Should I go back and snatch this beauty?
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
I hit a couple thrift stores this weekend in search of an entryway bench. Instead, I found a wooden chest (image at right) that could double as a bench with storage. After seeing the price tag, I walked away. It was $50! I haven’t been able to stop thinking about the chest. Did I make a mistake leaving it behind?
I went to a bunch of garage sales with a girlfriend last week looking for an oval coffee table. (I’m redecorating my living room with the money we’ll get from selling our Vespa scooter.)
I burned out on the coffee table – the furniture selection was terrible at the five sales we hit – but I did find this great little table (image right).
I knew it would fit perfectly in our entryway. But it had an awful coat of cheap lacquer, was dirty, and made of cheap wood. I was giving it the once over when the seller walked over.
“Five,” he said.
Pay $5 for $10 at Ben & Jerry's when you join Saveology!
There are 43 coupons and freebies today. If you shop online, get a cash back rebate on every purchase through Ebates. Free to join! Don’t miss exclusive coupons we share on the BargainBabe.com Facebook page. “Like” us today!
HOT! Free Super Saver shipping at Amazon
Free batteries - On Christmas Day, Blockbuster is giving away free batteries in all stores from noon to 10 p.m. Chose from AA or AAA batteries. Unclear how many free batteries come in each pack – I’m guessing two. Got an email into the company to confirm. You can buy additional battery packs for $0.99, while supplies last.
Free $10 restaurant credit - A newish site called LevelUp is offering a $10 restaurant credit to everyone who signs up by Dec. 31. The $10 credit is valid in select restaurants in New York, San Francisco, Boston, and Philadelphia. To use the $10 credit, go to any restaurant that accepts LevelUp and $10 will be deducted from your bill. You can also choose not to spend the credit all at once and use it at multiple locations. The credit never expires! You just have to sign up for your free $10 before the end of the year.
I cleared the shelf!
I needed potatoes. So on our way home, my husband and I stopped by Stop & Shop to grab the one ingredient I needed to make my mom’s beef stew.
$102 later we walked out of the store.
“You should do the grocery shopping more,” my husband said. “You’re a better shopper.”
“Are you kidding? We just spent $102,” I said. “You would have come home with a $3 bag of potatoes.”
He nodded.
No matter who is the “better” shopper, we did score some amazing deals to the tune of 33% off our total bill. I’m proudest of the 20-ounce boxes of Raisin Bran we snagged for $1 each. Here’s how we did it.
This is not a picture of Glenn's new shoes. Credit: Stocksnapper/Fotolia.com
Longtime reader Glenn shared an incredible deal he got by triple stacking discounts. His story is almost too good to be true:
I just saved 90% off retail on a pair of Docker dress shoes at the Men’s Warehouse today. This isn’t a savings that everyone can get. As a member of the MW email club, I was sent an email giving me a chance to buy dress shoes for 40% off. Earlier, after buying two pairs of dress slacks, they sent me a $50 gift certificate on any purchase good through 12/31/11. I took the coupon and gift certificate with me, and they said I could use them together.
The shoes I selected were priced at $100. I saved $40 from the coupon and applied the $50 certificate to the balance leaving only $9.99 that wasn’t covered. Add $.87 sales tax, and I got a good pair of dress shoes for only $10.86! Plus, I used my Visa rewards card, so I’ll be earning 1% cash back on the purchase.
Glenn, I should not be surprised after you scored $199 in birthday freebies for just $4, but wow! I haven’t saved 90% off a new item for sometime so this is inspiring.
Got a hot deal to share? Email me.
Save 30-35% off with Gap coupon below!
There are 20 coupons and freebies today. Yesterday’s incredible group of free stuff yielded today to just two free offers. If you shop online, get a cash back rebate on every purchase through Ebates or Shortcuts. It’s free to join!
Free bowling - Get 10 free bowling games, 1 per person up to 10 people. You pay for shoe rental. Ends Aug. 15, 2011.
Free Head & Shoulders - Get a free sample of Head & Shoulders through Facebook. While supplies last.
HOT! H&M coupon - Get 20% off kids items with this H&M coupon. In stores only. Expires Aug. 14, 2011.
