February 2008 Archives

Get $20 off $120 at Overstock.com. Expires March 3, 2008. A cherry veneer bed frame with simple, open lines, above, is $430 (orig $829). Browse their computers and electronics, home improvement items, and bedroom furniture.

Caveats: discount excludes books, music, movies and games.

Normally writing the Bargain Hunter is fun, goofy, and comes relatively easy to me. Today it's a different story. Exactly 22 of my colleagues in the newsroom were laid off today. All morning everybody has been watching everybody else, waiting to see who will be called into the editor's office next. I can't keep a thought longer than...what was I saying?

I'm not sure who is worse off - those who got a measly six weeks pay for years of service or those, like me, who are left behind to recover in a shell-shocked newsroom that will inevitably shrink again unless the genius' that run this place ever realize the Internet is the future. We have, what four online employees in the newsroom? Sure, reporters contribute to special online updates when there is breaking news, and many of us churn out blog posts night and day. But I don't think there is a sense that the online version of the paper is what will make or break us.

Many people spend their time tweaking the print edition, which has improved. But do folks really think cleaner fonts and new sections will be enough to make people buy the Daily News? Keep dreaming. Maybe I'm wrong, maybe young people will start buying the print edition in droves and advertisers will return. But with craigstlist and a million other sites where people can sell stuff for free, surely we'll never see all the lucrative classified ads return.

What do you think? What would make the newspaper, online or print, worth buying? What are you interested in reading?

Started my hunt for prom dresses yesterday in the Topanga mall in Canoga Park. I was surprised that many retailers, like Macy's and Sears, had very few dresses at relatively high prices. The majority of the dresses I saw were polyester - even at Nordstrom's - so quality is not a great concern, apparently. Makes sense for a garment you only wear once.

The best selection and prices by far were at Windsor's, which had a whole dress boutique at the back of the store. A sales rack had many dresses under $50, and there were plenty of others - short and long - under $100. The bunched aqua dress, above, is $60.

Cache also had many prom dresses, especially in BRIGHT colors, but many were in the $200s and $300s. A classic black satiny halter top with eye-catching bunched lines across the middle was $178. An over the top floor-length dress with a black and white animal print skirt and a daring slit was $238. The best part of the dress was a hot pink band under the black bust. The floor-length black gown, below, is $148.

Chez Marie (no Web site, unfortunately) had a decent selection with long gowns 20% off and all other dresses 50% off. Many were distinctive...

Get 40% off select Easter outfits at Carter's stores and knock $10 off your purchase of $50 or more until March 5 with this printable coupon. You can also get a $10 gift cheque for every $40 you spend now through March 13, but the cheques are only redeemable between March 14 and 30 when you spend $25 or more. Stagger your purchases to maximize the discounts. Note, you can't actually buy stuff through their Web site. Eyes rolling - how outdated is that?

Find a Carter's near you.

Get 30% off at the Nike store online on full price and clearance items with code 30PCTCA1. The code is case sensitive and the second digit is a number. Unclear when the coupon expires. Caveats: not good on NikeiD, Apple, Nike + Apple Kit, GC's, Members only store and launch products.

Become a member and get free ground shipping on your first order and free returns on all orders. A women's thermal jacket in deep burgundy is $58 (orig $110). With the discount a women's pleated tennis dress is $77 (orig $110). Browse the offerings in clearance, for women, men, boys and girls.

The pizzeria Papa John's will give you a free large pizza with one topping pizza if you were born on Leap Day and can prove it with ID. Deal is for carry out orders. Good on leap day only - that's tomorrow!

To get the freebie follow these directions. login or register if you are a first time user, select carry out for order type. Find a Papa John's near you.

The kids clothing store Naartjie, originally from South Africa, is offering 15% off your total tab on new and sale items when you buy online, in the store, or over the phone. Naartjie sells clothes for infants up to 10 years old for boys and girls. The coupon is good until March 9, 2008. Use the promo code rainbow in lower case.

A girl's polka dot top is $10 and comes in eight colors with names like Dew and Jellytot. Matching capri leggings are also $10 and have subtle frills around the calf. Browse their sale items.

Stores in Glendale, Sherman Oaks and Canoga Park in the Valley. Find a store near you.

Spring is around the corner and that means it's time to get gardening. It is time to plant herbs and vegetables, shade-loving vines like Boston Ivy, spring perennials, elephant ear and caladium bulbs, according to my Home Depot Garden Club flyer.

Before you start digging, spend a little time creating a plan for what will go where. Pencil and paper always helps you remember what you decided. Also leave time to clean up last year's garden - raking leaves, pulling weeds, and prepping the soil. May be a good idea to check your watering system for leaks or adjust for the new plants and tune up mowers and power tools. Start now and by March 20 - the first day of spring - you will already have a few plants in the ground!

I like Green Thumb in Canoga Park (21828 Sherman Way) for gardening advice and the wide range of plants they stock. OSH and Home Depot have cheaper plants but you have to watch more closely for quality. And it's almost impossible to find someone if you have a question. If you do track someone down, forget about them actually knowing anything about plants. OSH has a direct link from its home page to various coupons, many for garden items.

While hunting for bargains recently in Studio City I came across Crossroads Trading Co., a store that buys and sells used clothing, mostly women's. Come armed with an appetite for looking because hidden in the racks is treasure.

A pair of navy Manolo Blahnik heels in size 6 were $25. Mind you, these were well worn in, but still looking classic and sharp. A black and white baby doll summer dress by Krafty was $11. I was on the verge of buying a pair of Seven for all Mankind jeans for $22.50 – even now I'm having a hard time describing why I didn't buy them. In the end I decided my butt was more shapely that this pair of jeans would lead the viewer to believe. Call me a dreamer...

There were also a ton of casual tops, many below $15. Some purses, hats, dresses, and men's clothes. A few racks of new clothes from Charlotte Russe and Forever 21 were at the front of the store. Crossroads accepts returns within seven days with the tags attached and a receipt.

Read tips for selling your clothes to them. Visit them at 12300 Ventura Blvd in Studio City. They also have stores in West Hollywood, Hollywood, Santa Monica, Costa Mesa, the Bay Area, Sacramento, Chicago and Seattle.

The words vegetarian and Mexican don't often go together. But at Leonor's in Studio City the duo is quite tasty. All the meat on the menu is make of soy and the food is healthy. Hubby the Carnivore would grumble, but most meat eaters will be pleasantly surprised.

The texture of the soy cheese and soy chicken in my massive chicken tostada, for $4.90, was right on. The cheese was good enough that I considered adding it to my grocery list. I sought out the chicken on my plate. The tostada needed salsa or pico de gallo, which I would have asked for had the waitress returned. That my food was slightly bland was not enough to deter me from stuffing my face. Service was quick and friendly. The restaurant is clean and small with a few booths and counter seating.

The menu had many other Lincoln Lunch options, for when all you have in your wallet is a five dollar bill with ol' prez Lincoln on it. $5 will get you a small chili burrito, chili tostada, chicken tostada, chicken taco, veggi tago, chicken enchilada, B.L.T., soy hamburger, beet salad, green salad, house salad, plus sides like chicken nuggets, broccoli, and various empanadas.

Note, Leonor's has received very mixed reviews online. Visit them at 12445 Moorpark St in Studio City. (818) 762-0660. They also have a location in Valley Village at 5217 Laurel Canyon Blvd. (818) 769-6315.

Get $20 off your purchase of $150 or more at Staples now through Thursday Feb 28. Very few exclusions! Good in stores, online or over the phone. Print the coupon or enter code 17794 when buying online or over the phone (1-800-333-3330).

Caveats: not good on services, gift cards, postage stamps or prior purchases. Find a Staples near you.

Looking for a sharp suit or leather jacket? Head to Armani Wells in Studio City if you want discount designer threads and don't mind if someone else has worn them. The clothes at Armani Wells are used, often very gently by television and movie actors. Owner Claudia Wells (of "Back to the Future" fame) buys many items from the nearby studios.

I spotted a beautiful black leather Kenneth Cole jacket for $225 (wished Hubby was there to try it on) and a Columbo light brown cashmere jacket for $450. A gray wool Armani turtleneck was $150. An over-sized sheepskin jacket (actually polyester) with a heavy liner was $150. Many suit coats were in the $400s and $500s with brand names like Hugo Boss and Armani. Some items were not marked, giving me the feeling there is room for negotiation.

The store has some shoes, jeans, and many button down shirts and ties. All sales are final. Here's a link to an expired coupon. Could be worth asking if they will still honor it. Visit them at 12404 Ventura Blvd. just east of Storylopolis and Whitsett Ave. Their new store, Armani Wells East, at 11288 Ventura Blvd in Studio City, is slated to open next month.

Looks like this discount can be used on goods from any part of the store when you shop Target online. Expires March 1, 2008. When checking out use coupon code TC749CY2. I like these forest green jersey sheets for $20 for king, queen, CA king, full or twin. My friend has jersey sheets and they were so soft and warm I thought it was flannel at first touch.

You can also get free shipping on tabs of $50 or more when you buy from these categories: men's, women's, kids' clothing, shoes, handbags and accessories, baby gear, bed and bath, home décor and lighting. No coupon needed for free shipping.

Here's a list of eight ways to sock away $100 from The Street, a Web site chock full of highbrow investment advice. Every blue moon they delve into everyday money matters, which brings us to the subject of this blog post: pulling five Andrew Jacksons out of these daily routines.

Wash With Cold Water
Using hot water when you do a load of laundry accounts for 85% to 90% of the energy used during the cycle. Switch to the cold/cold setting and watch your utility bill shrink by more than $100 a year (assuming you do one load a day).

Drink More Water
All that soda, juice, and energy drinks add up. If every drink costs $1 and you cut out two a week, that adds up to $104 a year.

Compare Prices
Shopping around always pays off. So does waiting to buy during a sale and using a coupon. Luckily, there are no shortage of comparison shopping sites, like Shopzilla, ShopLocal, BizRate, Amazon, and eBay.

Use Coupons
Spend a few minutes with the Sunday newspaper circular clipping coupons for items you regularly buy. You only have to save $2 a week at the grocery store to ring up $100 a year.

Start Haggling
Haggling makes me nervous, too. But it can..

McDonald's is celebrating leap year with a free McSkillet burrito Thursday Feb 28 and Friday Feb 29 when you buy a medium or large beverage. Hmmmm, wonder if coffee counts. It's probably cheaper than soda.

The McSkillet has scrambled eggs, potatoes, sausage, salsa, onions, peppers and cheese and comes in a flour tortilla. It sells for about $2.49. It's a new menu item and they want folks to try it. Find a McDonald's near you. Thanks, Carole!

First things first. What's a widget? Don't let anybody fool you. It's a technical term for doohickey. You can add the Bargain Hunter widget, which shows the most recent deal, to your page on 18 different sites, including Google, Blogger, MySpace, Facebook and Ning. Just like the weather, news headlines, or silly applications you may already have on your page. On my Facebook page the widget shows up in the mini feed.

