Bargain Babe» Computers + Electronics

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.

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

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.

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.

BB Hot Holiday Gift Guide is here: electronics!

bargainbabe — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 15:09:32 +0000

The Kindle Fire is one hot gift at $199!

Today is the first day of the Bargain Babe Hot Holiday Gift Guide! We’re kicking it off with electronics gifts. Over the next two weeks, we will suggest 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.

If your budget is tight, don’t forget to enter our final five Win Giveaways for a chance to win $619 in Christmas and holiday presents, ENDING NOV. 29!

Now onto electronics gifts. An * means the gift is top rated!

Netbooks are soooo last year. This year’s hot holiday gift for people who crave being connected to the Internet is…a tablet! You have plenty of choices.

* Kindle Fire – The Kindle Fire is Amazon’s answer to the iPad. The device is a budget-friendly $199, and enables you to browse the Internet, play movies, read magazines, watch Netflix and Hulu Plus, and so much more. Plus, everything is in color. The screen is 7-inches, there is no monthly contract, and it comes with a one-year warranty. Still hesitating? Kindle Fire is getting rave reviews. If you have the cash, this is an AWESOME gift.

A fabulous e-reader is the Nook and it's just $74 today!

Kindle DX – ON SALE FOR $259 TODAY ONLY (orig. $379). The DX was the top of the line before Kindle Fire came out. The extra moolah gets you free 3G Internet worldwide (without a monthly contract), a bigger 9.7-inch screen, a one-week battery life, and enough memory to store 3,500 books.

The Kindle 3G + WiFi is smaller, at 6-inches, and has many of the same features as the DX. It can also connect to WiFi hotspots at the library, airport, coffeehouse…you name it. It sells for $189 but is being overshadowed by the Kindle Fire, which is only $10 more.

Lastly, the Kindle WiFi is also 6-inches and can connect to the Internet in hotspots but not using 3G. A bit limiting, but if you’re a planner you can download books you want to read over your home WiFi connection and not worry about finding hotspots on the go. If you can tolerate ads, the cost drops to as low as $79 (or less from third-party sellers). If you’re only going to use the gadget to read books, I’d take a close look at the Nook, below.

I’m a huge fan of my husband’s Nook, which runs you $139 from Barnes & Noble. Today only, Nov. 28, the Nook is $40 off – just $99 – and comes with FREE shipping. Plus, you get a $25 egift card when you buy it online, making it just $74. Hot stuff! It is a basic e-reader and will win over folks who say they love the feel of a book in their hands (like me!) Pictured above.

The Pop Phone is a fun gimick gift!

The Nook Color lets you access apps, email, music, books, mags, and soon Hulu Plus and Netflix. It costs $249 but is on sale today only for $199. This device sounds a lot like the Kindle Fire, but hasn’t gotten quite as much attention. It has a 7-inch screen and the ability to connect to WiFi.

The Nook Tablet is $249 has all the features of the Nook Color, and comes pre-loaded with the most popular apps, like Netflix, Hulu Plus, Words with Friends, and more. I’d probably go with the Kindle Fire instead.

For big spenders, the iPad 2 still makes other envious and is a leader in apps. At $499 and up for the device, plus monthly service charges and accessories, it is a blow to the wallet.

A lower priced tech gift is the etip glove, which lets you use your touchscreen device (like an iPhone or any of the above tablets) without taking your gloves off. Very useful in cold weather! It ranges from $18-$40, depending on the brand.

Another hip, lower-priced tech gift is the $29 Pop Phone, above. Combine the charm of an old fashioned phone with the convenience of your mobile! Plug it into your cell and speak into an old fashioned handset. Aside from the gimmicky appeal, the phone claims to eliminate “up to 99% of the radiation absorbed compared to a direct use of mobile phones.” Compatible with the iPhone, iPad, iPod, and Android phones.

Clicking on these links supports BargainBabe.com. Thank you for helping make blogging my full time job!

Black Friday 2011 Store Opening Hours

bargainbabe — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 14:25:50 +0000

How early will you wake up on Black Friday? Credit: Warren Noronha/Flickr

When are stores opening on Black Friday? We have answers, provided by CouponSherpa.com. The earliest is Kmart, which opens at 6 a.m. on Turkey Day!

Doorbusters are listed under store openings.

Go straight to all the Black Friday 2011 deals and ads.

Ace Hardware – Midnight Friday

A.C. Moore – 5 a.m. Friday
Free $10 gift card to the first 50 customers.

Bealls – Midnight Friday
First 100 customers per store have a chance to win an iPad2, $250 gift card or $5 Bealls Bucks.

Best Buy – Midnight Friday
Best Buy will distribute entry tickets up to two hours before midnight.

Half Price Books – 7 a.m. Friday
First 100 people per store receive a tote bag and $5 gift card.

JCPenney – 4 a.m. Friday
Free collectible Disney snow globe, while supplies last.

