December 2007 Archives

Once a year the Container Store, seller of organizing dreams, marks down their stuff-ordering Elfa systems by 30 percent. There are shelving and drawer arrangements for every mess: closets, the neglected office and the didn't-we-just-clean-5-minutes-ago kitchen. They even tackle the room most people don't even attempt to organize: the garage. A perky office system goes for $325 (orig $464), a kid's closet system goes for $347 (orig $497). Clearly, the sale is timed to coincide with new year resolve to get organized so make sure if you shell out for a bunch of baskets and hangers you have time to put the whole thing together. Find a store near you.

Ahhh, there's nothing like exploring a well-stocked library. Just being among so many books seems to make you smarter. You can ensure your local public or school library has funds to operate and offer special programs by supporting the American Library Association. It's mission is “to provide leadership for the development, promotion, and improvement of library and information services and the profession of librarianship in order to enhance learning and ensure access to information for all.” Read about ways to donate. Financials from the charity info source JustGive.org show the ALA spends 88 percent of tax-deductible contributions on services.

I've been getting more emails and comments on the blog and thought I'd share a few. Fran wrote in about My Gift List, my failed experiment to track and limit my Christmas shopping (I went $60.50 over budget). "Thank you for all your help this holiday season. It was the first year that I subscribed to your newsletter, and it helped with my budget and made shopping fun."

Reader Melissa comiserated with me for having to buy underwear for a grown man (part of Hubby's Christmas present). "Ok... The underwear item was hilarious and one EVERY woman gets. My husband has the most tattered underwear and think they are in great shape."

At least one reader noticed the new daily digest format has pictures! And links that work! (What a novel idea). "I really love the new format," Bruce said. "Easier to read and more pleasent to the eye. Keep it up Julia." Thanks, and remember you can now sign up for the digest by plugging in your email in the box on the upper left hand of the blog.

Sol sent a quick French lesson. "Hi Julia, I think that highlighting a charity every day like you're doing is a wonderful idea. I hope many people choose to participate and donate. I just wanted to point out though that if you're going to refer to something as daily in French, the correct format is DU jour, not DE jour. Just my two cents. Thanks for bringing us the goodies!"

David left three suggestions for dawgs once the Weiner Factory closes. "Tommy's and Carney's are well-known for great chili. Less known is Marty's on the Westside (Pico just east of Prosser). It's easy to overlook but well worth the stop. Chili and grilled onions are always ready. Need I say more?"

I love it when readers email me directly but please consider commenting through on the blog (just click on the tiny "comments" link below each post) so others can benefit from your thoughts!

The Walking Company, seller of comfortable yet pricey shoes, is having their half-yearly sale through Jan 9, 2008. Browse the women's sale shoes, or the men's sale shoes. They have Ugg slippers on sale for $54 (orig $80) but no boots. A funky pair of Merrell's, left, are $39. About 6 pairs of Keen's are marked down, and a pair of Pikolinos boots, right, are $169 (orig $205).

Free shipping on tabs over $100.

Bloomingdale's online post-Christmas sale goes until Jan 1 and offers up to 50% off already reduced shoes, handbags, women's clothes, men's clothes, jewelry, accessories and kids' stuff. No code needed. The discount is taken automatically.

Collapsible ballet flats by Michael Kors are $110 (orig $195) and come in black or light green but only in sizes up to 8.5. My big feet say "Boo." A small hobo by Kooba, above, is very cute but still pricey at $382 (orig $545). A pair of Demian Sunstone drop earrings, right, are $26 (orig $38) and there are other pieces to march.

Lighten the burden of organizing your finances with this half-off code for three Quicken products, good when you buy them directly through software maker Intuit. (Staples.com sells the three products for twice as much so it really is a 50% discount.) Use code 4855359860 to get Quicken Deluxe 2008 for $30, Quicken Premier 2008 for $45, and Quicken Home & Business 2008 for $50. Not too shabby.

Caveats: Unclear when the deal ends. Enter the code in the "Special Offer Code" box when checking out. If you don't see the special offer code box you may need to clear your cookies and try one more time. Thanks Slickdeals.net!

(not my actual trunk)

...to clean out my car trunk, which is currently filled with clothes to donate, clothes to return, and some other crap that I can't even name.

...to call one out of town friend each weekend. I've lost touch or am losing touch with a lot of folks but if I spent 15 minutes chatting with them every month or two it would be completely different.

...to start writing more on my own time. I'd like to start freelancing, like many reporters at the Daily News who take outside assignments for extra cash and to write pieces that don't fit into the paper.

...to make New Year's resolutions that I can keep. Doh! Too late for that one. Here's a blog post from the NYTimes with tips on making practical resolutions. (Hint: be specific instead of the usual 'lose weight, exercise more' goals.)

At least twice I've written about crazy people who stand in line a *really* long time for a new electronic gadget or some other excuse to spend money and be the envy of your social circle. Saturday morning I found myself being one of those crazy people you roll your eyes at. My ridiculous excuse: the REI used gear sale, when the sporting goods store pawns off returned gear that ranges from barely used to slightly defective.

I woke up at 6:11 a.m. - before the alarm went off - pulled on my jeans and high tailed it over to REI. As I approached the entrance I was amazed to find no one in line. If I am the first person in line I really AM crazy, I told myself. Luckily, around the corner there were about 40 crunchy granola types waiting patiently. The girl in front of me was reading the presidential primary voter info booklet. And it was still dark!

The sale started at 7 a.m. and they let people in about 30 at a time. I was in the second batch and immediately went for the sleeping bags. I've been using a lavender one my mom bought me, like, in the 80s, and the thing just doesn't work anymore. Slim pickings - just 3 bags and one was $199 so I didn't even consider that one. After close comparison I chose a silver REI Zephyr with orange accents that is warm to 20 degrees, for $59.93 (orig $149, selling new for $115). Not bad considering the only reason it was returned was that the original buyer wanted to zip it to another bag. I've already tested it and it's very warm.

I also grabbed a large KEEN messenger/weekend bag that I'll use to replace my ailing gym/weekend bag. It was $35 (orig $90, selling new for $65) because the lining in one of the pockets has a two-inch tear. (I know how to sew.) It ain't a looker, though. When I showed it to Hubby he said, "Keen, they make shoes don't they? This bag looks like a shoe."

UPDATE: Finally got the Entertainment coupon book Friday. Flipped through the entire thing, turning down pages where I thought I'd use a coupon. At the end I had turned down about 20-30 pages. Not bad and if I even use 5 of them I will have doubled my money. Most of the ones I plan to use are for half off lunches so all my coworkers will want to eat with me. Yipee! The $15 deal for the book (plus free shipping) ends today. If you sign up at eBates.com (free) they will give you $6 dollars back after you purchase a book on Entertainment.com. Just make sure you click through to Entertainment.com from eBates. That brings the book down to $9!

NOTE: A reader writes, "FYI: The $15 offer is good only for the San Fernando Valley book. I tried to order for Orange County and it is $30. Just might want to update your readers? Nice blog and good stuff!" Thanks for the tip. Next time add it as a comment so everyone can benefit, please.

PREVIOUSLY: I finally caved. Friday night while flipping through the grocery coupons - sigh, that's life in the fast lane and I don't even have kids! But in my defense I am taking it easy because of that nasty stomach bug. Okay, enough talking to myself on my blog, get back to the discount - I came across an ad I couldn't refuse. $10 off the 2008 Entertainment book that is good through November. Usually is $25 and it's not hard to find for $20. But for $15 with free shipping??? I sat right down at the computer and bought one. Now buyer's dread is setting in. Will let you know if it's any good. Offer expires Dec 31, 2007.

I've really been slacking on my "daily" charity posts. I'm four behind! So here's a quick quartet of good causes. Donations for all four are tax deductible.

Special Olympics helps disabiled kids get physically fit and compete in 30 differet sports, like judo, skiing, and ice skating. Read about ways to donate, including giving miles to athletes who need to travel to a competition.

The Box Project tries to alleivate rural poverty through matching families up. Sponsor families have direct contact with the folks they are helping (a big difference from most charities) and send a box with supplies about once a month. Boxes can contain food, clothing and supplies. Read about how you can get involved. Donations are tax deductible.

The legacy of the boy who refused to grow up lives on at the Peter Pan Children's Fund. The fund uses the example of Sir James Barrie, who in 1929 gave the Peter Pan copyright to a children's hospital in London, to encourage others to support children's hospitals. Make a donation here.

The LA chapter of United Cerebral Palsy Spastic Children's Foundation is in the Valley. The chapter was founded in 1945 by parents who wanted community-based services for their children with disabilities when there were not a lot of options. Today the chapter helps more than 1,000 children and adults with disabilities. Check their list of resources or donate.

UPDATE: Don't forget about the REI used gear sale this Saturday. The sale at the REI Northridge starts at 10am. The one in Santa Monica starts at 7 am Saturday and ends at 9:30 a.m. The Manhattan Beach store sale starts at 9 a.m.

PREVIOUSLY: Can your loved one take a rain check? The REI in Northridge is having a members-only used gear sale Dec 29 with prices on gear, apparel and equipment 50% to 90% off. I have not been to one of these sales but have heard from sporty friends that there are amazing deals on stuff used once or twice then returned under REI's generous return policy. The store can't resell the gear even though it is practically new. Remember, you have to be a member to get into the sale (lifetime membership costs $15). I may go look for a sleeping bag. Items won't last so do your homework ahead of time to narrow down exactly what you are looking for.