Adding the BH widget will make your site more personal and make it easier to share your favorite sales and coupons with friends. Totally optional, but I do appreciate you helping me spread the word about the blog. Lots of readers are great for job security! Get the Bargain Hunter widget here.

You can also add it by clicking on the "Get the BH Widget" link on the upper left hand corner of this site. Follow the directions to install it, which takes a minute or two. Note, you must already have a home page on one of these sites to install the widget.

UPDATE: Duh, there are no Dunkin Donuts in So Cal. My apologies for this oversight, sometimes I think I'm still in NY. Sorry if I got your hopes up.

PREVIOUSLY: Get a small latte or cappuccino for $.99 at Dunkin Donuts until 10pm today only. The stunt is well timed. Competitor Starbucks is closing down all its stores for three hours today to "retrain" its employees to make drinks. Surely a lot of customers will stop in just to check out the change, if any.

But the best part of this coffee quarrel is a video on the Dunkin Donuts site making fun of the sizes at the green giant. I like Starbucks coffee just as much as you, but a large is still a large even if they call it a venti.

Find a DD near you.

Recent posts on coupon clipping got such a great response I decided to follow them up with a trip to Food 4 Less, which a reader named Patti suggested I check out. The store is owned by Kroger, which also operates Ralphs. Food 4 Less is not as swanky as Ralphs – no faux wood shelves or fresh bakery here – but the store is clean, well lit and has wide aisles. Many prices beat Trader Joe's and Vons, but not all.

I'll update the cheat sheet soon, but for now here are some of their best bets. Meat. Chicken thighs were $.87/lb, ground turkey was $1.58/lb, cubed beef chuck for stewing was $.98/lb! Staples. Sun Vista black beans were $.58 for 15oz, C&H sugar was $2.48 for 5 lbs, Ocean Spray cranberry juice was $1.88 for 64 oz.

Produce had great prices and everything looked fresh and tasty. Bananas were about 4 for $.98, a 10oz bag of baby spinach was $.88! Potatoes were $.248 for 10lbs and carrots were $.88 for 2lb.

Dairy also had many winners. Tilamook cheddar was $4.98 for 16 oz or a Kroger chunk of the same size was $4.48. Yoplait 6 oz yogurts were 10 for $6, Kroger 32 oz yogurt containers were $2.38. Breyer's 1.75 quarts of ice cream were $3.98.

The store carries upscale...

When my mom offered to cover all my books in college I was relieved because I knew they added up to $300+ per semester. My chemistry book alone cost $112 and it was only for one semester! Now students can turn to Chegg.com, a Web site that rents textbooks.

Prices are about 40 percent of the list price of a new book, according to a story by the Kansas City Star in Missouri. For every book rented Chegg.com will plant a tree. Students buy a tree in textbooks every year, according to the site.

Another textbook rental site is BookRenter.com, which boasts prices 50 percent to 75 percent below retail. Rental periods range from 1 to 4 months and shipping is included in the book price.

Both are great sources to check out if you can't find the books you need used.

Southwest is having a fare sale when you book by March 20, 2008 and fly between April 1, 2008 and May 21, 2008. From LAX a $49 one way fare will get you to Oakland, Phoenix, San Jose, Las Vegas, San Francisco and Sacramento. So all the usual suspects. But the $49 ares are good any day of the week! They won't last long, though.

Find cheap flights from other departure cities. Within the Golden State these flights are $49. Time to visit!

Get into 24 Hour Fitness for 14 days free and bring three friends gratis when you stop by before Feb. 29, 2008. You get to choose which club you want to use the coupon at. They are not all open 24 hours and have different amenities. A few caveats: good for new customers and local residents only. You have to be 18 or 12 with a parent and need to bring a valid photo ID to check-in. Bring this printable coupon to get the deal. Find a location near you.

Nine West says don't worry about shipping until March 3, 2008 because it is free with any purchase. Also get 30% off boots and booties this week only. A pair of dark brown kidskin riding boots are $90 (orig $180) but come in size 5 and 5.5 only. The Cheech suede ankle boots have two small buckles on the side and come in black or a buttery grey, above, for $70 (orig $150).

I'm seeing versions of this shoe all over the place - a basic flat with a large embellishment at the toe. Here it's a red suede flat with a large red gem at the tip. Below for $50 (orig $115). Browse all sale shoes and regular shoes.

They sell more than shoes these days so don't forget to check out their accessories, handbags, and clothes.

Coupon clippers will tell you shaving 20 percent to 40 percent off your grocery tab is a cinch. Clip a few coupons, combine them with in-store sales, and BAM! - your grocery bill shrinks. As the savvy spender behind the Bargain Hunter blog, I figured I would whittle my weekly food budget from $130 to $100, a mere 23 percent. What could be easier?

A lot, as it turns out. The vast majority of print and online coupons are for packaged and processed food I don't buy. And alternative spots such as Trader Joe's and the local farmers market, where I do the bulk of my shopping, don't accept coupons.

So what's a bargain hunter on deadline to do?

It's hard not to notice how much gas prices have gone up. Well over $3 a gallon when I filled up this morning. That's up about $.14 from last month, according to AAA. Times like these I like to check out the LA Gas Map, which lists prices all across the region. If you live elsewhere, find the lowest prices near you by clicking here.

In the Valley, a few stations list prices as low as $3.19 for a gallon of regular, but that is for cash only places like Arco. Otherwise it is mostly in the $3.30s and $3.40s. Good time to start carpooling, taking public transportation, working from home, or riding your bike to work. More tips on saving gas here.

My mother is reading it. My Aunt is reading it. And at a gathering of friends this weekend I found out three of them were reading it. "Three cups of tea" is a non-fiction book about a mountaineer who winds up in an isolated village in Pakistan after he fails to climb K2 on the China/Pakistan border. Depressed and desolate, the climber, Greg Mortenson, is taken in by the villagers and so impressed with their generosity he promises to return and build a school. The book is on the New York Times bestseller list and so with so many peeps reading it, I figured I should look into the best places to buy it.

Amazon has it for $17.13 new or used from $13 and up. Overstock.com has it for $8.11 for the hardcover. Harvard Booksellers has it for $7.18. eBay

has many copies at rock bottom prices but with shipping and handling it adds up to about as much as other retailers. HotBookSale has it in paperback for $4.90 with free shipping. Other low prices for the book are listed on Google Shopping.

Of course the best price - free - is at the LA public library, where most copies are checked out or in transit. But you can place a hold on the book to get the next available copy. They will even deliver it to the branch of your choosing!

Love to shop at thrift stores? Then check out the Thrift Shopper, a Web site that posts reader reviews for hundreds of thrift stores across the country. Plug in your zip code and it spits out a list of stores near you. Only stores that are "charity-driven" are listed. Some stores pay to be listed first so scroll down past the sponsored listings.

Readers give up to five stars for pricing, organization, customer service, cleanliness, and overall experience. Each listing includes store hours, phone number, address, a map, and the distance from the address you plugged in. Many stores are not rated yet, unfortunately.

BONUS: If you are looking for a like-minded miserly mate, The Thrift Shopper has personal ads, called Meet-a-Thrifter. Dating and shopping all in one. How neat!

Here's another source for relatively cheap swimsuits, Charlotte Russe. At these prices, I would not expect one of their suits to last more than a season, but they are cute and stylish. Not great selection, however. A geoprint bandeau top is $17, with matching bikini bottoms also $17. A solid black halter top is $17. Matching bottoms with a small squiggly pattern on the back are $17.

Find a store near you.

Get a free Sundae when you buy one sundae at Baskin Robbins until March 9, 2008 with this printable coupon. Here is their sundae menu. Have to have the coupon to get the deal, must redeem it in stores. Find one near you.

There are more and more options for cheap rental movies these days. Albertson's has those hulking red machines near the entry where they are happy to rent you a super crappy movie for $1 (no idea why the selection is so bad). Amazon has downloadable movie rentals starting at $2 but most everything you want to watch is $4.

Now Apple, which rents downloads for $2 to $4, is starting to offer one rental a week for $.99. The first one will be "The Hours," starring Nicole Kidman, Meryl Streep, and Julianne Moore. The cheapo movie will be available Thur to Mon, catering to weekend movie watchers. Rent it thru their iTunes page.

With soaring gas prices, housing malaise, and the recession doom and gloom, it is no doubt a good time to save money. And as long as you are stashing some away, make sure it grows quickly. The Web site Bankaholic.com lists top CD rates, savings rates and credit card offers, not that I'm encouraging you to go into more debt. Pay those monthly bills in full, my friends!

The savings rate for One United tops the list with a 5.15 annual percentage yield for an account with a minimum of $1,000. Not too shabby. The yield drops to 4.10 percent at AmTrust Direct, but you only need $1 to get started.

A six-month certificate of deposit (CD) at Flagstar Bank earns 3.91 percent and requires a minimum of $500. For a 12 month term, Patelco will give you 4.07 percent with a balance of at least $1,000.

Credit cards are so specialized these days it's wise to carry around multiple cards to get the best deal in different spending categories. Many cards offer rebates on gasoline purchases - a budget near and dear to the hearts of Angelenos. The AmEx SimplyCash card pays 5 percent back on gas station purchases and is accepted at Chevron, Texaco, Shell Gas, and Mobil-Exxon. For airline miles, consider Miles by Discover, a card that gives you double credit for travel and restaurant purchases. The miles are good at any airline, they do not expire, and there is no limit to the number of miles you can earn. Shablam!

I rambled on plenty long about coupon clipping in my Sunday Daily News story, but still couldn't fit it all in. Here are a few extra tips that pay off at the grocery store. I hope they prove useful.

**Stores often have a discount bread rack with day old offerings. But you won’t find it easily. Often it’s far from the rest of the bakery items, stashed near the meat or daily coolers. Ask where day old bread products are sold. Bread products freeze well.

**Meat prices are often lower from the butcher’s counter than from pre-packaged refridgerators. Check for the best price and watch for bulk savings. Meat freezes well.

**Manufacturer coupons are often better than the ones available in the Sunday newspaper circular. Take a few minutes to visit the Web sites of the brands you are loyal to. I got four $1 coupons for a half gallon of organic milk.

The closeout seller Big Lots is having a special family and friends sale this Sunday, Feb 24, 2008 from 6 to 9 pm only. Get 20% off your entire purchase with this printable coupon. Remember to go in with a list and concrete ideas of what you are looking for. Otherwise you'll get sucked into buying things you didn't know you needed!

Doesn't look like you need to be a buzz club member to use it. Minimal caveats - like one per family. Find a Big Lots near you. Thanks, Dotty!

Today must be the day for swimsuit deals. Here's a coupon from Speedo for 20% off any one item until March 5, 2008. Use coupon code SPEEDO145. Not all their suits are for lap swimming. Here are a lot of choices for hitting the beach, like this geometric halter top in pink, brown and white, for $48. Three different matching bottoms are each $44.