Kmart – 6 a.m. Thanksgiving
Earn 20 bonus points for every $1 spent (twice the normal amount).

Macy’s – 4 a.m. Friday

Office Max – 6 a.m. Friday
Save $15 on a $100 VISA or MasterCard gift card.

Kohl’s – Midnight Friday
Receive $15 Kohl’s cash for every $50 you spend, through Nov. 27, with coupon from Black Friday flier.

Old Navy – 9 a.m. Thanksgiving and midnight Friday

Rite Aid – 7 a.m. Thanksgiving (at select stores) through 11:59 p.m. Friday
$10 reward when you buy a $50 Home Improvement gift card.

Sears – 4 a.m. Friday
Pick up a Real Deal Coupon Book with over $3,000 in savings that start Nov. 27 (while quantities last).

Sports Authority – 5 a.m. Friday
First 80 people in line at each Sports Authority receive Bonus Bucks valued between $10 and $500.

Target – Midnight to 11 p.m. Friday
Toys R Us – 9 p.m. Thanksgiving Day

Walmart – 10 p.m. Thanksgiving Day

Go straight to all the Black Friday 2011 deals and ads.

Newest Black Friday ads + Black Friday Buying Guides

bargainbabe — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 15:33:56 +0000

Black Friday deals and buying guides are here!

This post is brought to you by Cricket Wireless, a leading provider of innovative and value-driven wireless services with nationwide talk, text and data plus unlimited music downloads with Muve Music.

You would not believe how many pre-Black Friday sales are going on! Amazon, Best Buy, Toys R Us, Target, and are all getting in on the action. Last night I scored a huge deal at Michael’s!

Get all the pre-Black Friday and regular Black Friday 2011 deals and sales info. There are now 60 stores listed. Yowza!

Overwhelmed by so many sales? Check out the Hot Deals page or go straight to the Top 5 Deals page.

Buying Guides for Black Friday (courtesy of BFAds.net)

Video Game Buying Guide

Mobile Phone Buying Guide

More Black Friday guides

Amazon’s Movies and TV Deals

Price matching tips and policies

Amazon Black Friday Deals Guide

Check out all the NEW! Black Friday 2011 deals and sales now!

This post is copyrighted by BargainBabe.com. Any other site posting this content is violating the DMCA.

$99 HD webcam from HP giveaway

bargainbabe — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 17:00:47 +0000

Win this $99 HD webcam from HP!

Video chatting – when you have a phone conversation through your computer with a live image of the person you are talking to – probably saved my long distance relationship. It’s just so much easier to bond and connect when you can SEE the person you’re talking to.

Now that I’m preggers, I installed Skype (a free program to make free video calls) on my Mom’s computer so when the baby comes, she can regularly see the kid for herself! The high definition (HD) webcam from HP that I’m giving away takes this to the next level. She’ll be able to see every baby pore!

Today we are launching a giving away for a $99 HD webcam by HP

. Don’t forget to check out our on-going giveaways for Diary of a Wimpy Kid,a $169 HP Photoprinter and Snapfish gift card, a $100 Fashion Playtes design your own clothing gift card, a $180 fancy hair dryer and flat iron, and a $99 Mr. Coffee Coffeemaker, blender, and electric wine opener!

About the HP Webcam HD 5210
For a premium video chatting experience, upgrade to the HP Webcam HD 5210. Enjoy the videos taken in 1080p and one-click uploading to Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Flickr makes sharing personalized HD content easier and more convenient than ever. The HD webcam also has:

Ultra-compact and up to 30 percent smaller than comparable models
Sleek design with a stylish brushed metal trim
5x digital zoom and a 75 degree field of view (FOV) creates an ideal larger image
Customizable video calling launch application consolidates, manages and organizes multiple accounts
HP Webcam Control Center consolidates all important webcam activities into one easy link
Intuitive editing software allows users to create truly unique, personalized video productions

How to win this HD webcam by HP. You have 6 chances to win – feel free to do as many as you like:
1. Comment: My favorite thing about video chatting is____
2. Tweet this msg: Stop by @bargainbabe to win a @HP_PC webcam in high def, worth $99! #wingiveaways http://bit.ly/vFcTYO
3. Share the giveaway on your Facebook page
4. Follow HP on Facebook and leave a comment below that you have
5. Follow BargainBabe.com on Facebook and leave a comment below that you have
6. Join our freebie and deal email and leave a comment below that you have

This giveaway ends Nov. 24, 2011

You can also enter to win each day on the other 11 blogs participating in Win Giveaways!

Don’t forget to check out the other on-going Win Giveaways:

Giveaway for Diary of a Wimpy Kid and other Pressman games (ends Nov. 21, 2011)
$169 HP Photoprinter and Snapfish gift card giveaway (ends Nov. 21, 2011)
$100 Fashion Playtes design your own clothing gift card (ends Nov. 21, 2011)
$180 fancy hair dryer and flat iron (ends Nov. 21, 2011)
$99 Mr. Coffee Coffeemaker, blender, and electric wine opener (ends Nov. 21, 2011)

I received a free copy of this HP HD Webcam to review for this post.