Sales at other REI locations are around the same day and time, but check with your location store to confirm. Find a store near you.

Visit REI in Northridge at 18605 Devonshire St. (818) 831-5555.

Get a free address stamp or address labels through VistaPrint. They also do free business cards (that out you on the back by saying they were free). For the address stamp you get 10 style choices, 6 of which have one line for your name and two for your address. The other four say FAX, COPY, THANK YOU, or PAID. Useful for a business owner! Dang, you do have to pay for shipping, which is $5.45 for the "slow" mail that takes 21 days. Still, this is a step up from the labels charities send me. Unclear when deal ends.

Get 20% off at Pottery Barn with coupon code 79115-04, according to retailmenot.com. The site says it worked for 73 percent of 118 folks who voted. May also work on sale merchandise and over the phone (800-922-5507). Unclear if it also works in the store. Maybe it's time I finally use that $46 gift card I still have from my wedding!

Spoofee.com is a discount Web site I recently discovered. The presentation is a tad jumbled for but each sale item the have a rating, detailed instructions for how to get the discount, and a final price that includes shipping. Often they list one or two price comparisons. They also have a loooong page for coupons (best when you can jump right to the retailer you intend to shop at, as opposed to browsing). The page for free stuff can be entertaining to scan (want a free 2008 Shirdi Sai Wall Calendar?). They also compile weekly ad flyers from dozens of stores. A decent Web site to keep in mind, just don't ask me how to pronounce it. spUU-FEE? spOH-FEE? spUU-F?

Nordstrom's has a decent collection of cute party dresses on sale. I spotted a plain grey Viridis Luxe Bell Sleeve Pleated Minidress for $59 (orig $88) that you can jazz up for new Year's Eve with a sparkly jacket, silver or gold jewelry, and a belt and heels to match. Later you can wear the dress over jeans to brunch. There's also a Laundry by Design Matte Jersey Bateau neck dress for $129 (orig $215) that is snug around the bust and hips but loose around the middle. The wide, low neck has jeweled accents on either shoulder and the dress would go with a lot of different shoes. The Maggy London Halter Trapeze dress is made of silk and falls so loosely you feel you are swinging through the air, for $76 (orig $128). A two piece Crinkled Taffeta Gown with iridescent sequins and beads along a ruffled V-neck and a fluid floor-length skirt is $96 (orig $160). My favorite is this Maggy London Chiffon Dress with a v-neck and satin bow, below, for $94 (orig $158). For my New Year's plans I'm deciding between a v-neck black party dress with a pleated skirt that I got for Hubby's company party and my flannel penguin 'chill'n' pjs. My friends are hosting a big bash but because we've been sick/fighting a cold for weeks I'm not sure I'm up for prancing about in heels. Sadly, I wasn't able to convince them of the merits of eating popcorn and watching "Back to the Future."

Online only. Gotta use your mastercard. Expires Dec 31. Get 40% off one book online using code X8X9X3K at checkout. Read the members coupon, or the non-members coupon. If you have not already read "Eat, Pray, Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert, borrow it from a friend, check it out from the library, or buy a copy. It's good.

More caveats: good only on books but not textbooks or at B&N's college stores.

Noticed a small table of Coach purses that were 30% off at Macy's. There were about two dozen purses, from small shoulder bags to large purses, on sale. Plenty more NOT on sale though. A lot of other stuff was marked down too, like wallets and clothes. Lines are long! Find a store near you.

My family probably opened more than 100 presents Christmas morning, but the best gift was never put under the tree, was not wrapped and didn't cost a dollar. It wasn't even for me! It was a photo album of a rarely-admired subject: garbage trucks. Huh?

A few mornings before the holiday my sister heard a knock at the front door. She opened it in her bathrobe and found the garbage man standing there. He handed her a thick photo album and said it was for her three little boys. Apparently every Wednesday at 7:30 a.m. for the past two years my nephews (aged 3, 3, and 5) have run outside in their pjs to greet the garbage men and stare in awe at the amazing machine they operate. The boys chase the truck up the block as it sucks down smelly refuse and watch the men work.

Now, how many people admire garbage men like these boys? Not many, I'm guessing, which is why this one garbage man put together an album of dozens of pictures (okay, I guess it cost a few dollars) of trucks collecting trash, smashing it down, and ejecting it at the dump. There are also many pictures of him and his colleagues smiling and waving in their stained jumpsuits. Now there's a gift to warm your heart.

This deal may not get a lot of traction in car-obsessed LA because it's a 50% off deal for car rentals at Enterprise. Hello?! We need fewer cars in this city, not more. More to the point, who doesn't have a car in LA? Only a few nutty tree huggers, me thinks. But if you are one of the few, you can get half off your three to five day rental (fri-mon plus up to two days at standard rate) at Enterprise locations in Gardena, Glendale, Hollywood, Manhattan Beach, Monterey Park, North Hollywood and Simi Valley.

Caveats: discount applies to vehicles up to a full size car, not valid at airports and select metro locations, does not apply to taxes, surcharges, recovery fees, and optional products and services, including damage waiver at $22.99 or less per day. Mileage restrictions may apply

If you have not already donated to charity consider waiting until Jan 1. That way it counts during the 2008 tax year. Then make another donation in late 2008 and skip all of 2009. For tax purposes it lets you bundle your charitable donations into one year for maximum impact, but it still feels like you are giving during the holidays. This is especially useful if you itemize your taxes.

If you want to cut down on unwanted catalogs, check out Catalog Choice. The Web site is sponsored by The Ecology Center, which wants to cut back on the 19 billion paper catalogs discarded each year. To put your name on the opt out list, fill out their online registration form, find which catalogs you don't want from their list, and decline them. Catalog Choice sends the bad news onto the folks sending you the glossy sale pitches. Unfortunately, it can take 10 weeks to stop getting the catalogs.

Signing up helps cut back on a lot of waste:
* Number of trees used – 53 million trees
* Pounds of paper used – 3.6 million tons of paper
* Energy used to produce this volume of paper – 38 trillion BTUs, enough to power 1.2 million homes per year
* Contribution to global warming – 5.2 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions, equal to the annual emissions of two million cars
* Waste water discharges from this volume of paper – 53 billion gallons of water, enough to fill 81,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools

Godiva online has 13 boxes of chocolates marked half off because they are Christmas-themed. But in most cases you can cut off the red and green ribbon, put on new ribbon and voila! Who says chocolate purchased now won't taste just as sweet mid-February? Hint hint. Certainly all your Christmas treats will be gone by then (or in my case, long gone).

Get 20% off "new and regular items" at Espirit online thru Dec 31, 2007 with coupon code espXmas07. Not sure if that is case sensitive. I like this wrap sweater (WS0501) for $20 (orig $49.50) because it looks thin enough to withstand a super heated office. Grr, their Web site does not let me link to specific product pages, so I will just say this sweater is the very last option under women's knits. It's machine washable and can easily be paired with a tank top if it is too low cut for work.

Could it be true? A two-year subscription to Time Out New York - the Big Apple's going out guide - for FREE? Well this link claims to be the real deal. I signed up my sister, who is a nursing student in NYC, and hopefully she will not just be getting a mountain of junk mail. Send it to your friends and family who are loud, pushy, New Yorkers - a wonderful breed when you are one of them!

The Valley Indoor Swap Meet is closing! Their final day in business is Sunday, Dec 30 and there are sure to be some good deals as vendors try to sell off their remaining stock. They are not closing out of choice, (so you will hear some grumbling,) but because the land owner sold the property to a developer. Meet vendors sell an incredible variety of stuff, from low-quality plastic products to beautiful silk flowers, clothing, and jewelry. Visit them at 6701 Variel Avenue in Woodland Hills. (818) 340-9120.

The holiday buzz is wearing off, and, looking around, there are a few things in your stash you would rather be without. OK, maybe a lot of things you are eager to part with. Some you might be able to regift, a practice now widely accepted as long as you cover your tracks. Others have "return me" written all over them. You might want to wait a few days to make your returns because crowds are expected to hit post-holiday sales today and use the gift cards burning holes in their pockets. Follow these tips, courtesy of "The Giftionary" author Robyn Spizman, and you will maximize your chances of turning Christmas chaff into greenbacks. Keeping reading my story in Wednesday's Daily News with tips for smooth returns.

Great advice from the Budget Fashionista on how to spot a fake on eBay. A reader wrote in with this questions. "I bought a Burberry trench on eBay for $175. Is it too good to be true? I haven't received the coat yet, but I wanted to be sure. The pictures look pretty convincing."

The BF answers: "The rule of thumb when it comes to eBay is that if looks like a fake, priced like a fake, sounds like a fake, then most likely it's a fake. If someone is claiming that a certain high end item, like a designer handbag or a designer purse, is brand spanking new and less than 50% of it's original price, then most likely you're being scammed. Now there are times when it may be the real deal, for example after Christmas you may find a lot of unwanted presents on eBay."

She suggests taking these steps to weed out the bogus items:
1. Ask for additional pictures, especially of the clothing tag
2. Ask for them to scan or take a photo of the receipt
3. Check their seller ratings- I never purchase from any one with less than a 100% rating. Others say a 95% or above rating is fine, but I like to be extra careful.
4. Follow your gut. If it feels wrong, then it is.
5. Check to see if the photos look like they were ripped from the site of major luxury store (like Saks, Neimanmarcus.com, etc)

Sounds like good advice to me.