Caveats: does not apply to LZR RACER and Fastskin FS-PRO swimwear styles, shipping and handling or taxes, cannot be combined with any other offer, not valid on previous purchases.

There's a new deal Web site in town, Deals Plus, and it seems to be decent. The home page lists electronic deals, the deals page lists clothes, watches and more electronics from popular e-tailers like Newegg, Buy.com, and Amazon. The coupons page has some decent free shipping and percentage off codes, but nothing ground breaking.

Deal Plus' strong point is its price comparisons. For any item you are interested in it will spit out the prices at a few sources. A two-disc widescreen edition of Goodfellas II lists five prices, bottoming out at $10. A search for a GPS watch came up with a few options, including the Garmin Forerunner 50 for $85. If you plug in your zip code the site will include shipping costs in the prices, giving you a truer comparison.

Another cool thing about this site is the answers page. You can post a question - like what's wrong with the iPod - and get informative *and* snarky responses. They also have a groups page with topics like freebies, Amazon fillers (for when you need to hit $25 for free shipping), and PS3 Wii info.

Thanks, Michelle!

From the beloved Budget Fashionista, here are eight swimsuits under $30. She thinks of everything way before me! First up is a two-piece halter from Victoria's Secret that comes in many colors. A second bikini from VS is a little skimpier. A one piece with crossback straps from Old Navy comes in dark blue, brown or black.

Target has a tankini and bottom in pink with a black floral accent, below. The Waterpro Laser, ideal for lap swimming, has a wavy blue pattern. A scoop neck one piece has tummy control and a fun, tropical pattern in white, yellow, green and brown.

A black bikini with one white floral accent on each piece is made by Joe Boxer and sold at Kmart. Catalog Closeout Outlet has a one piece halter with a printed pattern on each boob. Browse all the BF's swimsuits under $30.

Get $5 off a toy purchase of $25 or more at Target stores with this printable coupon. Expiration date is October 1, 2008 but that seems odd. Print out a few and hope they all work.

Caveats: not good online. Only one coupon can be used per transaction.

The Alex Super Art Table is $180. Browse their toys. Find a Target near you.

UPDATE: I'm told this coupon has so many restrictions it's not really good for anything. Sucks!

PREVIOUSLY: Get 20% off one item at the Sports Authority now until Saturday, Feb 24, 2008. Good on sale and regular priced merchandise. Use coupon code TSAWIN when checking out.

From their 50% off shop, NBA jerseys are $20 to $35 (orig $45 to $75 ), including a NY Knicks jersey for $20 (orig $45). A blue yoga mat with carrying strap is $13 (orig $15). Browse their deals of the week.

Caveats: not good on gift cards, gift wrapping, or the following brands: Atec, Bauer, Bladez...

Jen's list shares discounts for baby and mom. The prices at Serena & Lily, a design resource for nursery/kids's rooms, may be above many folk's budget (a 4' x 6' rug was $289). But you can still get some really good ideas for color schemes. Their book, Nursery Style, has decorating ideas and could be a nice shower gift. The site sells furniture, rugs, paint and other decor. Use code MWS15 to get 15% off. Note: their site is really slow.

The T-shirts at Love My Belly Maternity are a tad pricey, but if you look for the ones on sale it's not so bad for a cute shirt. The site also has a ton of coupons - $20 off $100 with code 100, $45 off $150 with code 150, and free shipping on purchases of $100 or more with code freeship100. If you can combine them all that's quite a markdown. Their signature tank, above, is $28 (orig $40). Others run as high as $60+. Yeesh. Use code MWS30 for 30% off your purchase.

Thanks, Jen!

The electronics giant is having an outlet sale that lasts three days, now until Saturday. A lot of TVs are in the low hundreds. They seem to get bigger and pricier as you scroll down. Same thing with laptops and computers on sale - cheapest ones are listed at the top. Browse their sale Computer accessories.

If you know what you are looking for and have been shopping around you'll have a good idea which of Circuit City's "sale" prices are great deals. The HP HP Photosmart C3180 All-in-One Printer is $80 (orig $100).

Don't scoff (like I did). People go crazy over the rock bottom prices during Albertson's eight hour sale and looking at the ad prices, I'm wishing I lived closer to home. That way I could hit the sale on my lunch break and drop the food at home afterwards. For now I'll have to live vicariously through you.

Here are the deals: 5 oz packs of Fresh Express lettuce are 99-cents (usually at least $3), boneless chicken breasts in packs of 5lb or more (so you freeze a little bird) are $1.69/lb (usually $3/lb or higher). Chunk or shredded cheese is 2 for $3 (not sure about shredded cheese, but for chunk usually the sale price is 2 for $5). 30-packs of Miller Lite or Miller Genuine draft is $15 (I don't know the usual price but $.50 a beer sounds pretty good.)

The sale is from 1pm today to 9 pm today ONLY. Find an Albertson's near you. And expect crowds.

The candle seller Illuminations has a coupon code for $15 off a purchase of $60 or more, good in stores, online, or over the phone. It doesn't expire until March 31, 2008. Use code 999201346.

For Easter they have egg-shaped candles. A set of 6 is $13 and each burns up to 7 hours. Find a store near you.

UPDATE: Link below fixed.

Have you ever done anything that really pushed your limits? Pushed your physical ability, your emotional strength and your mental stamina beyond the brink? Past what you think you could do - past what you convinced yourself you were capable of for a few moments at a time before reality returned.

Well folks, I have signed on for just that sort of challenge. I decided I wanted to reach for the stars, get off my butt, and see what this sack of bones, muscle and water could accomplish. On May 4 I am competing in an Olympic Triathlon, which is a .9 mile swim, unfortunately followed by a 25 mile bike, even more unfortunately followed by a 6.2 mile run.

I signed up for the Wildflower triathlon, renown around the world for being an extremely difficult course. Hey, I figured, I'm semi-athletic and my pain tolerance is decent. It didn't sink in what I had gotten myself into until I told the hardest core runner/triathlete I know about my little 32-mile adventure.

"So I'm doing an olympic triathlon," I told him recently.
"Which one?" he said.
"Wildflower."
"YOU'RE doing Wildflower?"
"Uh, yeah."
"Oh." Then he paused. "Wildflower is challenging."

Not hard. Not difficult. But challenging. Words coming from a guy who does 50 mile races for fun. Who, when his knee starts hurting, turns around and runs home...six miles. Challenging is not a word I like coming from this man. Oh no. It means the course is excruciating, that when I cross the finish line - if I make it - the pain will be so bad I'll be on the verge of tears. That afterwards I'll be sore in places I didn't know I had muscles.

Right then and there I really wished I hadn't signed up for the Wildflower tri. But a promise is a promise, and I promised to raise money for cancer research while benefiting from the free coaching that is part of Team in Training, a fundraising program run by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Who knows, maybe in 11 weeks I'll be able to call myself an olympic triathlete. If not, at least you know why I'm fascinated with sporting gear.

Unlike most of Borders' coupons, this one does not require you to be a member. Until February 27, 2008 get 20% off the list price of one item at Borders with this printable coupon.

Caveats: not good online or towards previous purchases, gift cards, magazines, comics, special orders, electronics (including Zune and the Sony Reader), coffee, Rosetta stone products, or shipping.

Find a store near you. Happy reading.

With many many weeks left in the ski season I thought this sale would interest a few eyeballs. Bargainsla.com reports H&H Jobbers is closing their West LA location with markdowns up to 70% off. "Men’s and women’s outerwear ski jackets (priced) at $39-$45, retail would be $300 plus! $9 gloves are regularly $39, $49 snow board boots would go for $100-$180."

A store employee said they are closing the store because of lack of parking. The store already has low prices because it is a ski and surf outlet, but for the closing sale they have a "below cost" section with men's and women's jackets.

The last day for the West LA store is March 27. Read more about the sale. Directions and a map to the West LA store is listed third here.

Visit them at 10867 Pico Blvd. in Los Angeles. Hours are Tue to Sat 11 to 6 and Sun and Mon 11 to 5. (310) 475-5701.

One place to look for a prom dress is in the LA Fashion District. Christine Silvestri, founder of Urban Shopping Adventures, leads guided tours of the area and has a special tour March 8 just for finding the perfect prom dress. The tour boasts visits to spots that sell "the hottest new dresses of the season at half the price of department stores."

The two and a half hour tour costs $36 per person. Call (213) 683-9715 for more details or to sign up. I blogged about Silvestri once before after she was written up in LA.com.

Other tours include Dress for Success: Women’s Fashion on the Job on March 29, Find Your Colors: VIP Color Lab for Women on April 12, Sample Sale Strategic Shopping on April 25 and August 29, Mom: Flowers, Gifts & Fashion on May 3, Men in Suits: Successful Suit Shopping for Less on May 17, Do-It-Yourself Bridal Planning: Floral, Textiles & Crafts on June 7, Bridal Wear: Beautiful Brides & More on June 14, and Back-to-School Shopping, Moms & Teens on August 23.

Thanks, Greg!

I am salivating over this sale because I loooooove to buy organization stuff. What better than a piece of colorful plastic to help me battle the world's chaos? But let's get down to business.

The Container Store sale lasts until April 15, which is appropriate because it is being called a tax sale.

A white monthly magnetic calender is $16 (orig $20). Blue and green are not on sale. My neighbor has one and not only is she super busy, but super organized and on the ball. The aptly named mighty magnet rounds are $10 (orig $13). Lots more file folders, mesh file holders, and choas-eliminating tools.

Browse all the sale stuff. The site also provides "expert help" on a variety of organizing questions, like To Keep Or Not To Keep. Find a store near you.

Rock out with Rock Band for XBox, now $35 at Amazon. Comes with free shipping. Not sure how long this deal will last, but this is pretty sweet and the good onces always go fast. Next lowest is $57 on Newegg. Best Buy has it for $60.

Here are three jokes courtesy of the Prairie Home Companion's joke show. Blame my friend Greg if you don't like them. He thought they were clever.

What does a fish say when it runs into concrete?
Dam.

Why can't single women find any caring, well-dressed, sensitive boyfriends?
They those men already have boyfriends.

What is the definition of middle age?

Being faced with two opportunities and choosing the one that gets you home earlier.

Thank you. Thank you very much. The 10 o'clock show is *totally* different than the 8 o'clock.

Finally had time to drop in at Road Runner Sports, a newish store in the Fallbrook Mall in West Hills. Two cool things about the store: the running gear and two treadmills that measure your gait to help you find a suitable pair of running sneaks.

Most of the gear in the store - clothes, sneakers, sports bras, and socks - is full price. But the clearance rack had plenty to offer and they are nice enough to place it at the front of the store instead of burying it in the back. I found a pair of running shorts for $10, a Mizuno long sleeve top in blue/turquoise or plum/pink for $40 (orig $65), each with a zip pocket at the small of the back for your house keys and ID. I couldn't resist the softness of a pair of black fleece pants for $25 (orig $40), so much cozier than my polyester sweats.