New Black Friday deals from Best Buy, Toys R Us and more!

bargainbabe — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 14:13:12 +0000

Just updated the Black Friday 2011 deals and sales post with the low-down on Best Buy, Radio Shack, Half Price Books, the Marine Corps Exchange, and Toys R Us.

Plus, we added new coupons and Black Friday policies to Walmart, Target, BJ’s Warehouse, and Bath & Body Works.

Check out all the NEW! Black Friday 2011 deals and sales now!

Black Friday 2011 deals and sales!

bargainbabe — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 14:45:17 +0000

This post contains:

Buying Guides for TVs, Video Games, Laptops, and more
Details on all the pre-Black Friday sales going on RIGHT NOW (listed by store)
The FULL Black Friday ads for more than 59 stores

Overwhelmed by so many sales? Check out the Hot Deals page or go straight to the Top 5 Deals page.

Buying Guides for Black Friday (courtesy of BFAds.net)

Video Game Buying Guide

Mobile Phone Buying Guide

More Black Friday guides

Amazon’s Movies and TV Deals

Price matching tips and policies

Amazon Black Friday Deals Guide

Ads added this week are marked NEW! Now, onto the ads, courtesy of BFAds.net, listed in alphabetical order!

Academy Sports - Academy Sports Black Friday advertisement listing along with its 28-page Black Friday advertisement scans.

AC Moore - AC Moore 171-item Black Friday Ad.

UPDATED! Amazon – To make it easier on shoppers, Amazon published a Black Friday ad that features over 50 items that will be on sale during their Black Friday Deals Week this year. We’ve also posted the accompanying 8-page Amazon Black Friday advertisement scan. Previously, we shared Amazon’s Countdown to Black Friday has already started. Watch for close competition with Walmart and Best Buy.

AAFES (Army & Airfore Exchange Service) – Here is the 285-item AAFES Black Friday Ad.

Bass Pro Shops - Peruse the 138-item Bass Pro Shops Black Friday advertisement listing and its 8-page advertisement scans. Noteworthy: Early Bird sales are valid Friday from 6-11 a.m.. Thanksgiving Day sales are valid 8 a.m.-6 p.m. and the rest of the sales last until Dec. 4.

Bath & Body Works - Snag a $10 off $30 Bath & Body Works coupon here. This year’s VIP tote bag is apparently worth over $100, but no sale price has been released. Last year, they cost $20 with any $40 purchase.

Bealls - The 315-item Bealls Black Friday Ad is here.

UPDATED! Best Buy – Best Buy has added more items to their Preview the Black Friday Doorbusters site, including a fuller listing of the items that will be available for their online Black Friday sale. Noteworthy: Two huge products that Best Buy has confirmed for their online Black Friday sale are the Dynex 24″ 1080p HDTV for $79.99 and the Lenovo 15.6″ Laptop for $179.99, among many others.

Here is a sneak peak of the Best Buy Black Friday doorbuster deals, including:

Dynex 24″ 1080p LCD HDTV – $79.99
Samsung 15.6″ Laptop w/ Pentium Processor, 4GB RAM& 320GB Hard Drive – $299.99
Samsung Stratosphere 4G LTE (Verizon) – Free w/ 2-Year Service Plan
X-Men: First Class (Blu-ray) – $9.99
Green Lantern (Blu-ray) – $9.99
Fast Five (Blu-ray) – $9.99

Also new is the Best Buy Black Friday Advertisement listings along with the 24-page Best Buy Black Friday Advertisement scan. Doors open at 12:00am Friday Nov. 25, but tickets to redeem doorbuster items will be given to those in line as early as 10 p.m.!

The best deals at Best Buy on Black Friday include:

There will be a minimum of 10 Sharp 42″ HDTVs and 15 Dynex 24″ HDTVs per store.

Best Buy is offering FREE shipping on all items with no minimum purchase Nov. 1-Dec. 27. Returns and exchanges will be accepted Nov. 13-Jan. 24. Noteworthy: Will other retailers follow suit?

BJ’s Warehouse - You can now see the entire BJ’s Wholesale Black Friday advertisement listing and its 17-page advertisement scan.Previously, we posted the BJ’s Wholesale Toys Catalog advertisement listing and the 6-page ad scan. Noteworthy: Good deals include a Sansui 32″ 720p LCD HDTV for $210 and a Vizio 47″ 1080p LCD HDTV for $489.99. There is a whole page of online-only deals that begin Wednesday, Nov. 23.

NEW! Big Lots – We now have the Big Lots’ 122-item Black Friday sales information.

Cabela’s - Sneak a look at Cabela’s 378-item Black Friday advertisement listing along with its 28-page advertisement scan. The sale starts at 5 a.m.