Get up to 80% off at DSW's post-xmas sale thru Dec 30. Members get triple points for purchases. No coupon needed. Find a store near you.

You are a terrible procrastinator. Admit it and start your Christmas shopping using these ideas for versatile gifts from Whole Foods, Green Thumb (or any garden store), and Urban Outfitters. They cost about $30 and you can cross multiple people off your list in one stop. Read the whole story here.

I'm taking a few days off next week but will still be blogging over the holidays (I'm addicted, I know.) No daily digest until Thursday so puh-leeze check the blog yourself. Don't be lazy, now. I know it's easier when posts are delivered to your inbox, but even the bargain hunter needs a break! If you havn't already added www.insidesocal.com/bargain to your Favorites or Bookmarks what's stopping you? Oh yeah, and Merry Christmas!

Gift cards will be opened millions of times come Christmas morning. So chances are you are giving one or three or seven. But instead of just tucking the card into an envelope, consider this fun way to add a little surprise to what is a totally predictable gift. Unravel a ball of yarn all over the house, and I mean ALL over. Hide the end with the gift card, then attach this note to the end under the tree: "Follow me and a gift you'll see." For a gift card to a pet store, tuck the card into a box of dog bones or kitty treats, creating a gift that is for the furry friend and their owner.

For more tips on gift cards and three stores where you can find versatile gifts at the last-minute, check out my story tomorrow in the Daily News.

Homelessness is a problem we all see everyday. Well, maybe not that often in the West Valley (though there are a few guys who gather near the Woodland Hills post office), but regularly. The National Alliance to End Homelessness is dedicated to "solving the problem of homelessness and to preventing its continued growth." According to JustGive.org the non-profit spends 92-cents of every dollar donated on services. Pretty good record. Read about what you can do to support them.

UPDATE: How did I end up shopping last for the person I love most? Sigh. I hope my presents for hubby redeem me. I picked up a small metal photo keychain at Aaron Brothers ($4.50 after a 40% off coupon) that will replace one I gave him years ago that got lost (with a picture of moi tucked inside, of course), his usual pack of BVDs from Macy's ($14) and a 2008 calendar from Office Depot (as per his request, $16).

That brings My Gift List budget down to $34.50 from a starting point of $400 after shopping for more than a dozen people/family units. But $34.50 doesn't leave much for a nice gift for hubby. Eeek. Will you hate me if I go over? I'd really like to get him a month's of maid service (again, as per his request) or a cooking class. We both love to cook and I still have a certificate from The New School of Cooking in Culver City. Hmm what to buy....there's only one way to settle this...

Apple.com has deals on refurbished computers, some up to $600 off their retail price. If you know what you want you'll be able to check their list of about 50 laptops, desktops, screens, and accessories fairly quickly. If you are buying a new computer but are not sure what you need - gigs? ram? - check my quickie guide.

UPDATE: So I copped out and decided to send my bud Alex a card instead of a gift. Our long-distance friendship is based on long chats about everything going on in our lives so I figured a heartfelt thanks for her compassion over the years would be the best thing. Let's hope she feels the same way. Just one person left on My Gift List, but it's Hubby!

PREVIOUSLY: Super hard to shop for. Very stylish, artsy, and individualistic. She would hate this but I may turn to Surprise.com for help (the site has tons of gift suggestions by personality type).

UPDATE: Decided to send our ol' friends Merlin and Babs an ecard. The distance between us was just enough to make me slack off. But if hubby and I make the eCard fun and write a nice note then falling back on the old standby - it's the thought that counts - will pull me though. My guilty conscience from not getting them a gift may get the best of me, though. This leaves just two on My Gift List with a budget of $69.

PREVIOUSLY: Hmmm. Will probably get a toy for their new kid and send them a virtual hug.

Download this printable coupon to get 15% off at Macy's, with some exclusions like perfume, cosmetics, etc. Expires Dec 22, 2007. Certain items are only 10% off. Find a Macy's near you.

Also check out their 30% to 50% off sale on cashmere sweaters.

The Camarillo outlets have some decent sales going on. At Adidas between Dec 12 - 31, all apparel and accessories are buy one get fne 50% off and all Hash wall shoes are 25% off. From Dec 19 - 26 at Calvin Klein all leather and suede jackets are 50% off and men and women's undies are 25% off. Fragrances are 25% off at Juicy Couture until Xmas eve. At Lucky Brand Jeans until Dec 24 apparel is buy one get one 50% off when the second item is lower priced. The Nike Factory Store has an incredibly brief sale Dec 22. On that day from 1pm - 3pm their entire stock of golf apparel and equipment is an extra 30% off. Until Dec 24 at
Perry Ellis you can get 50% off the entire store with no exceptions (except towards purchase of gift cards). I love it! Also until Dec 24 you can get 15% off the entire store at Restoration Hardware. Lots of gift possibilities if you can brave the crowds.

Read all their sales here.

Get 70% off the price of a gift certificate at Restaurant.com using code GIFTS. Expires Dec 24, 2007. A $25 certificate ends up being $3 after discount, but make sure you read the rules about how the certificate can be used at the restaurant you are planning to use it at. When I checked out this site before, there were all sorts of caveats, like a $25 certificate can only be used on a tab of $50 or more. Others had day and time restrictions. Just check what you are getting into. Then eat, drink, and be merry!

UPDATE: Yup, went with the fresh baked, homemade cookies afterall. I made four types - lemon bars (from Joy of Cooking p 703), peanut butter cookies (Cooks Illustrated), macaroons (Cooks Illustrated), and chocolate crinkles (family recipe). And I think they turned out really well, although I did burn some of the macaroons. Opps! Hubby bought some holiday tins from Michael's - love it when stuff is on his tab and not mine - and I laid down tissue paper before putting the cookies in. Lovely, and no dollars off My Gift List. $69 bucks left with three presents to go. It's going to be close.

PREVIOUSLY: Fresh baked cookies would hit the spot but I think I'll go the somewhat healthy route and do banana bread or zucchini bread - or combine them for bikini bread! I can always fallback on the holiday standby - a bottle of wine.

Get up to 40% off at Addidas stores and online. Check out the men's sale, the women's sale, and kids sale stuff. These iconic slide sandals are $14 (orig $20). I'm thinking selection is much better online than in stores, but check here for stores near you.

UPDATE: After a super fun trip I took with Amy and Jake to Joshua tree in which we entertained ourselves with travel Boggle, I knew I had to get them a set for Christmas. Finding a set was really hard! The only travel version I could find was Boggle Folio, which is either in very short supply or discontinued. Ended up buying it on eBay for $25. Sadly, it did not arrive in time for their holiday trip down south. Double saddness is that I'm not nearly as good at Boggle as I think I should be seeing how I am a writer. Amy kicks my butt every time and she's an engineer!

PREVIOUSLY: I'd go straight for a nice bottle of wine for this couple because they really do enjoy vino, but...

Barnes & Noble has a 25% off coupon for one item in stores, good until Christmas Eve. Can only be used once. Don't forget to print it out! Find a store near you. Caveats: not good for gift cards, memberships, gift-wrapping, textbooks, or shipping or handling.

Best Buy has a bunch of unadvertised sales on TVs going on now thru Xmas Eve. Prices are online and in stores, though experience has taught me they can carry extremely limited quantities in the store so I would call first. (Does Best Buy hold stuff for a few hours?) The annoying this about this "secret sale" is that they don't show you the price until you put something in your cart. An LG 42-inch flat screen plasma HDTV is going for $996, but there's no pre-sale price.

File this under coziest charity. Through Project Linus you can give a new, handmade and washable blanket as a gift to seriously ill and traumatized children. In 2006 the organization donated more than 1.9 million blankets to needy kids. Doesn't that make you want to snuggle? Project Lunis is 100% volunteer and a non-profit so your donation is tax deductible. Find a chapter near you. Project Linus also accepts homemade blankets and some chapters may even accept scraps (for all the quilters out there). One of the things I like best about this charity is that because it is all volunteer 98-cents of every dollar donated goes directly to services. Amazing!

The wet weather called for a hot, hearty lunch so I zipped over to Dan's Super Subs in Woodland Hills. The sandwich joint came highly recommended from a co-worker of my hubby and a packed parking lot and long line boded well. Almost as soon as I decided to order the hot roast beef sandwich with melted cheese (regular size is $4.83, also comes cold) a server walked up to me to take my order. She scribbled it down on a slip of paper, which I handed to the cashier nary a minute later. They are quick!

Sat down and within five minutes my sandwich was ready. Good thing because I was hungry and time crawls by when your belly is empty. The regular size was about an inch longer than the widest "V" I could make between my pinky and thumb (about a ninth on a piano), the jumbo is a foot long and costs $7.50. Great for splitting with a buddy! They have 28 sandwiches at these prices, plus a few special ones for a bit more. Each sammy comes with mayo, mustard, lettuce, tomato, onions, a pickle, and Italian sauce.

Visit them at 22446 Ventura Blvd, just west of Shoup on the south side of the street. (818) 225-8880. Parking is tight.

What the heck is a Lincoln Lunch, anyway?

Local retailers are feeling the pinch of the writer's strike. Who knew so many businesses relied on studios to send lavish gifts this time of year? Studios have in years past (during non-strike years) and everyone from booksellers to purveyors of home decor to jewelers are seeing orders fall off. I know because I wrote about it in a story that ran Wednesday on the front page of the Daily News. Read it here.