On the regular racks a baby blue Illuminate reflective jacket for running in the dark was $60 (orig $81) and also had the back zipper pocket. Grey or black T-shirts that say I (heart) running were $18. Not a great deal, but cute.

Having an employee check your gait and recommend shoes is free, though I imagine they expect you will buy one of the pairs they recommend. The selection of sneaks was decent and prices ranged from $85 to $115. Visit them at 6745 Fallbrook Ave in the northwest corner of the mall by Trader Joe's.

I also like buying running shoes at Phidippides in Encino. All the employees are runners and they have great selection. You can run in the shoes before you buy them. They also accept returns of clean shoes if you decide after running in them *once* that they are not for you.

Just as credit card companies offer free cards to college students in hopes they will stick with the brand (like I did for years before I realized there were better deals), Microsoft is offering free software for college and graduate students, including Visual Studio 2008 Pro, Windows Server 2003, SQL Server,
Expression Studio, and Game Studio 2.0.

My resident techhead (Hubby) confirms this is "quite a good deal" but cautions that, like the credit cards, they are trying to get the college kids hooked, so they "don't dabble in linux."

Not sure how they check if you are really in school. Oh, here it is. They mysteriously verify that you are an enrolled student at the school you list without finding out your identity. Read all the FAQs about the process. Unclear how long offer lasts. Thanks, Slickdeals!

A fellow Sharky's fan sends news that their frequent eater card (called a Finatic Card - they really love the fish puns) gives you $7 when you accumulate 100 points ($1 = 1 point). Lots of lunch/dinner options under $10, but not too many Lincoln Lunches (named after the Prez who graces the fiver). Browse the menu from the chain near you. Find a Sharky's near you.

Thanks, Steve!

Get free shipping from the $1 makeup Web site I blogged about yesterday when you purchase at least $30 worth of stuff. Use code ECTAPBY when checking out. If it's hard to ring up $30 worth of sales at e.l.f., where nearly all the prices are a single dollar, consider buying one of their kits.

Now I know where I'm going to get my next pair of khakis. Banana Republic shaves 15% off tabs of $125 or more online and in stores. Deal lasts until March 1, 2008 so you have some time to shop. Online use coupon code BRSAVE or print this coupon for in store shopping.

These Martin cotton trousers, for $68, would do the trick, tho I really need to try them on first. I can never remember which of their "fits" fit me. I like this brown and white chain link pattern jacket, but it's $148. A little too rich for my budget. Their short cotton trench coats, in bright white, blue and red, above are also $148.

The shoes are, unfortunately, super cute. I like this pair of low brown heels that seems to perfectly mix the retro peep toe with modern sophistication, below, for $118. A saffron ballet flat with ribbon and patent leather comes in 6 shades, all good, for $78. This is getting too painful. I've got to stop. Continue on without me. Search women's, men's, shoes and handbags. Find a store near you.

So much is on sale already at FashionBug.com it almost feels wrong to have this extra $15 off coupon, good when you spend at least $75. Using it brought my savings equal to my spending - I saved 50% overall. Yowza.

The Fashion Bug isn't known for high quality threads, but the stuff is trendy and fun, with latest styles like hoodie T-shirts. And if it's only going to last one season... Sandals, flats and more are buy one get one half off. These houndstooth check slip ons are cute, for $22.

Sleepwear sets are $19. A lightweight knit shrug great for chilly days around the office, above, is $17. Lots of sweat suits, track jackets, and velour. Most dresses are $35. A satiny puff jacket with faux fur trim is $36 and comes in a metallic shade or black.

Use coupon code 776205403 at checkout.

Get a free bag of veggie or fruit crisps from Flat Earth. Printing the coupon requires you to install a printer plug-in, which is kind of a turn off. Last week when I tried installing a similar printer plug-in it crashed my computer until I got rid of it. But once you install it you can print the coupon twice. So really, it's two bags of free chips. Thanks, Dottie!

Caveats: gotta be 13 years old. Coupon good for the first 1 million customers. Expires March 9, 2008.

Comedian Will Ferrell poked fun at Nascar in "Talladega Nights" and competitive figure skating in "Blades of Glory." Now it's basketball's turn in "Semi-Pro." (Looks about as funny as Talladega and Blades.)

Get a free ticket to the new flick, which opens Fri Feb 29, when you buy one of these six movies from Best Buy: "Harold and Kumar go to White Castle," "Wag the Dog," "Dumb and Dumber," "Rush Hour 3," "Mr. Woodcock," or "Wedding Crashers." Find a Best Buy near you.

Watch the trailer below.

Man oh man oh man. All the makeup at e.l.f. - all of it - is a single dollar. Eyeliner, eye shadow, lipstick, blush, powder, tint, concealer, nail polish, nail files, brushes, brow combs...shall I continue? Today get half off your second item with coupon code EGPRESBC. After that expires use coupon code EGPDAYAC to get half off your third item thru March 1.

Why is the makeup so cheap? The site says "...it's our goal to enable every woman to look and feel her personal best through the perfect blend of both the inner and outer person. With that goal in mind, e.l.f. cosmetics was born - a line of simple, luxurious, problem-solution tools that allow you to showcase and believe in your unique, personal beauty...Every woman should have the opportunity to participate in innovation, without sacrificing her budget."

Whatever. This could be a great place to put together gift bags for parties, bridesmaids, and to experiment. I'd like to test out their liquid eyeliner (I can never get my black pencil to get as close to my lashes as I want). A smudge brush looks more effective than my usual blending tool - my fingers and their candy shop lip gloss tins also look fun.

You may recognize the e.l.f line (stands for eyes, lips, face) because 150 Target stores sell it. Find out if e.l.f. products are sold near you. The site also has a fun list of beauty secrets.

BONUS: If you spend $20 or more you can get a free subscription to Working Mother, worth $10.

Caveats: The company does not accept returns because the makeup is so cheap.

Thanks, Jen!

Ends today! Get an extra 20% off a huge selection of bags online at eBags. But don't wait. The discount code expires today. Use promo code EMWKNDPRS2. On sale are Guess bags, fashion diaper bags, Liz Claiborne, and bags by Fergie.

An over the shoulder lips bag in black and hot pink is $94 (orig $168). Pricey because of the label - it's a Fergie bag - but cute. I would buy it if it were like, $25 or less. But how often do I have the need to wear a bag like this? Not $94 worth of need.

Oh - what I really like is all these bags by Miquelrius. Spunky, bright, and priced right. A medium sized tote in pink, orange, and white, above, is $32 (orig $50). A boxy side bag is $23 (orig $36) and a small printed vinyl handbag, below, is $26 (orig $44). So fun!

Vegas? Cabo anyone? Get $75 off a vacation package of three nights or more at CheapTickets. Use code BIGCITY75 (not sure if code is case sensitive). Remember, this won't work on a flight or car rental unless it is part of a vacation package.

Caveats: book by Sunday Feb 24 and travel by March 31, 2008.

UPDATE: Stylist Shogik Pesnilyan is offering 50% off all products and 20% off all salon services for new clients, good thru the end of March. Call Shogik at (818) 843-0000.

If you find yourself in Burbank stop by the Divine Salon for a free haircut, courtesy of stylist Sossie Koulouzian. To get the deal you must be a new client. Sossie is also offering 30% off all other services available in the salon, including color, highlights, Japanese hair straightening, hair extensions, facials and eyebrow threading. Mention the anniversary special (they have been in business six years) when scheduling your appointment to get the discount. Previously they were offering just 20% off.

Call Sossie at (818) 913-2793 to make an appointment. Offer ends March 31, 2008. The salon is open Tue thru Sat 10 to 5. Visit themu at 2701 W. Olive Ave. just west of Buena Vista in Burbank.

President's Day sales may be winding down at some retailers, but not at Lane Bryant. Through April 10, 2008 get 25% off online tabs of $75 or more with coupon code 000253666. A lot of stuff is already 30 to 50% off thru Tuesday.

A patent leather trench coat is $56 (orig $200). A 3/4 sleeve kimono top in black, white and yellow (shaping up to be a big color this season), is $19 (orig $40). With the sale + the coupon prices don't get much lower than this.

Not sure if it also works in stores.

A word to the wise, you might want to check out 60 day shoe sale in Encino. I'm going to pop in next week, if I ever kick this flu *and* strep throat, and hopefully there will still be some stylin' pairs left.

Here's the deal, according to their site: "60 days, thousands of pairs of women’s designer brand name shoes to sell. Everything at least 50% off of their original retail prices. Come early for the best selection. Everything must go!"

Here's a list of the pairs they have, by designer. Kenneth Cole short boots, pumps and a flat click here. Via Spiga pairs click here. Tahari pairs click here. No prices, which is a little sketchy. But the shoe hungry will suspend judgement until they see for themselves. Let me know if you check it out!

Caveats: all sales are final, no refunds or exchanges. Visit them at 17257 Ventura Blvd. on the northeast corner of Ventura Blvd. and Louise in Encino.

Just a hunch, because I haven't checked out this sample sale, but it looks pretty awesome from the pics. Especially for accessories like purses and jewelry.

The A List Sample Sale is Sunday Feb 17 from 11 to 4 at 420 N. Orange Drivein Los Angeles. The threads are pre-owned, designer. Read about the folks the sale and see pics of the last one.

Thanks, Jen!

And you thought the madness of shopping at 3 am for super sales was limited to the winter holidays. Well, think again. Kmart is offering extra discounts this weekend if you shop overnight - from 10 pm to 6 am. Here are their nightowl discounts:

Get an extra 20% off all My First Craftsman Toys, like this kiddie sized Ford F-150, for $160 (so you'd save $32 off that). Pretty much all the other MFC toys are $5 to $20 so losing sleep over a few bucks seems crazy.

Get an extra 15% off all small appliances, and get a five-drawer Craftsman tool organizer for $100 (orig $150). Get an extra 10% off bikes, patio furniture, and car seats. Read all their nightly sales here.

Looks like you can also get the discounts online. Find a Kmart near you.

Wine.com, normally one of the higher priced wine retailers (compared to Bevmo, at least) has marked down two bottles of red with 90+ ratings. The Beringer Knights Valley Alluvium Red 2004, a bordeaux red blend from Sonoma County, California is $17 (orig $30). The d'Arenberg d'Arrys Original Shiraz/Grenache 2004, a rhone red blend from McLaren Vale, Australia is $14 (orig $19).

Order a few bottles of each and get 1-cent shipping on your order of $99 or more with promo code FEB1CENT, good to Feb 21. I'd drink to that if I wasn't coughing up a lung! :(

Trim a few hundred dollars off your wedding budget by purchasing a used gown from PreownedWeddingDresses.com. Dresses for sale are listed by "street size" not the size on the label because they vary so much from on designer to the next. Within each size you can search by price (above or below $500).

