’t jump at a few hours away from the ‘rents? Giving movie tickets through Fandango makes it easy for them to redeem at more than a dozen theaters, including AMC, Carmike Cinemas, Century Theatres, Cinemark Theatres, Edwards Theatres, Regal Cinemas and United Artists Theatres, American Cinematheque, Brenden Theatres, CineArts Theatres, Cinebarre, Cineplex Odeon Cinemas, Cobb Theatres, Hollywood Theatres, IMAX, Kerasotes Theatres, Majestic Crest Theatre, Premiere Theatres, R/C Theatres, Wehrenberg Theatres and Winchester Theatres. The teen can use Fandango cash to see any movie available for ticketing on Fandango.com. When I checked this morning, the options included Breaking Dawn Part 1, The Muppets, The Adventures of Tintin, and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, among many others. Give movie tickets through Fandango now.

Money is last on the list of gifts for teens. Perhaps you want to earmark it for a school trip, sports equipment, 529 plan, or other event in the teen’s life. I recommend cash over pre-paid bank cards, which almost always have fees and surcharges just to spend the money! Giving cash does not have to be tacky. It’s all about including it in a thoughtful card with a hand written note supporting the teen.

For additional information: Visit our partner AutismUnited.org where you can find a TOMS Shoes Coupon Code.