Ever wonder if it's possible to get lunch in the Valley for five bucks? You have to look closely, but there is a way, my friend. I call my five dollar meals a Lincoln Lunch because ol' prez Abe's beard, arched brows and resolute lips grace the five dollar bill. My friend Patrick, the editorial cartoonist at the Daily News, drew this awesome picture after we found a Lincoln Lunch at Boulevard Burgers in Woodland Hills (21718 Ventura Blvd). Check out more of his drawings here.

Reader Cathy wrote in with recommendations for three Web sites for deals on perfume, games and DVDs, and books. Scentiments.com has "all the designer fragrances at really low prices." I'm not up on perfume prices (I'm still wearing a bottle of Noa that I bought, like, in the 90s) but a quick comparison against Macy's for a 3.4 oz spray bottle of Acqua di Gio for Men by Giorgio Armani was $50 at Scentiments and $67.50 at Macy's. It's starting to smell a lot like Christmas! UPDATE: Reader Susan writes that you can get 5% off with coupon code coupmtn. Hope it works for you!

Deepdiscount.com has " great buys with great prices and free shipping." A DVD of the Bourne Ultimatum is $16 and yesterday I blogged about it selling for $25 at Best Buy. Nice.

At Zooba.com all books are $9.99 plus shipping is free. They have a hardcover copy of the Barefoot Contessa at Home, which is going for $23 on Amazon.com. I have three of her cookbooks and find them to be very reliable, if heavy on the cream and butter. I often cut down the butter by 1/3 and am fine.

Three for three! Not too shabby. Thanks, Cathy!

Here's a charity that helps fill the bellies of kids across the country and abroad. I know I love it when my belly is pleasantly full, so just imagine that feeling multiplied by the number of kids you help! Feed the Children: Kid's Stuff USA distributes food and supplies that you package in an old shoe box to needy families. Decorate the box and fill it with these suggested treats and supplies: stuffed animals, balls, books, games, puzzles, dolls, toy cars, shampoo, toothbrush and toothpaste, socks, gloves and hats.

On top of each box, put a sticky with one of the following labels so they know the age/gender the box is appropriate for: "Tiny Blessings Box," "Kid's School Days Box," or "Kid's Holiday Box," plus mark whether it's for a boy or girl and a target age. Read the full instructions on how to prepare your box.

Last year the 28-year old nonprofit organization shipped 129 million pounds of food and other items to children and families to all 50 United States and to 43 foreign countries. Send your box to: Feed The Children's, Kid's Stuff USA, 29 N. McCormick, Oklahoma City, OK 73127. To cover the cost of mailing your box into the needy family, slip a fiver in the package. Got questions? Email kids.stuff@feedthechildren.org.

Reader Teri writes in about a clever way to take advantage of a gift card promotion at DSW. "I went to DSW yesterday. You can buy a $50 gift card and get a $10 gift card for free. The $10 is only good for mid-Jan - early Feb and you can only use 2 at a time. I was buying some shoes so I bought $100 worth of gift cards, got my free $20 and then used my gift cards to pay for my shoes. Hey, why not. I now have $20 I can spend next month and get more shoes... and who doesn't need more shoes?" I like the way you think, Teri! Now if only I can make time to get myself over to the nearest DSW.

Unclear how long the $10 gift card promotion lasts. Today is the last day that members earn double points.

Wahoo! Here's a great reason *not* to work through lunch and instead hit the mall. A 30% off family and friends coupon at Banana Republic, good today through Dec 21, 2007. Looks like it applies to the whole purchase, tho the wording is slightly ambiguous. In stores only, find one near you. Remember to bring a printout of the coupon.

Some caveats: not good at Factory or Outlet stores, and cannot be applied to merchandise purchased with a giftcard, or to telephone orders placed to stores or customer service 1-800/888 numbers.

Nordstrom's has marked down Nine West shoes up to 70% off. Nine West is known for it's functional yet fashionable, even edgy pairs and who doesn't love to shop at Nordstrom's? A winning combo. This Daybrook calf-length boot is $48 (orig $120) but comes on size 8.5 only. Sizes on other pairs are similarly very limited, so if you find a shoe you like in your size it will feel like winning the lottery. Unclear if the sale is also in stores. Browse all 21 sale pairs here.

Teresa at Total Woman Spa is having another gym membership sale. It's $39 a month and you pay first and last month's upfront (so $78 to start). Payments from then on are automatically withdrawal. There's no enrollment fee if you sign up in the month of December, which I'm guessing is a really slow month for them. The membership lets you go to all their clubs but you must sign up with Teresa in Warner Center to get the deal. Call her at (818) 710-7606. Caveats: ladies only!

Yesterday's paper had a fun do-it-yourself tip sheet by Melissa Heckscher for wrapping presents without buying wrapping paper. We waste about 4 million tons of gift-wrap and shopping bags every holiday season. I can just hear Mother Earth gagging!

The story (which they never put online, to my great consternation) suggests you use old newspapers to wrap your presents. Whoopdedoo, like I've never heard that one before. But they also show you how to make three bows out of newspaper that make a present look great. You need a stapler, tape, newspaper and glossy ad pages.

For the first bow cut wide strips of the same length from the newspaper. Make three piles of four to seven strips, depending on how many curls you want on each side. Arrange the strips in an asterix (so not a cross but as if you were cutting six slices) and staple it in the middle. Roll back each strip toward the center and tape it down so it doesn't unwind.

For the second bow...

Gift giving for animals has skyrocketed in recent years, so I'm betting many pet owners (or pet guardians as they call them in West Hollywood) give to organizations like the American Humane Association that benefit furry critters. AHA is much smaller than the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, but its spending record is a tad better. The ASPCA spends 76.8 percent of donations on services while the AHA spends 79.7 percent. Read more about the AHA or find out ways to donate.

Here's a shocker. One in five men have not started their holiday shopping, according to a retail group called the National Retail Federation. And by now it's so late you *have* to go to the stores, hubby points out (after he pointed out that he has, in fact, started his own xmas shopping). The Federation says the "average" person has checked off half their list. As a whole women are actually not doing much better than men with about one in seven being big fat procrastinators this time of year. So here are a few suggestions for versatile gifts (and under $30, too!).

A faux antique brass earring hanger, above, for $10 from Urban Outfitters. Pair it with actual earrings (like these small filigree hoops for $16 or these glass bead drops for $18) and you are set. This gold Serpentine bracelet for $20 is also really cute.

The Bourne Ultimatum DVD is $25 at Best Buy, good for men and women alike. Star Matt Damon was voted Sexist Man Alive by People mag, afterall.

For the liberal in your life, a one-year subscription to Vanity Fair through Amazon.com is $18. Lots of choices for pet lovers, athletes, newshounds, and lots of choices for other personality types.

Get up to 50% off during Smith & Hawken's winter clearance sale. They have markdowns on furniture, faux wreaths, holiday lighting and decorations, and ornaments. This fall leaf and acorn wreath is $34 (orig $99), and this woven Belmont dining table is $300 (orig $795). Looks like they are out of matching chairs, but surely you can find something passable to go with. Seeing how Smith & Hawken almost never has sales, this is a good time to check out their discounts. You can also get a 15% off coupon if you sign up for the mailing list. You can always unsubscribe later. Find a store near you.

Love the Crate & Barrel post-Christmas sale. Last year I went and got some really cute ornaments for $1 each. They also had sales on furniture and other holiday-themed home decorations. Up to 50% off some items. Go early on Dec 26 for best selection as the stores get really crowded. Find a store near you.

You have probably noticed that Lane Bryant, the plus-sized women's clothier, has a lot of sales and coupons. But this one still seems remarkable. Starting Thursday, Dec 20, through Dec 24 they are having a storewide 50% off sale, with some exclusions (doesn't include Perfect Price Every Day items, panties, Right Fit, Goddess, Fantasie, Le Mystere, Natori, Glamorise or Spanx.) No need for a promo code or printable coupon. Good in stores and looks like its online too. Find a store near you.

Urban Outfitters has a seed kit, complete with soil and paper "pot," to grow a holiday tree. Great for kids who enjoy watching plants grow or an eco-friendly friend. $8! If you have two more dollars this motherboard Christmas tree ($10) is a fun gag gift for the techie in your life.

Get a $10 gift card when you spend $50 at LLBean (which also has free shipping, no minimum purchase) thru Dec 24, 2007. Use coupon code 121807000400170080. Retailmenot.com (fourth coupon from the bottom as of 5pm Monday) reports a 69% success rate with 16 users reporting. Not stellar odds but worth a try if you have something on your list at the store. Monogramming does not count, neither do shipping and handline, or taxes. One card per customer per day limit. Good online, over the phone or in stores. Unclear if it counts on gift cards.

For those of you who don't read the newspaper, Macy's has had 10% to 20% off coupons everyday in the Daily News (usually in the middle of the front section). Today's paper had two, one for 20% off regular, sale and clearance clothing, handbags and accessories, a 15% off suits, coats, lingerie, pjs, shoes, men's tailored clothing and topcoats. They have common exclusions like cosmetics, fragrances and certain brand names that rarely go on sale. But a good chunk of the department store is on sale so don't shop there without a coupon! Find a store near you.