NEW! Campmor - Outdoorsy? Here is Campmor’s 242-item Black Friday sale information.

CVS - Here is the CVS Black Friday advertisement listing along with the 12-page CVS advertisement scans. The sale runs Thanksgiving Day starting at 9 a.m. and ends Saturday. Look for $150 in bonus ExtraBucks and some toys are buy one get one free, with exclusions.

Dick’s Sporting Goods - Check out the Dick’s Sporting Goods 189-item Black Friday Ad.

Express - Peek at the Express’ 5-item Black Friday advertisement listing along with its single page advertisement scan. Noteworthy: Shop Black Friday from opening to noon and get 40% off your entire purchase. Afternoon the discount drops to 30% off. Simple! Thanksgiving Day everything is 40% off (online) and Cyber Monday everything is 30% off plus you get free shipping!

Farm & Fleet - See the Farm and Fleet Toys Catalog advertisement listing. No ad scan currently available.

Fred’s - Check out the 75-item Black Friday item listing and 4-page advertisement scan. Fred’s one-day Black Friday sale starts at 5 a.m. and it’s possible that a weekend sale will follow.

NEW! Fred Meyer - Just in! The 212-item Fred Meyer Black Friday sale listing and the 10-page Fred Meyer Black Friday advertisement scans. Noteworthy: The ad consists entirely of doorbuster sales from 5 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Black Friday. Two hot deals are the Acer 10.1″ Netbook for $199.99 and the LG Blu-ray Player for $49.99.

Gamestop – Game Stop 116-item Black Friday Ad

Gander Mountain - Gander Mountain’s 300-item Black Friday Ad

Gordmans - The Gordmans Black Friday sale has been posted.

Half Price Books - Here is the Half Price Books Black Friday ad listing and ad scan. Noteworthy: The deal is simple: get 40% off your highest priced item or save $15 off $50. Doorbuster: The first 100 customers will get a free tote bag with a $5 gift-card. One gift card will have $100 on it.

Harbor Freight - See the 24-item Harbor Freight Black Friday advertisement listing along with the 2-page advertisement scan. Noteworthy: For $30 you can become an Inside Track Club member and get in the door one hour earlier on Black Friday, 6 a.m. instead of 7 a.m.

Hastings - Peek at the 169-item Hasting’s Black Friday Ad and 8-page Hasting’s Black Friday advertisement scans. Noteworthy: The first sale is from 9 p.m. to midnight on Thanksgiving (including a Xbox 360 4GB Kinect Bundle for $199.99). The second sale starts at 8 a.m. on Black Friday, then at noon on BF the store transitions to its Friday-only and Friday/Saturday weekend sale.

NEW! HHGregg - Never heard of this store before, but here is its 172-item hhgregg Black Friday advertisement listing and the 8-page hhgregg Black Friday advertisement scans. Noteworthy: Doorbusters start at midnight on Black Friday and include a Toshiba 32″ HDTV for $199.99 and a Toshiba Internet Blu-ray Player for $39.99. Both items have a high guaranteed minimum per store (50 and 40, respectively), but also require mail-in-rebates ($50 and $20).

NEW! Home Depot - The news isn’t good. Home Depot is not sharing their ad until Thanksgiving Day, which is also the day that many online Black Friday sales go active, so don’t expect much coverage.

JC Penney - Check out the JCPenney Black Friday advertisement listing along with its 72-page advertisement scan. The sale starts same time as last year, at 4 a.m. Noteworthy: There are more than 500 door-buster deals that are valid until 1 p.m. on Black Friday with many more “Big Buy” sales that are valid until 11 p.m. close. Early bird shoppers get a free Disney Christmas Mickey Snowglobe, while supplies last. No purchase necessary.

JoAnn Fabrics - Joann Fabrics Black Friday Ad

UPDATED! Kmart – We now have the final 239-item Kmart Thanksgiving Day Ad and the 20-page Kmart Thanksgiving Day advertisement scans! Here is the Kmart Black Friday advertisement listings and its 48-page Black Friday advertisement scan. We shared the 500-item Kmart Toys Catalog advertisement listing and its 64-page advertisement scan. Noteworthy: Inside you’ll fine a $10 off a $50 Fisher Price purchase, $5 off any regularly priced board game that retail for $15 or more, and the Leap Frog Leapster2 Game System for $39.95. The top deals from the Kmart BF ad include:

Kohl’s - For the first time, here is the Kohl’s Black Friday advertisement listing and the 64-page Kohl’s Black Friday advertisement scan! The Kohl’s Black Friday sale will start at midnight, moving up a few hours from last year’s 4 a.m. start time. Noteworthy: Look for more than 500 early bird specials that are valid on Black Friday from 12 a.m. – 1 p.m. After that, most items are on sale Friday/Saturday at a slightly higher price.

Super noteworthy: For the first time ever, Kohl’s is giving you $15 Kohl’s Cash for every $50 you spend. Normally it is $10 for every $50. HOT DANG!