Here's a simple strapless dress with a full skirt and beautiful criss cross lace back, for $375 (originally paid $650). Seems to be more options in the plus $500 sizes, like this custom made dress from Clio Designs of Beverly Hills. Check out the skirt. It looks like meringue pie! Makes me hungry. Browse all their dresses.

Want to clear out some closet space and sell your own dress? Here's how it works. Sellers pay $25 to sell their dress and get to keep all of the sale price. The listing last for 12 months until they sell the dress. Sellers can upload up to five photos per listing.

Today through Monday furniture discounter The Dock Downtown is having a huge President's Day sale, says Bargainsla. Look for markdowns up to 50% on coffee tables, media cabinets, dining tables, and chairs, patio furniture, consoles and more. They have modern and traditional pieces.

BargainsLA found a teak criss cross bookshelf for $463 (orig $950) and a teak TV console with glass doors and drawers for $398 (orig $795). To get an extra $50 off your tab of $250+ print out this page from BargainsLA.

Visit them at 1481 East 4th St. in Los Angeles. (323) 446-0281 ext. 201. Hours Thur to Sat 10 to 6, Sun to Mon 11 to 5. Free on site parking. Delivery is $105 and up for five pieces.

Get a years pass to Six Flags Magic Mountain for $60 - the cost of one day's admission - for a limited time. Their site claims this is the lowest price of the year. The pass comes with 5 admission tickets for your friends on certain days. Plus you get one free admission to Hurricane Harbor, admission to Fright Fest, and discounts on food and souvenirs. The LA pass is also accepted at these 15 other Six Flags parks.

Looks like all Six Flag parks across the country have a similar deal for a yearly pass, though the price and perks vary by park. Unclear how long this sale will last. Visit the park at 26101 Magic Mountain Pkwy in Valencia.

How terribly kind of them. Buy two pairs of Levi's jeans from these two pages (most range from $46 to $60) and get $10 off your bill. Depending on what pairs you choose it would be 8% to 10% off. Not fantastic but if you were going to buy the jeans anyway...

I like these straight leg slouch fit jeans that come in two washes, for $46. A pair of low cut bootleg jeans, above for $46, are more traditional. Plus they come with three different inseams (short, medium, or long) so you can avoid floodin':

The flood is over
The land is dry
Why do you wear
Your pants so high?

~poem courtesy of my 7th grade trumpet teacher, who let me know my pants were too short

Find great markdowns on sporty gear and clothes at the EMS Outlet blowout sale. Or get 20% off one full priced item with coupon code PRESDAY20. Both good until Tue Feb 19.

A cute white puffy jacket with faux fur trim, above, is $140 (orig $200). A super lightweight tank with a Y-back keeps you extra cool, for $20 (orig $34). Stretchy corduroy cotton pants with a drawstring waist are $30 (orig $58). They look perfect for those days when you don't really want to wear anything but decide against going to the farmer's market in your underpants. A pair of cute blue retro running shorts, below, are $20 (orig $32) but come in extra large only.

Browse all women's footwear on sale. Search women's outerwear or apparel. Search men's outerwear, apparel, footwear, . Gear for all mankind here.

Home Depot is having a President's Day sale this weekend (prez day is Monday Feb 18). Get 20% off 1 and 5 gallons of Behr paint, including interior and exterior paint, primer and decorative finishes. Four-packs of compact florescent bulbs are $7 and slide dimmers are $6.50 each (orig $10). A low-flow toilet is $99.

Not too early to think about spring planting. A three-gallon azalea is $4 (orig $5) and six-packs of annuals are $2. Sale ends Monday, Feb 18, with some prices good to Feb 20. Browse the entire weekly ad. Find a Home Depot near you.

If you bought a $10 gift card at Chipotle as per my recommendation last week, remember to bring in the receipt and get your free burrito today. Wait until tomorrow and no free burrito for you.

My fave is carnitas. Find a Chipotle near you.

Catch the winter tent sale this weekend at the haute fashion block that is Sunset Plaza in West Hollywood. Friday is invitation only, but Sat and Sun are open to the public. Participating stores include Badgley Mischka, Just Cavalli, H Lorenzo, H Shoes, H Men, Leona Edmiston, Oliver Peoples, Traffic, On Sunset, Sunset Kids, Zadig & Voltaire, Nicole and Papillion Couture.

Hours Sat and Sun, Feb. 16-17 are 10 to 6. The Plaza is in the 8600 block of Sunset Blvd. in West Hollywood. Find the tent sale in the south parking lot beside the Millennium Building.

You may even spot a star!

Admission: Free

If you like to buy environmentally friendly products for home and organic, but pretty clothes and bedding, Gaiam.com is the place to shop online. And since this kind of political correctness has a substantial price tag, the winter clearance catalog sale is the time to shop there. Up to 75 percent off!

There's all sorts of things from cute organic and yoga clothes to bedding. I have bought much of my linens from Gaiam because I'm picky about the materials I sleep and wash with. And I have never been disappointed in its quality, durability or attractiveness. I've got my eye on the organic cotton percale sage duvet cover ($79) and maybe some sheets to go with it. Don't the butter ones look delish? I've got some pillowcases from this set that I love.

I'm also keen on this sleeveless hoodie, for only $15! And this organic t-shirt for $4. Since I hate gift wrapping, I might stock up on these recycled gift bags and since I have two large dogs who think making stains is part of their job description, I might try this organic pet stain remover for $6.

Lots and lots to choose from. And, if like me, you become a regular sale shopper ( I almost never buy anything from their site full price), you will get nifty things like the $10 off coupon when I spend more than $100, which I certainly will if I buy those sheets.

Happy and healthy hunting on Gaiam.com

A free home for your fine amphibious or reptilian friends. Tank is sitting on the sidewalk in Granada Hills. This was listed about 20 minutes ago, so it might still be there! Hurry, hurry.

Rectangular reptile tank, with screen at center top, with removable glass top doors on each end. Tank needs to be cleaned, but this is a good reptile home and all glass is intact.

Glass tank is sitting on end in front of home beside trash containers.
Address: 13359 Mission Tierra Way, Granada Hills 91344

L.A.'s own American Apparel (made right in downtown, not in Cambodia or Taiwan) is having an online a V-day sale on panties, called "Pantytime" -- but only though tomorrow. Select "intimates," such as the gold lame hot pants and the medieval-looking thong, are 15 percent off.

To get the deals, you must act soon and use the following code at checkout: Pantytime08

The pantytime packs, strangely, are not part of the 15-percent off sale even though they are listed on the sale page. The reason: They are already discounted.You can choose between packs of red briefs for men, marked down from $42 to $33 and polka dots for women from $33 to $26.

If you've never tried a Dansko, here's your chance to do it for a little less cash. The Clog Shop, an online seller or super comfy shoes, is having a blowout Dankso sale. With prices up to 25 percent off. I've purchased several pairs from this site and found them to be quick, customer- service friendly and good quality.

Get the summery Monika (pictured left) for only $88 bucks! Or the Raquel (right, which a colleague has and loves for her NoHo-Downtown on the red line commute), for only $105.

These puppies are pricey even on sale, but oh so worth it. I discovered the European wonders a couple years ago when I was spending a lot of time in the hospital with my sick baby niece (she's better now). I noticed all the nurses and many of the doctors had these cool-looking clogs, and I had been looking for shoes that I could wear to the office and then to teach my evening classes where I have to stand for three hours. No more cute girl-pump for me! And so I've happily delved into the Dansko world and found shoes that look good, last a long time and are sweet to my hard-working professional feet. The sandals are particularly fun, because they're comfy enough to walk a mile or two and still look cute with a dress.

Anyhow, do your aching feet a favor and check out these shoes. If not through this sale, then sometime real soon.

As the Bargain Huntress herself is out sick as a dog today, I'm filling in. Since it's last minute and all, I can't say this will be the blog's biggest day ever, but I'll do my best. Oh, and I'm Mariel Garza. When I'm not filling in for sick bloggers, I can be found ranting over at the Daily News' opinion page and on its blog, Friendly Fire.

OK, here goes my first tip...

This was blogged on a while ago, but considering there's only two weeks left for this deal, I thought I shake it off, revive it and add my own particular spin:

Go green for half off. Green as in mean. Mean as in Wicked Witch of the West. West as in west of the 101 in Hollywood at the Pantages Theater, which has 50 percent off tickets to the smash Broadway hit Wicked for Tuesday-Friday shows.

Orchestra tickets are just $47.50 for performances Tuesday – Friday
evenings. But be quick, it's only now through Feb. 29, 2008. Click here to get there and enter this code: 5WINTER

Incidentally, the musical is based on the fabulous book of the same name by Gregory Maguire (though "Confessions of a wicked stepsister" is my personal fave) about a green-skinned girl who grows up to be a powerful witch who just happens to have flying monkeys. And guess what? You can find cheapo versions of the book at Amazon's marketplace, as low as $3.58. Musical or book, it's all a good bargain.

Hello there Bargain Hunter readers, I am felled by a cold and won't be blogging today or sending out the daily digest. I may be able to arrange a guest blogger but I'm not sure. Hope to be back tomorrow.
~Julia

Full priced, sale and clearance items are 20% off at Ann Taylor online when you spend $100 or more. Use coupon code SPRING20, which is good until Feb 18. A high waisted silk dress with a loose skirt in espresso or dark blue is on the bridesmaid page but I think it is one of those rares bridesmaid dresses that could be used for another shindig. Especially if you have the right accessories. It is $198 so you are paying for versatility.

Ann Taylor is also great for work clothes. Unclear if the code also works in stores. Me thinks probably not. But it wouldn't hurt to try stuff on first. Find a store near you.

Get 15% off at JC Penney with a coupon code that claims to be good until April 30, 2008. I'm skeptical, tho, because online codes rarely last that long. In short, use the coupon sooner rather than later. When checking out the coupon code is MGP79. A black and white halter bikini is $65 (orig $76 for both pieces). Browse their shoes, housewares, furniture, jewelry and lingerie.

Find a Penney's near you.

Get free shipping from Estee Lauder online when you make a purchase of $50 or more or buy any foundation, concealer or powder. You also get to choose four free samples like a lipstick, perfume, concealer or moisturizer when you make a purchase. Browse their concealers, foundations and powder makeup.

A locket of shimmering shell powder, above, is $32. Expires Feb 17, 2008.

Get 25% off full priced items at Babystyle, which sells maternity clothes, baby clothes, and accessories. Use coupon code DAILYC25 for the discount. The sale brings down a black pleated Jersey dress from $154 to $115. Search their baby wear, kids stuff, and gear. Make sure to enter the code above where you enter your billing info.

Caveats: won't work on some items. Unclear when sale ends.