I really screwed up. Last week I forgot to write about a charity Thursday, then my day off Friday I also slipped up. To help me remember I put a sticky on my computer and to make up for past lapses I'll write about three charities today. First up is the Family Violence Prevention Fund, which helps combat domestic violence around the county. The org has been around since 1980 and spends 86 percent of contributions on services and 14 percent on administration and other expenses. Read all about there on JustGive.org, which lets you search for charities by topic, region and other factors.

Second up is Girls Inc, a group I know first hand because my sister worked for them tutoring second grade girls. I visited her class once and was struck by how Girls Inc trained her to react to the girls in a positive light, encouraging their strengths and instilling them with the people skills and confidence to grow into strong women. (Or maybe it was just my rockin' sister. Probably some combination thereof.) The Girls Inc. mission is to inspire all girls to be strong, smart, and bold. Read their background.info on JustGive.org here, which includes stats that.the org spends 80 cents of every dollar on services, and 20 cents on administration and other costs.

Last but not least is the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, which "brings together over 1,400 humanitarian, peace, disability, veterans, medical, development and other groups of all kinds in over 90 countries who work locally, nationally, regionally, and internationally to ban antipersonnel landmines," according to JustGive.org. The group spends 81 percent of each donation on services and 19 percent on administration. You can read about landmine history and soluctions here.

Pulled a u-turn on Ventura Blvd in Sherman Oaks today when I saw this sign on the awning of The Wiener Factory: "We sold over 4 hot dogs this year." With such brisk sales I figured it was worth a stop! Service was quick at the window even though there was a line inside. I ordered a chili dog with onions ($2.95), curly fries ($2.50) and a coke ($1.50). Not the most healthy, but hopefully it will put back a little junk in my trunk that I have burned off running. When the food came I realized the dog would have been enough. It was crispy, hot, and slightly salty. The chili reminded me of Tommy's chili, goopy and good. The curly fries were very hot but so big I barely made a dent. A regular who I shared one of two outdoor tables highly recommended the spicy Polish dogs, which are *actually* spicy, he said, unlike most "spicy" restaurant food. Sadly, the joint is closing Dec 31 because the owner sold the building. The rumor mills says coming soon is a Pinkberry, the fad almost-frozen-yogurt chain.Visit them at 14917 Ventura Blvd in Sherman Oaks. (818) 789-2676. Open 11 to 6.

The hotdogspot.com gave it the thumbs up.

Get 25% off your online purchase at Barnes & Noble with coupon code L8A7K8V, which you can enter at checkout. Expires Dec 18. Caveats: excludes gift cards, memberships, gift-wrapping, and textbooks. Cannot be combined with other coupons and can only be used once.

Ends today! Get 20% off Starbucks merchandise and whole bean coffee, which are both excellent holiday gifts for the Joe addict in your life. Find a store near you.

The online beauty store Ulta (with locations in Burbank and Pasadena, I think) has a promotion now where you get a free metalic-colored purse and nailpolish when you buy $35 of Bourjois products. Won't be hard because they have four pages of lip products, brushes, mascara and other beauty items. Here's the skinny on the free gift. I have found their prices to be slightly below what you get at a Rite Aid or CVS, but a $8 lip shimmer I bought came in a cheap container that does not twist up or down. What you see is what you get!

...for my father, who I don't normally exchange gifts with. I didn't initially include him in My Gift List because our traditional is to spend an afternoon together getting coffee and taking a hike. However, after he mentioned getting a present for hubby, I brought up the subject.

Reader Debra excitedly wrote in about the deal she got on a Christmas tree. "Got a 7-foot xmas tree at Green Arrow Nursery in Van Nuys (corner of Sherman Way and Van Nuys Blvd.) for $30. They even gave me $2 off since there was a coupon in the paper even though I didn't have it! Loaded it into the car wrapped in netting. Very nice people and a great bargain." I'll say. I paid $40 for a 6-foot tree at Ralph's and we had to pry the wooden cross stand off and tie it onto the car ourselves! I heard Target has the same deal ($40 self-service trees). Thanks, Debra!

Get 25% off one item at Barnes & Noble with this printable coupon. In the email from B&N that contained this coupon it said you had to be a member, but the coupon itself does not mention anything about membership, so I think you can slide in. Looks like you can use it once in the store and once online. For online shopping use code N6R7C4J at checkout. The 25% discount will be applied to the highest-priced item in your cart. Expires Dec 18, 2007.

Caveats: cannot be used at B&N college bookstores, gift cards, memberships, textbooks, video games or used books.

A friendly reader suggested I check out the coupon site RetailMeNot.com, which lists popular coupons, lets you search by store name, and lists the success rate of each coupon and how many people voted. The coupons were a bit disappointing, however. Maybe I just didn't spend enough time looking.

A search for Target came up with five screens, two actually for Target, and three for stores with similar names (like abctarget.com). The Target coupons were all free shipping or discounts only on specific products. A search for Macys came up with only expired coupons. A search for a number of other retailers produced mostly free shipping codes, not a bad way to save money but a little disappointing. Some did not have expiration dates, also annoying.

Still, I would recommend checking the site because you can tell pretty quickly whether or not there is a discount at the store you are shopping at online. And shipping can add up. Thanks, Kristin!

Since dollars aren't worth much these days I thought this picture was more fitting.

A recent issue of Newsweek listed a few financial Web sites....zzzzzzz. Huh? What? I know, totally boring, but every once and a while ya gotta thing about saving the big bucks. Here are their tips:

helpwithmybank.gov = "Get scam and phishing updates and learn what your big bank can and can't get away with at this federal regulatory site" Their FAQs are interesting.

bankaholic.com = "Find the latest credit-card and savings deals at this lively blog" The flashy site has deals for high percentage rebate credit cards and savings accounts.
lazymanandmoney.com = "Another blogger reveals his family finances: some good tips and a great name" 'Nuff said.

Read Newsweek's other "Net Interest" tips.

This is slightly old news but new to me. Starting Jan 1, 2008 a new California law lets consumers get cash for gift cards with less than $10 left on them, according to the Consumer Federation of California. Now you don't have to carry around cards with almost nothing on them or buy some lame gift just so you can zero it out. For a long time businesses have benefitted from folks like me and you who never get around to spending the last dollars on a card. I still have $46.42 on a Pottery Barn card I got more than four years ago! Since 2005 "these cards netted Home Depot and Best Buy an income of $43 million apiece, The Limited another $30 million," according to the Federation.

So how to you get your money's worth? Just take the card to the store it is good at and ask. Works for cards purchased before Jan 1, 2008, too.

I'm putting the caveats on this one up front: I have not been to this store and they don't have a Web site so it's hard to vouch for them. But I'm told all the holiday items are half off at Carmody & Co, a paper store in Pasadena. They sell paper goods, accessories, invitations, personalized items and gifts. Sale is through the holidays. Visit them at 121 E Union St. in Pasadena. (626) 795-2924.

Get $15 off any full priced bra at Victoria's Secret with this printable coupon. Deal also includes a free VS cotton panty in white, black, ivory, buff, pink, tan, and blue but excludes the girl boxer. Expires Dec 16, 2007. Can only be used on one bra per day.

If only! Posts will be light tomorrow because I'm taking the day off to finish my Christmas shopping and get some needed R&R. That also means no daily digest Friday! Please read the blog the old fashioned way at www.insidesocal.com/bargain. Thanks! ~Julia

For a limited time, buy one pair of full-priced jeans at Lucky Brand Jeans online and get a second item half-off. Not good in stores on at their outlets. No coupon code needed. Unclear when sale ends. Search their women's jeans and their men's jeans. I like their jean finder, which lets you select a fit (slim or relaxed), the cut (flared leg, bootleg, or straight leg) and a rise (ultra low, low, and midrise).

Caveats: excludes jewelry.

A friend sent me this link, saying anyone who signs up will get Toy R Us coupons emailed to them over the next week or so. I signed up this morning, so will let you know if I get anything worthwhile.

Get 1-cent shipping on Gift Sets only at Wine.com with promo code DEALSETS through midnight tonight. How about Graham's Tawny Port with 8 chocolates from Godiva for $45?

I heard coupon code MWDPVT15 saves you $15 off any six-bottle pack of wine but I couldn't get it to work. Maybe you will have better luck.

Graveyardmall.com has some faux retro tin clocks for less than $10 each on sale. Their deals change daily so don't wait to check out this link if you are interested. There's a Betty Boop one and a big bass lake fishing one, both $6.39. Standard shipping is $7.

UPDATE: Hit the Toys R Us one-day sale yesterday on my lunch break and picked up toys and books for the little boys. Back in the clearance section I found three foam swords for $6 each (think of the battles they'll have!), two dinosaur figures for 90-cents each (!), plus a connect the dots book for $2, and the books "What's wrong little pookie?" for $6 and "I love you stinky face" for $7. Still want to find a whoopee cushion for my oldest nephew, but even so $37 isn't bad for the boys. Just over $100 in My Gift List budget and still five people to shop for!

PREVIOUSLY: I like to get each boy one toy and one book. They already have a ton of toys so I won't worry about getting them the latest and greatest. My older nephew is kind of a trickster (we share many of the same genes) and I hope he's old enough this year for...

I checked a few stores to compare prices on poinsettias, those festive red plants that add a little more holiday to your home. I need to pick up a few and figured you might too! The Longs Drugs flyer advertised 6-inch plants for $6 each, Anawalt has 4-inch plants for $4 and 6-inch plants for $6, Albertsons and Ralphs have 6-inch plants for $8, Vons has "small" plants for $7.50 and large ones for $26, Trader Joe's 6-inch plants for $6.29 and bigger ones for $9 to $20. Remember, prices will vary by store.