Folders are $.05 at Office Depot starting 7/31/11
This week’s back to school deals at the office supply chains are better than last week, and I predict they will continue to get even better. Not that you should wait to shop. These are time-limited deals, so stop by (and try to resist non-sale items) weekly on Sunday, if you can. That’s when the sale cycle starts. If you wait until September, only that week’s deals will be available!
Office Depot deals starting Sunday July 31, 2011
- Free backpack and lunch tote w/$15 minimum purchase (my note: the “free” backpacks may be pre-selected and not include every option)
- 5 cent paper pocket folders
- 5 cent pencil pouch
- 5 cent protractor
Office Max deals starting Sunday, July 31, 2011
- 1 cent 24-Pack Schoolio Crayons
- 1 cent 12” Wood Ruler with Metal Edge
- 10 cent 10-Pack Dixon #2 Pencils
- 50 cent 100-Sheet Schoolio Composition Book
- 50 cent OfficeMax Glue Stick Bonus Packs
- Teacher appreciation days July 31-Aug. 1, a FREE reusable tote, plus 20% off everything that fits inside, and FREE giveaways for the first 150 teachers (desk calendar filled with coupons for the year, Post-It, Sharpie, Expo,copies of school supply lists)
Updates from Staples coming soon!
A price comparison on Dealnews.com warns AGAINST shopping the Borders liquidation sale, which I yammered about last week. Prices at Borders, even with items up to 40% off, are apparently crappy. Here’s the proof:
Before liquidation began, we visited the Borders store in the Time Warner Center in New York and noted the price of several books and select movies. Then, we returned on Saturday to note the post – “everything must go” prices — and discovered that 19 out of 25 items were cheaper last week, while five were merely consistent. And, not surprisingly, almost none were actually price lows once we compared online.
So basically Borders raised prices (chart below)
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.
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besighyawn/Flickr
This post is brought to you by DFW’s choice where you can find garage doors Dallas.
I am so excited it is garage sale season. I like looking at what people are selling because it is a glimpse into their lives. But mostly I like going to garage sales because I love the idea that you can find something amazing for almost nothing. Hosting a garage sale is not as fun, but if you prepare ahead of time it is an easy way to make a few hundred bucks.
1. Display is key. Cleanliness REALLY helps sales. A damp rag removes dust and dirt quickly. Presentation is key. Put everything on tables and benches so people did not have to get down on the ground to look at items. Back up option is to display items on blankets or in buckets. Clothes have a much better chance of selling if they are hung up. ?
2. Don’t sell crap. Shoppers driving-by will get turned off if they see dirty, broken, or extremely low-quality items. Also, the vast majority of clothes don’t sell so keep your expectations in check.
3. Price your items right. Bigger items that are clean and in top condition can go for as much as 50% of what you paid for them. If they are worn or damaged, reduce the price even more.
4. Make the price obvious. People may be too shy to ask or think you are ripping them off if you are not upfront about your prices. Put stickers/tags on each item. In the past I recommended pricing by category (i.e. $1 pile, $2 pile) but with this system you either have to remember what category each item was in, rely on the honesty of the buyer to tell you, or keep a master list of everything.
5. Be friendly but not in-your-face. I like to greet each person and find a simple hello opens the door to conversation about prices and specific items.
6. Be willing to negotiate. Many, many, many folks go to garage sales for the thrill of negotiating a deal. I’m not saying you should artificially inflate your prices, but keep in mind shaving off a dollar or two can make a sale. I accept most prices suggested by customers as people often have a set price they are willing to pay. As soon as traffic starts dying down, roughly two to three hours after the start time, cut prices significantly. Wouldn�t you rather make a buck or two off an old pair of shoes than drag them to Goodwill?
7. Drop prices early. If not a single customer has shown interest in an item during the first hour of the sale, when you will get the most traffic, cut the price. Don’t wait for someone who is willing to haggle. They may never show up!
8. Publicity will make or break your sale. The morning before, post your sale on Craigslist. In the post list with prices your top items, any hot brands you are selling, unusual items, and mention if you have a free pile. The more detailed you are, the better the chance someone looking for these items will find you. If you have enough free items, post them on Freecycle.org (free membership required to post).