Trader Joe's, one of my favorite discount grocery stores, will no longer sell single ingredient items from China like garlic and frozen organic garlic, according to a story from Business Week. April 1 is the cutoff date. The chain made the decision after customers complained they were worried about Chinese-made products. In recent months toothpaste, dog food and toys imported from China have been found to be contaminated or have high levels of lead.

Remember a new TJ's is opening Feb. 29 on Ventura Blvd in Woodland Hills. Thanks, Ryan!

Can't take any credit for finding out about this cool Web site on my own. But I'll give you the low down just the same. AmieStreet.com sells music downloads that start with a price I like - free! The more times a song is downloaded the more the price goes up, topping out at 98-cents, a penny below industry standard. Almost all of the songs on their Top 20 are 98-cents.

You can listen to the first 30 second of each song but before buying you have to register, which is free (requires name, email, zip code). They ask what types of music you like and there are a ton of choices - what the heck is screamo? Amie St users leave recommendations for music and you get "street cred" if a song you recommend goes up in price. The site says 70 percent of the fees go to the artists.

I would download "Starlet Johansson" by The Teenagers - a catchy Euro-pop tune - for 18-cents but I'm embarrassed to admit I don't know how to connect my iPod to my computer. Where is Hubby when I need him? I'm living in the dark ages!

Thanks, Andrew!

How romantic! Get 15% off washers and dryers at Sears thru Valentine's Day. A Whirlpool high efficiency front loader is $620 (orig $730). Search all their washer and dryers.

Sears will deliver your new W/D free and haul away your old machine if you spend $400 or more and mail in a rebate. Ask about it when you make your purchase. Find a store near you.

This Eastbay sale is not quite as good as it sounds - you can't name a price for your favorite pair of snazzy sneaks. But you can search by price for tons of shoes, gear, and clothes at Eastbay.com. All these cleats and tennis shoes are $30. A selection of T-shirts, caps, and shorts are $10. These sneaks are $70 with many original prices of $100+. In most categories it seems the women's selection is noticeably smaller than the men's. Humph.

I like this white and fuscia women's track jacket for $30 (orig $59). Once you choose the price you can narrow the search by gender, sport or brand using tabs on the left.

Today get 50% off your order at BloomsToday. Teleflora offers $10 off all products with coupon code PSGG10D. Select bouquets are 40% off at ProFlowers. Get 10% off purchases at FTD - no coupon needed. At
1800Flowers.com get 20% off certain flowers with coupon code CUPID14. Take $10 off your purchase at JustFlowers with coupon code JF2008.

Some of the above sites ask if you heard about them on the radio. I recently blogged about a code to get a radio discount for ProFlowers. Wonder if it will work for the others. Thanks Bargainist!

Today thru Wednesday get 40% off thousands of single discs at Borders, including lots of Grammy winning music. Amy Winehouse's Back to Black is $15 (orig $17) but I think this is before the 40% off. Graduation by Kanye West is $15 (orig $17). A compilation of Grammy nominees is $15 (orig $19). Raising Sand by Robert Plant and Alison Krauss is $13 (orig $19).

Browse all the CDs on sale. Becoming a Borders member is free and has great perks. Sign up in stores. Find one near you.

Caveats: limit 3 per customer. Excludes box sets. In stores only.

Tomorrow, Feb 12, you can get a free short stack of three buttermilk pancakes at IHOP. The freebie is from 7 am to 10 pm and in exchange they ask that you consider making a donation to the Children's Miracle Network. Usually National Pancake Day falls on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, which kicks off Lent, when Catholics and other folks give up something like alcohol or chocolate for 40 days. So I'm a little confused...

Perhaps I will ponder this over an IHOP short stack, of which I am a big fan. Find a restaurant near you.

Clothes fitting babies up to tweens are on sale at Old Navy until Feb 21. A pack of three bodysuits are $7.50 (orig $12.50), graphic polos for toddler boys are $6.50 (orig $10.50), rib knit tanks for girls are $4 (orig $6.50), and ringer T-shirts for boys are $4 (orig $6.50).

No coupons or codes needed, tho you can always check retailmenot.com for online discounts. Find an old Navy near you.

I'm set for wine for like, 6 months. Hubby tipped me off to a wine sale at Albertson's after I asked him to pick up a tasty bottle given to us by our neighbor (her dog did a number 1 *and* a number 2 on our rug).

Seems like a good third of the bottles were marked down when I dropped in. I got a bottle of Smoking Loon Chardonnay and Smoking Loon Merlot for $6 each (orig both $10), a bottle of Fat Bastard Chardonnay and Fat Bastard Shiraz for $10 each (orig both $12), and a bottle of Pepperwood Chardonnay for $5 (orig $10).

But my big score was five bottles of Ravenswood Vinter's Blend 2005 Zinfandel for $8.09 each (orig $11). My neighbor said it was one of her favorite low-budget wines and I whole heartedly agree. It's mild, unlike a lot of cheap vino that beats up your tongue, but flavorful. You can also get it for $8 at BevMo but then there's shipping to think of.

I felt like an alcoholic checking out with 10 bottles of wine and...

The Web site FindYourSpot.com will tell you your top places to live if you take their short quiz. It takes about 10 mins and guess what? LA was not even in my top 10.

For each city they recommend for you they list average home prices, photos, population stats, and link to a job search site. The quiz asks for a lot of personal info - name, address, email, gender, marital status, ages of children living with you - but you can opt out of being contacted. (I use work address and email to avoid receiving junk mail at home.) The site was started by a Colorado lawyer and real estate broker who wanted to create a fun relocation recommendation site.

My top 10 cities were Portland, OR, Las Vegas, Eugene, OR, Baltimore, Norfolk, VA, Charleston, VW, Corvalis, OR, Frederick, MD, Honolulu, and Albuquerque, NM. Take the quiz and see where you'd like to live! Maybe we'll be neighbors.

Thanks, Sarah!

(not my actual lunch) My lunch at Little Orchids Restaurant in Woodland Hills was $1 over a Lincoln Lunch and that's pretty darn good for Thai food. The fare is consistently good and it never takes very long to come at Little Orchids, which does not have a Web site. Service can be curt but the place is clean. Their lunch special is $5.95 and includes rice, an entree, and one side (you choose between salad with peanut dressing, soup, or two pinkie-sized egg rolls). Extra sides are $1 each. Soup options are wonton, spicey & sour, coconut or vegetable.

I had chicken curry with a generous ball of rice and it was delicious. The super crispy wontons were so hot I almost burned my tongue. My friend reported his Thai Prik-King (green beans and chicken or beef in curry sauce) was also very tasty.

Get the lunch special Tue thru Saturday before 3pm. Visit them at 21614 Ventura Blvd. in Woodland Hills. (818) 883-4848.

Thru Saturday, Sears has a big 'ol sale on clothes, appliances, camera, tires, tools, fitness equipment, bedding and a whole lot more. Browse all sale categories.

Get a free 3D sander with any online tool purchase of $50 or more. Fine jewelry is 40 to 70% off and watches are 20 to 30% off. Juniors screen T-shirts are $8 to $10 (orig $20). Handbags are 30 to 40% off. Cameras and small electronics are discounted, including a Sony Cybershot 7.2MP for $160.

Best deals seem to be online, but it's also a good idea to examine the product in stores before you buy. Find a store near you.

The upscale chocolatier Godiva is offering 10% off online orders of $50 to $600 now thru Sunday, Feb 10. Standard shipping will get your treats delivered by Valentine's day if you order by 8 pm PST Sunday. Use code TRUFFLETEN when checking out for the discount.

A heart shaped box with 29 chocolates is $58 (orig $65) and a truffle assortment with 36 pieces is also $58 (orig $65). A slender box with 6 truffles is $12 (orig $13.50).

Search all their V-day themed gifts.

Many HD DVDs are 50% off at Barnes & Noble, starting at $13.50 for members and $15 for regular folks like me. Get an extra 25% off with code Y4R4K7D, bringing down the cost of some HD DVDs to $11.25.

BEFORE the discount non-member prices are: $20 for Brokeback Mountain, $15 for Lost in Translation, $15 for the Fast and the Furious, $15 for 40 Year Old Virgin, $15 for Ray and many, many more (actually, 98 HD DVDs total are on sale).

As a comparison, Brokeback is $30 at Circuit City and many of their other HD DVDs fall in the $25 to $35 range.

Free shipping on tabs of $25 or more. Unclear how long the sale lasts. Not sure if sale is also in stores.

Choose one of 22 iPod dockers, each for $5 + $5 shipping at Graveyardmall.com today. It's their deal of the day so I think the price goes up tomorrow. Normally they are $23 to $30, tho I don't think prices will go up that much. Each one:

# Connects your iPod to your PC / laptop by USB

# Charges your iPod in style

# Updates music and charges simultaneously

# Transfers data to and from your iPod

# Has an easy to use retractable cord

# Is compatible with: iPod 3rd generation, iPod 4th generation, iPod mini, iPod video, iPod photo & iPod Nano

Themes include pig, rock n roll, jazz, peace, guitar, alien, skateboard, heart, cat, elephant, frog, owl, dice, and piano. There's a lot to choose from!

Initially I went to girlprops.com for their cheap, fun jewelry. But I got a bit side tracked by the Band Aids...that'll come in Act II. Here's Act I, V-day appeal.

I bet a lot of girls would go for the jewelry sold at girlprops.com. Can you blame them? The stuff is fun, girly and cheap. Think Forever21 but more traditional. A gold-colored heart locket that measures 1.5" by 1.75" is $15.

A necklace with the word Love written in cursive aka Carrie Bradshaw (you remember the season she wore the "carrie" necklace, right?) is $6. I kinda want to get a "love" necklace to have as an accessory. You never know when a night on the town is going to call for some silly jewelry. Of course, at these prices I'll be lucky if it lasts one night.

Act II, sticky stuff...

I bought the coolest lip gloss by Lola Cosmetics for $16 recently. I like it because the color is intense (compared to most lip glosses) but it's also very moisturizing. It's really more like a cross between a lip gloss and a lipstick. Usually I search for a good color and deal with putting on chapstick after every application. With this that's not needed. Plus you apply it with a little brush, which is fun.

Makeup.com sells seven shades of the stuff. (I have Berry.) New customers get free shipping on tabs of $25 or more with code NCSHIP. Ulta and Sephora also sell the Lola line, which Victoria Jackson created using the motto "there's a little Lola in every woman."

Get $2 off a tab of $25 or more at See's Candies with a coupon in today's Daily News. Even if you are not in LA, there's a good chance the same coupon may be tucked into your local paper. The coupon is good thru Feb 14, 2008. You can also enter their contest to win a year's worth of See's!

I'm very fond of the small heart box of assorted chocolates for $10 because it's the one my Mom gave me every Valentine's Day as a kid. Also, it has a lot of caramels in it. I certainly wouldn't refuse a bag of dark chocolate hearts, for $5.25. Browse all their Valentine's gifts here. Find a See's near you.