Get 25% off at Limited Too with this printable coupon, good until Christmas Eve. To get the discount online, click on the above link, then click through to their Web site. They even have a countdown to when shipping ends for presents to arrive in time for Christmas. They have suggestions for sleepover gifts (like these fuzzy rhinestone slippers for $14.50), gifts that rock, gadget gifts, and others.

Caveats: excludes Nintendo DS console and games. Find a store near you.

Ding a ling, ding ding a ling. How could I forget that familiar sound of the holidays? The Salvation Army bell ringers politely reminding you as you go about your shopping that the less fortunate have things on their wish list, too. The coins and bills you slip into the red kettle goes to services like youth programs, homeless shelters, adult rehabilitation, social services, emergency disaster relief, and prison rehabilitation. The Web site says more than 80-cents of every dollar you donate goes to services and donations are tax deductible. Read about ways to donate.

Here's a fun story about how receiving a pair of brown shoes from the Salvation Army as a boy stayed with Ed Nelson.

Get 10% to 12% off at Best Buy with this printable coupon, which requires you to be a member. Joining is free. The higher discount is for those who pay with a Best Buy credit card. You can use the coupon on a number of items from the following categories: home theater, computer accessories, digital cameras, phones and accessories, MP3 players and car electronics, big and small appliances. Scroll down to read the fine print. Expires Dec 16, 2007. Find a store near you.

Starting tomorrow, Dec 13, the discount shoe seller DSW is marking down its clearance shoes. Few details, unfortunately. Members get double points on all clearance purchases between Dec 13 and Dec 19, 2007. Find a store near you.

The Web site Dealnews gathered the last chance shipping deadlines from almost 100 retailers, from AceMagnetics to World's Finest Chocolate. The absolute last minute cut off for most seems to be Dec 20 or Dec 21, but that's for the pricey express or overnight shipping. Many standard shipping deadlines pass today, tomorrow, or Friday. Also remember that for many stores it takes a day or two to put your order together before it is shipped. So basically, get shopping!

Also remember to check out their coupon page, which lets you search by retailer or browse popular coupons.

Today only the mega toy store is having a sale on certain items in the store and online. Their in store deals include a buy one get one free offer on all Play Doh, an Equestrian dress up set two for $5 (orig $20 each), an Air Hogs Mini Storm Launcher for $20 (orig $40), and many other toys. Check out their online only deals for today. (Note this link will most likely not work after today, Dec 12.) Many items qualify for free shipping. Find a store near you.

UPDATE: We finally drew names and I got a certain sibling of mine. Earlier she mentioned a big ticket item on her list so I will probably just write her a check for $75 - the suggested limit of our secret santa family pool - to help her pay for the item. I'm being secretive because I'm lucky enough that my family reads my blog!! To make the gift more personal...

Get $20 off your purchase of $100 or more at REI and the REI Outlet until Dec 24, 2007. Very few exclusions! Use code HOLIDAY7 online, print the above link to get the discount in stores, or mention HOLIDAY 7 when ordering over the phone (1-800-426-4840). Search their gadgets, green gifts, gifts over $100, stocking stuffers, or their top sellers. Search all items here. I like this twill weekend bag for $50 (orig $70), a good-looking replacement for my rapidly aging gym/weekend bag.

Caveats: excludes special orders, prior purchases, REI gift cards or E-gift certificates, gift boxes, memberships, shop services, and rentals.

Until Dec 19, get 25% off select items at Bloomingdale's online with coupon code DEC25. Check out the sale goods here and remember not to set your heart on something before you check if it is part of the sale.

Yikes! I forgot to blog about a charity yesterday so I'll make up for that oversight by writing about two today. First up is Catholic Charities LA, which helps those in need through a variety of services like job training, crisis counseling, immigration services, a homeless shelter for youth, childcare, community thrift stores and case management for the elderly. Give to this charity and you know you are helping your neighbor. Read about how you can help, including how to earmark your donataion for local fire victims. According to the site, 90 cents of every dollar you donate goes to services, with 10 cents going to administration and fundraising. Read more about the organization here. Donations are tax deductible.

Second up is Amnesty International, the Nobel Peace Prize winning human rights organization. Their issues include AIDS/HIV, Darfur, children's rights, conflict diamonds, international arms trade, refugees, torture, and others. They have a long list of things you can do in addition to donating. Getting involved makes you realize how cruel and sad the world is, but it can also relieve suffering. Read their mission statement here. Donations are tax deductible.

Soon the Bargain Hunter Daily Digest will have a new look. I've been testing out newsletter software and almost have all the kinks ironed out. For many of you this means the digest will come with pictures and look like the blog, replete with my goofy peeping tom picture! (Nobody gets that I'm supposed to be looking *through* a shop window for a bargain.) For others it won't look much different (because your computer can't handle the pics so it just gives you the text like now). I'm afraid a few emails of folks who have already signed up will slip through the cracks so if you stop getting the digest please let me know!

I am especially excited about a new feature that automatically signs people up for the digest. Just plug in your email in the box on the upper left hand corner of the blog and you will start getting the digest within 24 hours. Let me know what you think of the changes! ~Julia

When shopping online, remember to check the automatic rebate you can get through eBates. I blogged about them before but here's a quick recap. Sign up at eBates (name, address, email, etc), then go to eBates.com and click on the retailer of your choice. eBates tracks what you buy at the stores, then sends you a check for a rebate based on the deal they have with each retailer. I've gotten $22.50 in checks from eBates since signing up with them (one drawback, the checks take awhile to come.)

Some of the better deals: 4% back at Target, 13% at ShoeMall, 12% at PetCareRx, 10% at Hallmark, 10% at Match.com, 10% at Steve Madden, 8% back at Starbucks, 7% at Quicken, 6% at PetSmart or PetCo, 6% at Beauty.com, 4% at Sony, 2% at Circuit City. Search all the stores they have deals with, search by the biggest rebates (25% at two magazine Web sites plus double digits at many ink jet places).

Read more about how eBates works. When you sign up, say I referred you and we each get a bonus when you make your first purchase! Just use my email, julia.scott@dailynews.com. Thanks!

A reader forwarded me a bunch of links to the clearance and sale pages of various retailers. Here are a select few:

Kohls.com's Christmas Sale Save up to 50%
HomeDepot.com's Special Values Save up to 40%
Target's Online Clearance Outlet Save up to 75%
LandsEnd.com's Off the Sleigh Special Save up to 65%
Timberland.com's Sale Save up to 50%
Avon.com's Makeup Specials Save up to 60%
Vermont Country Store - Yankee Bargains Save up to 75%
Babies R Us' Online Clearance Outlet Save up to 60%
MimiMaternity.com's Dress Sale Save up to 60%
Chefs Catalog's Online Clearance Outlet Save up to 60%
Esprit's Online Clearance Outlet Save up to 70%

Thanks, Kay!

When did Levi's clothing get so cute? I didn't have to look far before I found this classic sherpa lined jean jacket for $88, a cozy beanie hat for $38, and a stylish but slightly rustic red clutch for $38. Oh yeah, and their jeans are pretty awesome. To get 25% off the whole shebang use promo code DCLEVI25 during check out. Code is case sensitive. Unclear how long the sale lasts. Looks like it's only online.

Get 25% off select items that have already been marked down at Ann Taylor Loft and an additional $25 off $50 with coupon code 76800050. This Tweed pleated dress makes for an easy outfit around the office, for $30 (orig $89). A scoop neck top is $12 (orig $26). Discount is taken at checkout. Free shipping on orders of $100 or more with code HOLIDAY07. Browse all sale items. Unclear how long code and sale lasts.

UPDATE: Hubby has stepped up to buy his Mum a present, so I won't need to shop for her. This also means the perfume he intends to buy (see photo) will come from his budget. Wahoo!

My mother-in-law loves to cook but the Barefoot Contessa cookbook I gave her last year seems to be gathering dust. She already knows how to cook everything under the sun (and is quite good at it) so a cooking class...

Even if you're no tree-hugging environmentalist, paying your electric bill when you've got a ton of holiday lights up is a drag. The Web site holidayLEDs.com sells lights that use less electricity, have a lifetime warranty, and 30-day no questions asked return policy. Sounds like a deal! Shipping is $2 to the contiguous US. It may be late to get decorations for this year, but watch the site in Jan or discounts.

Their Web site says replacing 70 regular bulbs with LEDs is like planting 152 trees, conserving 1,274 Kilowatts of electricity, reducing 1,975 pounds of Co2, saving $140.14 in electricity. Not sure if that's an AND list or if you just get to pick one.

Upload a picture of someone at Elf Yourself and a few clicks later they are an elf! A great time waster.

Disney Shopping has a bunch of coupons good for online shopping plus a 15% off coupon that you can use on top of the discounts, according to Slickdeals.net. Get 50% off snowglobes with code MERRY50, 40% off adult clothes or holiday decorations with code MERRY40, 30% off their home collection with code MERRY30, and 25% off kids' clothes with code MERRY25. Use code 3199 for the 15% off coupon, which *should* word on top of the others. Get $5 shipping when you spend $50 or more with code SHIPFOR5.

Spotted this punch bowl set in the Crate & Barrel 2007 gift guide. It's $37 and includes a three gallon glass punch bowl, a ladle, and 8 glasses. Extra glasses are $1.95 each. Makes a great gift for somebody who loves to throw parties.