La-Z-Boy - Even La-Z-Boy has released a Black Friday ad.

Lowe’s - We finally have the full Lowe’s Black Friday advertisement listing along with the Lowe’s 22-page Black Friday advertisement scan. Lowe’s has put a variety of home appliances on sale at BF prices in-store and online.Sales are valid through Nov. 28.

Macy’s - We have the full 861-item Macy’s Black Friday advertisement listing along with the 88-page Macy’s Black Friday advertisement scans. Macy’s will open at midnight on Black Friday, and you can shop earlier online Thanksgiving Day. Noteworthy deals:

Marine Corps Exchange - Check out the 184-item Marine Corps Exchange Black Friday Ad and 24-page Black Friday advertisement scans. The first 16 pages are for the Friday 5am-11am sale and the last 8 pages are for the Saturday 6am-noon sale. Noteworthy: You have to be in the military or a dependent of someone who is to shop at The Marine Corps Exchange.

UPDATED! Meijer’s – We now have the 238-item Meijer Black Friday advertisement listing. Earlier, we posted the 152-item Meijer One Stop, Toy Shop advertisement listing and its 27-page advertisement listing.

Menards – Menards Black Friday advertisement

Michaels - Michael’s 138-item Black Friday Ad

Modell’s – Here is the 61-item Modell’s Sporting Goods Black Friday Ad.

Navy Exchange - Look at the Navy Exchange 186-item Black Friday Ad.

NEW! Northern Tools – Northern Tool’s 147-item Black Friday sale information

UPDATED! Office Depot - We have the Office Depot Black Friday advertisement listing. The following deals are available nationwide in-store only on Black Friday: a Logitech Wireless Optical Mouse (available in seven colors) for $7.49, a Canon Wi-Fi all-in-one printer for $39.99, a 14.1 Megapixel Canon camera for $149.99, a Gateway Exclusive Laptop $299.99 (normally $499), a Toshiba High Performance Laptop with 500GB Hard Drive $399.99 (normally $629), and an offer to buy ANY HP PC and get a 32 GB HP Touchpad Tablet for only $149.99. Caveats: While supplies last. No rainchecks. Limit 1 per household/business. Noteworthy: Any given store may only have four of these items selling at these low prices.

Office Max - See Office Max’s Black Friday ad and 6-page Office Max Black Friday advertisement scan here. No doorbusters, but deals include laptops from $300, the Nook Simple Touch for $99, a Toshiba 32” HDTV for under $280,1 cent for a 20-pack of batteries after MaxPerks Bonus Rewards, and jump drives starting at $5. In store deals include save $15 on a $100 Visa or MasterCard gift card, save 30% on all furniture, save 20% on select supplies, ink and toner.

Noteworthy: most of the BF deals will be available online for three days starting at 7 a.m. EST on Thanksgiving, Nov. 24-26. All OfficeMax BF deals will be available (while supplies last) in stores Nov. 25-26.

Happening now: Now until Dec. 16, OfficeMax will reveal one deal a day every Friday. Online only. Text HOLIDAY to 62999 to receive a text each Friday morning with details on the featured sale item.

Old Navy - Plan you shopping with the Old Navy 45-item Black Friday Ad.

NEW! Olympia Sports – Olympia Sports’ 89-item Black Friday sale information

Pep Boys - PepBoys 67-item Black Friday Ad

NEW! Pet Smart – Got a four legged friend? We have Pet Smart’s 32-item Black Friday sale information.

Radio Shack – It’s back. Read the Radio Shack 126-item Black Friday Ad.

Rite Aid - Check out the Rite Aid Black Friday ad.

UPDATED! Sam’s Club - We now know that Sam’s Club is selling the Nintendo Wii Blue Console (a Walmart exclusive color) for its Black Friday price of $99. $100 for a Wii is $50 less than the MSRP of the regular Wii (although the regular Wii comes with a game). The blue Wii will also be on sale for $100 at Walmart on Black Friday.

Here is the Sam’s Club 45-item Black Friday Ad. Sam’s Club members can eat a free breakfast on Black Friday, Nov. 25, 2011 from 5-8 a.m. The meals includes an egg sandwiches, hot coffee, fresh fruit, and yogurt.

UPDATED! Sears - Here is the FINAL 965-item Sears Black Friday advertisement listing along with the full 64-page Sears Black Friday advertisement scans.

Previously, we posted the Sears Black Friday advertisement listings for tools and appliances and the 280-item Sears Black Friday advertisement listing for (mostly) home and apparel. Browse the Sears Toy Shop Catalog.

Sears Outlet - Plan ahead with the Sears Outlet 79-item Black Friday Ad.

Sports Authority - Read the Sports Authority 367-item Black Friday Ad.