Cost Plus World Market has a few great prices for home items, like 99-cent stemless wine glasses, which I've seen for $2 at Crate & Barrel and $7 at Pottery Barn. Also on sale is a 24-bottle stacking wine rack with six shelves, four bottles per shelf. Classic white stoneware pieces go for $2 a pop. Glass storage jars are 99-cents each. Booze also on sale. Some items available only in stores.

Find a store near you. Home items on sale to Feb 8, booze on sale to Feb 16.

The Burbank Central Library is having a used book sale today, Friday and Saturday, Feb 7 to 9. Look for vintage books, collectibles, and resource materials from the studios. Prices as marked. Hours are Thur 10 to 6, Friday 10 to 4 and Saturday 10 to 3.

The sale is being run by Friends of the BPL and proceeds go towards supporting the library. The library is located at 110 N Glenoaks Blvd. in Burbank. Questions call (818) 238-5600.

Get $5 off your tab of $25 or more at Office Depot through Feb 17, 2008. Items eligible for the discount items include office supplies, desk accessories, furniture, lighting, filing/storage supplies and cleaning supplies.

Print out this coupon for the discount. Find a store near you. Caveats: may not be used to "tech" items like computers, printers, cameras, TVs, monitors, software and memory. Also not good on gift cards, past purchases, stamps, installation services.

Came across jewelry maker Maya Brenner thru Jen's list and I really like her stuff. It's pricey but not out of control, especially if you find a special piece that will last. Get 25% off until Feb 29 when you enter code VDAY at checkout.

Prices BEFORE the discount: A long necklace with a yellow stone, a small medallion and a few other trinkets is $120. A 14k gold filigree medallion on an 18-inch chain is $230. A pair of curved fan earrings with fine gold filigree work, above, is $130. Also available in sterling silver for $120. A pair of black onyx hoops are $85. A pretty charm bracelet with cognac quartz, iolite, rose gold bead and a Santorini coin, below, is $130.

The checkout form is a bit clunky. Shipping is $12.

I am a full believer in buying yourself jewelry if your sweetie does not know your taste. (Sorry Hubby, that's you.) You could also send him/her a link to the coveted item with an unequivocal message like 'I'd love to get this for Valentine's Day!' Beat around the bush and you risk receiving a toaster. Besides, if you don't tell your sweetie what you want/need, how will they know? Life's too short to play guessing games.

More jewelry recs tomorrow. Let me know your favorite place to buy baubles by leaving a comment!

(not my actual lunch)
Hubby introduced me to Falafel Grill, a lunch spot in Agoura Hills that satisfies falafel cravings. I was skeptical because he said their falafel is $6. In my former haunt of Jersey City, NJ, Ibby's sold falafels for $2.50. However, I was pleasantly surprised with the grill and would eat there again.

I had the special ground chicken sandwich, which is just like a falafel but with two grilled fillets of ground chicken instead of falafel balls. It came in a large pita with shredded red and white cabbage, small diced tomatoes and yummy tahini sauce. A good amount of humus lined the bottom of the pita, which was tucked into a plastic sleeve. My fingers didn't get messy until the last few bites when structural pita failure occurred. My sammy was $5.95 (normally $7.25). The falafel is also $5.95 and got props from Hubby.

The restaurant has a low-key religious vibe. A few tables look onto oil paintings of rabbis and a copy of the Talmud. Catchy Israeli music is pipped in and you can buy imported wafers with Hebrew characters on the wrapper. There's even a little kitsch: faux jumbo Coke Cans dispense napkins on each table.

A few other $4.95 Lincoln Lunch options: a hamburger, a veggie burger, hummus and pita, baba ganush and pita. Soup of the day is $4.65 and chicken nuggets are $3.95.

Visit them at 5611 Kanan Rd in Agoura Hills. (818) 991-8799. Free delivery with $25 order.

Divine Salon in Burbank is hurting from the ongoing writer's strike and is offering 20% off all salon services to entice new customers during especially slow times. To get the discount schedule a haircut, highlights, hand paraffin wax, or eyebrow shaping from 10 to 5 Tue thru Thur with Sossie. You may be able to swing a free treatment, which they have offered in the past.

Caveats: they prefer you schedule one week in advance. Visit them at 2701 W. Olive Ave, southwest of Buena Vista, in Burbank. (818) 913-2793.

Get a special deal at ProFlowers.com when you click the "Heard about us on radio or TV?" button at the top right of the screen. Enter the password "ellen" and you get an offer for one dozen red roses in a ruby vase and a box of chocolates for $40. Not bad.

Other deals with the ellen password include two dozen roses of various colors, plus vase and chocolates, for $40. A boquet of 20 tulips is $30. Delivery fees will getcha, though. For the order I tested it was $10 delivery plus and extra $10 to be delivered on V-day. With taxes and a gas surcharge the $40 order came to $64. That rivals the Costco deal on roses that I blogged about recently.

Thanks, Mags!

Wait! Don't buy that book on your "to read" list just yet. Starting tomorrow you can get 20% off any one item at Barnes & Noble online or in stores. Online use coupon code T3E9J3V at checkout. The 20% discount will automatically be applied to the highest-priced item in your cart. In stores print out this coupon.

Caveats: not good at college stores. Cannot be used for textbooks, gift certificates, past purchases, memberships, and a few other things. Read the fine print to be sure.

Get 15% off at Kohl's with code MVCHOME15 using any purchase method, or if you have a Kohl's charge card, get another 15% off with code MVCCHARGE15. Together the two give you a 27.5% discount. Not too shabby. Standard shipping is 99-cent per item or get free shipping with coupon MVC9505. Unfortunately, this free shipping code can only be used with one of 15% off codes *and* requires you to use a Kohl's charge card.

Unclear when the codes expire. Kohl's clearance sale with markdowns up to 60% ends today. Browse their sale jewelry (V-day IS just around the corner), kitchen gear, and shoes. A pair of gold hoops are $5.40 (orig $18).

Find a Kohl's near you. Thanks slickdeals.

You have to be a member of the Auto Club of Southern California to use this coupon, but you may well get back the cost of joining AAA with this one deal. Thru Dec 31, 2008 Best Buy will give AAA members 20% off home theater services, computer support services, or car installation services.

Joining AAA costs $47 for one year, plus you can add another member of your household for $24. Remember, the card goes with the person, not the car. So if I'm riding in your car and it breaks down, I can use my AAA card to get a tow.

Caveats: can only be used in store, one per family, not good on prior purchases, and does not apply to charges for materials, kits, harnesses, parts and extensive labor. Sounds complicated. Ask for an estimate of how the charges break down before you agree to buy the service and ask how much the coupon will save you.

Find a Best Buy near you.

Get 20% off items with a red or yellow sticker (clearance and just reduced) at Loehmann's until Feb 11, 2008, including items at Loehmann's Shoes and NEXXT stores. Here's the printable coupon. Must have the coupon to get the discount. I'm really tempted to drop by the store for an item on my needs list.

Caveats: not good on coats or previous purchases. Good in stores only. Find a Loehmann's near you.

Get an extra 30% off sale shoes at Nine West. A pair of black strappy heels that are perfect for prom or a fancy party are $40 (orig $70). Yikes! Size 6 only. A gold heel is equally snazzy, for $50 (orig $70). Comes in sizes 9 to 11.

Oh! This gold heel has a faux snake skin print, above, but it's $60 (orig $80). A modern black patent heel is $50 (orig $120).

The site lets you seach by shoe size, color, material and price. Unclear when the sale ends. Looks like it's online only. No coupon needed.

Software.com has a quick quiz to help you choose which tax software is right for you. It asks about 10 questions, starting with whether you want to download the software or use it online. It also asks whether you itemize deductions, whether you want the software to do your federal or state taxes or both, if you will file a Schedule C for business taxes, or if you want tech support.

At the end of the quiz it links to the recommended software, which the site is happy to sell to you. Each product has user reviews and specs. It's a good idea to shop around to see if Software.com has the best software prices. I'd suggest checking Office Depot, Staples, and the manufacturer of the recommended software.

Games like Monopoly, Pictionary and Scrabble are half off online at Barnes & Noble online. A spelling game called Typo, intended for kids age 8 and up, is $5 (orig $10). Trivial Pursuit for Kids is $9 (orig $18). The classic word game Scrabble is $17.50 (orig $35), the African bead game Mancala is $7.50 (orig $15). And the Dirty Party Game is $12.50 (orig $25).

Games are of course great for kids but also make good housewarming presents. Unclear when the sale ends.



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To celebrate Election Day - I voted, didn't you? - eBags.com is offering 20% off its entire site. But it ends today so there's no time to waste. A silverly gold Big Buddha Groupie bag is $58 (orig $84).

I perused the site for a small black leather bag for nights out on the town, but had no luck. Basically I just want the HOBO bag my sister has, but she bought it a long time ago so who knows if it's still for sale. Hopefully you will have better luck. Browse their handbags, or luggage selection. Nike bags are 20% off. You can also search by brand or price.

Get $5 off a tab of $15 at TGI Friday's until Feb 29, 2008 with this printable coupon. The menu includes Zen chicken pot stickers, fried mac -n cheese, and cheeseburger sliders. Find a Friday's near you.

Caveats: dine in only, not good on booze, one per party, cannot be combined with other offers including the three course menu.

Get discounted rates on major newspaper subscriptions through DiscountedNewspapers.com. For some papers the discount is only for a few weeks while other papers offer lower rates up to a year.

Get the LA Daily News for $2.50 a week (normally $4.25) for eight weeks. The LA Times is $1.90 to $3.15 per week (normally $5.55), depending on how many weeks you choose. Get the Wall Street Journal for $4.79 to $5.31 per week, depending on how many weeks you choose. They also have deals on the Pasadena Star Tribune, the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, NY Daily News and the Washington Post.

Browse all the newspapers they offer deals on.

If you've ever lived in NYC or someplace where people routinely gather en masse (so, not LA), this stunt by Improv Everywhere is worth watching. Hundreds of folks show up at Grand Central Station and at the appointed time freeze for five minutes. How does everyone *not* in on the joke react?

This Sunday, Feb 10, get 20% off at JCPenney when you register for their email newsletter. The discount is good in stores, online and thru the catalog. The form requires your name, address and email. JCPenney has lots of lingerie that might make a good Valentine's gift. A babydoll chemise is $20 to $22. A shorty waffle-knit robe is $27 to $31. Browse their Valentine's jewelry, including six options under $50. A Sterling silver heart necklace can be engraved with up to eight letters, for $42 (orig $125).

JCPenney also sells a number of items from Sephora. Find a store near you.

Get 15% off your online order at Lush, which sells wildly expensive handmade soaps. Still, if you like the brand, which has some cachet, coupon code giftforyou08 will shave a few dollars off your order. Note, shipping in time for V-day is pricey.

A Long Lost Love Box with three soaps, a lotion and a bath bomb (it fizzes in water) is $50. Comes in a cute box with ribbon. A Butterfly Kiss box has four bath treats and is $31. Their individual bar soap is quite colorful.