This weekend I started freaking out about not having done any - ANY - of my Christmas shopping! Most people think I shop all day but usually I don't have time to buy the stuff I blog about. I decided I had to tackle the out of town gifts. If I waited any longer I would have to pay for expedited shipping and that gets expensive fast! My brother-in-law Shahn mentioned a new video game that I could give to the family as a whole, so $50 later I knocked them off My Gift List. (To be fair, I also bought a girly mag subscription for my sister-in-law ($12) and a Leap Frog book about princesses for my littlest niece ($10).)

Also bought toys from Target for the other in-laws. The kids will get a Spiderman football ($9), a Tonka truck ($10), and the aforementioned princess book. All will be mailed directly to them so I don't have to make a separate trip to the post office. Will mail a Home Depot gift certificate to my other bro- and sis-in-law because they are always doing projects around the house ($30).

Get 25% off at Steve Madden with a friends and family coupon that expires Sun Dec 9. Use coupon code F&F2007. Looks like it's only for online shopping, not in stores. I like this mid-length boot with a bold buckle in gold for $112 (orig $150). Free shipping on all orders to the contiguous 48 states. Join their email list and get 15% off your next order. Fyi, their Web site is awfully slow so give each page time to load if you want to save.

Express has a printable coupon for an in store discount of $10 off a $20 purchase, or $20 off a $60 purchase. I was underwhelmed by the men's selection, but adore this women's houndstooth coat with pink lining for $198. This chiffon halter dress is so versatile you could wear it with a black pashmina and black heels to a winter holiday party or pair it with a little color in the spring or summer. Best part? It's $75. Unfortunately they don't sell anything through the Web site, you have to go into a store. Find one near you through a link on the upper right hand corner of their homepage.

Coupon expires Dec 11, 2007. Good at Express or Express Men's store. Caveats: excludes jewelry, hair accessories, and redlined merch.

Helps kids learn by buying them the classroom supplies they need through Donorschoose.org, a charity that matches teacher requests with "citizen philanthropists." You can search for requests by subject, cost to complete, grade, type of resource, region or type of school.

A science teacher at John Burroughs Middle School in Los Angeles made this request for an LCD projector. "In the classroom, it's never enough for a teacher to stand in front of the room and go over content. Number one, students don't want to hear us go on all period- they want to see stuff, cool stuff! Secondly, we all have different styles of learning and its only fair to provide images to those who learn visually. Help me to bring Jupiter, Betelgeuse, and Antares into my room. You'll allow me to provide images to my students that they'll never forget! "

Read the specifics of how it works here. Donations are tax deductible and you can partially fulfill teacher requests with whatever size donation you wish..Thanks, Liz!

The online girls shoe store Sweet Soles is having a big sale this weekend starting today at 4pm thru Sunday at 10 pm. I have not bought shoes from Sweet Soles before, but reader Rein says "on black Friday I bought 11 pairs of shoes, sandals, boots for my 7 yr. old daughter and spent, with shipping $123!! Now that's a steal!" Look for these automatic discounts at checkout: spend $50-$99 get 20% off total, spend $100-$199 get 30% off total, spend $200+ get 40% off total AND FREE SHIPPING! I like these black and tan sandals for $15 (final sale) and these baby blue sandals with butterflies (for $30) are so cute I wish I had a baby girl to dress up!

Search their catalog by type of shoe, or check out their clearance shoes.

Caveats: free shipping does not apply to international orders. Sale does not apply to previous orders, or ebay purchases. If an item is out of stock, we will contact you via phone or email asap.

Their return policy is strict: "I will allow an exchange...

Local clothing designer Carol Anderson (her line is CAbi - Carol Anderson by invitation) is having a sample sale this Sunday from 11 to 4. Her clothes are stylish, chic, and upscale. Outfits rely on basics like black boots and solid colors but have just enough flair to make it interesting. Everything at the sale is half-off plus no sales tax. The sale is at 22721 America Way in Calabasas. To RSVP call Michelle at (818) 876-3354. Thanks, Jen!

A friend suggested I check out the old school toys at Restoration Hardware after she found a number of gag gifts and stocking stuffers at the furniture and home store. I was skeptical going in - I'm a journalist after all - but was pleasantly surprised. A balloon modeling kit with 30 balloons and a pump is $8, a metal matchbox music box that plays "Jingle Bells" is $15. An 82-steel piece Helicopter Erector kit is $22. Their prices are a tad high (surely a Whoopee Cushion can be had for less than $6?) so if you are on a tight holiday budget take notes then look at other stores.

Their regular toy section includes musical instruments, circus toys, magic kits, DIY wooden vehicles, and pricey pedal vehicles. View all their gifts under $25. Find a store near you. Thanks, Beth!

Today's charity de jour is Children of the Night, a group in Van Nuys that helps child prostitutes regain their lives. The privately funded non-profit was started in 1979 by Lois Lee, a scholar and social policy expert who also trains detectives at the LAPD's police academy in how to detect, treat, and rescue children involved in prostitution. The organization's Web site has information about making a donation, including a breakdown of where the money goes. You can also make a donation of clothing or toiletries by looking at their wish list. Read FAQ's about child prostitution here. Contributions are tax deductible. They are at 14530 Sylvan St. in Van Nuys. (818) 908-4474.

Get 30% off at the Encino store and education center Mother's Haven thru Dec 9. The store sells maternity clothing, baby products, family gear, toys and also offers classes. About a quarter of their stuff is online if you can't get to the store. Use code Holiday30 for the discount. Not sure if it applies to classes. Get free shipping on orders over $50 for a limited time.

Visit them at 15928 Ventura Blvd., Suite 116, Encino. (818) 380-3111. Thanks, Jen!

Get 20% off your online purchase at Bloomingdale's not until Dec 10, but note the many exclusions below. Search all the items on sale or browse these sale categories: women's clothes, shoes, handbags, jewelry, accessories, men's stuff, and kids. They throw in some non-sale stuff so look for the discount in red! Use coupon code DEC20. This BCBG mesh metal clutch adds zip to your holiday party outfit, but lamentably is $178 (before the discount).

Caveats: not good in stores, excludes gift cards, beauty, home (including all furniture and mattresses), and these brands: Anlo, Baccarat, Badgley Mischka, Botkier, Bulga, Burberry, Calvin Klein Intimates, Celine, Chanel Sunglasses, Christofle, Cinzia Rocca, Citizens of Humanity, Coach Shoes & Sunglasses, Diane Von Furstenberg, Dior Sunglasses, Faberge, Fendi Sunglasses & Watches, Foley and Corinna, Gucci Sunglasses, Gustto, Hanro, Hilary Radley, Isabella Fiore Handbags & Shoes, James Jeans, J Brand, Joe's Jeans, Juicy Couture, Kate Spade, Kooba, Lalique, Lambertson Truex, Limoges, Little Marc, Longchamp, M Missoni, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Marc Jacobs, Marc Men's, MCM, Michael Kors Collection, Michele Watches, Moschino, Mulberry, Nanette Lepore, Paige Premium Denim, Ray-Ban Sunglasses, Rebecca Minkoff, Rich and Skinny, Seven for all Mankind, Spanx, St. John Sport, The North Face, Theory, Tom Ford Sunglasses, Tory Burch, Toy Watch watches, True Religion, Twisted Heart, Ugg, Versace Sunglasses, Vince, Wacoal, Waterford, and Zac Posen.

Get $3.50 off a purchase of $10 or more at Ulta Beauty online thru Dec 8, some exclusions but not many. They have stores in Burbank, Pasadena, and West Hollywood and their Web site is pretty good. Use code 84361 when checking out. Free shipping on orders of $25 or more. I like this crocodile wallet that holds 10 lip glosses and 10 eyeshadows, plus a dual-sided brush for both types of application for $8 (orig $13). In black or white.

Print this in-store coupon to get $15 off a purchase of $15 or more at Lane Bryant. The $15 deal doesn't work online, but you can use the coupon to get $25 off a purchase of $75 or more, $50 off a purchase of $150 or more, or $75 off a purchase of $225 or more in store OR online. Online use code 050000661. They have a classic little black dress for $80. Find a store near you. Expires Dec 9, 2007.

Caveats: excludes some brands, outlet purchases, etc.

Now to Dec 11, Eastern Mountain Sports is discounting its EMS-brand outerwear by 20 to 30% off. So tempting to get that new winter jacket. One online only special is a Glacier Down Jacket for $50 (orig $99). Search all the women's outerwear on sale and all the men's outerwear on sale. The sale is also in stores, but like the name implies, they are all on the East Coast.

This deal ends today. Get free shipping with no minimum purchase at Eddie Bauer with coupon code DECEMBER. The men's store is also having a mix and match sale where you buy one and the second one is 50% off. So it's like they were both 25% off if they are the same price. All sweaters - men's</a> and women's - are also buy one get one 50% off.

I've caught a nasty stomach bug from my otherwise excellent husband (sweetie, you're totally in the dog house on this one) and am down for the count. I will spare you details of how the bug has dehydrated me, suffice it to say it has left me sipping half-strength gatorade and eating boiled rice.

Please check back tomorrow or Friday, when I hope to be back on my feet.

