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.
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).