lululemon athletica / Flickr
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This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
I’m in the market for new workout clothes. The pairs of yoga pants I’ve had for more than five years are beginning to thin at the inner thigh. Since I practically live in workout clothes, I need them to stand up to constant wear. Here’s how I find workout clothes at affordable prices.
- Avoid name brand retailers- Stores like Nike and Adidas are so expensive. Even with discounts or coupons the prices are still high, at least for my price range. I do like to frequent these stores to see what’s new and gauge prices. (more…)
Today is the last day to win $500! Credit: Sister72/Flickr
This is your last chance to win the $500 back to school savings spree at Sears and Kmart, which each donated a $250 gift card for this giveaway. So far more than 300 fans have entered the contest. Whoo!
To win the $500, do two things:
- Join our BargainBabe.com deals email list (if you already receive a daily or weekly email from BargainBabe.com, just see the next bullet point).
- AND leave a comment with your strongest memory of school, whether it be the day you aced a test, overcame the school bully, or fell in love for the first time.
EXTRA ENTRIES (leave a comment for each extra entry so we can count you):
- Get an extra entry for tweeting: “I want to win a $500 back to school savings spree at @MySears and @KmartDealsnNews on the @bargainbabe blog http://bit.ly/qaNBor”
- Get an extra entry for an update on Facebook about the contest with this link: http://bit.ly/qaNBor
- Get an extra entry for following @Bargainbabe on Twitter
Comment, join our email list, tweet, and Facebook by Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2011 at 11:59 p.m. EST to be eligible to win!
This prize for this giveaway was donated by Kmart and Sears. I received no compensation to run this contest. Interested in sponsoring a giveaway? See my blog advertising page.
micro10x/Fotolia.com
Bargain shoppers like you and me can get trapped by low-priced back to school clothes that appear to be a great value, but are cheaply made. The September issue of ShopSmart, published by Consumer Reports, says here is what to avoid.
Dresses and skirts – Elastic waistbands, no lining, sloppy stitching, crooked seams, and visible hems (they should be rolled).
Jackets – Big, cheap buttons, buttonholes with loose threads or raw edges, no lining (which helps the jacket fit better and keep its shape), labels sewed on sloppily, flimsy
If you’ve ever been to the FIDM Scholarship Store in downtown Los Angeles, you know there are many hot clothing deals. I ventured to the store, at the corner of Grand and Ninth, last week. Here’s what I found:
A beautifully sewed jacket with a deep burgendy color was $25. The waist tie fell perfectly but alas it was too tight in the shoulders so I reluctantly left it for another bargain hunter.
br> (more…)
By Bobbi Burger Brunoehler of Bobbisbargains.
LA Swapaholics Sip & Swap
Last week I went to a great swap run by The Swapaholics, co-hosts of last year’s Frugal Festival. Swaps come in all different sizes and shapes. Some are free. Some you have to pay to get in. Some are in person. Some are virtual. You can swap everything from houses to horses. Either way, swaps are a big money saver.
To get the most value out of a swap, here are the five things you need to know:
- The merchandise is tied to the people who attend the event. If you are looking for plus-size clothes and everyone at the swap is pencil thin, you won’t find anything but accessories. The best way to find the kind of swap you want is to search online for “swap”+ “your city”+ “qualifier.” The qualifier is the kind of swap that you are looking for such as mom, kid, toys, plants, plus-size, books, or recipes. So you might search “swap Los Angeles kids.”
- I believe in swapping karma. (more…)
I paid $1.66 for each Anthropologie bowl, orig. $5 each.
Anthropologie is one of my favorite stores but because its stylish clothes are so pricey, I only shop there once a year. (Okay, maybe twice. It’s kind of like Nordstrom. If I enter the store, I will find something way over budget and convince myself to buy it.) But shopping at Anthropologie doesn’t have to be expensive. Here’s how I got an amazing deal.
1. Sign up for the Anthro card, which tracks your purchases so if you lose a receipt, the store can retrieve the price you paid. Friends and family can put a digital receipt on your card, too, if they buy you a gift.
2. Register your (more…)
rocketgirl13 / Flickr
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
If youre on a mission to find inexpensive, yet useful stocking fillers for the fashionista in your life, youre in luck. These items caught my eye on a recent trip to my local drugstore because of how helpful they are for anyone who wears heels, is into fashion, or just wants to appear well-groomed. If you need Christmas gift ideas for others on your list, check out Bargain Babe’s suggestions or opt for homemade gifts.
Dr. Scholls For Her Fast Flats Ladies weve all been there. Weve worn heels to special occasions or a girls night out and by the end of the night we are begging to kick the shoes off. Well, now you can. These flats can be rolled up, stashed in the wristlet they come in, and tossed in a purse – ready to be worn at a moment’s notice. Fast Flats come in three sizes. Cost: $10. (more…)
This post is brought to you by DailyVista where you can get new business leads.
By Bobbi Burger Brunoehler of Bobbisbargains.
mirimcfly/Flickr
This question just came in from a reader in Southern California:
Can you suggest sources of quality dresses to wear on job interviews? Most stores don�t seem to carry business dresses anymore. The key factor wanted is QUALITY with conservative designs. Would like to pay no more than $100 for an interview dress, if possible. Pantsuits are not the best choice for my field and age group, but skirted suits are ok. Any ideas? I am a mature job applicant who does not look appropriate in wild, trendy styles.