There's truckloads of the brown stuff at the NW corner of Saticoy St and Wilbur Ave (btwn Reseda and Tampa), no joke. A colleague told me about this "bargain" and when I scoffed at him he delivered this advice: "Don't turn your nose up at free dirt young lady." After checking dirt prices at Lowe's I'll give him this one. The do-it-yourself home improvement store sells 1.5 cubic foot of lawn soil for $5.77.

Get 20% off your highest price item at REI Outlet when you buy more than one thing thru Fri Dec 7, 2007. Only good at their outlet online or over the phone (800-426-4840 4 a.m. to 11 p.m. PST). Discount is taken automatically when you add a second item to your cart. There is one of those soft folding chairs you always wish you had for $11 (orig $18), a child carrier for $88 (orig $180), an LED Lantern for $10 (orig $20). Prices are before the 20% coupon. Check out their gift ideas here.

Caveats: not good on special orders, package discounts, REI gift cards or E-gift certificates, gift boxes, memberships, shop services, rentals, bicycles, boats, GPS receivers, two-way radios, phones, and personal locator beacons. Purchases not eligible for the REI member refund.

Get 12% off at Staples this week with a customer appreciation coupon . Good thru Dec 8, 2007. In stores only. Find a store near you.

Caveats: not good on personal computers, laptops, gift cards, phone cards and postage stamps.

Paint Box Kids in Pasadena has an ornament making workshop for kids age 5 and up, a perfect opportunity to have your kids make personal gifts for their teacher, grandparent or godparent. The 90 minute class costs $25 and the kids will make and wrap 3 to 4 ornaments. BONUS: You can drop off the kids and get some of your own holiday shopping done. Sticking around is okay, too.

The workshop is Sat Dec 8 from 10 to 11:30 am. Call 626-808-0330 to reserve a space for your kid. The owner Terry said she has spots for 10 more kids. Visit them at 1383 E. Washington Blvd. Thanks, Jen!

The radio station KCRW has added 94 new "fringe benefits" for its members. New partners include AnnasGourmetGoodies.com, Ate18 in Encino, BauerPottery.com, BlueNile.com, Cardone's Italian Deli, Gelato Bar, Industry Cafe and Jazz, Ketchup, Kinara Spa, My Pet Naturally, RedEnvelope.com, Saladang, and many more. Membership starts at $25 a year. Could make a fun gift for a friend who loves to go out on the town or is a music head. Thanks, Val!

A reader gave me a heads up about Free Wheelchair Mission, which gives a new wheelchair to poor disabled people in developing countries for $48.35 each. They don't distribute chairs in the US because the liability insurance is so high, whereas it costs them just a few thousand dollars abroad. Their stated mission is to "transform lives through the gift of mobility to the physically disabled poor in developing countries as motivated by Jesus Christ.” A mechanical engineer named Don Schoendorfer designed the cheap, durable chair after seeing a crippled woman crawling through the dirt in Morocco in 1999. Donations are tax deductible. Thanks, Geri!

The shoe and handbag site Endless has a few holiday offers, like $20 off select pairs of boots over $100. No code required, discount appears below boot. Lots of boots by Kenneth Cole REACTION, Carlos by Carlos Santana and Nine West, including these tall black patent leather boots for $152 (orig $189). Their sale page also has links to $10 off select slippers when your tab hits $50, $20 off certain handbags when you tab hits $100, and $20 off select kids shoes when your tab hits $80. Unclear when the sale ends.

BONUS: For a short time they will give you $5 for choosing overnight shipping. After it ends they will go back to free overnight shipping.

UPDATE: Use code GIFTS07 for free shipping on purchases of $35 or more thru Dec 31, 2007.

Get free shipping on tabs of $35 and up at Estee Lauder until Dec 15, 2007. Use coupon code PRESENTS. Check out their gift recommendations here, like this set of 5 fragrances for $35. A scent for every occasion!

Borders has a coupon for its members (joining is free, can do it in any store) good today and tomorrow, Dec 4 that takes 40% off any DVD box set. There is the Ken Burns' "The War" 6-DVD set for $78 (orig $130), or an Audrey Hepburn collection that includes "Breakfast at Tiffany's" "Sabrina," "Roman Holiday," "Paris When it Sizzles" and "Funny Face" for $23 (orig $38). Browse the entire selection of boxed sets here. Many other TV and movie sets. Their regular prices are higher than you can find elsewhere, so definitely use the coupon if you buy from Borders. Find a store near you.

Caveats: while supplies last, not good online.

Toys 'R Us has 105 items on sale online only today, including a Dora the Explorer Fiesta Doll for $5 (orig $20), two wooden toys from Melissa and Doug for $5 (orig $20), and a Barbie-and-Elmo doll for $6 (orig $21). Perhaps this is part of the Cyber Monday fallout. Retailers are trying to drum up online business at the start of the week leading up to the holidays.

Consumer Reports has a short list of sources for green holiday gifts with their take on each.

LocalHarvest – "This directory lists organic food from local farmer’s markets, food co-ops, restaurants, and more. Click on “shop” to order products such as organic black mission figs from California’s Passion Fruit Farms ($40/two pints) and honey apple butter from Arkansas ($4.50/14-oz. jar)."

Greenloop – "At this site you’ll find eco-chic fashions, including recycled cashmere hats and scarves ($112 to $150). We also like the sexy Anna Cohen tank top made from bamboo fabric, $130, and fun accessories like Ecoist’s Confetti shoulder bag made from recycled candy wrappers, $48."

Re:modern – "The goodies here are so cute, you’ll love that many are made from reclaimed materials. Look for glass vases made from recycled wine and beer bottles ($38 to $63), clocks from recycled detergent-bottle plastic ($45), and doormats from surplus foam rubber from flip-flop factories ($23 to $42)."

Ecohaus – "This Seattle site has everything you need for green home improvement projects, including low- or no-volatile organic compound paint ($32 to $48/gallon), low-flow showerheads ($13 to $15) and toilets ($402 to $859), recycled glass tiles ($28.50 to $82.50/sq. ft.), and flooring made from FSC-certified wood ($6 to $23/sq. ft.). The knowledgeable staff can answer questions at 800-281-9785."

The Green Office – "Click on “supplies” for office and school necessities such as Earth Write pencils, $1.19 a dozen, made from recycled newspaper. When shopping here or anywhere else for paper, look for products that are processed chlorinefree (they’re marked PCF) and with at least 30 percent post-consumer recycled (PCR) fiber."

Consumer Reports caveats: "We scoured the Web for sites with great green products at good prices. All these sites were then screened by our experts at ConsumerWebWatch.org to make sure they comply with our guidelines for customer service and disclosure of key information. But we did not test the products below in our labs."

Until Sun Dec 9 Eddie Bauer has a promotion on sweaters where the second one is half off. When you spend more than $100 get free shipping with code EBAUER07. Search all their women's sweaters here, men's sweaters here. I would stick to their basic sweaters, like this knit pullover for $30 (orig $60) or a ribbed V-neck for $40, and shy away from their snowflake and holiday-stripe sweaters. Unless you live in Minnesota, they are tacky. Find a store near you.

The do-it-yourself tech magazine Make has some cool suggestions for hardware kits to make devices that turn off TVs, charge iPods, play music, and more. Great gifts for your favorite gadget geek. My techie hubby says: "Introductory electronics experimenting has come a long way from the 50-projects-in-1 Heath kits of my childhood. Included on the Make open source gift list are a variety of fun projects for the tinkerer in your life. Assemble real, working devices knowing that you have the power to alter and tweak them to your hearts delight."

Here are two of the kits they sell:
TV-B-Gone: $20. Gadget turns off TVs up to 100 feet away. Make says "Tired of all those LCD TVs everywhere? Want a break from advertisements while you're trying to eat? Want to zap screens from across the street?
No one ever says at the end of their life they wished they watched more TV - this is a life saver! This is a very simple kit and great for people who have never soldered anything before."

LED Mini Menorahs for $10. Make calls it "open source hardware for the chosen people!" A lighthearted and small project. Requires light soldering and no programming. Once assembled and powered on it displays an LED menorah.
Each time it is turned off-and-on it advances to the next days display.

More Make project kits here. Thanks, babe!

Daily Candy shares news of these sample sales:

Monique Lhuillier bridal and ready-to-wear collections are 40-90 percent off Wed and Thur Dec. 5 and 6. Sale is 10 to 6 at 708 N. La Cienega Blvd. in West Hollywood (at Melrose Place). (323) 655-1088.

Vanitas of California, Wilen, Rails, and other lines mark dresses, knits, and other basics up to 70 percent off. The sale is Sun Dec 9 from 11 to 4 at 7600 Melrose Ave. in West Hollywood (at Curson Ave., suite. n). (310) 567-2484. NOTE: I was not able to confirm the day or time of the Vanitas sale and the phone number may be wrong.

I'm going to feature one charity on the blog every weekday for the month of December, when a lot of folks make donations. Giving to charity may not be a "bargain" by many definitions, but giving to the less fortunate certainly makes the world a better place.

I'll start with my favorite charity, Heifer International, which lets you "buy" goats, chicks, or a cow for poor people, who sell the animals' milk, eggs, or wool. The animals range from $20 for a flock of chicks to $500 for a dairy cow. You can also buy a "share" of an animal for $10. Read their catalog here.

Heifer was started in 1944 by a midwestern farmer who handed out milk rations during the Spanish Civil War and realized the hungry children didn’t need a cup to drink, they needed a cow. Read more about Heifer's origins here, and their mission statement here.