NEW! Shopko - Shopko Black Friday advertisement listing

Staples - Peruse the full 194-item Staples Black Friday advertisement listing along its 6-page advertisement scan! Noteworthy: Door-busters are available in-stores only and have a limit of one per customer. Door busters are available from the 6 a.m. opening to noon.. A decent amount of items require Staples “easy-rebates.” Not too competitive.

UPDATED! Target – Beat the rush with Target’s 4-day Pre-Black Friday sale along with its 32-page advertisements scans. Some of the best deals include:

Nintendo 3DS Handheld Console – $145
PSP-3000 Core Pack Handheld Console – $99

Also available at Best Buy for $99.99

Barnes & Noble Nook Color w/ $30 Gift Card – $199
Garmin nuvi 1450LMT 5″ GPS – $129
Skylanders Starter Pack (Wii / PS3 / X360) – $50

Also available at Amazon for $50

The 12-item Target Black Friday Doorbuster preview is a contender for BEST BF ad this year! Some of the hottest deals include:

Element ELDFT404 40″ 1080p 60Hz LCD HDTV – $265
Westinghouse VR-4625 46″ 1080p 60Hz LCD HDTV – $298
Amazon Kindle Keyboard 3G w/ Special Offers – $85
Nikon L105 12.1MP Digital Camera w/ 3″ LCD Screen – $99.99
Xbox 360 4GB Console – $139.99

Also NEW is the full 285-item Target Black Friday ad along with the 32-page Target Black Friday ad scan. The hottest deals include:

Browse the Target Holiday Toy Sale and the Target Holiday Catalog. Target opens at midnight on Black Friday. You can also view the 95-item Target Toy Coupon Book advertisement listing and its 7-page advertisement scan.

UPDATED! Toys R Us – Now through Wednesday, there is a huge pre-Black Friday pre-Black Friday sale at Toys R Us along with its 8-page advertisements scans. Some of the hot deals include:

At long last, here is the 474-item Toys R Us Black Friday Ad and 32-page Toys R Us Black Friday advertisement scans! Doorbusters run 5 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Black Friday and include:

The Toys R Us Black Friday sale starts at 9 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, the earliest of all Black Friday sales. Here is the 595-item Toys R Us Big Toy Book advertisement listing along with its 81-page advertisement scan. No super special Black Friday sales listed yet, so stay tuned.

Tractor Supply - Tractor Supply Black Friday advertisement.

NEW! True Value – True Value’s 27-item Black Friday sale information.

Walgreens – Here is the Walgreens 149-item Black Friday Ad.

Walmart – Look at the Walmart Black Friday advertisement listing and the 28-page Walmart Black Friday advertisement scans. Walmart’s sale on toys, home, and apparel starts on Thanksgiving at 10 p.m., while the electronics deals don’t start until midnight of Black Friday. Browse the Walmart Toyland Gift Book.

Walmart Christmas Price Guarantee is a price matching policy valid Nov. 1-Dec. 25. If you find the same item for less at another store, Walmart will give you the difference on a gift card. Online retailers, Black Friday ads, and limited time offers are excluded, however.

Previously: Walmart lawyers have already sent a cease-and-desist letter to BFAds so that it will not post the Walmart Black Friday ad until the authorized release date. But no one has said when that is. Noteworthy: Word in cyberspace is that there will be a “Sunday after Thanksgiving Day sale.” We need details, people!

Xbox 360 and PS3 deals - Rumor has it that Sony and Microsoft will be offering hot new deals on their popular game consoles on Black Friday. Expect details in coming weeks.

Price list predictions from DealNews originally posted on Oct. 6, 2011 – The deal site DealNews shares these predictions for prices on Black Friday, which this year falls on Nov. 25, 2011 (the day after Thanksgiving). What, if any electronics, are you hoping to buy on Black Friday?

HDTVs	32″ 1080p LCD HDTV for $199 40″ to 42″ 1080p LCD HDTV for $319 46″ 1080p LCD TV for $399 55″ 1080p LCD HDTV for $549 55″ 1080p 3D LCD TV for $999 60″ 1080p LCD TV for $699
LAPTOPS	Basic 15″ to 16″ Laptop with dual-core processor for $189 Mainstream 15″ to 16″ Laptop with Core i5 CPU & 4GB RAM for $325 17″ desktop replacement with Core i7 & 8GB RAM for $720
APPLE	Free shipping with no min at Apple Store online The newest Apple iPods for 5% to 10% off iMac and MacBook computers for 5% to 10% off No deal on the new iPhone 5 (that’s 0% off in dealnews vernacular Deals on refurbished iPhones from Apple and AT&T Better discounts than Apple’s from an authorized Apple reseller
TABLETS	Motorola XOOM for $319 Samsung Galaxy Tab 7″ for $239 Generic Android 7″ tablets for $75
eBOOK READERS	Kindle 3 WiFi eBook reader for $99 Nook Color eBook reader $179 Bundles with at least a $25 credit
BLU-RAY PLAYERS	Blu-ray player with Netflix support for $45 Blu-ray movies you want from $5 Roku HD 2 box from $60
HARD DRIVES	1TB external drive for $39 64GB SSD laptop kit for $45 2TB external hard drive for $49 128GB SSD laptop kit for $109

Back to School: Bring your own technology

yazmincruz — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 10:00:35 +0000

tcoffey / Flickr

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

Despite the denial of many kids and grown ups, back to school season is upon us. With school budgets shrinking, student supply lists are getting longer as teachers rely on families to equip the classroom. Can you believe some schools are requiring students to bring their own electronics?

