If you’re in Los Angeles, check out NBC tonight at 5:30. I’m featured in the “worth the drive” segment. The station challenged me to put together an entire outfit in LA’s renown Fashion District with just $40.
There will also be a link to the segment from NBC.com but I do not have it yet. If you find it, please post it in a comment!
Welcome to Bargain Babe! I’m Mara, and I’m so glad you’re here. I am an obsessive bargain hunter and penny pincher, and I am determined to live a full life without EVER paying full price. 
Hope we can see the video on Bargain Babe, for those of us who don’t live in LA.
I’ll definitely watch it. If I can find the dot com link, I’ll post it. I plan to DVR the news segment, as I don’t usually watch NBC news, nor do I watch TV that early.
Hope all is going well with your move!
Bah. I just packed up the digital converter yesterday…
Do you have any idea why the article you were in in BHG (July) was not published nationwide? I have gone through my copy numerous times and it is not there. There was a big article on saving money, good deals, etc., but no Bargin Babe! I was so bummed. I live in Missouri
Woo-hoo! While I didn’t find the video, I did find this URL: http://www.nbclosangeles.com/around-town/fashion/Downtown-Bargains-99142294.html
I hope that URL works from this comment space.
I was at santee alley last week for the first time in over 10 years. I saw a lot of low end stuff. Should I go somewhere else next time? Is Maple and 9th a better place to shop? My daughter wanted a top and the cheapest we found was 14.99. When we got back to orange county we found the same top for 9.99
yes,you can do it-in 2002, took my daughter to design school in LA, in the basement, they sell items not finished by students, we got 3! prom dresses for 27 bucks! One needed hemming, one needed zipper(my expertise), one nothing, she had dresses for all the dances in her Jr and Sr years and NO ONE knew the bargain we got!
Loved the piece on NBC News! As usual, you were personable, poised and right at the top of your bargain game! It’s amazing what bargains can be found in downtown L.A. My Red Hat members and I went to the Fabric District to buy fleece for making “Binkies” for seriously ill children, as well as for those living in shelters. The selection was huge, and the prices waaaaaaaay lower than those in retail stores. We had gone to L.A. Trade Tech College’s Culinary School for lunch prior to that… Italian themed, with 4 courses for under $10! BARGAIN DAY!!!
@EllieD Thanks Ellie! I’m also dying to shop at the FIDM Scholarship Store a few blocks away. A friend said the prices were unheard of.
What is the FIDM Scholarship Store? And what is it a few blocks away from? It’s clear EllieD is in L.A., but aren’t you on the east coast now?
@Diane The FIDM Scholarship Store is open to the public and located at:
919 S. Grand Avenue (at 9th Street)
Los Angeles, CA 90015
213.624.1200
Hours are Monday – Friday 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Yes, I am on the East Coast now, but still blogging as usual. I think you’ll be surprised how little BargainBabe.com will change despite my new location.
But what does FIDM stand for?
I was wondering if we would notice anything different about the blogs. I’ll let you know if I detect an eastern accent. Seriously, but only for a moment, do Rhode Islanders have an accent? I’m thinking no.
@Diane FIDM stands for Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising and it’s near the L.A. Trade Tech College’s Culinary School where EllieD had lunch. These are pretty inexpensive places in L.A.
Getting around downtown L.A. is quite easy. If you need to travel more than a couple of blocks, the Blue Line buses go all over the area to the various districts (fashion, toys, fabrics, etc.). Another plus is that you can access downtown via the Red Line from various starting points, and you don’t have to worry about finding limited parking. Plus the fares are cheap! BTW ~ If you don’t know where Trade Tech College is, it’s just one Blue Line stop past the Staples Center complex! Check with your nearest Metro facility for maps of the area.