The night before your sale make 5-10 signs. I like to write in bold letters �SALE� with an arrow pointing to my yard on manilla folders. In smaller letters I write the date and start time. The address is usually irrelevant because yard sales are a visual magnet.
9. Get started early. The morning of the sale haul your stuff out while keeping your items grouped by price, which makes it easy for customers to assess what you have. Be prepared for aggressive �early birds� who will want to wheel and deal before you have finished dragging everything else out. Do you want to make sales while still laying out your stuff? Decide ahead of time.
Good luck and have fun!
I headed to Walgreens to spend a $25 voucher I received recently for transferring a prescription from another pharmacy. On my way to the store I called a friend who knows I am a bargain hunter.
“You’re going to the drugstore? Are you going to use coupons?”
“No,” I said sheepishly.
“Really?”
“I was too lazy to look through anything but the Sundays coupons,” I confessed.
“Ohhhhh. I’m going to out you on your blog,” he teased.
“Hmph.”
At Walgreens, however, I realized there were a ton of ways to stretch my dollars – without coupons. I bought everything you see in the above picture, which has a retail value of $49.07, for $3.42! Here’s how I did it.
- I first checked the Walgreens store circular for coupons for items on my list (see below). I found two.
- I wasn’t brand loyal. Instead, I started with a general list and took advantage of a buy-one-get-one free sale on batteries and other deals.
- I carefully reviewed cosmetic prices and leveraged a sweet deal on Revlon products, which were 40 percent off. Plus, if I bought $10 in Revlon products I would get a $5 voucher to buy more Revlon products.
- I bought off-brand candy (the gummy bears).
- I bought products on sale (Hershey’s chocolate, beauty tools, polish, batteries, tissues).
- I went back to ask the manager when I noticed a pricing mistake on my receipt and got a refund.
- I quickly used my bonus $5 Revlon voucher before it could expire. (Walgreens Register Rewards have to be used on your “next” purchase, which means you can come back another day or wait in line again. RR are only good for a few days so I like to spend them on the same trip.)
Even if I did not have the $25 voucher, my tab would have come to $28.42 – a 42% discount over the $49.07 retail price. Not too bad for leaving my manufacturer coupons at home.
The last time I blogged about the amazing discounts at DLM Off Price warehouse in Commerce, CA there was a huge response. Now they are opening their doors to the public the last Saturday of every month – that’s March 27, 2010 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
This is paid content. Want to take out an ad? Read my advertise page.
Live in Los Angeles? There are some great deals for free family activities, books, dresses, groceries, and more on my do-it-yourself Los Angeles deals site, BargainBabeLA.com.
There is a free childrens/family art festival in the San Fernando Valley this Sunday with live performances from local school children. Thanks for sharing this deal, Meital!
A reader who calls himself The Unethical Man spotted a deal to get $100 when you open a new account at Bank of the West.
The Unethical Man also spotted a great deal on toilet paper. Just $.125 a roll at Superior Grocers!
A&M books in Canoga Parkis bringing back their amazing half-off book sale because the last one was partially rained out. Thanks for sharing, honeygram!
Nothing at the Lucy Love dress sale today through monday in Corona del Mar is more than $15. Nice!
If you are near downtown, check out A Grocery Warehouse on Sunset for amazing grocery prices.
My frugal friends at Savings.com shared these weekly deals.
Get 15% off at My M&Ms. Expires March 31, 2010.
Get 30% off $150 or more at GNC. Expires March 31, 2010.
Get $25 off $75 or more at Alloy. Expires June 11, 2010.
Get 20% off sale items at Vera Bradley. Expires March 24, 2010.
Printable! Get $20 off tax services at H&R Block. Expires April 15, 2010.
Here are the best Los Angeles deals this week from BargainBabeLA.com.
Disneyland tickets are discounted for SoCal residents who take advantage of the 2fer ticket on sale for a limited time.
If you can’t wait for the baseball season to open, get $11 Dodgers tickets to their spring training.
In Encino, reader Franki recommends the newly opened One Dollar Bookstore.
The Long Beach Aquarium is free for teachers in the month of March. Wahoo!
Sign up to sell your kids gently used clothes, toys, and gear and make some serious cash.