Don’t fear, we’ve got a list of gadgets you’ll most likely need and tips on how to get a discount.

USB flash drives – There’s going to be a lot of typing in middle school and flash drives (aka thumb drives) are a cinch to use on different computers to allow your student to save his or her work and plug it into another computer later. You can now find thumb drives with cute designs like

surf boards and skate boards, but those tend to be more expensive. Instead, buy in bulk at a warehouse store to save money. Pick 4GB, which is ample space, unless your kid is likely to lose it.

Calculators - When I was in middle school, I wish someone would’ve told me to skip a basic function calculator because once you get to high school, you’ll need a graphing calculator. These can cost upwards of $100! I’m passing down my Texas Instruments TI-83 to my sister as she heads to high school in the fall. Otherwise, I would sell it. You can buy one used or exchange yours from sites like CalcSwap, a store on Ebay.

Laptops – Whether your kid is headed to high school or college this fall, they’ll need a laptop. This is a big expense so before you decide on a Mac or a PC, consider other options like a netbook or tablet on Bargain Babe’s computer buying guide. Your best bet if you are looking for inexpensive laptops, netbooks, and tablets is to consider refurbished equipment. Make sure you buy refurbished items from the manufacture because they tend to offer insurance and a limited warranty. Refurbished can be a good deal if your kid may lose the gadget or if it’s likely to get banged up and have a short lifespan.

Also keep in mind that some stores like Apple give student discounts. This year’s back-to-school promotion is not as good as last year’s, but if you shop at Apple’s education store you’ll get $50 off and a $100 Mac App Store credit. Last year they gave away free iPods worth $199. If you’re a PC lover and purchase a Windows 7 PC for more than $699, you’ll get a free Xbox 360 (the 4GB model) which retails for $199.99.

Netbooks – These tiny laptop look-a-likes are light and super portable. Like laptops, they include basic technology needed to get through school, including a word processor, email, presentation software, and a web browser. Not for watching movies or playing video games, however. (Maybe that’s a good thing.)

Tablets – These are all the rage right now and I’ve even heard of students in private schools being required to have one. Some tablets, like the iPad, do not include word processors. However iPad apps enable word processing and you can buy a keyboard to make typing easier. If you’re yearning for an iPad, find out how to get apps for free or at a reduced price. If your son or daughter is going off to college, they can download their books onto the tablet instead of lugging books around campus.

Computer Software - Compare prices at warehouse stores and trusted online sites. Check out your child’s college bookstore as they often have student discounts. Be forewarned, college bookstores are expensive so make sure the discount is worth it.

Finally, have a talk with your children about the importance of taking care of these pricey gadgets and their proper use. Keep in mind that most of these gadgets come with parental controls that you can set up. What tech gadgets are you in the market for?

How to get a Black Friday deal in six steps

bargainbabe — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 13:22:14 +0000

It's funny how quickly things get outdated. ellie/Flickr

I have never shopped on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving that kicks off the holiday spending spree, but this year I plan to break that tradition.

I’ve been considering replacing my 14-inch computer monitor for more than a year. My tiny screen is constantly crowded with windows and tabs and apps, making me inefficient at work. I want a bigger monitor.

Black Friday is a great time to buy consumer electronics, if past sales are any indication. Here’s how I plan to get a great deal this Black Friday.

I’ve narrowed down what I’m looking for. Earlier in the year I was considering replacing my entire computer, but I still have a year on my extended warranty. (Extended warranties are not often a great deal, but my machine underwent major surgery in its first year, so I purchased it in case the problems continued.) I’m focused and determined not to get distracted by other sales.

I’ve set a target budget. My early goal was to spend less than $100 on a new computer monitor. Since then, I’ve browsed many Dell catalogs and realized I won’t be able to buy a bigger monitor unless I bump up my budget to $200. No point in replacing what I already have. I’m hoping to lower my budget to $150 after I do more research about prices.

I’ve saved the money. Nuff said.

I’m monitoring Black Friday 2010 ads. I joined the email list for BFAds.net years ago and am continually impressed with their dedication, enthusiasm, and ability to put sale prices into perspective. So far most of the deals are for toys, but my fingers are crossed that there will be great electronics deals this year, like last year.