My immediate answer was (more…)
Los Angeles shopping alert! The greater Los Angeles clothing wholesaler DLM Off Price is opening its warehouse doors to the public this Saturday, Sept. 25 only. The prices are so low I wouldn’t be surprised if regional retailers came to buy merchandise for their stores!
Expect to pay pennies on the dollar for top brands during the weekend sale. Women’s plus size tops from brands like Jones NY, Charter Club, Ralph Lauren, 3 dots, Liz Claiborne, Style & Co, INC, Chaps, and Daisy Fuentes are $8 each (retail is $40-$100). Men’s print tees are $4 ($20-$30 retail). Men’s flannel tops are $5 (retail is $20-$30).
If you are still doing back to school shopping, DLM has a juniors and missy section with tops from $5 (retail is $28), evening dresses for $15 (retail is $100 – GASP!), and skirts for $5 (retail is $49). DLM also sells candles for $2 and up, picture frames for $3.50 and up, and brand new in the box Paula Dean dishes and serving ware for as low as $6.
There are no minimum purchase amounts to get these prices at the sale this Saturday.
DLM was just featured on Best Deals TV. Watch the video here. The one-day sale is Saturday, Sept. 25, 2010. DLM’s hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. They accept cash and credit. Visit DLM at 2343 Saybrook Ave. in Commerce, CA. All sales final.
This is paid content. Interested in an ad? Read my Advertise page.
Splurging at Macy's and Out of the Closet
I went shopping yesterday and came home with three pairs of pants and two pairs of shoes, $139 later. I started at Macy’s, where I found two pairs of shoes that I loved. They were on sale, plus I had a 10% off coupon. Cha-ching!
The soft leather, hardy sole, and distinctive look of this pair of creamy tan slingbacks sold me. They are made by Lucky Brand, which I didn’t even realize made shoes. I wear flats ALL the time and was down to one lime green pair. I paid $49.77 for them (orig. $79, on sale for $55.30).
I rarely find appealing shoes in the jumbled clearance racks (more…)
M. Hall/The Recessionista Blog
Lacking a reliable fashion sense, I asked Mary of The Recessionista Blog where she’s back to school shopping, what the biggest deals are, and how parents are stretching their dollars at thrift stores.
How is the economy affecting back to school shopping? There are people in this economy doing more back to school shopping at Goodwill and the Salvation Army. There are a lot of items that are new with tags on them from the department store. I saw good sneakers in the box, good jeans, tops.
How do you talk to kids, who are often very brand conscious, about shopping at second hand stores? I didn’t see (more…)
A reader in Arizona shared a few sentences and a picture of some of the steals she found on a recent shopping trip, along with the name of the store and her total bill.
She writes, “I’ve done some hunting for deals at thrift stores – there are three in my little town! I found an Ann Taylor Loft denim dress that I love for 50 cents. For some reason, it’s always fun to find a treasure.”
“My best find was the vintage red Carlo Fiori purse – it’s in great shape, too! And for 50 cents! I’ve used it already and it just feels so fun to carry it!”
Personally, my best thrift store find was a $15 green and white stripped dress made of super soft cotton. I wore it to the Frugal Festival and it is incredibly comfortable. I bought it at a high-end thrift store that specializes in dresses, hence the relatively high price. But it was totally worth it because I’ve already worn it a dozen times.
Do you have a success story? Email me!
Smashbox - Here are three Smashbox beauty coupons you may be able to combine for a triple savings whammy!
Back to school deals - Here is my latest round up of back to school deals through August 7, 2010, including a free backpack at Office Depot with a $10 purchase. Nice!
Free kids clothes swapping trial - Here is a swapping coupon for a free trial membership at ThredUp, and online site that facilities the swapping of children’s clothes.
Check back this afternoon for the latest coupons and deals on my WalletPop blog.
If you live in the greater Los Angeles area, this sale is for you. The largest wholesaler in the country, DLM Off-Price Specialists, is opening their doors to the public this Saturday, July 31, 2010. Expect prices to be 80-90% off retail and look for name brands like DKNY, Ellie Tahari, and more.
DLM normally sells to the discount shops, so you are getting prices below wholesale – pennies on the dollar in some cases! There are absolutely no knock offs.
The selection is huge in DLM’s 100,000 square foot warehouse, which is 15 minutes from downtown. Score great bargains in women’s clothes, men’s clothes, and children’s clothing, plus home goods like Paula Deen dishware. One Paula Deen platter that sells for $25 at Macy’s is $7 at DLM. Snappy!
The sale is this Saturday, July 31, 2010 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. DLM is located at 2343 Saybrook Ave. in Commerce, CA. Their phone number is (323) 724-5474. This video has more details about prices and brands.
This is paid content. Interested in an ad? Read my Advertise page.
Reese's Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake Cheesecake
Sirius - get a free 30-day satellite radio trial and access dozens of channels.
Cheesecake Factory – Put Friday, July 30, 2010 on your calender. That’s when cheesecake slices are half off in celebration of National Cheesecake Day. Snag this coupon to get a slice a day early for just $1.50!
Staples – Here are three Staples coupons for $5 to $50 off that can be used on most anything in the store, including computers. Expires Saturday, July 24, 2010.
Vista Print – Get 250 free business cards from Vista Print when you foot the shipping, about $5.
The Limited - Stroll into The Limited and pick up a $10 Fashion Pass that can be used on most items in the store. Cha-ching!
Check out all the coupons and deals on my WalletPop blog.
