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.