I’ve got a plan. Closer to the holiday I’m going to spend an hour or two comparing in detail the sales for monitors within my budget that fit my needs. I don’t plan to shop Black Friday in person, so I’m limited to online deals. I plan to narrow down my choices to 2-4 monitors and do a final comparison of price, warranty, return policy, and shipping fee. Then I’ll make my decision.� �

I’ve got an alarm clock. The best Black Friday deals are extremely short lived (an hour or less?) and often occur at uncomfortable hours when I’d rather be sleeping. But if I can shave a significant amount of money – $75 or more – off the price of a good computer monitor, I’m willing to set my alarm.

Are you considering a major consumer electronics purchase this winter holiday season? What’s your plan of attack?

Practically free printer ink cartridges

Bobbisbargains — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 18:32:44 +0000

cpchannel/Flickr

By Bobbi Burger Brunoehler of BobbisBargains.

Chances are you are paying WAY too much for your printer ink.� It doesn�t matter if you are using an ink jet or toner cartridge. All store bought brand-name ink cartridges are insanely overpriced.� I can’t believe how much I used to pay for my printer ink. What a rip-off! The only reason that companies get away with continuing to convince consumers to overpay for their product is fear.

I�m sure you have read, heard or been told that if you use off brand ink in your printer that you will void your warranty. But according to Jeff Bertolucci at PC World, third party printer ink cartridges are as good or better than the original equipment manufacturer ink. “Our tests show that all of the third-party inks in our test group yielded more prints per cartridge–on top of costing less–but that, with some notable exceptions, the printer manufacturers’ ink we evaluated usually produced better-quality prints and proved more resistant to fading,” Jeff’s story said.

There are lots of companies that sell discount ink cartridges – sometimes at 50% of the manufacturer’s price.� My favorite is Abacus 24-7.� Their inks have always been super cheap and reliable.� Another source of discounted products, including printer ink, is Deal Extreme.� I have not used their inks, so I can’t vouch for them.

Now, here is the neat bargain trick. Instead of paying $15 or more for a cartridge, I buy drastically reduced-priced third party ink cartridges and when it is empty, I take it into Staples for a $3 per cartridge rebate that you can use towards your next Staples purchase. This can result in a profit.

That, my friends, is how great bargainistas think.

What is your favorite way to reduce ink/toner costs?

3D TVs are a waste of money

bargainbabe — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:02:43 +0000

David Berkoqitz/Flickr

I try to be open minded about how people spend their money. It’s not mine, after all. But after reading a story in yesterday’s newspaper about Panasonic and Samsung to begin selling 3D TVs this week, I am so $(#*@! frustrated.

Why does anyone need to watch TV in 3D?

It costs $500 more than a comparable set. There’s almost nothing to watch in 3D right now. (Sports will be some of the first 3D programming.) And you have to wear bulky glasses that require batteries. Batteries! If you don’t have on the special glasses, everything looks fuzzy.

America, this is not what you need to be spending your money on right now. How about paying off credit card debt? Or even – gasp – contributing to your 401k?

I’ve seen movies in 3D and it’s awesome. But I’m content to experience 3D at the movie theater. Not that I am the target consumer for 3D TVs. I watch about 17 minutes of TV a week and see roughly four movies a year.� But even if you are a huge TV and movie buff, is having a 3D TV really going to improve your life? Make you happy? Dissolve all your woes?

No.

Regular TV is good enough for me. Who’s with me?

How to get a phone for free: one reader’s story

bargainbabe — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 15:04:34 +0000

KellySchott/Flickr

This latest story about saving comes from a loyal reader, my little sister!

So my phone crapped out on me today, and its no longer under warranty. I went to the AT&T store to see what I could do about getting a new one. They gave me three horrible options: pay $120 to get a new phone under my insurance or since I was eligible for an upgrade, or spend $199.99 for the phone I already had, or spend the same amount for the Blackberry Bold 9700.

I decided that it was just to much since I bought my Bold on sale for $99.99, and that I would take my chances and get a cheap to-go phone and wait to see if they had a sale.

I headed over to Walmart to grab a to-go phone to tide me over and I heard angels sing when I went to the counter and saw that they were selling the Blackberry Bold 9700 with an upgrade for $78.88.

I thought after seeing the AT&T prices I had hit the goldmine. I snatched the phone and proceeded to buy it. After the deed was done, I called my husband to brag about how much money I had saved. $122.00 isn’t anything to sneeze at, right?

Well he looked up the phone on Walmart.com and proceeded to tell me it was free with an upgrade (when you renew your 2-year contract) online!

Needless to say tomorrow I will be back at Walmart seeing if they will refund my money and if not I will just return it and buy it online.

The moral of the story? Check prices in stores, at rivals, and online before you buy.

Tips:

If you find a deal online, stores will occasionally price-match their own online sites if you have a print out or can show them the price on your smart phone.
If you want to negotiate, ask for the manger and go when the store is not busy so s/he has time to hear you out.
Amazon.com has great prices for cell phones, but the deals almost always come with a 2-year contract.

Get out of your cell phone contract

Save money on your cell: family plans