Coupon good till March 15, 2008.

The pie sale is back on at Marie Callender's. All whole pies ordered to go are $6 plus the tin, excluding cheesecakes. I think it's a little more if you order the whole pie in the restaurant, so have dessert at home. Read their pie menu. I'm fond of the Chocolate Satin pie. It's chocolatey, it's smooth. What more do you need?

Ends Feb 29, 2008. Find a store near you. Thanks, Stracy!

If you are having a hard time finding a coupon or blog post, especially one from Monday's column, it may be because newer posts have pushed down the coupon you are looking for. There are two ways to find a coupon.

First, enter a keyword into the search box on the left side of the Bargain Hunter Web site. You will find it a few inches below the box where you enter your email to sign up for the daily digest. Enter a keyword to find the coupon, click "Search the blog," and browse the entries it pulls up. I recommend using a single keyword for starters.

Your other option is to scroll down to the very bottom of the page and if you still don't see the coupon you are looking for click "Earlier entries from..." That will take you to earlier entries. You can keep clicking on earlier entries as far back as you want!

Hope that helps.
~Julia

Yet another small business closing shop. Pop's Unfurnished Furniture on Ventura Blvd in Woodland Hills is clearing out its stock and has markdowns good enough to make me wish my apartment was bigger! There is still a good selection and, contrary to the store's name, some pieces are finished. I saw a large TV hutch made of thick, hard wood for $700. A low two-door cabinet with a light brown finish, good for the foot of your bed or your media collection, was $150.

A high six-drawer dresser with roller drawers was $540, a nightstand was $120. A massive buffet, similar to the one above, was $1,000. A kitchen cart with tile on the counter part, two small drawers, two shelves and spots for four wine bottles was $250. A kitchen table that would easily seat eight was $600.

Most of the furniture is made out of maple or pine. Pop's sells varnishes and finishes. The sale will last until the stock is gone, then the company will move the Mexican Rustic furniture line into the space. They accept cash, credit card and check. All sales are final.

Visit them at 22223 Ventura Blvd. in Woodland Hills, a hair east of the Topanga entrace to 101 south/east. (818) 226-1900. Hours Mon to Sat 10 to 7, Sun 10 to 6. UPDATE: The 818 number may not be working. Pop's also lists 888-838-0707 on their Web site, but this number is not staffed Tue and Thurs.

Got a magazine teaser from Consumer Reports that gave the skinny on 10 everyday items and whether they are a good deal or not. On the bad list: sugar-free oreos (they have nearly as many calories and cost almost double), whitening toothpaste (they tried 41 types and none whitened teeth anymore than regular toothpaste), automatic shower cleaner (Scrubbing Bubbles Automatic Shower Cleaner was ineffective), stain remover pens (a Tide stick removed only 6 of 48 stains), Hellman's Easy out mayo (11 percent was stuck in the squeeze jar).

On the good list: Epson PictureMate photo printers (excellent quality, convenient to use), the Furminator pet brush (effective and easy to clean), bamboo-cotton blend towels (softer than all cotton towels after washing).

Get 13 issues of Consumer Reports Magazine plus their Annual Buying Guide and How to Clean Practically Anything, for $26,

Costco will deliver three dozen long-stemmed red roses in a glass vase to your sweetie on Valentines's Day OR the day before (you can't specify) for $60. Orders have to be placed by 3 p.m. Feb 11. Unclear if they also are selling flowers in the store. Find a Costco near you.

By comparrison, Flowers.com will deliver three dozen roses without a vase for $100.

Caveats: don't have to be a member, but non-members pay a 5% surcharge ($63 for the roses), according to their site.

(not my actual dinner) I finally used a coupon from my 2008 Entertainment book and it nearly paid off the cost of my $15 invesment. Hubby and I had dinner at Shalimar Cuisine of India in Woodland Hills and got one free entree because we ordered a second entree. My chicken tandoori was perfectly spiced and tender. Hubby's lamb in lentil sauce was more sweet than spicy and also very food. Rice and freshly made naan were tasty.

With one beer the tab came to $37, including tax and tip. The coupon knocked it down to just under $28. Reviewers on Yelp give Shalimar the thumbs up. Fyi, when you use the book you need the card that comes with it. That prevents people like me from ripping out the coupons I won't use and giving them to others. Darn.

The SFV book is currently selling for $15, plsu $3 shipping. Search for books by state.

Visit Shalimar at 23011 Ventura Blvd. in Woodland Hills. (818) 225-7794.

Amazon is having a kitchen sale with a few other home items thrown in for good measure. A steel canister with seven spatulas made of silicon is $20 (orig $50). Great for a house warming present, a college student setting up their apartment for the first time, or a chef who loves red! A leaning shelf by Global Distinctions is $50 (orig $250). Ivory sheets with a 420-thread count, queen size, are $37 (orig $100). Unclear when sale ends.

Get a free burrito at Chipotle if you buy a $10 gift card before Feb 12. Save the receipt showing you bought the card, bring the receipt in Feb 13 or 14, and get a free burrito. Their burritos run about $6-$7. Here's the menu (you need Flash). Find a store near you.

Buy a Fit 'n Fruitful smoothie at Jamba Juice and get a free 24-hour pass to 24 Hour Fitness. The Fit ' Fruitful smoothie has passionfruit-mango juice, stawberries, mangoes, lemonade, peaches and the "Weight Burner" boost. I have not had this smoothie. My favorite is Coldbuster. I used to like the Protein Berry Pizazz but they changed it and now it's gross.

Unclear how long the deal lasts. Find a Jamba near you.

If you are hosting a Superbowl party this Sunday, surely your guests will be thirsty. If you are going to a Superbowl party it's polite to bring a six-pack for the host. Either way, you will need beer.

Longs has better prices on Pacifico ($12 for a 12-pack) and Pabst Blue Ribbon (2 12-packs for $9) than CVS. Costco does not have it's prices online but is usually the best bet for bulk. Unfortunately, Ralphs and Albertsons do not have beer prices online, either.

Vons lets you look at weekly specials for stores by zip code. They advertise a 30-pack of Bud, Miller or Coors for $16 at the Woodland Hills store. Check for specials near you.

This post was not as informative as I hoped it would be. Sorry.

At least one gasoline expert predicts prices at the pump will rise after the Superbowl this Sunday. Right now the lowest price for a gallon of regular in the Valley is about $2.99, according to LA Gas Map. Get even lower prices at cash only stations or places that require membership (Costco). Use $2.99 as a barometer for the prices you see, but check back daily because prices can fluctuate as much as a dime a day.

Get 20% off one item at the REI Outlet online only between Feb 1 and Feb 7. The discount will be applied to the highest priced item in your cart. No code is needed. Check out their new arrivals and stuff under $20, like this High Sierra hydration pack for $20 (orig $40).

Caveats: not good at REI.com, REI stores, REI Adventures or REI Outdoor School, 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, personal locator beacons. Limited to stock on hand. Purchases not eligible for the REI member refund.

Check out my new Facebook profile! I made it yesterday and feel both very technologically hip and as if I am 13 again. On Facebook you can "poke" someone or "throw a sheep" at them?!?! I guess that's the 21st century way of flirting online. What happened to teasing, pouting and smiling? And what is someone trying to tell you when they throw a bleating, fuzzy animal at you?

Clearly, I am on the far side of a great cultural divide and have a lot of catching up to do. If you are on Facebook find me by searching for Julia Scott or Bargain Hunter.

VERSUS














I need versus I want. Often we blur the two, which is why so many of us overspend. To clarify my desires I'm making two lists with my rationale for what belongs on each. As my budget allows, I'll move things up from the Wants list to the Needs list. Make your own and let me know how you justified everything!

Needs:
brown belt to wear to work - The one I have is ripped at the holes.
flannel sheets - The set my Mom gave me to keep me warn when I went to college back East has three small holes that could bust open. Any. Second.
khakis - The pair I have don't fit anymore. Running = small butt = pants that make me feel like a stick.

Wants:
sexy black boots - My hip younger sister informed me recently that my flat, round toe boots are *really* out of style. "Don't get me started on your boots," were her words exactly. But the lining is hot pink! And they will last for many more years.
black pants - see khakis above. Put this on the wants list because I already have three pairs of black pants.
black flats - I already have a pair of low black heels that I love but for some outfits they are too corporate.
socks - I'm sick of my argyles. But being bored with clothes isn't a great reason to buy new stuff even though I do it all the time. If I see a good sale, I'll bite.

Get 10% off your purchase at the online jeweler Blue Nile until Feb 5, 2008 with coupon code JPROMO18. Enter the code towards the end of checkout in the reference code box, underneath your billing info. I like this princess cut aquamarine pendant in 18k white gold for $247.50 (orig $275), though I actually prefer the warmth of yellow gold. Their diamond page lets you build your own ring, earrings or necklace. They also have many gift ideas for Valentine's Day. FedEx two day shipping is free.

Talked to local chocolate expert January Jones just in time for V-day and she reassured me that "dark chocolate is tremendously healthy." I really want to believe her, but seriously folks.

Dark chocolate - not the milky version, which is loaded with sugar and butter - can increase energy levels, reduce high cholesterol and increase blood flow, she said. You can nibble a little everyday if you limit yourself to one ounce, about 2 to 3 Hershey kisses.

Tips for buying "healthy" chocolate: products with a high percentage of cocoa bean are a good option. Look for at least 60% cocoa bean on the package, but remember...

Get a free original or cinnamon sugar pretzel from Auntie Anne's tomorrow, Sat Feb 2 from 10 to 4. The chain is celebrating their 20th birthday with a free pretzel day! Find a store near you.

The choice is clear: cinnamon pretzel for me!

I recently indulged in a three-course lunch at Pinot Bistro in Studio City as part of Restaurant Week. At $22 it was a quadruple Lincoln Lunch! I started with lightly fried mushroom and rice balls, which had a great texture but didn't taste much like mushrooms. Also, two of the five were frozen in the middle. My main course was five large slices of turkey breast over diced root vegetables cooked perfectly al dente.

Turns out my friend ordred better than me. Her baby spinach salad with chunks of gorgonzola cheese and pomegrante seeds was fresh and light. Four slim filets of sand dabs were buttery and served with a lemon sauce. A few too many capers for my taste, but I don't really like capers.

For dessert we both had chocolate pudding, made fancy by a pair of strawberries and shortbread cookies. My lemonade was refreshing and the waiter did not hesitate to refill it twice. Service was attentive but leisurely. The restaurant is split into two rooms plus a smallish party room in back which meant it was relatively quiet. The setting was pleasant and the bathrooms were just a notch below gorgeous.

Visit them at 12969 Ventura Blvd in Studio City. (818) 990-0500. Make a reservation online at Pinot Bistro or search for other restaurants participating in Restaurant Week, which continues Feb 3 to Feb 8.

What is Restaurant Week?